Screwdrivered Security (a little long)

Judah

Just came home from Xmas at my daughters in FL. Forgot and left my
'little' pocket knife in my pocket (I was in a wheel chair). Said I
could mail if I went back out to someplace but being pushed in wheel
chair and going through the checkpoint again, I just said keep it. He
threw it to one of his friends and said here is a nice knife for you.

Next time if I get caught I'm just going to break the blades off the
knife and take home. No freebee for the checkers (.

They let me take my ball point pens of course which I have demostrated
to Ridge and company that they are dangerous instrumenets and will
kill someone.

In one word (pardon me ladies) CRAP.

Big John


On Fri, 06 Feb 2004 05:29:51 GMT, Judah wrote:

OK... So I flew home from Tom Ridge airport in Erie, PA today.

I couldn't fly myself there because of weather (freezing rain, snow, ice
and such), so I took the bus (Airbus, that is)...

Anyway, flying out from LGA everything was smooth as silk. I fly
commercially enough to know the routine and generally avoid beeping and
getting wanded because I forgot to take off my watch, etc.

Now I fly commercially on average once or twice a month (especially in
the winter). I carry two spare car keys in my wallet, which never goes on
the belt, and never go off. I have had this shirt-pocket-pen-style
computer screwdriver that I have had in my laptop bag for about 2 years.
I never take off my sneakers because there is no significant metal in
them, actually I didn't think there was any at all.

Until today...


On my flight home today, tho, I experienced the Tom Ridge treatment...
First of all, I beeped. I didn't actually hear the beep. Apparently it
would be a security breach to hear the beep go off.

So as the guy directs me to the wanding booth, my laptop bag is being
attacked and held up by two TSA agents. Of course, at the same time, the
third security agent is taking my laptop, my coat, and my other bag, and
shuffling them down to the end of the line for anyone to help themselves
to.

Immediately, I request the Wander to ask the Shuffler to give my laptop
and my other stuff to the Holder Upper to keep securely together while I
am getting wanded. Fortunately, they were willing to comply.

So the guy wands me for like 10 minutes. First, he somehow finds metal in
my sneakers. Not in the sole, but on the top. Now these sneakers are the
velcro-type - they don't even have laces, or metal grommets for laces. So
I have no idea where the metal is.

So he takes my shoes off, throws them in a box, and passes them off to
Mr. Shuffler for XRays.

Next, he wands every inch of my body. Quite thoroughly, I might add.
Several times, he had to adjust the position of my arms and legs to
ensure he properly hit all the crevices. Every single grommet and stud in
my pants pocket was thoroughly examined, as was the belt buckle, and my
zipper! It was quite interesting, although would have been much more
enjoyable if I had gotten Ms. Wander instead!

So now we go over to Mr. Holder Upper with my stuff. Now I happened to
have some computer connector wire assemblies that are fairly non-
standard. You might be able to buy them at Radio Shack, but the average
non-geek probably wouldn't even know what it was. So I figured that's
what the problem was, and started directing him toward them. He says,
"no, that's not it." Instead, he pulls out my little, narrow, pocket-pen-
style screwdriver, and shows it to his supervisor.


Then he takes the bag and runs it through the XRay again. At this point,
Mr. Supervisor explains to me that the airport has a policy prohibiting
passengers from carrying tools on the plane. I explain to him that I am
going home, and that the screwdriver has been flying with me for several
years now, and I have had no trouble with it at other airports. I did
have trouble with a crimping tool once, and they told me at that point
that there was a size limitation.

Bear in mind, of course, I have the computer connectors in my bag (wires
and such), I have my toiletry bag which has a couple of bic disposable
razors, and my fingernails haven't been cut in a couple of days.

But somehow, this teeny, precision slotted computer screwdriver is
considered a risk. At the end of the day, I didn't think I would have
time to go back and check it and then get wanded again and still make the
flight. And mailing was not offered as an option. So I told him to keep
it, but I got dibs on anything else they find in my bag.

This is just ridiculous already. Do they think that a terrorist's photo
ID won't match their ticket? Are they afraid that I might unscrew the
seatbelt during taxi, takeoff, or landing?

Or have we become a country of bumbling, cowering, idiots?

"For the land of naive, and the home of afraid..." ?

Big John wrote in
:

snip

They let me take my ball point pens of course which I have demostrated
to Ridge and company that they are dangerous instrumenets and will
kill someone.

Geez! I'm surprised they still let people take these things on!!!

Well, that's one of the reasons why I was glad I got my PPL (although I
started before 9/11, so it wasn't on my agenda when I started)... But I had
already cancelled my visit to this customer twice to avoid weather and
commercial flying, and couldn't delay it a third time...

With any luck, as my biz grows, I will be able to afford a nice twin and
stop flying airlines altogether!



Nomen Nescio ] wrote in
:

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From: Judah

snip
This is just ridiculous already. Do they think that a terrorist's photo
ID won't match their ticket? Are they afraid that I might unscrew the
seatbelt during taxi, takeoff, or landing?
snip

Sad story, indeed!
The pathetic thing is that they are trying to prevent another 9/11
incident when
another 9/11 incident will never occur. People learned that the concept
of being passive in a hijacking can get you killed. If you'd pulled out
that screwdriver and headed for the cockpit, I'd bet you wouldn't get
25 feet.

Or have we become a country of bumbling, cowering, idiots?

No, our leaders are a bunch of "bumbling, cowering, idiots". Catering
to the pathetic morons that feel that "If it saves one human life" it
should be done at all costs.

If more people refused to fly commercial, things would have to change.
So
I guess you and the other passengers are also to blame for that BS.
Maybe you should take the bus next time.
I used to fly commercial a half dozen times a year. I haven't been on
an airline
once since 9/11. Yea, it's been inconvenient, sometimes. But I will not
live life as a sheep.

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Judah

I also have demonstrated my ability to sharpen the edge of a credit
card and slice an orange in two. Could do the same thing to a neck. If
I have my way they will be confiscating your credit cards next as
dangerous weapons.

If I hadn't gotten a pace maker and now have neuropathy (sp) (dead
nerves in feet and legs) I'd still have my turbo Mooney and fly myself
and to hell with Ridge and company.

It's hell to wear out and have to fly with the great unwashed masses.

Big John

On Fri, 06 Feb 2004 20:30:40 GMT, Judah wrote:

Big John wrote in
:

snip

They let me take my ball point pens of course which I have demostrated
to Ridge and company that they are dangerous instrumenets and will
kill someone.

Geez! I'm surprised they still let people take these things on!!!

Jeffrey Voight wrote in message .. .
Just to advocate on behalf of the devil for a second--

Isn't it more likely that we're upset that we can't be so cavalier in
our security procedures? ...
I recently got to fly into and out of Tel Aviv. I got to pass through
El Al security both ways. At no time did I think to myself, "Wow, this
is a lot of security. These people must really be cowardly idiots."

I've never flown El Al although a number of people I know have.
From what they tell me, I would say El Al security is efficient,
focused, and direct.

I don't think the difference is "we can't be so cavalier in our
security procedures".

I think the difference is, our "new improved" security procedures
are largely "blowing snow" which is focused on making people
*believe* that we are doing something. That is the impression
we get when they are confiscating needles from sewing kits (happened
to my boss) and screwdriver pens but apparently knives, guns, ammo,
and boxcutters still make it through on a regular basis. Then
there's the issue of how well the ground support crews are screened
(um...)

I myself wouldn't mind standing in line longer, if I felt truly
effective procedures were being implemented.

Cheers,
Sydney

Big John wrote in message . ..
Next time if I get caught I'm just going to break the blades off the
knife and take home. No freebee for the checkers (.

I tell ya Big John if I forget to clean out my purse before
I fly commercial I'll be joining Michael on the list of
suspicious characters. Two knives, leatherman tool, two
inhalers, meds removed from their original container....
and that's not even considering my laptop bag.

They let me take my ball point pens of course which I have demostrated
to Ridge and company that they are dangerous instrumenets and will
kill someone.

One of my coworkers is a 'nam vet he points out his shoelaces
are deadly weapons which he was trained to use by the US gov'mt

In one word (pardon me ladies) CRAP.

Le mot juste

Sydney

What happens when you tell them that you can do this with your Photo ID?


Big John wrote in
:

Judah

I also have demonstrated my ability to sharpen the edge of a credit
card and slice an orange in two. Could do the same thing to a neck. If
I have my way they will be confiscating your credit cards next as
dangerous weapons.

If I hadn't gotten a pace maker and now have neuropathy (sp) (dead
nerves in feet and legs) I'd still have my turbo Mooney and fly myself
and to hell with Ridge and company.

It's hell to wear out and have to fly with the great unwashed masses.

Big John

On Fri, 06 Feb 2004 20:30:40 GMT, Judah wrote:

Big John wrote in
m:

snip

They let me take my ball point pens of course which I have
demostrated to Ridge and company that they are dangerous instrumenets
and will kill someone.

Geez! I'm surprised they still let people take these things on!!!

On 2004-02-07, Judah wrote:
What happens when you tell them that you can do this with your Photo ID?

Big John wrote in
:

Judah

I also have demonstrated my ability to sharpen the edge of a credit
card and slice an orange in two. Could do the same thing to a neck.

Lets see, one terrorist with a sharp photo ID, another with a sharp
credit card and 200 crazed passengers with laptops? I'm not worried,
that cat is out of the bag.

Hopefully the hyper-focus on the occasional mild inconvenience at the
airport won't keep us from noticing the unmarked white truck in the
basement parking garage...

Sydney

It's stupid what we all have to go through with to fly.

1. Make the cockpit invulnerable.

2.. Prevent any explosive from getting into the cabin or baggage.

Anything else the passengers can take care of.

Have stewardesses run through a routine on terrorists in cabin prior
to each takeoff like they do with the rest of the emergency
procedures.

Also teach the Pilots to zoom and dive the aircraft to prevent
terrorists from being able to do any coordinated things in cabin.

Put three pilots in all cockpits so any two could overpower any
individual Pilot who went nuts.

Just wish I was in charge of air travel. Sure would be easier and
safer.

Big John


On 6 Feb 2004 22:04:35 -0800, (Snowbird)
wrote:

Big John wrote in message . ..
Next time if I get caught I'm just going to break the blades off the
knife and take home. No freebee for the checkers (.

I tell ya Big John if I forget to clean out my purse before
I fly commercial I'll be joining Michael on the list of
suspicious characters. Two knives, leatherman tool, two
inhalers, meds removed from their original container....
and that's not even considering my laptop bag.

They let me take my ball point pens of course which I have demostrated
to Ridge and company that they are dangerous instrumenets and will
kill someone.

One of my coworkers is a 'nam vet he points out his shoelaces
are deadly weapons which he was trained to use by the US gov'mt

In one word (pardon me ladies) CRAP.

Le mot juste

Sydney

"Big John" wrote

Have stewardesses run through a routine on terrorists in cabin prior
to each takeoff like they do with the rest of the emergency
procedures.


Big John

Hmmmm.

I flew a couple weeks ago, and Continental has no such announced terrorist
routine.

Or was that hypothetical?
--
Jim in NC


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