Comments on The Breda Fallacy: TSA, pt. III

Its too late to complain the colective has traded ...

2009-05-28T00:07:19.963-04:00

Its too late to complain the colective has traded liberty for security now we have neither.

Two weeks. That is all it would take. Two weeks ...

2009-05-26T19:33:47.504-04:00

Two weeks. That is all it would take. Two weeks of no one flying would stop this foolishness immediately.

If you fly, you vote your support of this systemic harassment.

Greetings, Breda. I remember you from last August'...

2009-05-25T09:39:41.228-04:00

Greetings, Breda. I remember you from last August's Appleseed (I was there w/ my wife; you may remeber us).

This is one of the most amazing and outrageous things I've ever heard. All the loss of liberty and diginity which the TSA embodies, FOR NOTHING!

In terms of law enforcement and government agencies, these people are pretty much at the bottom of the food chain.

Listen, I hope this story gets VERY wide exposure. Tell it around. That is, if you're willing to take the risk. Our Government's regard for constitutional rights and liberty is dwindling fast.

-Gordon

I don't mean to brag, but I personally put a SIG P...

2009-05-24T10:48:21.970-04:00

I don't mean to brag, but I personally put a SIG P220 .45 and about 50 rounds of ammunition through a Reveal CT-80 scanner at the Norfolk airport last fall, and it didn't make a peep.
And the security guy told me I shouldn't worry about putting my firearm declaration form in, because it didn't set off the scanner, therefore it didn't exist.
And his supervisor told me the same thing.

Word verification: pretedb. Definition: using one's imagination while suffering from nasal congestion.

TSA is expanding into general aviation and wants t...

2009-05-23T14:27:27.893-04:00

TSA is expanding into general aviation and wants to work buses and trains too!

I can see an acquaintance opening his hangar to wheel out his Cessna and being accosted by these clowns; he'd likely drop 'em all and go on his way...

Dammit sheeple, wake up.

TSA - Too Stupid for Arby's But that's kinda insu...

2009-05-23T10:05:12.758-04:00

TSA - Too Stupid for Arby's

But that's kinda insulting to the Arby's workers, isn't it?

I would advise against reporting to the TSA that y...

2009-05-23T06:58:19.221-04:00

I would advise against reporting to the TSA that you were able to get a knife on to an aircraft, even if it wasn't intentional. In fact, I'm not so sure it was wise to blog about it. The TSA takes that stuff pretty seriously and I believe they could bring you up on felony charges if you admitted getting a knife past their "security".

I read your blog a lot and enjoy it very much. Just want to make sure you stay out of the slammer so you can keep writing it!!

I had to link to your whole TSA "series": http://...

2009-05-22T22:42:46.930-04:00

I had to link to your whole TSA "series":

http://aroundotown.blogspot.com/2009/05/people-who-keep-you-safe.html

"That's what happens when sNOballs rubs off on ...

2009-05-22T21:32:39.338-04:00
"That's what happens when sNOballs rubs off on you."

That's pretty funny coming from a guy named "Anonymous".

Ah, TSA. Government incompetence at it finest, o...

2009-05-22T19:40:40.343-04:00
Ah, TSA. Government incompetence at it finest, on display for all to see.

That's what happens when sNOballs rubs off on you....

2009-05-22T19:38:39.269-04:00
That's what happens when sNOballs rubs off on you. Bad JuJu....

Run while you can.

When I was forced to use a wheelchair I was travel...

2009-05-22T18:35:53.628-04:00
When I was forced to use a wheelchair I was traveling a lot for work. Those goons would make me transfer out of my chair (because I was honest and said that I could) so they could pat me down and wand me.

Of course, another employee would just wheel the chair past security without lifting the seat cushion, inspecting the hollow tube portions or anything else.

It's insane. I used to avoid telling people about it as not to give bad guys ideas until the screeners took my wife's fingernail scissors & tweezers. Both items, incidentally were sold in the newsstand just inside the "secure area" on the way to the gates.

There was a show on ABC last year called "Homeland...

2009-05-22T18:20:35.040-04:00
There was a show on ABC last year called "Homeland Security" or something like that... one episode featured a teary eyed yutz (he got emotional because, his family flies, you know, and, this is serious) who had seen a movie about a stripper who had a machine gun attached above the knee after she lost her leg. He said, on camera! that there wasn't any regulation about it, but he was always extra careful about replacement limbs because of the movie. He didn't want someone to sneak a machine gun past him by using it to walk on.

I saw the local TSA shoe inspector down at the Jack in the Box last week. They are a real band of brothers. They trust each other so little that the stooge had to order everybody's happy meal separately and write down the change on the receipts.

They won't trust each other with lunch, but we are supposed to trust them. If they were competent, they would be too offensive to be tolerated.

@ kevin: TSA is an acronym for "Thousands Standing...

2009-05-22T16:11:32.214-04:00
@ kevin: TSA is an acronym for "Thousands Standing Around"

A few years back I was going through security at O...

2009-05-22T14:03:27.928-04:00
A few years back I was going through security at Ontario Airport in CA, the weekend after the liquid explosives scare. They were hand inspecting all checked baggage. When the TSA agent opened my suitcare, then opened my toiletries bag and started sniffing the bottles of shampoo, mouthwash, etc she discovered my letherman multi-tool which is always in that bag, and the 5" folding belt knife that is usually on my belt.

She opened the belt knife, gasped, and immediately motioned for the manager. They both looked at me like I was crazy, the manager said "You can't take these on a plane."

I replied "That a checked bag."

The inspector (waving the knife in the air) "This is not legal."

I replied "That is a checked bag."

The manager (Still wide eyed) "You cannot take this onboard."

Again I replied (very slowly in case my midwestern accent was confusing them "That is a checked bag."

When they both started talking again, the armed national guardsman who was watching the whole theater shouted "What part of CHECKED BAG did you two morons not understand?"

Everyone in line around me started clapping. They packed up my stuff and sent it to the plane. 30 minutes later while waiting for my plane to board, I saw the same national guardsman (sans weapons)in line at a sandwich shop. I bought his lunch for him.

Or you could end up at a checkpoint like this one....

2009-05-22T13:50:24.027-04:00
Or you could end up at a checkpoint like this one.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CYfeolkFoMg

Please don't fly with pepper spray: If it should ...

2009-05-22T13:39:33.676-04:00
Please don't fly with pepper spray: If it should leak inside the airplane, bad things WILL happen to everyone - including the flight crew.

I rescind my earlier statement. That's just fucki...

2009-05-22T13:39:18.719-04:00
I rescind my earlier statement. That's just fucking ridiculous.

Having flown the better part of every week for yea...

2009-05-22T12:57:46.407-04:00
Having flown the better part of every week for years I have been subjected to the worst and wierdest, including a strip search where my genitalia were examined carefully by a rubber-gloved inspector (apparently anyone with a nutsack that large must be hiding SOMETHING in it) and I am surprised by nothing whatsoever. Instead of submitting to the horror I always make sure I have a good supply of horrible gas laid up, so the inspection is mere amusement to me while it is torture to the inspector. More genteel ladies might want to settle for horrible breath. Most of this is about remembering that your IQ during a hangover is better than any three of Minetas Morons, and humoring them until the time comes to fart, preferably directly in their face if such can be arranged.

Of course I'm a guy,a big fat hairy ugly guy, and getting someone to fondle me without paying for the lap dance is always a bonus. You could try to get a guy like myself to preceed you in line and make the TSAssholes life so miserable they just let you pass through.

If I didn't know how difficult this is (prosthetic orthotics is one of my customers)I'd be inclined to take the leg off and throw it in the X ray machine, and hop through insolently. And coat the leg with xray sensitive dye marker so it glows when it comes out of the machine, and start yelling "WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU DO TO MY LEG, YOU BASTARDS?"

I'm sorry you had to go through this, and I hope it's nothing you have to endure again. On the other hand, someone needs to have their asses handed to them. Wish I could tell you a good and easy way to do so.

Captcha: "Speak". Not kidding.

I have an old money clip with a built-in folding b...

2009-05-22T11:58:59.652-04:00
I have an old money clip with a built-in folding blade about 2.5" long. Fly all the time with it...just throw it in the bowl with the cash still in it along with my watch and cell phone.

Never a problem.

steve

TSA, agency of the federal government, which, acco...

2009-05-22T11:54:34.161-04:00
TSA, agency of the federal government, which, according to the Prez and Congress, is now reforming your health care and running your bank.

Nice knife. I used to have a paraframe like that....

2009-05-22T11:51:28.092-04:00
Nice knife. I used to have a paraframe like that. You should feel lucky they didn't take it from you.

Like Robb Allen, I also took a K-Bar through the TSA checkpoint in 2006, along with a Balisong, a couple of folding knives, and a multitool while on my long journey to Iraq.

Things didn't turn out so well for me.

After my release from jail, I made it to Iraq in time to call the courthouse from a satellite phone while sitting on a Hesco barrier in full vew of one of the most dangerous cities in the world. The triffling lady said that I would be arrested again upon reentry into the US if I missed my court date!

Oh my! I own the same knife as the one and only BR...

2009-05-22T11:45:52.907-04:00
Oh my! I own the same knife as the one and only BREDA!

Made my day, that did.

Mine made it around the world in carry-on luggage, or my pocket, back in the 90's when I went from MD to India, Singapore, and Japan then back to MD on a business trip.

But it has never had its picture on a blog!

My wife has flown thrice (once internationally) wi...

2009-05-22T11:25:35.708-04:00
My wife has flown thrice (once internationally) with, near as I can tell, that exact same knife in her purse.

Not once has it been noticed.

[...] Security Theater cops a feel [...]

2009-05-22T11:21:53.239-04:00
[...] Security Theater cops a feel [...]