Guess what? The TSA has decided small pocketknives are no longer deadly!

More here.

That's good news...

It looks like a FORMER TSA agent - one who was arrested for having child porn on his computer a year ago was just sentenced. There's one down...how many more still work for TSA?

Flying soon? Want to see whether you might get a pat-down?

I came across this post via BoingBoing. I don't plan on flying any time soon, but I know plenty of folks out there regularly fly all over the dang place. I figure this information might come in handy.

Also, buried in the comments on the BoingBoing post, I found what appears to be the TSA manual for barcode implementation. I've grabbed the .pdf and will dig for the info when I have some time.

If this doesn't prove the TSA has no purpose, I don't know what will.

Now the "do-you-know-who-I-am??!?" set can go through TSA screening without patdowns. I mean, we CAN'T have the TSA patting down Beyonce. JUST IMAGINE WHAT IT WOULD DO TO THEIR IMAGE AS A GOVERNMENT AGENCY!!


While you're at it, this is worth a read.

Aww, poor baby.

Apparently a TSA agent reported sexual assault from a fellow TSA agent. Apparently she felt they retaliated against her, and now she's suing.

I have no pity. It's about time they experience this crap directly.

Via BoingBoing.

Well shit.

There goes THAT idea.


H/t to Mike

Okay, now I've seen everything.

How is this right?



Seriously, how?

ETA: I've since read this was due to a frustrated father removing the boy's shirt "because the TSA kept trying to pat the kid down, but said kid wasn't playing. It was out of rage and frustration. The TSA agent put it back on him." I'm glad for some clarification, despite guaranteeing that child will end up scarred from this. It seems we have no escape from the bullshit, save not flying.

I suppose I'm one of the lucky ones - while I flew regularly before the attacks in New York, I have only flown a handful of times since then. Of those flights, only one encounter with TSA agents left me slightly annoyed...so I was unaware just how bad some of these agents really are. Now that they're given more liberty to abuse passengers, their true natures are coming to the surface, and it's appalling. C and I have elected to avoid flying as much as possible, and instead will invest in a camper for vacations. With that, we'll avoid both the TSA AND bedbugs while spending less in gas and lodging. I call that a win.

Other recent links regarding the TSA:
Rape survivors are having mental breakdowns over the patdown procedure. Next time someone says modesty shouldn't be an issue in this country, please, smack the shit out of them for me...then make them read that.
Thanks to an agent ignoring this man, he was forced to board a plane covered in his own urine.
Apparently TSA agents resent the enhanced patdown. Aww, poor babies. Maybe if more of them stood up to those enforcing these policies, something would happen. ...Not that I'd expect any of them to actually say anything to anyone about it. It's easier to whine to a reporter than it is to protest within one's agency.
The ACA wants improved screening procedures. as Breda has said, amputees have had constant issues with the TSA since their inception.
And the very best link of the day? Bruce Schneier, the gentleman who coined the term "security theater," says TSA Scans "Won't Catch Anybody". Imagine that.
If you or someone you know feels they've been abused while going through TSA screening, the ACLU has a complaint form here.

Hopefully someone will get a clue and actually do something to avoid the hell they're putting people through.



......Now if only that weren't wishful thinking.......

Who approved this?

C and I are discussing the idea of getting a camper to tow behind the truck.  This would allow for more affordable and accessible vacations, with the bonus of avoiding flying (and the added stress and financial bullshit).  I think we'd be able to avoid flying for the most part...unless, of course, we were to go overseas.

When greeted by the prospect of that x-ray machine, which has a sole purpose of giving the agent at the screen either wank material or a case of the giggles, I know I'd opt for the pat-down.  That should be safer and less humiliating, right?

Maybe not.

 Now I'm facing a dilemma.  I know that I have at least one trip in my future that involves flying.  When dealing with the pat-down from hell, should I:

1. Act overly excited before being touched by the officer, moan and groan like I'm enjoying it too much, then ask them to continue/keep going/do it harder when they're getting close to the end?
2. Close my eyes, "lie back, and think of England?"
3. Scream (loudly) about bad touches in my no-no places, followed by hysterical crying?

I'm torn.

At least guys have a great way of making the agents uncomfortable:

(click to embiggen)