New security technology? HOU
Aug 14, 2014, 6:31 pm
#47
Join Date: May 2010
Location: HOU, occasional IAH
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Posts: 392
So, after going through Pre at the checkpoint I pointed to the foreign object and asked "What are those? Are they new?" And the lovely, pleasant TSA matron said, "I don't know what they are."
I just love added layers of security, don't you? They make me feel so safe.
Aug 14, 2014, 7:03 pm
#48
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SYD (perenially), GVA (not in a long time)
Programs: QF PS, EK-Gold, Security Theatre Critic
Posts: 6,765
You and I, not being TSA employees, might foolishly assume that someone could just tell the checkpoint staff "we're installing these new wobulators to scan passengers for soylent green" and that would be that. But that just shows how naive we are.
Let us never forget that this is an organization that had to train its staff when they changed the rules from "shoes in the bin" to "shoes on the belt" (and back again) (and then round in circles for a while). This is an organization that trains (and retrains, and re-re-trains) its employees to recognize a Nexus card. An organization that is still re-re-re-training its staff (except for the person in your photo, apparently) that photography IS allowed at the checkpoint. Most importantly, this is an organization that delayed allowing little pointy things through the checkpoint because it had to allow weeks to train its staff to allow little pointy things through the checkpoint. (By which time the policy had been attacked and cancelled.)
So no doubt over the next 6 to 9 months, the staff in HOU will get the appropriate training on what the heck those things are.
And you will feel so much safer, because the next time you ask, she won't say "I don't know. " She'll say "I can't tell you."
Aug 14, 2014, 9:15 pm
#49
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Baltimore, MD USA
Programs: Southwest Rapid Rewards. Tha... that's about it.
Posts: 4,331
Ah, well, she clearly hasn't been trained in the new technology yet. @:-)
You and I, not being TSA employees, might foolishly assume that someone could just tell the checkpoint staff "we're installing these new wobulators to scan passengers for soylent green" and that would be that. But that just shows how naive we are.
Let us never forget that this is an organization that had to train its staff when they changed the rules from "shoes in the bin" to "shoes on the belt" (and back again) (and then round in circles for a while). This is an organization that trains (and retrains, and re-re-trains) its employees to recognize a Nexus card. An organization that is still re-re-re-training its staff (except for the person in your photo, apparently) that photography IS allowed at the checkpoint. Most importantly, this is an organization that delayed allowing little pointy things through the checkpoint because it had to allow weeks to train its staff to allow little pointy things through the checkpoint. (By which time the policy had been attacked and cancelled.)
So no doubt over the next 6 to 9 months, the staff in HOU will get the appropriate training on what the heck those things are.
And you will feel so much safer, because the next time you ask, she won't say "I don't know. " She'll say "I can't tell you."
You and I, not being TSA employees, might foolishly assume that someone could just tell the checkpoint staff "we're installing these new wobulators to scan passengers for soylent green" and that would be that. But that just shows how naive we are.
Let us never forget that this is an organization that had to train its staff when they changed the rules from "shoes in the bin" to "shoes on the belt" (and back again) (and then round in circles for a while). This is an organization that trains (and retrains, and re-re-trains) its employees to recognize a Nexus card. An organization that is still re-re-re-training its staff (except for the person in your photo, apparently) that photography IS allowed at the checkpoint. Most importantly, this is an organization that delayed allowing little pointy things through the checkpoint because it had to allow weeks to train its staff to allow little pointy things through the checkpoint. (By which time the policy had been attacked and cancelled.)
So no doubt over the next 6 to 9 months, the staff in HOU will get the appropriate training on what the heck those things are.
And you will feel so much safer, because the next time you ask, she won't say "I don't know. " She'll say "I can't tell you."
"Abject stupidity is our most important layer of security. If WE don't know what the hell we're doing, The Terrorists will certainly never be able to guess what we're doing, and they'll NEVER be able to foil us!"
Aug 20, 2014, 8:48 pm
#50
Join Date: May 2010
Location: HOU, occasional IAH
Programs: WN A+ CP, IHG Status-of-the-Day, Avis First. **Freedom fighter: One grope at a time.**
Posts: 392
Yesterday I asked again about the new HOU detecto widgets and a 3 striper told me they are cameras. When I asked if they were to watch the travelers or the TSA I don't think she found my question as amusing as I did. 
Aug 21, 2014, 7:57 am
#51
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 959
Thanks for your detective work, though. It will be nice to know that "Big Brother" is closely watching next time I go through the HOU Security Theatre Gauntlet!
Aug 21, 2014, 6:40 pm
#53
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Join Date: Sep 2006
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They'd find it even less funny if you looked up and announced (loudly): 'those must be the new radiation detectors I read about! Remember when they had to take out the BSX but they said the MMW was safe? Guess what!'
Oct 26, 2014, 12:04 am
#55
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Yeah, he will get a big trouble. He can't taking a pictures without TSA permission. No photography allowed! TSA will not like that. They won't let you to take a pictures. TSA had it right not to take a photos. Photography & fliming is prohibited.
Oct 26, 2014, 9:35 am
#56
Join Date: May 2010
Location: HOU, occasional IAH
Programs: WN A+ CP, IHG Status-of-the-Day, Avis First. **Freedom fighter: One grope at a time.**
Posts: 392
Oct 26, 2014, 2:25 pm
#58
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No they won't. Yes, they can. Yes, it is. It doesn't matter what TSA likes. They can't stop someone. No they didn't. No it isn't.
Oct 27, 2014, 12:01 am
#59
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Lucky! She didn't get arrested for that. She have stay away from TSA by approximately 500 feet.
Who cares? Back off! You can't be disrespecting at me. TSA had it right not to take a pictures. You had respect that. You don't want to get into trouble.
Who cares? Back off! You can't be disrespecting at me. TSA had it right not to take a pictures. You had respect that. You don't want to get into trouble.
Oct 27, 2014, 6:58 am
#60
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Houston
Posts: 8,956
Section 2.7(a) of the last publicly available Screening Management SOP states, "TSA does not prohibit the public, passengers, or press from photographing, videotaping, or filming screening locations unless the activity interferes with a TSO’s ability to perform his or her duties or prevents the orderly flow of individuals through the screening location."
Do you have any facts to back up your statements?
