The Travel Safety/Security Forum Glossary
Sep 2, 2008, 3:22 pm
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The Travel Safety/Security Forum Glossary
This glossary was developed as a result of a suggestion in this thread.
Several FlyerTalkers were very helpful in researching and writing these glossary terms including HSVTSO Dean, law dawg, Superguy, Flaflyer, goalie, Good Guy, LoganTSO, spotnik, We Will Never Forget, tmspa, Trollkiller, IrishDoesntFlyNow, Polar Man, N830MH, Ayn R Key, reamworks, DevilDog438, janetdoe and FAIPDXFlyer.
If you would like to add to this glossary or if you have any comments on it, please post here.
Thanks.
Your Travel Safety/Security Forum Moderators
scoow, Kiwi Flyer, essxjay and Cholula
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________
3 = from the LGA "3-1-1" mantra, a unit of measure equal to 3.4 ounces. Origins of "3.0 = 3.4" are sketchy, but may derive from the "2 + 2 = 5" in the DHS organizational manual, 1984.
9/11 = see OBL, same definition.
ADASP = Aviation Direct Access Screening Program = TSOs who walk around the airport grounds performing screening of airline and airport employees, the cabins of airplanes (without climbing on TAT probes) and at some airports also control entrance gates.
AFSD = Assistant Federal Security Director
AFSD-LE = Assistant Federal Security Director for Law Enforcement
AFSD-O = Assistant Federal Security Director for Operations
AFSD-S = Assistant Federal Security Director for Screening
Airline Revenue Protectors = TSO's tasked for matching ID to boarding passes.
AIT = Advanced Imaging Technology. Used instead of the older term "WBI" because too many people realized that "whole body imaging" meant they could see your whole body.
ASI = Aviation Security Inspector (aka "TSI" for "Transportation Security Inspector")
BAO = Bomb Appraisal Officer
Barker = A TSO that's constantly yelling instructions
BP = Boarding Pas s
BXR = Backscatter X-Ray-Worse than mmw, and electronic strip search machine that can also cause cancer. The TSA assures us that this is no cause for alarm.
BDO = Behavior Detection Officer aka SPOTnik
BOLO = Be On the Look Out. Information about an individual who is of interest to law enforcement. May refer to things other than individuals, but cars, for example, are unlikely visitors to a security checkpoint.
Carnival (general) = Refers to any common object that TSA deems needs additional inspection, usually unwarranted. Aside from the common shoe carnival, liquid/water, wallet, and umbrella carnivals have been reported.
CATSA = Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
CBP = Customs and Border Protection (Border Patrol and customs/immigration officers at ports of entry)
Comrade = Title that is "affectionately" used instead of Mr./Mrs./Ms. for certain DHS officals. Examples: Comrade Chertoff, Comrade Hawley. Herr/Frau/Fraulein are acceptable alternative
CoC = Contract of Carriage
COS = Customer Of Size also known as Person Of Size
C/P or CP = Security Checkpoint
DFO= Dual Function Officer (See DFS for job description)
DFS = Dual Function Screener = A TSO who works both in the passenger checkpoint and checked baggage room. Now known since 2008 as DFO.
DFSD = Deputy Federal Security Director
DHS = Department of Homeland Security
DoD = Department of Defense
DoT = Department of Transportation
DoJ = Department of Justice
Dumpster = Particularly problematic TSA checkpoints, usually the nickname for EWR Terminal A. Could also apply well to experiences at DFW.
D-Y-W-T-F-T? = "Do you want to fly today?" (a common refrain from idiot TSOs who are trying to use threats to elicit compliance from passengers)
ETD = Explosive Trace Detection (aka "sniffer")
ETP = Explosive Trace Portal (aka "puffer")
FA = Flight Attendant
FAA = Federal Aviation Administration
FAM = Federal Air Marshal
FAMS = Federal Air Marshal Service
FAMs = Federal Air Marshals
FB = Freedom Baggie AKA Kip Zips, Kip Quart Baggie, Kip Kwarts, after the "KH" of KHIAI AKA Kip or The Kipster = a one quart zip top plastic bag made by the S. C. Johnson Company, having the magical powers of rendering 3.4 ounces or less quantities of high explosive water into ordinary water as long as the zip top is securely closed.
FFDO = Federal Flight Deck Officer. An armed Pilot or First Officer.
FSD = Federal Security Director
FO = First Officer
FOUO = For Official Use Only. Another variety of unclassified but also not for public information.
GRape = A term meaning the Government Rape, Groping Rape or Genital Rape practiced by TSO's on passengers who opt out of being lethally radiated by the Nude-o-Scope.
GSC = Ground Security Coordinator (airline employee responsible for security in their area)
H2O = Dihydrogen Monoxide, the most powerful high explosive on earth according to Nobel Prize for Khemistry Winner Kip Hawley, of KHIAI fame. Can be made more powerful with the addition of best selling orange flavored powdered breakfast beverages, not to be confused with the grape-flavored powdered Flavor Aid beverage which Kip and his loyal followers are fond of.
HHMD = Hand-Held Metal Detector
IANAL = I Am Not A Lawyer
ICE = Immigration and Customs Enforcement (the investigators of the Immigration/Customs branch)
ID = Identification = easily forgeable documents which "KH" of KHIAI somehow equates with security.
Janet Napolitano = Current DHS Secretary.
John Pistole = Current Administrator of the TSA from mid-2010 thru ??.
JPIAI = John Pistole Is An Idiot.
JUNK = A certain anatomical structure found in men which is located between the legs. Also referred to as "private parts". "family jewels" or "the place where the sun don't shine"
KGB = variations STASI, SS, Gestapo = totalitarian secret police organizations existing prior to the DHS. The underground thumping sound you hear is Stalin and Himmler rolling over in their graves, kicking and screaming over their misfortune to come along 50 years too early, for if only they had the computer power of DHS you would be reading this in German or Russian.
Kip Hawley/Kip/The Kipster = The Ex-Administrator of the TSA.
Kippie bag = The magical plastic bag that turns exploding liquids into inert substances.
KST = Kabuki Security Theatre = after the Japanese stylized theatre, i.e TSA checkpoint modus operandi, where an impressive display of bluff, barking, blue shirts and badges impresses the he!! out of infrequent flyers, known as Ma and Pa Kettle and/or Sheeple, to the point they predictably say "well, I guess, anything for security" when a reporter shoves a microphone in their face as they wait in the 1 hour checkpoint line in Concourse C for the TDC to shine his UV on their ID.
LEO = Law Enforcement Officer
LES = Law Enforcement Sensitive
LGA = Liquids, Gels, and Aerosols (aka "LAG" - Liquids and Gels)
LTSO = Lead Transportation Security Officer (aka "two-stripers")
Ma and Pa Kettle/The Kettles = A name for the occasional or inexperienced traveller. Sometimes also called Joe SixPack and Granny.
Mag = Magnetometer, more accurately known as a Walk-Through Metal Detector
Moat = Nickname for Security Checkpoint
Moat dragon = The TSO standing at the WTMD.
MMW = Millimeter Wave portal (aka "electronic strip-search machine")
Nappy = See Janet Napolitano.
NFL = No Fly List, a List which cannot be properly be publicly defined, as the Flyertalk word censors and TOS prevent an accurate description, even in OMNI.
NIT = Not an International Terrorist = DHS/TSA employees.
NOOD = National Opt-Out Day
NoS = Nude-o-Scope, more descriptive, insulting replacement for WBI...see http://www.nudeoscope.com/ to download an anti-WBI
NSC = National Security Council
OBL = Osama Bin Laden
Pax = Passengers
PC = Probable Cause (standard that must be met before a LEO can make an arrest)
PIC = Pilot in Command
PII = Personally Identifiable Information, aka privacy information. This is information that can be used to identify a specific person from the general population, and also requires special government safeguards and protections.
Pissy = See John S. Pistole.
POE = Port of Entry (land or airport entry into the USA)
POP = Pissing off Police (many actual charges are actually some form of this
)
Porno-Vision: see NoS/Nude-o-Scope
Propaganda Village - Nickname for TSA's blog. Named for Gijeong-dong on the North Korean side of the DMZ. It looks good from afar and blares propaganda into the South about how great the North is. However, no one lives there except a few caretakers, there's no windows in the buildings, and the whole town was built for show. They also have the largest flag pole in the world to show how great they are. Now substitute Big Catches®, 9/11, no real substance to their security and the constant propaganda coming out of them
PV= See Propaganda Village above.
RMA = Respect Ma Authoratay = Power tripping atitude by persons given more power than they can handle. Commonly displayed by the same TSO one stripers (see definition) who utter D-Y-W-T-F-T? (see definition)
RS = Reasonable Suspicion
SBU = Sensitive But Unclassified. A catch-all TLA for all of the large variety of information that is not for public release, but is also not classified. Includes SSI, PII, FOUO, LES, and probably some others.
SDOO = Self-Directed Opt Out (as in choosing not to go through the Nude-O-Scope)
Selectee = The act of having "SSSS" printed on your boarding card by your air carrier, subjecting you to additional screening at the checkpoint (aka "haraSSSSment," aka "the SSSS treatment").
Sheeple = A tongue-in-cheek term for those passengers that blindly, unquestionably and mindlessly follow all TSA edicts. And are even grateful for being inconvenienced because it's for "my security".
Shoe carnival = Term introduced by Spiff referring to the practice of requiring shoes to removal prior to going thru the WTMD.
SIT = Suspected International Terrorist = every other citizen of planet Earth who is not a DHS/TSA employee.
Skeletor = Nickname for Michael Chertoff as some think he looks like Skeletor, the arch enemy to He-Man. See picture for comparison.
smurf = a term for a TSO in reference to their police-like blue uniform. (Usage is now inappropriate.)
Spiff = Most outspoken TSA disparager on FT.
Spokeshole = TSA PR people tasked with spin and propaganda.
SOP = Standard Operating Procedure, formerly the holy writ by which all TSA screening personnel were expected to perform. Now being cast in the mold more of a guideline.
SPOT = Screening of Passengers by Observation Technique. Those DHS personnel who have been trained in this are known as BDO's or SPOTniks.
SSI = something so secret even HSVTSO Dean had to leave it off his list.
SSSS = The haraSSSSment flag found on boarding passes letting you know that you won the secondary lottery. May or may not be printed as a retaliatory measure. (See also Selectee.)
SS.SS = Properly, a reference to DHS 'See Something, Say Something' campaign; informally, any act of reporting suspicious behavior to law enforcement, public transportation officials, airline personnel or other authorities. Variants include 'SS/SS', 'SS, SS' and similar.
STSO = Supervisory Transportation Security Officer (aka "three-stripers," aka "sups")
Three-Striper = Number of stripes on a TSO's epaulet indicates his/her supervisory rank.
TLA = Three Letter Acronym. Government entities, including TSA, are in love with them. ETLA: Extended Three Letter Acronyms. Government entities love these as well. Used when a TLA just isn't enough.
TSA = Transportation Security Administration
TSAhole = A particularly abusive TSO. (Usage is now inappropriate.)
TSA love note = Notice of Baggage Inspection. A leaflet/placard left in a passenger's checked baggage indicating the bag was opened up by the TSA in the bag room because it looked weird... and they might have had to cut your locks.
Travel Sentry lock = TSA certified lock that comes with various standarized locks allowing the TSA to open them with a the correctly numbered key. Some are key-only others are key and combonation, some come with a little indicator telling your bag was opened in search/panty raid and that you'll find a notice of inspection/love note inside.
TSM = Transportation Security Manager
TS = Top Secret
TSI = Transportation Security Inspector. See also ASI.
TSO = Transportation Security Officer (aka "goons," aka "smurfs," aka "TSAbots," et al)
TDC = Travel Document Checker
UM = Unaccompanied Minor
UV = Ultra Violet = Blacklight = Magic flashlight = a handheld device for the Government make work program to employ TDCs, who shine it on 2 million IDs per day to make sure none contain the invisible secret phrase "This passenger is really Osama Bin Laden in disguise". Success rate to date = 100%.
USB = Unusual / Suspicious Behavior
UTB = Un-Ticketed Baby ( Lap Baby)
VIPR = Visual Intermodal Prevention and Response (taking security screening to baffling new heights using strange techniques in places other than airports)
WBI = Whole Body Imaging
WEI= Weapons, Explosives and Incendiaries
WTMD = Walk-Through Metal Detector
Several FlyerTalkers were very helpful in researching and writing these glossary terms including HSVTSO Dean, law dawg, Superguy, Flaflyer, goalie, Good Guy, LoganTSO, spotnik, We Will Never Forget, tmspa, Trollkiller, IrishDoesntFlyNow, Polar Man, N830MH, Ayn R Key, reamworks, DevilDog438, janetdoe and FAIPDXFlyer.
If you would like to add to this glossary or if you have any comments on it, please post here.
Thanks.
Your Travel Safety/Security Forum Moderators
scoow, Kiwi Flyer, essxjay and Cholula
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ __________
3 = from the LGA "3-1-1" mantra, a unit of measure equal to 3.4 ounces. Origins of "3.0 = 3.4" are sketchy, but may derive from the "2 + 2 = 5" in the DHS organizational manual, 1984.
9/11 = see OBL, same definition.
ADASP = Aviation Direct Access Screening Program = TSOs who walk around the airport grounds performing screening of airline and airport employees, the cabins of airplanes (without climbing on TAT probes) and at some airports also control entrance gates.
AFSD = Assistant Federal Security Director
AFSD-LE = Assistant Federal Security Director for Law Enforcement
AFSD-O = Assistant Federal Security Director for Operations
AFSD-S = Assistant Federal Security Director for Screening
Airline Revenue Protectors = TSO's tasked for matching ID to boarding passes.
AIT = Advanced Imaging Technology. Used instead of the older term "WBI" because too many people realized that "whole body imaging" meant they could see your whole body.
ASI = Aviation Security Inspector (aka "TSI" for "Transportation Security Inspector")
BAO = Bomb Appraisal Officer
Barker = A TSO that's constantly yelling instructions
BP = Boarding Pas s
BXR = Backscatter X-Ray-Worse than mmw, and electronic strip search machine that can also cause cancer. The TSA assures us that this is no cause for alarm.
BDO = Behavior Detection Officer aka SPOTnik
BOLO = Be On the Look Out. Information about an individual who is of interest to law enforcement. May refer to things other than individuals, but cars, for example, are unlikely visitors to a security checkpoint.
Carnival (general) = Refers to any common object that TSA deems needs additional inspection, usually unwarranted. Aside from the common shoe carnival, liquid/water, wallet, and umbrella carnivals have been reported.
CATSA = Canadian Air Transport Security Authority
CBP = Customs and Border Protection (Border Patrol and customs/immigration officers at ports of entry)
Comrade = Title that is "affectionately" used instead of Mr./Mrs./Ms. for certain DHS officals. Examples: Comrade Chertoff, Comrade Hawley. Herr/Frau/Fraulein are acceptable alternative
CoC = Contract of Carriage
COS = Customer Of Size also known as Person Of Size
C/P or CP = Security Checkpoint
DFO= Dual Function Officer (See DFS for job description)
DFS = Dual Function Screener = A TSO who works both in the passenger checkpoint and checked baggage room. Now known since 2008 as DFO.
DFSD = Deputy Federal Security Director
DHS = Department of Homeland Security
DoD = Department of Defense
DoT = Department of Transportation
DoJ = Department of Justice
Dumpster = Particularly problematic TSA checkpoints, usually the nickname for EWR Terminal A. Could also apply well to experiences at DFW.
D-Y-W-T-F-T? = "Do you want to fly today?" (a common refrain from idiot TSOs who are trying to use threats to elicit compliance from passengers)
ETD = Explosive Trace Detection (aka "sniffer")
ETP = Explosive Trace Portal (aka "puffer")
FA = Flight Attendant
FAA = Federal Aviation Administration
FAM = Federal Air Marshal
FAMS = Federal Air Marshal Service
FAMs = Federal Air Marshals
FB = Freedom Baggie AKA Kip Zips, Kip Quart Baggie, Kip Kwarts, after the "KH" of KHIAI AKA Kip or The Kipster = a one quart zip top plastic bag made by the S. C. Johnson Company, having the magical powers of rendering 3.4 ounces or less quantities of high explosive water into ordinary water as long as the zip top is securely closed.
FFDO = Federal Flight Deck Officer. An armed Pilot or First Officer.
FSD = Federal Security Director
FO = First Officer
FOUO = For Official Use Only. Another variety of unclassified but also not for public information.
GRape = A term meaning the Government Rape, Groping Rape or Genital Rape practiced by TSO's on passengers who opt out of being lethally radiated by the Nude-o-Scope.
GSC = Ground Security Coordinator (airline employee responsible for security in their area)
H2O = Dihydrogen Monoxide, the most powerful high explosive on earth according to Nobel Prize for Khemistry Winner Kip Hawley, of KHIAI fame. Can be made more powerful with the addition of best selling orange flavored powdered breakfast beverages, not to be confused with the grape-flavored powdered Flavor Aid beverage which Kip and his loyal followers are fond of.
HHMD = Hand-Held Metal Detector
IANAL = I Am Not A Lawyer
ICE = Immigration and Customs Enforcement (the investigators of the Immigration/Customs branch)
ID = Identification = easily forgeable documents which "KH" of KHIAI somehow equates with security.
Janet Napolitano = Current DHS Secretary.
John Pistole = Current Administrator of the TSA from mid-2010 thru ??.
JPIAI = John Pistole Is An Idiot.
JUNK = A certain anatomical structure found in men which is located between the legs. Also referred to as "private parts". "family jewels" or "the place where the sun don't shine"
KGB = variations STASI, SS, Gestapo = totalitarian secret police organizations existing prior to the DHS. The underground thumping sound you hear is Stalin and Himmler rolling over in their graves, kicking and screaming over their misfortune to come along 50 years too early, for if only they had the computer power of DHS you would be reading this in German or Russian.
Kip Hawley/Kip/The Kipster = The Ex-Administrator of the TSA.
Kippie bag = The magical plastic bag that turns exploding liquids into inert substances.
KST = Kabuki Security Theatre = after the Japanese stylized theatre, i.e TSA checkpoint modus operandi, where an impressive display of bluff, barking, blue shirts and badges impresses the he!! out of infrequent flyers, known as Ma and Pa Kettle and/or Sheeple, to the point they predictably say "well, I guess, anything for security" when a reporter shoves a microphone in their face as they wait in the 1 hour checkpoint line in Concourse C for the TDC to shine his UV on their ID.
LEO = Law Enforcement Officer
LES = Law Enforcement Sensitive
LGA = Liquids, Gels, and Aerosols (aka "LAG" - Liquids and Gels)
LTSO = Lead Transportation Security Officer (aka "two-stripers")
Ma and Pa Kettle/The Kettles = A name for the occasional or inexperienced traveller. Sometimes also called Joe SixPack and Granny.
Mag = Magnetometer, more accurately known as a Walk-Through Metal Detector
Moat = Nickname for Security Checkpoint
Moat dragon = The TSO standing at the WTMD.
MMW = Millimeter Wave portal (aka "electronic strip-search machine")
Nappy = See Janet Napolitano.
NFL = No Fly List, a List which cannot be properly be publicly defined, as the Flyertalk word censors and TOS prevent an accurate description, even in OMNI.
NIT = Not an International Terrorist = DHS/TSA employees.
NOOD = National Opt-Out Day
NoS = Nude-o-Scope, more descriptive, insulting replacement for WBI...see http://www.nudeoscope.com/ to download an anti-WBI
NSC = National Security Council
OBL = Osama Bin Laden
Pax = Passengers
PC = Probable Cause (standard that must be met before a LEO can make an arrest)
PIC = Pilot in Command
PII = Personally Identifiable Information, aka privacy information. This is information that can be used to identify a specific person from the general population, and also requires special government safeguards and protections.
Pissy = See John S. Pistole.
POE = Port of Entry (land or airport entry into the USA)
POP = Pissing off Police (many actual charges are actually some form of this
)Porno-Vision: see NoS/Nude-o-Scope
Propaganda Village - Nickname for TSA's blog. Named for Gijeong-dong on the North Korean side of the DMZ. It looks good from afar and blares propaganda into the South about how great the North is. However, no one lives there except a few caretakers, there's no windows in the buildings, and the whole town was built for show. They also have the largest flag pole in the world to show how great they are. Now substitute Big Catches®, 9/11, no real substance to their security and the constant propaganda coming out of them
PV= See Propaganda Village above.
RMA = Respect Ma Authoratay = Power tripping atitude by persons given more power than they can handle. Commonly displayed by the same TSO one stripers (see definition) who utter D-Y-W-T-F-T? (see definition)
RS = Reasonable Suspicion
SBU = Sensitive But Unclassified. A catch-all TLA for all of the large variety of information that is not for public release, but is also not classified. Includes SSI, PII, FOUO, LES, and probably some others.
SDOO = Self-Directed Opt Out (as in choosing not to go through the Nude-O-Scope)
Selectee = The act of having "SSSS" printed on your boarding card by your air carrier, subjecting you to additional screening at the checkpoint (aka "haraSSSSment," aka "the SSSS treatment").
Sheeple = A tongue-in-cheek term for those passengers that blindly, unquestionably and mindlessly follow all TSA edicts. And are even grateful for being inconvenienced because it's for "my security".
Shoe carnival = Term introduced by Spiff referring to the practice of requiring shoes to removal prior to going thru the WTMD.
SIT = Suspected International Terrorist = every other citizen of planet Earth who is not a DHS/TSA employee.
Skeletor = Nickname for Michael Chertoff as some think he looks like Skeletor, the arch enemy to He-Man. See picture for comparison.
smurf = a term for a TSO in reference to their police-like blue uniform. (Usage is now inappropriate.)
Spiff = Most outspoken TSA disparager on FT.
Spokeshole = TSA PR people tasked with spin and propaganda.
SOP = Standard Operating Procedure, formerly the holy writ by which all TSA screening personnel were expected to perform. Now being cast in the mold more of a guideline.
SPOT = Screening of Passengers by Observation Technique. Those DHS personnel who have been trained in this are known as BDO's or SPOTniks.
SSI = something so secret even HSVTSO Dean had to leave it off his list.
SSSS = The haraSSSSment flag found on boarding passes letting you know that you won the secondary lottery. May or may not be printed as a retaliatory measure. (See also Selectee.)
SS.SS = Properly, a reference to DHS 'See Something, Say Something' campaign; informally, any act of reporting suspicious behavior to law enforcement, public transportation officials, airline personnel or other authorities. Variants include 'SS/SS', 'SS, SS' and similar.
STSO = Supervisory Transportation Security Officer (aka "three-stripers," aka "sups")
Three-Striper = Number of stripes on a TSO's epaulet indicates his/her supervisory rank.
TLA = Three Letter Acronym. Government entities, including TSA, are in love with them. ETLA: Extended Three Letter Acronyms. Government entities love these as well. Used when a TLA just isn't enough.
TSA = Transportation Security Administration
TSAhole = A particularly abusive TSO. (Usage is now inappropriate.)
TSA love note = Notice of Baggage Inspection. A leaflet/placard left in a passenger's checked baggage indicating the bag was opened up by the TSA in the bag room because it looked weird... and they might have had to cut your locks.
Travel Sentry lock = TSA certified lock that comes with various standarized locks allowing the TSA to open them with a the correctly numbered key. Some are key-only others are key and combonation, some come with a little indicator telling your bag was opened in search/panty raid and that you'll find a notice of inspection/love note inside.
TSM = Transportation Security Manager
TS = Top Secret
TSI = Transportation Security Inspector. See also ASI.
TSO = Transportation Security Officer (aka "goons," aka "smurfs," aka "TSAbots," et al)
TDC = Travel Document Checker
UM = Unaccompanied Minor
UV = Ultra Violet = Blacklight = Magic flashlight = a handheld device for the Government make work program to employ TDCs, who shine it on 2 million IDs per day to make sure none contain the invisible secret phrase "This passenger is really Osama Bin Laden in disguise". Success rate to date = 100%.
USB = Unusual / Suspicious Behavior
UTB = Un-Ticketed Baby ( Lap Baby)
VIPR = Visual Intermodal Prevention and Response (taking security screening to baffling new heights using strange techniques in places other than airports)
WBI = Whole Body Imaging
WEI= Weapons, Explosives and Incendiaries
WTMD = Walk-Through Metal Detector
Last edited by scoow; Jun 26, 2012 at 1:26 pm Reason: added 'USB'
