This isn't totally new. A few years ago, Domodedovo Airport in Moscow had plans to introduce what they called a "truth detector." (How that differs from a lie detector, I don't know.)

It was a phone booth-type apparatus, in which the passenger answered questions, and the modulation of his or her voice was analyzed.

Needless to say, this would be fraught with far too many problems. We've al heard the arguments about the difficulties with polygraph tests, and the same criticisms apply for a "truth detector" or "mind reader."

I'm wondering if Miss Cleo might be available to assist at screening checkpoints.

The funny thing is that this isn't the stupidest security system I've come across. The worst was a Nixon-era suggestion of including syringes of incapacitating, paralytic medications into each seat. The captain could trigger a switch, thereby chemically paralyzing the passengers. This would raise some concerns for me, particularly about passengers maintaining their own airways.

I'm sure that we'll be hearing about similar brilliant suggestions for high tech security over the next few weeks. I'm clenching my teeth, hoping for some common sense to return one day.