There's a game people play in airports across Canada.

Every time they venture into the US, they meet the friendly customs agents, who ensure that us travelers are worthy to set foot into the United States.

Then, we play a game where stepping on a mat determines our destiny, and often the ability to make our flight, or drink that 5th scotch before leaving the maple leaf lounge.

I've been one of the lucky ones - I'm batting 1.000 in getting the "good" arrow, where going through security is business as usual. Stuff on the belt, a pause for the Air Canada employee cutting in front of you (where the pilot in the other line waits for her turn), and hopefully, no need to confirm that the wires in your bag are actually for your computer.

Countless others, on the other hand, get subjected to proving that those jeans could still be a bit skinnier, as they can fully fit their hands in the pockets. Their thong underwear, strewn about a cold, metallic desk like icing fluid covering a frosty wing.

My one simple question is: is the mat luck, or is there something else going on? Is it like the Mexican Green and Red "Pase" and "No Pase" lights that only recently changed from a 1970s stop light to something a bit more 21st century? Is there a camera noticing that I'm a tall white guy who really doesn't pose any trouble? Is it because my weight ends in an odd number?

Or is it just another game of chance we play any time we enter the United States?