Clearly what is a liquid, gel or whatever continues to be beyond the comprehension of the frequent flyer who reads the TSA rules and guidelines, and the TSO who is charged with enforcing them.

A simple way of clearing up this confusion would be to make the rules and guidelines more specific. I have in prior posts suggested rewritting the guidelines to define an acceptable limit on viscosity (including standard conditions for temperature, humidity and atmospheric pressure). This would eliminate the subjectivity that appears to be practiced.

Now once some of the TSO's can master this simple concept we can then go to work on the more elusive and much more technically challenging concept of the difference between a liquid ounce and a weight ounce. And yes Virginia, "ml" in 100 ml does stand for something!