I would, yes. Basically, I want security procedures to take into account the ways that air travel is not like other forms of transport, or just being in public. Knives, I don't really care. Bombs are a bigger issue, since a bomb on a plane can do much more damage than a similar sized bomb in public (i.e. make the plane crash). Weapons or items that can be used to breach the cockpit door, I also want kept off planes (i.e. no issue with brass knuckles, but no crowbars). Guns also, as a higher chance for mayhem (and large #s of casualties) than knives, plus at least the potential to down the plane, or breach the cockpit door).

WTMD plus xray of hand luggage seems to me to be an entirely reasonable level of security, and a fair balance between security and privacy/dignity/convenience/cost.

In the world of my dreams, airlines would choose the level of security they wished to provide and customers could make an informed decision on which airline to use based on their personal preferences. It may be nothing, everything or something in between.

I said I was dreaming, but it is the foundation of liberty.

Had that happen a few times, but not invariably. Concern seemed to be that there were several cases (Pam Am 103 comes to mind) where explosives were hidden in electronics. Also, I've heard (by no means an expert on this) that x-rays, at least at the time, had a hard time distinguishing between battery packs and a similarly-shaped block of plastic explosive.

Excellent post. ^

For those too young to remember PanAm 103: the explosive device was in a suitcase in the baggage hold, placed there by an airline employee with access to the loading process who was part of the plot. The device itself never passed through what carry-on security procedures existed at that time.

Yes, and such a suggestion is the "straw man" that TSA supporters trot out as being the only alternative. That's because it's the only sustainable argument they have.

I like to think that the majority of FT posters are far more sensible.
Huh? Where is there security on a city bus outside of Israel?

http://articles.latimes.com/2000/jun/02/news/mn-36599 <- Actual case of a gun hidden in a camera used to end a hostage situation. Unlike the shoe/underwear/liquid/toner bomb plots, where there has not been a single demonstrated success.

I think you all do have a valid point: WTMDs do keep guns off planes, which can, in fact, be a _huge_ risk if a passenger gets irate.

I saw a pro-TSA article pointing out that, before 9/11, screeners missed 20% of undercover gun-through-the-checkpoint tests--a _huge_ security hole. If the TSA only missed 20% of undercover tests, they'd be trumpeting that off the mountaintops.

It was not uncommon, when we provisioned a laptop for a sales person we always included a bootable dos disk for them to stick in should they be asked. It booted to dos much faster off the floppy

For the young people, floppies were storage devices you inserted into a drive that held about 1.4 megs of data at the time :D

It really did not prove anything, you could still pack a laptop with explosives by removing the CD drive, packing the empty spaces in it, packing half the battery pack and leaving only enough smaller cells to power it up and trigger it, etc. Many laptops could handle two battery packs, but only took one to power up, you could pack the second pack, etc.

Security theater is nothing new, just enforced by new people.

Add a complete set of Torx bits, Philips, and hex bits, a torque wrench, and a 2-C MagLite.

My boss used to laugh at me about the MagLite until we got stuck in an elevator for about half an hour in SF after a minor earthquake, and I let him burn his thumb on his lighter before pulling the flashlight out.

That's a 3.5" HD. Anyone else remember the 8" 180k, or the 5.25" 360k?

That assumption is an unfortunate example of "security" being perceived as extremes of guns, unlawful detention and unwarranted searches. ;)

City buses I use have simple rules about display of weapons (varying by state), threatening behavior, and appropriate use of the vehicle's components. None of these rules prevent threats all by themselves; they serve to screen riders more likely to cause problems. Many buses have cameras, which assist in identifying and prosecuting bad actors as well as accident analysis. Drivers have communication with their base, authorization to eject riders, and high priority if they call LE. ALL of that is security. Pilots have far less flexibility to eject troublesome passenger or call the cops, so adaptation is necessary.

Even LEOs on every corner carrying lethal force cannot provide "security," as anyone who has traveled in certain areas can attest. Security is the reasonable expectation of going about one's daily business unmolested, which is far more complex than mere deployment of force.

I have an 8 inch disk on the wall, the young people ask what's that thing?

I don't remember any laptops though that accepted them :D

Oh, the memories!

But wasn't the 1.4mg 3.5" FD a late improvement in capacity?

Very late. And the last floppy that got wide circulation (there were some variants that were never very popular...)

I remember one "luggable" that did, but it was a custom job.

I was regularly required to turn it on at DCA during the '90's. Especially at the temporary US/DL terminal. I know one guy who ended up with a trashed hard drive as a result of the security folks requiring this, then either shutting it down immediately during the boot or closing the lid early in the boot.

This. And with the newer laptops, a small battery the size of a 9-volt ought to do the trick.