And you thought liquid checks were bad....Here come powders
#211
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#212
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Originally Posted by New York Times Blog
“While there is no specific threat at this time,” according to the statement, the [TSA] is instituting the new screening measure “to enhance our existing explosives detection capabilities and further strengthen our layers of security.”
EDIT: Here’s a link to the ambiguous TSA press release.
We have officially started the Wah on Powdah™.
Last edited by N965VJ; Sep 8, 2009 at 1:28 pm
#213
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Aargh...
I depend on an anti-blister powder (Blister Shield) made of powdered polyethylene, PTFE (basically powdered teflon), and and micronized wax. It looks a lot like powdered sugar, and I quit carrying around small quantities in a baggie because of what that looked like -- now I just bring along the 8 oz. tub, which weighs hardly anything.
Is this likely to be a problem going forward? Are they going to open up my jar and poke around it in? If any gets on the floor they're entirely likely to have some great slip and falls because it creates a really, really slick surface.
Does TSA realize that many, many items when powdered potentially have the possibility of exploding, which is why grain and flour silos have dust control systems these days?
I depend on an anti-blister powder (Blister Shield) made of powdered polyethylene, PTFE (basically powdered teflon), and and micronized wax. It looks a lot like powdered sugar, and I quit carrying around small quantities in a baggie because of what that looked like -- now I just bring along the 8 oz. tub, which weighs hardly anything.
Is this likely to be a problem going forward? Are they going to open up my jar and poke around it in? If any gets on the floor they're entirely likely to have some great slip and falls because it creates a really, really slick surface.
Does TSA realize that many, many items when powdered potentially have the possibility of exploding, which is why grain and flour silos have dust control systems these days?
#214
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as i posted over here:
tho i do like the fact that where x-ray's cannot detect explosves, they will be used as the primary focus to detect explosive powders
Officers will use X-ray technology to determine which substances may require additional screening
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So, let's get this straight.. either they are going to test ashes of the dead in transported funeral urns (I can't see that happening) or this is one more brain dead measure with a huge gaping obvious hole in it.
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#218
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Neither FLL nor LAX found the mound of liquid and gel bottles I had artfully concealed in my bag - so my guess is they won't find any powders I'm carrying, although I don't think I really carry any powders around. Maybe I'll try
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#222
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I think with Fofana, TSA lost the ability to go on fishing expeditions for things like powders that may be concealed, perhaps artfully.
TSA got slapped down in Fofana because the screener searched the envelopes looking for contraband despite the fact that she cleared them for weapons, incendiaries, and such. The rule would apply to other things.
Now comes the powders rule. Person hides a powder, say coke, inside a sealed envelope. Screener feels it, and feels the powder. Under Fofana, the screener wouldn't be able to do anything else - they'd have to let it go. However, now that TSA has defined powders to be a threat, screener can now open the envelope to "test" the powder. Oops, it wasn't an explosive, but just happened to be coke. TSA makes a Big Catch® and puts the news on its website and PV.
In theory, Fofana would still protect against the search for things like passports, but nowdrugs powders are fair game and TSA has a carte blanche to look for them.
Super
TSA got slapped down in Fofana because the screener searched the envelopes looking for contraband despite the fact that she cleared them for weapons, incendiaries, and such. The rule would apply to other things.
Now comes the powders rule. Person hides a powder, say coke, inside a sealed envelope. Screener feels it, and feels the powder. Under Fofana, the screener wouldn't be able to do anything else - they'd have to let it go. However, now that TSA has defined powders to be a threat, screener can now open the envelope to "test" the powder. Oops, it wasn't an explosive, but just happened to be coke. TSA makes a Big Catch® and puts the news on its website and PV.
In theory, Fofana would still protect against the search for things like passports, but now
Super
#223
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Oh, good, it's finally an outed, public conversation topic now.
Ahem.
Not exactly.
Powders, in general, have a very distinctive look to them on the x-ray. They almost look like liquids, actually - especially if it's a very fine-grained powder - but but it doesn't take a half-second to resolve it as actually being powder. Whether or not it's the brand of explosives we're on the lookout for is determined by the mobile kit, not the x-ray. The x-ray is just used to point out what needs to be screened.
Which, by the way, isn't going to be nearly as much as you people think it is. As Bob pointed out on the TSA Blog - the screenings are most likely going to be few and far between. It's not powders of any size whatsoever; there is a certain, specific threshold that has to be reached first, not a little bit in an envelope, or women carrying their make-up with them, or that 5oz shaker-bottle of medicinal powder squirreled away in your carry-on's back corner pocket.
All told, the whole entire procedure takes about three seconds once everyone's at the search table. A sample does need to be taken, though, so you might be out a few grains of your powder. You probably don't want to inhale too deeply, either, when the test starts. It's some... pungent stuff.
Ahem.
Originally Posted by goalie
tho i do like the fact that where x-ray's cannot detect explosves, they will be used as the primary focus to detect explosive powders
Powders, in general, have a very distinctive look to them on the x-ray. They almost look like liquids, actually - especially if it's a very fine-grained powder - but but it doesn't take a half-second to resolve it as actually being powder. Whether or not it's the brand of explosives we're on the lookout for is determined by the mobile kit, not the x-ray. The x-ray is just used to point out what needs to be screened.
Which, by the way, isn't going to be nearly as much as you people think it is. As Bob pointed out on the TSA Blog - the screenings are most likely going to be few and far between. It's not powders of any size whatsoever; there is a certain, specific threshold that has to be reached first, not a little bit in an envelope, or women carrying their make-up with them, or that 5oz shaker-bottle of medicinal powder squirreled away in your carry-on's back corner pocket.
All told, the whole entire procedure takes about three seconds once everyone's at the search table. A sample does need to be taken, though, so you might be out a few grains of your powder. You probably don't want to inhale too deeply, either, when the test starts. It's some... pungent stuff.
#225
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Hello 5th Amendment.