First my question...

I don't have a problem taking my laptop out of the bag...but why can I not put my shoes next to the laptop in the tub? They are not on top of the laptop nor is the laptop on top of them. I try to use as few tubs or whatever through the x-ray because the more items or tubs each person is forced to put through, the longer the process takes.



Second, my screening laugh...

I was flying out of SJC the other day and had two carry-ons. My backpack with laptop and a shoulder bag with projector. I took out the laptop and ran it through separately, but I left the projector in the shoulder bag. A screener pulled it off the belt after the x-ray machine and did a secondary search...no problem. The following ensued:

She-TSA: Why didn't you remove this from your bag and run it through separately?

Me: Because it isn't a computer...

She-TSA looking confused: But this is a computer...

Me wondering if she is serious: Actually, it's a projector. It attaches to my computer which I did run through separately...

She-TSA then went to confer with her fellow screeners. Seriously five minutes later, she came back with another screener and they discussed whether it was a computer or not right in front of me at the luggage table He-TSA told She-TSA that I was right and that the projector was in fact a projector and not a computer. She-TSA then swabbed it and gave it back to me with this warning...

"This is a computer according to the TSA and next time, you need to run this through separately."



...let the TSA-supporters flaming begin.

Ceci n'est pas une pipe! - Ren� Magritte.

So when is a video projector a computer? I guess it has some circuits in there that would be similar to a computer, but how would it be any different than any other portable electronic device such as DVD players, walkmans, MP3 players and the like?

projector

\Pro*jec"tor\, n. An optical instrument for projecting a picture upon a screen, as by a magic lantern or by an instrument for projecting (by reflection instead of transmission of light) a picture of an opaque object, as photographs, picture post-cards, insects, etc., in the colors of the object itself. In this latter form the projection is accomplished by means of a combination of lenses with a prism and a mirror or reflector.

Now if it was a Barco iQ projector, then it's built in windows computer server would perhaps make the projector a computer, but then I don't think that particular projector would fit the category of a carry on item with its size and weight!

Guess what one of my three wishes would be if I did have a magic lantern...

Don't give the wackos running the TSA any more ideas, or we may have to take everything out of our bags and place them in the tubs....

That's precisely the reason why I like travelling out of BUF more than YHM or YYZ for US or international flights! I carry a lot of electronic devices with me because of the type of work I do, and no, these devices are NOT computers. It's bad enough lugging two laptops in my carryon, let alone having to empty all my electronic toys out of my bags here in Canada!

Should be policy but not: Any electronic item say oh bigger than a palm pilot should be taken out of the bag computers, projectors, playstations, xbox, oh and those breathing machines. I know this will generate the same old responses about "well over in Europe they don't make us take out computers" don't care what they do in Europe. I know its easier to scan the bag without big electronic items in them plain and simple.

What does the TSA say is a laptop computer? My Palm Pilot runs windows. My Sharp Wizard is programmable. My Powerbase universal battery is the same size and shape as a laptop, but it doesn't turn on or have a screen. What if I'm carrying disassembled components, like extra hard drives or boards? What if I pack a small desktop computer box? What if I've got one of those mini-laptops the size of a half-sheet of paper? The TSA's rule that computers are somehow special and completely different from all the other assorted electronic junk we carry is another example of its asinine obsession with specific objects and its corresponding lack of regard for real security.

If the TSA required all electronic equipment larger than a palm pilot to be out of bags and each in its own container, I know that emptying my bag would take about 10 containers. Omascreener's suggestion is not policy because waits would double and the results would be completely farcical, with many passengers having more items than will even fit on the X-ray line.

How would you know?

That opens up the can of worms that these electronic items may be stolen while the passenger is stuck in secondary being distracted. It's a bit more difficult to hide a laptop in a pocket! Unless the TSA can do better in ensuring the safety of the items taken out of my briefcase for screening, as far as I'm concerned these electronic items will stay in my briefcase and be hand searched in my sight if necessary.

I like what the airport in Hong Kong does with their bins. Each bin has a number printed on it with matching letter sized card with the same number inside. The security guard hands you the card when you put your laptop, keys, coins, coat in the bin. Traveller takes card through the metal detector, and after successfully being screened, hands the card back to another guard waiting with the matching bin full of your contents, all done in your sight. This prevents other travellers from getting their hands on your stuff.

Told you in another post I would give you the phone number to the checkpoint I'm working at and I'll talk to you for a few minutes. Better yet heres the airport information number 402-422-6817 call get the number for the north check point ask for Ken. If you don't want to do that well thats your problem and like I said before keep your BS accusations that I don't work for the TSA to yourself. Thank you.

When I say bigger than a palm pilot I'm talking like the smaller sizes of DVD players and such I'm not talking every single electronic piece of equipment. I feel that if the big items were taken out that it would make scanning the bag easier and cut down on the bag checks called. I think it would save time for the passenger in the long run. At my airport its easy for passengers to keep an eye on his/her belongings while in secondary and if they request it we bring their items with us to the wanding area.

Hello?
..."Hello. Is your X-ray machine running?"...
"Do you have Prince Albert in the can?"...
"Can Kenny come out and play????"
"Did you order egg roll? I got chow mein! I got fried rice! Somebody have to pay for all this!"