I agree with law dawg here. We can have a measured dialog without discussing a retired Navy Admiral's posterior.

The "new speak" as quoted in the article was pretty bogus though.

Passions are certainly high about this incident. This incident represents one of the extremes of big government ineptitude; but the feelings (at least by me) expressed in this thread are targeted at the individuals invloved, and not every person in the same uniform. However, this situation highlights the need for improving 'the system'.

Here's the catalog where the offending slungshot may be purchased for $9.99:

http://www.mileskimball.com/jump.jsp...ProductID=5390

I emailed the company the details of Ms. Harrington's experience with the product and suggested that the company include a warning to not ever use this bookmark in public (especially airports) as it apparently resembles a weapon that police officers used to carry.

My letters to manufacturers of socks and heavy objects (soap, golf balls, locks, sand and gravel, etc.) will go out tomorrow. We can't be too safe.

Maybe now they will make pax wither travel with no socks, or travel with only ankle length socks...

I don't know if I can find the screener or the supervisor at fault here. If I was to come across an item that could appear to be a weapon, but am not absolutely sure, I would summon a LEO to clear it up. I will say that cuffing her was a bit excessive.

For example, one of my screeners came across a slapjack. On x-ray, it appeared as a really heavy spoon. When discovered, it was handed to me. I've never come across one before so I was a bit on the dumbfounded side. The passenger told me it was a shoehorn. I've never seen a lead weighted leather shoehorn before. I summoned a LEO, only because they have more experience and knowledge of common and uncommon weapons. The LEO identified the weapon, but the passenger was not arrested. His information was taken and he was informed that the TSA regulatory department would be calling him soon. And on his way, he went!

Like I said, the only thing I find excessive was the cuffing portion. But that's only my opinion. Take it for what it's worth!

If you were involved in the incident, absolutely.

So was the TSA requiring a "full investigation" and saying they "probably" won't fine her instead of simply apologizing for their humiliation of this poor woman.

There needs to be a pax-protection rule that forbids TSA from calling for the arrest of or "gathering information on so the regulatory department can threaten with a fine that can only be contested in a kangaroo court thousands of miles from their home" passengers for carrying items not specifically listed on the prohibited items list. Slapjacks/batons are listed, so fine. Heavy bookmarks are not. Let TSA confiscate the item if it looks like a weapon--so what. But don't subject the passengers to police or "administrative fine" terror.

There's way too much potential for abuse here. There have already been too many such cases of abuse.

TSA and that police department need to formally apologize to this woman. The administrators/spokesmen who have called for investigation and evaluation of an administrative fine for her instead of an apology should be terminated.

In my opinion, not worth very much. But your mileage will, of course, vary.

Everything in my suitcase is a potential weapon. My laptops weigh between 5 and 7 pounds. I'd hate to be smacked over the head with one.

I sometimes have several dollars worth of quarters in my bag. Placed inside a sock, they would make for a debilitating weapon. Ditto my full-size bar of soap. Same with my keys. Same with my golf balls. And fine-point rollerball pens. Not to mention the glassware on board the plane, along with the aluminum cans that are easily torn in half, revealing a pretty sharp knife.

The idiot screener in this case should have asked her "Ma'am, what's this?"

She would have replied "It's a monogrammed bookmark. See my initials?"

Screener: "How's it work?"

Harrington: "Like this."

Screener: "OK. Have a nice flight, ma'am."

But Nooooooooo. The screener thought (s)he had hit paydirt and was anxious to see her face the full extent of the law.

So (s)he called the cops and they handcuffed her and placed her in an airport lockup.

What a bunch of thugs. And stupid thugs, at that.

She hasn't received an apology?! Lesson 1: apologies come cheap. It wouldn't cost anyone anything for them to just apologize for treating her like a criminal over a harmless bookmark. Heck, I even got an apology from the TSA Office of Civil Rights for much less.

Apologize? They most certainly won't. She already has openly spoken like the guilty party, vowing never again to take the bookmark on a airplane. Heck, I'd almost guarantee she would pay a fine. The cops and the TSA got their pound of flesh and once again put the fear of God in all Americans. They won.

Rats. Another good secret now publicized.

Maybe I'll have to take nickels instead now that quarters are taboo.
Amen.

Why hasn't anyone addressed my real life example? As I said, the 911 Commission report quotes a pilot as saying he would have opened the cockpit door if someone said they had a noose around the neck of his flight attendant. Shouldn't we be prohibiting any items onboard aircraft which could be fastened into a noose?

[No, I don't think so, but I think those in charge have lost all sight of the actual mission, as noted previously]

!

Am I the only one amused by such a concept?

War is Peace
Freedom is Slavery
Ignorance is Strength

Since 9/11/01 there has been 4 passengers killed on aircraft flights for getting out of control. These people were killed by other passengers. 3 of the four have been ruled justifiable homicides. The fourth is still pending.

Guess when the greatest literature one has ever read was in a Classic comic book, the requirement or need for a bookmark seems highly suspicious.

and yet, there was no mention of procedure that had to be done...