The vernacular for this forum, the Women Traveller's forum or another one?

Hahaha!

Bart might think he's still a greensuiter writing OPORD's.

M8

Wow, not only are you telling me what part of the screening process you should have to go through and what parts are "silly", now your telling me what I can and cannot see on the x-ray and how "I" interpret what I see. Since you all know so much, why don't you take over security so it gets done right. Don't tell me what I think when I see something on the x-ray. You don't know.

Fact is, with the exception of the 'puffers,' you are using the same equipment pre-9/11.

Secondly, what do you think some of us look at while we're participating in the dog-and-pony show known as the shoe carnival?

No, that doesn't singularly make someone an expert on the x-ray machines, but there is a lot more information out there, absorbed both pre-and-post-9/11, about those x-ray machines.

I'm sure you look at the x-ray. But you don't know how I'm interpreting what I'm seeing. We have had better training than before 9-11. And I do have some experience looking for explosives, so please don't tell me what I see, and I won't tell you what you see.

No one is telling you what you see. However, the x-ray will not tell you there are explosives present. You might be able to determine they are there, but the x-ray is not to be confused with a mass spectrometer or a gas chromatogram. Because plastic explosives all by themselves are malleable and can be molded into just about any shape, I'm perfectly willing to bet some cash that screeners will not notice them unless there are other indicators present.

Oh my God, just give me that chance. Right after I exit several of your bosses from the building while using their heads to open the door, I'll have airport screening operating properly and respecting people's civil liberties. I can do better than they can. Heck, monkeys banging on typewriters could write a better SOP than the pinheads currently doing so.

What percentage of things passing through the x-ray are swabbed for ETD sampling. Yeah, that's right, less than 1%. Put explosives in carryon, perhaps in toothpaste container. Chances of a swab? Pretty darn low.

You're absolutely right, I was just making up that whole body cavity thing! It's impossible to pull off the smuggling of explosives in such a manner! Please, pay no further attention to such works of fiction. I must have imagined such an improbable, stinky scenario.

You've got issues, pal. Wish I had your address so I could mail you that Playmobil security checkpoint toy. Then you could use them as voodoo dolls and spend your time sticking needles in them.

Thanks for the insiteful reply.

Yes, I have issues. Issues with shoddy security that harasses rather than actually (gasp!) secures.

Problem: It is easy to get explosives past the checkpoint.

Solution: Let's have the Shoe Carnival!

Umm.... that doesn't fix the problem!

Hey, can't hurt! $5 billion, please. Kindly surrender your civil liberties too.

I'm sorry but Less02 was telling me that he looks at the x-ray while going through security, as does everyone pretty much, and that from what he see's I couldn't tell if there were explosives in a bag without the other components. And I'm saying that yes, I could identify that there may be explosives. Everyone that operates an x-ray has their own interpretation of what they see. While every bag that I would have checked would not have explosives in them, one with an explosive in them without the other components would definitely be checked. And therefore they would be found. Could everyone find them? I have no idea. But I could, as I've had some experience with them. I'm not saying the x-ray would find them, as the machine itself does nothing but show a picture. They are only as good as the person operating them. I'm just speaking for myself here. I'm confident in my ability when it comes to the x-ray.

Oh I almost forgot. If you can do a better job with airline security I"m all for you being the head of it. Your absolutely right, the current people leave an awful lot to be desired, and I'm willing to give you a chance. It's a shame that what I think really doesn't matter.

PM to you. See my point?

I have a question for all the frequent flyers. Why when I take a bag to do a search, do some people ask me if their bag alarmed? The x-ray does not alarm anything. Its all up to the operator to decide if the bag needs to be hand searched. One guy told me that his bag alarms every time. And why do alot of pregnant woman not want to go throught the WTMD? I asked one and she said that the doctor told her not to have herself exposed to x-rays. X-rays? Its a metal detector. I will pat them down as everyone has that option. But alot of people seem to be confused as to what our epuipment does.

Because not everyone is an engineer, and therefore they do not understand technology.

As for the pregnant woman, the doctor might have said something. Your metal detectors are probably based on induction, so I'll let Spiff give you the details on that.

M8

You don't have to be an engineer to know that an x-ray machine takes x-rays and a WTMD is just that. I think we all need to take the time to explain to people exactly what we're doing. That would alleviate alot of fear that people have, and make the process a lot less intimidating for some.