Wouldn't have believed it if it hadn't happened to me but .... today in PIT - they refused to let my "gellin' like a felon" insoles thru security. The guy asked his supervisor (I didn't ask him to do so) but he gave a thumbs down. Had to toss them. Guess I should've known better.

quite a few gel bras here.

I am curious how they intend to detect these being worn through security.

Obviously under current conditions, they can't. Which is why I just shake my head in amazement when I see/hear that gel soles, deodorant, etc., is being confiscated. Just put the item(s) in your pocket and take them through security all you want.

So I called the TSA hotline and communicated my disdain for the new rules in a very polite way. (I was travelling out of ORD on 8-10) and the lady takes down my information.

Two days later, I get a call from Paul Simmons, TSA manager (or similar) at ORD and asks me about my complaint. I basically tell him that I do not believe in the new rules and find them ineffective and all they do is criminalize good citizens.
He contents, of course, that the rules are helpful and have already thwarted off attacks, based on "intel you are not even privy to".
I tell him that I respect his opinion at what point in time he cuts me off and says:
"It is not an opinion, it is a fact, your viewpoint is only an opinion" and hangs up on me.

Mind you, he called me. I did not ask for a manager to follow-up with me. He was a little testy and quite curd, so I guess he has gotten quite a few of those calls.

Any of you who want to share your viewpoint with him, let me know and I will gladly give you his phone number. As a civil servant, he should be glad to hear from his customers, don't you think?

I'm sure now the TSA can say "look we followed up on these complaints and answered them satisfactorily." After all the complainant didn't have anything else to say (because he was cut off and hung up on).

And if anyone swallows that statement, please PM me about a bridge that I have for sale.

I think you should just post his phone number here on FT and let the chips fall where they may.

Well, if you think our government will be delighted to hear the useless, factless, baseless opinions we annoying travellers have about TSA regulations, then I am glad to help out.

773-894-8779, TSA ORD

I handle that with a simple, non-emotional letter to my elected representatives.

Very effective.

Flying out of LAX tomorrow, I'm tempted to wear the gel heels, then when they're confiscated, point to a random woman and exclaim, "But what about her boobs?!"

By they, do you mean those human-like TSA goons?

Yup TSA now has gel bras on their banned list on their website. Now how are they going to know if a woman is wearing one? They are meant to look relatively natural under clothing. Guess it's back to the groping again. I feel sorry for anyone who is naturally well endowed.

Wonder why the TSA idiots are stopping at banning gel bras and insoles? What about all those gel pens and backpacks with gel padding that are not even getting a second glance? And while they're at, the human body is 72% liquid, might as well ban those too.