OMG! It's a Bomb!
#16
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 38,402
Any terrorist with half a brain will make anything he's taking through security look like a common product. If something looks like a crude bomb that basically means it's not.
#17
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 5,662
Obviously not, since the police (you know, actually LEOs) said it was fine and sent him on his way. All the STSO did was make the TSA look stupid.
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2000
Posts: 15,788
#19
Suspended
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 4,953
Very obvious that you failed to read the entire story.
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: The Sunshine State
Programs: Deltaworst Peon Level, TSA "Layer 21 Club", NW WP RIP
Posts: 11,370
Low Tech 101 Coming Up
He asks what it is. I tell him it is a battery charger for my iPod. He asks if I made it myself, to which I reply that I purchased a kit over the internet.
This "device" looks to contain about six parts and twelve solder joints.
The "threat" from this pax is his ability to a. assemble and b. solder. OMG, that means he is walking around, with the knowledge in his head, of a portion of the skills needed to make a real bomb. That is what scared the TSA people. Why would any innocent ordinary citizen NEED to know things a tewwowist would need to know? Guilty, book him Denno.
For the safety of the children, quick, round up everyone who knows how to solder and ship them to Gitmo immediately. Help dumb down the US to the lowest common denominator of techno know nothings. Wow, I feel safer already. And we know Gitmo will soon have one heck of a ham radio station in the rec room. Oops, without those dangerous techno geeks, who is TSA going to call when their WTMD needs fixing? Electronics Repair Outsource of India-R-Us?
#21
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Salish Sea
Programs: DL,AC,HH,PC
Posts: 8,974
But these are the times we live in. A handful of people with no knowledge of physics, engineering, or pyrotechnics are responsible for determining what is and what is not safe to bring on a plane. They're paid minimum wage and told to panic if they see something they don't recognize. Does this make me feel safer? It doesn't really matter. Implementing real security would bring the cost of flying up, which would likely cause a collapse of the airborne transportation network this country has worked so hard to build up.
He says, "Not on my watch and not with my people."
#22
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: LANCASTER, NY USA
Programs: NW/Plat, Sheraton/Plat, Marriott/Plat, Emerald Exec Elite
Posts: 213
I = Improvised
E = Explosive
D = Devise
It is obvious that we have 2 out of 3 here, but the idiot TSO chose to overlook the fact that the most important ingredient (EXPLOSIVE) was nowhere to be found.
E = Explosive
D = Devise
It is obvious that we have 2 out of 3 here, but the idiot TSO chose to overlook the fact that the most important ingredient (EXPLOSIVE) was nowhere to be found.
#23
Moderator: Smoking Lounge; FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: SFO
Programs: Lifetime (for now) Gold MM, HH Gold, Giving Tootsie Pops to UA employees, & a retired hockey goalie
Posts: 28,877
the tsa is so waaaaaaay behind the technology & learning curves it's laughable and it is next to impossible for them to think outside the box. don't dumb down your technology chocies-it's not fair to them but if you did decide to try and "dumb it down", you'd fail as there is no level low enough .
#24
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 105
Quote:
But these are the times we live in. A handful of people with no knowledge of physics, engineering, or pyrotechnics are responsible for determining what is and what is not safe to bring on a plane. They're paid minimum wage and told to panic if they see something they don't recognize. Does this make me feel safer? It doesn't really matter. Implementing real security would bring the cost of flying up, which would likely cause a collapse of the airborne transportation network this country has worked so hard to build up.
Ain't that the truth.
But these are the times we live in. A handful of people with no knowledge of physics, engineering, or pyrotechnics are responsible for determining what is and what is not safe to bring on a plane. They're paid minimum wage and told to panic if they see something they don't recognize. Does this make me feel safer? It doesn't really matter. Implementing real security would bring the cost of flying up, which would likely cause a collapse of the airborne transportation network this country has worked so hard to build up.
Ain't that the truth.
And btw, while I understand the above comment was meant only to demean TSA screeners, I do have a 4-yr. degree and have coursework in G,O, and P-Chem, 3 sem. calc-based phys., stat/dyn, calc. & diff. eq., et al. among 130 hours of course work, and I can safely say it does not make any difference in working ETD and the rest.
Last edited by DCA TSO; Jul 18, 2007 at 4:33 pm
#25
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: AA EXP/Marriott Plat/Hertz PC
Posts: 12,724
Are you talking about TSO's? The rules and procedures are set by the security experts at TSA HQ. I and every screener are required to follow these rules and procedures. I don't always get the rationale behind the SOP but I realize that it is safe to assume that the people behind it have years and years of experience with this stuff.
And btw, while I don't recall a damn thing, I do have a 4-yr. degree and have coursework in G,O, and P-Chem, 3 sem. calc-based phys., stat/dyn, calc. & diff. eq., and even music appreciation and I can safely say it does not make any difference in working ETD, et al.
And btw, while I don't recall a damn thing, I do have a 4-yr. degree and have coursework in G,O, and P-Chem, 3 sem. calc-based phys., stat/dyn, calc. & diff. eq., and even music appreciation and I can safely say it does not make any difference in working ETD, et al.
Why does this not inspire confidence in the people you say have "years and years of experience with this stuff"?
#26
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Thailand
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium; IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 1,150
A couple of things here.
First, Mods need to change the title.
Second, I went to the website and based on what I saw would not even dream of trying to take this thing on a plane.
First, Mods need to change the title.
Second, I went to the website and based on what I saw would not even dream of trying to take this thing on a plane.
#27
Moderator: Coupon Connection & S.P.A.M
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Louisville, KY
Programs: Destination Unknown, TSA Disparager Diamond (LTDD)
Posts: 57,952
#28
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: LAX/TPE
Programs: United 1K, JAL Sapphire, SPG Lifetime Platinum, National Executive Elite, Hertz PC, Avis PC
Posts: 42,156
Yeah, why not? What's wrong with it? A plastic case which fits a couple batteries connected to a USB port...what's the big deal?
#29
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: PDX
Programs: TSA Refusenik charter member
Posts: 15,978
#30
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: PDX
Programs: TSA Refusenik charter member
Posts: 15,978