OMG! It's a Bomb!
Jul 17, 2007, 3:55 pm
#1
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OMG! It's a Bomb!
Damon Burke wanted to use the recharger he built from a Minty Boost kit to juice up his iPod so he could watch movies on a long flight, but the TSA was afraid it was a bomb designed to blow up the homeland.
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. He says that he can't let me on the plane with it. I explain to him that I have flown with it 4-6 times a month for a year now and nobody has questioned it. He says, "Not on my watch and not with my people."
He swabs the device and runs it through the calorimeter. Again, no residue.
I ask why it can't be taken on the plane and he said, "Because it looks like an IED."
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. He says that he can't let me on the plane with it. I explain to him that I have flown with it 4-6 times a month for a year now and nobody has questioned it. He says, "Not on my watch and not with my people."
He swabs the device and runs it through the calorimeter. Again, no residue.
I ask why it can't be taken on the plane and he said, "Because it looks like an IED."
Jul 17, 2007, 4:11 pm
#3
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Morons. Wanna bet he ends up on a no-fly list? I would have looked at the moron TSA agent that asked for my cellphone and said "I'm calling my lawyer". Then see what happened.
He should have asked for the PAPD himself, early on.
He should have asked for the PAPD himself, early on.
Jul 17, 2007, 5:54 pm
#5
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I had an almost similar situation at the E concourse security at MKE. I fly with a 4 AA battery device to charge my cell phone. It is 4 batteries and a cable. After 5 minutes of examining it they determined that my laptop case needed further screening. I tried to explain what it was and showed them how it works - they looked at it and was amazed at how it worked. That finally convinced them that it was innocuous enough to let me know.
In reality, couldnt anyone use 4 AA batteries, scotch tape, and a plug to make the same device on the other side of security? All those items are easily accessible on the other side of security. Unless they find actual explosives then it should be good.
In reality, couldnt anyone use 4 AA batteries, scotch tape, and a plug to make the same device on the other side of security? All those items are easily accessible on the other side of security. Unless they find actual explosives then it should be good.
Jul 17, 2007, 6:11 pm
#6
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I had an almost similar situation at the E concourse security at MKE. I fly with a 4 AA battery device to charge my cell phone. It is 4 batteries and a cable. After 5 minutes of examining it they determined that my laptop case needed further screening. I tried to explain what it was and showed them how it works - they looked at it and was amazed at how it worked. That finally convinced them that it was innocuous enough to let me know.
In reality, couldnt anyone use 4 AA batteries, scotch tape, and a plug to make the same device on the other side of security? All those items are easily accessible on the other side of security. Unless they find actual explosives then it should be good.
In reality, couldnt anyone use 4 AA batteries, scotch tape, and a plug to make the same device on the other side of security? All those items are easily accessible on the other side of security. Unless they find actual explosives then it should be good.
I guess you just don't get it, do you??? 
OMG! It's another clueless TSA screener!
Jul 17, 2007, 7:52 pm
#10
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I had an almost similar situation at the E concourse security at MKE. I fly with a 4 AA battery device to charge my cell phone. It is 4 batteries and a cable. After 5 minutes of examining it they determined that my laptop case needed further screening. I tried to explain what it was and showed them how it works - they looked at it and was amazed at how it worked. That finally convinced them that it was innocuous enough to let me know.
In reality, couldnt anyone use 4 AA batteries, scotch tape, and a plug to make the same device on the other side of security? All those items are easily accessible on the other side of security. Unless they find actual explosives then it should be good.
In reality, couldnt anyone use 4 AA batteries, scotch tape, and a plug to make the same device on the other side of security? All those items are easily accessible on the other side of security. Unless they find actual explosives then it should be good.
Jul 17, 2007, 8:50 pm
#12
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Ladies and Gentlemen, Exhibit A in what's wrong with airport/aircraft security.
Jul 17, 2007, 9:01 pm
#13
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Yet another example of 'catching' stuff that doesn't matter while missing the stuff that does. Next they'll decide that batteries of any kind aren't allowed on board. Guess that'll ensure that all portable electronic devices are off on takeoff.
Jul 17, 2007, 9:04 pm
#14
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What in the name of all that's holy is a 'realistic IED replica'?
My MP3 player is a device, with batteries and cables.
My electric shaver is a device, with batteries and cables.
My laptop is a device, with batteries and cables.
My cellphone is a device, with batteries and cables.
According to every published test, the screeners have been unable to identify a gun, bomb or components thereof - so I guess I'm not surprised they will think an Ipod is an IED, given how TSA management has determined that a bottle of water is a potential bomb.
My MP3 player is a device, with batteries and cables.
My electric shaver is a device, with batteries and cables.
My laptop is a device, with batteries and cables.
My cellphone is a device, with batteries and cables.
According to every published test, the screeners have been unable to identify a gun, bomb or components thereof - so I guess I'm not surprised they will think an Ipod is an IED, given how TSA management has determined that a bottle of water is a potential bomb.
Jul 17, 2007, 9:08 pm
#15
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IMHO the PA cops did pretty well on this one.