Well, to be fair, I can't say this is anything new.

About 12 years or so, I was coming home from my freshman year of college. I picked up this "rice picker" hat as we called it (it was one of those hats you use oriental farmers or Raiden from Mortal Kombat wear) for fun. I tried to wear it thru the WTMD at SLC T2 and the screener took it off my head after I came thru, looked and saw nothing was inside and gave it back. I think that was reasonable then, though he could have at least asked first.

Now that we have better technology, like the puffers, it shouldn't need to be removed. Puffer would pick up explosives and the WTMD would pick up any metal.

Super

True. I recall a ball cap setting off the WTMD at DAB back in... oh, 1998 or so. They must have really had the WTMD sensitivity cranked to alarm on the tiny metal grommets in the cap.

Of course, unlike the TSA often seems to handle that situation today, the screener merely suggested I remove the cap and try again.

:mad: Meanie!!!!

What of the hundreds of poor shoe fetishists who "handle" shoes? They wouldn't be able to practice their love for shoes!



:rolleyes:

Something tells me that if your hat had a pot leaf on it, or arabic writing, that would be a different story.

I regularly wear a baseball or golf cap, and am regularly asked to remove such headgear. And I'm pretty clean cut.

Guess they want to see if I have a bald spot.

Anyone care to guess what EACH puffer costs to purchase and operate per year?

Isn't true security worth spending some money?

Anyone care to guess how effective puffers are compared to screeners?

Puffer that detects explosives: ^

Screener who examines shoes and misses explosives anyway because the x-ray won't find them: :td:

You're right. With all this "anything for security" crap, why not throw resources that will actually DO something to enhance security rather than the kabuki we have now? Realize that it would probably mean a RIF which just doesn't happen in gov't programs ...

DING DING DING!!! We have a winner!!! TSA = Kabuki security + massive workfare program.

If DHS/TSA developed technology to improve security, then fewer screeners would be necessary. Follow the money ...

On a related note, what about the new uniforms?

Who profits and what are their connections?

The answer may surprise you. (Well, maybe not.)

I think whoever came up with that idea should be flogged, personally. That was a complete waste of money when so many other things are broken at that agency.

Then again, they probably had some money sitting in some pot that had to be spent or they wouldn't get that money next year. For that reason alone I saw more plasma screens at the agency I worked at than any where else. Our tax dollars at work. :rolleyes:

I'm talking about feasibility.

I have informal sources that put them at 400k apiece with about a 5% operating cost (20k). If anyone has real info, please chime in.

Same thing in my current Fed position and the military.

Spend it or lose it.

Our policy of fiscal responsibility is a joke.

Hmmm, if that $420k number is correct, my guesstimate is that means each puffer costs about as much as the personnel cost to employ ten screeners (when you add in fringe benefits, training expenses and etc. to the basic payroll cost).

However, the cost of the "puffer" is a one-time expense that could be amortized over multiple years, while the personnel costs of those screeners would be the same (or, more likely, higher) each year.

Some number of screeners will still be needed. But would the short term expense of buying the equipment save money by reducing personnel costs in the long term? Sounds like a ripe subject for analysis by some TSA HQ number cruncher or GAO auditor.

As said above, "If anyone has real info, please chime in."

Doesn't really matter anyway since the TSA has stopped taking delivery on them.

Why?