The chapstick and drink issue

[ducklite]

DH went through a puffer this last wednesday at PDX. He said it's not the full anatomy, it's basically blasting you with air and smelling for explosives. DH likened it to the air blast from the natives on Indiana Jones at Disneyland (everything has to be related to something Disney, right?).

ETA: according to the TSA list of prohibited items
Lip glosses / liquids are prohibited but "(solid lip glosses and blushes are permitted) "

They had a bin of solid lipsticks at PHL last night. Your taxpayer dollars at work--the TSA is the most ridiculous farce of a government agency that's come down the pike in a long time.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

So, one of the terrorists worked at the airport! This is the problem right here.

After September 11th, it was discovered that some of the terrorists had licenses issued by NJ DMV workers who allowed the terrorists to use false documents that the DMV people knew were false to get licences.

So the governements reaction was to make citizens present about 18 different documents to get a license. And this is going to help when the problem really lies within DMV? It's not. Again, it's a knee-jerk reaction. Instead of cleaning their own house, they just make it ridiculously ridiculous for a law abiding citizen to do business with DMV.

It's not going to stop terrorists anyhow, even if they do'nt have someone inside DMV to help them, they'll just move on to the next state with less restrictive policies and get the license there.

Anne

 

[littleprissboutique]

Restrictions fine---- But who is to say that some of the terrorist have not been working with the TSA for a few years, and will let there fellow terrorist through with their terror stuff??? Who knows. I dont think this will ever go away, and the restrictions just make it hard for us honest people. These terrorist will find a way to do what ever they want... I think personally when they are aware of any of these people -- Lock them up forever.... Or make a glass factory out of the M.E.

 

[spaceacewannabe]

They had a bin of solid lipsticks at PHL last night. Your taxpayer dollars at work--the TSA is the most ridiculous farce of a government agency that's come down the pike in a long time.

Anne

This is just a test of how far we'll allow them to take this and how much we value our civil liberties. It has very little to do with actually keeping us safe.

Also, did you notice that most of the banned items are either pretty exclusive to female passengers or much more likely to be carried by a female passenger? I know I'm either shouting at a brick wall or preaching to the choir, but oh well.

 

[disneyldwjr]

This is just a test of how far we'll allow them to take this and how much we value our civil liberties. It has very little to do with actually keeping us safe.

Also, did you notice that most of the banned items are either pretty exclusive to female passengers or much more likely to be carried by a female passenger? I know I'm either shouting at a brick wall or preaching to the choir, but oh well.

I dont think it erodes your Civil Liberties in the least. You know the rules, follow them. They are not taking this stuff away from you unless you don't follow the rules. You have options, follow the rules and fly or don't fly and have your stuff with you.

As to the female products being in the majority. That is just to silly to address.

 

[safetymom]

I think if you ask most frequent flyers if they feel safer than they did before will tell you NO. I can't tell you how many times I have been in airports all over the US where I saw major security breaches. Most of the TSA agents are a joke also.

If you feel safer with the illusions we have now then great for you.

 

[CarolA]

I know I don't feel dramatically safer due to the TSA. (I don't feel the least bit scared either) I do think that the actions of other govermental and law enforcement agencies have much more to do with keeping me safe in the air then the TSA and it's just over minimum wage employees. (At those salaries how hard would it be to bribe one of them?)

I am however MUCH MORE HARRASSED and I agree that we are about ONE step away from giving up a bunch of freedom to the folks at the TSA. So do we let those guys on power trip pull you out of line for strip search, pull your three year old out of line, RIP The diaper off your infant. Where do you draw the line?


The culture right now is "do anything to protect us and we follow willingly" History has shown us the dangerous of that type of mentality. (WWII??)


History has also shown that civilizations who only REACT to events tend to be the ones destroyed or marginalized. And that's what we are doing "reacting" The TSA has no proactive security plan besides using outdated equipment and poorly paid employees to try to catch folks. Do you think if they had found anything over the past few days they would not have gone on the news at once to show how much they have helped?

 

[Nebsky]

Check out CFR 1544.229 regarding criminal history records checks for airport employees.

Anyone that works on the ramp or in the secured areas (this includes Airline employees and vendors like the shoe shine guy, Subway/McDonalds Employees etc) must have a fingerprint based background check. The stupid part is that as long as you havent committed a certain crime within the past 10 years you can get a badge. Murder is one of those crimes. So, if someone killed a person back in July 86, received a 10 year sentence, served their time and was let out in July 96, by definition of the CFR, that applicant, trying to get a SIDA badge would be allowed to have it.

It only checks for crimes. It does not check citizenship or anything like that.

It is also known that TSA knowlingly hired people to man the screening checkpoints without having this check done and hired them even though they had a "disqualifying" crime. Luckily, a GAO audit found most of them and they were removed from duty, but still, it makes you go

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

Personally, I don't feel one bit safer with the new regulations in place. My husband said it was a joke to see how many people smuggled beverages purchased past security at MDW onto his plane (and this was the day after the threat was uncovered). Considering that one of the suspects worked in security at the airport, I figure it wouldn't be too difficult for one to get a job as a vendor.

And there are exceptions to the liquid ban, such as baby formula. Hello! One of the suspects was a mom, and other was pregnant. Blowing up their baby or child is no big deal...really, it's probably an honor for them. And having to take a sip of the liquid is no guarantee of safety. If whatever is in there is not immediately fatal, a person who is going to be dead in an hour or two isn't likely to worry about the long-term effects.

Just about the only way to truly be safe would be to have people file naked onto the plane and then to be cable tied into their seats.

Barb

When there is naked boarding, that is when I stop flying. Talk about fear!

Let's just make everyone take a lie detector test prior to boarding. I see it catch the "cheaters" on Maury all the time, let them catch the terrorists, instead.

Oh, and I called the TSA today and the operator didn't know anything beyond the list in front of her. I wanted to know about contacts in a blister pack and what "solid lipsticks" would qualify. She stated "this is at the discretion of the TSA handlers" aka she has no idea. The inconsistencies really bother me. USA Today states up to 4 oz. of saline is ok, but she said it's not. What to believe?

 

[disneyldwjr]

When there is naked boarding, that is when I stop flying. Talk about fear!

Let's just make everyone take a lie detector test prior to boarding. I see it catch the "cheaters" on Maury all the time, let them catch the terrorists, instead.

Oh, and I called the TSA today and the operator didn't know anything beyond the list in front of her. I wanted to know about contacts in a blister pack and what "solid lipsticks" would qualify. She stated "this is at the discretion of the TSA handlers" aka she has no idea. The inconsistencies really bother me. USA Today states up to 4 oz. of saline is ok, but she said it's not. What to believe?

Saline is on the prohibited list. 4 oz of non script medicine is allowed. Saline is not medicine. I am sure USA Today is a fine source, BUT, they are not the TSA and that is where I would go for a sort of definitive list.
The list is on the net. I am sure she has a great idea of what is allowed and not allowed and it does say on the TSA site that some things are at the descretion of the TSA agent.

 

[Lewisc]

Many of the contact lens re wetting drops are nothing more than saline. I suspect that's OK even if a 4 oz bottle of saline might not be OK.