OMGWTF TSA

[aggienaut]

   Seriously though.

   These new TSA regulations, WTF?

   I mean, they've always been a joke.

The confiscation of "sharp objects" down to and including nail clippers? Useless considering there's restaurants on the far side of the security checkpoint, which presumably have knives. You really think Al-queda can't infiltrate McDonalds and pass a knife off to their man on the plane? Or smuggle explosives in amongst the patties of grade F meat?

And that obnoxious rule about individually packaging your liquids and gels? What the hell does that accomplish? Would that have stopped the shoe bomber and his explosive shoes? Did it stop this fellow from smuggling his explosives in on his body? This rule accomplishes nothing other than getting my toothpaste confiscated when I forget about it. That and I saw a fellow lose a $40 bottle of wine he had bought in the previous airport, not realizing he'd have to go through another security checkpoint.

And now they're banning moving about the cabin in the last hour of flight, as if for a second a terrorist is going to be thwarted by that? Aside from the obvious (so a the terrorist will just strike at any OTHER time), if he really wanted to do his terroristing in the last 20 minutes is the rule going to stop him from jumping up and doing it anyway? It really accomplishes absolutely nothing other than being obnoxious.

And then of course the rules about not having blankets or any other objects on your lap, I'm guessing they'll reverse that pretty fast because that's preposterous. Apparently they even banned the provided in-flight entertainment on some international flights --- WHA? People are going to START committing acts of terrorism OUT OF SHEER BOREDOM! And HOW does watching a movie in the seat in front of you potentially lead to a terrorist threat?!?!?!?!

The Transportation Security Administration did little to explain the rules. And that inconsistency might well have been deliberate: What's confusing to passengers is also confusing to potential terrorists.

"It keeps them guessing," transportation expert Joseph Schwieterman said."

I think that's clearly bullshittery for "we have no idea what we're doing and we're making it up as we go along!"

   Seriously though, how obnoxious are they going to make flying? I think they should have the option of flying on special lower security flights, for those of us who'd rather take our chances with the terr'ists than the psychotic rule of TSA.


Picture of the Day

This seems like the appropriate juncture for a picture of a bald eagle in flight no?
Taken while under sail on the Colombia River last month.

See Also:
Getting Shafted by Airport Security (2004)
Racist TSA Agents (2003)

Comments

[sra33.livejournal.com]

The movie distracts people, and they don't notice the guy building a bomb next to them. *nod* I mean DUH. ;)

I'm about to depart on a flight from Detroit to Honolulu on New Years Day at 7am. I am NOT going to be a happy camper when I have to get there at FOUR IN THE MORNING, and I have to remain seated my entire effing flight. -.-

Besides, if we have to stay seated "1 hour prior to landing" then the knuckle head is just going to get up 2 hours ahead of time. Or 1 1/2. So effing retarded. *sigh*

[sra33.livejournal.com]

Also. Dude. "I think they should have the option of flying on special lower security flights, for those of us who'd rather take our chances with the terr'ists than the psychotic rule of TSA."

MAN OH MAN I'D PAY FOR THAT FLIGHT!

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Yeah exactly -- since when is the last hour the only time they can do their terroristifying?

The only actual useful innovations have been the stronger cockpit doors and the policy to take down terrorists immediately rather than try to negotiate with them.

[strryeyedgrrl.livejournal.com]

Meh. The rules are irritating, but they don't bother me too much. My only real irritant comes when they fuck the rules up. When I took Ari to Disneyland a couple years ago, they had just started the new rule that if you had a whole game console (like a 360 or a PS3) in your carry-on, you had to pull it out like a laptop. Well, the people at SeaTac misinterpreted that rule and made me pull out every piece of electronics in my bag. Camera, cellphone, etc. When you have a squirmy three-year-old with you, that's not pleasant.

Otherwise, I just make sure to wear slip-on shoes and pack all my toiletries in my checked luggage. Besides, I hear that they're already relaxed the in-flight restrictions and it's up to the captain's discretion what is restricted.

[sra33.livejournal.com]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't they hijack the 911 planes within the first 30 mins of flight or so? I could be wrong on that, though. So stay seated the entire first hour, then the entire last hour... And too bad if you only have a 2 hour flight..............

AND let's add to the fact that, as you create rules, you're half-encouraging certain individuals to try and break it as a challenge. Like banning a book only gets it read more? Stuff like that.

I stick to my old-time adage that my dad used to say all the time: "Locked doors only keep the honest people out."

[frakkthat.livejournal.com]

I couldn't agree more!! Terrorists have won because they have made the general population change the way we live!!! Not to mention if people want to kill someone, there are more creative ways to do it and you can probably find it on the internet anyways....sigh

[hopefulspirit.livejournal.com]

I don't see how they're going to be able to keep up with some of the new rules. My favorite is the staying in your seat the last hour of the flight. What if you have to use the bathroom?! Are they really going to tell you that you can't go?

I love the picture. :-)

[ucrazyutaraptor.livejournal.com]

I haven't been on a plane since I was 13, let alone to America, what's all this liquids business?

[roina-arwen.livejournal.com]

Far as I can tell, all the restaurants on the far side of the security checkpoint (and I mean "real" restaurants, as opposed to McD's) have real forks and spoons but so far I've only found plastic knives. *eyeroll*

[troubleagain.livejournal.com]

They're going to have to bring a mop if they don't let me go pee when I need to.

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Something like all liquids and gels must be in separate containers of 3 ounces or less (I'm nor sure what that is in mils, 100, 150?), and they all must also be in a ziplock bag. It's utterly nonsensical, as (a) I'm sure you can make a bomb big enough to do some damage even with the allowable quantities; (b) one can smuggle liquids/gels in in other forms such as the soles of shoes, as has already been done!!!; (c) god forbid explosives be made out of powders and/or solids; (d) etc etc etc.

It's just really obnoxious because you can't bring your normal toothpaste/shaving gel/shampoo/what-have-you unless you check it (I don't check bags unless I have to, being as they've added extra charges for THAT); and I'd often probably bring fancy beer or wine as a gift to whomever I'm going to visit except it's forbidden as a liquid (even sealed wine bottles!), and I'm not going to check it because you know how they throw around bags ...

d:

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

No kidding? They must have real knives in the kitchen though! Lol now I'm picturing them trying to cut a steak with a giant plastic knife.

[zoefruitcake.livejournal.com]

they just don't want us to fly

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

If only our train system was better, I'd far prefer the train.

[buscemi.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of the "security" stuff is pretty useless. It's like they're saying, "Well, lets come up with some crap to make people feel safer, even though it doesn't accomplish anything." How did they miss the red flags from the guy going to Detroit? (e.g. buying a $2800 ticket with cash, no checked baggage, being rejected for a student Visa in the UK, parents warning the government about his behavior, etc.)

[mermaidkween.livejournal.com]

TSA: Good at protecting us tomorrow from the tactics terrorists used yesterday.

[mermaidkween.livejournal.com]

The last hour is more likely to be over US soil on an international flight. These weird guidelines (which were relaxed yesterday and are now at the discretion of the captain AFAIK) make no sense because can't someone just take a domestic flight and do the same thing? Argh, these people make no sense.

[kabandra.livejournal.com]

I'm not looking forward to flying back from DC and experiencing this all first hand this weekend.

can you listen to electronics with them sitting beside you (not on your lap)? Seriously, if I have to spend an entire hour of my life sitting with my hands to my side in a tiny aircraft seat, I'm going to be pissy.

Flying is always a risk. I think I have more chances of crashing into an ocean than I do being in the midst of a terrorist act.

Sigh :/

[yukonsally]

These rules are ridiculous. They are only punishing those who haven't done anything! If a terrorist is going to blow up a plane, he's not going to care that he can't have his mp3 player during flight.

And that bit I heard last night that airlines are taking map with flight time off the in-cabin screens for the last hour so terrorists won't know how much time is left on the flight? Um... an hour from the time the map is taken off the screen. And there's this crazy invention out there--a watch. It's not hard to know how much longer the flight will be if you read the flight info.

So glad I only have to fly every other Christmas. Hell, even with gas prices, I'll drive everywhere else and stop to stand up as much as I please!

[yukonsally]

And no one will ever think to stab another person with a fork...

[ucrazyutaraptor.livejournal.com]

i think they're just trying to bully everyone into staying put and never using planes again!

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Heh yeah that should have been all the red flags they needed.

I'm convinced that those at the top who make the rules KNOW they don't help one bit, they literally ARE designed to be intrusive and thus make people really feel like they're doing something .. even though they're not.

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Lolz that's fantastic. Did you make that up?

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Yeah why don't they just say "when the flight is nearing a major population centre" or something. I really think it was just them blurting out something

[wildcelticrose.livejournal.com]

What I'd like to know is, what are they going to do about the passgengers that have Chron's Disease, IBS, prostate trouble, lactose intolerance or are prone to UTI's?

Are they going to force them to soil their seats and then sit in it?

Seriously. WTF?