I bought the wine coming back from Rota Spain also. I've been to the other Rota but the wine selection sucks

Remember UPS or the USPS could be your friend. Send anything you REALLY want by either of those carriers, rather than trusting unlocked or TSA keyed checked checked baggage, or forgetting something important in your carry on.

I was told TSA does not stand for "Totally Stupid A-H's" but I've seen little proof of that. Sigh

Luckily, I guess, prior to the flight we will be on a cruise ship. They pretty much limit what you can carry anyway, so I don't think that we will have too much to worry about. 'Cept probably my wife's underwire bra again...

A few months after 9/11 when tensions were even higher than they are now, the TSA in Philadelphia confiscated numerous "dangerous" items from me (nail clippers, tweezers, a small corkscrew, mini bic lighter, etc.).

Perhaps the silliest of them all was a 0.5g sample of Blistex that I had in my toiletry kit:



The TSA inspector claimed that he felt the foil package had a very sharp edge that could be used to injure someone. Please...

What was probably one of the more ironic moments was when a couple of national guardsmen attempted to bypass the TSA security line next to me in route to their assigned posts (carrying M4 carbines and sidearms). One of them (a seargent) was carrying a small enclosed file folder, so he was stopped by another TSA inspector and instructed to place the folder on the xray belt for inspection - nevermind the fact that they were carrying semi-automatic weapons!

As the first TSA inspector was somewhat embarassed watching all this moronic activity in the next lane, I commented to him that it made perfect sense to me - for all we knew the seargent might have had lip balm hidden in the file folder.

Jim

Jeez Louise!

We've all given ourselves paper cuts without even trying ... just think of the damage a whole file folder of paper could do!

Scary!

Sue

C'mon, its not all bad. Like the time flying home out of Heathrow, the line through the barrier was at least an hour, until a TSA (UK) inspector came along, spotted my laptop, and motioned me ahead to try out their new full body xray. In return for zapping my laptop and my body with an indeterminate dose of xrays, I saved an hour waiting my turn for a standard inspection.

I understand I can get the same xray treatment at least 3-4 times a year before I start to act funny and lose my sperm count.

One of the great side benefits of TSA is down in Auburn WA, where they sell off the take from unwitting travellers. You don't have to go to eBay, 5-10 minutes pawing through a barrel of sharps you can find a very nice knife for pennies on the dollar.

I'm a natural sheep, I've never had a problem with TSA. I'm almost OCD pre-flight as I'm patting myself down for metal and sharp thingies. The whole process makes me sentimental for my days as a customs broker, when Customs agents would fumble through passports, not even looking at the docs, just waiting for someone to flinch. I see the same training going on with today's TSA. My advice, relax, and just let it wash over you.

When rape is inevitable.....

Way off topic, but don't EVER say that to a rape victim. Trust me on this one...

I know that. It's horribly insulting, and when I put it up here, I was comparing the 2 statements

Lono,

Where in Auburn is this bin? I'm thinking I need to make a trip, it's only about 30 miles.