So I land in ABQ on Friday and go to my girl's place. Everythign is great and we are having a great time until it's time to go home on Tuesday morning and I need to pack my backpack. I empty out the pockets to make a shocking discovery: before flying out of NYC I forgot to take out full size Spyderco blade. It belongs to a friend of mine who left it on the ambulance and I'm trying to give it back to him for the past month that's why it was in my backpack pocket. So that blade went thru TSA checkpoints in NYC ( xray and hand inspecition of the pack) and in Houston (hand inspection). I didn't do it on purpose. I just forgot that I had it prior to my trip. My girl and I see each other every two weeks untl xmas when she moves back here and sometimes I have 30 min to get packed so I may not get a chance to throw everything out of my pack. Obviously I didn't bring the knife back to NYC and asked my girl to mail the blade to me.

How crazy is it? They are ready to arrest and cavity search old lady for having nail cliper yet they let a full size serrated blade slip thru.

Same thing with my wifes Cold Steel Minipal that she forgot and left on her keyring in her purse. They almost stip searched her due to her underwire bra, but missed that completely...

Between taking dog tags from military and checking the underwire bras, there just isn't enough time for stuff like knives <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Dave

Same thing happened to me with a steak knife. My then 3-year old son "helped" me pack with stuff I might need for a trip. 2x xrays + hand inspection 2x didn't spot it.

If I were an artist, I would draw a MIddle Eastern man in striped robe, beard and turban as the TSA agent handling passenger inspections, with a view of the x-ray unit showing guns, knives, grenades, etc that he is letting through. The newspapers would probably love it.

Sue

Last night the TV was on, but I was only half-listening. A newscaster was reporting on the confusion about TSA regulations concerning carrying liquids in carry-on baggage. What got my attention was one of the people being interviewed referred to the TSA as "The pointy object patrol". It cracked me up! That reference paints such an accurate image that I'll probably laugh every time I hear "TSA".

Two trips coming up shortly.

And here I am worrying about packing my tiny toiletries in the proper quart-sized Ziploc bag, along with hoping I can get a bottle of water or a candy bar for less than $20 once I pass the checkpoint.

I hate flying. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

We just came back from Cincinnatti from a vacation and found it hysterical......my wife was not allowed to 'carry' the (tiniest) little bottle of purell onto the plane when it is attached to her purse. But it is perfectly fine if she places it into a quart ziplock bag and it gets x-rayed. So removing in from of the agent and putting it into the bag is fine.....but she can't just place it in a bin.......has to be in a bag......I'd say 'go figure' but in dealing with the TSA (Terminally Stupid Agency) it wouldn't mean much. My 7 year old son (his first flight) found it stupid.....and he didn't need us to tell him he figured it out on his own.

Yeah, -Look and Act Islamic etc, -and they might let you thru, -not wanting to Offend your Sensitivities!

Seriously now, -we face Both Real Dangers which *do* create the need for the likes of the TSA, -*and* a TSA and Co. Rife enuff with various Improprieties and Abuses! It'd be Nice to someday Settle on some sort of a Proper Middle Ground! [color:"black"] [/color] [email]Susan[/email]

Its an Absolute Outrage and Disgrace!, -to Search our Military Personnel and Units with the Thorough Going Over!, -that I've heard has been going on!

I think that a Certification by their CO / Commanding Officer, -to the TSA, -that "Everyone's Clean", -would Suffice. Really now! [color:"black"] [/color] [email]X-ray Dave[/email]

Well speaking of military... Local National Guard unit is patrolling JFK and them guys have it hard since they have no place to eat or rest. Food at the airport in general is expensive and horrible. The most guarded secret of one of the terminals is cafeteria which serves good grub for decent price. One day paramedics (us) and cops were sitting down when TSA is screaming for backup as unautorized person(s) has gained entrance to the terminal cafeteria. Cops get up from the table and run to see what's up and come back minute later with 4 soldiers in tow. It came out four soldiers with loaded rifles, proper uniforms and proper military ids asked if they could grab a bite and TSA guy was trying to detain them. Since soldiers rotate so often it is impossible to issue them airport ids because security screening is too slow. Yes I do understand a possibility of men dressed in the US military uniforms with loaded weapon charging a plane but not a freaking cafeteria. ALl they want is egg and cheese that is warm, tasty and cost 2 bucks instead of $5.