I am all about safety, but I flew within two months of 9/11 and the screening procedures were crude at best. When you were singled out for a more thorough screening, there were no privacy screens; they did it right at the gate while others oogled and boarded. They had hand wands that triggered an alarm when they detected metal, but could not differentiate between a belt buckle or keys or coins, versus an underwire bra.

I got singled out because I was doing a long tour of the states back on the mainland for about two and a half months. I had one way flights to several cities, which raises a flag, despite the fact I checked baggage. I was a travel agent for about 8 years prior to my moving to the islands in 1997; I left the industry to move and pursue a diving career. I was privvy to the procedure where your ticket was marked on the boarding pass with a code to flag the airline staff that you were going to be pulled out of line for a further screening. This was even before the events of 9/11 that changed everything forever.

On this particular jaunt, a TSA woman from United Airlines groped me in full view of the traveling public because my underwire bra set off the alarm. I was pulled aside and informed I was going to be "frisked" (can't remember the exact terminology). You freak guys will love this--she groped my...um...chestal area....in a most unprofessional manner, I felt. I don't know if it was because it was so public (no privacy screen or the fact my most personal space was being invaded hands on by a complete stranger in the name of safety); I was pissed enough to make a nasty comment about her sexual orientation (I am pretty tolerant for the most part about that sort of thing, but felt very violated in this particular case.)

I am more tolerant of the more stringent security measures nowadays because it makes it safer for me to travel, but I still find it appalling the amount of screening vs. the volume of planes and passengers that travel without being screened, as evidenced by the gross breaches of security in airports across the country. It sucks waiting for the security screening because if I have a 6 am flight, that means I am at the airport by 4:30 or earlier to make the flight. I have never missed a flight since my first airplane trip to California in 1984, and have traveled numerous times since then, both domestically and abroad, but missed a flight for my birthday in 2008 because I got to the ticket counter 5 minutes late and missed the cutoff by five minutes. Ironically, the person who I was traveling with booked their flight several weeks after mine on another carrier and made it there while 8 hours later, I was still stuck in Boston. The security check points add at least an hour to your travel time, even at 5:30 in the morning. I got put on another carrier who lost my luggage and finally got to my destination many hours later. Got my luggage the next day. In all of my previous travels, this had never happened to me. I only had a five day jaunt, and would've missed my birthday because I was traveling. Fortunately, American Airlines was gracious enough to accept my ticket from either Delta or USAirways and did their best to get me there the same day.

They have since refined the more intense scrutiny, but I always knew when I traveled that I was going to be pulled out of line to avoid the whole "profiling" experience for other factions who were most prone to being screened. I was the antithesis of the type of person they were really screening for, being a white female, traveling alone on a "circle trip"
(traveling from one city to another until you reach the destination from where you originated) generates a security warning, although I never paid with cash.

They now have a more streamlined screening process and I haven't been pulled for more intense scrutiny in years, but maybe because I (and enough other people) complained about the public manner in which we were scrutinized, things have changed considerably.

_________________
[ERROR 404: User brain not found - Try again later]
"Sarcasm and cynicism: Just two of the many services I provide."
"Never make someone a priority when you are only an option for them."
"You can't polish a turd."

Meh, if they wanna peek at my package THAT bad, then go for it. It's not too great but shit! I'll whip it out and slap it on the table for them if they're hurting to see my mini weenie.

The gov. agencies we deal with on a day to day basis have two ways of doing things; The easy way where they tell you they'll be scanning your goods in a polite manor, and their way. Usually at gun point saying, "Too fucking bad! We're looking at your goods anyway!"

We really don't have a say in the matter when you think about it. They will implement what ever procedures into services which are used on a massive scale by the general public all day long and twice on Sunday, if they like.

Why? Because they can.

I'm just waiting for the first person to write some obscene remarks on their arse or general area of their genitalia telling the security guards what they can do with said body parts. And you know damn well they’ll brand this person as a “Terrorist”. Just imagine what the media release would be from the department of home land security;

(Security Guard) “Today, a male passed through our body scanner with obscenities written on his lower torso. I believe this was a Terrorist act directed towards me personally. Since then, this man has been arrested and taken in for questioning. It is believed he is directly involved with Al-Qaeda.”

Reporter asks questions as to what was written, all while cameras are flashing…

“The man in question had written instructions for me to perform an unspeakable act on his, um, err… (…pause…) Penis.”

Until this happens, if it leads to my 30 seconds or one minute of fame, then so be it. I just hope the cops remember its ok to show your junk next time I get shitfaced and go streaking at 3 am.

_________________
If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

If u wanna see the really mini me, just ask. All I ask is that there is a female present to make me feel more comfortable.

And upon request a woman can have a male present with the female when she gets hers too.

And I would do the torso writing too. And lower back.............


J

_________________
Godsmack's posts are often made with little thought or consideration of others. If you find yourself offended please go to the end of the cubicle, and there you will meet Carol. She has diabetes, high blood pressure, and is a Ducks fan. She will automatically assume you are full of shit and send you away. Or you could realize that he is just a sarcastic, mean little fucker, and he rather likes it that way. Please feel free to bust his chops back. Stay Classy San Diego.