security theater

[sergebroom]

Sue had been away this last week, visiting her family. I went to the airport yesterday to pick her up at the airport, then we had a late lunch - or an early supper. Then we went back home and, while she was checking on the state of her garden, I brought her luggage in, took her computer out of the carryon, plugged it in. Everything worked. Huzzah! Then I went to pick up some groceries for her. And finally we relaxed, and watched the second Bourne movie. My opinion? Boriiiiiinnnnnng. Then we went to sleep, although not because of the movie.

Because of her knee problems, she sometimes wears a knee brace. We've come to the conclusion that, next time she flies anywhere, she might want to put the brace away. She set off alarms going thru the local Security Theater. True, she wasted only 10 minutes while they did everything but strip-search her, but my understanding is that they were a bit brusque about it. She set off alarms going thru Oakland's Security Theater yesterday and went thru the whole thing again, but at least they were easy-going about it.

I feel so safe knowing that, when I get onto a plane, America's skies are kept safe from the nefarious plots of romance writers.

Comments

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

Not just those nefarious romance writers either. We're safe from all the people wearing braces too! You never know, she muttered darkly, what evil could be smuggled in through those supposed health aids.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

It's going to be even more interesting for Sue when she gets that metal knee.

(Meanwhile, the true bad guys are laughing their heads off.)

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

Amen Brother! How is it that we can see all too clearly how well they are manipulating our government, and Our Government cannot? All the bad guys have to do is release a video of how they're going to do such-and-such, and we end up taking our shoes off, not packing liquids, and lining up like sheep.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Of course, all of this is there so that the Authorities can show that Something Is Being Done. I wonder if they actually ever caught somebody. Of course, if I asked them, they'd want to know why I want to know.

(No, I will not mention Kafka.)

[etumukutenyak.livejournal.com]

Nor will I mention Joseph Heller.

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

And all the people wearing belts. Mine tripped the alarm in San Diego last March.

[tania-c.livejournal.com]

I'm always surprised by how the authorities assume the complete stupidity of professional criminals.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Some of them are probably quite stupid, but their bosses aren't.

[kathryn-ironic.livejournal.com]

The TSA has a set of rules for how they (not the passenger) are to work with people with medical conditions.

For example, they cannot tell people with orthopedic shoes to take them off (and walk through the magnetometer), but instead must simply do a swab test and hand inspection of the shoes when the passenger informs them that the shoes cannot come off.

I'm not certain of the specific rules for knee braces--will have to find the rules--but she should be treated much better than that.

[serge-lj.livejournal.com]

Let me know what you find out. I'd betetr do some research too because she has another flight scheduled for the end of July.