[ale] [OT] bomb hoax

[Thompson Freeman]

On 08/18/2006 08:25:09 AM, Jeff Lightner wrote:
> It's not racial - they're profiling geeks under the
> misapprehension that
> they can detect computer viruses by whether we have the
> sniffles or not.
> ;-)
> 
> 
> 
> My comment about carry on was related to the changes made
> after the
> British arrests.  They didn't restrict the liquids and
> gels completely -
> they said it had to go in checked rather than carry on
> baggage.  Their
> reasoning for that was they have machines to scan for
> explosives in
> checked baggage which implies they don't have them for
> carry on.
> 
> 
> 
> Another poster talked about waiting for the stuff to go
> through the
> detector being a problem but I don't see how that would be
> any more of a
> delay than the putting them through x-ray machines.

Ok. That would be me. And the delay would be going through  
the x-ray equipement _then_ putting the stuff into a device  
which needed to close a chamber before doing its  
examination. Supposedly, the technology can not be added to  
the end of the conveyer belt going through the x-ray  
equipment. Somebody would need to pick each package up, put  
it in a drawer, close the drawer, open the drawer, and  
return the package to the collection area. The delay would  
be at least double and perhaps triple the current delay.  
Simply banning liquids/gels doesn't increase the delay time  
now, and can be implemented much more quickly.

Also, the charges (which I'm beginning to think are  
overblown) were for a binary system. Getting two materials  
to mix in the cargo hold is going to be a challenge. Taking  
two materials to the bathroom to mix is at least possible.

I'm not sure I want to fly anymore. Between the mandated  
security irritations, the overcrowding of us overweight  
cattle in the cabin, and the banality of what passes for  
in-flight entertainment, it just doesn't have the allure it  
did for me some 40 years ago. And almost 50 years ago,  
flights were low enough that you could see in some cases  
what you were flying over.

> 
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> 
> From: ale-bounces at ale.org [mailto:ale-bounces at ale.org] On
> Behalf Of Jim
> Sent: Friday, August 18, 2006 8:14 AM
> To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts
> Subject: Re: [ale] [OT] bomb hoax
> 
> 
> 
> Jeff Lightner wrote:
> 
> They're claiming they have equipment for checked luggage
> that can detect
> trace amounts of explosives.  They don't explain why that
> equipment
> couldn't be or isn't used for carry on luggage.
> 
> 
> 
> Don't know about you, but I've had random checks for
> nitrated performed
> on me.  They don't do it for all bags at all airports, but
> they do it
> for carry on luggage.  I've been checked every time at San
> Jose, but
> since they checkers are all either Mexican or Asian and
> I'm not, I
> suspect they are profiling WASPs.  ;-)
> 
> Jim.
> 
> 

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