Security notice

For a slight diversion from the litany of the arrogance of bankers and automakers, let us now turn to airport security. The Scientific American assures us that there is no reassurance when it comes to this—all sense of commercial aviation security is illusory.

Embedded in the story is another one from the Atlantic, in which the reporter, guided by Bruce Schneier, tests TSA procedures and finds them…definitely wanting.

I have to say that I’ve certainly found the application of whatever rules and guidelines they’re allegedly following inconsistent. In San José, for the first and only time, I was instructed that lipstick and mascara were to go into that one-quart zip-lock bag. TSA drones at some airports freak out and make you take off a jacket-like overshirt; others don’t even seem to notice.

There have been a few times when I get through security and discover that I didn’t get all my little bottles of hand lotion into the baggie, but left one in my purse or a couple in my coat pockets. The past two times through, with a roll-on I carefully put all the liquid/lotion bottles in that baggie & then left it peeking out from the exterior pouch of the carry-on. Without a squawk from TSA.

So, no—I don’t feel any more secure when getting on an airplane than I did ten years ago, although by the time I’ve gone through that “screening”, been herded on board by the airline staff (usually because they’re 30 minutes late and want to make up the schedule on the backs of the passengers) and stuffed into a flight with a butt in every seat—by that time I’m mad enough that I don’t care about security.

Perhaps that’s what they intend after all.