New airport scanners.

[GSZX1337]

Warning to any who are offended by rap or foul language. It has both.

TSA Gangsta -

Foul language I can handle, but have to draw the line at Rap.

[Hobie-wan]

I also just saw this on neogaf. This guy has the right idea! I may do this on my return flight to Japan. Just come in wearing my training shorts and a tshirt with running shoes. I'll change back into my street clothes in a restroom after completing screening.

If this nonsense hasn't calmed down by the time I might be taking a flight I might just wear my kilt 'properly'. Someone with even less shame should wear a very tight unitard ala Tron Guy or Mr Goodbody.

[Upsidedown Fuji]

edit: added a ton of extra stuff

For those asking for solutions to the problem without loosing your feeling of security, I have something you may want to check out.

There is a better, less intrusive scanner option that the TSA never bothered with despite superior tech being used in Dutch airports. It even uses radio waves instead of x-rays to find contraband.

The Dutch version body scanner doesn't take your body image like the backscatter device. Rather, it uses a generic mannequin figure on the display and if it finds something only the area on the mannequin figure display is highlighted for further search.

I think we wouldn't even have this current uproar about the TSA if they weren't using such unneccessarily voyeuristic tech and full on molestation style pat-down techniques.

Here's the link http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/n ... fix19.html

Here is the scanner manufacturer's website.
http://www.safe-view.com/advancedimagin ... ion-at.htm

If you don't feel like clicking through the links for yourself. Here are some bullet points from the scanner manufactuer's website.

Automatic Detection:
•Under evaluation by regulators worldwide

•All types of materials (metallic and non-metallic): liquids, gels, plastics, powders, metals, ceramics, etc.

•All types of objects: weapons, standard and home-made explosives, contraband, drugs, money, papers, etc

High Throughput:
ProVision is built for high checkpoint throughput. A quick scan provides the data needed to confidently pass an individual through a checkpoint.
•A seven second total processing time for a complete multidirectional view
•Scans more than 350 people per hour depending on application
•Reduces need for time-consuming and intrusive pat-down searches

Safe Technology:
•ProVision does not use X-rays or any ionizing radiation.
•The signals created by ProVision are a fraction of other commercial radio frequency devices.

Preserving Privacy:

•Automatic Threat Detection feature addresses privacy concerns by eliminating the generation and review of images. Scan data is processed by software without human intervention to determine if any threats are present. Potential threat areas are then presented to the operator using a generic mannequin that resembles a human outline.

[Ivo]

From some comments here I'm puzzled - if you go for the "improved" pat-down, don't they always assign a same-gender agent for it?
(...)

I think the security guards will have stopped caring about who they are patting down after the first 100 people (which should be like their first 2 hours on their first day on the job). Likewise I wouldn't care much about someone feeling up my girlfriend, if the other option was her getting an extra dose of radiation.

It's like how there's male gynocologists.

Like I said, even if *they* are professionals (and don't care after their first 100 people - which I'm not necessarily convinced for good or for bad), I am not a professional and I still care. I'm sure some/many of the TSA people that do these pat-downs don't really appreciate having to do them.

I agree with the choice over the extra dose of radiation, but that wasn't the point - we are already at the point where the pat-down is chosen. Do they assign same-gender or at least let you choose same-gender in case you randomly get opposite-gender?

The comparison with doctors is valid but not spot-on. You can choose the doctors you go to on most non-emergency situations (and in emergencies, even "non-professionals" like me shouldn't care ). I'm pretty sure you can't choose the particular agent you want to pat you down (which would be weird "I want that one!" hehe). But can you at least request for a specific gender?

Most importantly, doctors are highly-trained, have covered ethics at some level, and probably don't resent being overworked/underpaid like I guess many TSA people do.

The benefits in risk-prevention you get from being watched by or felt-up by doctors when they decide to do so are certainly more significant than the risk-prevention you get from being felt-up by TSA people (and Doctors will also tend to be more gentle and respectful about it, I'm sure).

Ivo.

[Limewater]

The Dutch version body scanner doesn't take your body image like the backscatter device. Rather, it uses a generic mannequin figure on the display and if it finds something only the area on the mannequin figure display is highlighted for further search.

That's actually owned by L-3 Communications, an American company.

For what it's worth, these are in some American airports. I think I've seen them at BWI and Reagan National. I'm inclined to believe that a lot of the ones that have already been deployed aren't using the "image free" technology. I could be wrong, though.

[Hatta]

Here's even more evidence that the TSA cannot possibly be concerned about safety, and can only be engaged in a power trip of epic proportions.

Makes me feel dirty posting a redstate.com link, but at least we have some common ground, I guess.

[Hobie-wan]

Here's even more evidence that the TSA cannot possibly be concerned about safety, and can only be engaged in a power trip of epic proportions.

Makes me feel dirty posting a redstate.com link, but at least we have some common ground, I guess.

Whew, good thing none of them decided to pistol whip or give anyone a buttstock to the face. As I mentioned several pages back I had screwdriver tips that I forgot in a bag confiscated because they probably looked like bullets in the xray, but accidentally flew round trip with nail clippers with a fold out knife in my carry on once about 6 years ago.

[Hobie-wan]

Good news for pilots at least.

http://consumerist.com/2010/11/update-t ... downs.html

Not so good for flight attendant cancer survivor.

http://consumerist.com/2010/11/cancer-s ... -down.html

[CRTGAMER]

I also just saw this on neogaf. This guy has the right idea! I may do this on my return flight to Japan. Just come in wearing my training shorts and a T-shirt with running shoes. I'll change back into my street clothes in a restroom after completing screening.

If this nonsense hasn't calmed down by the time I might be taking a flight I might just wear my kilt 'properly'. Someone with even less shame should wear a very tight unitard ala Tron Guy or Mr Goodbody.

That would be hilarious at the inspection.
How about if some pot bellied beach apes start showing up in Speedos.

Not so good for flight attendant cancer survivor.

http://consumerist.com/2010/11/cancer-s ... -down.html

Definitely out of hand. TSA agent drone pushing their power or stuck with overbearing policy? That fingernail clipper confiscation with the soldier is also ridiculous.

[Hobie-wan]

Funny TSA acronyms.



Well, and not funny.