TSA Opt-Out Day, Now with a Superfantastic New Twist!
November 24th, as many of you already know, is National Opt-Out Day, when airline passengers should refuse to submit themselves to those privacy-invading, genital-picture-taking, radiation-delivering back-scatter imaging machines now installed at many American airports. By telling the TSA agents in charge that you "opt-out" out of the back-scatter (at which point, the TSA agents, if my experience is typical, will yell, "We got an opt-out!," causing everyone standing on the TSA Checkpoint Coiled Line of Death to look at you funny), you will be subjecting yourself to a fairly thorough frisking, as detailed in this post.
...
But come November 24th, here's an idea you might try to make the day extra-special. It's a one-word idea: Kilts. Think about it -- if you're a male, and you want to bollix-up the nonsensical airport security-industrial complex, one way to do so would be to wear a kilt. If nothing else, this will cause TSA employees to throw up their hands in disgust. If you want to go the extra extra mile, I suggest commando-style kilt-wearing. While it is probably illegal to fly without pants, I can't imagine that it's illegal to fly without underpants. I If you are Scottish, or part Scottish, or know someone who is Scottish, or eat Scottish salmon, or enjoy Scotch, or have a vestigial affection for "Braveheart" despite Mel Gibson, you can plausibly claim some sort of multicultural diversity privilege -- the term "True Scotsman" refers to soldiers who honor their tradition and heritage by wearing kilts without drawers underneath.
Even with the release of the saved backscatter pics, I still don't get it. Ah, well. It's just one more annoying overreaction that makes flying more irritating--but I save my ire for the fluids restriction and that dumb ziploc bag rule.
- sigh* just annoyed that it'll take extra long to get through security with so many individuals throwing temper tantrums at the gates. As though the lines aren't long enuf already during the holidays. And yes, i am flying cross country on Nov 24. And no, i have no problem with scanners. It's an annoyance, but no more so than all the other irrational hoops we've been jumping through for years now. Safety: It's not enough radiation to worry me (tho i agree that pilots and flight attendants should be excempt. they're flying the planes, yo. if they wanted to do something bad they don't need weapons or explosives)
Privacy: the scans show yr body, not yr face. If my flabby backscatter xray were to be posted online for the world to see, i doubt even i would be able to id myself based on that kind of image.
hahaah, ita, i'm with you on the fluids annoyance being far more irritating than xrays or pat downs. Seriously, i want ALL my toiletries with me. Too many times have my connections gone wrong and i ended up spending the night in the airport or a hotel.
As well as toiletries, there are beverages. Fuckers. I was pleased to find out that Vancouver airport has a rule that restaurants inside the security checkpoint don't charge more than outside it. Because LAX? Total ripoff. To the point where the Starbucks guy suggested I go to Burger King instead. But no, I paid $5+ for the stupid juice, because I can't drink OJ and I didn't want soda.
Because LAX?
Three little letters, so much horror.
I heart PDX. You can buy growlers of Laurelthirst microbrews at the same price as the store (without having to drive their if it is out of the way) and there's frequently live musicians scattered around just cuz. Too bad my evil Nov 24 flight is at 6am, there's only so "early" you can get when the airport closes overnight. And most of the vendors won't be open that early so i'll have to wait until the layover for breakfast if i don't scarf it down in the taxi. *sniff*
The Detroit airport (my last regional one) sucked because nothing was ever open when I was flying. So who cared what the prices were? I would just have had to be thirsty.
My flight home for Christmas is at ten something pm. Shit better be open, even at overly high prices.
That`s why I am so grateful to whatever Buffista taught me the empty water bottle trick. That one was a lifesaver this last trip.
On the train they give me drinks! For free! (Yes, yes, included in price.) And the coffee`s not half bad. Must remember to ask them what brand it is on the way home.</train loves carrots>
Friends of mine are flying in to San Diego next month. I'm thinking of taking the train down to meet them.
