Happy Holidays 2009
T'was the night before travel and all through the suitcase,
Not an item was stirring not even the toothpaste.
The stockings were packed in the bag with great care,
With hopes that they soon would be in the air.
Not an item was stirring not even the toothpaste.
The stockings were packed in the bag with great care,
With hopes that they soon would be in the air.
The tickets were nestled all snug in a binder,
Your PDA calendar set as a reminder.
Your PDA calendar set as a reminder.
Awaking to a yard of frost and snow,
With a grab of your bags you were soon on the go.
With a grab of your bags you were soon on the go.
At your gate just in time with moments to spare,
Your seat reclined as you glide through the air.
Your seat reclined as you glide through the air.
You fall right to sleep as in your own bed,
While visions of fruitcakes danced in your head.
While visions of fruitcakes danced in your head.
Awaking to sounds of wheels on the ground,
Waiting for luggage you hope will be found.
Waiting for luggage you hope will be found.
You have finally arrived at your destination,
It's time to enjoy your holiday vacation.
It's time to enjoy your holiday vacation.
Happy Holidays and we'll see you in 2010.
Blogger Bob
TSA Blog Team
Labels: Blogger Bob, Holiday Travel
posted by Blogger Bob at
3:11 PM
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44 Comments:
Bob, the puppy posts don't cut it. When are you going to answer the growing multitude of valid questions people have posted to this site?
December 24, 2009 4:47 PM
Thank you.
December 24, 2009 4:49 PM
Haha nice poem, Happy Holidays!
December 24, 2009 6:05 PM
Due to poor training, the TSOs at one airport tried to ruin my holiday travel plans. An attempt was made to confiscate my contact lens solution at a security checkpoint. As an exempt item, I understand that I am subject to additional screening of the items and NOT forced to surrender the items. The TSO and supervisor, however, treated me and my friend as well as other fellow travelers like criminals.
I was told my solution was explosive and a threat. As someone who flies over 100,000 miles per year on close to 100 flights, I fully understand what I am allowed and not allowed. I am aware that certain contact lens solutions contain hydrogen peroxide and will cause a positive reading when screened for bomb residue. The type I had would not have caused such a false positive. To back the claim, I have passed through BOS, JFK, EWR, LAX, SJC, SFO, DFW, ORD and countless other airports without issue.
After convincing them that my solution met proper guidelines per the TSA website, I was permitted through with the item. The supervisor suggested he did me a favor by "letting me through this time."
Later at the gate, my friend and I were singled out for a retaliatory ID check. Despite an announcement that all passengers will be screened, only my friend I were approached. This left many confused travelers with their IDs out. May wondered how 30 passengers on a small turbo prop could pose a national security threat.
A formal complaint will be filed and submitted to my representatives in Congress. I am more than willing to discuss this with anyone at the TSA who wishes to get all sides of the story. This type of abuse and behavior is reminiscent of those I saw in various Eastern Block countries during the Soviet Era. Chances are this comment will be met with some justification a la Britany Spears.
December 24, 2009 11:51 PM
This post should show some of those "accomplishments" TSA has made this year, such as finding and stopping more than 500 weapons...
December 25, 2009 12:10 AM
Very apropos!
December 25, 2009 9:20 AM
Happy Holidays everyone.
Nice rhyme.
December 25, 2009 11:29 AM
T'was the night before travel and all through the suitcase,
Not an item was stirring not even the toothpaste.
Probably because the TSA inspectors had already stolen all of it.
December 25, 2009 12:34 PM
Merry Christmas to all that frequent this Blog.
And a special Merry Christmas to all that must work today.
December 25, 2009 2:24 PM
Is there going to be a post as far as the developing story of the Delta/Northwest flight from Amsterdam?
December 25, 2009 7:01 PM
Two comments delete-o-metered. One requesting updates, another commenting on the lack of updates. No foul language, no disrespect to anyone. It's called censorship.
December 26, 2009 4:38 AM
Why does TSA assume any liquid below 3.4 ounces is safe but that any liquid over 3.4 ounces is dangerous explosive?
Why does TSA toss these dangerous explosives into open containers in the middle of airports?
Why does TSA dispose of these dangerous explosives as if they were exactly what is indicated by their labels?
Why does TSA treat a bottle of Pepsi like soda when it's time to dispose of it, but as a dangerous explosive when it transits the checkpoint?
How does TSA screen the liquids sold past its checkpoints?
Does TSA test a random sampling if confiscated liquids to determine how many liquid explosives people are attempting to bring through checkpoints?
Why can't TSA point to a single piece of independent, peer-reviewed research to support its liquid policies?
Why does TSA continue to post inaccurate signage about the liquids policies in airports?
December 26, 2009 8:22 AM
How do I file a complaint about TSO Dave W. Anger of Minneapolis?
December 26, 2009 8:23 AM
Re: Puppy Posts:
It is CHRISTMAS give it a break.
We can beat on Blogger Bob and the TSA after the holiday.
December 26, 2009 10:00 AM
Have a great vacation Bob!!!! With or without your puppy.
December 26, 2009 10:59 AM
Henry Blodget tweeted this:
@hblodget New Plane Security Rules: No Electronics, No Getting Up Last Hour, 1 Bag http://bit.ly/5JHony
Is this true? So...electronics are stolen from bags, but we're going to have to put our phones and luggage in our laptops? And spend hours and hours in the airport (thanks to TSA regulations) and then get on a plane for hours and hours and not be able to do any work?
Well, actually, the truth is, we can thank "the religion of peace."
December 26, 2009 11:51 AM
Several airlines are reporting TSA or US gov. mandated changes to carry on items (e.g. AC).
WHen is TSA going to update website with useful info. on changes following DTW aircraft incident, or will TSA have the usual inconsistent and unscientific approach to faux security?
December 26, 2009 1:14 PM
Is http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/27/us/27security.html?_r=2&src=twt&twt=nytimes a joke? I think it's a little bit of an overreaction. Will the TSA pay me back for the trip I have scheduled in March since this is absolutely insane and makes me not want to fly at all now. Thanks for letting the terrorists win.
December 26, 2009 1:50 PM
My tax dollars went into putting that together? Sigh.
December 26, 2009 4:23 PM
Hopefully we *won't* see you in 2010. Air travel has gotten steadily worse since the TSA got into the picture.
December 26, 2009 4:55 PM
watchlist FAILLLLLLLLL
December 26, 2009 5:05 PM
Hey - you know what would be cool? Telling us why a terrorist could bomb a plane in the final hour of the flight, but not in the previous, say, three hours. Seriously - how many millions of people are you going to inconvenience with such a cockeyed plan?
December 26, 2009 5:22 PM
Hmm. this harkens back 2 my criticisms of past emergencies: why no emergency update 2 this blog in light of the Northwest incident. 4 that matter, and especially since it was ordinary travelers who subdued the guy, has DHS failed to follow through on promises to give the public a substantive role in terror preparation & response. It's no secret: I've been writing about this 4 8 yrs. & even did a white paper on it under contract from DHS.
W. David Stephenson
Stephenson Strategies
December 26, 2009 5:42 PM
When will this idiotism stop?
You guys keep on coming up with pointless methods to try and make people behave more like boxes. Why not just stop access to all human beens to the USA and call it a day.
Hopefully the public will show what they think of this.
December 26, 2009 6:05 PM
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Bob and the rest of the Blog Team.
December 26, 2009 6:10 PM
To answer a few questions…
Any liquid of any size can be explosive. The bomb experts believe it is not possible to take down an aircraft with liquid explosive smaller than about 3 oz. Combining a bunch of small bottles into one big bottle is very difficult to do without screwing up the explosive mixture.
Unfortunately, the disposal of restricted liquids that are given up by passengers is a major sticking point with the TSOs in the airport. The real balance is the cost differential between the possible threat of an oversized bottle detonating in one of the disposal containers and the extreme cost of disposing the items as true hazardous material.
Airports across the U.S. perform random additional explosive tests on items that passengers have chosen to give up. If a positive result occurs reports must be processed into a national database which allows TSA to track how many items test positive for explosives.
If you talk to any explosive expert, such as military EOD or police department bomb squad officer, you will discover all the “independent” evidence about liquid explosives you desire.
The 3-1-1 signs were created to make the liquid rules easier to remember, not to trick the traveling public. The difference between the posted amount (3 oz.) and the actual amount that is allowed to be carried (3.4 oz.) is only half an ounce. Is it really worth getting upset about especially when everyone knows the difference and the proper size to carry?
December 26, 2009 7:01 PM
Trollkiller said...
Re: Puppy Posts:
It is CHRISTMAS give it a break.
We can beat on Blogger Bob and the TSA after the holiday.
December 26, 2009 10:00 AM
.........................
I figure if TSA can work holidays so can I!
December 26, 2009 8:54 PM
So I see the TSA is still in a reactionary stance.
The solution to the most recent threat is to keep everyone in their seats for the last hour of a transatlantic flight? Really? Wait until you start hearing from sufferers of Crohne's Disease who are forced to soil themselves when they can't get to the lav.
Of course, if anyone has any nefarious plans to harm the aircraft, passengers or crew, now they'll simply do it at 1:15 out from the airport.
How about you guys just do the job of keeping explosives off planes, and stop punishing the passengers, eh?
December 26, 2009 10:36 PM
TSO Jacob writes, regarding the 100ml rule:
Is it really worth getting upset about especially when everyone knows the difference and the proper size to carry?
Are you sure everyone knows the difference? There's not one lone TSO somewhere who looks at the 3-1-1 sign and then seizes a 3.2oz bottle as contraband because "the sign says so"?
TSA shouldn't tell passengers to "just follow the rules on the signs and the website" and then turn around and add "except for the ones which are incorrect".
0.4oz? Yes, it's trivial. But if TSA can't get something as small as the difference between 3.0oz and 100ml correct, what confidence does that give the rest of us that TSA is going to get more complicated issues right?
December 26, 2009 11:49 PM
"How do I file a complaint about TSO Dave W. Anger of Minneapolis?"
http://www.tsa.gov/contact/index.shtm
Use the first form.
also:
MSP TSA Contact - 612-486-5460 or MSPcomments@dhs.gov
(from the MSP Airport website)
There also should have been comment cards at the check point. If time permitted (and when traveling, it sometimes doesn't), you could have talked to a supervisor who also could have called a manager. As I work at MSP, I have seen this happen.
TSOJoe
December 27, 2009 10:09 AM
"Air travel has gotten steadily worse since the TSA got into the picture."
Please! They're just a small part of the problem. Don't let the airlines off the hook so easily...
December 27, 2009 10:11 AM
"So I see the TSA is still in a reactionary stance."
They usually are. Looks what happened when they try to do something proactive, like put in those "see-you-naked" machines. Everyone goes ape-nuts with privacy concerns.
December 27, 2009 10:12 AM
TSO Jacob said...
To answer a few questions…
Any liquid of any size can be explosive. The bomb experts believe it is not possible to take down an aircraft with liquid explosive smaller than about 3 oz. Combining a bunch of small bottles into one big bottle is very difficult to do without screwing up the explosive mixture.
........................
Jacob it is being reported in the news that the latest case (the skivvie bomber) had less than 3.4oz of material.
How will your "bomb experts" explain this away?
You say that the difference between 3.0oz and 3.4oz is trivial.
Would you be ok if your doctors used your "trival" rule when giving injections to you or your family members?
How about when pumping gasoline, would you accept .4oz per gallon less than what your paying for?
TSA has an absolute obligation to provide accurate information to the public. Not updating signage to reflect the 100ml (3.4oz) change is not acceptable.
December 27, 2009 11:29 AM
Since the most recent attack was in the last hour of flight, we now have to remain in our seats with empty laps for the last hour of all flights. What is stopping a terrorist from attacking in the FIRST hour of flight, or any hour in between these times. Maybe, we should remain in our seats for the entire flight be it 1 hour or 18 hours and never have anything with us in our seats. Really, what are the restrictions in only the last hour going to solve?
December 27, 2009 1:04 PM
TSO Jacob said...
The difference between the posted amount (3 oz.) and the actual amount that is allowed to be carried (3.4 oz.) is only half an ounce.
Actually it is NOT only half an ounce, it is .4 ounce. So now you are saying we can have 3.5 ounce liquids?
But seriously, the difference is more than 13% difference. That puts things more into perspective.
Can I pay 13% less for my airline tickets? No
Can I round down my income I report to the IRS by 13%? No
The government should be accurate in telling people about rules. There is no excuse for cutting corners.
December 27, 2009 11:41 PM
"You say that the difference between 3.0oz and 3.4oz is trivial.
Would you be ok if your doctors used your "trival" rule when giving injections to you or your family members?
How about when pumping gasoline, would you accept .4oz per gallon less than what your paying for?"
Ah, RB, you're going true to form. Asking questions that REALLY don't have ANYTHING to do with the topic at hand. Changing the subject when you have nothing to add. And asking questions like a four year old. Only a four year old would listen to the answer, while you just spout off more useless questions.
December 28, 2009 9:06 AM
TSO Jacob wrote:
"The real balance is the cost differential between the possible threat of an oversized bottle detonating in one of the disposal containers and the extreme cost of disposing the items as true hazardous material."
--------
You put this brilliantly, Jacob. Everything should have a cost/benefit analysis. As in: what is the cost to American businesses by not allowing biz travelers an hour of laptop use, vs the cost of a terror attack, where the odds are currently one per 16 million?
(Source: http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2009/12/odds-of-airborne-terror.html)
What we need is perspective and not reactionary hysteria.
December 28, 2009 12:37 PM
Shut up Bob.
Actually, don't shut up. Spend your time answering question instead of reciting lame verses.
December 28, 2009 2:28 PM
Have to disagree with you TK. One doesn't give criminals a break because it's Christmas. For that exact same reason I don't give the TSA a break.
December 28, 2009 2:31 PM
Anonymous said...
"You say that the difference between 3.0oz and 3.4oz is trivial.
Would you be ok if your doctors used your "trival" rule when giving injections to you or your family members?
How about when pumping gasoline, would you accept .4oz per gallon less than what your paying for?"
Ah, RB, you're going true to form. Asking questions that REALLY don't have ANYTHING to do with the topic at hand. Changing the subject when you have nothing to add. And asking questions like a four year old. Only a four year old would listen to the answer, while you just spout off more useless questions.
December 28, 2009 9:06 AM
..............
Well Anon you seem unable to grasp the point that 3.0oz and 3.4oz is not trivial. I simply used some common examples as a means of comparison.
Sorry for working over your head.
December 28, 2009 3:35 PM
TSO Jacob said...
Any liquid of any size can be explosive. The bomb experts believe it is not possible to take down an aircraft with liquid explosive smaller than about 3 oz. Combining a bunch of small bottles into one big bottle is very difficult to do without screwing up the explosive mixture.
So then why the limit of the 1 quart baggy? If what you say is true, then it should not matter as to how many of the 3.4 oz bottles we bring aboard.
December 28, 2009 7:45 PM
Cute poems? Heh.
Roses are red. violets are blue.
You don't screen air cargo, isn't that true?
Or how about a limerick?
I once was in line at MID
with pax lined up to IAD
A plethora of bags
Screened not yet by the nags
Risk factor: the TSA created.
Security is no joking matter. The cute holiday poems are sad. It's time for the TSA to actually get serious, instead of forcing the public to be unwilling participants in this theatrical farce at the airports.
December 28, 2009 8:11 PM
Let’s get the facts straight. Your all spoiled; you think the world should work the way you’d like it to and it does not, FACT, get over it and take the time you’re wasting here and apply it to something you can control like helping the homeless in your state, if you don’t like humans go to an animal shelter. I want, I want, I need, I need…seriously. I just got back from a family vacation, I drove, my two kids had plenty of room in the 7 passenger caravan, heated leather seats, 3 screens of satellite radio/TV, DVD, videogames, reading materials, cooler with food and drinks and what do I hear…I want, I want, I need, I need and yes even the standbys I’m Bored and Are we there yet? Seriously I drove for 22 hrs each way and did not expect this type of behavior out of an 7 and 9 year old with all these amenities, when I was growing up we were lucky to have a blanket and a pillow in the car to sleep with, and hopefully the AC was working. Take a look in the mirror this year and reflect, I personally don’t enjoy going to my doctor for a complete physical but it’s a necessary evil, I can chose to not go and then be surprised when I find out I have some deadly illness , or I can deal with it. If I nagged my doctor, lawyer or anyone else as much as you harass these guys, they would kick me out of their office and tell me to find someone else to groan to. There are laws and regulations pertaining to these topics look them up, if you want more info, go work for them and bring about change. The fact is you want security and be able to fly from A to B successfully, if you’re going to be all touchy feely you’re going to have the knee jerk response that you keep getting, I fly frequently for business and my motto is a rather get there in one piece than several, think about it the next time you fly. TSA enjoys checking your sweaty shoes and bodies, just as much as my doctor enjoys checking my prostate.
January 1, 2010 9:58 AM
To All of the TSA workers, Have a Happy New Year and a safe traveling year.
January 14, 2010 11:15 AM
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