#WhoisJohngalt2014 Can you find the problem with this photo?
Can you answer these questions?:
Where was this photo taken?
And which of these things doesn't belong?
Where was this photo taken?
And which of these things doesn't belong?
Anyway, the stupid knife disappeared - I had thought it fell out of the bag somewhere, and figured it long gone.
Months (and many trips) later, I was coming back through Airport Security at Pulkovo (St Peterburg, Russia) to get to Domodedovo and then back home... and the Militia guy running the X-ray machine pulled my bag, and asked me what was in the bottom of it. I had no idea, and emptied it out - nothing there. He re-ran the empty bag, and said it was still there. Hmmm..
I pulled the lining of the bag, and there it was - the knife - had wedged itself into the framework of the bag. Oops.
He told me I could either send it to myself or check it, but I had to catch that flight to connect back out to SFO later that day (it was the last day on my visa) - and it left in 30 minutes. Bleah! Talk about embarrassing... (at least he was understanding about it... if it were TSA it *would* have ended badly...) I asked if I could surrender it, he asked me not to, as it was too nice a blade. But time was ticking... So I made a snap decision.
I told him it's story, that it had been around the world twice, and all over the US and Europe... Took his hand, handed it to him, and made him promise NOT to throw it out but keep it, use it, and take care of it. He kept asking "are you sure, are you sure?"...
I stood there until he turned his back (and slipped it into his pocket), thanked him and ran to catch the plane. OK, some may not understand... but the smile on his face was enough. I'm sure the adventures of that CRKT lives on... in St Petersburg.
At lease it didn't end up in the pseudo trash-bin of TSA's to get auctioned off as "recovered contraband"... As an aside, I found out (on a later trip) from Aviation Security in Moscow that they are required to give extra scrutiny to US bound passengers - especially if they have a US passport - at the request of TSA. Why am I not surprised...
On a plane, with magazines referencing the military, a few air sick bags? and a bottle of WalMart water. I think the postit is very appropriate since you obviously got a bottle of WalMart water through TSA, aka Thousands Standing Around. Of course unless there is now a WalMart in an airline terminal?
The swiping of suitcases is probably a test for nitrates. Hear that, all you gardeners? Take a couple grams of very finely ground potassium nitrate, drop on the conveyer belt, and watch TSA "detect nitrate" all day long.
I travel international sometimes, sometimes after having worked with chemicals and with a checked bag full of electronic parts, and I have never had to do the additional screening. It must be just luck.
The last time I traveled by air I was in a somewhat whimsical mood. So....as I was traveling to perform a wedding (I am a "mail order minister"), I wore a clerical collar to the airport. I had a bottle of water in my carry-on bag ("holy water" if anyone asked), and several other items that were too large for TSA regulations. They looked at me and didn't even open my bag.
I was amazed. I had half-expected to end up in The Little Room. It can't be that easy to breeze past the TSA....can it?
Funny thing is, over the years I have thought of many ways that different potential weapons could be gotten past TSA screening. If they occurred to me, those with evil intent must know of them and more.
In one airport I have used a fair number of times, there is a steakhouse at the far end of the concourse. Where you get real steak knives. Long after you pass through any form of screening. It's cafeteria-style, so you get your silverware from a group of tubs at the end of the line.
Not sure if anyone here has ever read Frank Abignale's delightful book, "Catch Me If You Can". He had a "replica" pilot's license made, then went to Eastern Airlines and requisitioned a complete uniform including insignia, claiming to be an employee. He then flew all over the world as a "pilot" who was given free transportation as a courtesy, and wrote large phony checks at each stop along the way.
Surely one could not get away with that now....could they?
On another occasion, he stole a mail cart, rented a security guard's uniform, and stood next to the after hours deposit slot at a bank, on which he had placed an "out of order" sign. Police did show up at one point. They helped him put the cart in his vehicle.
Interesting movie, BTW, even though I'm not a big fan of Di Caprio.
I quite agree that he would be unlikely to get away with at least some of his scams now due to changes in technology (some of them suggested by Frank Abagnale, who is now making a fortune as a security consultant). That said....when you see someone in a pilot's uniform, how often do you consider that s/he might be an impostor? I don't believe I ever have.
My father practiced law for 23 years. Not one, by his account, did anyone ever ask to see his license to practice.
Not sure if it is still true, but I knew a couple years ago who got a new TV every 11 months, taking advantage of a retailer's one year return policy. They did not seem to have any qualms about it or even to regard what they were doing as dishonest.
Not sure whether this would still be true (though I wouldn't be at all surprised), but years ago I found that I never had any trouble hiking across private land as long as I had a camera slung around my neck (granted, I was working as a nature photographer, but even so). Binoculars and "bird watching" work well also. On the rare occasions that I encountered land owners, not only did they have no problem with my presence, they often pointed out places I might want to photograph and provided directions. Of course, had I been asked to leave I would have done so immediately.
If you look like you belong where you are or appear to have some sort of "status", virtually everyone will assume you are who you appear to be. Can be useful in "shrugging", but I also find it a bit scary.
Jan
And how do terrorists behave? They can't keep their stories straight under repeated grilling.
A twitch here, a detail out-of-place there, and the next thing you know...!
Someone told me they were the ones who wrote the TSA playbook, however having experienced both, TSA are pikers compared to ISS/El Al.
I do it all the time.
Midway even has a faucet for filling bottles