TSANN: We Are What's News

[redstapler]

-I went with Josh to his office's poker game last night. I did pretty well until we switched tables after the break, and then I was out in like, five hands. I was dominating my original table up to that point. I'm finding I rather like poker. (Hey, it's a trolley! And I'm late for it!) On the upside, now I finally know what I'd do if I ever went to

Comments

[rm]

Exciting that it's gotten to Newsweek like that. I'm working up a big study of media coverage of TSA regulations during the Thanksgiving travel season over the last ten years now. Won't have material together until December, obviously, but the trend should be super interesting.

[redstapler]

Yeah, I'm impressed with Newsweek's reporting of that issue. They did so respectfully, and better, that's pretty high profile for such a nuanced problem.

I really, really hope this gets fixed soon.

[realaustinman]

You'll really like HP7. There's a dark elegance to this one that really makes it a grownup story.

[brewsternorth]

The thing I noticed first about the woman's lawsuit against the TSA is that the incident took place in 2008. For people who thought the 'bad touch' policy began in 2010 that should be a wakeup call. (It won't be, of course. :/)

[ladyaelfwynn]

I did some poking about and one of the reasons the TSA skeeves me out so much is that no where on their website (that I could easily find) do they address the background checks performed on their employees. So, no reassurances that ex-cons weren't looking at nude photos of us and our kids or groping us and our kids.

For comparisons' sake, I looked at Gatwick Airport just outside of London (I've flown in and out of Gatwick on one of my trips). They've got a pamphlet on their website detailing the new technology and reassuring passengers that those viewing the images have had thorough background checks including offenses involving children.

I really hope this gets sorted soon because pretty much people are in a no win situation; it's all bad.

[jendaby]

Not looking forward to flying with my children for Thanksgiving. I'm wondering how much extra time we will have to allow to ensure we make our flight. I'm worried about people with latex gloves touching the skin of my highly-allergic child (who just had a case of random severe hives last night). I feel wary about the promise that we will be allowed to bring my son's epi-pen, because it feels like they are completely without empathy.

I'm also extremely worried about how potential pat-downs might emotionally affect my kids. My son has a tendency to scream and lash out when he feels threatened, and my daughter cries. I feel the radiation would be unsafe, and the pat-downs would be traumatic.

I also wonder how many people are going to suffer from breakdowns, heart attacks, or fainting from the overwhelming amount of stress the TSA is now putting on people.