In response to the attempted Christmas-day airplane attack by the underwear-bomber, full-body scanners are being rolled out at an accelerated schedule at airports across the country.
There has been one in Salt Lake City for about a year now, and I’ve been through it several times. It’s very impressive (though they only have one of them.) Last spring, I came through there late at night, and they asked me to go through several times to help test it. It picked up a credit-card receipt that I had in the pocket of my jeans, and had forgotten about. I was impressed. I asked if I could have a print-out and the guy said he couldn’t give me one, and not just for privacy reasons. He said there was no printer, and the pictures weren’t stored. I was skeptical.
This month, I went through again, and again asked the TSA agent what the story was. She told me the same thing – that the pictures can’t be printed, and aren’t even stored. I’m still very skeptical.
As it happened, on my most recent trip out to SLC, I forgot when I went through security at JFK, that I had a yogurt in my knapsack. I normally eat it on the subway, or right before I check-in. An 8 oz. yogurt shouldn’t be allowed, but it went through the x-ray machine unmolested. I guess someone just missed it.
What if that was 8 ounces of something stronger than baking soda and vinegar, and I had ill intent? Wouldn’t the people investigating want to know how someone slipped through the gantlet? Had Al-Qaeda found some undetectable new explosive, or was it human error? I would think they would pore over every single passenger’s x-ray or scan, along with that of their luggage.
Recently a big Bollywood star, Shah Rukh Khan, caused a stir when he claimed he saw security agents ogling a printout of his scan at Heathrow, which he said he then autographed. British aviation officials deny it’s possible, and no-one has stepped forth with any pics. It sounds like maybe was just trying to generate a little press.
For what it’s worth, I will put my John Hancock down for any TSA agent who wants a glossy for their locker or lunchbox.
And who posed for that picture above.. Mr. Peanut? Hit the gym, buddy. And what’s he wearing, a thong?
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