Always strive to learn something useful. --Sophocles

Bruce Schneier collected many links of interest on the issue. Included are some t-shirts, I wouldn't mind having a couple of them and may be placing an order.

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2010/11/tsa_backscatter.html?nc=96

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/11/19/2126204/Bruce-Schneier-vs-the-TSA


One of the links is from a TSA officer who surveyed 20 colleagues at various airports. 17 responded, all of them do not like the procedure or the increase in abuse that they are receiving.

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/flyingwithfish/2010/11/18/tsa-enhanced-pat-downs-the-screeners-point-of-view/


Representative Ron Paul has introduced a bill that says the following:

"SECTION 1. NO IMMUNITY FOR CERTAIN AIRPORT SCREENING METHODS.

No law of the United States shall be construed to confer any immunity for a Federal employee or agency or any individual or entity that receives Federal funds, who subjects an individual to any physical contact (including contact with any clothing the individual is wearing), x-rays, or millimeter waves, or aids in the creation of or views a representation of any part of a individual's body covered by clothing as a condition for such individual to be in an airport or to fly in an aircraft. The preceding sentence shall apply even if the individual or the individual's parent, guardian, or any other individual gives consent."

A link to the bill is in Schneier's post.


And finally, an interview with a security expert who describes how airline passenger screening is handled in ISRAEL. They move a passenger through security in 25 MINUTES. SAFELY. It's a very good story, and it is based on sensible procedures. And Israeli security hasn't been breached in 8 years.

http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/744199---israelification-high-security-little-bother


*sigh*

Time to contact our Congresscritters and TSA officials, actually it's past-time. You can get their addresses, both snail and email, at http://www.house.gov/ and http://www.senate.gov/

In an effort to herd more people through the full body scanners at airports, the TSA is making the opt-out pat-downs 'more vigorous', including moving their hands up your leg until the meet "resistance", i.e., your scrotum. I'm not sure where they stop for women.

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2010/10/for-the-first-time-the-tsa-meets-resistance/65390/

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/10/10/31/0234232/TSA-To-Make-Pat-Downs-More-Embarrassing-To-Encourage-Scanner-Use

I don't care. I have an immune disorder which is a direct reflection of a genetic problem, which means that I really shouldn't be exposed unnecessarily to ionizing radiation. So it's going to be pat-downs for me.

There was an interesting observation in the comments on Slashdot, that if you're required to fly as part of your business that you might have the grounds for a sexual harassment lawsuit, in that your choices are to be molested or exploitively photographed.