TSA Scanner info post

[victoriavictrix]

I hope Grey doesn't mind but I am going to get more than a bit political. Because I am mad as hops about the current TSA stuff.

So, you're flying out this Xmas to visit gramma. You might want to rethink the "flying" part.

Those airport scanners? They actually deliver 20 times the radiation claimed. But don't take my word for it, take the scientist at Columbia University.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1290527/Airport-body-scanners-deliver-radiation-dose-20-times-higher-thought.html

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/11/12/131275949/protests-mount-over-safety-and-privacy-of-airport-scanners

And of course, there are the full frontal porno pictures they take. Which can show if, for instance, you have a colostomy bag (assuming they don't make you take it off!) or are having a "lady's indisposed time."







This of course is made worse by the fact that all you have to do to be a TSA "Officer" is a GED and pass a 40 hour training course--significantly less than an Xray tech.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/bljobtsa.htm

And of course, that the TSA "Officers" are "Too busy to keep up with their training"

http://www.aclu.org/blog/technology-and-liberty/tsa-has-no-time-train-its-screeners

All the numbers depend on the machine being installed correctly, the machine being calibrated correctly, the machine working correctly (and there is nothing to make it stop if it is not working correclty, including if the scanner gets stuck and won't move) and it is all in the hands of someone with a high school diploma and no training on it.

Remember that the machines were built by the former directer of Homeland Security in a sweetheart deal
When Congress refused to allocate money for them, 25 million of "stimulus money" went to pay for them instead
They have never been tested on anything to my knowledge
The long term effects have never been tested.
The radiation dose is calculated for the full body, not as ionizing, skin-deep level only.
There are no failsafes if the machine somehow puts out more than the calibrated dose.
If the reader doesn't like the pictures he is getting, he can call for a tech who is NOT a medical ex-ray tech to "fix" it. This tech will probably respond by setting the dose upward. You have no way of knowing if that has been done to that machine.

But if you opt out of the scanners, then what? You get a sexual assault. Women and children have come away from these things in tears. Grown men, airline pilots, have vomited in their own driveways at the thought of having to undergo another.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travel-safety-security/1123034-tantric-tsa-art-foreplay.html

http://www.aclu.org/blog/technology-and-liberty/tsa-meets-resistance-new-pat-down-procedures

But hey, don't take my word for it. Just Google "TSA abuse" and read some of the stories for yourself. Children under 12 get a "modified" grope, but over 12 get the full grope including genital touches.

And there are at least 3 cases that I have found via news stories about TSA agents being caught as pedophiles. One in Vegas, one in Florida and one in Boston.

It gets better folks. They are completely told if you have baggy clothing or they don't like something you get "inside underwear" gropes. And the TSA "agents" don't change their gloves between, well, anything. The gloves are there for their protection, not yours.

So if you get the grope, whatever they were handling before they went after you gets transferred to you. Like the poor guy whose urosotomy bags broke during the grope (leaving him soaked in urine)...or worse.

If you fly--

http://static1.firedoglake.com/1/files/2010/11/KnowYourRights.pdf

Personally, if I have no other choice than air travel, I have invested in these:





I was an artist model. I have no modesty issues. I intend to force them to strip me naked in public if I must. Then I will call for a police officer and have them arrested for forcing me into public indecency.

US Congressmen and Senators are exempt from the scans and the grope, even if they travel by commercial air. They are escorted past the checkpoints by police or Secret Service and seated before everyone else.

But on the whole. No thanks. I'll just take the bus. Unless it is a screaming emergency that requires being there in less than 12 hours.

Sorry about being political, but I figure you guys have a right to know all this information, so here it is in one place.

[Geektopian]

The TSA is one of the major reasons that I no longer fly. What I wish that people would take away from this episode is that it's another example of why more government is NOT the solution to most things.

Bernita can handle this question as she sees fit, although I see nothing objectionable on the surface. Blogs, pundits and news sites on both the political right and left have slammed the TSA and DHS with equal (and justifiable) ferocity. Joe and Jane Average are getting groped and body scanned regardless of who they vote for or which cable news channel they watch.

The only minor point I'll make is that links in Misty's post such as Firedoglake, are sites that have a definite political POV... in other words, an opinion site rather than a "hard news" outlet. Information is information however. Just be aware that some of it might come with a dose of opinion. I ask that the members here accept Misty's post as information that is relevant to anyone living in the US and not make it in to the start of some sort of "throw down". My ¥2 and all I really have to say on the matter.

[Greyhaunt]

Well, I'd really prefer to keep politically charged issues out of the forum for the most part, but I can see this as also providing information. I believe that I'll just throw in here that as I understand it not all airports have this yet so it may not even be an issue depending on where you are going to and from.

And personally if it came to a choice of some dumbass seeing a negative of me buck nekkid or a plane blowing up and killing me because someone had something explosive packed next to their junk, as long as I don't have to hear or see the dumbass when he/she views my awesomely humongous nudity I think I'd rather live through that than die in an explosion.

Locking thread.