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being trialled

That's like English, only different.

I suppose the blue button is for boys, and the pink one is for girls?

blek I’m flying out of Logan tonight. Not looking forward to the TSA. I do think I’ll take the computer scan rather than the feel up. They won’t even buy dinner.

When all this first came up, I wondered why they just didn’t do this to begin with - it seems like a fairly short putt, programming-wise.

I wonder if the TSA wasn’t just being too clever by half. You gotta admit they did make it abundantly clear to the world that they can read the tatoo on your naughty bits. That should make terrorists think twice, you’d think.

Nah... they’re just stupid.

How bad is it? Bad enough that the TSA used OUR taxdollars to pay PRN to toss out this press release:

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will begin testing new software on its advanced imaging technology (AIT) machines that enhances privacy by eliminating passenger-specific images and instead auto-detects potential threat items and indicates their location on a generic outline of a person, TSA Administrator John Pistole announced today. TSA will test the new software at Las Vegas McCarran International Airport (LAS) beginning today, February 1, and at Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International (ATL) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) in the coming days.
"We are always looking for new technology and procedures that will both enhance security while strengthening privacy protections," Pistole said. "Testing this new software will help us confirm test results that indicate it can provide the same high level of security as current advanced imaging technology units while further enhancing the privacy protections already in place."
The new software will automatically detect potential threat items and indicate their location on a generic outline of a person that will appear on a monitor attached to the AIT unit. As with the current version of AIT, the areas identified as containing potential threats will require additional screening. The generic outline will be identical for all passengers. If no potential threat items are detected, an "OK" will appear on the monitor with no outline.
By eliminating the passenger-specific image associated with the current version of AIT, a separate TSA officer will no longer be required to view the image in a remotely located viewing room. Through removing this step of the process, AIT screening will become more efficient, expanding the throughput capability of the technology.
TSA worked with the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) and private industry to develop the software, and began testing it at the TSA Systems Integration Facility in the fall of 2010.
AIT safely screens passengers without physical contact for both metallic and non-metallic threats, including weapons and explosives. Currently, there are nearly 500 imaging technology units at 78 airports nationwide, with additional units planned for deployment this year. The new software is being tested on millimeter wave AIT units currently in airports, with plans to test similar software on backscatter units in the future.
To learn more, visit www.tsa.gov/ait.
Contact: TSA Public Affairs, +1-571-227-2829
SOURCE Transportation Security Administration

Soneone has been practicing extra hard at writing gobbledygook.

By eliminating the passenger-specific image associated with the current version of AIT, a separate TSA officer will no longer be required to view the image in a remotely located viewing room.

Uh-oh, layoffs coming from the TSA.

I flew through Amsterdam last month, and the inspection went something like this:

Weird Dutch guy: Sir, May I see your passpoprt?

Me: Sure

Weird Dutch guy: May I see your drivers license?

Me: Why? I'm not driving across the Atlantic.

Wierd Dutch guy: I must see your drivers license to prove that you are the person on the passport.

Me: Uuuh, my passport is a national ID, and it has my picture on it.

Weird Dutch guy: Sir, I must see your drivers license.

Me: I don't carry my drivers license while overseas.

Weird Dutch guy: Do you have a credit card?

Me: Why? I already paid for the flight. Don't tell me that I have to pay extra for this crap.

Weird Dutch guy: Were you overseas on business or pleasure?

Me: Business

Weird Dutch guy: Who did you work for while overseas?

Me: Dept. of Defense

Weird Dutch guy:What did you do for the Dept of Defense?

Me: That's classified

Weird Dutch guy: But Sir, you must tell me.

Me: No, It's classified.

Weird Dutch guy:OK, in one word, what was the general type of business.

Me: Intelligence

Weird Dutch guy: (Eye's enlarge, talks to supervisor, directs me to the machine)

Weird Dutch guy: Sir, please raise your arms.

Sir, please do not give the finger. No one is outside the booth.

Sir, we have detected an anomaly on your left arm ( Weird Dutch guy checks my shirt and notices a zipper on the shirtsleeve)

Have a good day, Sir!

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The moral of this little story is: The Dutch in no way were disrespectful of travelers, maintained their composure, and were professional in their duties, regardless of how distasteful they may have found it.

Tha arrival in Atlanta was a different story. After clearing Cunstoms and Immigration, we were all herded into the TSA's inspection point. Yeah- get the inspection even though I was not connecting, but picking up my bags to leave. TSA personnel in Atlanta were abusive, and full of their "au-tor-i-ty" (keep moving, don' b' stopping, take off your shoes, don' b' stoppin').

IMO- The chronically unemployed fools at TSA could learn a thing or two from those flaming liberals in Amsterdam. TSA doesn't seem to realize that it's the traveling public that pays their freaking salary through additional taxes on our tickets.