TSA to the rescue

I cannot imagine any job that has to be tougher than the TSA screeners at the airports.  No one in line appreciates them.  People view the TSA folks as being a major pain in the ass.  Airline passengers want easy access to the planes. They want to be able to get from their home to their seat on the plane.  Anything that stands in their way,, the TSA,, airline personnel or slow ticket kiosks are just barricades thrown in their way.  But, in the end,, everyone wants the TSA there to stop terrorists.  So,, everyone really is thinking,, "Yes,, TSA, stop everyone,, x-ray them,, metal detect them,, take away their liquids,, strip search them,, but let me pass through un-impeded.  At least that is the way I feel. 

 

I think that part of being a TSA screener is that you have to disregard common sense.  I think when the TSA screener arrives at work,, they  log into the computer,, the go to their locker,, drop off their keys, lunch and common sense.    Recently this was proven by an ever alert TSA screener in Minneapolis.  I have a small tube of toothpaste that I take with me in my travel kit.  I have had it for many , many trips.  It has made it's way through at least a few dozen security checkpoints.  In Minneapolis,, my toothpaste was confiscated.  The alert screener found that I was sneaking a 4.5 ounce tube of toothpaste through security.  I was limited to 3.0 ounces.  Here is where the common sense part comes in,, my toothpaste was about 80 percent gone.  So, although in a container marked 4.5 ounces,, it only had about a half of an ounce of toothpaste in it.

 

Somewhere in the government's filing cabinets,, there is probably a file with my name on it and an entry that on such and such a date,, I tried to board a flight with a container marked 4.5 ounces.   That's right,, I'm bad...