People Who Wear Belts Should not Fly

Gadget from has written 916 comments

I wrote this mainly as a soap opera type of joke, because to me this debate is the same as watching a soap opera. The TSA issue makes people scream, argue and emotions rage, and it continues and continues, nothing truly new happens.

The enjoyment of a soap opera is watching a never-ending argument or situation.

What is the intention of the USA government?

The government has no desire to annoy people in the airport, and if they are successful there will be no bombs on planes. All the people will scream and holler and be annoyed about the security, which is a lot better option than a bomb on a plane. If they succeed, all they will receive is complaints.

I just do not feel good complaining about people who are trying to protect me.

On the flight out of the USA the TSA cut my lock off my bag, I went and purchased another lock.

Do I trust the government of the USA? Life is a weighted question, I trust the USA government more than any of the other 88 countries I have visited.

I could complain here in Togo, but maybe they shoot me.

Hiya Andy,

Great stuff, love reading all your posts -- I follow them all.

Was wondering how you deal with electricity adapters during your travels? Do you have a bunch and always bring them with you? Or you do buy them as you need them based on location?

This question just popped in my head yesterday while watching some of your Togo videos.

Cheers,
Brian

Gadget from has written 916 comments

I have one 3 meter long 14 gauge extension cord, all my equipment plugs into the long set of plugs. I have to type of adapters, and a special universal one that I made that means I never need to buy anything. The universal adapter is easy, two copper wires you push into the outlet, work much better than others ones that can be sloppy.

Much more appropriate than TSA where a person just obeys until the allow you to enter.

They couldn't have asked you for the key to your bag lock?

thebear from has written 2 comments

Andy, I usually agree with you but you may want to wait until you go through their new proceedure. This is apparently not the tradtional pat down but involve serious groping of sexual organs. It is causing a lot of noise on American media and rather serious protests here. There is a difference between a government genuinely trying to protect me and one that is desparate to show something to the voters in order to retain it's power. Count me among the "rable."

I definitely disagree. The Israelis live constantly with the threat of terrorism and yet do not need to sexually harass or subject passengers to potentially harmful x-rays at their airports. Maybe we should consult them instead of this TSA dog and pony show. Meanwhile, if a bonafide terrorist really wanted to enter the country, they would just dress up like an illegal immigrant and enter via our 2 porous borders.

This is not about protecting us. It is about making Michael Chertoff a ton of money. It is about slowly tightening the grip of unconstitutional fascism upon an already unnecessarily scared populace.

I would gladly pay less for an airline that doesn't require these draconian, 4th-amendment violating procedures. The statistical chances of me dying from airplane-hijacking terrorists are probably less than having an allergic reaction to aspirin, and definitely a lot less than simply driving in a car. The airlines should be responsible for this and if people are so frightened of the manufactured boogey-men our government concocts to keep order during an economic depression, then they can pay extra for their "safety" on some other airline.

I am betting when you return to the US, you are going to be shocked at the police state that it is slowly but surely becoming.

To add insult to injury, the TSA turned off their scanners and laid off the genital groping during the "opt-out" day just to avoid bad publicity. Obviously, they're not THAT important.

Keep on rockin', Andy!

P.S. I take my belt and shoes off voluntarily and put my laptop on the x-ray belt. I'm not one of those jerks, but the TSA have gone way too far.