So - has anybody been subjected to the new full-body X-Ray? I have. Didn't think it was such a big deal, to be honest. Since I fly so much I just considered it one more new wrinkle. I have not flown yet, but I will have no trouble opting to go ahead with the body scan.

Apparently it's causing quite a stir. People are afraid of it and, from what I've been reading, rightly so. World experts and reputable scientists have even gone to the extent of writing The President to say it is not sufficiently tested and is simply not safe. I don't fly that much, so I will not give it a second thought. It's another one of those things that we will not find out the exact dangers of it until many years down the road, like talking on a cellphone.

Sure you can opt out of it but you then are subjected to what TSA calls an "enhanced pat-down". That includes women having their breasts handled INSIDE their bras and their crotches touched outside their undergarments. Men are subject to having their "junk" examined, also from outside their undergarments. If it happened in the street it would be deemed a full-on sexual assault. It's too bad, but stuff can be hidden in our private parts. A person has two options, do the body scan or don't fly. You buy the ticket, so you agree to the terms, it's really that simple. IMO Bottomline, Sure it disturbing that this is what it has come down to, but I would rather be subject to this than being on a plane that is blown up.

Saw sound bites of the head of TSA before a Senate Hearing and one panel member asked, "in view of the fact this has gone beyond a vocal minority and is now a major ground swell, do you not think you've taken screening too far?" Defended it by saying the head of Homeland Security had undergone the pat-down to assure herself it didn't go too far. RIGHT!!!!!!!! Janet Napolitano allowed a TSA airport screener to handle her boobs and feel her genital area! And Niagara Falls is in the Mojave Desert!!!!!

There's a protest forming up over the web called National Opt-Out Day calling for everyone flying on the Wed before Thanksgiving to refuse the body scan, swallow their dignity and, allow the much more time consuming pat-down (takes two officers, in a private room). Experts say if the protest comes off it'll completely cripple the major airports. I don't really see too many taking part on opt-out day. People have places to go for the holiday and want to get there somewhat quickly. Only ten years ago, 10%+ of all travel over Thanksgiving was done by plane, this year they expect it to be around 3.5%, last year was 4.0%. Like it or not, the terrorists have won a huge battle in our backyard, we fly much less when we have a choice. We have caved in, sort of. Yes, tighter security was a much needed thing way before 9/11, so we did do that, but at what cost?
That could be an interesting week!



Cheers - Tele