Bare naked travel

Great, just what I need...

Great, just what I need...another way for guys to look at my tits.

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by: Nancy in NYC @ Fri Dec 01, 2006 at 23:48:21 PM CST

fuck

us trans folks ar egonna have a gay ole time now eh?
its bad enough that i get harrased as it is when i fly

Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.

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by: celestialaly12 @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 00:28:10 AM CST

innovate

Wear tin foil panties!

I'm just going to take the train.

<3 Sam

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by: Samie D @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 01:04:55 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Strip search

Just because they save you the bother of removing your clothes doesn't mean that this isn't a strip search of every single passenger. Air travellers already put up with too much nonsense when they fly. This crosses the line and I predict that air travel will become a lot less popular.

Another thought: if these machines were in common use, what would be the effect on the health of frequent fliers of repeated exposure to x-ray radiation?

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by: Stephanie, in Victoria @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 01:37:03 AM CST

as I understand it

As I understand it, how backscatter machines work is that it's a normal x-ray machine except that the receiver is on the transmitter side of the subject. So, in order to get enough x-rays to bounce off of the person to register I'm guessing that the exposure has to be pretty high.

I'm not an expert though.

Also, it really doesn't stop much because the backscatter machine can't penetrate flesh. Drug mules have been concealing things in 'cavities' for ages. Oh, that and the fact that 99% of the TSA x-ray techs cant tell a weapon from a whole in the ground if you camouflage it. Now, true, you might get caught but these terrorists don't seem to mind risking their well being.

Next time I fly (if I fly). I think it would be really funny to take some metallic eye shadow and write something pithy on your crotch with it like "gun (with an arrow)."

<3 Sam

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by: Samie D @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 02:05:34 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Thou shalt not mock TSA

Perhaps not a wise idea to leave that pithy message...

September 28, 2006

CNN

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A Wisconsin man who wrote (TSA head) "Kip Hawley is an Idiot" on a plastic bag containing toiletries said he was detained at an airport security checkpoint for about 25 minutes before authorities concluded the statement was not a threat.

http://www.cnn.com/2...

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by: Paul In SF @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 14:15:29 PM CST

[ Parent ]

Invasive X-ray screening + Homeland Security PR #238 = Bad For Pre-OpTranspeople

From DHS Advisory to Security Personnel, September 4, 2003:

Previous attacks underscore Al-Qaeda's ability to employ suicide bombers - a tactic which can be used against soft targets and VIP's.  Terrorists will employ novel methods to artfully conceal suicide devices.  Male bombers may dress as females in order to discourage scrutiny.

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~~Autumn~~

As if there were safety in stupidity alone.
--Henry David Thoreau

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by: Autumn Sandeen @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 06:10:38 AM CST

Those sons of bitches!

Well that just clinches it then. I am NOT under any circumstances flying in the US.

And these are the same people who are all touchie-feelie about not profiling that they strip search grandma! Talk about discrimination!

I seriously doubt that the kind of fundie scum that would blow up a plane would dress in drag either.

All this theatre at the airport is total bullshit too. I mean, my friend had her KY confiscated! Seriously! If my government has nothing better to do than confiscate sex lube then maybe it's time that we cut the fat.

Also, as I said before, this theatre does NOTHING. Anything more than a metal detector and an x-ray (normal kind) is a complete waste of money and an invasion of privacy. Here's something to think about: did you know that most packages sent by air are sent on passenger planes? And mail is not screened! I can think of dozens of cheap ways to rig a bomb to take advantage of that. I won't say how because I like to keep my NSA file relatively small. Contemplate that next time you fly.

Oh, and Osama? You haven't been able to blow something up in over 5 years, THAT'S FREAKING PATHETIC! Our security is a showpiece! It's just there so Dear Leader will look like he's doing something other than playing with his soldiers. Anybody could get past our security if they cared to; obviously you, like Santa, are just a bedtime story told to children to keep them in line.

Hit me with your best shot! You can't blow up a balloon!

I shouldn't post when I'm pissed off in the morning...

<3 Sam

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by: Samie D @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 09:40:22 AM CST

[ Parent ]

What if someone has a boner?

You just know some poor guy is going to have a stiffie and the security folks will have a blast with that one.

This situation is completely out of hand.

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by: konagod @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 08:56:13 AM CST

how is this not a strip search?

Like a commenter said above, this is a strip search.  This is one to watch.  The only thing I can find at the ACLU site is:
http://www.aclu.org/...

A quick google finds this interesting site:
http://www.epic.org/...
It has the picture from the Yahoo News site.

BTW, some of the comments on Yahoo News stories (in their Discuss link) are very frightening.  The ones on this article are mild, but in general is scary freeperville stuff (especially if the article is baout anything progressive).

Electricity's for light bulbs!

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by: n8nyc @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 09:14:10 AM CST

Harmless x-rays

"Althought this type of x-ray is said to be harmless it can move through other materials, such as clothing." --epic.org

They said the same thing about normal x-ray machines too! Remember those x-rays that kids used to stand on in the shoe store?

Oh and while I'm at it I should mention they said the same thing about radiation from nukes too.

And they are going to zap us with enough of this stuff that they can pick up reflected radiation? Whenever you bounce radiation off of anything (be it light, x-ray, heat, whatever) some of that energy is absorbed. So, the x-rays will do SOMETHING to the body.

Now, you can safely expose yourself to certain types or radiation. Like infrared (heat) or visible light. You can even expose yourself to radio waves (which are lower energy than infrared or visible light) to your heart's content. (or until you heat your skin to where it burns)

But let's recall that the higher the energy of the radiation the more harmful (and less of it that you need to hurt yourself) it is. For example, you can safely bask in the low energy ultra violet that is used in rave-party lamps but even a few second exposed to the high energy ultra violet that is used in sterilization equipment will cause permanent and severe eye damage (and sunburn in minutes). Let's go up another notch to the low energy x-ray (just above ultraviolet on the spectrum): exposure to an x-ray emitter for more than a fraction of a second is considered dangerous. Gamma rays (just above x-rays) have proven to be even more dangerous. Anyone see a pattern here?

So, they want me to believe that increasing the energy of the radiation makes it safer? And exposing us to more of it to boot! I have a hunch that these machines are set up to constantly scan like metal detectors too, further increasing exposure.

Nope, I see another shoe store x-ray machine.

<3 Sam

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by: Samie D @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 10:15:55 AM CST

[ Parent ]

exactly

Skin is hardly a perfectly reflecting surface.  Energy has to be absorbed. 

I know from experience that as soon as you begin exposing cells (including skin, or epithelial, cells ) to UV or near UV light (which is longer in wavelength than x-ray radiation: http://en.wikipedia....) they can die.  If they don't die, their DNA is likely altered.  That's fine for relatively short term microscopy experiments on cell cultures, but exposing my skin to high energy x-ray radiation is not something I'll be choosing to experience.

Electricity's for light bulbs!

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by: n8nyc @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 11:48:57 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Sky Harbor

As someone who flies in and out of this airport, I don't really care.

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by: Holly in Cincinnati @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 09:36:53 AM CST

The founding fathers knew a bit about freedom:

Ben Franklin: "The man who trades freedom for security does not deserve nor will he ever receive either."

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by: Holly Capote @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 12:11:37 PM CST

sham?

we just returned from a trip that included going through airport security in the us, england and netherlands.  each airport had a different emphasis (number of hand-held things while walking through security, shoes on/off, etc.), making me think that, beyond metal, none of them really know what to look for or how to look for it, so they all just try looking for something random.  at one airport, the metal detector didn't even register the metal-laden hat band on the hat one person was wearing as she walked through.  i was ordered to put my sweatshirt, which has zero metal, on the belt.  why would they let someone wear a hat, and why wouldnt the detector catch the human error?  shoddy.  i hope the 'system' is doing more than it appears, but i do have my doubts.  oh yeah, and i will NOT be subjected to x-rays.  the airlines are gonna be hurting over this one.

p.s. I think the best thing would be for transfolks and intersexed folks to take a group flight somewhere nice, and challenge the bigotry en masse, with press at the ready.  Set a precedent loud and early.  I know, easy for me to say because I'm L, not T or I, but I'll join you as an official observer.

Click HERE and sign up: Campaign For Military Partners.

Lurleen on Twitter.

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by: Lurleen @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 12:22:13 PM CST

Goodbye Sky Harbor

perfect idea lurleen! i think im gonna email the equality ride people and see if we can get an offshoot going calling it equality flight

Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.

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by: celestialaly12 @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 16:20:15 PM CST

[ Parent ]

I have one word for what this machine represents...

Rape.

Social outrage is power protecting itself; it is not morality. -- Andrea Dworkin

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by: RachelPhilPa @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 17:08:20 PM CST

What about

some poor soul with a colostomy bag?  The ignoramuses at TSA will probaby think the contents are explosives of some sort.

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by: Peg @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 17:52:21 PM CST

Sportin' Life

I see Sportin' Life has tested out the new ratings system.

:lol:  :lol:

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by: konagod @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 18:28:10 PM CST

Lucky for me

that I won't be flying to the US anytime soon. This thing will also be a bit of a nightmare for people VERY shy about showing their skin. I feel 'on show' if I don't go out without a bra, so for me this would be one huge humiliation and almost violation. I don't want a bunch of security oficials I don't know staring at my breasts. Oh, and just curious, does this reveal genitals too? *nervous*

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by: Sophie @ Sat Dec 02, 2006 at 20:00:13 PM CST

Another possible use...

A new toy for gay bars. Naked speed dating. Hand out blue tooth beepers and post the pictures on screens with beeper numbers in gay bars. Once they've seen you this close to naked, then whatever follows...

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by: chandler in hollywood @ Sun Dec 03, 2006 at 00:15:13 AM CST

Gay bar X-Rays

Heh, if that happens then mark my words: the fundies will be trying to label skin cancer as a 'gay disease' like they did to AIDS.

<3 Sam

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by: Samie D @ Sun Dec 03, 2006 at 00:39:27 AM CST

[ Parent ]

Listening to TSA rep

Anyways, I just got finished watching a TSA rep on the tube. Basically, what she said is that it's a 'voluntary' procedure. Furthermore, the image will be de-saturated so it is hard for the operator to see your skin. Also, the operator who looks at the screen will not be in the same room and won't be able to see you.

Make no mistake, it's still an invasion of privacy. However, as a tranny I am comforted by the fact that the person who can identify me as a tranny can't identify me. However, I'm wondering how that is going to play out in light of that security alert about "men dressing as women."

About the voluntary bit: I have a feeling if you refuse the x-ray you become immediately suspect and harassed.

So, in light of the fact that it's still dangerous (I don't trust the TSA people on that one) and you suspect yourself if you refuse it, I'm still very against it. And I'm still taking the train.

<3 Sam

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by: Samie D @ Sun Dec 03, 2006 at 08:26:42 AM CST

actually, the machine has been changed...

...so you get more of a chalk outline appearance (according to the AZ Daily Star, image here). The creepy detailed image of the woman is what the original imaging looks like; if I read the article correctly Sky Harbor is going with the chalk-outline version.

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by: boltgirl @ Sun Dec 03, 2006 at 10:16:45 AM CST