The Thumbscrews Get Tightened Another Notch

Scott en Aztlán wrote:
I'm not a frequent flyer, so I have no idea how long this has been
going on, but the other day I took a flight from SNA to SJC and back.
At both airports I was "asked" (in a manner which implied that it was
mandatory) to remove my shows. At SJC, there was a flat-panel monitor
above the security line which said "removing your shoes will speed
things up for everybody" (i.e. they were very careful not to say that
show removal was required).

This is a continuously moving target. There is no consistency
either from place to place, or even between screeners. I've begun to
learn to watch a bit in line and see if there is a screener that isn't
requiring it. That line tends to move faster. I just went through SNA
and the lady in front of me was such a hassle that the screener
didn't ask me to remove shoes, or even look at my boarding pass.

Since the shows I was wearing have been
through the metal detectors at many airports and have never set one
off, I was planning to just walk through, but a TSA worker saw that my
shoes were still on and basically told me that if I did not remove my
shoes I would get the wanding. I gave him a dirty look, but removed my
shoes.

My gate just happened to be right next to the screening area, so while
I waited I watched the activity in the screening area. One woman
apparently refused to remove her shoes and her belt, and boy did she
get the royal treatment. They spent at least 20 minutes going through
EVERYTHING with a fine-toothed comb and a box of cotton swabs. They
were determined to extract their pound of flesh because she dared to
defy their orders and remove her shoes (they were sandals and she was
not wearing socks; I wouldn't want to walk across that dirty floor in
my bare feet, either. Of course, the TSA apes couldn't have cared
less. "You will respect my authoritah!"

Probably by the next time I fly, strip searches will be "required."
The video will say "Removing all your clothing will speed things up
for everyone." rolleyes

I'm sorry, was I whining again?