via Huffingtonpost

Apparently this is how the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (covers U.S. Customs and Border Patrol) takes care of imported vehicles with falsified documentation.. As Huffingtonpost notes,  this Land Rover Defender reached the Port of Baltimore with falsified identification numbers, claiming to be an older model.  But when the USCBP folks found out that this model is in fact newer and tinkered with to look “vintage”, they decided to junk it because it does not comply with National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency regulations.  The seized vehicle — estimated to be worth $25,000 overseas but as much as $150,000 in the U.S. — was considered “illegal and unsafe,” officials said. Such a non-compliant vehicle cannot be imported unless it is at least 25 years old, officials said.   It seems that dozens of similar Defender vehicles have been seized in recent months at ports around the country and one can only imagine the rivers of tears shed by the owners when they learned the fate.

(Source: Daily Mail, UK)

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNO-AzPxS4U’]

Seriously, TSA should exercise some discretion when it comes to these pat downs.  Interestingly, the video shows it was filmed during Spring 2010 at O’Hare in Chicago, and let’s hope TSA has changed  some of its invasive procedures at least when it comes to kids. The look on the little boy’s face is really disheartening and the parent is doing all he can to assure the kid that it is all okay.   Not sure what prompted the swabbing for explosive residues but it seems a bit too excessive given the age of the toddler.  One may argue that TSA is simply doing their job and is just ensuring the safety of the flying public by subjecting everyone through the same batter of tests.  But I think the swabs for a 3 years old is still a bit too much. The only saving grace here is that the TSA officer was as nice as he can be to the little kid and was not rushing or doing things that will spook the kid more upset/terrified than he already is.

(Source: TSAoutofourPants.wordpress.com via Reddit)

Blogger Jonathan Corbett is upping the ante in his protracted fight against the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) much criticized Transportation Security Administration (TSA). In the video below, he demonstrates the flaws in the nude body scanners widely deployed at US airports.  Amazing to see how simple yet effective his strategy is  as he clears the security check points at multiple airports with hidden materials completely undetected.  TSA is going to have some serious explaining to do soon as this video is starting to go viral. It is already generating a brick ton of comments on Reddit.

[yframe url=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olEoc_1ZkfA’]

Click here to read more.

(Source: The Texas Tribune)

Image Courtesy: Theatlanticright.com via Google Images

A threat from the federal government to shut down Texas airports or cancel flights may have killed legislation, House Bill 1937, pushed by Tea Party conservatives in the Texas Capitol to prohibit federal Transportation Security Agents from conducting “invasive searches.”

The Texas Tribune has the scoop: The bill passed by the House earlier this month, would make it a misdemeanor offense for a federal security agent to “intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly [touch] the anus, sexual organ, buttocks, or breast of the other person, including touching through clothing, or touching the other person in a manner that would be offensive to a reasonable person.”

Two TSA officials visited Patrick at the Capitol earlier today to discuss the legislation. They warned him that the legislation “could close down all the airports in Texas,” he said. After their departure, U.S. Attorney John E. Murphy sent a letter to Speaker of the House Joe Straus and Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst saying the bill would “conflict directly with federal law” and that if it became law, “TSA would likely be required to cancel any flight or series of flights for which it could not ensure the safety of passengers and crew” until the agency could seek a court order stopping the measure from being carried out.

Click here to read the rest of the story.

Note: This is not the first time or the first issue the Texas legislature has butted heads with the Federal government.  There is the legendary EPA vs Texas reg. the federal takeover of lax pollution standards in the state. And now a new issue looks to threaten the already fractured relationship and this one involves a brown, beady-eyed, two-and-a-half-inch animal – the sagebrush lizard.  The Texas House this morning approved a resolutioncalling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to rescind its proposal to bring the lizard under the Endangered Species Act. For the West Texas lawmakers, this federal proposal to protect the dunes sagebrush lizard could halt the production of millions of barrels of oil and gas. Is this another classic Texas story where greed reigns supreme or a genuine concern for the people who depend on the oil & gas revenue?

(Source: You Tube via reddit)

Our President tries his best to assure the nation that the future for our children is bright.. But if you ask anyone who looks at this video(s) above, the would disagree with the president;  they would even go to the extent of saying such a future for our children is more steeped in a culture of fear and suspicion.. The six year old seen in this video would grow up to ask why did I endure this shameful treatment.  Where was the application of common sense n all this?

As much as I pity the TSA workers, at some point in time the protocols they follow, such as these are only going to make them look more and more idiotic.. If you ask, they would tell you that they’d rather not do these checks but are required to carry out what is prescribed in their manuals.  It is always this one size fits all treatment meted out to everyone that makes TSA more like a “machine” rather than an agency that cares for the safety of human.  Someone please tell Sec. Janet Napalitano that her agency needs an image makeover and it is needed NOW!

(Source TSA via You Tube via  Gizmodo)

Dear Mr. Pistole , here are some responses (a mere sampling) from concerned citizens’  about this situation at airport security check points:

Image Courtesy: Land of the free? by David Vincent Wolf

Image Courtesy: Slate.com

Related articles

• TSA Agents Respond To Pat-Down Anger (PHOTOS, POLL) (huffingtonpost.com)
• The History of Airport Security, Visualized [Tsa] (gizmodo.com)
• “Going commando” on the TSA (arstechnica.com)
• Video: TSA chief Pistole says no immediate changes to airport screening – Christian Science Monitor (news.google.com)
• With Saturday Night Live spoof, TSA is losing the internet war on pat-down searches (venturebeat.com)
• TSA Says Pilots Will Be Exempt From Invasive Pat-Downs, Scanners – ABC News (news.google.com)
• My liberty is worth more than my security… (shannonturlington.com)
• TSA Chief Asks Holiday Travelers for Patience – ABC News (news.google.com)
• Is TSA Setting A New Legal Precedent On What Defines A Sexual Assault? (womenincrimeink.blogspot.com)
• TSA workers face verbal abuse from travelers (msnbc.msn.com)

(Source: Infographia via El Chimpance)

(Source: CSPAN via Youtube)

It is amazing how passionate this man is.  While making a case for the Government to act swiftly, he took chastising the TSA to a new level for its latest nightmarish handling of the new security procedures. this easily qualifies as verbal beat down.  TSA has done a poor job handling this public backlash.  They ought to get a new PR/Social Media/Communications team to handle this boondoggle.  Poor Michael Chertoff – the former Secretary of the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS)  got a bad bruising in this verbal tirade.

Related articles

• Ron Paul Unleashes On TSA: “Enough Is Enough” (disquietreservations.blogspot.com)
• Ron Paul to Congress TSA: “Enough is Enough” (nyletterpress.wordpress.com)
• “Duncan Blasts TSA Pat-Downs, Body Scanners” and related posts (dprogram.net)
• Guest post: Washington’s “sweetheart” deals may have gone too far this time (bigbrotherwatch.org.uk)
• “VIDEO: Bombshell: Former Homeland Chief Got ‘Sweetheart Deal’ Selling Scanners To TSA” and related posts (theyeshivaworld.com)
• Ron Paul Introduces American Traveler Dignity Act, Encourages TSA Opt Out Day (fdlaction.firedoglake.com)
• TSA Administrator Acknowledges “Invasive” Pat-Downs, Screeners (news.firedoglake.com)
• When Rights Get Squeezed (online.wsj.com)
• Grope up: Enough is Enough edition (emergentchaos.com)
• California DA Vows to Prosecute Airport Screeners Who Touch Travelers Inappropriately (foxnews.com)

(Source: Washingtonexaminer.com; Slate.com)

After losing my mind reading/following all the mind-numbing accusations and chaos surrounding the issue of full body scanners/advance security pat down searches performed by TSA staff at airports, I was looking for something fun to read on this issue.  As if someone read my mind, The Washington Examiner had a piece, in fact a cartoon, that just captured the essence of the issue at hand.  Thank you, Nate Beeler, for giving me a good chuckle with this great cartoon. Loving it!

Image Courtesy: Nate Beeler - WashingtonExaminer.com

Also, I came across these other amazing cartoons this issue, courtesy of Slate.com.  FYI – this is just a sampling of the awesome collection Slate.com has made available on its website.  The website also has a ton of other amazing cartoons on various important topics, all neatly tagged and categorized.  Click here to access them all (those categorized on this topic).

Related articles

• Did you know airports can opt out of TSA screening? (riehlworldview.com)
• Investigate the TSA, Not Tyner (fdlaction.firedoglake.com)
• TSA Body Scanners: Do They Even Work? (cbsnews.com)
• “Investigate the TSA, Not John Tyner” and related posts (progressivealaska.blogspot.com)
• What’s the Real Radiation Risk of the TSA’s Full Body X-Ray Scans? | 80beats (blogs.discovermagazine.com)
• Body Scans: What You Need to Know About New TSA Security (newsfeed.time.com)
• Noah Shachtman: Has Airport Security Gone Too Far? (online.wsj.com)
• 100 body-scanner images leaked (bigbrotherwatch.org.uk)
• Gizmodo Joins The Internet War on TSA With 100 ‘Leaked’ Body Scans (blogs.forbes.com)
• TSA Administrator Acknowledges “Invasive” Pat-Downs, Screeners (news.firedoglake.com)