I’m back in LA. Just a quick observation: BWI has put in the new millimeter scanning booths, and I was a lucky winner. Can’t say that I like them. I’m not travelling enough that I’m worried about the radiation, but they significantly slow the movement through security, especially when the TSA folks seemingly stand around talking to their coworkers instead of focusing on getting people through with a smile. I’ll also note there is no information before you go through indicating you have the ability to opt out, so the implication is that you must go through them (and you go through them instead of the normal x-ray).
Category: travel
T-1 T-Day Thoughts
A few lunchtime thoughts on this day before T-Day, looking at some of the various values for “T”:
- T := Turkey. The San Diego Union-Tribute has a very good article that everyone should read on how to stay safe on Thanksgiving, where “safe” means firefighter-free, paramedic-free, and plumber-free. Read it. Follow it. And, if you absolutely, positively insist on frying that turkey, build a turkey derrick ala Alton Brown. As for us, we’re doing a fusion take on the holiday: Thanksgiving Tapas, taking traditional Thanksgiving ingredients but using them in novel ways and combinations.
- T := TSA. I’ve been following the TSA debate going on all week. My personal concerns relate to various aspects of exposure, and I’m not talking about modesty. My basic opinion is that if the all-body scanner is the millimeter-wave scanner, I’m not worried. If it is the backscatter X-ray, I’m worried about radiation exposure. If I get the enhanced body search, I’m concerned about exposure to germs, as they do not use fresh gloves for each person. So ask for millimeter waves, and if that isn’t available, ask for fresh gloves. If modesty is a concern, I’ll note that someone has come up with modesty protecting underwear. There’s also a debate going on about what is proper airport attire these days—I’d love to know what you wear to travel. Lastly, I’ll note that the LA Times has a wonderful article on the real reason behind the enhanced security: the TSA is worried about PETN, an explosive powder that doesn’t trip most detectors, can be packed into almost anything and any shape, and doesn’t show up on swabs. If we really want to make our security less intrusive, we need to come up with a good way to detect PETN. Sounds like a great chemistry research project.
- T := Theatre. I’ll note that we saw an excellent production of Amadeus at REP East in Newhall on Sunday. You should go see it, and REP has made it easier with Black Friday discount tickets for any show. As for us, we’re going to try a new theatre Friday out in Malibu, not that far from camp. We’ll do our part for the economy at the Winter Sawdust Festival on Saturday, followed by an evening of Randy Newman music. As Randy Newman wrote, “I love LA!”.
More Security Theatre
Update to yesterday’s post: It appears you now need to remove your belt when you go through security as well, for it interferes with the new full body scanners. Let’s see: No belt. No suspenders. I better make sure I’ve got good elastic in my boxers, for my pants will surely fall down with the weight I’m losing.
(ETA: One wonders whether it would just be simpler for TSA to provide changing booths and disposable bags: (1) You arrive. (2) Change out of your street clothes and shoes into disposable/washable jumpsuits and non-slip booties, putting clothes into a provided bag. (3) Go through the scanner, while your clothes go through the X-ray, sniffers, etc. (4) Retrieve your clothes and get dressed again, and TSA recycles/washes the jumpsuits, shoes, and bags.)
I Hate To Travel
Today’s been a *fun* day:
- Security at LAX was its usual inconsistent self. Today, they ordered me to remove my suspenders that hadn’t caused problems in the past, complained my bag might be too big (when it wasn’t, after I took out my back belt I planned to put on after security), and yelled at me for using 3 trays instead of 2.
- The flight to Boston had a load of PRC students on it who didn’t seem to understand the flight crew when they gave directions, such as turning off electronics. (This is a pet peeve of mine: If I have to do it, then everyone should be doing it).
- The bus driver for the Silver Line bus in Boston just decided he wasn’t going to stop at any of the stops between the Silver Line station and South Station. I needed to get off at World Trade Center.
- The hotel (Westin Waterfront), which is in the Waterfront area, actually has no reasonably priced restaurants near it. I ended up at the Legal Test Kitchen with a $20 piece of salmon.
Hopefully, the conference days will be better.
I Wonder If I Can Find A Fortune Teller That Reads Harbors…
OK, who recognizes that line? Seriously, I will be shortly heading out to the Flyaway to head out to Boston for a conference. Haven’t been to Boston in quite a few years, but I also won’t have that much time to explore. talonvaki—I’ll send you my cell # via LJ-mail. Text me when you want to get together.
Shoutout to talonvaki
To talonvaki and my other Boston area friends: This is a reminder that next week at this time I’ll be in Boston for the 4th UCDMO Conference. I arrive at BOS at 5pm, and am staying at the Westin Boston Waterfront (although I still need to figure out how to get from the airport to the hotel). Although I’ll be busy during the days, we should be able to figure out some time to get together. I leave Thursday evening.
Lost and Found
A few lost and found notes:
- Found: My keys. Kudos to the United team at DSM (Des Moines), who found my keys from the flight, correlated them with my email, and fedexed them to me. According to my wife and daughter, the fob works on my car, so it looks like the correct set. For all we complain about UAL, it’s nice to be able to complement them when they do something right.
- Lost: My daughter’s month-old cell phone, on the river rafting ride at Disney’s California Adventure.
- But Found: My daughter’s month-old cell phone, when they rode the ride a second time and asked the attendant if a phone had been found. Even more amazing (although I haven’t see it myself) is that my wife and daughter report the phone is undamaged (and with no water damage, even).