What a joke....

[Listening to: in the shadows - Story of The Year - Page Avenue (03:33)]

Airport security is what I am referring to. I really think it's a joke....This is in response to (but DEFINITELY not limited to) the new airport x-ray machines that can SEE THROUGH CLOTHES! Seriously, you have to be kidding?

The machine uses low-level radiation to see through clothing, producing an anatomically detailed black and white image of the body underneath.

Is this really necessary? It seems like airport security just gets MORE and MORE ridiculous. And honestly, how many problems are there....REALLY? Do we need someone to view us naked in order to board a plane? Nicole Ritchie (of The Simple Life fame, or misfortune, depending on how you look at it) was recently stopped at an airport because the security alarms went off when she triggered the metal detectors. Well, turns out that she has a nippe ring....she explained ths to them, but what did they do? THEY MADE HER TAKE OFF HER TOP TO SHOW THEM SO SHE COULD PASS THROUGH! Not being the most shy girl in the world, she was willing to show, but jesus, what if you WEREN'T willing to take off your top? "Sorry miss, you can't fly." PISS OFF!

Ever since 9-11, security has stepped up and become just plain stupid. Lewis Black does a really good bit about airport security on his "The End of the Universe" album....the best part is when he talks about an old lady "who looks like Protestant-ism sprung from her womb." The lady can't even walk and can't get out of her wheelchair, but they are patting her down! And patting her wheelchair down! NEW RULE! IF YOU CAN'T LIFT YOUR OWN BAG INTO THE OVERHEAD COMPARTMENT THEN YOU AUTOMATICALLY GET TO GO ON THE PLANE! NO SECURITY CHECK! If the old lady was "wearing a clown costume, and had a monkey on her lap, and she was playing with it's balls," then yes, definitely screen her! But patting down old ladies (I have seen this myself!) and using x-ray machines that see through clothing? And not to mention, the people doing these checks (most of them anyway) probably didn't even graduate high school....

I was flying from San Antonio to San Diego a couple months ago, and I was wearing Asics running shoes and no socks....the "please walk through" lady at the metal detectors said that she SUGGESTED that I put my shoes through the x-ray machine....I explained that I did not have socks on and that I did not want to walk barefoot on the flithy floor. And plus, my shoes weren't going to make the metal detector go off anyways....DOESN'T MATTER! Because since I "refused" REFUSED?! to take my shoes off, I get to go to the secondary screener where, guess what? I GET TO TAKE MY SHOES OFF AND HAVE THEM SCREENED BY THE BOMB MACHINE AND I GET WANDED DOWN! Would it have been difficult for the lady to explain to me my options? I was late for my flight as it is and was on standby, but I figured this would be quick. WRONG AGAIN! The security dude tells me that something on my shoes have caused the machine to detect some "materials." Nce....after caling over another security guy, they now pat me down and go through my carry-on's in order to test everything in there. Nice. Then they inform me that my Microsoft Wireless Mouse is now setting off the alarms on the machine for some more "material." And now this has become a "serious matter." They ask me a bunch of questions, including where I work, what I do, do I work with fertilizers, why would my things cause the machine to go off....I have no idea! YOU TELL ME! The security guard informed me on more than one occasion that it was at their discretion to let me go through, and they might need to alert the authorities. LOL! I was about to die of laughter at the whole thing...on top of the fact that my flight was leaving in 10 minutes! They FINALLY let me go through, and I hated airport security just THAT much more.

All of this for what? Do I want to feel safe on an airplane? Yes...Have I ever NOT felt safe on an airplane? NO! One carefully planned terrorist attack and we live in this "different world now" and in this haze of fear of everything. I can't help but think it's partly due to our idiot we call president.....I mean president we call idiot....It's not going to happen again....it's just not. And I don't mind the fact that security is stepped up, but all I ask is to know where to draw the line between being secure and being stupid. Screen the people that NEED to be screened (you know who you are) and stop bothering normal people who are trying to make their flight. USE YOUR JUDGEMENT! Better than any machine they could possibly use....

*RANT OVER*

Oh, and one more thing....the rule about not being able to stop your car and wait like 2 minutes when you are picking someone up at the airport is also ridiculous. They make you drive around about 80 times when you inform them that you are picking someone up who is at the baggage claim and will be out in 2 minutes! The rent-a-cop (sometimes a real cop) waves there little flashlight at you and taps on your car to get you going....No one has ever (I don't think) set off a bomb or anything while waiting at an airport. Should we wait until they do? NO! BUT THEY AREN'T GOING TO!

Common sense people....common sense....