At 12:07 PM 9/17/01 -0700, Tim May wrote:
I wonder if the GenXers (and younger) will be taking out their nose rings, tongue studs, and other bits of metal stuck through their bodies, primitive-style. (And not just so they can pass through metal detectors...)
I wondered that when I left my penknife and corkscrew behind in my Silly Valley cube, flying home Friday eve. My glasses didn't set them off; I don't think finger-rings, earrings, etc. exceeded the thresholds they set then. In fact, they didn't search my luggage and since I was reasonably metal-free the only delay present was an extra 15 seconds of paperwork (show your itinerary to get past the passenger-only point). *Monday* I was swabbed for nitrates. I spent a minute thinking about how to use my laptop as a shield. Wondering how much a drink-cart weighs. Wondering if the skymarshalls always get aisle seats. Realizing the next attack is a different mode. And they still made me pay for a beer on the plane.