<p>NPR had a story this morning about a new screening procedure was being tested in Boston. A TSA agent chats with each passenger; they don’t care about the answer to the questions. They are looking for physical reactions that can’t be suppressed.</p>
<p>One of the first examples they gave of suspicious behavior was breaking into a sweat in a cool environment. Can’t you just see a big crowd of menopausal women being searched because they had a hot flash?!</p>
<p>I was discussing this story with a colleague this morning and she mentioned the exact same thing! TSA might want to think this through a bit more :-)</p>
<p>Oh, so this is why I keep getting pulled out of line.</p>
<p>I wonder how effective this will be. My wife always gives seemingly evasive and vague answers at Customs/Immigration, even though we have absolutely nothing to hide. I suspect there are plenty of Americans who just don’t like to be questioned, and who may appear suspicious with such an approach.</p>
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<p>With the mood I’m in this morning, if an agent crossed me, I could end up doing something that would really land me in trouble!</p>
<p>I thought this thread said something about “airport SCREAMING”, which might relate, as well.</p>
<p>I would love to see it in action. I guess it’s highly effective in Israel, but I think they have both fewer flights than the US and better trained officers.</p>
<p>I would love to know if the officer can tell the difference between a 21 year old male from Yemen who has a bomb in his shoe and a 21 year old male from Yemen who is very nervous because he knows that the TSA agent thinks he has bomb in his shoe and he is always singled our for scrutiny and he really doesn’t have time today.</p>
<p>Can they tell the difference between very nervous because he is hiding a weapon vs. very nervous because he is headed for a job interview and if he don’t get this job he will face financial ruin. Or the bad guy who is lying about his intentions in the US vs. the husband who has guilt written all over him because he is flying somewhere to meet his girlfriend.</p>
<p>Perhaps they can. I’m still picturing this rogues gallery of guilty husbands, stressed folks from Pakistan and menopausal women, all waiting for further screening.</p>
<p>this is too ridiculous for words…can’t wait for my next TSA screening…</p>
<p>To be honest I think TSA agents better watch out for all those menopausal women. Cross a menopausal woman having a hot flash with sleep deprivation and memory loss and you might not like what you get.</p>
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<p>Yes, possibly not safe to fly. </p>
<p>Okay, whose oversized bag is taking up the whole bin above my seat?!!! </p>
<p>What do you mean you’re out of Diet Coke?!!! </p>
<p>I’ve already seen this movie four times!!! </p>
<p>It’s too cold on this plane…wait, it’s way too hot!</p>
<p>^Funny stuff, missy!!!:)</p>
<p>I wonder what’s worse, Menopause or PMS? I’m so grateful to be a man…</p>
<p>Maybe we should all hope that there are more than a handful of menopausal women on a flight…look out troublemakers!</p>
<p>can we start a thread for the menopausal women who awaken… ahem… “glistening” at 4 am? Doesnt matter what time zone you are in-- if you are up and its 4 am (I can set my watch by it) POST AWAY!</p>
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<p>Training will be key. I can’t imagine that TSA can train enough people well enough to increase safety on flights.</p>
<p>I heard the story on the way to work and had the same thought. I’d rather be quizzed than be subjected to the scanners and pat-downs.</p>
<p>I have always been a glistener - hotter than everyone in the room (except my mother). I bought a $10 battery operated fan a couple of years ago and take it everywhere. All you need is a decent-sized purse to store it when not in use. And I’m old enough that I don’t care if people think I’m crazy. I’ve even had women ask to borrow it.</p>
<p>Oh, and if you are thinking about wearing Louboutins on the plane - they could be confiscated as a “weapon”:</p>
<p>[$1,245</a> spiked Louboutins deemed “weapon” by TSA - Fashion + Beauty on Shine](<a href=“http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/1-245-spiked-louboutins-deemed-quot-weapon-quot-by-tsa-2436332/]$1,245”>http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/beauty/1-245-spiked-louboutins-deemed-quot-weapon-quot-by-tsa-2436332/)</p>
<p>I told my H that I needed to weaponize my wardrobe. :)</p>
<p>Sorry, but those shoes should be confiscated --by the fashion police!</p>
<p>Its 6 am - menopause roll call!</p>
<p>I don’t mind being quizzed or scanned or patted down but I do mind being slowed down or being blown up by the non-sweaty man in the seat next to me.</p>
<p>OK, the Louboutin shoes classified as weapons story was somewhat funny, but this is outrageous:</p>
<p>[Travel</a> | Hair pat-downs anger some passengers, including at Sea-Tac | Seattle Times Newspaper](<a href=“http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2015938953_websearcheshair18.html]Travel”>http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2015938953_websearcheshair18.html)</p>
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<p>She was X-rayed, and they still had to search her hair?</p>
<p>I have to tell this story. Most of us or our kids have had a teacher who was very incompetent or off her rocker, but she was tenured and couldn’t be fired. One of my kids had one of those…many complaints but nothing that was grounds for firing.</p>
<p>UNTIL: An African American kid with a largish 'fro asked to be excused to use the restroom. When he returned, the teacher pawed through his hair, telling the class, “That’s where they keep their weed.” </p>
<p>So that was enough. She was gone soon thereafter. </p>
<p>Maybe that teacher got a job at with the TSA.</p>