11-24 TSA Opt out thread

[Cebu_4_2]

If you find any information or video regarding the TSA scanner opt out day please post it here.

So far it seems silent.

[Cebu_4_2]

Placards, kilts part of plans for scanner protests
AP

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101124/ap_on_bi_ge/us_airport_security

People stand in a snaking line at a security screening area at Newark Liberty International Airport, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010, in Newark, N.J. Passenger AP – People stand in a snaking line at a security screening area at Newark Liberty International Airport, …
By MICHAEL TARM, Associated Press Michael Tarm, Associated Press – 2 hrs 24 mins ago

CHICAGO – Travelers dismayed by airport body scans are headed to airports Wednesday with the makings of any good protest: handmade fliers, eye-catching placards, slogan-bearing T-shirts — and Scottish kilts.

The loosely organized effort dubbed National Opt-Out Day hopes to highlight what some call unnecessarily intrusive security screenings. Others fear it will merely snarl pre-Thanksgiving airline operations on one of the busiest travel days of the year.

Robert Shofkom wasn't worried about delayed flights, maybe just strong breezes.

The 43-year-old from Georgetown, Texas, said he planned for weeks to wear a traditional kilt — sans skivvies — to display his outrage over body scanners and aggressive pat-downs while catching his Wednesday flight out of Austin.

"If you give them an inch, they won't just take in inch. Pretty soon you're getting scanned to get into a football game," the IT specialist said.

Shofkom was momentarily disheartened when his wife informed him Tuesday that the Austin airport doesn't yet have body scans. But he decided to wear the kilt anyway, a show of solidarity with fellow protesters who have taken to Facebook and other websites to tout plans for similarly revealing travel outfits.

One Internet-based protest group called We Won't Fly said hundreds of activists would go to 27 U.S. airports Wednesday to pass out fliers with messages such as "You have the right to say, `No radiation strip search! No groping of genitals!' Say, `I opt out.'"

"If 99 percent of people normally agree to go through scanners, we hope that falls to 95 percent," said one organizer, George Donnelly, 39. "That would make it a success."

If enough people opt for a pat-down rather than a body scan, security-line delays could quickly cascade.

More than 40 million people plan to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday, according to AAA, with just more than 1.6 million flying — a 3.5 percent increase from last year. Body scans for passengers chosen at random take as little as 10 seconds. New pat-down procedures, which involve a security worker touching travelers' crotch and chest areas, can take 4 minutes or longer.

Several travel companies, including Travelocity, planned on-site monitoring at airports Wednesday to try to gauge where and why delays happen. But with a vicious storm already hindering travel in Western states Tuesday, determining if weather or protests are behind delays across the vastly interconnected air travel system could be nearly impossible.

The full-body scanners show a traveler's physical contours on a computer in a private room removed from security checkpoints. But critics say they amount to virtual strip searches.

About 70 airports nationwide have more than 400 of the refrigerator-sized imaging units. Only around 20 percent of travelers are asked to go through them, but passengers cannot opt out of both the scan and the pat-down once they have been randomly selected for the enhanced searches.

Officials say the procedures are necessary to ward off terror attacks like the attempted bombing of a Detroit-bound plane last Christmas by a Nigerian man who stashed explosives in his underwear.

At a main checkpoint in Atlanta on Tuesday, a few passengers asked to step through a scanner grimaced before walking through, while others seemed more bemused than annoyed.

Out of 30 asked to go through during a half-hour period, just two opted for a pat-down. Karen Keebler, 54, of Atlanta said later that her main concern was the low-level radiation. The TSA says the scans emit very low radiation and aren't a health risk.

"I just think the less radiation the better, and if you can opt out, you need to," she said.

Wednesday's planned protest is the brainchild of Brian Sodergren of Ashburn, Va., who constructed a one-page website early this month urging people to decline scans.

But public interest boomed after an Oceanside, Calif., man named John Tyner resisted a scan and groin check at the San Diego airport with the words, "If you touch my junk, I'll have you arrested." A cell-phone video of the incident went viral.

Tyner's words became famous, spawning online sales of T-shirts, bumper stickers and even underwear emblazoned with the words, "Don't Touch My Junk!" A Google search of the phrase on Tuesday registered 4.2 million hits.

Saturday Night Live jumped on the controversy last weekend, with a minute-long skit equating the TSA with a dating service. The skit ends: "It's our business to touch yours."

Pilots and flight attendants also had complained about being subject to body scans and pat-downs. On Friday, the TSA said pilots could avoid the more intense screening. TSA spokesman Nick Kimball confirmed the same for flight attendants Tuesday.

Both groups must show photo ID and go through metal detectors. If that sets off an alarm, they may still get a pat-down in some cases, he said.

Publicity or no, some predicted little fallout from the planned protest, with many travelers at airports Tuesday deriding the effort and saying the stepped-up security measures made them feel safer.

"I think there ought to be two flights," said Jacksonville, Fla., native Marc Gruber, 53, who was at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport. "One for people who want to be scanned and one for people who don't want to be scanned."

[gunDriller]

If you find any information or video regarding the TSA scanner opt out day please post it here.

So far it seems silent.


http://www.optoutday.com/

there's a few websites for it.

http://wewontfly.com/opt-out-day/

[Libertytree]

I was listening to the radio this morning and it seems like the TSA & DHS is waging their own info war with public service announcements stating that you would be doing more harm than good, guilting anyone who might think of not going through the scanners or giving the TSA a hard time. I heard a news report and the PSA all within 5 mins. I almost wish I could fly today ;D

[chad]

people won't do much, it might inconvenience them.

[Book]

http://www.nileguide.com/blog/wp-content/themes/yamidoo/scripts/timthumb.php?src=/blogs.dir/1/files/2010/11/airport-crowds.jpg&w=300&h=200&zc=1

The whole notion of traveling great distances to eat one turkey meal with the "family" you moved away from is illogical.

Not the kind of people who "opt out" of anything.

:)

[mrnhtbr2232]

Whatever happens today the sheep have been pre-greased with "polls" and propaganda from the media. It's a given the spin will be:

a) most people gladly accept it to feel safer
b) most people resent the actions of those that dare protest
c) people that protest are dissenters and may have ties to militia and right wing organizations

If terrorists were real and wanted to kill people, the long security lines OUTSIDE the goon squads have more passengers than several planes combined. But then it's not at all about killing infidels, is it.

[MNeagle]

The best way to opt out, vote w/ your wallet & your feet. Don't fly!

[Dogman]

The best way to opt out, vote w/ your wallet & your feet. Don't fly!


Dam people today are in a hurry, time is everything, from point a to b as quick as possible.

On another recent thread I made a statement about trains, yes you can drive but that is mind numming imo , In the 50's as a kid traveled by train and it was great! Watching all of the vistas pass by. Before I die, I want to travail all over this country by train, When you drive you are focused on driving and not looking ,

The shit one has to do to fly today is shit, but most will put up with it because as I said before flying will get you there quicker than any other way. but methinks if this nation had better trains , yea I know the east cost and maybe the west cost (sp) do, but in general for the rest of the nation not so much.


Starve the beast. do not fly! May the days of instant gratification end and we go back to some good basics.

[chad]

yeah, stay put in your little 1 horse town. don't see the world, don't enlighten yourself, broaden your horizons, etc. stay home, watch tv like a good little citizen, + and beat them.

[MNeagle]

No, protest w/ your wallet until the madness stops!

[Dogman]

yeah, stay put in your little 1 horse town. don't see the world, don't enlighten yourself, broaden your horizons, etc. stay home, watch tv like a good little citizen, + and beat them.



What I said holds, flying is great I started in the mid 1950's flying commercial as a kid before jets Now I hold a multi engen privet license, expired now but thinking of renewing. It is the crap one has to go through that pisses me off. If it has wings I can fly it!

Just saying!

[Twisted Titan]

What Not to Wear: How to Speed Through Airport Security


With 24 million people expected to clog the airports during the Thanksgiving holiday period and the chance a protest banning body scanners will take off, travelers are looking for time saving tips when it comes to airport security. Now more than ever is the time to ask yourself "what should I wear?" Follow the easy wardrobe tips below to ensure you have a hassle free trip over the holidays.

What Not to Wear

The TSA may not have a stylebook, but by following the list below, you should breeze through airport security in no time.

Tough to Remove Shoes: Forgo wearing any shoes that take a long time to unbuckle or unlace. Those work boots may be practical and those strappy sandals may look perfect with your outfit, but you'll only get annoyed looks when you slow down the security line, fumbling to get them off. Slip-on shoes make for a speedy walk through -- and don't forget to sport clean socks, lest you be forced to brave the security line barefoot.

Clothes With Metal Studs or Buttons: It may seem like a no-brainer, but it seems like there is always someone who arrives at the airport with a button-down shirt featuring metal fasteners. Unless you want everyone in line to see your undershirt (or you are looking to be singled out for additional screening) choose a different top.

Metal Jewelry: Metal rings, necklaces, bracelets, cufflinks, watches and pins can all set off the walk-through metal detector. If you can't leave home without them, just stick them in your carry-on or checked bag before reaching the conveyor belt and then re-adorn yourself later.

Belts & Belt Buckles: Metal prongs, eyelets and buckles on belts will also need to be removed -- meaning if you can't quickly take your belt off, it might be time to get some pants that actually fit.

Under-wire Bras: That little wire in some bra cups might have enough metal to set off the security buzzer. To avoid having to go through an embarrassing wand-down or pat-down on the other side of the walk-through metal detector, the TSA advises ladies to choose another style of brassiere for the day.

Loose-fitting Clothing: TSA officers don't know what you might be hiding underneath those bulky sweaters and baggy jeans. Although loose-fitting clothes are allowed, you may be picked out for additional screening.

Gel Shoe Inserts: Gel shoe inserts are not permitted, so save yourself the hassle and put your inserts in your checked baggage -- that's right, inserts are not even allowed in your carry-on. Shoes constructed with gel heels are allowed but like all other shoes, must be removed and screened.

Coats and Jackets: All coats and jackets have to go through the X-ray machine, so be prepared to remove your layers. To save time, take off your jacket while waiting for your boarding pass at the ticket counter or as you are walking to the security checkpoint. This way, you won't be rubbing elbows with anyone in line as you take off your coat.

Slacks Instead of Skirts: The TSA does not mandate all travelers wear slacks instead of skirts, but most people prefer to travel this way. Loose fitting or long skirts might make you a target for extra screening, and new pat-down rules allow screeners to check under your skirts.

Before You Go

In order to get through security as painlessly as possible, there are some preemptive measures you can take before even arriving at the airport.

Empty Your Pockets: Keys, phones, loose change, and any other mystery items you have in your pockets will have to be removed in order to pass through security. Be prepared and stow as much as you can in your purse or carry-on luggage before even departing for the airport.

Save The Bling for Later: Take off any jewelry that might set off a metal detector before getting to the airport and put it in a bag in your carry-on luggage. Once you pass through security, you can put the jewelry back on and leave it there. The same goes for hair barrettes.

Smokers Beware: According to the TSA, only lighters without fuel are permitted in checked baggage unless you place them in a "DOT-approved case." This applies for both carry-on and checked baggage, so just to be safe leave your lighters at home.

Things to Remember

In case you need a refresher, here are some other pieces of advice to make your airport experience run smoothly.

Carry-on Allowance: Carry-on allowance varies based on what airline you are flying with, but as a general rule you are allowed one bag plus one personal item. Please check the airline's individual guidelines before departing for the airport.

Liquids: When traveling through airport security, remember the 3-1-1 rule: only 3.4 (100 milliliter) bottles are allowed; all liquids must be placed in one quart-sized clear, zip top bag; and only one quart-sized bag is allowed per passenger. When in doubt, put your liquids in checked luggage or leave them at home. According to the TSA, liquid medications, baby formula and breast milk are allowed in "reasonable quantities exceeding three ounces" and do not require a zip-top bag.

International Travelers: Depending on your destination, you may be faced with a different set of security measures when traveling through international airports. For example, some international screening processes require you to take off your shoes, while others do not. If you have a connecting flight in the U.S. before returning home, be prepared to go through security again -- checked baggage and all -- when you land stateside.

[TheNocturnalEgyptian]

Not only is the article informative, but it's also subtley insulting my choice of clothing!

[sunshine05]

I don't know for sure, but it seems to me that it is so quiet today because many opted not to fly. I read one article that seemed to indicate that. People said it was like any ordinary day. This is usually a VERY busy air travel day.

[Cebu_4_2]

I think they are playing it down, in effect the sheeple have no impact on big government...

Airport lines move smoothly despite warnings
AP

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer pats down a traveler as he works his way through security at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Internation AP – Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officer pats down a traveler as he works his way through …
By MICHAEL TARM, Associated Press Michael Tarm, Associated Press – 40 mins ago

CHICAGO – The lines moved smoothly at airports around the country Wednesday afternoon despite an Internet campaign to get Thanksgiving travelers to gum up the works on one of the busiest days of the year by refusing full-body scans.

The Transportation Security Administration said very few passengers opted out. And there were only scattered protesters — including, presumably, a man seen walking around the Salt Lake City airport in a skimpy, Speedo-style bathing suit, and a woman wearing a bikini in Los Angeles.

After days of tough talk on the Internet and warnings of possible delays, some passengers decided to go to the airport especially early and were pleasantly surprised.

Retirees Bill and Margaret Selfridge arrived three hours ahead of schedule at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport for their flight to Washington. It took only 10 minutes to get through the checkpoint at 8 a.m.

"Now we get to drink a lot of coffee," Bill Selfridge said.

Catherine Pfeiffer, 40, of Austin, Texas, changed planes at the Atlanta airport and said she had no major objection to the security screenings: "If you don't want to go through the hassle, don't fly."

A loosely organized effort dubbed National Opt-Out Day planned to use fliers, T-shirts and, in one case, a Scottish kilt to protest what some call unnecessarily intrusive X-ray scans and pat-downs. The security screenings have been lampooned on "Saturday Night Live" and mocked on T-shirts, bumper stickers and underwear emblazoned "Don't Touch My Junk," from a line uttered by a defiant traveler in San Diego.

But the weather was shaping up as a much bigger threat, especially in the West: A ferocious, early-season snowstorm pummeled the Rockies, bringing whiteout conditions to parts of the region and closing roads. It was expected to delay air travelers and people who probably thought they were doing the smart thing by driving. Also, heavy rain was forecast in the Midwest. And windy weather in New England could create snags.

More than 40 million people plan to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday, according to AAA, with more than 1.6 million flying — a 3.5 percent increase from last year.

Two protesters at the Phoenix airport held signs decrying "porno-scans" and drew sidelong glances from some passengers but words of support from others, who told them, "Thank you for being here."

The protesters, husband and wife Patricia Stone and John Richards of Chandler, Ariz., said the TSA has taken security too far.

"Just because you buy a plane ticket doesn't mean you have to subject yourself to awful security measures. It's not a waiver of your rights," said Stone, 44. "The TSA is security theater. They're not protecting us."

But at security lines at the airport, one of the nation's 10 busiest, lines were moving quickly and steadily. In fact, wait times for security checks at major U.S. airports from San Francisco to New York were 20 minutes or less Wednesday morning, according to the TSA, and no serious disruptions were reported

Asked early Wednesday if the protests were having any noticeable effect, TSA chief John Pistole told The Associated Press, "Not that we've seen overall. I mean we've, you know, had a couple of one-offs here and there."

"So far, so good," he said. "No long wait times or anything."

Earlier Wednesday, Pistole told ABC's "Good Morning America" that his agency is fully staffed to deal with problems and that travelers should be prepared for delays because of the threatened protests. For days, he has pleaded with Thanksgiving travelers not to boycott the body scans and delay other people.

"I just feel bad for the traveling public that's just trying to get home for the holidays," Pistole said, noting that TSA screeners "just want to get you through."

At least some passengers brushed aside claims the screenings were needlessly intrusive and too cumbersome.

Greg and Marti Hancock of Phoenix, on their way to a vacation in California, breezed through security after going through the body scanner.

"It was a day at the beach, a box of chocolates," said Greg Hancock, 61, who was chosen for the scanner after a golf ball marker set off the metal detector.

Marti Hancock, 58, said ever since she was in the air on Sept. 11, 2001, and thought there was a bomb on her plane, she has been fully supportive of stringent security: "If that's what you have to do to keep us safe, that's what you have to do."

At the Atlanta airport, 22-year-old Ashley Humphries was given a pat-down search of her chest and crotch by a female screener after bobby pins in her hair set off a metal detector.

"I can see how it would make someone uncomfortable, but I'm not easily offended, so it really didn't bother me as much," said Humphries, who was traveling with her fiance to spend Thanksgiving with family in Tennessee.

At Denver International Airport, Chris Maj, a 31-year-old computer programmer, carried a sign that read, "END THE TSA ASK ME HOW." He and three others handed pocket-size copies of the U.S. Constitution.

"They're touching breasts, they're touching buttocks, all of these places that if you or I were to touch, we'd go to jail," he said.

Another traveler, Robert Shofkom wasn't too worried about delayed flights, maybe just strong breezes. The 43-year-old from Georgetown, Texas, said he planned for weeks to wear a traditional kilt — sans skivvies — to display his outrage over body scanners and aggressive pat-downs while catching his Wednesday flight out of Austin.

"If you give them an inch, they won't just take in inch. Pretty soon you're getting scanned to get into a football game," the information technology specialist said.

Shofkom was disheartened when his wife informed him Tuesday that the Austin airport doesn't yet have body scans. But he decided to wear the kilt anyway.

One Internet-based protest group called We Won't Fly said hundreds of activists would go to 27 U.S. airports Wednesday to pass out fliers decrying the scans and the pat-downs.

"If 99 percent of people normally agree to go through scanners, we hope that falls to 95 percent," said one organizer, George Donnelly. "That would make it a success."

If enough people opt for a pat-down rather than a body scan, security-line delays could quickly cascade. Full-body scans for passengers chosen at random take as little as 10 seconds. The new pat-downs, in which a security agent touches a traveler's crotch and chest, can take four minutes or longer.

The full-body scanners show a person's contours on a computer in a private room removed from security checkpoints. But critics say they amount to virtual strip searches. Some have complained that the new enhanced pat-downs are humiliating and intrusive, too.

TSA officials say the procedures are necessary to ward off terror attacks like the attempted bombing of a Detroit-bound plane last Christmas, allegedly by a Nigerian man who stashed explosives in his underwear.

[Cebu_4_2]

Not only is the article informative, but it's also subtley insulting my choice of clothing!


It is directions of what you should wear.

[horseshoe3]

Dam people today are in a hurry, time is everything, from point a to b as quick as possible.




I've run the numbers several times and they always come out the same.

If you are going less than 500 miles, it's just a fast or faster to drive.

Add in the cost of the plane ticket vs gas, car rental, etc., put a random number on the value of my time and I'd rather drive if it's less than 1000 miles.

Add in the convenience of having my own car and not having to worry about a rental (dings, return times) and it's up to 1100 miles.

Add in the porno scanners and sexual assault, and I wouldn't fly period.

[Shami-Amourae]

The John and Ken Show are pretty much going all day on it:
http://www.kfiam640.com/mediaplayer/?station=KFI-AM&action=listenlive&channel_title=
;D

[AndreaGail]

AP radio was interviewing people on the opt out day and one lady at the seattle tacoma airport was not going to participate in the opt out but wholeheartedly supports the protests because its a great form of resistance ::)

[1970 silver art]

It seems like the National Opt-Out day was a fail since there were no problems reported at the major airports according to the news stations that I have been listening too. Business as usual.

It makes sense that National Opt-Out day would not work today because a majority of travelers do not object to getting scannned or getting a pat down according to some of the polls that I have seen on TV.

Like MNeagle said, if you want to object to the TSA scans and pat downs, then do not open up the wallet to buy a plane ticket. Do not fly. Hitting them in the pocketbook will (hopefully) get a lot of people's attention.

[JohnQPublic]

:D

What to Wear: How to Protest Unreasonable Airport Security


With 24 million people expected to clog the airports during the Thanksgiving holiday period and the chance to protest body scanners, travelers are looking for tips when it comes to fowling up airport security. Now more than ever is the time to ask yourself "what should I wear?" Follow the easy wardrobe tips below to ensure you properly protest TSA unreasonable searches over the holidays.

What to Wear

The TSA may not have a stylebook, but by following the list below, you should make your statement to airport security.

Tough to Remove Shoes: Wear any shoes that take a long time to unbuckle or unlace. Those work boots may be practical and those strappy sandals may look perfect with your outfit, and you'll only get annoyed looks when you slow down the security line, fumbling to get them off. Slip-on shoes make for a speedy walk through -- so don't wear them.

Clothes With Metal Studs or Buttons: It may seem like a no-brainer, but it seems like there is always someone who arrives at the airport with a button-down shirt featuring metal fasteners. Be like the someone, and do wear them.

Metal Jewelry: Metal rings, necklaces, bracelets, cufflinks, watches and pins can all set off the walk-through metal detector. So load up on jewelry- especially steel based costume jewelry. It'll drive the metal detectors mad!

Belts & Belt Buckles: Metal prongs, eyelets and buckles on belts will also need to be removed -- meaning if you can't quickly take your belt off, it might be time to get some pants that actually fit. So, go ahead and wear your favorite thick steel plate cowboy buckle!

Under-wire Bras: That little wire in some bra cups might have enough metal to set off the security buzzer, so wear them ladies- and remember, "touch my junk and I'll have you arrested".

Loose-fitting Clothing: TSA officers don't know what you might be hiding underneath those bulky sweaters and baggy jeans, so dress like a gang banger, and be sure to wear a loose fitting belt with a large steel buckle.

Gel Shoe Inserts: Gel shoe inserts are not permitted, so load your family up on them.

Coats and Jackets: All coats and jackets have to go through the X-ray machine, so be prepared to remove your layers, and wear lots of layers.

Slacks Instead of Skirts: The TSA does not mandate all travelers wear slacks instead of skirts, but most people prefer to travel this way, so ladies, wear a skirt. Gents, consider a kilt.

Before You Go

In order to get through security as painlessly as possible, there are some preemptive measures you can take before even arriving at the airport.

Fill Your Pockets: Find extra, uneeded Keys, phones, loose change, and any other mystery items you can put in your pockets so they will have to be removed in order to pass through security. Be prepared and stow as much as you can in your pants, jacket, shirt, etc. pockets.

[Cebu_4_2]

JohnQ Good job, I was going to do it but yours is good, I LOL'd and so did my son. Happy TG day to everyone!

[TheNocturnalEgyptian]

So here's the deal in case anybody is curious


They turned off the scanners today!

They caught wind of opt-out day


Traditional scanners only traditional patdowns only. No backscatter machines (all turned off) and no enhanced patdowns.

THE TSA OPTED OUT.

And now they're running a billion articles about how "opt out day has failed" blaming the civilians.


They got scared of the potential resistance.

[Cebu_4_2]

So here's the deal in case anybody is curious


They turned off the scanners today!

They caught wind of opt-out day


Traditional scanners only traditional patdowns only. No backscatter machines (all turned off) and no enhanced patdowns.

THE TSA OPTED OUT.

And now they're running a billion articles about how "opt out day has failed" blaming the civilians.


They got scared of the potential resistance.


I didn't think they would shut down but this is like the best news ever. We do have power and the MSM is afraid of letting us know.

[sunshine05]

TSA turns off naked body scanners to avoid opt-out day protests
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger

(NaturalNews) Anticipating a nationwide grassroots surge of protests against naked body scanners and aggressive pat-downs, the TSA simply turned off its naked body scanners on Wednesday and let air travelers walk right through security checkpoints without being X-rayed or molested.

All across the country, air travelers are reporting that the TSA simply deactivated the naked body scanners and let people go right through without a scan. "Backscatter scanners are off. No scan. No patdown." reported a traveler from the Seattle airport. "Backscatter machines aren't being used at LAX," reported another traveler. "They're all roped off."

Much the same story is being reported all across the country.

The TSA is desperate to avoid protests
Shutting down the "National Opt-Out Day" by turning off the machines is the only logical move for the TSA, of course: The agency needed a way to defuse the growing grassroots resistance to its criminal violations of Americans' Fourth Amendment rights. So instead of facing what was sure to be widespread protest, the agency simply decided to turn off the machines for a day.

This action tells us all sorts of fascinating things about the TSA and its fabricated security excuses. Perhaps most importantly, it proves that the naked body scanners are not needed for air travel security in the first place. When it wants to, the TSA can just turn the machines off and resort to baggage X-rays and metal detectors. That's worked for years, and it apparently worked today, too.

And yet, up until today, the TSA has insisted that the naked body scanners are absolutely essential to detecting hidden bombs, and that "travelers won't be safe" unless they use the naked body scanners. So all of a sudden today it's okay for the TSA to put air travelers at risk of being blown up?

The TSA can't have it both ways. Either the naked body scanners are vital for air security and they need to be running 24/7 to keep everybody safe, or they're just another security con game being played out for the financial benefit of Chertoff and others who profit from the sale of such machines.

How can the TSA -- with a straight face -- say that naked body scanners are vital for air security but not on the busiest air travel day of the year?

As you can see, there are some serious holes in the TSA's mythology, and interestingly, this National Opt-Out Day indirectly exposed them by getting the TSA to turn off the naked body scanners. This is effectively an admission that they aren't important to air security.

Trying to avoid any challenge to its power
This action by the TSA also shows that the TSA is desperately trying to avoid being publicly embarrassed by the national-opt-out day protests. Lots of local and national news film crews were out at the airports today, hoping to catch something interesting on camera. But by turning off the naked body scanners, the TSA was able to stage a "calm looking" day at the airport.

As soon as the TV cameras leave, however, they can turn those machines right back on and start molesting people once again. This is classic behavior of police state tyrants: They present a calm, professional image to the media, but once the cameras leave, all of a sudden their hands are back down in your pants.

I predict the TSA will have the machines turned right back on by Friday, and more reports of sexual molestation and inappropriate pat-downs will continue to emerge.

Many people just skipped the airports altogether
The other big travel news today was that lots of travelers decided to simply skip the airports altogether. NaturalNews received emails from several travelers who described major U.S. airports as "nearly empty."

Meanwhile, traffic was terrible on the freeways. The Massachusetts Turnpike played host to a 30-mile traffic jam today (http://www.thebostonchannel.com/r/2...).

A new Zogby poll indicates that 43% of the American public will seek alternatives to flying due to the TSA's aggressive pat-downs and naked body scanners (http://www.zogby.com/news/ReadNews....). That's going to add up to a huge financial hit for the air travel industry in the months ahead. The TSA could end up destroying much of the air travel industry altogether!

Learn more about freedom, security, American history and the Bill of Rights
For a full discussion of the issues that really matter here, check out my new commentary audio / video about the Don't Touch My Junk song.

The first 13 minutes or so are about the song itself. After that, it's mostly a discussion about freedom and the Bill of Rights. You can watch that video commentary for free at:
http://naturalnews.tv/v.asp?v=F69DE...

Thank you to all who participated in the National Opt Out Day. In getting the TSA to turn off its naked body scanners, we exposed the TSA's "big lie" about air travel safety.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and travel safely, no matter what method of transportation you choose.

http://www.naturalnews.com/030509_TSA_opt_out_day.html

[Shami-Amourae]

Drudge is reporting it too:

Fliers Claim TSA Has Deactivated Body Scanners... (http://gizmodo.com/5698536/fliers-claim-tsa-have-deactivated-body-scanners)

[Glass]

You guys need to link how many planes got blown up with how much scanning got done and make as many people aware of it as possible. If they shut down the machines and miraculously no planes got blown up then that says something. Tomorrow the scanners will be back on.

[Libertytree]

Everyday should be opt out day, in any and every way possible, whenever possible , from the quiet to the absurd.

[TheNocturnalEgyptian]

You guys need to link how many planes got blown up with how much scanning got done and make as many people aware of it as possible. If they shut down the machines and miraculously no planes got blown up then that says something. Tomorrow the scanners will be back on.


PEOPLE NAKED SCANNED: NOBODY

PLANES BLOWN UP: ZERO

TIME: 5:11AM THE NEXT DAY

[nunaem]

When are they going to make a eye-glasses version of the naked scanner?