Tuesday, December 4, 2007

Well I feel totally safe now…

And now for an off-topic rant. I'm on my way to Austin for a business trip and I decided I did not want to check my bag since I am arriving quite late. I packed the same contents into the same bag as I have done all year long for something like 15+ trips. That includes some toiletries in a zip loc bag. So the TSA agent had an issue with the fact that I used a gallon bag, despite the fact that it was clearly ¼ full …if that. So strike #1 for Michel. Then she takes my hair gel which is in a 3.5oz container and informs me that I must take only 3.4 ounce containers. I know she is only doing her job but this really annoyed me… I have travelled with the same stupid hair gel container 15+ times now. So should I be offended that it takes that many times to get it confiscated or should I be offended that this TSA agent had nothing better to do than to enforce rules 0.1 ounces at a time! (By the way, there was clearly less than 3.5 ounces in the container but she didn't bother to look. That's not in the TSA manual.) One thing is for sure, I will definitely get a quart sized bag and fill it with 3.4 ounce containers from here forward.

Which makes me think…is the Ziploc bag company increasing their sales because of these rules? What if I had brought a Canadian or European metric sized bag?? What happens then? Am I only permitted the use of US manufactured Ziploc bags for the carrying of hair gel? That's going to affect global trade for sure. Protectionism at its best… our plastic is special and is the only plastic permitted on a US based airline.

Maybe I should focus more on eating less and exercising- the true reason for this blog. Its much less exasperating!

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Lucy in the Arboretum

Where I have lived, visited and want to go.