Saw one in use today in Tampa, but didn;t have to go through.

Keith

this has turned into a "where have you seen the puffer" thread!

So far, puffers spotted at:

Phoenix
Jacksonville
Tampa
San Juan

Ask someone who actually knows something about terrorism about racial profiling. Like Israeli border guards. They'll tell you that if you profile for "Middle Eastern men" (which presumes you can correctly pick them out, which you can't), the terrorists will start using Middle Eastern women, and then guys named Sven, and then whomever is necessary to scoot past the screening.

Racial screening does not work at all. It's not about being PC. Israel doesn't care about PC. They care about effectiveness.

Behavioral screening, however, works extremely well. But it's hard to train for.

But so is racial screening, because very few people can make reliable judgements about race.

The fact that Richard Reid converted to Islam says nothing about his racial profile, of course. He didn't convert his ethnicity.

I thought of this post the other day! I had to fly SEA-EWR for an emergency Monday. Booked flight a few hrs before departure. CO allowed me to check in,but not print boarding pass. Got to airport, went to ticketing,(not 1 person in line-weird) and agent printed pass...with the dreaded 4 S's! well...the extra security added about 3 minutes ,and the officials were very nice,explaining what they were doing...I assumed it was "random" because of the fact that a last minute cross country flight is more suspicious than one booked in advance,however, the guy next to me also booked his flight same day,but was not asked to go through the extra security.There goes my theory!

I went through the "puffer" last week in Detroit in the Northwest terminal. Luckily I was there early because it indeed took an extra 30 minutes to complete. There was nothing out of the ordinary about my trip. It was a simple roundtrip from Atlanta.

We went through one at Las Vegas last September, and it appeared to be totally random as to who were picked for the "poofer". We were in a longish line at security, and the TSA personnel just came up to the line a few people ahead of us, and said if the next 20 of us behind would like to follow them to the "poofer" line, we'd go through immediately. We got through security quicker than if we'd stayed in the "regular" line.....

ok, so now we add Detroit and Las Vegas to the list:

So far, puffers spotted at:

Phoenix
Jacksonville
Tampa
San Juan
Detroit
Las Vegas

fyi, I just read an article in today's Washington Post re that TSA is abandoning the use of these air puffer machines. TSA bought 207 of the machines for 30 million from G.E. in 2004 but halted deployment of them in mid-2006, because they are too slow, unreliable, and expensive to operate. The devices get plugged by dust, and confused by humidity or jet fuel fumes, increasing operating costs as much as 48K per each 150K machine. The machines will be replaced w/full body scanners.

So let's get this straight: First they wanted to blow my skirt up around my neck. Now they are using some type of see-thru-the-clothes scanning machine to get a nekkid picture of me. Guess I'd better start working out more and buy some new underwear. ;-)

No need for new undies - they will just see thru them anyway.

Yes, and I suppose our tax dollars paid for all those abandoned puffer machines. I wonder if they can at least reuse them for parts?

Parts for what emd? Geez, P_M, kybourbon is right. No need for new underwear just get your body toned up even better then it already is so you can impress whomever will see your exray.

With xrays, you don't have to worry about your wrinkles and folds, they don't show up. So, now you can skip the gym, the botox, and wear dirty and worn undies and not worry. :-D

Jacksonville's was always my favorite.

they let you PICK!

Gee, I am a terrorist who has been playing wiht explosives. Should I go through the "puffer" or the regular machine.

(THE IDIOTS AT THE TSA assume the terrorist is wearing a name tag to help identify him/her!)