TSA issues warning on insulated drink containers like thermoses for holiday travelers this season

[harvey007]

Source: NY Daily News

Holiday travelers thinking about bringing a thermos for hot Christmas coffee aboard their flight may be stopped short at the gate this year.

Transportation Security Administration officials issued an alert Thursday for agents to take a closer look at empty insulated drink containers at security checkpoints, citing them as potential instruments in a terror tactic, the Associated Press reports.

The agency noted it will respond to growing concerns with additional security measures. The fear is that terrorists can use the metal containers to conceal explosives, according to the AP.

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/2010/12/24/2010-12-24_tsa_issues_warning_on_insulated_drink_containers_like_thermoses_for_holiday_trav.html?r=news

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Put the sippy cup down!

[saigon68]

1. Idiots all------ they have lost it

[ixion]

26. indeed.

[somone]

2. NEXT: No Chinese takeout containers

All food items must be in transparent Ziploc bags.

[KansDem]

3. You know, I'm thinking about going to my 40th high-school reunion next summer...

It's in southern California.

I'm thinking of renting a car and driving. My reasoning?

It's a 24-hour drive from Kansas City to Los Angeles. I've driven that before.

It's a 3-hour flight from KCI to LAX, but when you consider I have to leave the house about 2 hours or so before fligh-time and after landing it takes an hour or so to get my luggage and go to the rental car place, the whole "trip" is 6 hours--one quarter of the drive time.

So I might consider renting a car here in KC and driving to LA. Relaxed, leisurely...see the country. It really is a beautiful drive!

And to hell with TSA and their ridiculous "rules" and nudie-scanners enhanced with genitalia-groping...

[pasto76]

4. any and all of my travel plans are driving

not only do the airlines suck service and dependability wise, these "safety measures" are truly an insult to my intelligence.

One time only did I push back to TSA stupidity: on my way BACK TO IRAQ from mid tour leave. In both pittsburgh and baltimore, they gave troops a special line, but still made us take our boots off. Most of us also got the "enhanced" baggage check where they swab the bag and then put it in a sniffer. I said "You know we're all going back top actually fight this war, right?"

I got some dirty looks from TSA people, but could actually feel the backing of the other soldiers. Yeah thats right, you have to have at least 3 squads of soldiers physically at your back to say something. Ridiculous.

these days we drive everywhere. The 7 year old has her own DVD player. it helps.

[tpsbmam]

16. I've been doing the driving alternative for many years now.

Can no longer handle it physically but I did it for many years primarily because I always have 2 dogs traveling with me and I will NOT put dogs in the cargo hold. And I also started to find flying less and less appealing as the U.S. got more and more paranoid. So we drove wherever we went. I have to say that CT to FL sucked, but the rest were fine -- Madison, WI or Chicago to the East Coast, CT or MA to South Carolina a few times....MA to NC a few times. I got very used to it and, these days, it would take A LOT to get me to fly given all of the unpleasantness associated with it.

[kpete]

5. TSA alert: Thermoses could be used as bombs

Source: MSNBC

TSA alert: Thermoses could be used as bombs
Intelligence suggests that explosives might be hidden inside containers, agency warns

WASHINGTON — U.S. authorities are warning air travelers to expect greater scrutiny of thermoses and other insulated drink containers at security checkpoints after intelligence suggested they could be used to hide explosives.

A notice on the Transportation Security Administration's website warned about the possibility that explosives might be hidden inside the beverage containers and said the warning was "based on intelligence."

It said TSA "is carefully monitoring information related to terrorist tactics and working with our international partners to share information and security best practices."

Those carrying the containers can expect additional screening of them using procedures currently in place, including X-rays, physical inspection and the use of explosives detection technology, the notice posted Thursday said.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40803955/ns/us_news-security/

[ChairmanAgnostic]

6. lipstick can hold nitroglycerin

pancake makeup can hide antrhax
wool sox can easily contain detonators
shoe laces make a great primer

[wtmusic]

7. Stop, stop, you're way ahead of schedule.

Lipstick/nitroglycerin is in January, wool socks/detonators are March I think.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

12. Wool isn't April? Rolled up newspapers are March,

I thought.

[CreekDog]

28. In 1989 at Dulles I got severly questioned by security at Dulles about my newspaper

I had a folded up newspaper under my arm, and big winter coat (that was then under my arm with the newspaper).

1989! I was 18, it was winter.

I was asked about my jacket and if there was anything in it.

I was asked why I had a newspaper under my arm.

I was asked if I read the newspaper (not if I had read it already --but if I "read" the newspaper).

I was stumped when they kept asking me about why I would have a newspaper. :wtf:

(kind of like when the Customs lady at the Canadian border couldn't believe I camped alone and kept asking me why --note...the same job at the Mexican border is "Border Patrol" :eyes: )

When I said I had a winter coat because it was winter, they asked why I was not wearing it.

My friends were standing around me and we were all like, what the hell is this? Security??? (we were on a Close Up trip for our high school).

Weird. Perhaps it was a form of early profiling where they gauge my reaction to stupid questions.

Of course in 1989, I was a Reagan-loving Republican (Bush I took care of that). So I was very happy to help the security guy watch out for my safety. :eyes:

[calimary]

8. Watch. Pretty soon they'll be talking about the threat of tampons.

I mean, ANYTHING could make a good anything at the rate this is going. Good GRIEF!!!

:banghead:

[pasto76]

9. anyone ever see a 3 ounce thermos?

did they remove that restriction on fluids? or is this about the people who have a thermos in their carry on, but it may be empty? none of this shit ever makes any sense. I truly hope the airlines goes bankrupt and literally burst into flames.

[surrealAmerican]

10. This is empty thermoses they're talking about.

That coffee is too dangerous to even think about for the TSA.

[petronius]

13. I imagine what they mean is an insulated container where the insulating material

has been removed and replaced with some sort of explosive. Given a big thermos, there could be a lot of volume between the inner and the outer wall.

Currently, I don't think there's a limit on the size of empty containers that can be carried - we often bring water bottles for example and fill them at the drinking fountain beyond security...

[htuttle]

11. It's these cans! They hate these cans!

Stay away from these cans!

[daleo]

32. I don't need anything

just my thermos...and this bathrobe...and a remote control.

[felix_numinous]

14. This game is getting so old

The elephant in the room (pun intended) is that the MIC's atrocities have created any actual threat the US has ever had, and the American people end up paying for these crimes with the loss of our liberties. Now we are experiencing the loss of free travel within our own borders--for what? What have we done to deserve this? Oh, and now that our jobs and homes are being lost, society WILL become more unstable, and it is guaranteed a few nutcases will appear from time to time so we can lose more rights.

I am TIRED of this game, so tired of it. I wish we could create a new game, new rules, new reality.

:rant:

[ixion]

27. I agree... it's getting old

and I am way beyond weary. At this point, I'm just trying to get out of the way of the train wreck impending.

[Javaman]

15. Next: plastic explosive fibers can be weaved into clothing.

do I really need to write the next sentence?

[MadMaddie]

17. Bet you can buy them at the over priced stores once

passing security.

[HopeHoops]

18. From the "bad dubbing of martial arts films" department: "Ah, thermos technique!"

:evilgrin:

Some of them are REALLY, REALLY, REALLY bad.

[AsahinaKimi]

19. What's Next?: No carry on luggage, No Baggage!!

You want to fly somewhere? Fly, and leave your stuff at home. I am sure the Airlines would love that, because after all, they do make extra cash on that baggage..You have to wonder, how much is enough, with the TSA?

[valerief]

20. With vinyl and stripes and a cup built right in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tYM5rRL5u4U

[crim son]

21. I'm at the point now where I will look for an alternate means of

getting from here to there, or avoiding the trip altogether. There are so many things in this Brave New United States of Fear over which I have no control, but the choice to fly or not to fly isn't one of them.

[GeorgeGist]

22. Genius

[Downwinder]

23. No food or drinks allowed.

[rexcat]

24. More stupidity from an incompetent group of...

fear mongers.

[U4ikLefty]

25. The Kabuki Theater is changing up thier program.

Come one, come all.

[skoalyman]

29. geez god forbid you get a boner while in line

radios boss ,uh we have a situation looks like a stick of TNT" boss" oh lawd its another underwear bomber:yoiks:

[lib2DaBone]

30. I rather DIE in an airliner over the ocean with my fingers clutching my thermos cup...

.. than live under TSA Tyranny.

[Puzzledtraveller]

31. The TSA couldn't catch the Superflu