Knife=OK, Pudding=Confiscated
For your fourth (should be fifth) lesson in stoopidity, who else could it be but the TSA.
I was passing through Sacto airport security checkpoint. I sent my carry-on backpack through the Xray machine. The operator found something, and raised her hand for assistance. Another TSA person came over and pulled my bag out of the machine and commenced with a hand search. Inside he found a package of unopened Hunts Pudding Snacks in my lunch. He confiscated the pudding “it’s a liquid” and sent me on my way. Absurd, but forgettable. However later in the day I had a layover, and was going through my backpack looking for a pen and came across my Swiss Army Knife with a 4″ locking blade.
Now, you shouldn’t be suprised, dear reader. If you do a simple search on BoingBoing for TSA, you’ll find a proverbial truckload of stories like this. It makes Mari wonder what her tax dollars are paying for.
Here’s what Mari thinks happened”
“double quotes” - spoken aloud ’single quotes’ - thoughts *asterisks* - actions
TSA Screener 1: ‘Oh, hey, this guy has something metal in his luggage.’ “Sir, you’ll have to step aside for extra screening.” *flags him over for extra screening*
TSA Screener 2: ‘Oh, a knife…same old same old. But…HEY! PUDDING!’ “I’ll have to confiscate this, sir.”
Guy: “But…why?”
TSA Screener 2: “It’s a liquid.” *turns around and snarfs it down*
Was he just hungry? Or was he just a jerk on a power trip? Or did he let the knife go because the guy was (judging from the photo) not of Arabic descent?
Nod to BoingBoing for the original article.
Previous Lessons in Stoopidity:
- First Lesson: In Which Mari Delivers A Double Whammy of Stoopid - Star Wars vs. Harry Potter & I Can Has Cheezburger
- Second Lesson: In Which Mari Has Nothing Intelligent To Write - Random is Funny(and Mari is NOT)
- Third Lesson: In Which Mari Makes A Half-Hearted Attempt At Sounding Intelligent - Internet Fighting
Stoopid Saturday 
25 August 2007, 00:25
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Well damn. I have to say, I was thinking the same thing. He just wanted to eat the pudding since it was unopened. XD Who cares about a knife that can be used to slit a pilot’s throught and take a plane hostage. Pft! I’m hungry!
…
Lol that’s funny. But there was once I boarded the plane with a pocket knife in my handbag and I passed through two gates without being caught? I wonder if they were blind or lenient because I was a little girl.
@Joana
“Who cares about actuall terrorism, I’M HUNGREH!!!!!”
@Rilla
No, they’re just stupid, unfortunately.
Wow…my confidence in our nation’s security continues to decrease by the day.
@Kristin
It’s pretty depressing to think about.
Haha that’s funny. Ya know my dad got through security with an exacto blade in his shirt pocket. Of course though that was back before security was so tight.
@Breanne
Well, yeah, back in the day you could get through security with a lot of stuff. Like pudding. And toothpaste. And wonderbras.
I bet they ate the pudding!
@Han
Mari KNOWS he ate the pudding.
Pudding… dangerous? LOL, that’s crazy.
I’d confiscate a jar of Nutella.
@Fruityoaty
Mari would confiscate a jar of Nutella too. Mmm, Nutella and crepes… *drool*
[...] Fourth Lesson: In Which Mari Writes of The TSA - Knife=OK, Pudding=Confiscated [...]
[...] Fourth Lesson: In Which Mari Writes of The TSA - Knife=OK, Pudding=Confiscated [...]
That’s hilar! I love how you justified his confiscation of your pudding: “Was he just hungry? Or was he just a jerk on a power trip?” You know, I vote for the former. From my experience, hungry people just don’t think straight.
[...] Fourth Lesson: In Which Mari Writes of The TSA - Knife=OK, Pudding=Confiscated [...]
Yeah, that’s actually hilarious, but a little sad too, because it actually happened.
<3 Lauren
@Lauren
Yeah.
And you know, you’re the only non-spam comment Mari has had on an older post since…March? You should get an award. =D
[...] Fourth Lesson: In Which Mari Writes of The TSA - Knife=OK, Pudding=Confiscated [...]