Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/05/21

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Subject: Re: [Leica] Re: Peter goes abroad, returns to tell about it!
From: "B. D. Colen" <bdcolen@earthlink.net>
Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 09:04:11 -0400
References: <5.1.0.14.2.20020520210818.00a134e0@pop.2alpha.com> <a0511170db90fef6a2bed@[68.61.198.171]>

Ken - I understand your frustrations and sympathize - but as much as they
are a total pain in the butt, I want them to remain in place. I want someone
carrying syringes to have to prove they are medical equipment in the
original packaging. I want someone to have to prove that their "diabetic
cookies" are just that and not plastique. And I want the security people to
check my zip lock bag containing 70 rolls of "film," to say nothing of going
through my camera case with equipment on different levels. I don't know if
doing this will prevent another 9/11, but I know that NOT doing it will
guarantee one. (And, yes, I KNOW there will be another deadly terrorists
disaster... because Dick Chaney told me so!) ;-)

B. D.


- ----- Original Message -----
From: Ken Wilcox <klw.51@comcast.net>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Cc: Peter Klein <pklein@2alpha.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 21, 2002 8:50 AM
Subject: [Leica] Re: Peter goes abroad, returns to tell about it!


> Peter,
>
> An interesting story. I, for one, do not feel any safer for the
> Draconian procedures and civil liberty violations being undertaken in
> the US and elsewhere.
>
> As a photographer with serious health problems I would not even try
> to fly anymore. Medications all must be in original packaging. (I buy
> large quantities that would be onerous to carry along.)  I am
> diabetic and must bring testing equipment and syringes along. I also
> must take along a large electronic piece of equipment, a dialysis
> machine and supplies of liquid dialyte. Any special food that I need
> to bring I MUST PROVE are actually foods.
>
> All the foolish and useless restrictions simply make air travel for
> me, and those like me, impossibly difficult.
>
> Ken Wilcox
>
> At 9:52 PM -0700 5/20/02, Peter Klein wrote:
> >I'm back, having unsubscribed for a couple of weeks while traveling
> >in Switzerland and Provence. Film is at the processor, should be
> >back in a couple of days, so I may scan a pic or two this week,
> >obligations permitting.
> >
> >First off, I would like to thank Nathan Wajsman for meeting Katya
> >and me and taking us on a delightful walking tour of Zurich.  It's
> >always great to meet other LUGgers, and Nathan was a delightful
> >guide and conversationalist.
> >
> >Second, let me add a couple of data points to the airport X-ray
> >arena.  As I've always done in recent years, I took all my film out
> >of the plastic canisters and put it in zip-lock plastic bags.
> >
> >* Seattle-Tacoma International:  My request for a hand inspection of
> >my film was politely honored after I noted that X-ray exposure is
> >cumulative, and I would be going through several airports.  They not
> >only looked at my film, but swabbed the outside of one or two
> >canisters with a chemical test.  My film was checked both departing
> >Seattle, and after clearing Customs on my return.  Yes, they X-ray
> >the hand baggage when you leave the International arrival area.
> >International arrivals are already within the secure area of the
> >airport (and some go on to connections).  Plus, they want to look
> >for the dreaded fresh fruit they wish to keep out of the U.S.
> >
> >* Geneva:  I asked for a hand scan, it was curtly refused.  When I
> >gave my "cumulative" speil, the woman asked her supervisor, who said
> >(without even looking at me) it would be fine and I had to let her
> >scan it.  So I did.  The fact that I asked in French did me no good.
> >
> >* Amsterdam:  Again I asked for a hand scan, again it was refused.
> >This time the woman at the scanner was very polite and apologetic,
> >and said that she was sorry, but it was policy.  When I arrived
> >there from Seattle, there was no X-ray to transfer to my Geneva
> >flight.  Arriving from Geneva to go to Seattle, there was a fairly
> >heavy-duty security check, including interviews, hand luggage X-ray
> >and the occasional pat-down and "remove-yer-shoes please."
> >
> >There seems to be a case of "ISO inflation" going around airports.
> >Last February, the Sea-Tac people said that ISO 1000 film would be
> >fine, but all it took was one roll of 800 film among my mostly 400
> >rolls to get a hand inspection at both Sea-Tac and Los Angeles
> >(LAX).  This time, I was told that up to 1600 film would be
> >perfectly safe.  I'm not sure if someone has done some testing or
> >that they've simply upped the numbers to cut down the number of hand
> >inspection requests.
> >
> >I'm not upset about this.  My goal was simply to minimize the X-ray
> >exposure, just in case.  If I didn't have a good lab here in
> >Seattle, I might have taken my chances with on-site film purchase
> >and processing. But for the moment, I followed Ted Grant's rules:
> >Ask politely for a hand inspection, and if they say no, let 'em
> >X-ray and don't worry.
> >
> >More to come...
> >--Peter
> >
> >--
> >To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html
>
>
> --
> _____________________
> Ken Wilcox
> klw.51 at comcast.net
> --
> To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html

- --
To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html

Replies: Reply from Ken Wilcox <klw.51@comcast.net> ([Leica] Re: Re: Peter goes abroad, returns to tell about it!)
In reply to: Message from Peter Klein <pklein@2alpha.com> ([Leica] Peter goes abroad, returns to tell about it!)
Message from Ken Wilcox <klw.51@comcast.net> ([Leica] Re: Peter goes abroad, returns to tell about it!)