Agreed. These "rules" allow TSA agents to steal from travelers.

I guess next they will confiscate a jacket or a blouse because they like it opps I mean it looks dangerous.

I hate to sound so critical but these TSA agents can be real idiots sometimes. More often then not they have GIANT egos and seem to have a chip on their shoulder. Never a smile or friendly disposition...just like the help at a fast food joint. Oh wait...they used to work at those fast food restaurants.

anyone ever hear of a TSA agent catching a terrorist or weapons ?

we would love to hear that story

TSA agents are obviously not bright enough to be able to actually use their brains!

only thing is, the TSA agent said they thought the ICING, not the JAR was the problem...this is the VERY REASON I don't fly ANYWHERE.

It seems Cheetah is the perfect candidate for employment with the TSA.

Exactly how cheney wanted. It's a good thing it was reported and hit the news. Else, it'd become the norm.

Wrong----Too smart!

Well, everyone knows that it's the cake and NOT the icing that is dangerous in a cupcake!

My bigger concern would be what happened to the cupcakes AFTER they were confiscated. If they were eaten by TSA agents, the agents who ate them should go to prison. Period. They stole them to eat them.

The TSA costs this country several times what the entire NASA budget costs. But NASA and the TSA have stopped exactly the same number of terrorists, have caught the same number of terrorists, and have save the same number of aircraft. Plus NASA has sent two wonderful rovers (hopefully to be joined by another in August) to Mars, while the TSA could not find its butt with both hands.

The TSA steals money and valuables from luggage and has stolen cash from my belongings (the video tapes had "accidentally" been erased so no "finding" could be made accoring to the form letter.) And if you want to check out what liars the TSA are: They claim on their web site to donate all confiscated items to charities. They give as examples, that they give pocket knives to the Boy Scouts and embroidery scissors to the Girl Scouts. In fact, you can go on eBay and search for "TSA lots pocket knives" and find thousands of pocket knives being sold in carefully sorted lots by employees of the TSA. The employees keep the money.

The TSA claims that prosecuting TSA people who steal from passengers would undermine their credibility and authority.

NO MORE CUPCAKES, TSA! BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH, DAMMIT.

I suspect remedial training is in order.

How about the Occupy people pick a tangible goal like getting rid of TSA ! The professor was right this so called " security" is just theatre. Israel has the best airline security and you don't have to go through all of this nonsense. I can get on a plane in Mexico with a bomb and easily fly into the U.S. I could fly with guns and explosives from hundreds of airports in South America and fly right into the U.S.

This confiscation of icing, feeling up womens breasts, and embarrassing our elderly is STUPID! Dumbing down of America at its finest. Occupy the airports.

she should go back to the same security people with a chocolate cake...with sweet ex-lax ice'n on it...sh;t happen's...

.

you can't have your cupcake and eat it to...you know...

Plain, if you're going to try to act like Frasier, you should at least be able to spell correctly.

Cupcakes of Mass Destruction?

Just curious: If a passenger eats the TSA-judged suspicious cupcake, would the passenger be forbidden to board?

It’s funny that the TSA have a different set of rules at every airport. When my wife bought VS lotion at the LAX airport they gave her the choice of going to check it in at baggage or throw it away. She elected to throw away and the TSA agent put it by his work station. I then asked the supervisor working what was the procedure for this. She said they put it a box and at the end of the day they throw it out. I told the supervisor that he put the lotion by his station. The supervisor then called the TSA Agent over and asked what he did with the lotion? He said it was by his work station. The supervisor then said put it in the box. We walked away but never saw him put it in the box. Some TSA agent’s wife/GF is wearing Victoria Secret lotion. BTW they also did a full body pat down on my wife.

Excellent Jeff, you can be the first one to bend over for the proctoscope. Of course one wouldn't think that she might have put the cupcake in a jar so it didn't get crushed in her luggage - no that couldn't be it. Actually it wouldn't be the TSA combing through the wreckage, it would be the NTSB and the FBI. What "rule" did she violate. Even the TSA spokesperson said we are allowed to bring cupcakes through security. So, she violated nothing except for this one TSA agent's need to exploit his authority to prove his power.

Chris-749391

They claim on their web site to donate all confiscated items to charities. They give as examples, that they give pocket knives to the Boy Scouts and embroidery scissors to the Girl Scouts. In fact, you can go on eBay and search for "TSA lots pocket knives" and find thousands of pocket knives being sold in carefully sorted lots by employees of the TSA. The employees keep the money

Now that is something isn't it People the very Items that they (TSA) say is a security threat, they are giving to children in scouting Hmmmm. Now does everyone see that they are a pack of liars. TSA is on the highways of Tennessee as we type,asking people to report anyone that looks suspicious to them. ?What? as they look in your car (while highway patrol cars are with them.)If we do not stop this crud now, it will never be stopped and I fear for what will happen to us all,just going to the next state to see a friend or family member will take longer because of them holding people up to see if they are a threat to the national security of the united states(WHAT A BUNCH Of HORSE HOCKEY) thankx for the line Mr. Morgan :o)

I also had homemade wine in a thick clear plastic bag (in 2006) taken from my carry-on luggage (reason it was not properly labeled) Can we say party at my house tonight. Just a means to steal from people that things that they want from us. I said sure you just want it for yourself, Her reply was no it will be thrown out like all other confiscated Items are

It is long past time to end the TSA, Homeland Security and the Patirot Act.

Old Fat Guy (1.5)
Yes this is another example of improperly trained workers (and thank goodness no other professions in the world ever have improperly trained workers-eh?) in the TSA, but fyi the TSA confiscates, on average, more than 3 loaded guns a day. That's just guns. Does not include all the knives and other actual weapons.

Longhair So you too have had your 15 seconds of it as well with your comment are you happy now? Just because you have not witnessed any of these things does not mean thay do not happen .

I think the icing was said to look like a gel so it could be confiscated inside the TSA employee's stomach. After all, a TSA employee said they looked delicious inside the article.

@ Big Jeff

I applaud the TSA for doing its absolute best to protect us when we fly. Remember they are the ones who have to pick through the carnage after an accident.

I believe it is the job of the NTSB. Not TSA. I guess you will welcome the new world order too. Make sure you have your paper handy Jeff

Kallie

You obviously know nothing about "Occupy".

Mark "Zionist" masters? You're not serious are you? Well, maybe you are since Ron Paul has shown that is either an anti-semite or suppoorts anti-semites in his newsletters!

I'm sorry, but both of you typify what ails this country right now.

When cupcakes are outlawed, only terrorists will have cupcakes.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!! LOL I wanted to have it in caps but they would not let me. Because it is Yelling. So sorry for that Because it was ment to be said loud.

She should have just eaten right in front of the dude and flipped him off.

@BigJeff,

Let me make myself crystal clear. Yes, I believe that the average TSA employee would steal a cupcake just to eat it. They are exactly that arrogant.

I live in Alabama (Roll Tide) and frequently visit the Unclaimed Baggage store where your "lost" luggage is sold for a profit. (The airlines actually make more money from selling your lost luggage than they pay you for it, a tiny profit, but a profit nonetheless.) Since the advent of the TSA, the managers at UB complain that they no longer find valuables in the luggage because of piulfering by the TSA and baggage handlers working together. According to them, when the TSA screens baggage and the x-ray machines disclose something valuable --- say a 5-oz bottle of designer perfume --- they mark the location on the side of the suitcase with a "P". A confederate then slits open the case at the P with a box cutter and removes the item. Then the confederate switches the destination tag on the bag to one with no baggage office and only infrequent flights --- Hickory, NC is a favorite as is Minot, ND. This insures that it will be weeks before the pilfered bag is found. Since the bag is damaged, the airline is very reluctant to find the owner, so they route it directly on to be sold by the pount to UB. I was shown bags with a P and ones with a C (for camera) and others with a up-arrow that I am not sure what is indicated.

I personally have had cash stolen twice from my pocket contents while I was distracted for "special screening." Twice I complained only to receive a form letter telling me that the surveillance tapes for that time and place had been "accidentally erased." Think abouit it, exactly how many times are tapes accidentally erased before you develop a form letter for the occasion. Over 7,000 TSA employees have been fired for theft, but only 4 have been so far prosecuted.

The TSA does not do full or complete background investigations on their employees as they state. They conduct 60-day National Agency Checks (NAC-60's.) This only checks the federal database and local databases where the people lived for the past five years for felony convictions. They assume that the potential employee always lists all places they have lived in the past five years. The NAC-60 check only looks at about 20-30% of federal convictions and probably about the same in state and local convictions because, especially in this era of tight civil service money, there simply are not enough law enforcement personnel available to report all the convictions and enter all the data.

I also have an artificial knee that is about the same metal/plastic content and mass as a Glock 9mm. The first time I went through TSA "security" with it, I was permanently placed on a "special security" database that costs me an extra hour every time I fly and gets me searched "with special emphasis on the groin and chest areas." The database item says "May be carrying contraband items." A Punjabi Delta gate agent at Heathrow showed me the entry, so I have seen it personally. But the TSA both a) denies that any such record exists, and b) tells me that there is no appeals process for me to get my name removed. I have the letters.

A dirty little secret of the TSA is that they have NEVER passed one of their internal audits where they send explosives, guns and knives in passenger carry-ons. The best they ever did was a 70% score at Reagan. The TSA's response was that they now notify the screeners when a test is coming. This is because their test contraband has slipped through to Australia, Japan, Austria, England, and a number of other countries where it has caused great embarassment.

I can confirm this partially because my knee sets off gate alarms. The first time I tried to explain, but was ignored and the TSA people failed to find out what the problem was despite groping my genitals and having me remove my pants. So, now I just play along and keep my mouth shut. In over 60 flights, the TSA has never once located the artificial knee. When they do ask if I know what might be causing the alarm, I just suggest that perhaps their equipment is out of calibration. This seems to make them happy.

And when the TSA says that they do not do strip searches or ask people to remove their pants or to pull underwire bras away from their breasts, they lie! The technical truth is that the do not actually do it themselves, they require the airport security people to do it. I have had to remove my pants in about 15 or so occasions. And it makes no diffference if the TSA employee told you to do it or airport security told you to do it --- my butt gets equally cold regardless.

And, in case you missed it --- I believe that every dime spent on the TSA is a dime flushed down the toilet. If they actually had ever caught a terrorist or prevented a terrorist incident, that would be one thing. But they have failed on every documented occasion.

This is why I stopped flying. It is just not worth the hassel. If I can't get there by car or boat - forget about it.

And BTW @BigJeff ---- it is NOT the TSA who "picks through the carnage", it is the NTSB, the National Transportation Board, a completely unrelated agency.

The TSA should be outlawed. It serves no purpose except to advance tyranny and this evil organization hires thieves to steal our belongings. All of them should be imprisoned. You may say, "don't fly" but this fascist organization will be eventually be everywhere on highways, trains and any other mode of transport.

I have not flown since '98. My recent experience reminded me of every WWII movie I have ever seen where Nazi check points or Gestapo searches were depicted on the screen.

History may not repeat itself, but it does rhyme....Mark Twain

Saw a cupcake coming at me down the hall at work. I ran like hell!

Chris -

Start flying commando.

"An eight-inch mason jar is a weapon itself and be fractured into many more. An explosive glass jar is known as an IED. I don't care for TSA much, but this was innovative thinking."

What a friggen idiot. You can be blown up and bones would become fragments that would become deadly things like knives and swords, should we ban people from flying too?

Bad Cop! No Doughnut!

the mason jar was the give away! Everyone knows that the mason jar is indicating that the cup cake was in fact medical marijuanna. The TSA agent simply stole the goods to get high...the idea that it was a gift was the loop hole that made it a subject for an acknowleded objection and the TSA agent knew that the passenger would most likely not make a point of making a public issue of the confiscation for that reason.

Fear monger much there BigJeff?

Dani--comments like that is why it is still illegal---

back on topic---whatever the jokes are and stated---there is something a bit disgusting about a cupcake in a jar to begin with----picture it---gross!

Let the TSA agents eat cake!

Why don't we just outlaw all cupcakes. With that many fat people out there, this could only be of benefit to a good percentage of the population. How about the mayo on the bologna sandwich you tried to bring on board so you wouldn't have to deal with the overpriced, tasteless "food" they serve on the plane. Personally, I think mayo looks slimier than frosting. Could easily be an explosive. Where does this nonsense stop? Perhaps hiring well-trained, reasonably intelligent people like they apparently do in places like Israel (never been there) shouldn't be too much to ask?

At least they should have let her eat it. I was going through an agricultural inspection station between Oregon and California and the found a plum that they said was not acceptable, so they let me pull over and eat it rather than having to throw it away.

Hey, the TSA agents get hungry too.

I get a kick out of the collapsers - those so unimaginative as to not see the shoe or ass bomb coming. You can talk tough and stick your head in the sand but you'll be the first whining when the fire flashes.

Nobody really picked up on Becky's habit of carrying cupcakes through airports for sport either.

That's what happens when you give power to a second class pin headed moron. these people are beyond stupid. thats why I refuse to fly any more, someone wants me someplace they can wait till I get their, Train or automobile, is more relaxing than air travel.

Chris-749391, very well stated at 1.39.

The TSA is nothing more than a bad joke, more like a nightmare, used to frighten the sheeple into giving up their freedoms under the guise of security.

We have so many cowards in this country that are so afraid of their own shadow, that they not only give up their own rights without a fight, they demand that the rest of us who can see through the sham that the TSA and homeland insecurity is, give up ours also.

You gave more than enough examples in your post, that only the real cowards or the truly naive, would believe that either the TSA or HI is "protecting" them. Those 2 agencies and their warped puppet masters in government, ARE the terrorists. Better watch closely people, we have been warped back to the 1930s version of nazi Germany, and all the bad dreams that it entails.

It is truly sad that over 50% of the citizens in this country believe the lies and deceptions of the fear mongering agencies and the government puppet masters controlling them. Unless people wake up soon and grow a pair, and start questioning the government, following the money trail, and get ready to fight for our freedoms and liberties like it was 1775-76 again, the old USA will just be a footnote in history.

I would rather die on my feet than live on my knees. Too bad that so many in this country feel as though crawling through existence on their knees, is better than taking a chance on and in the risks involved with living and fighting for freedom and liberty.

Time to fight back against the BS that is the TSA, HI, unpatriotic act, and all the other 3 letter agencies and their puppet masters,who continue to steal our rights and liberties day after day.

"It's not really about the cupcake; I can get another cupcake," she added. "It's about an encroachment on civil liberties. We're just building up a resistance and tolerance to all these things they're doing in the name of security, when it's really theater. It is not keeping us safe."

Couldn't have said it better.

Some related quotes:

"I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty than to those attending too small a degree of it." – Thomas Jefferson

"Property must be secured, or liberty cannot exist." -- John Adams

"The trade-off between freedom and security, so often proposed so seductively, very often leads to the loss of both." -- Christopher Hitchens

I, for one, believe that this agency, and the Patriot Act which expanded its scope, are the greatest affront to individual liberty that has occurred within my lifetime. The powers-that-be may have had noble intentions, but that does not alter the fact that fear was used to motivate the citizenry to surrender freedoms over to the government that had heretofore been protected by the constitution. We let fear control our judgment, to our mutual detriment. The slow erosion of our liberty has been gaining pace. Imminent domain laws allow the government to seize your personal property. The TSA has the "right" to search you without warrants or suspicion, but merely because you were the wrong number in a line of people singled out for a random "enhanced screening," your phone calls, emails, letters (people still do that, right?) and movement can now be scrutinized without warrant -- meaning that you have no right to privacy, in direct conflict with various supreme court rulings on the subject -- under the Patriot Act. We are losing our freedoms and instead of being outraged at its continued loss, we have apologists like cheetah who make it seem as though these measures are inherently necessary-- but they aren't. Frankly, if Jefferson were alive today he would be appalled at the apparent apathy of the American public toward the wanton, unchecked corruption and misuse of power now emanating from DC. Frankly, he would be ashamed of us.

"The land of the free will cease to be when it's no longer the home of the brave."-- Rick Gaber

"If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen." -- Samuel Adams

Ferrosynthesis-3490482

Sorry I could not reply in a more timely fashion. I work 70-hours a week.

Pull the names of the top 12 people in the TSA. You will see a similarity in 9 of them. Now please retract your comment or remain with your eyes closed.

BigJeff-2931255 "And someone wants to get rid of the TSA? We could just walk on to any plane, any time, with anything on our persons or in our carry on? Good luck with that one."

BigJeff, before the 1980s we had the freedom to do just that [except guns on our person] and I am all for the return of that trust, liberty and responsibility that we once had. End the TSA and DHS they are ruining our country. Abolish these rogue agencys or you will forever be the down troden. I will die on my feet defending my freedom you can die on your chicken knees if you want.

I just can't believe the number of morons who really think the TSA has anything to do with security. They are training the American population to accept the control that somebody (I don't know who - ask the conspiracy theorists) wants to exert upon the world. They simply cannot tolerate a free and independent nation of free and independent people. Once you break a horse, he is broken for life. Neigh and whinny all of you broken people.

Citizen911 - I'm with you. I'm looking for a few hundred men willing to die for what they believe. Like it or not, people are going to have to die to win back our freedom. Even if I CAN'T win back my freedom, I would rather be dead than live in Hillary's village; than to live the indignity of the life the corrupt, mindless, lazy, cowardly scum in power in the United Socialist States of America are leaving me. Contact me if you're one of them.

Not to defend the TSA, but I can tell you what the problem was, she had it in an 8 ounce jar. If it wasn't in a jar that big, they wouldn't have taken it. That is why I tend to carry a copy of the rules with me that I print up the day or night before I travel and I wait for them to challenge me. I have never had any food taken from me. I purchase the small container of ranch dressing for carrots, a small container of peanut butter (those are usually 2 ounces), bread, or a sandwich or two, pudding (the container which is 2 or 2.5 ounces), I have bought donuts, and other assorted snacks.

She shouldn't have had it in the jar in the first place and maybe they wouldn't have taken it. Yes, it was stupid and to say that it looked good. Anything over the standard size gets put in the checked in suitcase, which I tend to carry a lot of stuff that is considered large.

I say, don't give TSA a reason to steal your stuff if you don't have to. If it was in a container or bag, they wouldn't have taken it. I think the person should get in trouble, and trust me, I would have taken down that person's name and badge number and gotten a picture if I could and sent it to the TSA and demand that he/she gets in trouble for stealing the cupcake.

Chris, can you provide reference as to where you got your information, other than the personal information that is. Lots of things don't seem to be checking with the facts. You state 7,000 TSA employees have been fired when, in fact, about 500 have been fired or suspended for stealing from luggage. In 2004 there were approximately 26,500 claims of baggage theft or damage. This dropped to 11,700 by 2008. Finally, I find your story about you knee to be a bit incredible. As a former security officer for a military communications station, we never had back scatter units. What we did have was a metal detecting wand, one that I have seen in use at every airport I have passed through over the last 20 or 30 years anyway. Using this basic device, even a trainee can locate a large metal object within an inch or so, with little trouble. The other part of this that seems a bit "off" is that you say that they haven't been able to find it but they have let you on to about 60 flights. I'm sorry but if they were unable to identify the source, I cannot believe they would let you on even one flight, much less 60.

While I'm at it, what would you consider a full background check. In government and the military, NACs are the standard "full" background check required for access to materials classified up to Secret. There is a more thorough background check required for access to Top Secret and certain special programs but it costs between $50,000 and $75,000 per person. Considering the TSA has about 60,000 screeners, giving all of them that additional check would cost between $3 and 4.5 billion and, they would have to be updated every 5 years, just like NACs are.

getalifevirginia wrote,

"TSA agents are obviously not bright enough to be able to actually use their brains!"

Let me add, there is very little evidence to support the theory that TSA agents actually have brains.

killroy-2675105

LonghairSo you too have had your 15 seconds of it as well with your comment are you happy now? Just because you have not witnessed any of these things does not mean thay do not happen.

Ask yourself this:

In todays day and age where everybody carries a cell phone with a camera & video built into these devices, how come nobody has come forward with actual proof that these things are happening?

As far as my 15 seconds of Internet fame is concerned. I am using a moniker, not my real name. I am not fabricating stories in hopes to get on national TV or for a reality show. I am just using common sense when I comment on these types of "news worthy" stories.

longhair

I will look for a link for you as to one person that did just that.(on you-tube i believe) and if you will listen people have been told that you cannot film them they have a BIG problem with that they do not want anyone to have any film to show how they operate and handle people try it sometime and see what they do to you they make you leave the area PERIOD! Like some people have said If you have nothing to hide they why act that way?? I would say the same applies to them as well don't you?? And I know you use a chosen name here as do i I was just joking with you sorry if it upset you Merry Christmas. back a little later with that link for you gotta go for now.

longhair.

FYI the TSA is now arresting people if they catch you filming them http://www.examiner.com/county-political-buzz-in-san-diego/tsa-airport-screen...

This is not what I was looking for but it will have to do. Also on you tube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KdIa7KNkdQ&feature=player_embedded Other video's to watch for good or bad enjoy

Leave it to the apologists to defend the TSA (you know who you are). The fact is, they only provide security theater...before the TSA, there was airline security, that did essentially the same job, with less hassle, and everyone was happy. The fact is, the TSA is doing a lousy job, considering it is a FEDERALLY FUNDED AGENCY! Explain why a taser (a taser, mind you!) made it from Boston to Newark earlier this year...and yet they have hang-ups over clippers and even wallet pouches and magazines (No joke...A TSA agent was afraid of my Rolling Stone mag...go figure).

We have gone beyond the point of rescue...even some of the TSA supporters are saying this beast has become a Frankenstien's Monster. Since when should we let them roam the roadways? Will they now become the Highway Patrol?

End this joke of an agency...the only thing it is defending is itself.

Fly through Portland, Maine.

At the "security check-in" they go through your stuff, and will confiscate liquid anything over the 3 OZ allowed, because it might be an explosive. They throw it into a trash can RIGHT NEXT TO THE "SECURITY" LINE.

So, it's "dangerous", but that's OK- if the people in line die in an explosion, that's no problem.

If it's that dangerous, why isn't it in one of those bomb disposal containers? Under armed guard?

If it's NOT dangerous, why are you confiscating it?

Ask the question, get pulled aside.

Welcome to Amerika.......

to @old fat guy-1144960... Since January of 2011, the TSA has actually stopped more than 750 FIREARMS going through carry-on luggage. I'd say they are doing a pretty good job, they are not a publicity company so they don't pay a PR person to go around informing people of the job they are doing.

So you will only hear of the negative things that happen with the TSA...and remember, this was only FIREARMS. does not include, knives, other cutting instruments, or anything else...

Yes every job has their share of idiots, and the TSA does also, but that does not mean ALL TSA workers are morons. The majority have pride in their work, and are doing a good job keeping the ungreatful people safe.

and just for more info. The TSA found 13 loaded Firearms and 6 unloaded Firearms between dec 9th and 15th of this year. This month a Flyer in buffalo,ny refused the body scanner, so upon the pat-down the TSA agent Found a 9" non-metallic serrated knife in the passengers pocket. The item would not set off the metal detector everyone must pass through, but they caught him anyway.

Also, TSA agents are Not Law Enforcement Officers, they cannot arrest you for anything a regular citizen can't arrest you for. They are security personel. Same as at any store or office building. They can not detain you (except for normal citizens arrest). But keep in mind there is almost always a Law enforcement Officer in the screening area. That person can detain/arrest you.

Mark

You just support my contention.

You actually don't deserve a comment, but I foolishly wasted my time.

I feel sorry for us that you are an American

The agents should be careful. Someone could carry a special cupcake filled with a laxative in hopes that they confiscate it and eat it.

Yep! Just like the special cupcakes and/or brownies I made for "myself" one year way back, filled with chocolate Exlax, for the work thief who would pilfer employee lunches out of the refrigerator! Trust me, an entire box of that stuff into a brownie mix ... you will never steal treats again! :)

My thoughts exactly. Or, you could put a few hits of acid in the cupcake. Talk about a red velvet experience!

If that had been me I would have told the guy to (@*# off and keep his greedy hands off my food. The idiot that pulled that stunt damn well better get fired, such BS.

Brokinarrow, I'm with ya' but that just gave them the right to detain you, and with the free flowing pepper spray and tazers, my guess is you'd end up on the deck wondering what happened to your constitutional rights.

Semper Fi

Old Fat Guy (1.5)
Yes this is another example of improperly trained workers (and thank goodness no other professions in the world ever have improperly trained workers-eh?) in the TSA, but fyi the TSA confiscates, on average, more than 3 loaded guns a day. That's just guns. Does not include all the knives and other actual weapons.

m2c2......I would like a reference to confirm they confiscate 3 loaded guns a day. If they did in fact confiscate that many, they would be broadcasting it every 10 min every day. They find NOTHING, they are worthless. And if you can't provide reliable references, you are worthless and a liar.

M2c2 so you acknowledge that the TSA steals the Constitutionally protected private property of at least 3 citizens a day and you still support them?? (Not to mention the "knives and other actual weapons" that also fall under the definition of "Arms" in the 2nd Amendment)

"Those who would sacrifice essential liberties for temporary security shall soon find they have neither" Ben Franklin

"If a man should neglect to enforce his rights, It should not surprise him if, after a while, the government follows his example" Oliver Wendell Holmes

cbmd - Thought of a better form of telling them to F off... eat the damn thing right there in front of them whilst flipping the bird :-D

SHE is one of the 1%....... so the TSA just "occupied" it.

Welcome to the new America comrade!

Thank God! Finally cupcake free flying…I feel sooooo much safer. Going through airport security has always sucked and getting ripped off by some government hack is inexcusable and has happened to most travelers at some point. The TSA is a complete waste of tax payer dollars and should be abolished.

They know how to use forks?!

RabbitTrick

They must know how to use forks, at least that is what I assume from all the comments I hear at the in"security" checkpoints about, "those forking ignorant TSA agents." :-)

Forks are not allowed! It might be a weapon after all and we wouldn't want that now would we? /sarcasm mode off

lelia

Shame on you!

Maybe union now, but for years they were not.

Well at least they would have claimed no liability if an explosion happened. After all the "explosives" would have been in a clear plastic bag. That, I guess, somehow magically disarms any explosive.

I am going to start putting my wife's chili in plastic bags!

Believer- remember, no more than 3 ounces !

Chili contains beef and beans as well as a liquid. Do they take the meat and beans out to weigh the liquid or are the solids counted as liquid too? I'm sure that is far more complicated than their fried wires can calculate. Hello, if they are confiscating cupcakes, they'll take our chili for a main course.

TSA- Trained to Steal Apples

And anything else they can get their grubby hands on:

TSA- Trained to Steal Anything

saxon.

Have you seen the figures for travel this year?

Airline travel is down by 10%

Many ARE saying-SCREW THE AIRLINES.

snowman; when it gets to 30%, the airline industry will then force a change; travel for business is a necessity, before I retired I travelled at least once a week all over the U.S., however casual travel makes up over 60% of the airline business, hit them in the wallet, that will get change.

Exactly Saxon. You have to fly for business you don't have to for leisure. I don't fly any more. Screw the airlines and the dumb, fat, TSA cretins.

The airlines do not control TSA. Unfortunately, when people refuse to fly because of TSA, it does hurt the airlines.

EAE- pardon my french, but @!$%# the airlines. They steal from us in baggage charges, they roll over on government regulations instead of fighting them, they hire arrogant and nasty people to man their check-in stations, and then they bitch if we choose not to fly. how about a 1 week boycott of the airlines. They bribe enough politicians- it's time they got something WE want for the money- eliminate TSA!!

Yes, it hurts the airlines, who then will turn around and pressure the TSA to quit hurting their sales.

The airlines will lobby congress to lighten up on TSA. Don't try to convince me the airlines are not politically active.

Saxon's right, boycott the airlines, if possible don't fly but I still think the TSA should just be abolished, it's a total waste of taxpayer dollars.

Greg Vick....You said it all! So Right! TSA=Totally Stupid Ass****s!

Israel blatantly believes in the right to profile! that is why their program is successful and ours is not! I say the he!! with avoiding profiling. After all,19 out of 19 of the terrorists that flew the aircraft into the twin towers were of mid east types, it was the same when they blew up the ship in the harbor at Yemen, again when our army barracks were bombed. What's not to profile? How many little old women and kids were involved in ANY terrorist act in the last ten years? Ever? It is good to be vigilant, but the fact is, they give the very type of passenger that is likely to be a threat a "free pass" while the TSA focuses on the most unlikely, aged and sick people or children.

lelia - Exactly. Sorry, but the world does not follow our politically correct view of how things ought to be. Profiling is how we make these security check points more efficient, like it or not.

Hmm, let's see now. I was travelling to Israel on El Al and I got stopped, questioned for over an hour, and had all my bags searched. Why? Because I was a young single guy and I did not know that my tickets were issued in Orus. In fact, I let on that I had never heard of a place called Orus - which only heightened suspicions about my motives. Unfortunately, when the Israeli security agent said Orus with her accent, it sounded like some Russian town - which I unfortunately mentioned. It was only after being searched and questioned by multiple agents that I finally took my ticket back and saw what it said - OR. U.S. My ticked was issued in Portland, Oregon, where I lived. It doesn't matter who you deal with, people will often overreact.

Again, how many terrorists has TSA stopped? Those loaded guns it confiscates. Were they from Terrorists? ribbit ribbit ribbit

just the sounds of silence. Guess not, not a single Terrorist to show for all the problems passengers have had to face because of TSA.

Lelia, profiling works fine to an extent. Profiling would not have stopped the shoe bomber or the underwear bomber as neither were middle eastern. We are very fortunate that both of those failed. At one time the Israelis only searched Arab men as potential suicide bombers. Once the terrorists realized this the Israelis suddenly had a wave of female bombers. Now the Israelis search both. It is unfortunate but there are enough nuts from all over the world to keep the terrorists supplied with human bombers for a long time.

For what it's worth, I personally believe in profiling but that doesn't mean that everyone who doesn't look middle eastern gets a pass. That would be a pattern that is too easy to exploit.

"Forking" ridiculous?

I don't understand checking flights which originate in the states. It's the ones coming in that we should worry about.

Not sure who "created" Airport security but it was not Bush! I've had to go through metal detectors since the early '90s. High jacking was the problem then as well as the Lockerbie explosion.

@Ursamajor The TSA has gone overboard but please do not forget that ALL of the hijacked flights on 9/11 originated in the states.

I remember getting carry-on bags searched in the 70s. It was nothing like today. I even carried embroidery on to do during the flight. Guess my sewing needles and scissors were not seen as weapons back then. I did have an agent at one place ask a bunch of questions about why I had a book in German in my bag (I was a college student back when foreign languages were required.)

I understand the need for searches and regulations today. But, whatever happened to common sense?

@Donruss, and it was an FBI agents warnings that were ignored that allowed the terrorist plot for 9/11 to occur.

EAE I too sew (quilt) and I wanted to quilt on the plane but I couldn't get a straight answer from TSA. They replied with the knitting needle answers. (I also knit). When I travel again, i don't know if I will be able to bring my pliers (I also make jewelry), but I guess they will take those two. I guess I would have to make sure they don't steal my stuff by placing a nice note in my bag if I do take them out of town.

stop...your Brain is AWOL

@ Reader

I have to agree with post #7.

What we have here for security is a joke !!!! Get to the air port 2 to 3 hours early , stupid searches , and other assorted bull . The Israelishave it wright . They start background checks the minute you buy a ticket and stay on it from that point on . They know who you are , where you've been and so on. Ours is a sham behind a badge.

bob

@Reader614 - you mean the planes crashed into the WTC on Bush's watch? You mean the planes that came here while Bush family friend Osama bin Laden's dad was having a meeting with George Bush Sr? You mean the planes piloted by people acting on order of Osama - the guy Bush couldn't find in 8 years but that President Obama took out in two? You mean THOSE planes?

bob1/28..

Yes, the Israelis do a great job. We don't have that luxury, nor resources. More people travel through one of our major airports, Chicago, JFK, Dulles, LAX than travel through Israel every day.

stop, it must be nice to be able to warp the facts into things in to your own little vision of the world. I don't have the time nor the inclination to explain it to someone who will just cross their arms, hold their breath, and shake their head vigorously while ignoring the actual facts as they are being stated.
Go get some help with your issues.

Remember the TSA makes jobs. Of course the jobs are for the unemployable.

Ursamajor

Remember the TSA makes jobs. Of course the jobs are for the unemployable.

Isn't it sad that they probably couldn't even get a bag boy or greeter job at WalMart?

Ummm Obama worked on intel gained while Bush was President. So don't go getting all hot and bothered about waterboarding. Second, Osama was caught by NAVY SEALS, not a TSA agent looking for cupcakes.

there is a need for security as demonstrated by 9/11. The head of security for the Jewish state offered his help to the US for airport security as theirs is the most effective in the world. Of course the US declined because Israels center point of security is profiling and that is not politically "correct" here in the land of Freedom. However, it is the only way to insure secure air travel. My grandmother's 6oz tube of shampoo is no threat. My shoes, my finger nail clippers and other personal items like toothpaste are no threat. the threat is from those people who are easily identified by their ethnic origins who are set on destroying any nation which grants freedom to its citizens. If you want to experience friendly, sensible TSA agents, go to Las Vegas! Its livelihood depends upon air travelers and it seems to affect attitudes and actions there.

stoptheteaparty...

How about stopping your non-sense. Classic Obamakin.....blaming 9-11 on Bush; give me a break. BTW....everyone with half a brain knows Bush got the process started to find and kill Osama. Obama simply followed through on it.

Of course you failed to mention that Clinton could have KILLED Osama way before 9-11; and he CHICKENED out.

Please, folks, NEVER assume that the Israeli's have a solution. Israel is a tiny country with only two airports. The first thing that Israel did was destroy ALL domestic passenger aviation by stopping all flights between the two airports and forbidding connections that require both airports. Only busses are allowed to take passengers between the two airports, not even taxis.

The average wait at an Isreali airport is now over six hours. There are virtually no connections for airlines through Israel because of the huge waits and the security. If an Israeli wants to fly, he does anywhere outside of the country, than catches a flight to where he wants to go. This is because El Al serves only very limited cities and very few airlines serve Israel, almost none with connections. A joke last summer when I was there was that Israel's biggest airport was the CIA --- Cairo International Airport.

KeithBabcock,

Agree with your post....EXCEPT the Las Vegas part. I had a nightmare TSA scenario there. All over one of those extra buttons they sew into clothing. After finding the deadly button, they continued to search my groin and other private places. People standing there watching couldn't believe it.

Stoptheteaparty, Disobey one of them and see how fast you end up in jail. Officers, maybe not, but they do wield power.

All they can do is call the REAL cops papabarn. And I have disobeyed them 10 times by refusing to address them as they want to be addressed. Fortunately its still a free country and I've never been in jail once. They are punks, thugs and cowards. I said that.

@Raider-4158022 actually you're a liar - it was AWOL Bush who had the chance to kill Bush family friend Osama bin Laden in Pakistan but Bush didn't want to upset his dad's business with bin Laden Senior. And Bush had NO plan to catch bin Laden. He had 8 years and never got it done. The Seals who worked for Bush worked for President Obama only under HIS leadership they did the work they couldn't or wouldn't do under an AWOL chickenhawk like Bush. Deal with it!

Stoptheteaparty...

Nice touch calling me a liar. Here is some info for you from NBC news (nice liberal media outlet). Next time do a little homework before firing off your insults.

In 1998, President Clinton announced, “We will use all the means at our disposal to bring those responsible to justice, no matter what or how long it takes.”

NBC News has obtained, exclusively, extraordinary secret video, shot by the U.S. government. It illustrates an enormous opportunity the Clinton administration had to kill or capture bin Laden. Critics call it a missed opportunity.

The TSA is the result of haste. The private security companies that were working at the airports had their contracts terminated and the Federal Government took over. The former security officers were given first shot at the jobs, and they are some of the ones that you see today. The level of training was non-existent, and the agency itself has been in a constant state of revision since day one. I'm not going to give the agency a pass because there have been thousands of legitimate complaints about them and nothing is being done about it.

The second and third issues here are easier to explain:

1. The security equipment used in Europe for example was available to American airports but our elected leaders (Pre 1990) felt that that level of intrusion would upset American citizens.....oh the irony.

2. This has NOTHING to do with Bush or Obama whatsoever. The TSA monster was created and put in place by a group of "Band aid on a bullet wound" opportunists. They are the ones your anger should be directed at.

I have to mention that Clinton left explicit information for Bush to continue what Clinton had done to find OBL when Bush took office. It was Bush who said something along the lines of: 'Osama Bin Laden, I don't even think about him anymore, he's off the radar' coincidentally, this was the same time, 2004, that OBL settled in comfortably housed and protected in Pakistan. That's why Bush didn't think about him anymore, he was safe. Didn't you ever wonder why the only planes allowed to fly on 9/12 were the military and the planes escorting the Bin Laden family out of the U.S. Does that at all seem like there may have been some sort of collusion going on with the Bush and Bin Laden families. Bush is the man that almost killed this country. I loathe him and his family.

I apologize for speaking off topic but, some statements that pop into threads should be addressed.

funneme,

You make some good points. One thing though...people need to understand that Osama's parents & siblings DISOWNED him a long time ago due to his radical and violent beliefs. They have had no contact with him for many decades.

I like many Americans didn't agree with Bush allowing the bin laden family to fly out of the country post 9-11. However to make any association or connection between Osama, and his family is a stretch. Therefore making the relationship between Osama's father and the Bush family rather benign.

On killing Osama, Reader614, there are people who do things and other people who try to take credit. Thanks Bush for invading Iraq, and giving up on finding Osama.

Hey that high approval rating in May for your boy really seemed to last. Proof positive that the only people who can really take genuine credit for Bin Laden's death were the SEALs that took him out. They have no term limits and really don't care who gave the order. Saying "yes" to the mission hardly makes Obama a great president.

Stop, what airport do you fly out of? My ex was a flight attendant. I spent a lot of hours in airport over the years for my travels and for hers. I know a few screeners and I have referred to them as either screeners or TSA, and not once have any of them corrected me or requested anything else? Sounds to me like you just have an ax to grind because you think you shouldn't be screened like everyone else and to pep up your complaint a bit, you throw in a few prevarications.

Joe, I am old enough to remember when there was no screening at airports. You bought your ticket and walked to your gate and that was it. Unfortunately, in the 60s there was a rash of hijackings for profit (think D.B. Cooper) and for political reasons (lots to Cuba). In order to prevent these hijackings we got the first line of screening, metal detectors and carry-on X-ray machines. There weren't any changes until after 9/11. In the mean time, in Europe and the Middle East, pat-downs became very common, often the agent performing the pat-down was accompanied by another agent with a sub-machine gun. After 9/11, the American public demanded our government do something so that another 9/11 incident could happen. The government needed to do something quickly, hence the TSA, as you pointed out, due to haste. The American public was fine with the TSA at first, until they realized that they would have to submit to the same procedures as everyone else. As the TSA got its act together, better training, including training by Israelis, and more and better equipment became available, the procedures because more invasive and more people because upset. Turns out that a lot of folks never thought about what might be required to prevent another 9/11.

I have to admit, I don't like going through screening and I have avoided some short trips simply because I don't want to take the time or go through all the procedures but if it's a longer trip, oh well.

One thing about security screening is that it must change. If it never changed terrorists and others could possibly figure out ways around the screening. If any of you who are so upset about the screening want to do something other that apply lip service to the problem, please do. I am a former military security officer. I am a product of my training. I know what I would do if I were put in charge and told to prevent another 9/11, and based on my training, my measures would be far more draconian than anything we have now. Perhaps someone out there, who doesn't have that sort of training could come up with an idea that would be less invasive and, at the same time, more effective. I once had a commanding officer who told everyone not to bring problems to him unless they also brought a solution. You would be surprised how well that worked out. Considering all the complaints about the TSA problem, if just a few folks were to attempt to find solutions, we might have some new and better ideas. By the way, please don't simply suggest doing away with the TSA. That's not going to happen until there is something else in place.

They are paid too much if you ask me. Glorified Rent-a-Cops. They accomplish nothing and treat people like garbage, they throw their weight around because they can, and they think that they deserve some level of respect. The only reason most people don't tell them to go fu@& themselves is because they are forced to deal with it or not fly.

@ Julie-1468472,

Although that is a lovely thought, Red Velvet cupcakes, have cocoa on them, which is no-bueno for fluffly the cupcake bomb sniffing K-9. So I guess the cupcakes were a threat after all...to the wrong dog that is.. lol.





I agree, Ay Caramba! LMAO

WAAAAYYY too much!!!!!

According to next year's budget, about $5.1 billion.

I am with you dalenkat, there is no evidence left. Well, maybe we should give them some credit. Did anyone check ebay for a red velvet cupcake recently added?

they won't know who took it? when did they get rid of security camera's?

Because of the sensitive security risks involved in passenger screening all video footage of this event have been deemed top secret and classified due to national security concerns under the authority of the patriot act. If you have any questions please feel free to contact your local representative. The fastest way to contact your local representative is: Write your question on a plain white piece of paper in printed English, no cursive please, and use a #2 pencil. Place this message inside a clear glass jar, secure the lid tightly, and bury the jar in a public park near a water fountain. Please allow 4-6 years for a response.

"when did they get rid of security camera's?"

There can be cameras everywhere, but often when the footage questions the "integrity" of those in authority it tends to come up missing. Though they usually save that level of abuse of authority for more serious crimes. In this case I would assume they'll just say that the matter has been "taken care of internally", which is usually a euphemism for "we didn't do anything about it, though luck"

The TSA costs us more than NASA --- but then NASA actually accomplishes something now and again. It is odd that the righties bitch all the time about the NASA budget and how space exploration is killing the country, but never seem to mention that the TSA costs more and does less.

Ummmmm....TSA cost: $5.1 billion, NASA cost: $18.7 billion. I'm do agree that the TSA is a complete waste.

Actually - not to let facts get in the way of your tirade - but President Obama has moved to loosen the TSA strangle hold. He's authorized some airports to have private screeners and there are more on the way. Taking time to unravel each and every train wreck that AWOL George Bush created is not easy. Bush had 8 years to screw this country up. President Obama has only had three to try to correct the mess. He might need more time to fix it all!

Nope. Obama has continued the Bush mess by re-authorizing the PATRIOT act.

ozzi, don't bother. you'll find that stoptheteaparty doesn't let facts get in his way.

I fail to see the "benefit" of having private screeners versus TSA. To be searched, groped, have one's possesions confiscated, etc. is the same whether a minimum wage federal employee is doing it or whether a minimum wage private employee is doing it. We don't need to get rid of the TSA, but we need to have clearly ariculated, public policies concerning their power and IMMEDIATE access to an ombudsman in case of problems, and be entitled to compensation if they make us miss our flights or take our belongings.

dslsca: most intelligent post so far. Of course, that means it will probably be the most ignored.

I also agree with dslsca: Private screeners vs. TSA; what is the difference?

Also, I expect this comment to be collapsed in regards to StopTheTeaParty: Former President Bush was nowhere near the best president but to say that President Obama is fixing the mess is a flat out lie. What about the war(s)? Sure President Obama has removed the troops from Iraq but the funny thing that proposition was brought up under former President Bush's days in office; stating that they would withdraw troops from cities in 09' and by the end of 11' would remove the troops entirely. (Read the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement).

Here's the kicker, in 2006 there were 10-20k troops in Afghanistan. By mid-2010 there were *wait for it* over 90k troops in Afghanistan, and more than 28k private contractors hired by the Department of Defense working in Iraq and Afghanistan as of mid-2011.-

So I'm still waiting for President Obama to be better to this country in terms of spending then his predecessor; I don't see it happening whether he serves one term or two.

Well you never know. They might have done a probing cavity search on her.

Yes, I know. Pelosi is such a frontrunner of intelligence.....

We need to PASS this bill to find out what's in it,

That must have made you very happy with such a display of sensibility.

Oh, don't feel bad. I believe ALL politicians are ignorant, corrupt and little more than a festering wound on America.

I'd still put Pelosi up against Newt, Mitt, Barb, Ron, Herman, Rick, etc. etc. etc. Oh, and let Trump, the ultimate in TP/GOP brains and leadership go independent. LMAO

@ XD - You said it. They're all the same. A politician is a politician is a politician. They can claim whatever party affiliation they want, makes no difference. Clinton, Bush, Obama. Seems as if they have all failed America in some form or fashion, hm? Participating in politics at all requires a complete sacrifice of personal integrity and honesty.

The Patriot Act is an obvious erosion of our civil liberties, and the TSA is just one avenue by which this erosion is carried out. What a shame.

Hahaha its bad if you cannot even get a job in corrections, all their job requires is the ability to count...

Easy.... maybe they didn't want it crushed in checked baggage.

You travel "now and again"... I travel all the time for business. I'm continually amazed at the lack of intelligence on the part of some screeners.

And until you travel often, you don't see the sheer idiocy of some. I had a bar of soap still in the box "confiscated". I've also passed right through with a 16oz bottle of water.

Maybe, just maybe they didn't want to pay $10.00 for the typical airport vending machine six month old roll in a plastic bag!

Think about it - why in hells name does someone need to bring a cupcake to an airport???

Ummm, as a snack for the flight? Maybe she wasn't ready to eat it yet?Have you eaten the garbage they serve on airlines? It's a cupcake Stephanie, What the heck else do you do with one? How can ANYONE try and defend the TSA? Unless you work for them, were you the TSA schlub that wanted her cupcake? Until we stop getting our panties in a wad about profiling and actually screen the people who pose a threat, we are just pi$$ing in the wind.

Ozzi you are a very rude, ignorant, and arrogant person who holds yourself above others. You are no better than the next person. Get over yourself... Most of the people on here have no clue about security but act like they are the ones who enforce how it needs to be run. If you do not work for the United States Government then SHUT UP because you HAVE NO CLUE! You all sound like those stupid little chihuahuas that bark at everything but don't accomplish anything, except to be annoying. Once you have served your country or worked as a Fed maybe then you can have something to say. Until then do your research and get your facts (what is 100% truth) straight before you all spout off at the mouth.

Perhaps to eat, rather than the crap the airlines serve,DUH.

Your absolutely right, why does someone need to bring a cupcake in a glass jar to the airport?

Way to go TSA for taking it away, the rest of you can shut up.

Think about it, why would someone have a cupcake in a glass mason jar?

Use your brain for something other then sitting your backwards facing baseball cap on.

I travel quite a bit and to be honest, there is a lot of blame on BOTH sides. I've seen some really good and friendly TSA agents (a shout out to one really cool one in Philly who was smiling, friendly, greeting people and in general making the experience as easy as possible).

Yes, there are TSA agents who are jerks (like the one who took the cupcake) but there are others who are not. It's like anyplace else, people are people. The problem with TSA is the "rules" are ridiculous for the most part and change so often no one can follow them. That makes it easy for the jerks out there to go on a power trip.

Then you have the small number of passengers who DO push the envelope. The DO needle the TSA people, they practically dare them to "go overboard" so they can film it and brag about it to their friends. (NOT saying the cupcake lady did this, but I've seen it).

And a special comment to Huggly

Once you have served your country or worked as a Fed maybe then you can have something to say.

While I agree Ozzie was out of line, in a way, so are you. I served my country so everyone RETAINS the CONSTITUTIONALLY GUARANTEED right to speak out. There is no qualifications for it.

Stephaniecali

So now grabbing crotch, viewing porn and stealing passengers possessions is a hard job? You are delusional if you think that the TSA is anything more than show. The TSA cannot save you with this dog and pony show.

Maybe they didn't like airline food either.

Huggly, of all the ignorant comments that I've seen , yours is the bottom of the barrel. I probably shouldn't be responding to you since you are most likely just a troll, but for anyone who didn't notice it, you said"If you do not work for the United States Government then SHUT UP because you have no clue". I just re read your mindless comment to be sure I wasn't missing something, but it still looks the same. You are the biggest piece of ignorant useless garbage I've seen. I was an Air Force officer , did 3 tours in Viet Nam, and unlike Bush, I showed up when I was supposed to. People who think like you should be stripped of their citizenship and then shipped off to some country like Somalia.

Huggly is just an arrogant fed who couldn't make it in the real world and leeches off the taxpayers whom he holds in contempt.

And Huggly, you are so much like Ozzi! You overbearing arrogant @sshole.

Ever hear of taking someone a present? I have known of people who live in California to order pizza from Chicago and have it sent by air so what is wrong with a cupcake.

Think about it - why in hells name does someone need to bring a cupcake to an airport???

Did you actually bother to READ the article? It was a gift from the friends she was visiting. It was in the jar to keep it from getting squashed.

Why SHOULDN'T someone take a cupcake to the airport with them? It's not against the rules (yet) and it's got to be better than anything they might serve (at a ridiculous charge) on the plane. Last time I flew, I took fruit and biscotti with me. Guess the agent inspecting my bag wasn't hungry.

TSA=Totally Stupid Arseholes

But let me understand this. The airlines no longer serve food, The TSA wont let you bring food on board, the airlines leave you stranded for 10-15 hours on the runway. And one wonders why we the people are pissed? WE ARE HUNGRY Stupid!

Stephanie, let me assist you: "two cupcakes packaged in jars, gifts from a student." -- she was bringing a gift on board. That's why they were at the airport, people often give gifts of food when people travel. It's a typical custom. Actually reading the entire story before commenting is usually beneficial.

simmer down...lol

Nope! they're gonna take it...surgically if they have to. =)

Wait, let me rip your head off...