Homeland security buffoons blow up data logging device

Over at "Notes from the Technology Underground," Bill Gurstelle writes about a university geoscience researcher who accidentally left a temperature logging device in the trunk of her rental car when she dropped it off at the rental agency. When she and her husband arrived at the airport gate, "five uniformed airport police with flak jackets and guns" were waiting to interrogate her. But they employed a "blow up first, ask questions later approach," because the equipment had been destroyed by Bloomington Police Department bomb squad before giving her a chance to explain.

And for good measure, authorities closed portions of the Twin Cities Lindbergh terminal parking ramp for two hours.

 Images Product Images 1430 Tidbit Xt Why in the world would the police destroy the equipment so quickly? Here's a picture I found of the "suspicious looking equipment."

Remember, this thing was in the trunk of an Avis rental car, about a half mile from the nearest runway, not on the tarmac or in the terminal.

Yes airline security is important, but all this paranoia, and rote following of draconian procedures means no flexibility, no common sense, and second chances. Looks like another win for the real terrorists.

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