Comments on: Portland's "Naked American Hero" not guilty!

By: Rachael Hoffman-Dachelet

Rachael Hoffman-Dachelet — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 18:02:00 +0000

Lotion with glycerin in it registers positive. I was once told by a nice TSA gentleman to wipe down my CPAP (a medical device) with rubbing alcohol before I fly to remove the glycerine from my lotion to avoid getting a positive on the bomb materials sniffer thing.

By: Navin_Johnson

Navin_Johnson — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 04:52:00 +0000

Because even comparing what blacks had to do to gain basic civil rights in the 50s/60s to this is disgusting.

By: That_Anonymous_Coward

That_Anonymous_Coward — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 01:39:00 +0000

Or it might just be a handy tool to “find” nitrates on people who opt out of the pornoscanners and the TSA agents then have to frisk. If they make it as inconvenient for you as possible many people will just willingly be subjected to unmetered amounts of radiation to avoid the extra hassle and the joy of missing a flight.

By: gadgetphile

gadgetphile — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 22:15:00 +0000

Well, machine-based random testing would be much better than human-based.

By: James Penrose

James Penrose — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:31:00 +0000

I suspect, but have no evidence, that the machines generate a random number of “positives” to keep the “officers” alert (since their job is 99.99999 per cent useless, repetitive and boring) and because there’s just going to be a certain error rate inherent in these instant chemist-in-a-box devices.

(Note: the fancier x-ray machines can also generate random alerts when scanning carry-ons so a certain percentage will get hand-inspected for the same reason and to test the “inspectors”.)

When working drug dogs or bomb dogs, they have to be allowed to find something once in a while or they get dispirited and bored and since the average TSA staffer is less bright than the average beagle, you have to work harder to keep them engaged since giving them squeaky toys doesn’t look good to the public.

By: DewiMorgan

DewiMorgan — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 18:31:00 +0000

Then we have big probs. Now answer the question: why not?

By: Jerril

Jerril — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 17:11:00 +0000

I’m opting out this summer. It will be an interesting and totally unscientific test to see if I get the same “nitrates” comment.

For Science!

By: Navin_Johnson

Navin_Johnson — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 15:11:00 +0000

If you need to ask, you’ve got big probs.

By: No

No — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:53:00 +0000

Yes, they’ve been using humor as a way to diffuse the situation now. Smile while your rights are being stripped from you . . . . fools.

By: John Maple

John Maple — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:13:00 +0000

I opted out for the pat-down and told the guy that I was there for my “free government massage”. He laughed and said he would go easy on me.

By: John Maple

John Maple — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:11:00 +0000

”Anti-cock fort”
A must-have for the next century.

By: Slartibartfatsdomino

Slartibartfatsdomino — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:12:00 +0000

Holy sh*t! That is sooooooo perfect! I’m making that sign now just in case!

By: Ipo

Ipo — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:11:00 +0000

He is one of us, you know, a happy bOINGbOING mutant.

By: Ipo

Ipo — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:09:00 +0000

Makes me wonder which laundry detergent to use before flying.
Are there any without nitrates?

By: EvilTerran

EvilTerran — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 13:09:00 +0000

A sign reading “down with 14A.40.030!” would be perfect

By: awjt

awjt — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 10:52:00 +0000

I was just in the EU and Canada this year. Not saying any other country is better than the US, since they all have their problems. But, I can tell these other places are generally a whole lot more laid back than our dear old U S of A. People mind their own damn business more and aren’t trying to control everyone else. Oh, there seems to be way fewer ignoramuses and ruffians in these places, too. Don’t know why.

By: alexb

alexb — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 09:31:00 +0000

What, the purple *nitryl* gloves might have nitrates in them…or something similar?

By: efergus3

efergus3 — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 09:30:00 +0000

All security theater. Improv, I think.

By: retepslluerb

retepslluerb — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 08:51:00 +0000

A nice beard? How can you tell? They blurred that picture.

By: Tynam

Tynam — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 08:43:00 +0000

Why not? Pjcamp wasn’t comparing the importance of the protest, he was saying that you don’t have to carry a placard to be protesting.

The two protests have only this in common: there was no need for a sign. Everyone knew what the issue was.

By: elix

elix — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 07:59:00 +0000

“What Would Jesus Do?” in Farsi would be even better.

By: Al Billings

Al Billings — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 05:39:00 +0000

Because the sausage was better at the diner?

By: Stefan Jones

Stefan Jones — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 05:06:00 +0000

COINKYDINK!

I just finished reading these comments when a story about Brennan ran on the local TV news. He was interviewed outside the courtroom, and came across as an articulate, level-headed, laid-back geek.

Good’oh man!

By: kmoser

kmoser — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 04:01:00 +0000

His epidermis is showing.

By: The King of Athiests

The King of Athiests — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 03:33:00 +0000

Awesome. I hope there are daily mass protests at the Portland airport.

By: Thomas Needham

Thomas Needham — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 03:23:00 +0000

Nitrates from fecal matter, they sit around with their thumbs….

By: Stonewalker

Stonewalker — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 03:21:00 +0000

I like this naked man. Rock on, civil rights action hero!

By: Navin_Johnson

Navin_Johnson — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 03:19:00 +0000

Wow, please don’t compare this to that.

By: Slartibartfatsdomino

Slartibartfatsdomino — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 02:50:00 +0000

Oh, I was apparently confused. It’s a good thing I don’t habitually go walking around the block naked.

Next time I feel the urge, I’ll make sure to make a sign first!

I’m actually heading out through PDX in a few days. And I’m pretty peeved at the TSA. But I don’t think I’ll be able to bring myself to repeat Mr. Brennan’s statement.

By: social_maladroit

social_maladroit — Thu, 19 Jul 2012 02:45:00 +0000

It is, actually, under Title 14 of the City Code:

It is unlawful for any person to expose his or her genitalia while in a public place or place visible from a public place, if the public place is open or available to persons of the opposite sex.

-- 14A.40.030 Indecent Exposure (Don't let someone fool you into thinkin' you can come here 'n' show off yer naughty bits without havin' a chat with the local constabulary!) So, uh, the upshot was that the right to free speech granted by article 1, section 8 of Oregon's Constitution trumped the city code against indecent exposure. Which is a pretty damn cool outcome.