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  • Posted by Jason Hensel at
    12:00AM 06/23/2011 • 2 Comments

    Trusted Traveler Program this Fall

    It may get easier to go through security in U.S. airports this fall. According to the U.S. Travel Association, the TSA will launch a trial trusted traveler program for some passengers. 

    Once a voluntary background check is passed, customers would be able to go through security with their shoes on and their laptops safely tucked in bags. It's like a dream come true.  

    “We are extremely pleased to hear Administrator Pistole plans to implement a trial trusted traveler program as early as this fall,” said Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association. “U.S. travelers will greatly appreciate TSA’s responsiveness on this issue.”

    I like Dow's optimism; however, how security theater plays out these days, I'm taking a wait-and-see approach before patting the TSA's back.



  • Posted by Jason Hensel at
    12:00AM 04/19/2011 • 0 Comments

    Your Behavior is Being Questioned

    On my way back to the U.S. from my recent vacation, I was happy to get a chance to ask for a pat-down instead of going through the X-ray machines. 

    I'm beginning to wonder if my enthusiasm was a cause for alarm, because the TSA is now looking at people's behavior to determine if someone needs extra screening, according to CNN. The news agency reports that it has attained 70 behavioral indicators that TSA officials use to identify high risk passengers. 

    "Many of the indicators, as characterized in open government reports, are behaviors and appearances that may be indicative of stress, fear or deception," CNN reported. "None of them, as the TSA has long said, refer to or suggest race, religion or ethnicity. But one addresses passengers' attitudes towards security, and how they express those attitudes. It reads: 'Very arrogant and expresses contempt against airport passenger procedures.'"

    Uh-oh! I guess I should temper my excitement—a mixture of sarcasm, cynicism and disdain—the next time I visit security theater at the airport. 



  • Posted by Jason Hensel at
    12:00AM 11/30/2010 • 1 Comments

    Baggage Handler Badge

    A lot of us here at work love Foursquare, and currently there's an intense battle for the MPI mayorship. However, one thing we don't talk about is the number of badges earned on the location-based social network. I currently have 23 badges, and there's a new one out that I'm eager to earn: the baggage handler badge.

    If you're a Foursquarer, the next time you're checking in at the airport, send out a shout of "TSA," "Grope" or "Don't touch my junk, bro!" and you'll unlock the badge.  

    Have fun traveling!