TSA eyes 'Randomizers' to sort security lines

[think]

Source: USA Today

Ben Mutzabaugh, USA TODAY 11:57 a.m. EDT July 11, 2013

The Transportation Security Administration is planning to use electronic "Randomizers" to help it funnel fliers into airport security lines.

In addition to providing a bias-free way to route travelers into different queues, it also would make it more difficult for potential security evaders to game which security queue they get sent to.

The TSA issued a Request for Information (RFI) late last month in which it has asked interested vendors "to share ideas and suggestions for procuring Randomizer systems ... ." The systems, if adopted, would be deployed at most medium and large commercial U.S. airports, according to the RFI.

~Snip~

When asked about the motivation of the Randomizers, the TSA said in a statement to Today in the Sky that it "employs a multilayer approach to security, utilizing measures that are both seen and unseen, and will always incorporate random and unpredictable security measures."

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/todayinthesky/2013/07/11/tsa-eyes-electronic-randomizers-to-sort-security-lines/2508349/

[KG]

1. the latest act added to the kabuki theater

[Politicalboi]

2. LOL!

I pity the poor traveler these days. All this "security" over NOTHING. It's really comical. 12 years of this shit over nothing that anything to do with airport security. Take your shoes off, touch your toes, touch your head, hands on hips. LOL!

Because 12 men who know martial arts couldn't possibly take over a plane. LOL!

[MrScorpio]

7. Now do the Hokey Pokey and turn yourself around

That's what it's all about.

[NYC_SKP]

3. More nonsense.

[Diclotican]

4. think

think

The more I read about TSA - the less impressed I am - and the less interested I am in visiting your country - to be honest it is more trouble than it is worth - When it is more difficult to get into US, than it was getting into the Soviet Union - then it might be other places to visit - who is less troublesome - even with this "randomizing" of the security lines...

Diclotian

[kestrel91316]

5. We're not all batshit insane here. The US is a beautiful country with many enlightened areas to

visit. I WOULD advise against visiting heavily red states if you are a foreigner with a noticeable accent, though. You might not be treated with courtesy.

[Diclotican]

9. kestrel91316

kestrel91316

I know the US is a great country - with a lot of enlightened areas to visit - and many great people, who I have had the fortune of getting to know to a degree - here on DU and other places - most of them I have getting to know, is decent, kind people who even is overbearing with my rather noticeable accent - it is pretty clear that my first language are not english - even though I can communicate good - it is just that my accent is pretty clear for everyone to see, or to hear.. And most of them have even helped me with my grammar - rather than insulting my grammar - as a result I guess my writings have getting better to - even though I sometimes are at a loss for word - the words I have in the head - are not the same in english... And sometimes even the dictionary do not have the word I'm after...

But it is also places, and states who is not that welcome to foreigners I guess - specially in the red states it looks like it is more trouble than worth going to visit - even though one of my dreams is either to travel route 66 from start to finish - and making my time traveling to places were I might have never been before... Or to take a tour into the deep south - getting to know the culture - some of it maybe... But, if it is more trouble than it is worth then it might be just another dream ... It is many other places to visit - in the US..

Diclotican

[kestrel91316]

24. If you DO ever come to the US and want to visit the South, I recommend

New Orleans, Louisiana and Charleston, S Carolina. They get lots of tourists so they have to be more accepting of people who are different.

[Diclotican]

29. kestrel91316

kestrel91316

I would love to visit New Orleans - and visit Bourbon Street - with all the jazz clubs I have grow up listing to some of the greatest artist from New Orleans - and I hope one day - to be able to visit that City - and to experience it for real - not just on a record player -or from a CD... The real thing is a whole different thing than the recorded stuff.

But for the time being I guess other places some nearer my own back yard are more to my liking, the insanity in the US can not exist forever...

Diclotican

[kestrel91316]

32. New Orleans is where I go if I want Paris but can't afford the trip, lol.

The French Quarter is a fascinating place, and the food is simply amazing.

[Diclotican]

34. kestrel91316

kestrel91316

The french Quarter in New Orleans - is well known even here in Norway for the food, so yeah it is absolutely one of the places I want to visit - when I come to the US sometimes - I'm not sure when - but I guess some time in the future...

I can understand it is expensive to fly the whole way to Europe and to france from the US - It is cheaper to fly from Norway (Oslo) to Paris and france - or just drive there - as we can drive the whole way to France now.. I guess it is better to visit the french quarter in New Orleans - than to fly the whole way to France for the cosine

Diclotican

[kestrel91316]

35. Only problem is, you won't be able to find lutefisk or herring there......

Don't be too sad. They DO make a mean mess of crayfish.

[Diclotican]

36. kestrel91316

kestrel91316

Oh I suspect I would survive the loss of Lutefisk or herring when I visit the US.. By the way - Lutefisk are not that difficult to make yourself, if you do it right it will taste well - if you do it the wrong way - it will taste not so well... I have never made Lutefisk myself - but I have seen it being made many times back home - so I guess I could make it in a pinch if the need for Lutefisk would be to much to bear

Diclotican

[kestrel91316]

38. I've eaten lutefisk once. You can have it. I DO love sild and sildsalat, however.

Swedish inlagd sild should be one of the basic 4 food groups, lol.

[cosmicone]

11. There is a local version of TSA everywhere

The US coerces countries into having the same draconian security measures and if they don't comply, they get put on an "unsafe airport" list which affects commerce and tourism. This makes all the countries submit and comply.

In Paris at one time, there was a separate third-degree security only for flights to USA, UK and Israel -- everyone else had a more relaxed security. I was flying from CDG to Johannesburg and I breezed through -- no taking out laptops, no liquid bags, no shoe/belt removal. No more -- CDG now has the same enhanced security for all flights thanks to the US.

[Diclotican]

13. cosmicone

cosmicone

I know - have not been flying for years - mostly taken the train, bus or the car when i am out traveling - but in the fall I plan to travel to some warm spot for a late summer/fall vacation - I have the time to do it - and have saved up enough money to get on a vacation - the first one, for many years by the way.. My latest flight was to Sweden, before 9/11 and it was a breeze to go true it - just show your passport, that you was from Norway - and you was in Sweden - (we have had a pass-union between Sweden and Denmark for more than 50 year now, Schengen is brand new compatible to the pass union between the tree scandinavian country's )

I have no clue really what is the case around airports today - but I have to say - it doesn't sound to comfortable if you have to go true this type of check, to have a vacation - and then have to do the same thing when you are on your way home again....

The world can thank US for a lot of things -like penicillin, or the car (Ford-T) But I have to say - the TSA mess is not exactly something I would say the world should thank US for - rather the opposite - as it make airline travel a hassle I have less interest in getting into - and for the most part, at least in Europe - crossing of borders is a rather easy thing to do - as most european country's is part of the Shengen and therefore can cross borders without the hassle of border control al the time...

But, it is little difficult driving a car to Cyprus - so I guess I have to use a airline to get there - and then the hassle comes into game...

Diclotican

[cosmicone]

15. Penicillin was discovered in the UK

By Dr. Alexander Fleming

[Diclotican]

17. cosmicone

cosmicone

You are so right - I should have remembered that, thank you

Diclotican

[azurnoir]

18. okay not penicillin

but we did invent polio vaccine Dr Jonas Salk

[ChairmanAgnostic]

27. We invented White Castle

And morbid obesity.

[azurnoir]

28. hey WC is an American classic

well at least for those who live East of the Mississippi River and on the obesity tip I don't think we get the credit for that ever see some of those little cave statues? I think that's been around as long as we have, it's just the attitude about it that's changed

[presscac]

25. Sweden and Denmark Bridge

Diclotican,

They have a bridge that you can go between Sweden and Copenhagen Denmark. . The Oresund bridge. . . and tunnel. . .

Norway is a beautiful country and do enjoy your future trip to the US.

Presscac

[Diclotican]

30. presscac

presscac

I know about Øresund bridge - it have been in the plans for at least 100 years , but was finally build - and have expedited the travel between Denmark and Sweden many hours over.. Even though some of the magic sailing from Sweden to Denmark was lost for the progress of having a bridge over Øresund

Yes, We have a beautifully country - we might not have all the luxuries that is the norm other places - but dam we have some great nature here

I hope I can visit your beautifully nation sometime in the future - even if it looks Little bleak for the moment, it can just go forward after a while.. And I doubt even the nuts in the republican/tea party will manage to destroy the american spirit, even as they are doing a good job trying to do it

Diclotican

[Orangepeel]

40. I've been through security between Oslo and London. Except for the shoes, it was the same

[Diclotican]

42. Orangepeel

Orangepeel

I have not been flying for many years - so I guess it is a large difference between when I was last out flying, and the situation of today.... I fear I'm in for a surprise when I am out flying next time

But, I guess it is how it is today - security is paramount - even if it is just for show - and not real

Diclotican

[Cirque du So-What]

6. Perhaps they're already giving it a test run

When I was at the Detroit Metro Airport last month, I got in line to go through the security checkpoint. After a couple of minutes, the TSA guy closed off the queue and directed everyone to another checkpoint up one level. After ten minutes, the checkpoint where I was still standing in line was reopened to new passengers.

[Igel]

26. RFP stage.

They just want proposals to evaluate at this point.

This'll be something like you enter a line and are given a number. Then when there's a slot open up a number is called to make sure that #34 doesn't follow #33 (necessarily), or if you're going to be ahead of "John" who wants to get something past security you don't create some sort of distraction at the same checkpoint that John goes through as he goes through.

Not an unreasonable sort of thing. A bit paranoid, though. Then again, that's their job: Professional Paranoids

[Taverner]

8. OK- DHS - if you want to make planes more secure:

- Compel airlines to hire an unmarked security agent on every flight. Kind of like Sky Marshals, on steroids.
- Stop fearing Muslims. There are 1.5 BILLION Muslims in the world. Very few of them are terrorists.
- Consider sedative packed dart guns (don't laugh.) You can't blow a hole in a plane with them, and you can stop a threat as easily as you could with a real, "go boom" gun
- Al Queda has proved, if anything, that they are idiots. Look at the Edinburough bomb "attempt." Two doctors tried to blow up an airport. Their plan? Fill a van full of gasoline, and smash it into the airport. The result, 3rd degree burns on the doctors, laughing Scots surrounding the van. Remember: this was their brightest and best. The only reason 9/11 happened was because of incompetence on our part.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

10. THIS? from the folks who think a 10oz bottle of liquid is dangerous...

... but 10 3oz bottles in a quart size bag is safe?

[GeorgeGist]

12. Scam.

[frylock]

14. 3-card monty

[Sherman A1]

16. Could we just hand everyone a six sided die

when they approach the security area and have them roll for which lane?

I guess I could charge the TSA a couple of billion dollars for that idea?

[JDPriestly]

22. Why don't we just draw numbers out of a hat like we did in grade school.

TSA is full employment for people who would otherwise be the last hired. That is my opinion.

Nice people but who in the world could do such a boring job?

Most of what they do is just a waste of time.

I try to be as pleasant to them as I can because I think that their jobs are the dregs.

[AnotherMcIntosh]

19. Who is making money off this?

Is it the same guy who made money off the airport scanners?

What a scam.

[liberal N proud]

20. You have been randomized, now what?

First and foremost, protect your wallet, because I would bet that some already rich well connected asshole is going to get richer. There is always money to be made in these cooked up schemes.

[JDPriestly]

23. So true.

[KoKo]

21. Tsnarnov Brothers, Mother & Fathe & Relatives were flying back and forth and no one seemed to care..

even when two were on FBI Watch List and Mother (arrested in Department store for damaging merchandis and older brother on a charge of domestic violence. Older brother was denied citizenship and visited by FBI.

So TSA is a farce.

[Ash_F]

31. Will I be able to be my Right Guard next time?

So stinky.

[PSPS]

33. Let me guess. Chertoff sells these things.

[IDemo]

37. I ride by the airport on my morning commute

Which is as close as I ever expect to get. Haven't flown since '99 and don't intend to again.

[daleo]

39. It sounds ominous

Just step through the randomizer...

[blkmusclmachine]

41. This is why I won't fly anymore:

I won't be sexually assaulted just to board a plane.