the birm*

“Don’t sin in your anger…”

I can finally understand that verse. Right now, all I want to do is sin: tear the place apart, make a scene, shout obscenities, lay into someone… evidently, being in a place with tons of security, my sin would result in me missing my flight and probably getting in big trouble (let alone making me look like a complete moron)...

I knew that my fuel stove would be picked up by the screening machines, as it has been before. Because it has no fuel in it, though, it’s ok.

Also in my carry-on bag were other heavy items: some sun screen (a brand new bottle), 2 rolls of duct tape (brand new never used), and some books.

After a full cavity search of my bag, the security guard (just doing his job) said “you can’t take that”, pointing to the sunscreen (brand new) and tape (unused). Evidently he inquired (to his boss I guess, or just someone else who would agree with him that these items needed to be destroyed) about the security zip-ties (actual airport security standard zip-ties) that I use to tie my suitcases with. They were a present from a friend last year and I’ve used them many times before, including today. As always, I carry them on, after securing my bags. They were obviously a security threat as well, though funnily enough the string I had as well (which, unlike the zip-ties) has a breaking point of about 300kg.

It’s not so much the cost that bums me, although the total value of these items was about $20, north waste (did I mention that these were unused and bought specifically to take back to France, as they’re much more expensive in France, though not with the added expense of getting them thrown out, and they were in my carry-on luggage so as to save weight (about 1-1.5Kg), cause I didn’t want to pay excess for silly small items I could carry on. What really bugs me is the always-changing-never-the-same-overkill-stupid-dumb-waste-of-time-security-measures that seems to be augmenting, unwritten and meaningless. I guess I have to be glad that the security is so finicky, as it prevents evil people to hop on the plane with potentially fatal items (like nail clippers (which they didn’t take this time!!!), tweezers, bottled water, string, cork screws, tape, deodorant, after shave…).

Once again, none of this will matter in about 10 minutes and it won’t change my life in any way (except that I will take 10 extra minutes when checking in to make sure that every single item in my carry-on is legal. I am relieved (due to how well/bad the security was doing their job) that I still have my stove. I hope some scumbag gets good use out of the great sunscreen and superb quality duct tape I bought…