Laptop screening: it's in the bag

Posted on Economist.com

PASSENGERS flying from American airports are to be allowed to put carry-on baggage through X-ray screening machines without having to remove laptops first. The Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) rule change will take effect from August 16th, but only applies to "checkpoint-friendly" baggage. To qualify as such, a bag must meet certain requirements which allow the laptop to be viewed effectively by X-ray operators:

• A designated laptop-only section
  
• The laptop-only section completely unfolds to lay flat on the X-ray belt
  
• No metal snaps, zippers or buckles inside, underneath or on top of the
  laptop-only section
  
• No pockets on the inside or outside of the laptop-only section
  
• Nothing packed in the laptop-only section other than the computer itself

Progress has been swift. The TSA only asked bag manufacturers to come up with
relevant designs in March, and was not expecting to change its rules until the
autumn. But 40 companies quickly submitted prototypes, and the New York
Times has named Aerovation as
the winner of the race to produce the first publicly available
checkpoint-friendly bag (pictured).

This development scores highly in
three areas: convenience (it's one less task for passengers to perform), speed
(passengers with these bags can be processed more quickly) and security (a
laptop that stays in a bag is less likely to be damaged or stolen off the
conveyor belt). At airports in the European Union (EU), laptops must still be
removed from their bags. Gulliver hopes to see those rules changed to match
America’s as soon as possible.

Funny Corny

A thief in Paris planned to steal some paintings from the Louvre.

After careful planning, he got past security,

stole the paintings, and made it safely to his van.

However, he was captured only two blocks away

when his van ran out of gas.

When asked how he could mastermind such a crime

and then make such an obvious error, he replied,
'Monsieur, that is the reason I stole the paintings.'

I had no Monet



to buy Degas


to make the Van Gogh.'

See if you have De Gaulle to send

this on to someone else.

I sent it to you because I figured

I had nothing Toulouse.

Good reminder to keep us going to the meetings. Especially in this time of the end!

H.E.R.E.

At times I will greet a brother or a sister at the Kingdom Hall and I will ask them how they are.
They look at me with tired eyes and say, I'm H..E.R.E.
This poem is for all of us who are glad that you are H.E.R.E.

The kids were cranky, your husband was late.
The dinner you had ready on time just had to wait.
But you're H.E.R..E.

A long week in service with 'I'm not Interested' and most not at home.
You just like to have some time all alone.
But you're H.E.R.E.

The job was exhausting , you come home feeling beat.
You keep thinking you have that deadline to meet.
But you're H.E.R.E.

Your eyesight is failing, you can't hear all the talk.
Your legs feel feeble , it's a challenge to walk.
But you're H.E.R.E.

You've faced challenges , you've faced trials.
You pushed yourself that last mile.
But you're H.E.R.E.

So we're happy you made it , we know it took courage.
You didn't let the world get you discouraged.
Because when you're H.E.R.E. at the meetings you're really
(H)elping (E)veryone (R)emain (E)ncouraged