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There are over 1 million records covering 400,000 names on the US Government’s terrorist watch list, according to this Reuters article, U.S. terrorism watch list tops 1 million. 

How in the name of good common sense can this list be effective? That’s what the ACLU would like to know, and I agree with them.

According to a survey by the Association of Corporate Travel Executives, 7 percent of the respondents had at least one electronic device seized for inspection while traveling. As the New York Times points out in this op-ed piece, The Government and Your Laptop, searching a computer or cell phone can involve much more information than a simple luggage search might reveal. 

Whatever happened to the Fourth Amendment? I know the US Senate, including Senators Inouye (D-HI) and Obama (D-IL) tossed it under the bus last week when they extended the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Daniel Akaka (D-HI) voted no, while John McCain (R-AZ) did not vote on the measure - see the roll call. 

At least the ACLU has filed a suit to halt FISA - see this Wired article called Bush Signs Spy Bill, ACLU Sues for details.

The Transportation Security Administration continues to amaze me. 

Case in point; Patrick Smith, an airline pilot, attempted to include in his carry-on luggage a small knife that came from an airline meal.

A TSA supervisor refused to allow the knife through the security check, because the 5-inch long knife was serrated. 

As Patrick pointed out on his blog post at Salon, he was supposed to fly the plane. If he wanted to do some damage, he doesn’t need a knife.  

Image courtesy of Johan Larson through a Creative Commons license.

Starting 21 June 2008, the TSA will bar anyone who refuses to show a valid identification card, passport or document from the secure areas of airports.

People who claim, state or lie that they left their ID at home will be given an extra physical search before being allowed to fly. This is the same treatment that anyone who wanted to fly without an ID card or document were getting in the past. Now the TSA bar anyone who admits that they want to fly without an ID.

More details are available at the Surveillance State blog on Cnet.

Image courtesy of pixthree under a Creative Commons license.

As I mentioned in my billso.com article from 2 May 2008, if you are carrying high value items on your airline journey, do not check them with your baggage. Carry the items with you on the airplane.

Matt Mullenweg, the man behind WordPress, learned this lesson the hard way last week when he lost several high-end cameras and lenses on a US Airways flight.

Image courtesy of xrrr through a Creative Commons license.

Related posts on billso.com

• 15 May 2008: Don’t check cameras in your luggage
• 2 May 2008: Never check your computer on a plane
• 11 March 2008: Using Facebook as a lost-and-found department
• 3 March 2008: Building the perfect laptop
• 30 September 2006: Don’t steal my laptop!
• 28 June 2003: Where’s my luggage?

There are some great hotel deals available if you’re interested in visiting the state of Hawaii this summer. Check this article in Go Visit Hawaii for some details. Airfares are still high, and visitors should avoid the unlicensed condos and apartments that are advertised on the Internet. They don’t pay occupancy taxes, and there’s little recourse if something goes wrong during your stay - or if the county closes down your destination after you paid a deposit. BnBCoalition.com has some excellent information on how to find legal vacation rentals in Hawaii.