Nice try, but...

Months ago, I blogged about those special locks that rat on TSA people (Mr. Obama, the devil is in (telling) the details).

There's a green/red dot. It turns red when the lock gets opened by the TSA people. Nifty, isn't it?

And I learn during the years of paranoia fueled by the Bush administration that my luggages were *systematically* opened by the TSA... and yet there were no notes, no sticker no nothing to warn me of what happened.

In other words, if I didn't have those locks, I wouldn't know that my luggages have been opened and searched by the TSA.

I would bet that there countless of travelers who are unaware that there luggages have been opened and searched.

Why not telling people? As if personal belongings are no longer personal. Well, a lot could be said about the Bush era, and I have to keep this blog entry short. :)

It's been a while that I haven't been in the US. Those of you who read me via FastCupid or BadSumo, you already know there was the big Blogfest event in Philadelphia. I managed to take some time off in the US... including Philadelphia. :)

It was a great blog event and it's been fun to put a voice and a face onto words. :)

All good things must come to an end, and here am I in Montréal.

Guess what? There was the usual *red dot* on my lock. Grrrrr... TSA again.

I open my luggage and lo and behold... there was a note!

Telling me that my luggage has been inspected by the TSA. After sneaking in for so many years, it's the very *first* time I was notified... officially.

Maybe the changes trickling in from the change of government, maybe...

Nonetheless, there are manners...

Why they have to open my luggage... without having *me* opening that luggage for inspection?

When I cross a border, I am asked (mhhh, sometimes ordered? :) ) to open my luggage for inspection. That's fair. It's in my full knowledge, and *I* open the luggage.

So why in the US soil, that same modus operandi can't be done? Why it is all done in the hiding, and until recently, without even telling the owners (unless you have those special locks, like those I have) !

I know some family members and friends from Europe who take offense, and that's the #1 complaint.

I am not happy either, but everytime I raise the issue, even in Canada, I'm told that I'm fussy.

Manners it seems...

And I can't figure out why it is so difficult to ask passengers to open their luggages...

Oh well. :)

Mini-rant off !!!

Cheers,

-E