When this video come across twitter a few days ago it made me laugh so hard. The original posting is on Gadling

Since 9/11 there has been a significant increase in airport security and like most travelers, I get that this security dance we all do, is in many ways, a worthless. Security around the world varies, some have a more casual approach then others and as an outsider it all seems to work just as well.

Maybe because I’m more intune with the ongoings in the US that I see the TSA and other policies are just smoke & mirrors, giving the general public the mirage of safety…that they are doing something for you, that you need to rely on them. I don’t want to start sounding all government is bad, because it’s not. But I do think government under estimates the population….though sometimes for good reason.

I recall a time I was flying from Bozeman to Chicago (yes that same flight I mentioned last post that I thought we were literally going to fall out of the sky) that TSA made me cry. I fly frequently for business and generally pack really light for these trips. I asked at the hotel, as I always do, generally how long the security lines are — the lady at the front desk laughed and ask what time my flight was – it was 12:30, she told me to be at the airport by 12:15 and I’ll have time to stop for a cup of coffee before boarding. She wasn’t kidding, the security line was all of one person deep…and I apparently set-off all sorts of red flags – I forgot to remove the small bottle of hotel lotion from my bag, then I was scolded for not declaring my inhaler (I didn’t realize asthma was a federal issue) but the real kicker was— my pepper spray. I took my pepper spray to Israel and never once was questioned about that…but in Bozeman, it was such an issue that they almost arrested me for it. Why? Because I asked why! I said I had traveled through many major airports and it had never been questioned…so I never thought it was an issue. I was told if I “gave anymore lip” they’d have the deputy arrest me and then they informed that “they don’t know where I travel” but in Bozeman they take national security serious. uhm. Yah I’m pretty sure JFK, ORD, LAX, and DIA could careless about national security, I’m very happy that the Bozman TSA are taking things seriously. They took my pepper spray and wouldn’t even me back the handy like holster I had it in…which I thought was very rude.

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update: apparently DIA does care – I flew through DIA on 1/12 and had my second pepper spray confiscated…I didn’t ask questions this time.  I must learn to pack it in my carry on.