back on terra firma in da USA

[art vandelay]

When I left Madrid recently I and many others on my flight got searched very thoroughly after I went through the primary screening point. This was at the gate. They took everything out of my carry on, made me turn on all electronics, made sure I had a receipt for my bottle of booze, frisked me, etc.

This was just before the stuff that happened in Paris. Makes me think they knew something was up.

Conversely, when leaving JFK going to Madrid I didn't even have to take the liquids out of my carry on or take my shoes off. Just had to take off my belt and go through a metal detector.

Sounds like they did know something. Coming back to the states from Madrid was a breeze for me. Flying within Europe is even easier, not having to take off your shoes, belt, etc. At a smaller airport like Santander you can arrive like 45 minutes before your flight without stressing.

[Irish George]

food was great

excellent food the whole trip! but good to be home

[IronEagle]

Sounds like they did know something. Coming back to the states from Madrid was a breeze for me. Flying within Europe is even easier, not having to take off your shoes, belt, etc. At a smaller airport like Santander you can arrive like 45 minutes before your flight without stressing.

I think wise use of intelligence combined with more thorough targeted and random searches is more effective than the mass screenings anyway. The following story broke just before I left for Madrid. A guy was running firearms on Delta to JFK using an airport worker as an accomplice. The TSA didn't catch him-- they couldn't as the airport workers don't undergo screening every day, just an initial background check.

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/...icle-1.2054257

[headknocker]

Sorry if I'm a little late but welcome back, Bored Area Icon.

[Irish George]

Thanks!

how about AC knocking off Holy Spirit???

[headknocker]

Yeah, I saw that. The article in The Press mentioned the AC gym was packed and their gym is pretty large. I gotta check to see how St Augustine's wrestling team fared today as they were in a brutal quad in North Jersey. One of their opponents was Blair Academy which is ranked #1 in the country.