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Carry-On Luggage No-More?


RP3

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This morning's news included a report that passengers on in-bound flights from Canada may no longer carry cameras in their carry-on luggage and that remaining items allowed to be carried on have been restricted even further. But laptops still can be carried on! My initial thoughts are that this ridiculous step won't stop terrorists. But it will impact everybody else and for us there is the more worrisome question about our musical instruments?? Will we have to surrender our concertinas to the cargo hold -- possibly never to be seen again?

 

I don't know who is a greater danger to American travelers: the terrorists or the idiots at TSA charged with protecting us? With this latest step, they have probably ended meaningful tourist travel to the US -- and even from the US since even if we could take a camera or a concertina on an outbound flight, we could never safely bring it back.

 

This may present a serious problem for Noel since likely, if these rules are extended to musical instruments as is now logical to expect from our DIDC (damned idiots in DC), he won't be able to travel with his concertinas. I hope that cooler heads soon prevail, but our security folks have not shown a lick of sense yet. They may succeed in destroying our country where the terrorists have not. It's a sad situation.

 

Ross Schlabach

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Ross - These people (TSA) are struggling in a battle against clever and determined adversaries with unpredictable weapons. They have made mistakes, and no doubt will make more of them. The war they are fighting will probably kill some of us and greatly inconvenience many of us. In war they call it "collateral damage" and even "friendly fire" - more easily avoidable in hindsight than in the heat of battle. We can only hope TSA can figure things out, and eventually prevail. Meanwhile, patience will be more helpful than whining and name-calling.

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I understand the potential problem for all musicians, not just the concertina community. However if we look at being reasonable in the airports, and also have some knowledge of facts, we can usually get our instruments through. Here is what I found on the Canadian Air Transportation site." Carry-on bag means items to which a passenger has access to during a flight, but does NOT include personal items such as medication or medical devices, small purses, cameras, coats, items for care of infants, laptop computers, crutches, canes, walkers, containers carrying life sustaining items, a special needs item, musical instruments, or diplomatic or consular bags."

 

Now it means no luggage, which I understand. The individual countries may also impose additional security measure in the future. As example, in Ireland we clear the US checkpoint before leaving the country. Arriving early, and I know how inconvenient it is, remaining polite to the security staff and even being outgoing with them about what you carry can help. I fly with my instruments on the average of 5 to 6 times per year, some domestic and some international, and here is my typical process. "Hello, I am a professional musician and have flutes and small accordion type instruments in my bags. Would you like to see them? I also make sure I check my microphones, cables, tuners, and non fragile items in my luggage. I have always explained the value of what instruments cost, sometimes ask if they play any instruments, and be polite. It works for me, a long haired, bearded, sunglass wearing 50 year old man.

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Ross - These people (TSA) are struggling in a battle against clever and determined adversaries with unpredictable weapons. They have made mistakes, and no doubt will make more of them. The war they are fighting will probably kill some of us and greatly inconvenience many of us. In war they call it "collateral damage" and even "friendly fire" - more easily avoidable in hindsight than in the heat of battle. We can only hope TSA can figure things out, and eventually prevail. Meanwhile, patience will be more helpful than whining and name-calling.

 

Nonsense. The US has invaded two countries and is waging war against locals there. We may not like those locals but for the most part they are harmless. The enemy has no way of carrying the war either to the US or to the UK. They have zero delivery capability. Sure, there are random and mostly meaningless gestures (underwear bombs? Come on). The TSA isn't in a battle with anybody. The "inconvenience" isn't being caused by Al Q'aida or by the Taliban, but by the multi-layered bureaucracy that is called the TSA and Homeland Security or some such, by administrators hoping to keep their jobs (and expand their bureaucracy) and by munitions and war-related corporations making huge war-profits.

 

The US is the largest and strongest terrorist government in the world. Dear Barack: want to end terror? Stop being a terrorist. If there are "clever and determined adversaries" then we have made them so. Read Robert Fisk, Naomi Klein, John Pilger and Noam Chomsky. Until you do so you'll be at the mercy of the same corporations that provide the weapons, fund the election campaigns, and pay for advertising in the media.

 

I agree that this site should be non-political. But when somebody offers such claptrap as the preceding post it should be answered. The new travel advisories affect many of us as musicians and travelers. The answer is not to build a wall around the USA and the UK but to implement policies that will reduce corporate (and global) avarice and greed. We need to reduce the hatred that the people in the exploited (colonized) nations harbor for the stronger nations. Not bloody likely but it needs to be said.

 

End of rant.... I won't be answering further posts on this subject. But this is a clear example of how "politics" is relevant to a musical forum.

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I have just flown in the Post-Underpants- Bomber era with my concertina. (Toronto- Las Vegas-Toronto). We checked our suitcases (which we usually carry on) but I had no problem carrying a smallish shoulder bag and my concertina case on board. We had arrived extra early anticipating an ordeal at security, but had no trouble or delay, consequently we sat around in the departure lounge for an extra long time. It was actually kind of pleasant not to have to wrestle a suitcase in the crowded cabin for a change. The only downside- they lost my wife's suitcase on the return trip. (we got it back a few days after we got home)

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The enemy has no way of carrying the war either to the US or to the UK. They have zero delivery capability...The "inconvenience" isn't being caused by Al Q'aida...

9/11, the London tube bombing, the Madrid train bombing, etc., aren't political claptrap - they are facts. The issue in this concertina forum is, how can we live with their consequences? :ph34r:

Edited by yankeeclipper
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If it's this, then all credit and thanks are due to the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority not TSA, and it's only supposed to be temprorary.

http://www.catsa.gc.ca/Page.aspx?ID=77&pname=measures_mesures&lang=en

 

According to the TSA website, which is pretty good at updating their policy:

Musical Instruments

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1235.shtm

 

Cameras

http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/assistant/editorial_1248.shtm

 

The latest incident was foiled by the passengers inside the airplane, not the previous security measures instituted for "our protection". I can't wait for the full body scans show up on the internet. Aren't silicone implants larger than the 3.5 oz allowed now and will they have to be removed now that they can see them. Let's also thank the military jets escorting us ready at a moments notice to shoot us down too.

 

Can you imagine how effective it would be if the emphasis were where it really mattered?

 

Relax and enjoy, it's all part of the show.

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Prior to the seond world war the front gardens of many British homes (bear with me, this is relevant) were lined with iron railings. From the few that are left in places like Bath and the London squares I can imagine they were a graceful addition to the cityscape. During the war there was a great patriotic drive to have all sorts of scrap metal and other not-so-scrap like the railings collected up for the purpose, seemingly, of making tanks. Well it never happened; all those railings were piled up somewhere and ignored because they weren't the right type of steel. It transpired the authorities knew this, but wanted to appear to be doing something. And so we lost a significant part of the urban landscape.

 

I'm afraid that much of the "security" we are faced with at airports is the same thing. It's not making us any safer, it's just the authorities wanting to appear to be doing something.

 

Chris

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Ross - These people (TSA) are struggling in a battle against clever and determined adversaries with unpredictable weapons. They have made mistakes, and no doubt will make more of them. The war they are fighting will probably kill some of us and greatly inconvenience many of us. In war they call it "collateral damage" and even "friendly fire" - more easily avoidable in hindsight than in the heat of battle. We can only hope TSA can figure things out, and eventually prevail. Meanwhile, patience will be more helpful than whining and name-calling.

 

This is your problem Ross; because most united states residents never leave their country but expect action, they never reach the point where they sit fuming actually thinking about the latest measures. So they never see them as the pointless political window dressing they are, and it keeps them happy. International air travellers are a small minority in the States, and the rest of us don't vote, so it won't change fast.

 

Just for the information of the US Americans reading this; the way your government treats travellers is exceptionally unfriendly, and rather stupid at that. I fly to England annually from NZ. It needs a refuelling stop of several hours and that usually means San Fransisco or the far east. If I go via America I get off the 'plane and queue with the rest of the occupants of the entire jumbo jet while one, or perhaps 2 officials check I have filled in their forms right. My favourite question is the one that asks me if I am a terrorist. They fingerprint me and photograph my eye, every time. No one else anywhere has ever done this to me and I resent it. This all takes some time, but I am not missing anything though, because having finally done all this I am then crowded in a box ('lounge') whose only windows look out onto a staff corridor, with the rest of the aeroplane's occupants. The Simpsons play on a TV in the corner and there is a supply of free water, coffee, apples and biscuits. Hours later I am shepherded onto the plane again and as we leave the ground there is a buzz of relieved voices discussing how much better it is to go through Hong Kong, or Singapore. Because there they want no fingerprints or eye scans and they have a large courteous staff ready to receive you. The moment you are processed you can go and mooch in the airport concours. There's lots of shops, cafes, room to walk, decent facilities, smoking lounges, the works. Here they try and relieve you of some of your money and you have a pleasant break from the flight. I usually go and find a bank of empty seats and practice. I'm not aware that they have a higher incidence of aeroplanes blowing up.

 

The US seems to go through all the immigration stuff, then decide you really are too frightening anyway, so perhaps you'd be safer locked away. Nowhere else does this happen. Everywhere else takes the view that once you've made it onto an aeroplane you are already 'sterile', so, as long as they keep you so, they might as well make your experience pleasant and try and relieve you of some money.

 

We have spent time in the far east before and will again, just by leaving the airport for a few days. Undoubtedly their tourist trade is boosted by people on the way to Australia and NZ doing this. But we would have to be offered an extremely cheap deal to get us flying via America again, and I do have good friends in the US but it has simply never occurred to me to visit them; as basic as that.

 

As this is done 'in the name of' the US residents, I thought that maybe a few more of you should know exactly how your country is being presented to people like me. Anyone care to write to their congressman and ask why the 'Home of Capitalism' doesn't try to milk it's transit passengers of a few bob while making their travelling experience more pleasant?

 

I was brought up when the (largely American funded) IRA was blowing people up regularly. My parents remember watching bombers and then doodlebugs on their way to London. (My grandfather moved his family to London because he remembered the Germans bombing Lowestoft in the Great War and thought London was safer; well done Grampy!). And I bet the continentals on Cnet are as unimpressed with my 'cv' as I am with '9/11'. The technique with these sods is to treat them with distain. The breastbeating indulged in over the World Trade Centre attack hands succour and jubilation to the supporters of the loonies who commissioned it.

 

By keeping every travellor queueing, and generally inconveniencing them, particularly for no real gain, the nutters concerned have won a bloodless victory. "Look, they're terrified of us!"

 

Incidentally I think it's disgraceful the shallow way that America has completely forgotten the victims of the Black Tom Explosion...

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Ross - These people (TSA) are struggling in a battle against clever and determined adversaries with unpredictable weapons. They have made mistakes, and no doubt will make more of them. The war they are fighting will probably kill some of us and greatly inconvenience many of us. In war they call it "collateral damage" and even "friendly fire" - more easily avoidable in hindsight than in the heat of battle. We can only hope TSA can figure things out, and eventually prevail. Meanwhile, patience will be more helpful than whining and name-calling.

 

Nonsense. The US has invaded two countries and is waging war against locals there. We may not like those locals but for the most part they are harmless. The enemy has no way of carrying the war either to the US or to the UK. They have zero delivery capability. Sure, there are random and mostly meaningless gestures (underwear bombs? Come on). The TSA isn't in a battle with anybody. The "inconvenience" isn't being caused by Al Q'aida or by the Taliban, but by the multi-layered bureaucracy that is called the TSA and Homeland Security or some such, by administrators hoping to keep their jobs (and expand their bureaucracy) and by munitions and war-related corporations making huge war-profits.

 

The US is the largest and strongest terrorist government in the world. Dear Barack: want to end terror? Stop being a terrorist. If there are "clever and determined adversaries" then we have made them so. Read Robert Fisk, Naomi Klein, John Pilger and Noam Chomsky. Until you do so you'll be at the mercy of the same corporations that provide the weapons, fund the election campaigns, and pay for advertising in the media.

 

I agree that this site should be non-political. But when somebody offers such claptrap as the preceding post it should be answered. The new travel advisories affect many of us as musicians and travelers. The answer is not to build a wall around the USA and the UK but to implement policies that will reduce corporate (and global) avarice and greed. We need to reduce the hatred that the people in the exploited (colonized) nations harbor for the stronger nations. Not bloody likely but it needs to be said.

 

End of rant.... I won't be answering further posts on this subject. But this is a clear example of how "politics" is relevant to a musical forum.

 

 

 

"But when somebody offers such claptrap as the preceding post it should be answered." Hoisted on your own petard.

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I´m glad I´m in the EU & we don´t have to stand this paranoia YET...

If I'm not mistaken, the UK (which is ostensibly in the EU) has the world's highest per capita system of public surveillance cameras. :ph34r: Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you. :lol:

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I´m glad I´m in the EU & we don´t have to stand this paranoia YET...

If I'm not mistaken, the UK (which is ostensibly in the EU) has the world's highest per capita system of public surveillance cameras. :ph34r: Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you. :lol:

If they're really out to get me, does that make me not paranoid :(

 

By the way Fergus; you spoke too soon. ;)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/09/world/europe/09europe.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

 

Thanks

Leo :(

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I'd be with David Levine on this but then I don't really care one way or the other as I think I'd prefer on the whole to just stay in Ireland. Jet travel is doomed anyway unless some miracle fuel is developed to drive these gas guzzling monsters across the world. Some Irish will actually have to give up their shopping trips to New York - oh dear!

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