Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2004/04/02
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Six months ago, I travelled through US (London-NY-SF-Hong Kong) and it was not a pleasant experience. A lot of time wasted queuing, taking off your shoes and coats and belts, taking out your laotop, asking/arguing for hand checking of films. I am not white and got extra treatment. Now with the extra photographing and fingerprinting, I would avoid any US travel as much as possible. I got a sponsor to attend a major Oncology Conference in June in US but I refused, will wait until end of year for a European meeting. Last time when I was in Europe, I bought a Leica clone (right on topic), a Kiev 4 and it was very nice at US$50 with Jupiter-8. I think it would be a much better place to go. CC Yau Hong Kong On Apr 3, 2004, at 15:15, Gerry Walden wrote: > With all this happening, and the fact that apparently I will now have > to > be photographed and finger printed on arrival (not to mention the > rudeness of the security staff) I think it will be a while before I > visit the US again! > > Gerry > > -- > Gerry Walden LRPS > www.gwpics.com > +44 23 8046 3076 > > Jim Laurel wrote: > >> Ted, >> This kind of thing really gets to me. Just reading your story gets my >> blood boiling. Obviously, some ham-handed TSA screener decided that >> your locked M7s constituted a threat. >> >> What would I do? Well, there's not much you can do. Under the aegis >> of National Security, thousands of half-witted high school dropouts >> have been reborn as Federal employees in the TSA. There's no >> accountability for damage to personal property. And I guarantee that >> trying to identify who damaged your cameras while at the airport would >> simply result in your being detained and questioned. I suppose you >> could write letters, and that might get you an apology, along with >> some >> platitudes about keeping America safe, but it may also get you a >> wiretap on your phone and black unmarked Suburbans driving by your >> place at odd hours of the night. >> >> My solution is to carry all my gear on board. I pack my camera bag >> full, and wear a large camera jacket, which has huge pockets. When >> the >> gate staff complain about the weight of my bag, as Virgin Airlines >> always seems to, I walk away, stuff things into my vest, and try >> again. >> Last I checked, no airline has a restriction on how heavy your >> clothing can be. >> >> We live in a new world for sure, and the threats aren't all from the >> outside. >> >> --Jim Laurel >> >> >> On Apr 2, 2004, at 10:26 PM, Ted Grant wrote: >> >>> What would you do under these circumstances? >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > > -- > Gerry Walden LRPS > www.gwpics.com > +44 23 8046 3076 > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >