Has the DHS reached out and touched you?

Sufferin' Prius Envy · 03-06-2006, 08:38 PM

We received some interesting mail today.

<_<

It was from one of my wife's cousins. I think the enclosed noisy package of commercial wildflower seeds may have piqued DHS's curiosity.

Do I feel violated? No. My wife and I think it quite funny and interesting.

[attachmentid=2471]

Mystery Squid · 03-06-2006, 10:00 PM

WOW!

To answer your question though, not that I know of...

I guess the big question is, are all parties now in some database?

DaveinOlyWA · 03-06-2006, 10:08 PM

well at least they told you they opened your letter...its not as if you could stop them.

galaxee · 03-06-2006, 10:08 PM

whoa. i'd call that the department of holy s#*&

they went through my suitcase a couple times when i was flying around the country doing grad school interviews. buying the prius was just one more reason to not travel by air ever again.

Mystery Squid · 03-06-2006, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by galaxee@Mar 6 2006, 11:08 PM
they went through my suitcase a couple times when i was flying around
[snapback]221475[/snapback]

Yeah, same here... I tend to carry around a ton of gadgets (mp3 players, video cames, digital cameras, cell phone chargers, satellite radio), and the wires are usually all bunched up in a corner of the suitcase. Almost a sure-fire way to get them to open your suitcase...

I have to give them credit though, they put everything back right!

Frank Hudon · 03-06-2006, 10:12 PM

now you understand the courier industry.

galaxee · 03-06-2006, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mystery Squid@Mar 6 2006, 10:11 PM
I have to give them credit though, they put everything back right!

[snapback]221477[/snapback]

must be nice. my interview pants were wrinkled once and uh, other things were not in their places. my hair styling cream somehow got opened and got all over my toothbrush. gross.

rg3design.com · 03-06-2006, 10:40 PM

Not that I know of... but with the renewal of the Patriot Act, the domestic spying and other eroding civil liberties I'm sure they may have listened to phone call or read an email or two. I'd seriously be freaked out if they opened my mail and put big scary green stickers on it.

jayman · 03-07-2006, 10:12 AM

Well, once when I was being patted down, the guy pressed his hand against my groin. We looked each other straight in the eye, then he turned red in the face. Wonder if he got his jollies that morning?

I don't have a problem with DHS or CATSA here in Canada, if they are truly making us safer. So how many shipping containers get inspected? Under 6%? So a terrorist could smuggle a nuke or bioweapons inside a shipping container and know that - more than likely - they'll get through?

Why is the government spying on us, but we're not allowed to return the favor? Gov wants to read my email? Look into my bank statements? Knock yourself out, I have receipts for everything.

But what about the folks we entrust to protect us? Can we really trust them? The most obvious case was the recent revelation that a couple of Federal Air Marshalls had a neat side business of smuggling narcotics. I'm sure there are many others.

Overall I see gross incompetence from the FBI, CIA, NSA, etc. Look at how the whistleblowers came forward after 9/11, helping to expose some of it. They also lost their jobs too.

As an example, how about Aldrich Ames at the CIA? By all accounts, this guy was a drunk and a loser, so he was naturally overqualified for government work. Despite mediocre work at best, he was able to move up the ranks to Counterintelligence Branch Chief / Soviet Operations.

Then he sold out the most vital American secrets regarding spying in the former USSR. Many of the double agents were tortured, some executed. And the CIA didn't dare suspect anything when one of their Branch Chiefs, on a salary of $70 K, bought a +$500K house for cash.

It was a jealous and disgruntled co-worker who raised suspicion. Then it all unraveled.

There was also John Walker Jr. - another loser - at the Navy, where the secret of the encryption machine was sold out. In that case, the ex wife spilled the beans.

So I sure feel safer while TSA employees root around my underwear.

parrot_lady · 03-07-2006, 10:59 AM

TSA stole my toothpaste.

I usually buy "Tom's of maine" toothpaste and it comes in a metal tube. I learned that I will never again check my toothpaste cause I got to where I was going and had no toothpaste.

*grumble gumble*

I usually get selected for secondary screening... I was traveling for work at one point and found a horseshoe in the field where I was working and wanted to bring it home, only luggage I had wasn't checked. So I stuffed it in there... only to have them pull it out and start asking questions.

Geez. Its a HORSE SHOE. Why yes, I think I have the equipment to melt it and remold it into something else right here in my back pocket....

Grrr....

View Poll Results: Has the Department of Homeland Security reached out and touched you?
Yes	14	50.00%
Not that I know.	14	50.00%
Voters: 28. You may not vote on this poll

03-07-2006, 10:12 AM	#9
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 11,560 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 35 Thanked 184 Times in 167 Posts Friends: 12	Well, once when I was being patted down, the guy pressed his hand against my groin. We looked each other straight in the eye, then he turned red in the face. Wonder if he got his jollies that morning? I don't have a problem with DHS or CATSA here in Canada, if they are truly making us safer. So how many shipping containers get inspected? Under 6%? So a terrorist could smuggle a nuke or bioweapons inside a shipping container and know that - more than likely - they'll get through? Why is the government spying on us, but we're not allowed to return the favor? Gov wants to read my email? Look into my bank statements? Knock yourself out, I have receipts for everything. But what about the folks we entrust to protect us? Can we really trust them? The most obvious case was the recent revelation that a couple of Federal Air Marshalls had a neat side business of smuggling narcotics. I'm sure there are many others. Overall I see gross incompetence from the FBI, CIA, NSA, etc. Look at how the whistleblowers came forward after 9/11, helping to expose some of it. They also lost their jobs too. As an example, how about Aldrich Ames at the CIA? By all accounts, this guy was a drunk and a loser, so he was naturally overqualified for government work. Despite mediocre work at best, he was able to move up the ranks to Counterintelligence Branch Chief / Soviet Operations. Then he sold out the most vital American secrets regarding spying in the former USSR. Many of the double agents were tortured, some executed. And the CIA didn't dare suspect anything when one of their Branch Chiefs, on a salary of $70 K, bought a +$500K house for cash. It was a jealous and disgruntled co-worker who raised suspicion. Then it all unraveled. There was also John Walker Jr. - another loser - at the Navy, where the secret of the encryption machine was sold out. In that case, the ex wife spilled the beans. So I sure feel safer while TSA employees root around my underwear. __________________ 2007 Toyota FJ Cruiser 5AT "C", Sun Fusion

03-07-2006, 10:59 AM	#10
parrot_lady Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Chicago Burbs Posts: 345 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	TSA stole my toothpaste. I usually buy "Tom's of maine" toothpaste and it comes in a metal tube. I learned that I will never again check my toothpaste cause I got to where I was going and had no toothpaste. grumble gumble I usually get selected for secondary screening... I was traveling for work at one point and found a horseshoe in the field where I was working and wanted to bring it home, only luggage I had wasn't checked. So I stuffed it in there... only to have them pull it out and start asking questions. Geez. Its a HORSE SHOE. Why yes, I think I have the equipment to melt it and remold it into something else right here in my back pocket.... Grrr.... __________________ I gave up trying to figure out the plural of prius long ago. Someone asked me what kind of cars our family drove and I simply told them "We're a two prion family, no more no less." --- mods: Block heater(ins 1-28-06)mudflaps(ins 12-16-05), BT Tech chassis stiffening plate ( ins 12-16), EV switch (Rec'd)

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03-06-2006, 08:38 PM	#1
Sufferin' Prius Envy Platinum Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: USA Posts: 4,012 My Car: Other Non-Hybrid Model: Package: N/A Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 1 Post Friends: 0	We received some interesting mail today. <_< It was from one of my wife's cousins. I think the enclosed noisy package of commercial wildflower seeds may have piqued DHS's curiosity. Do I feel violated? No. My wife and I think it quite funny and interesting. [attachmentid=2471]

03-06-2006, 10:00 PM	#2
Mystery Squid Junior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 3 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts Friends: 0	WOW! To answer your question though, not that I know of... I guess the big question is, are all parties now in some database?

03-06-2006, 10:08 PM	#3
DaveinOlyWA 3rd Time was Solariffic!! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: South Puget Sound, WA Posts: 12,375 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: IV Package: Solar Roof Thanks: 24 Thanked 121 Times in 103 Posts Friends: 10	well at least they told you they opened your letter...its not as if you could stop them.

03-06-2006, 10:08 PM	#4
galaxee resident lab rat Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: boilermaker territory Posts: 9,675 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: N/A Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 93 Times in 37 Posts Friends: 26	whoa. i'd call that the department of holy s#*& they went through my suitcase a couple times when i was flying around the country doing grad school interviews. buying the prius was just one more reason to not travel by air ever again.

03-06-2006, 10:12 PM	#6
Frank Hudon Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 4,144 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	now you understand the courier industry.

03-06-2006, 10:40 PM	#8
rg3design.com Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Central New Jersey Posts: 58 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Not that I know of... but with the renewal of the Patriot Act, the domestic spying and other eroding civil liberties I'm sure they may have listened to phone call or read an email or two. I'd seriously be freaked out if they opened my mail and put big scary green stickers on it.