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Friday, July 11, 2008 12:00 AM

Ask the pilot

Propped up by a culture of fear, TSA has become a bureaucracy with too much power and little accountability. Where will the lunacy stop?
By Patrick Smith

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  • Friday, July 11, 2008 11:17 PM

    A Tiny Wrench

    Several years ago, screeners confiscated a tiny wrench that was on my keychain, which I used to tune my drum head. It was about 3 inches long -- about the most inoffensive item you could imagine.

    'No tools.'

    'Come on, it isn't a hammer, it's just a tiny wrench. It's a KEY CHAIN for christsakes.'

    'No tools.'

    'What possible neferious use could I put this to? Am I going to disassemble the plane in midair with one 1/2" wrench?'

    Suspicious look.

    'No tools.'

    —Liam Mheiriceá Read Liam Mheiriceá's other letters

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