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It seems that the TSA takes everything very, very literally, perhaps too literally.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...tter-jokes.html

A pair from the UK, excited about an upcoming trip to the US, had joked on Twitter about, among other things, "digging Marilyn Monroe up," and "pissing people off on Hollywood Blvd.," both lifted from dialog from an episode of The Simpson's. Unfortunately, one of them also mentioned "destroying America." Oops.

Apparently, the TSA aren't fans of the show, nor are they hip to UK slang, because they were ready for them at LAX, and went so far as to specifically search their luggage for spades and shovels with which they might have completed an assault on Marilyn's eternal rest ...

Oh noes. Whatever will we do.

What I love most is that they assume that these hypothetical people would actually transport spades all the way from Ireland to do the job, rather than buying one for $15 here.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
At least, that's what I assume. It's the daily mail, so I get kittenblocked when trying to read it.

I can't post the whole text. The daily mail are not phone friendly.

daedalus wrote:What I love most is that they assume that these hypothetical people would actually transport spades all the way from Ireland to do the job, rather than buying one for $15 here.

Clearly "spade" is code for "Shillelagh".

daedalus wrote:What I love most is that they assume that these hypothetical people would actually transport spades all the way from Ireland to do the job, rather than buying one for $15 here.

I'm pretty sure they didnt assume that at all actually.

It was more about making these idiots have to go through getting searched, delayed and generally publicly humiliated...
I

I'm sure it was a cost effective exercise, which in future will prevent..er..tweeting quotes from American TV? Which is clearly a great threat to..er..something.

daedalus wrote:What I love most is that they assume that these hypothetical people would actually transport spades all the way from Ireland to do the job, rather than buying one for $15 here.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
At least, that's what I assume. It's the daily mail, so I get kittenblocked when trying to read it.

Yeah, really, lol.

This is hilarious.

We survived Pearl Harbor, the Cuban Missile Crisis and 9/11, but we might, just might, fall to a couple of guys with shovels. feth, the world knows about our Achilles heel

American border guards are not known for their sense of humour.

Keeping Mexicans out is serious business main

Joey wrote:Anyone with badges are not known for their sense of humour.

Fix'd.

Combine that with the ego trip they often also induce un their wearers and well you get things like this story...

CT GAMER wrote:

Joey wrote:Anyone with badges are not known for their sense of humour.

Fix'd.

Combine that with the ego trip they often also induce un their wearers and well you get things like this story...

Except when it comes to kids demonstrating nonviolently on their college campus. That gak ends civilization as we know it and anyone arguing otherwise is an anarchist and probably a sociopath.

True story.

serves them right, then again, you'd be suprised how many garbage humans are on twitter.

remilia_scarlet wrote:serves them right, then again, you'd be suprised how many garbage humans are on twitter.

Wait, what? Serves the Irish dudes right? For making blatantly obvious jokes on Twitter?

I'm going to call partial BS on this, since the articles I could find had them being detained (something TSA can't do), by 'armed guards' (something TSA is not). I mean, I'm not saying TSA wasn't called on to do the pat downs or anything, but c'mon; TSA by themselves are hardly going to do something this proactive.

BBC's take for anyone who wouldn't want to touch the Daily Fail with a 10' barge pole: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16810312

Bromsy wrote:I'm going to call partial BS on this, since the articles I could find had them being detained (something TSA can't do), by 'armed guards' (something TSA is not). I mean, I'm not saying TSA wasn't called on to do the pat downs or anything, but c'mon; TSA by themselves are hardly going to do something this proactive.

Of course the TSA is not the only agency responsible for security at borders and airports. If it involves a border, then usually the Customs and Border Patrol is involved, and those guys are "armed guards". They can detain you, arrest you, and prevent you from entering the country.

Also: a report of the story by Forbes.

Well, yeah, I was just responding to AustonT, who I assume was being at least partially jocular; while also explaining a bit to those who might not know the diff(erence).

Joey wrote:American border guards are not known for their sense of humour.

Or their ability to understand other cultures

The last time I went to the US, in 2003, the immigration procedure (Miami International Airport) was done by armed guards who were I think Border Patrol.

remilia_scarlet wrote:serves them right, then again, you'd be suprised how many garbage humans are on twitter.

Because comedy references make you a 'Garbage Human" ?

Team America, Comedy Police?

Combine that with the ego trip they often also induce un their wearers and well you get things like this story...

Because Border Security is a laughing matter. Clearly. In an era of unbelievably high illegal immigration, drug smuggling and more.

Clearly its time for a joke. Amidoingitrite?

The next time I travel to the US I will be shaving off my goatee so that I don't get the religious questions I got last time.

Mr Hyena wrote:

Combine that with the ego trip they often also induce un their wearers and well you get things like this story...

Because Border Security is a laughing matter. Clearly. In an era of unbelievably high illegal immigration, drug smuggling and more.

Clearly its time for a joke. Amidoingitrite?

How much does it cost to do all the things that got done to these two? Its not free. Its cash that should be spent on actually protecting people, not terrorizing tourists over a joke. What have they achieved exactly? Less humour from holidaymakers? Less revenue from tourists who now think "Yeah, I'm not going to fly to Fortress Amerika to get fingered by an overzealous mall-cop." How does this protect anything? Or are we to assume that illegal immigrants and terrorists can actually be identified by them tweeting quotes from Yank TV? Now THAT is hilarious.

Kilkrazy wrote:The last time I went to the US, in 2003, the immigration procedure (Miami International Airport) was done by armed guards who were I think Border Patrol.

only for you KK. We're wise to your nefarious schemes...cat lover!

I'm assuming they were waiting at the air port like this.


"I am the law! Drop your shovels!"

That is hilarious, but I'm glad it's being publicised. Maybe they'll relax a bit. Because you know, one irishman with a shovel could quite easily destroy america.
*taps shovel meaningfully*

Has anyone pointed out yet that Marilyn Monroe is in an above ground crypt and sledge hammers rather than shovels would be needed?

Also not the TSA, but I'm not amending the title or OP now.

AustonT wrote:Has anyone pointed out yet that Marilyn Monroe is in an above ground crypt and sledge hammers rather than shovels would be needed?

Stop giving the terrorists advice on how to hurt us most!