Getting through security to board the plane at Sea-Tac will soon present flyers with a Hobson's Choice:
1. Go through a full-body scanner, the safety of which is debated, not to mention the privacy concerns raised by what some of our fellow Flyer Talkers refer to as Nude-O-Scopes.
2. If you opt out of the body scan, you will go through a pat-down search that is about to become even more invasive, i.e. like a police frisk, if Logan Airport's pilot program is any indication.
We're not at all pleased at the idea of the full-body scans. Since the machines will supposedly soon be installed at SEA, it seems we'll have to make that Hobson's Choice sooner rather than later.
A third alternative, if the powers-that-be finally make it too unpleasant to stomach, is simply to fly a lot less.
Kathy and Brian
Two retired educators alternating joyfully between seeing the world and enjoying our eight grandchildren (in order of birth), Jake, Avery, Taegan, Lily, Peyton, Riley, Blane, and Jace.
Kathy and Brian met in the clarinet section of the University of California (Santa Barbara) Symphony Orchestra several decades ago.
Brian's Western Canadian roots and Kathy's Colorado ties resulted in their making beautiful music together along with producing a cross-border crop of descendants.
Kathy spent a year studying in Vienna at the Institute for European Studies and the University of Vienna.
Brian started the school band program in Hope, British Columbia, and later became the high school's vice-principal for 6 years and subsequently principal for 15 years before retiring in 2001.
Kathy, in between raising our three children, taught kindergarten and first grade, middle school, and high school - mathematics, computer studies, ESL, and her first love, band, before retiring in 2001.
We enjoy sharing our travel experiences and providing the odd travel tip to friends, relatives, and visitors.