For some reason our comment and permalink links are not working for me today. Are they working for you? I just dropped a note to our Movable Type god to see what the deal is.

But I wanted to comment on the comment left this weekend concerning the TSA madness.

Our reader wrote, “Laptop computers and video cameras that use cassettes have long been subject to this policy.” And then he (she) goes on to add, “Small electronic items, such as cell phones, MP3 players, iPods and portable video game systems do not have to be removed from their carrying cases.”

“It sounds like portable DVD/CD players are thus excluded … No?”

First, I don’t know about you guys, but I have never heard a TSA screener say that “video cameras that use cassettes” have to be put in a bin. Secondly, I’ve got more than 20 emails in our box this morning from folks who say, yes, when they flew this weekend, they were told that ALL electronic devices, including iPods, etc., would have to be put in separate bins. Or in one bin. Three people tell me that they were told even their CAMERAS had to be taken out and put in a bin.

Then again, more than one reader also said that liquids in their carry-ons (left because the screeners didn’t say anything about them or demand they be separated) went through the screening just fine and nothing was done. Or said.

If anyone else had an illuminating experience flying this weekend with our friends at the TSA, drop us a line at hhegeman (at) planebusiness.com.