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Love the snow globe, but don't hand carry it on an airplane
While perusing the list of things not allowed as carry ons on airplanes, snow globes caught my eye. These are those items I usually associate with Christmas. Remember the one in "It's a Wonderful Life" -- the Jimmy Stewart classic holiday movie? The snow globe represented the main character's idlylic town--all cozy and snowy in winter. Even if you had that snow globe-- calling it an antique--a movie classic piece of memorabilia, TSA wouldn't blink an eye before snatching it up and selling it on Ebay. (See Catherine's and Neil's posts.)
Okay, I remember a snow globe at the end of "It's a Wonderful Life," but maybe I'm making this up, and I just think I saw it. But, there was also a snow globe in "Citizen Kane" that crashed to the ground and broke at the end of the movie when the main character dies, right as he whispered, "Rosebud." Either one, doesn't matter. You can't take it on the plane.
See, the water in the snow globe might not be water at all--and heaven knows what those white flakes or glitter that swirl about when you shake the globes might be made of. Plastic, sure. How about EXPLOSIVE plastic? Just kidding, I have no idea.
I'm actually not faulting TSA for putting snow globes on the list. I never would have thought of their possible use as a terrorist weapon. Seems mean to me. Clever, sure, but definitely mean. Snow globes are magic. They are where you hold a world in your hand that you can alter by turning it upside down or shaking it. They are like the best memories of childhood--like pudding. You can take pudding on the plane, but just 3 ounces or less.
So if you happen to be traveling for the holidays and pick up a snow globe in some gift shop, just remember, wrap it in a towel or something, and pack it in the middle of your checked suitcase--otherwise, maybe you can buy it back on Ebay like Neil suggests.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Stories, Airlines, Airports
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 13)
Nancy Nov 19th 2007 4:20PM
All of the airport security rules are a distraction from the fact that George W. Bush is running this country into the ground.
melissa Nov 19th 2007 4:21PM
i think its really say that this is what has become of the society that we live in, that we have to second guess every item including something so innocent as a snow globe.. its sad that one bunch of psycho's turned this world upside down
SWEET C......... Nov 19th 2007 10:54PM
I think too much crap is allowed to be brought on as carry on, some of those suitcases weigh a ton and have to be nearly beaten to fit in the overhead.
I DO NOT MIND THE EXTRA PRECAUTIONS, FOR WE ARE NEVER TOO SAFE. THERE ARE A LOT OF IDIOTS OUT THERE THAT WANT THEIR "MOMENT" OF GLORY
Susan Nov 19th 2007 10:54PM
Hmmmm, I collect snowglobes, does that mean I have weapons of mass destruction?
george Nov 19th 2007 10:54PM
rob said.. "Ya break that and u can slice someones throat with it... my goodness do any of you have any clue..."
Well, Rob, come to think of it, you could bring on any kind of empty bottle or jar and do the same. There's no ban on glass, plastic or metal. Actually, there's a million ways a determined terrorist could "do his thing" and you can't possibly prevent them all. As somebody said above, you would need to have everybody flying naked and forbid any baggage whatsoever, carried or checked.
As JT said, "Anyone who see's the TSA and the entire homeland security debacle as anything but a very expensive case of beaurocratic window dressing is indeed a fool." I agree. TSA is a ridiculous (as well as expensive and annoying) farce that tries to make it look like the government is doing something to protect you. It's just burning up money (your money) trying to look busy. The US government is so obsessed with being Politically Correct and not '"offending" anyone that they don't have the guts to do what really is necessary (what Israel and China do): profiling those fliers most likely to be terrorists, based on past experience with terrorists. Instead, they are frisking babies and grandmas in the pretense that they are protecting you from such dangerous people. (When was the last time a toddler hijacked a plane?) Pathetic!
steve Nov 19th 2007 10:51PM
Unreal. Last month i took a flight from Newark to Keywest to go scubadiving. I forgot i left my diving knife in my carry on and i never got stopped. Both ways i was able to carry my knife right on the plane
allison Nov 19th 2007 4:32PM
The next thing you know lactating women will be required to pump their breasts dry before boarding the plane - potentially hazardous liquids, you know. I am sure that some right wing nut on here will proceed to point out to me all of the explosive and flammable substances that a woman can carry inside her boobs.
THREEFIVEECHO Nov 19th 2007 4:31PM
Remember when it wasn't a big deal to carry "harmless" box cutters on a plane....we know how that turned out.
Jeff Hayes Nov 19th 2007 10:53PM
No snowglobes on airplanes?!?!?
How the heck does President Bush get his HEAD on the plane, then??? :-P
Stanley Garcia Nov 19th 2007 10:52PM
DUMB
Dawn Nov 19th 2007 10:52PM
To all the people who are complaining, I just wish you guys would complain more about the people that are trying to blow you out of the skies and not the people who are trying to help you make it safely to your destinations. All it takes is one person to do unimaginable damage. Think about it. If everybody wants things their way, there would be no need for security. Everybody pack your bags bring whatever you want and see if you can live with the consequences. We live in different times. Get angry at the bad guys. They are responsible. We have to protect ourselves and not wait for something to happen and then we start blaming everybody else.
Blue Vacuum Nov 19th 2007 10:52PM
For the jerk who suggested "no carry-ons other than purses and wallets," what do you suggest I do with my child who needs a diaper change and his sippy cup and a few games to keep him occupied during the flight, as well as my reading material (which I never get to read anyway because of said toddler)???? Just suck it up and either "stay home," as others suggest or "drive?" Sure, because driving to CA from FL is SUCH an option. Thanks a lot for your reasonable and understanding suggestions.
Blue Vacuum Nov 19th 2007 10:51PM
Remember, Bush will arbitrarily elevate the terrorist threat to justify his actions while in office......it's been happening since 9/11 and hasn't done us ANY good at all.........whereas he had many many clues about the threat of 9/11 and didn't change the "terrorist threat scale" before then. Notice that when he feels weak politically, he raises the silly "color code" system to orange so we can all tremble in fear and suffer more airline delays.
allison Nov 19th 2007 10:50PM
Broken glass, huh? Did you know that a creative terrorist could also roll up a piece of paper very tightly and use it to put out someone's eye? Let's ban paper now, too! We can start with the SkyMall catalog, which should just be banned on the mere principle that it hawks pretentious, overpriced, useless crap.
Larry Nov 19th 2007 4:45PM
The TSA are not only incompetent as every test has shown, but most screeners are arrogant law enforcement wanna-be's. It takes a lot to get me going, but I've had more harsh words with TSA screeners in the past 6 years than I've had with all others in my 48 years. It started with them wanting to "fully" search my then 6 year old son. Interestingly, when I called the TSA screener a fucking asshole (to her face) and refused to apologize to her or let her do a full search of my son, she backed down. Most recently, at MDT airport, the machine told me to enter and the TSA screener yelled (literally) at me that how dare I enter before she told me to enter. When I explained that her system told me to enter, she informed me that she was in charge, not the machine. She gave me a very dirty look when I suggested that the machine was far smarter than her which made me worry about our nation's security. Yet, she just moved me through despite questionning her cophood. If we're going to stop the "war on terror," we need to hire TSA screeners who are smarter than most chimpanzees. They are a farce!!!
Fresh Meat Nov 19th 2007 6:48PM
Please people stop living in a world of fear. This is what they want all of us to be so worried that we can not see the light at the end of the tunnel. Our own goverment supports this fear. That is how they seak to control us and reduce the bill of rights to nothing but a wasted piece of paper, not worth the ink to print it. We as people of the USA need to start standing up for our rights and not let them be taken away by the very goverment that is suppose to up hold them. If you do not believe this please just keep being a sheep waiting for the butcher.
OldTimer Nov 19th 2007 4:58PM
Logicly the next banned item will be passengers. Wait a minute, passengers are de facto being banned already!
Donna Donley Nov 19th 2007 5:04PM
No snowglobes doesn't surprise me. It's sad. I haven't had any dealings with snowglobes I do have a couple of TSA stories of my own. I rarely fly. The last two times I've flown was to Phoenix, AZ. The first time I went to see her I had a hour and a half lay over in Dallas. An old friend of mine in Dallas picked me up and we had lunch. Going throught the Dallas security I set off the metal dectector I had taken of my jewerly and hair clip. It was my bra. I'm what people call a full figured woman. Well after they had walk through the metal detector 4 times, I said its the underwire in my bra. The security guy gave me a look to which I replied "Oh, no! I am not strippin' outta my bra right here in the middle DFW Airport, unless you pay me!" I had the men and women in line behind me rolling laughing. A nice matronly security lady did the wand thing, a pat down and I was on my way to Phoenix. I don't go through Dallas anymore to go to Phoenix. Ladies if your gonna fly save the headache go braless and wear a big baggy shirt! Also if you fly with your puppy or kitty in the cabin make sure they don't try to stick puppy/kitty and kennel in the x-ray machine! The x-rays from that are very high and dangerous to pets. A dim bulb security gut here in Tulsa try to do just that with a friend's pure blood Siberian Husky puppy.
franksfile Nov 19th 2007 5:04PM
What in GODS name are you stupid a--holes talking about,sure homeland security isn't thebest answer to TERROISTS at this time it it is the best one we have.I got news for you,the last terror act was 9/11.Do you think thats an accident,no STUPID thats the result of a lot of hard work by the security network we have put in place since 9/11/.Why can't you DUMMIES try to understand and work with them instead of making it tougher.I am going to PHOENIX on wednesday and I am going to grin and bear the TSA and any other authority that is at JFK.wake up and smell the coffee.
george Nov 19th 2007 5:01PM
Lynda said... "I am sure I could look around my home and see numerous things that could be classed as dangerous. Just be glad so many precautions are being taken to provide our safety so that the remainder of us will never have to face another 9/11."
Lynda, this will not prevent another 9/11. If terrorists can't get on planes, they will bomb trains (as they ALREADY HAVE done in Madrid and London). If not trains, they will bomb bridges and tunnels, subways and malls. And so on. Are you going to have security inspections before anyone gets on a bus or goes over a bridge or enters a shopping mall? [We already have them in many office buildings.] How far can we take this obsession with security? Will we have a cop and screening machine at every doorway? There's a limit. You can't possibly prevent everything! Instead, the authorities need to go after the people who are CAUSING terrorism and the REASONS underlying terrorism. But the government won't touch that. Not politically correct!
The bottom line is that TSA is not making you any safer. They are just making you FEEL safer.