From Brainshrub: The fish that threatened national security (True story)

[papau]

http://www.brainshrub.com/

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/03362/255283.stm

Forum: The fish that threatened national security
College student Lara Hayhurst was not prepared to let officials treat her little pet like Osama 'fin' Laden

Sunday, December 28, 2003

Like many college students who flew home for the holidays, I had to endure the latest airport safeguards in the name of homeland security. A lot of us have stories to tell, but only mine is a fish tale, a contemporary melodrama of the absurd to prepare you for future travels. <snip>

At La Guardia we proceeded to security and the X-ray inspection point run by the Transportation Security Administration. I have learned by now that, post-9/11, a traveler is better off safe than sorry when proceeding through security.

I wasn't prepared, however, for the TSA to stop me right at the entrance, proclaiming that no small pets, including fish, were permitted through security. I had, however, just received the blessing of the ticket agents at US Airways and pre-assured MJ's travels with Pittsburgh International Airport security weeks before our travel date. I tried to explain this to the screener who stood between me and the gates, but she would have none of it.

I was led back to the US Airways ticket counter, stocking-footed and alone, where the agents reasserted that they did not see a problem for me to have a fish on board, properly packaged in plastic fish bag and secured with a rubber band as MJ was. But the TSA supervisor was called over, and he berated me profusely. He exclaimed that in no way, under no circumstances, was a small fish allowed to pass through security, regardless of what the ticket agents said. <snip>

[SlavesandBulldozers]

1. whew

I feel safer just knowing that we have such a diligent watch over our airports. "Zer is a fish on board, nobody make any sudden movements, no funny stuff."

[papau]

2. But do airflights from overseas have security as good as ours?

:-)

[brainshrub]

3. You forgot the picture of our brave hero!

I emailed the author of the story to check it's veracity. She was very kind and sent me this picture of "X-Ray" the betta fish. (Sorry about the size.)

I will email her again and try to get her to comment on this thread.



This fish survived the TSA.

[papau]

4. Beautiful - I'm into dogs (Golden's) but this fellow is a star!

Flushed into the East river like common mobster - no no no!

Glad to see that he is alive and well.

:-)

[DulceDecorum]

5. They say

that the guilty are afraid
- of a Beta fish!!!!

I thought this was some sort of a joke at first
http://www.lewrockwell.com/wallace/wallace42.html
but maybe I had better go have another look at
A Fish Called Wanda.
She might just be a terrorist.