For those interested, here is a follow-up on the nipple ring story.

Basically, they are changing official policy so that people can show them jewelry rather than yanking it out with pliers. No apologies on behalf of the smirking male agents, though, and no explanation of why a nipple ring might be considered a weapon.

TSA agents force a woman to painfully remove her nipple ring with pliers before okaying her boarding ( Read more... )

A blogger recounts the tale of missing his flight because of clueless TSA agents.
As one commenter points out, it is far more likely a bomb or other hazardous device would be secreted in an older "normal-looking" device than in a thin little MacBook Air.