Comments | racinghippo: I so love bureaucracy.

racinghippo

I so love bureaucracy.

Feb 07, 2009 17:20

I’ve been filling out ESTAs for our family cruise in March.
It’s the usual questions: “Are you a terrorist? Y/N” etc.

Easy enough, if tedious.

But then it comes to doing one for Pygmy Hippo.

Now, it has a checkbox that you have to tick if doing it on behalf of someone, as I was. It says:
For third-parties submitting the application on behalf of the ( Read more... )

Leave a comment

Back to all threads

andrewwilde February 8 2009, 08:35:27 UTC

Yeah, but isn't it worth it, to ensure that the USA is being kept safe from despicable acts of terrorism TSA & CBP are covering their asses in case they miss something?

Seriously, worth considering if you're entering the US: this and this

andrewwilde February 8 2009, 08:44:07 UTC

Oh, and if you use locks on your luggage, make sure they're the type that can be picked by a 5-year-old. Otherwise, expect to buy now ones after every trip through the USA - although they are good enough to re-secure your luggage with a cable-tie. And put the broken lock inside so you can't claim they stole anything...

racinghippo February 8 2009, 18:50:25 UTC

Thanks for that, too - We have some TSA-approved ones that apparently they have the special keys to open.
I just need to remember the combination for them....

racinghippo February 8 2009, 18:49:03 UTC

OOh, now that's v. useful info. Muchas gracias!

racinghippo February 8 2009, 18:52:10 UTC

Actually, I could have a non-disclosure agreement printed out ready to sign for anyone who wants to look at the contents of my lappy....
"Of course you can! Be my guest! Just sign here first, and get your manager to counter-sign it..."

I suspect that would probably earn me a full cavity search though.

andrewwilde February 8 2009, 19:19:15 UTC

I suspect that would probably earn me a full cavity search though
I suspect you're right. As well as your laptop taken for a few months (years in some cases, if the comments are to be believed) and missing the flight due to "delays".

Bear in mind that these guys are not the brightest, and know they have absolute authority and very few (if any) limits to their powers. Scary, eh?

On my recent trip to the US, they proved their worth: Every single bag was gone through (in a group of 24) and we even had trouble getting a tiny 35ml tube of toothpaste through (it wasn't marked in fl oz).

Then (when proved wrong) they had the teremity to take the piss out of Toad-In-The-Hole!

Fobbed 'em off with a couple of shiney brochures though, which seemed to work. Simple minds, eh?

racinghippo February 8 2009, 19:25:22 UTC

Shiny brochures... must take shiny brochures...!

Back to all threads