Passport’s
Forum for Letters, Comments, Information & Anecdotes
Curious
Traveler
X-RAY EYES
On a flight to Mississippi from Phoenix, a security
guard pulled me aside and told me that I had been randomly
selected to get either hand searched or x-rayed. I asked
if it was safe and private and the officer told me it
was, but after he took four pictures from all sorts of
different angles I wasn’t so sure I had made the
right decision. How safe are these new x-ray machines,
and how private are they?
—Reed W. Brookhaven, MS.
Editor: The x-ray you are referring
to is a technology called millimeter wave. While once
only a vision of science fiction writers this technology
is now a reality. The years after 9/11 expedited the
availability of these machines and they were tested
in a voluntary pilot program in 2007 at Phoenix Sky
Harbor Airport. In 2009, millimeter wave will be used
nationwide, bringing the total number of machines in
use to about 120. Its main purpose is to check passengers
quickly and effectively compared to the alternative
invasive pat down. The x-rays take place in a partially
closed off area, where the only person to observe the
pictures taken is the officer. No private parts can
be seen. The systems are designed so that the images
cannot be sent or stored, so there are no fears of your
naked figure showing up on the Internet. As far as health
concerns go, the TSA says that it is harmless; in fact,
it gives off less radiation than talking on a cell phone.
While the radiation levels may be low, many doctors
strongly agree that no radiation is the best and safest
way to go. The new systems have been gaining praise
by people who have metal implants that go off in the
conventional detectors. No longer will they have to
be delayed and embarrassed by searches that don’t
turn up any results.
UNWELCOME GUESTS
My boyfriend and I just got back from a cross-country
trip where we stayed mostly in hostels. When we returned
to New York we were alarmed to find that we had a bad
case of bed bugs. Is it possible that we brought these
little critters home with us? Are there ways we can
prevent this from happening in the future?
—Ben, Williamsburg, NY
Editor: You may have actually
brought back an unwanted souvenir in your suitcase!
Travelers often transport bed bugs unknowingly; after
all, bugs are the original hitchhikers. Getting bedbugs
has nothing to do with staying in a hostel. Even the
most posh hotels have reported some incidences of these
insects. Many experts believe that in recent years the
number of bedbug cases in the United States has been
increasing. Some attribute this to an increase in intercontinental
travel as well as increases in international visitors.
The problem appears to have created such panic in the
travel industry that some states have decided to launch
education campaigns about the bugs. In Hawaii, the state
passed a resolution to allow the health department to
do a series of education programs for those in the hospitality
industry. These pests have been annoying people since
the 17th century, and you bet after 400 years of annoyance,
people have come up with ways to find them, kill them,
and prevent them from coming home with you. If you are
truly concerned about getting bedbugs check out websites
like Trip Advisor (http://www.tripadvisor.com),
where people often alert others if a place they stayed
in had any. If you suspect your accommodation may have
bedbugs, look at the mattress and examine it closely
for extremely tiny black dots, which are in fact their
eggs, as well as little blood stains. If bed bugs are
indeed detected, immediately inform the management,
and they will get an exterminator to treat the room
with pesticide. Before leaving, wash your clothes in
hot water and check while packing for any signs of these
mini bothers. It is important to keep your luggage away
from the bed and high up, preferably on a luggage stand.
Never keep any of your clothes on the floor, or these
tiny vermin may try to hitch a free ride back to New
York.
ARIZONA PRIDE
I just read the Tucson, Arizona article in your
October issue. I thought it was very well written and
very positive about Tucson. I just wanted to point out
one thing that really bothered me—it was stated
that Arizona is a very conservative state. This is so
untrue. Yes, John McCain is from here and there are
conservatives here, but they are in every state. Arizona
used to be conservative back in the 1980s and 1990s,
but it is no longer a red state nor blue, but purple.
Arizona was the first and only state to this date whose
voters rejected an anti-gay marriage ban (Ed. Note:
a new law that would ban same-sex marriage in Arizona
is on the November 2008 ballot). Tucson is by far the
most liberal city in the state, but there are Arizona
towns that have [large and extremely active] GLBT communities,
like Jerome and Bisbee. Even Yuma, known as a very conservative
border town, has a gay and lesbian chamber of commerce
(there are three in the state), and Arizona is in the
top five states with the most GLBT elected officials.
I am very proud of this state and of the Arizona Pride
Guide we produce (http://www.gayarizona.com).
[All of] Arizona is a great place to live and visit.
Thank you so much for highlighting Tucson and Phoenix
in your articles.
—Michael M., via the Internet
[Published:
November, 2008]
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