[katezbox]

OK - aside from JoJo - I am most likely the "travelingist" poster on TOTV. I fly regularly from Orlando to Atlanta, DC, Charlotte, Philly, Toronto, Lauderdale and infrequently to a lot more.

I have been patted down and scanned. The only time the pat down was ever invasive was before TSA - when the rentacops were doing it. That pat down was by a man, who also seemed to take inordinate pleasure in pawing through my underwear in my luggage.

The scanner looks a bit like the "Beam me up Scotty" device from Star Trek. And no, there are no naughty photos of my private parts on display. The TSA folks (and their Canadian counterparts) are completely professional.

My husband has been patted down every time he flies because of his artificial hip. He much prefers the scanner. It is much quicker.

What I really don't understand here, is why this has suddenly become an issue. Why now are they such an invasion of privacy when a few years back they were considered paramount to our safety?