Bakery Creates TSA-Safe Cupcakes After TSA Defends Its Confiscation Of 'Dangerous' Cupcakes
from the at-least-those-terrorists-won't-get-fat dept
While the TSA continues to not catch terrorists, it is catching flak for its decision last month to confiscate a cupcake. Even more bizarre, the TSA is continuing to defend the confiscation, claiming that since this cupcake was in a jar it meant that the frosting was considered a gel and subject to the totally silly and pointless 3 oz. rule.I wanted to make it clear that this wasn’t your everyday, run-of-the-mill cupcake. If you’re not familiar with it, we have a policy directly related to the UK liquid bomb plot of 2006 called 3-1-1 that limits the amount of liquids, gels and aerosols you can bring in your carry-on luggage. Icing falls under the “gel” category. As you can see from the picture, unlike a thin layer of icing that resides on the top of most cupcakes, this cupcake had a thick layer of icing inside a jar.Or maybe they were just hungry. Either way, rest assured that terrorists who get through security won't be able to get fat on cupcakes.
In general, cakes and pies are allowed in carry-on luggage, however, the officer in this case used their discretion on whether or not to allow the newfangled modern take on a cupcake per 3-1-1 guidelines. They chose not to let it go.
Or... maybe they can. A bakery in Rhode Island, picking up on this ridiculousness and sensing a marketing opportunity, is now offering a TSA-complaint cupcake, complete with exactly 3 oz. of frosting... a plastic baggie, and a faux boarding pass declaring compliance:
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: cupcakes, overhype, security theater, tsa
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
They could make sure people use the appropriate amount of toilet paper, chew the right number of times and even brush in the proper fashion!
I think we are on to something here.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Common sense isn't that common, so they say, and clearly that applies to the TSA!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Boot on the Face of Cupcakes...
Wait until the TSA randomly stops you and searched your car.
http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20111020/11465616440/tsa-decides-terrorists-must-be-driving-partn ers-with-tenn-law-enforcement-to-randomly-search-vehicles.shtml
TSA = Totalitarians Shoving Authoritarianism
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
First they must conduct clinical trials on the flammability of the cup cakes. If that passes, they must then inspect all ingredients to make sure that the cupcakes can't be used as a weapon. They must make sure that it won't release any toxic chemicals or fumes before and after being ignited, that it doesn't contain any infectious diseases, that there aren't any explosives hidden inside them, and they must finally ensure that the cup cakes aren't a hazard in case they get messy and wind up on the floor. Wouldn't want anyone slipping and falling. One other thing, they must make sure that there aren't any strong chemicals that can burn through the airplane enclosure and cause a hole.
When it's all said and done the average muffin can cost up to $16 after approval.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
It's not the cupcakes you should be worried about. It's those damn doughnuts hiding 3.25 ounces of jelly inside.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
I'd suggest you start with a dictionary since that seems to be the help you need most.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PWfP0cH2h1c/Tws7muR_06I/AAAAAAAAAwg/o5WGF6hp6Hc/s1600/Cupcake+ Comparison.JPG
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
We have brains to analyze the situation and take the proper procedure.
Just because your GPS tells you to drive of a cliff it doesn't mean you will do it. You'll use your brain and find some alternative like a bridge or a way to go down the cliff then up at the other side.
Seems brains is not the strong trait in TSA agents.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re:
The TSA often forget to use their brains.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
I'm sorry.
It's still ridiculous.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: not a cupcake "placed" in a jar, it was a jar filled to the brim with the components of a cupcake
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
What would happen?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: What would happen?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
---
Rebecca Hains said she was going through security at the airport in Las Vegas when a TSA agent pulled her aside and said the cupcake frosting was "gel-like" enough to constitute a security risk. (Source: WCVB/CNN)
---
What about the security risk constituted by the "gel-like" substance rattling around in the skull of that TSA agent? I guess since the agent wasn't going on the plane it's not considered dangerous?
I hope they rendered the cupcake inedible before they left, as I too get the impression the agent was just looking for a free dessert.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Mmmmmm...cupcakes...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Better watch out
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
LOL
You have to admit, THAT would be AWESOME!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Now I just feel embarrassed for my country.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
OH MY GOD, SOMETHING NEW!!!
"Richard Reid hid a bomb in his shoe, make 'em take off their shoes! Some idiots had some harebrained impractical half-baked plan (which never would have worked) to mix liquids into a bomb based on a Die Hard movie, no more liquids! Some guy tried to hide a bomb in his junk, but just turned himself into a eunuch through our dumb luck, get some nekkid scanners!"
It's a reactive, whack-a-mole approach and it's trivially easy for any terrorist smarter than Gomer Pile to circumvent.
TSA should be run by terrorism experts and detectives, instead it's seemingly run by mall cops.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: OH MY GOD, SOMETHING NEW!!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
TSA
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: TSA
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Commonsense Obmitted
Like at the airport you can buy a bottle of drink but due to rush you can leave it unopened and it gets seized. No matter you have the purchase receipt, it is still sealed, and the sales lady can testify you just purchased it.
I suspect they may give to back to the airport shop to sell to the next "mug"
The obvious way to tell this liquid is what it is would be to open the bottle and smell the contents. I am sure most of us know what water or fizzy orange smells like. Most forms of chemicals and explosives would also stand out.
Then in any unfamiliar liquid doubt they can have the passenger drink some when their reaction would be quite telling.
Instead what do we have... The demon cupcake.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Commonsense Obmitted
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Commonsense Omitted
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
opportunity
Imagine an advertising campaign for cupcakes that terrify the TSA! Big yummy cupcakes with mounds of icing, Arabic script and/or "wiring" in ganache, "Death By Chocolate", "Allah Ak-Berry", "Sweet Revenge". Television spots with stupid, arrogant TSA bullies running in panic from a pretty girl with gorgeous baked goods (by which I mean cupcakes -- by which I mean actual cupcakes). Oh, this could work...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
TSA needs..
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Cupcake Stuffer
a cupcake.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]