Jedi Mind Trick hat

[unixronin]

So I don't think I previously got around to mentioning that when I flew out to CA from NC, I wore my Jedi Mind Trick hat.  It's a NAS Alameda ball cap with scrambled eggs on the brim, which was given to me as a souvenir when I attended the base closing ceremonies in, uh, 1997 I think.  Flying wearing that cap turns out to be interesting.

[walks up to security checkpoint]

[screener's eyes go to cap]

And at this point, you can almost hear the Jedi Mind Trick at work:

---

-- You don't need to screen me. --

-- I can board my flight. --

-- Move along. --

I don't need to screen you.

You can go ahead and board, sir.

Move along.

---

Comments

[fruitylips.livejournal.com]

It certainly works well combined with your limp (heck, the cane is a nice touch, too) and you age. Add in the hat and most likely the phrase 'disabled vet' leaps to mind.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that likelihood had occurred to me ...

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

Until he opens his mouth, at which point they know he's not even a Yank... :)

Just as they mistake my balding, bearded mug and bad teeth for a Hezbollah terrorist almost every time... until I open my mouth and this hillbilly accent comes meandering out...

[sierra-nevada.livejournal.com]

A Vet blew up the Murrah federal building in Oklahoma City.

[unixronin.livejournal.com]

An excellent point. The underlying reality is that the TSA is little more than an illusion of security, and that when weaknesses in the system are exposed, the reaction is to ignore the problem and attack the messenger for daring to reveal that the system is flawed.