Weapons of mass disruption

For our final blog entry on N+I, a note to the show's tchotchke selection committee: We love the free Symbol 802.11b WLAN cards, but next year (if there is a show), we could do wihtout the foldable "all-in-one" tools that were put in every N+I show bag this year.

Apparently, those things look a lot like a butterfly knife to an airport x-ray machine.

On the way home from the show, it took an Atlanta airport security guard around 15 minutes to remove every item from my suitcase as he looked for the contraband. All I could do was stand there in my socks, wondering what could have set off the weapon-detectors, while my boxer shorts were put on display for everyone in line.

After covering the table with all my stuff, the guard found the all-in-one tool buried deep in the N+I show bag. It turns out the thing had a tiny knife blade on it, as well as pliers, and screwdriver. Since I was flying on Sept. 11, I didn't argue when they threw the thing in the trash.

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