cannabisnews.com: FAA May Start Using Scanner That Looks Inside Body





FAA May Start Using Scanner That Looks Inside Body
Posted by FoM on October 25, 2001 at 21:39:07 PT
By Don Phillips, Washington Post Staff Writer
Source: Washington Post
A low-dose X-ray body scanner, first used at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport to look for illegal drugs hidden inside the body, may some day be put to work at U.S. airports looking for weapons and explosives.The Conpass Body Scanner, manufactured by a Dutch company and distributed by a small company in Florida, is one of several devices being considered by the Federal Aviation Administration to enhance airport security.
The distributor, X-Ray Equipment Co. of Miami, met this week with officials of the FAA and the Office of Homeland Security. It normally takes years for new equipment to get to U.S. airports, although the timetable could be sped up considerably in this case.Other body scanners, including a new one called Rapiscan, are being tested at the FAA Technical Center in Atlantic City. And five airports already use a scanner made by American Science & Engineering Inc. of Billerica, Mass., to search for drugs and other contraband hidden under clothing. That device, called Body Search, has drawn protests because it basically undresses passengers.But Conpass is being promoted as the first scanner that can look through to the human skeleton to spot metal, plastic and any other non-flesh objects.In use, a passenger stands on a platform that moves past the scanner, producing a full body picture within 10 seconds, according to X-Ray Equipment. But the picture looks more like a skeleton with a fuzzy body around it and does not show body parts vividly. Foreign objects stand out wherever they are, from belt buckles to plastic explosives to drug-filled condoms that have been swallowed.An FAA official said privately that the device has interesting possibilities if it works as advertised. But even if it does work, it would have to overcome privacy and health concerns, he said.For instance, is it safe for pregnant women? And even if it is proven safe, could screeners force a pregnant woman to be scanned by the device?Keith W. Carter, sales manager of X-Ray Equipment Co., said the machine produces a "harmless amount of radiation," less than a passenger would get during one hour of high-altitude flight.The device can produce a picture almost as good as a hospital X-ray machine by aiming a low-dose X-ray at a proprietary digital receptor that is more sensitive than X-ray film, Carter said.Carter said the Amsterdam airport averages eight drug arrests a month using the system.Forty-six other systems are in use in other countries, with France using them at all its major airports. Twenty-seven are in locations that the host countries want to keep secret, including some in the Middle East, Carter said. So far, he said, machines have been used for secondary scans after suspicions are raised by other checks, rather than using them as replacements for older magnetometers as primary scanners.In the weeks since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Carter's 50-employee medical equipment company, which has exclusive distribution rights to the machine, has received orders for 100 new systems, including 20 for India, 10 for Britain, 10 for Malaysia and 60 for other undisclosed locations.The scanner's $400,000 price tag was lowered to $300,000 after Sept. 11, partly on the assumption that sales volume would increase.Complete Title: FAA May Start Using Scanner That Looks Inside the Body Source: Washington Post (DC) Author: Don Phillips, Washington Post Staff WriterPublished: Friday, October 26, 2001; Page E02 Copyright: 2001 The Washington Post Company Contact: letterstoed washpost.comWebsite: http://www.washingtonpost.comRelated Articles:Anti-Terror Bill Has E-Mail Clausehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11180.shtmlHouse Passes Sweeping Anti-Terrorism Bill http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread11173.shtml
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Comment #8 posted by FoM on October 27, 2001 at 09:41:07 PT
freedom fighter
You make good sense and when I was reading your comment I had a flashback of what my Father told me happened during the depression. For a few years my Dad was a Professor at a University and a student who had a farm would give my Dad meat. He tutored here in exchange. I can't remember too much but I remember he said we never did without. Bartering is good. When Russia was crumbling people bought up Vodka and the news person asked why. They said because there will always be a demand for people to get high. You know "Dope will get you through times of no money better then money will get you through times of no Dope" LOL! They didn't say it quite that way but you get the point. Yes, bartering could be a very good thing.
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Comment #7 posted by freedom fighter on October 27, 2001 at 04:40:14 PT
Well, FoM
To answer your question is like a two-edged sword.:)Maybe this country will finally understand what Anarchy is all about. If you don't like your neighbor, you could just go over there and blast them out... ;)Or maybe you could drive 90 mph on a 30 mph zone! ;)))Personally, I would just start growing me some fine cannabis and tomatoes! :0) Bartering will be the way of life. I got me a ten tomatoes, will you trade it for a loaf of bread if you are a baker?I have read some stuff called Anarchycaptialism. These folks figured a way where no nation can own them. No matter what country you go, you are just a tourist!I would not cry or feel so sad if it shud happen down there. Nothing to cheer about. Anthrax is not such a big deal, really, not in this country, unless someone figured a way to airbone the anthrax spores in massive scale. Only three countries can do that, Iraq, Russia, and our country. I can really can just forget the Iraq because they are too poor to do things like that. So, it might be Russia that doing that crude method of spreading dread Anthrax. Nah, it is probably just our own sweet government after all, Mr. Tailbush was so sure that he do'nt got Anthrax in his system. He probably have not been reading his mail these days. Maybe Anarchy is not such a bad thing after all. Just make sure your neighbors love you just the way you are. ;) I like to think that in this country, not one state would want to make "war" with another state. I would like to think that in this country, if the fools start keeling over down at Warshington DC, we would call our boys down at any other countries to come back home. ahh, I must be dreaming as I typed out...;0)ff
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Comment #6 posted by FoM on October 26, 2001 at 17:39:38 PT
What if?
I have questions? First qqqq that was good. Seriously though. As I watch the news it seems only our political leaders so far are being targeted by anthrax. Bush better hurry up and get that 'evil one' as he calls him that dwells in caves before they have to put 'them' in an underground cave for protection like they have for special people whoever they are. My question is what would happen if they all started dieing? I'm serious. How would the country be run at all if lots of our leaders get anthrax or something else and die?
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Comment #5 posted by Elfman_420 on October 26, 2001 at 17:19:42 PT:
Speaking of Amsterdam...
Off the topic, but I just found out that one of my really good friends here at college is going to study abroad at some college in the Netherlands next year! I am so jealous!
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Comment #4 posted by qqqq on October 26, 2001 at 05:34:37 PT
....OR...
..Perhaps we are to believe,that some guy might swallow a tiny gun,in a condom,,and then,,pull the gun out of his ass during the flight,,,and demand to be taken to Kabul!
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Comment #3 posted by JR Bob Dobbs on October 26, 2001 at 05:13:10 PT
Semantics
>>A low-dose X-ray body scanner, first used at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport to look for illegal drugs hidden inside the body, may some day be put to work at U.S. airports looking for weapons and explosives.  The DUTCH use it to catch DRUGS, but we in America plan to use it only for weapons and explosives? Am I really to believe that if they put someone through this and find a bag of bud, they'll ignore it?? Yeah, right!
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Comment #2 posted by dddd on October 26, 2001 at 04:30:59 PT
STRANGER THAN FICTION
....Why would the FAA be involved with this,along with homeland security,(or the dubya SS....Achtung!!)..............well,,I think it's because the FAA is being employed to give legitimacy to any,and all evil hairbrained sham that will further "homeland security".....
..In a sick way,,,,the events of the last six months in the political realm of the US,and the world,,,is nothing less than spectacular!!,and Astonishing,,,not to mention,,,,Remarkably Alarming! .......It's Stupendous and eminently Awesome......It's the Biggie,,,,,,,and we get to see it all unfold in episodes of epic events,,,and 
..in another one of my dimestore predictions,,,,,I say,,,we aint seen nuthin' yet......this baby is bigger than anyone realizes!....It's the big one............."Elizabeth,,,Lizbeth,,,,,"..(Fred Sanford,clutching his chest).
...It aint pretty....It dont look good......Dark times ahead...................prepare for doom............"Take me back Mr. Wizard!"..
..I hope I dont sound too negative......actually,,I'm just kidding!.....Everything's just fine,,,,besides,,if one worries too much,,,it changes nothing,and only serves to hurt the "worrier".....the "worriee" whatever it may be,,still doesnt care........dddd
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Comment #1 posted by xxdr_zombiexx on October 26, 2001 at 04:00:11 PT
Cancer for Freedom
This is just outrageous!From the same people who think they may be able to dispose of nuclear waste by making braces and other personal and household items out of nuclear scrap, we peresnt the latest in Constitutional violation technology.We can screen millions of people before this gets to court, and we have planned strategies that will allow us to continue for a long time after it does go to court. We can delay and perpetuate the court proceeding for years.And, hey, get 'em while they're hot! Prices reduced! Ask about volume discounts. Check out our refurbished models which are Guaranteed to not leak x-rays...anymore than the new ones.Oh, yeah..they are safe..harmless doses of harmful radiation waves. There's no way you can prove our equipment cause that cancer or those birth defects.And as PROOF that these family-values machines will fight terrorism,..."the Amsterdam airport averages eight drug arrests a month using the system." There ya go - 8 terrorists nabbed. 1 whole hijacking thwarted. Miller time for the NAZI's.Welcome to the New, Improved Soviet Union.FREEDOM ENDURES
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