Make a scarf-book to read on UK-departing flights

As we all know by now, getting a flight out of the UK has been a tad difficult the past few days, but new security measures have enforced a dreadful new restriction that bans books and magazines from accompanying you on your voyage. Unless you're a well-regarded dignitary or just plain lucky when passing through those checkpoints, chances are you won't have any good 'ole fashioned entertainment to keep your brain busy while cruising in the clouds -- but the oh-so-clever minds over at Boing Boing have found a perfectly legal and boldly fashionable (or not) way to circumvent the system. Dubbed the scarf-book, the book / article of clothing is crafted by printing text (your own masterpiece or other works released under a creative commons license, of course) onto iron-on transfer paper and then afixing it to a lengthy piece of cloth. Your new text-covered wardrobe accessory can then be safely worn as a scarf, headwrap, belt, or whatever else you can imagine, leaving little doubt that you mean no harm while boarding your flight. Although these heightened security precautions are likely to relax as time goes on, there are those of you with impending reservations that may go stir crazy without reading material to pass the time, and hey, there's nothing wrong with getting all wrapped up in a good book, eh?

[Unomi @ Aug 15th 2006 2:44AM]

Me thinks that they make UK-flights boring so you are not longer distracted from the flying-experience. Since these measures are taken in terms of 'anti-terrorism', your flying-experience should be 'frightning' (read: terrorizing). Anything that keeps you from this mindplay is banned, so the impact of these measures is more agressive.

It's about the mind people. The mind is numb and not trained anymore.

- Unomi -

[scott @ Aug 15th 2006 3:14AM]

how am i going to bring down a plane with Dickins? I'm spitting with furry at the moment at how awful a 'rule' this is... Oh, i could just cuss...

[Fishd @ Aug 15th 2006 3:36AM]

While I wholeheartedly agree with Unomi I thought'd I just point out... according to news sources here in the UK, the majority of flights departing from the UK are now allowing you to take a small carry-on bag which may, once more, include iPods, laptops, books and other items.

Of course, if your destination is the United States you may need to double check.

[DM @ Aug 15th 2006 3:51AM]

A long silk scarf would no doubt be considered a weapon... maybe not by the hassassin, but probably by the thugee

[funkstar @ Aug 15th 2006 4:14AM]

bit late. luggage restrictions have been relaxed again

[Blueace @ Aug 15th 2006 4:17AM]

I travelled this Sunday out of Heathrow (not to the US) and you could pretty much buy everything in the duty free shop and take it to the plane (including magazines and books).

[Dase @ Aug 15th 2006 4:59AM]

Blueace,
Funny thing :) Why are such restrictions are needed at all then?

[Juaquin @ Aug 15th 2006 5:02AM]

@Dase

So they can make you buy everything after the security checkpoint. It's like theme parks not letting you bring in your own food. I'm surprised it took this long for the airports to catch on to this.

[KultiVator @ Aug 15th 2006 5:45AM]

I guess the airports would argue that anything you can buy inside the secured departures-area is safe to go on a plane.

Remember that the main threat was thought to be from liquid explosives triggered by an electrical device. Since WH Smith don't sell liquid explosives (at leats not to the general public) I'd guess that bottle of coke they just stiffed you £2.50 for is a safe bet for air travel!!!


KultiVator

[RacetrackOwner @ Aug 15th 2006 5:54AM]

Did they actually ban books and magazines? I somehow overlooked that one. What was the reasoning behind that decision (theme-park conspiracies aside, of course)?

[kent @ Aug 15th 2006 5:55AM]

possibly also because it is harder to hide a bomb/whatever in a book you just bought from the airport? Since you would need to get through security with it first...

[furtim @ Aug 15th 2006 8:16AM]

Scarf books, eh? Maybe somebody needs to print one with a copy of the US Bill of Rights. With the Fourth Amendment in bold.

Too bad you UKers don't have one of those. Rather undercuts the statement, really.

[Craig @ Aug 15th 2006 8:21AM]

They banned everything non essential (essential meaning tickets, passport, medicine, sanitary products etc.) last Thursday. This included books, ipods, laptops, pdas, cuddly toys, etc. There was literally a list of things you were allowed and it was very short.

Yesterday they reduced the security stutus from critical to severe, meaning that now there is just a list of things you can't take through security, consisting of anything liquid.

[Jeff @ Aug 15th 2006 10:04AM]

"...can safely be worn as a headwrap..."

Yeah, brilliant. Attempt boarding a plan with a headwrap on. Good luck with that. ;)

[Cheekky @ Aug 15th 2006 11:17AM]

This is actually an Easyjet conspiracy to make you buy drinks on the planes... DUH!!! :P
Anyway I thought that all of this was:
1. a waste of time
2. another way to scare MPs into passing more anti terrorism legislation.
They did after all say that they had foiled the terrorists before they introduced the restrictions. If they have already foiled the terrorists, then why the ban on carryon items?

[tristanfey @ Aug 15th 2006 2:06PM]

@Cheekky

"They did after all say that they had foiled the terrorists before they introduced the restrictions. If they have already foiled the terrorists, then why the ban on carryon items?"

Yes, it was foiled, but it was not the 'then current' security measures that accomplished that. Those involved in the plot had already been under surveillance. If they had not been, nothing would have stopped them from succeeding. Hence the new restrictions.

[Mott Zhou @ Aug 17th 2006 8:23PM]

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