[sdiy] simple TTL OT

[Rude 66]

i've carried several 'weird things' across customs in the us and europe.
there was never a problem. but last year i'd already modified a speak & math
in the states instead of here at home. when we went back, it almost made
several security people go crazy..i had to explain like 4 times what it is
and demonstrate it. with a speal & math that's easy, but with other diy
stuff..;-)
the US has changed a lot in recent times, and not for the better..

r./



----- Original Message -----
From: "harrybissell" <harrybissell at prodigy.net>
To: "Peter Grenader" <peter at buzzclick-music.com>;
<synth-diy at dropmix.xs4all.nl>
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2003 3:50 AM
Subject: Re: [sdiy] simple TTL OT


> Its that bad. Some folk are pretty ignorant... but they grew up watching
> "Goldfinger"  (the LEDs stopped at "007"....)
>
> In the USA there was a man arrested after 9-11 because his landlady
> saw a 'flight manual' in his apartment.  Turns out to have been the manual
> for "Microsoft Flight Simulator" but he went to the pokey anyway (suit
> against the landlord still pending iirc)
>
> Another case had a man arrested in a hotel when an employee swore that
> he found a aircraft receiver in the man's room. Yup, quick trip to the
pokey
> for him.  He did not get released until ANOTHER man contacted the hotel
> (a pilot) and mentioned he was looking for his receiver, which he had
> forgotten.
> This guy had stayed in another ROOM... so the sworn statement of the
employee
>
> is probably suspect.  Again, lawsuit pending.
>
> Remember, most people do not have any knowledge of electronics (especially
> chambermaids etc...) and view all unknown devices as suspicious, maybe
> nefarious.
>
> Picture my worries as I crossed the USA/Canada border with my Guitar Synth
> and
> Quantized theremin...  My wife suggested that if we were questioned she'd
> tell them
> we were "on our way to catch a plane... oh...any plane..."  :^P
>
> Then you could all e-mail me at Alcatraz as well
>
> (seriously.. for all DIY devices I suggest good labeling as to function,
and
> maybe carry
> schematics and photos with you if you travel with them.  A link to photos
on
> the internet
> might be a good idea as well)
>
> H^) harry
>
> Peter Grenader wrote:
>
> > huh?
> >
> > Listen, our current administration is bizarre, I admit...but if it's
this
> > bad I'm on the first boat over the puddle, for good.
> >
> > R. D. Davis wrote:
> >
> > > A word of caution for anyone in the U.S. building harmless and simple
> > > TTL counters: don't let them be seen in public places with the digits,
> > > wires, etc. showing (and don't let strangers, like repair people,
> > > coming into your home catch a glimpse either).  Some time ago, a man
> > > had such a circuit on a breadboard in a hotel room, the hotel maid saw
> > > it, and he ended up in big trouble with the Barney Fife patrol (I
> > > don't recall if they were federal or local), even though he wasn't
> > > planning on doing anything harmful with it.  Big Brother has no sense
> > > of humor.
>