Would you like some cheese with that detonator?

 Airport security folks have been warned to watch out for potential "dry runs" -- terrorists testing what items they can get through security and then, like "MacGyver" with a stick of chewing gum and bobby pins, turn the seemingly random items into an improvised explosive device on the other side. Here's the seizures that sparked the alert, from AP:

• San Diego, July 7. A U.S. person — either a citizen or a foreigner legally here — checked baggage containing two ice packs covered in duct tape. The ice packs had clay inside them rather than the normal blue gel.

• Milwaukee, June 4. A U.S. person's carryon baggage contained wire coil wrapped around a possible initiator, an electrical switch, batteries, three tubes and two blocks of cheese. The bulletin said block cheese has a consistency similar to some explosives.

• Houston, Nov. 8, 2006. A U.S. person's checked baggage contained a plastic bag with a 9-volt battery, wires, a block of brown clay-like minerals and pipes.

• Baltimore, Sept. 16, 2006. A couple's checked baggage contained a plastic bag with a block of processed cheese taped to another plastic bag holding a cellular phone charger.

OK, those combos do sound weird. But cheese... we knew terrorists wanted to make our lives miserable, but make fondue in the process?

Comments

[alakazot]

The point is not to MacGyver up a bomb from inert materials. They are using inert materials that have a similar density to explosives, to see if the screening will catch them. If it does catch them, they aren't caught attempting mass murder; if it does not catch the inert materials, they can try with a real bomb.

I'd assume you understood and were goofing around, but cheez.