Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with screening

Can you use airport amnesty bins to erase certain crimes?

Damn That Television — Mon, 05 Oct 2009 08:07:50 -0800

Where can I find the written laws that regulate amnesty bins at airports? (Amnesty bins are the bins right before the metal detectors in some airports where you can, according to signs, throw away anything that you can't take through security without penalty.) And, related, are these actually legally binding, or just a gentlemen's agreement? Could someone hypothetically put a stolen painting in the bin, and be free of legal consequence of having stolen it?

Please help us improve our office phone system on the cheap.

4ster — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:38:24 -0800

I work in a small office with a small budget where the only full-time employees are my assistant and I, and we have separate offices. Our office has two phone lines. When one is busy, the other rings. Line one is our published office number. We each have our own voice mailbox. The problem is that you only get the "Press 1 to speak to [her], press 2 to speak to [me]" when both lines are busy or no one answers. I want to set up things so that people can select who they would like to speak to before the phone rings on our end. My reason for this is to cut down on the number of distractions my assistant has to deal with, so I'd like for calls to me to come straight to me, so I can handle them for her.

Our phone company is Embarq, and their fees for having them change things around on their end are prohibitively expensive. I'm trying to see if there is some other way to accomplish that we can afford. I'm open to most anything, including forwarding calls to my (Sprint) Blackberry. However, nothing I can think of deals with the matter of my assistant having to deal with so many calls.

I know it is a long shot, but I'm just curious if there are any workarounds we have not considered.

Thanks.

Colour xray scanners.

Meatbomb — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 04:15:17 -0800

Teach me about the newer colour display x ray scanners used in security checkpoints. What are these machines called, and where can I learn more about them?
What do the different colours represent? Will plastics be a distinctly different colour than organic matter? What sort of tips and tricks can be used to thwart such systems?

Assume, if necessary, that I am trying to bypass the security screening of an evil warlord in order to bring freedom and justice to the oppressed masses he is exploiting.

How can a risk calculation have a false positive?

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:48:53 -0800

How can an estimate of a health risk (eg 1 in 500) have a false positive? Yesterday we were told we have a very high risk of Down Syndrome based on the Nuchal translucency test. We are currently doing sume reading and biding our time, waiting till we can have the maternal blood test done for a better estimate of risk. (I'm including our current situation here to clarify the question, but am not looking for discussion on the various other tests that are available, just the weird stats question below)

Wikipedia (and other information we've come across) says "Nuchal scanning alone detects 62% of all Down Syndrome with a false positive rate of 5.0%"

But if your risk is provided post-scan/screening test as 1:50 or 1:30,000 (or whatever) - how can you have a false positive?. Or are "false positives" only generated when the risk is very very high - eg when the measurement is such that doctors say a pregnant woman has a 50:50 chance, or nearly 100% chance of Down Syndrome? For that matter, how does it claim to detect 62% of cases - again, when they only identify a risk? (If you say someone has a 1:50,000 chance, does that mean you have identified that case if it turns out to be true?)

I'm sure this must be some statistical rule but it doesn't make any sense to us!

Does the TSA freak out over Incase hard shells?

vitrum — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 23:02:28 -0800

Anyone know if TSA agents would require you to remove a laptop from a hard shell case during the x-ray screening process? Or are they just concerned about clutter in bags obscuring their view? I have the Incase linked above and do not want to have to try and go through the pain of removing the thing in line... or at all for that matter :) Thanks!

How can I play videos and charge admission?

shipbreaker — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 02:01:42 -0800

Can I get some kind of license to be a motion picture theatrical exhibitor, which would allow me to dust off my VHS copy of "E.T." and show it to kids downtown for 25c each? ((For free??))
At the beginning of every Macrovision-protected movie on my shelf, there's usually a bunch of words about "intended for home viewing only" and how many FBI fines I am about to be charged and how many laws I am about to break... ... ...

I know there is legal fine-print hidden somewhere in my BLOCKBUSTER rental agreement and on my BEST-BUY-purchased DVDs, and even in my stack of old VHS videotapes --- --- laws that prevent me from getting a projector and a big screen and showing movies to people and charging $$ per person.

When cities have "Free Movies In The Park" nights, how do they get around such laws?

Does anyone have relevant anecdotes or stories about modern "entrepeneurs" who have tried to charge admission for playing DVDs out loud?

Finally, if I do decide to "go for it" and start up my own little rogue movie theater, how soon should I expect to see Sigourney Weaver from "BE KIND REWIND" show up with her steamroller to flatten me?

Where can I screen a short film in NYC?

tealeaf522 — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:52:16 -0800

Does anyone know where I can show a screening of a short film (15 min.) in New York City on the cheap? Some friends of mine shot a short film (15 min.) and want to give an official screening. It's important that the place we do it has good picture/audio capabilities. We've looked into renting out a movie theater for an hour or so but most are crazy expensive ($1,500/2 hours at a small theater in the East Village that seats 66 - that's nuts! [for our wallets that is]). We're not opposed to showing it at a bar as long as the bar is able to have decent picture/sound - more than just a white wall and computer speakers. We'd eventually like to submit this film to various festivals and will be able to have some industry people at the screening to view (which is why the quality of the showing is important). Does anyone know of ANY place in the city and/or Brooklyn that can accommodate such a request? Did I mention that this needs to be c h e a p (seriously, we're broke)?

Can I bring Imitrex in my carry on bag?

cptspalding — Sun, 04 May 2008 07:41:59 -0800

Airport Security Filter: Can I bring injectable Imitrex in my carry on bags without causing problems during security screening? I will be going through airports in US, UK, Africa. I'm about to embark on a three week work trip that will take me to Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Nigeria, UK, and Uganda. I use the injectable Imitrex for occasional migraines and would like to take my statdose kits and keep them in my carry on bag. I want them in my carry ons not because I anticipate having to use one in-flight, but in case my checked bag gets lost I can still stop a developing migraine once I'm at my destination.

Has anyone had any experience with airport security screeners' reaction to Imitrex? Since I will be gone so long, I'm planning on taking three of the statdose kits. I know the amount of liquid doesn't come close to violating the liquid ban, but I don't know how security will respond to the needle in the injection cartridge.

Information or experience at any airport would be helpful. However, here are all the airports where my carry on bag will likely be screened:
Charlotte, JFK, Brussels, Abidjan, Lagos, Abuja, Heathrow, Nairobi, Entebbe.

Realizing, of course, that security screening is a random process and just because Person "A" had a certain experience is no guarantee that Person "B" will have the same experience.

My mind says fraud, but that can't be right.

Phire — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 19:16:58 -0800

Legally, what would you call refusal to adhere to city/government by-laws to fingerprint or background check volunteer workers? I imagine it's a fairly serious crime. Location in Canada preferably, but US examples welcome. If an organization is required by city/provincial/whatever law to screen their volunteers/workers via background checks or fingerprinting, and the employer actually refuses to follow through on this during the hiring process and allows unscreened volunteers to work anyway, what would this be called, and what would the consequence be if reported/caught?

My dire background!

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 06:50:15 -0800

I'm applying for jobs that require a local law enforcement background check, and I suspect that it's turning up information that's [really] detrimental to being hired! What kind of information could they be finding? How could I find out what's on my background check? Finally, is there any way to delicately address these issues in job applications/cover letters without digging myself into a hole? I'm primarily worried about mental health records. Is it possible for them to access records from my college's student health services? Will they be able to find out what prescriptions I take? Or that I've been going to the county mental health services for years (which doesn't quite look as innocuous as seeing a private therapist, though they both provide the same services--it's a matter of what I'm able to afford).

Additionally I've smoked plenty of pot in my past, and also been involved in typical teenage hijinks (breaking into abandoned buildings, shoplifting, etc), but have never been caught at either. I surely have bad credit, and my first bout with college yielded a lousy transcript (though for what it's worth, this time around I have excellent grades and recommendations.

I'm not looking to be told I'm entering the wrong line of work (it's a field I'm passionate about); I'm hoping for find out more about my background check, and get some practical advice re: damage control.

Reid Report (AAR) pre-employment test?

rainbaby — Wed, 04 Jul 2007 17:42:45 -0800

Information on The Reid Report (AAR) pre-employment testing? Anyone take it? Fail it? Have a sample test? A friend just failed one of these and I'm not familiar with the test. It seems to be a closely guarded product, and I haven't found a sample. Has anyone had to take this test? It's designed to screen for workplace honesty and integrity and takes about fifteen minutes. Thanks.

Background check: am I doomed?

Anonymous — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 09:24:28 -0800

Did I permanently screw up my work history? Last summer I worked a string of three dead-end jobs, none of which lasted more than two weeks. One was a contractor position; the other two were regular jobs that withdrew taxes and social security on a regular basis. I was broke, desperate, and depressed at the time. I left the third dead-end job because I gained employment at a good company doing computer support work, which I really enjoy. When I was filling out the application for the computer job, I did not list my previous three dead-end jobs. My questions are:

1. Is there anyway that a future employer can find out about short time jobs that I did not list on my application? If so, please tell me exactly how it can be done.

2. How do I go about explaining that last year I had three jobs in less than two months?

Other than the summer sequence of unfortunate jobs, I have had a rich and stable work history, especially when you consider that I’m only 22.

Will the TSA take my PA away?

treepour — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 11:28:18 -0800

New body piercings, too recent to remove safely. Want to travel by plane. What should I expect at security? I've heard reports of people not being allowed on flights unless they remove their jewelry. I've also heard that having "hidden" piercings can result in "further screening" or in a pat-down search. One of the piercings is a genital piercing, so I assume that qualifies as "hidden." I'll drop my pants if I have to, but if there's a significant chance I'll be required to take the jewelry out, I'd rather not waste time and money purchasing a ticket.

My impression is that even if there are official regulations about this sort of thing, they may not be implemented consistently or fairly. Does anyone have recent first or second-hand experience with this?

Background check: deal breaker?

Anonymous — Fri, 27 Oct 2006 10:20:53 -0800

Employment history filter: I am starting a new job after about a year of intermittent contract work padded between various stages of unemployment. Though I never lied about anything, they might uncover that my past year has in fact been really spotty in terms of work (during interviews, we talked about my contract projects, but they didn't ask about specific dates or durations). Does this make me screwed? FWIW, they really like me and vice versa. I am mostly just excited to be done with contracting but slightly worried that my really unimpressive past year might raise red flags during an employment history check. My questions are:

1. What can they find out about my contract work?
2. Can they retract an offer that I have already accepted based on what's inside that work history?
3. What recourse if any do I have if this happens?
4. Should I be worried at all, or am I just being paranoid, since my record is otherwise pretty much spotless?

Landlords suck.

ChasFile — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 09:23:06 -0800

A potential new landlord told me that while my credit report came back a-ok, an issue came up on my "tenant report." I know this to be in error (the alleged "issue" occured before I even moved in to my current place). So do I have a right to view the report on me, like I do for credit? Whom do I contact in order to fix this item? They were very sketchy with the details, and this whole thing has left me even more jaded about renting. What rights do I have in regards to these "issues" and "reports"? Who does them? Are they legit? Do I have any recourse whatsoever? I found a couple questions on these reports from the landlord's perspective, but none from the renter's.

Screen-me up Scotty!

whatitis — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 20:10:15 -0800

CraftFilter: I want to start screening graphics onto tshirts, patches, hoodies, etc.... My roomie has done it before but I'd rather not pester her and learn by myself, so I would like some basic 'getting off your feet' type info.. I tried some basic googling but only came across this. which was okay.. Really I want to know:

1) Are there any basic screeners out there for $150 or so?
2) Any good websites/forums dedicated to this kind of thing?
3) What inks better than others?
4) Just a basic FAQ/HowTo guide for this?

Finding the right family to adopt my cats

VulcanMike — Fri, 22 Jul 2005 13:23:56 -0800

What are the right things to look for when screening potential adopters for your cats (or for pets in general)? My dear 1-year-old cats Sophie and Chloe need a new home, due to significant changes in my schedule and health-related (my health) issues.

The organization that took them in as feral newborns has agreed to pre-screen potential adopters, but I want to make sure I'm well-prepared for screening as well. Any advice would be well-appreciated (and we're in the Boston area if any MeFites are looking for two kittens with lots of personality).

How to make shirts?

geoff. — Mon, 11 Jul 2005 21:01:33 -0800

I've been actively trying to create shirts of the quality seen here. While I'm less concerned with the technical aspects of creating a vintage/fatigued looked -- how does one go through the initial stages of design? (What program is best to design in, how should I approach the silkscreener, fabric acquisition...) Where would be the best place to get the luxurious cotton used in the t-shirts made by Grail, Rebel Yell, Paper Cloth & Denim... I'm really frusterated as I cannot find anything to match the lightweight cotton fabric used among these. Do such companies travel to Italy or is a trip to Manhattan sufficient?

What would be the best format to bring to a silkscreener? Right now I have a virtual replication of the t-shirt in Photoshop to scale, the design is somewhat complicated and I'd like to ease any technical problems before they start. I can easily redo my designs in Illustrator if that's easier to work with.

I'm convinced there's some sort of standard process for this designer casual wear, as everyone and their brother seems to have a company. I'm just out of the loop. I've talked to people in the apparell industry but my contacts are unfortunately within large multinationals geared toward totally different markets.

If someone in the know is reading this and is aghast and tells me "I have no idea what I'm in for", please feel free to say it.

Preparing for TSA screenings

croutonsupafreak — Wed, 01 Dec 2004 00:13:22 -0800

I'm flying in a few weeks, and I'm majorly worried by some of the stories I've been hearing about physical TSA screenings. There are certain ways I am not willing to consent to be touched by strangers, no matter what.

Do I have any recourse if I am singled out for a physical search of my person, other than not to fly at all? How can I prepare in advance for potential conflicts?

Is it feasible to build your own silk-screening / screen-printing press?

Espoo2 — Thu, 02 Sep 2004 01:50:58 -0800

Screen-printing/Silk-screening: I'm looking to get into it to produce some t-shirt ideas I've had floating around. But I don't want to buy all the expensive equipment. Is it feasible to build your own press, provided with good instructions?