Last week the Associated Press (emphasis on “Ass” cause I can’t link to the article for fear of being sued) reported that some airports are herding would-be passengers through thermal imagining scanners to detect spikes in body temperature which may, might, could indicate “fevers”.  Apparently China and Singapore had a field day with this technology during the SARS outbreak back in 2002-03.

The scanners are very sensitive and can detect temperatures in fractions of a degree.

Since the Swine flu “outbreak”, thermal camera manufacturers have seen a dramatic increase in sales.  Phones are ringing off the hook.  Mexico already had 10 of them, but has purchased 40 more of the damn things since the swine flu outbreak.   God, I hate that word.  A few people get sick with a contagious illness and now it’s an outbreak.  Colds are contagious.  Herpes is contagious.  Call me when you find Ebola at the border.

The cameras only detect body temperature, not the flu, so any suspect passengers must undergo further screening.  Ladies, no packing cocaine up your vaginas until this thing blows over.

I found this thermal imaging thingy of interest for a different reason.  As a 53-year old woman, I began experiencing the ebbing of of womanhood last month.  Yes, the dreaded hot flashes.  Aside from the complex chemistry behind the whole thing, the slightest little increase in stress will trigger them.  I can read an email that I don’t agree with and I get one.  Also, a slight increase in activity, and I do mean slight like rolling over in bed, or repositioning my fat ass in my recliner in front of the TV will trigger them.  

The BreastCancer.org site reports that a flush can increase a woman’s skin temperature by six degrees.  I believe it, believe me. 
Walking through airport security is always stressful because you never know what new terrorist gadget was added to the list this week and “do I have one in my pocket or purse”?  I can already see them doing body cavity searches if I were to show up at the gate with sweat beads on my forehead during one of my episodes. 

I can absolutely see their angle on this, but it’s a flavor of  invasion of privacy.  I won’t even get on the topic of facial recognition at the airport as that’s similar to sneaking around under the guise of the Patriot Act.  I guess they figure if you’re in public, your rights go out the window.  Like not needing a search warrant when evidence is in plain sight.

Point being, this whole thermal imagine thing has Gattaca written all over it and no doubt it was built by men.  Ladies, we are “In-Valids”.

The swine flu has been blown way out of proportion.  Hey, I’m glad they’ve brought attention to it and I will do my best to avoid Walmart at this time, but it’s not on the level of a hemorrhagic disease or anything like that.  Thermal imaging is an invasion of privacy.  Get the shovel.