> I can get through with sharp metallic tools and weird unlabeled boxes with wires hanging out of them, but I can't leave my kindle in my backpack?
Because all airport security is reactionary. They don't try to anticipate what an attacker might do, and how they could prevent that. They simply add one more item to a check-list of "no good" items or of "must be separately screened" items.
Therefore, because, one time, someone tried to ignite their shoes, there's now a checkbox that says: "shoes must be scanned separately".
As well, because, one time, someone purportedly tried to mix together two liquids into an explosive that they brought on board in bottles, you are now limited to 100ml max in any bottle, but you can freely walk in with a 7-11 64oz Big Gulp cup and they won't blink an eye. The "bottles" are on the check-list, but the check-list has no entry (yet) for "64oz 7-11 Big Gulp".
Because all airport security is reactionary. They don't try to anticipate what an attacker might do, and how they could prevent that. They simply add one more item to a check-list of "no good" items or of "must be separately screened" items.
Therefore, because, one time, someone tried to ignite their shoes, there's now a checkbox that says: "shoes must be scanned separately".
As well, because, one time, someone purportedly tried to mix together two liquids into an explosive that they brought on board in bottles, you are now limited to 100ml max in any bottle, but you can freely walk in with a 7-11 64oz Big Gulp cup and they won't blink an eye. The "bottles" are on the check-list, but the check-list has no entry (yet) for "64oz 7-11 Big Gulp".