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Politics

The New TSA Logo

Jacob Sullum | 2.22.2010 4:14 PM

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Security maven Bruce Schneier announces the winner of his TSA Logo Contest:

This design, by Rhys Gibson, is pretty good, although I question the British spelling of theater, and I'm not sure I get the rolled-up newspaper. Is it a reference to publicity? Were TSA screeners confiscating periodicals at some point? I prefer Travis McHale's execution of the same basic concept, which can be viewed here along with the other finalists. Feel free to pick (and justify) your choice in the comments.

Gibson's inspiration, the Department of Homeland Security logo, looks like this. The old TSA logo, from before it was absorbed by DHS, looked like this. More suggested improvements here. More on the TSA here. More on Schneier here.

[Thanks to Geoff Nathan for the tip.]

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Jacob Sullum is a senior editor at Reason. He is the author, most recently, of Beyond Control: Drug Prohibition, Gun Regulation, and the Search for Sensible Alternatives (Prometheus Books).

PoliticsPolicyWorldTerrorismAirlinesAirports
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  1. PIRS   16 years ago

    I like this one:

    http://kurushio.files.wordpress.com/2010/01/tsa_logo1.jpg

    "Removing dangerous objects since 2001."

  2. Old Mexican   16 years ago

    I'm not sure I get the rolled-up newspaper.

    The Mass Hysteria Media as the willing accomplices?

    1. deja moo   16 years ago

      The two letters showing say "NO".

  3. Old Mexican   16 years ago

    It's a beautiful logo . . . and the artist is now on a No Fly list.

    1. Seth   16 years ago

      More like the patted-down-harassed-and-cavity-searched-until-he-misses-his-plane-every-time list.

      1. Zeb   16 years ago

        Do you really think so? I would think that mockery of the TSA is so ubiquitous that such a list would be far too long even compared to the real lists they have.

  4. Seth   16 years ago

    I have to go with the one by Matthew Williams (second to last). By far the most detailed and best looking. The name change is perfect, too.

  5. ClubMedSux   16 years ago

    I'm disappointed that while two of the entries used the words "weakness," "tedium" and "farce," none of them arranged them in that order. Would've made a great acrostic.

  6. John Tagliaferro   16 years ago

    It is a little known fact that the Schneiers are closely associated with the Masons. They pretend to be cutups with funny Turkish hats riding their go-karts around in parades, but those go-karts are truly state-of-the-art-future-alien-technology assault vehicles.

    Beware of Schneiers bearing jokes.

    1. PapayaSF   16 years ago

      Shriners have the go-karts, not Masons.

      1. Kolohe   16 years ago

        Shriners are affliated with Masons.
        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.....ant_bodies

        The Masonic Temple in Alexandria used to have a huge diorama that was like a model railroad set, except with Shriner parade vehicles instead of trains.

  7. sage   16 years ago

    I'm not sure I get the rolled-up newspaper.

    It's for when they keep you in your seat the last hour of a flight. When you crap on the floor, they'll hit you in the nose with the paper.

  8. ed   16 years ago

    My complaint is with the text path and kerning. Looks like somebody did it with Chartpak letters.

  9. sage   16 years ago

    I like how the eagle is looking both ways. As if to say, not sure what I'm looking for.

    1. anonymous   16 years ago

      It's a riff on the tragedy/comedy masks symbolizing theaters...

  10. TrickyVic   16 years ago

    We hassle you now, so the terrorist can't hassle you later.

  11. Fist of Etiquette   16 years ago

    I enjoyed this one.

  12. Martin   16 years ago

    I think the "rolled-up newspaper" is actually meant to be the no-fly list.

  13. JebusPuncher   16 years ago

    The newspaper says "No", i.e., no toothpaste.

  14. P Brooks   16 years ago

    The bird should be a chicken.

  15. NeonCat   16 years ago

    You can use a rolled up newspaper as a weapon.

    1. GaLibertarian   16 years ago

      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millwall_brick

  16. Crackers Boy   16 years ago

    "Transportation Security Administration - We put the Line in AirLine."

    CB

  17. wylie   16 years ago

    My guess for the "newspaper": I saw it as a "NOV" at the topand assumed it was a reference to using well timed security theater to garner votes.

  18. R2D2   16 years ago

    I thought it was a reference to "the rolled-up newspaper of justice" from the comic book and cartoon series 'The Tick.'

  19. logo design services   15 years ago

    Thanks! Nice roundup! The blogosphere will be all the worse for wear without Smitty.

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