# Lightsaber question **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 25, 2023, 8:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsaber-question/992065 "2023-10-25T08:57:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2023, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsaber-question/992065/21 "2023-10-25T19:58:54Z")
> [@TroutMan](#): > > It’s probably easier to remove the power source, as others have recommended. Indeed, I would rather remove the diatium power cell than mess with the alignment of the kyber, that seems above my capabilities. Perhaps I can charge the diatium power cell with my USB cable while on board? I may need an adapter. > [@WildaBeast](#): > > You might have to claim it’s an emotional support R2 unit. He clearly is a support R2 unit, and not just emotional. He is also a great cook and doubles as an alarm clock. He is also a much more apt handyman than me, perhaps he should remove diatium power cell, if not the primary kyber crystal. Alas, convincing the humourless security staffers of my need for R2’s support may prove hard. ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_Maven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_maven/32/3272_2.png) [@Steven\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Maven)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2023, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsaber-question/992065/22 "2023-10-27T02:26:06Z")
Would you be comfortable shipping it? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2023, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsaber-question/992065/23 "2023-10-27T02:32:10Z")
Tell them it is the base for your electric toothbrush. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2023, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsaber-question/992065/24 "2023-10-27T02:51:34Z")
You can’t fool ever-vigilant TSA agents! In Dave Barry’s first novel, _Big Trouble_ (which may or may not be a work of fiction) the protagonist tries to get a suitcase-sized nuclear bomb past TSA and onto a plane. Seeing all the buttons and dials, and following standard procedure, the TSA agent demands that he “turn it on” to make sure that it’s functional and not just a fake cover to hide something bad. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2023, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsaber-question/992065/25 "2023-10-27T03:15:32Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > In Dave Barry’s first novel, _Big Trouble_ (which may or may not be a work of fiction) the protagonist tries to get a suitcase-sized nuclear bomb past TSA and onto a plane. That book came out in 1999, so it predates the TSA. Back then you just had to deal with the Three Questions. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/5WqdY1qLSPE/hqdefault.jpg "George Carlin -- Airport Security") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WqdY1qLSPE) ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2023, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsaber-question/992065/26 "2023-10-27T03:28:35Z")
Right, thanks, I should have just said “airport security” instead of TSA. In any case, Dave Barry was mocking the security protocol back then that anything that resembled an electronic device like a cell phone or a laptop needed to be turned on to demonstrate that it was real before security would allow it through. 🙂 Also thanks for that Carlin clip. Love the guy. I’m going to have to watch some of my Carlin archives now! ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2023, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsaber-question/992065/27 "2023-10-27T03:38:25Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > Also thanks for that Carlin clip. Love the guy. I’m going to have to watch some of my Carlin archives now! “Guys in combat fatigues talking to God on a two-way radio and muttering incoherent slogans about freedom are eventually going to provide us with a great deal of entertainment!” If only he knew how right he eventually turned out to be. ---
**Author:** ![Steven\_Maven](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steven_maven/32/3272_2.png) [@Steven\_Maven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steven_Maven)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2023, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsaber-question/992065/28 "2023-10-27T16:01:21Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > In Dave Barry’s first novel, _Big Trouble_ (which may or may not be a work of fiction) the protagonist tries to get a **suitcase-sized nuclear bomb** past [airport security] and onto a plane. There is an interesting thread somewhere on SDMB about the technical issues of creating such a device. ---
**Author:** ![sciurophobic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cab0a1/32.png) [@sciurophobic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sciurophobic)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2023, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsaber-question/992065/29 "2023-10-27T17:41:35Z")
I don’t know about Germany, but if you can argue that a light saber is just another form of [Arc Lighters, Plasma Lighters, Electronic Lighters, or E-Lighters](https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/whatcanibring/items/arc-lighters-plasma-lighters-electronic-lighters-e) that can be taken on board so long as: > Measures must be taken to prevent unintentional activation of the heating element while on board the aircraft. Examples of effective measures to prevent unintentional activation include, but are not limited to: removing the battery from the lighter; placing the lighter into a protective case; and/or using a protective cover, safety latch, or locking device on the lighter’s activation button. ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2023, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsaber-question/992065/30 "2023-10-27T19:03:48Z")
What about putting on a cheap plastic housing, putting a glass lens on the front, and just claiming its a flashlight. Then maybe buy some high-end maglites, crazy-glue some shiny doo-dads on them, and put it in a suitcase with foam-carved padding in it, display them prettily, and claim you are taking your sample case to Tatooine for a trade show? ---
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2023, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsaber-question/992065/31 "2023-10-27T19:14:57Z")
> [@Noelq](#): > > What about putting on a cheap plastic housing, putting a glass lens on the front, and just claiming its a flashlight. > > Then maybe buy some high-end maglites, crazy-glue some shiny doo-dads on them, and put it in a suitcase with foam-carved padding in it, display them prettily, and claim you are taking your sample case to Tatooine for a trade show?   I love it! The old “this dangerous item is actually a fake replica” gambit. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2023, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsaber-question/992065/32 "2023-10-28T07:01:05Z")
> [@Pleonast](#): > > fake replica That could backfire: Customs regularly confiscates fake items, it seems they violate copyright. ---
**Author:** ![Galactus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/galactus/32/3581_2.png) [@Galactus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galactus)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2023, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsaber-question/992065/33 "2023-10-28T14:44:02Z")
Hide it in a suitcase full of sex toys. We are talking Germany, right? ---
**Author:** ![xtenkfarpl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c2a13f/32.png) [@xtenkfarpl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xtenkfarpl)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsaber-question/992065/34 "2023-10-28T15:37:22Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > So a childhood dream came true and I finally got a real lightsaber. It is just like in the movies! It goes bzzzzzz Have you measured the buzz frequency? The Germans are sticklers for standards, and if it doesn’t meet them (for example if it’s a 60Hz lightsaber), you won’t be allowed to use it there. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2023, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsaber-question/992065/35 "2023-10-28T18:46:35Z")
> [@Galactus](#): > > Hide it in a suitcase full of sex toys. That could actually work! I wonder whether the problems would not arise at the Arabian side when boarding to leave their country? > [@xtenkfarpl](#): > > Have you measured the buzz frequency? JessesMariaUndJoseph! Do I not have enough problems already? ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2023, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsaber-question/992065/36 "2023-10-28T20:57:24Z")
Tell them it’s the handle for a Graflex flash gun. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lightsaber-question/992065.md?page=1)