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Topic: Severed head found in airline baggage

Frank Dubrois
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 896
From: Cleveland, OH
Registered: Mar 2005

posted 02-12-2006 02:37 PM

At least they didnt lose her luggage.

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Jeremy Jorgenson
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1002
From: Chicago, IL, USA
Registered: Feb 2005

posted 02-12-2006 02:42 PM

perhaps when she checked the bag, she told them that if they lost it "heads would roll" ?

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Bill Enos
Film God

Posts: 2081
From: Richmond, Virginia, USA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 02-12-2006 09:38 PM

If she had declared it there would then be a duty due on it. Is there an official means of placing a value on a dead head?

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Phil Hill
I love my cootie bug

Posts: 7595
From: Hollywood, CA USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 02-12-2006 09:59 PM

Yes there is... as is without rotting brains and worms: $12.59. With rotting brains and worms... and with grave-robbing: $1639.50 plus a 14-day quarantine.

BTW Jeremy: Your comment is hilarious! [beer]

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Adam Wilbert
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 590
From: Bellingham, WA, USA
Registered: Mar 2002

posted 02-12-2006 10:00 PM

she could claim it to customs, but state that it is of NCV (no commercial value). Because who is going to buy a stinky head? Then customs is happy, and she wouldn't owe any duties. ... Unless she was caught with a whole bunch of heads, then customs might determine that she is in posession with intent to sell.

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Michael Schaffer
"Where is the
Boardwalk Hotel?"

Posts: 4143
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 02-13-2006 02:53 PM

quote: Phil Hill
A relic is dried and ancient "keepsake" while that head is apparently relatively "fresh" with skin, hair, and dirt and probably decaying and infested with all sorts bacteria, worms, and God knows what else.

That is certainly true from the hygiene point of view, but I understood that Adam W. was referring not to that, but to the perceived weirdness of having a head for "religious reasons", and that it is indeed the same as the collection of and the belief in the magical powers of relics which at one time was very widespread in Christian churches (as well as many other religions).

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Martin Brooks
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 900
From: Forest Hills, NY, USA
Registered: May 2002

posted 02-14-2006 07:44 PM

quote: Adam Wilbert
the head isn't just a keepsake (like an urn of ashes is a keepsake. To her, its religiously significant. Like a turban or a saints fingertip. There is no way a customs official would be okay confiscating a Christian relic without serious repercussions. But since we westerners think voodoo is bunk, its okay. Nothing in the article said anything about worms. Even mummies have skin and sometimes hair. I wouldn't bet on the forensic skills of the customs official to determine whether the head was a biological hazard. She just saw a creepy head and made some assumptions. Note that she made no mention of it smelling like decay, or anyother tell-tale sign of if not being anything other than dried out tissue and bone.

anyway. My alternative post went something like, "whats wrong with a little head every now and then?"... but there is no way i'd post that in a public place.

You're kidding right? You can't bring back tulips from Amsterdam unless they have a specific export stamp on them. You can't bring in any produce or plants - customs agents take food away all the time. There are even some State borders where you can't bring across any produce. And I don't know if it's still the case, but it used to be that if you drove into Canada and you had a dog with you, you had to prove the dog had been vaccinated or either you had to turn around or they had some scam where they call a vet who re-vaccinates the animal for a (large) fee and then they let you in.

But it's okay to bring in a recently severed head? And people don't walk off of planes with mummies. Special hygienic transport is arranged for them.

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Daryl C. W. O'Shea
Film God

Posts: 3977
From: Midland Ontario Canada (where Panavision & IMAX lenses come from)
Registered: Jun 2002

posted 02-14-2006 08:01 PM

quote: Martin Brooks
if you drove into Canada and you had a dog with you, you had to prove the dog had been vaccinated or either you had to turn around or they had some scam where they call a vet who re-vaccinates the animal for a (large) fee and then they let you in.

It's not a scam, we just don't want foreign canine diseases being imported.

If you want to see a scam, try bringing frozen meat into the US in your RV for your own consumption.

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Michael Schaffer
"Where is the
Boardwalk Hotel?"

Posts: 4143
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 02-15-2006 12:31 AM

What about shrink heads? Can you travel with one? I mean, as a souvenir, not if you have one on your shoulders.

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