So what was it? Did tightened government regulations make operating impossible? Was there some kind of security breach? An issue with the TSA granting a virtual monopoly to a private fast track service? Nope! It was something simpler, and more timely. Cue their goodbye email:

Clear to Cease Operations

Dear xxxx xxxx,

At 11:00 p.m. PST today, Clear will cease operations. Clear's parent company, Verified Identity Pass, Inc. has been unable to negotiate an agreement with its senior creditor to continue operations.

After today, Clear lanes will be unavailable.

Sincerely,
Clear Customer Support

The image associated with this post is best viewed using a browser.Apparently not enough people were willing to spring for the service, which could cost as much as $199. Looking at the numbers, though, it's clear obvious that Clear never really took off, spreading to just 20 airports and garnering about 150,000 subscribers.

The company hasn't yet announced how they plan to deal with those subscribers—an impatient bunch, I'm guessing—but as far as getting any kind of service refund, this sparingly worded announcement doesn't bode well. [Clear—Thanks, Tom and David]

Apparently the trials at 6 airports have gone so well that the TSA would like to have all passengers "go through the whole-body imager instead of the walk-through metal detector." In other words, everyone who gets on a plane will be seen quasi-naked.

The TSA is quick to remind the public that the technician is "off-site" and unable to associate your grey naked body with your real, grey naked body.

Swapping all metal detectors to whole body scanners should make that 3oz liquid rule a thing of the past, but with each scanner running $100,000 to $170,000 apiece, the upgrade won't exactly be free. And really, I think the TSA should be paying me if they expect to see my naked behind. At least then I'd know the money was worth it. [NYT and Budget Travel and Getty Images]

Womens Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags by Mobile Edge
New womens ScanFast Collection unveiled in time for holiday season

ANAHEIM, Calif., November 18, 2008 Mobile Edge, the industry leader in innovative and stylish laptop computer carrying cases and accessories, expands their ScanFast™ collection of Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags by adding three new carrying cases designed specifically for women. These unique models combine the fashion styling of our best selling womens cases with Checkpoint Friendly functionality, quality materials and the computer protection that only Mobile Edge can offer!

ScanFast for Her - Stylish Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Bags Designed for women by women, the new ScanFast™ for Her cases are the first TSA 'Checkpoint Friendly' laptop bags designed specifically for women to be introduced.

Like our original ScanFast cases, the new ScanFast for Her Collection exceeds all Transportation Security Administration (TSA) guidelines to be considered Checkpoint Friendly. Now travelers can speed through airport security checkpoints without having to remove their laptops.

"As the industry leader in fashion-inspired women's laptop carrying cases, we are proud to be the first to introduce Checkpoint Friendly Laptop Cases designed specifically for women," said G. David Cartwright, President & CEO, Mobile Edge. "Women are tired of traveling with generic, masculine cases and we are pleased to offer a stylish alternative for todays female road warriors."

The ScanFast for Her collection consists of three product styles; the all new Onyx ScanFast Briefcase, the Onyx ScanFast Backpack and a redesigned Element Briefcase. The Onyx Briefcase and Backpack feature a designer developed exterior material with faux-croc accents and polished steel fittings. The redesigned ScanFast Element Cases will be offered in three color combinations of chocolate brown, forest green and passion pink poly-suede accented with a dark faux-leather trim. The ScanFast for Her Cases are scheduled to begin shipping later this month at a suggested retail price of $99.99.

Mobile Edge continues to expand the laptop carrying case category by offering new, innovative and smart designs that fuse fashion trends with form and function, creating a brand that makes a positive statement about today's mobile computing lifestyle.

[Mobile Edge]

Apparently when asked to identify the suspicious material in his luggage, the passenger replied, "There is fat inside." This explanation understandably failed to allay concerns and the passenger was forced to remove the offending pork products from his suitcase. Evidently, bacon has a similar "nuclear density" to certain types of bombs.

The other items accompanying the bacon were weird enough to warrant an investigation anyway: He also had a hotel-quality electric shoeshiner and a package of some sort of electronic doll with wires and batteries.

It seems that he was concerned that the bacon actually might have been a bomb planted by his estranged wife, who packed it for him, but eventually it was determined to be a safe, if bizarre, item for carry-on. No word on whether the new "checkpoint friendly" bags are bacon-compatible. [Boing Boing]

The culprit? Its solid state drive. Which means any notebook with a SSD could've gotten your ass busted by the Feds. Helpfully, they've since distributed photos of what SSD notebooks look like to security personnel, reducing your chances of a friendly cavity search. [TSA Blog via TUAW]

The interesting part comes when security saw the Microsoft Zune in his bag. Since they don't recognize it—it's not an iPod, so who would—they made him surrender the prototype and mailed it back to his office. They wouldn't even let him put it in his checked luggage!

So, apparently some US airports are following UK airports and are forcing passengers to check all gadgets before boarding. More news as we hear it. – Jason Chen