Other sources mention that the note had tape on it (which TSA does not use in notes) and was in poor condition. TSA labeled it as screened and cleared, indicating there was no need to open it. It is possible that someone else destroyed it and put an old notice inside. I've heard quite a few stories of broken instruments during air travel, but typically musicians blame the airline (e.g. https://youtu.be/Th0qY3d6oHA)
> ‘Would US customs have dared to dismantle a Stradivarius?’
The TSA has repeatedly manhandled and damaged priceless Western string instruments as well. I don't have a source handy, but there was at least one case of them snapping a $600k cello bow.
The article talks about US Customs and TSA as if they are the same thing. It also references border officials which TSA agents aren't. I understand the musician not knowing the difference but I would expect a reporter to know the difference. That she isn't competent enough to know the difference makes me highly doubtful regarding the rest of the substance of the article.
No one really cares about such a minor distinction. Perhaps you have some experience with these agencies but for the vast majority of people they're basically the same thing - especially for non-Americans (the Grauniad is English).
Deciding that the rest of the story is "highly doubtful" over that is your call but ffs there are pictures. No musician breaks their own utterly unique instrument to craft a fake story. Be real.
That it's apparently so difficult to precisely assign accountability for this damage is it's own issue, not a cause for suspicion of the story. Lol.
As I stated in my original post I understand the musician not knowing the difference; however, a professional reporter not knowing the difference or being able to do enough journalistic research to discover the difference is unacceptable.
I didn't say that the musician faked the damage to his instrument. That is something you read into my comments.
It is the reporters job to do actual journalism and discover the complete story as best they can. If a reporter can't even figure out which agencies are involved how can I trust that they have done anything to accurately reflect the whole story.
Where does the article say that the TSA are border agents, or that customs and the TSA are the same thing? The pedantry and slating of the journalist here is unwarranted.
The point is, a priceless and unique instrument has been destroyed and there is no accountability. How you got from there to wherever you are is beyond my comprehension.
> As I stated in my original post I understand the musician not knowing the difference; however, a professional reporter not knowing the difference or being able to do enough journalistic research to discover the difference is unacceptable.
This is in fact the norm. Journalists write about things they know nothing about under deadline all the time. They have next to no incentive to be accurate since most readers don't know anything about the area they're writing about. People who show through their reporting that they really know what they're talking about in areas where people actually make money tend to get offered jobs that pay better than reporting too.
That reporting is generally awful isn't new and it isn't an accident; it's a feature of the way news is made and paid for.
just a data point: i moved to the USA in the late 90s, H-1B. flew into Nashville because it was the nearest intl entry point to Little Rock, AR, my destination at the time. i flew in with a very large suitcase, a large bag and a pretty expensive mountain bike. among the two bags were wrapped gifts for the family who would be putting me up. Nashville i believe was a fairly new international point of entry back then. the INS (at the time) gave me a hell of a welcome. the H-1B was questioned. i was taken aside and left in a small room for many hours. when they eventually released me, it had been about five fours and my mountain bike was almost completely dismantled. the forks were out of the front tube, all wheels were off. they said they had to check the frame for drugs. all my wrapped gifts were ripped open. i had to repack everything in a drafty arrivals hall after being held for (as i could discern) absolutely no reason, a fresh grad with a valid visa heading off to work and pay taxes in booming late 90s America. that was my welcome to the USA. honestly. each welcome since hasn’t been much better. i say this even knowing i am a very lucky white guy. i can’t imagine how much worse it is for anyone who isn’t white these days. YMMV.
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[ 2.9 ms ] story [ 36.0 ms ] threadThe TSA has repeatedly manhandled and damaged priceless Western string instruments as well. I don't have a source handy, but there was at least one case of them snapping a $600k cello bow.
Deciding that the rest of the story is "highly doubtful" over that is your call but ffs there are pictures. No musician breaks their own utterly unique instrument to craft a fake story. Be real.
That it's apparently so difficult to precisely assign accountability for this damage is it's own issue, not a cause for suspicion of the story. Lol.
I didn't say that the musician faked the damage to his instrument. That is something you read into my comments.
It is the reporters job to do actual journalism and discover the complete story as best they can. If a reporter can't even figure out which agencies are involved how can I trust that they have done anything to accurately reflect the whole story.
The point is, a priceless and unique instrument has been destroyed and there is no accountability. How you got from there to wherever you are is beyond my comprehension.
This is in fact the norm. Journalists write about things they know nothing about under deadline all the time. They have next to no incentive to be accurate since most readers don't know anything about the area they're writing about. People who show through their reporting that they really know what they're talking about in areas where people actually make money tend to get offered jobs that pay better than reporting too.
That reporting is generally awful isn't new and it isn't an accident; it's a feature of the way news is made and paid for.