English
Join the Jaybird Nation
My adventure with our friends at the LAX airport's customs. By Jonathan Wingfield
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In April of this year, I flew to Los Angeles to conduct an interview with TASCHEN's resident 'sexy books editor', Dian Hanson. Having marvelled at Ms Hanson's wonderful publication, Naked as a Jaybird, I brought along my copy so as to prompt a page-by-page discussion with 'the author'. My innocent wish was however foiled when, on my arrival at LAX international airport, a US customs officer asked me to step aside and open my luggage, thus revealing underwear, razor, crumpled suit and a gleaming copy of Jaybird.
The officer peeled on his rubber gloves and picked up the book, giving it a studious flick through, before scrutinizing my customs form.
"Sir,' he announced, 'Why have you left the box referring to bombs, ammunition, vegetables, animals and obscene material blank, when you knew you were carrying this...' he searched for the right word... 'publication?'
'Naked as a Jaybird is an art book, Sir, not obscene material,' I replied, sounding altogether pretty convincing. 'It can be purchased in regular bookshops throughout Los Angeles, and the entire world for that matter.'
'I don't care what you call it son, it's not coming into this country,' concluded my officer, tucking the 'obscene material' into his plastic bag, before sending me on my way with an unconvincing, 'Have a good stay in the United States, Sir.'
Having since learned that Dian Hanson is presently compiling a 2,700 page, three-volume encyclopedia of men's magazines, I strongly recommend she contacts LAX airport's customs dept, who by my reckoning must have a comprehensive 'archives dept' themselves.
Jonathan Wingfield
Editor, Numéro magazine
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Page [1]
In April of this year, I flew to Los Angeles to conduct an interview with TASCHEN's resident 'sexy books editor', Dian Hanson. Having marvelled at Ms Hanson's wonderful publication, Naked as a Jaybird, I brought along my copy so as to prompt a page-by-page discussion with 'the author'. My innocent wish was however foiled when, on my arrival at LAX international airport, a US customs officer asked me to step aside and open my luggage, thus revealing underwear, razor, crumpled suit and a gleaming copy of Jaybird.
The officer peeled on his rubber gloves and picked up the book, giving it a studious flick through, before scrutinizing my customs form.
"Sir,' he announced, 'Why have you left the box referring to bombs, ammunition, vegetables, animals and obscene material blank, when you knew you were carrying this...' he searched for the right word... 'publication?'
'Naked as a Jaybird is an art book, Sir, not obscene material,' I replied, sounding altogether pretty convincing. 'It can be purchased in regular bookshops throughout Los Angeles, and the entire world for that matter.'
'I don't care what you call it son, it's not coming into this country,' concluded my officer, tucking the 'obscene material' into his plastic bag, before sending me on my way with an unconvincing, 'Have a good stay in the United States, Sir.'
Having since learned that Dian Hanson is presently compiling a 2,700 page, three-volume encyclopedia of men's magazines, I strongly recommend she contacts LAX airport's customs dept, who by my reckoning must have a comprehensive 'archives dept' themselves.
Jonathan Wingfield
Editor, Numéro magazine
Page [1]
