Vice President Biden's Non-Transparent Transparency Meeting

Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:

Open and Shut Case

Vice President Joe Biden's official agenda is the target of a Los Angeles Times article by Andrew Malcolm poking fun at the irony of the situation. It reads: "Today's Biden schedule highlight is a meeting with the chief of transparency for economic recovery. But, unfortunately, the transparency meeting is non-transparent — closed to the press — Which makes it — what? — Secret openness? Open secrecy?"

In fact most of the events on the vice president's schedule did not allow cameras. From his daily briefing, which was closed press, to a meeting with the transportation secretary, also closed press, to lunch with the president, still closed to press, and then a meeting with the Iraqi vice president that included a "pool spray," meaning a few cameras are shuffled past momentarily and rushed out of the room. Then it's that transparency meeting that, as we said, was closed press.

This Is Ground Control

You may think you have a hard time getting through airport security, but eight-year-old Michael Hicks probably has you beat.

The New York Times reports the New Jersey Cub Scout's name appears on a list that sets off a high level of security screening. The boy's mom, Najlah Feanny Hicks, says the first time her son was patted down he was only two years old, and he cried. Now extra searches and random screenings are routine for the boy.

The TSA maintains there are no children on its security lists, but would not comment on this particular case. His mom says: "I understand the need for security, but this is ridiculous... a terrorist can blow his underwear up and they don't catch him. But my eight-year-old can't walk through security without being frisked."

Ironic Chef America

And finally, for months the Food Network promoted an episode of "Iron Chef America" that took place at the White House. The First Lady made a cameo, and the famous "secret ingredient" used in the competition was produce supposedly picked from the White House garden.

But it turns out, the fruits and vegetables used on the show were stunt produce, not actually harvested from the garden. Politics Daily reports the Food Network cited a production delay as the reason for the use of the ringers. One reader comment on the story from someone who believed the veggies were the real deal, and from the White House garden: "I feel like such a fool. Oh the humanity."

— Fox News Channel's Lanna Britt contributed to this report.