I was flying from Houston Hobby to Las Vegas last year and I got through security with an exacto knife in my carry on bag (I didn't even realize it was there until I got to the hotel in Vegas. It was for an art class I was taking at the time.)

What makes TSA more of a joke is that the same people who were working for private airport screening companies for damn near minimum wage get a 300% pay raise, some new uniforms and "training" and all of a sudden people are supposed to feel safe. There was a lady I used to see at IAH all the time that was one of the most incompetent people I have ever met that worked at one of those companies (pre 9/11), and last I saw she was some kind of three stripe supervisor for TSA. If someone wants to get a weapon on board, they can. Last I flew, I don't remember using a plastic fork to eat.

I don't know about other cities, but Houston's TSA isn't anything near impressive. I probably could have gotten a pair of scissors and screwdriver onboard if I really put some effort into it.