Hey folks, Sorry about the cross-posting. I don't know which is the best newsgroup for this topic. The other day I went to a small movie theater in Yelm, Washington, and had a strange experience. I brought my laptop case with me, because it was 90 degrees F outside in the shade and I had it with me (duh). I got my ticket, viewed the candy on sale, but then as I walked toward the ticket takers, who were two rather ugly women, they gave me angry looks. They demanded to see inside my case, which I happily showed them since I don't approve of these kids who tape movies in theaters. So I showed them clearly: my laptop, AC adaptor, nothing else. It is unmistakably a laptop, but unfortunately, these rather hard-on-the-eyes women weren't satisfied: They said we can check your case . I said huh? you just did . No response. So I am thinking is this Westworld and the robots are malfunctioning? when I realize they are using an inappropriate meaning of check: I ask oh you mean like in a hotel ? They laughed, said yes, and I explained there's no need: I feel perfectly safe taking my case into the viewing room with me. Mind you, they had seen that my case contained only a laptop. The laptop case is, in my opinion, too shallow to hold a videocam that would be of use in pirating anything. Did they think I had diguised a videocamera was the tiny AC adaptor? Morons... At any rate, my case isn't lockable and I truly felt they would have stolen/broken some part of my laptop if I were to have given it to them. So ignoring the androids, I enjoyed the movie (Bourne Surpemacy, definitely worth renting) but when I began walking along the corridor that leads out of the viewing room, the bigger of the two trolls saw me coming, and just as I was about to pass she quickly turned and blocked my path. I said excuse me and she giggled and moved. I guess the Yelm theater is recruiting neo-Nazis these days? Later I thought I might want to see another film since the first was so good and the price was very reasonable, but then I thought of the trolls. I realized it would be unethical for me to do anything but boycott that theater. Giving them money only encourages them and these are people who clearly are training employees to abuse people. Incidentaly it is worth pointing out that corporate-inspired paranoia is not limited to movie theaters these days. I'm sitting in a Kinkos copy center typing this, and to my right there is a round one-way mirror on a wall that quite clearly has a video camera behind it. Since I am in the political mood, I would like to suggest that everyone read this vital book: When Corporations Rule the World, by David Korten. Just don't order a copy at Borders Books: they'll abuse you for it.