Shoes Upstream

@Vink: Thanks, Vink - for the comment and the visit.

@Mirko Herzner: Mmm - Imelda Marcos, where are you?

@Rags: Thanks, Rags - and welcome aboard. Google shows a a Plano, IL, IA, and TX - I'm guessing you're in Texas?

@Mandy Provan: Mandy - thank you for the kind words and the geography lesson - much appreciated.

@sherri: Thanks, Sherri - I was with a woman friend here and I was b-o-r-e-d. She spent over an hour trying stuff on - and wound up spending $1100 on three items (a shirt, skirt, and sweater if memory serves) - not my cup of tea. I'm more inclined to be at a Van Hussen factory store.

I had my new little Canon G1 and was snapping a photo here and there. One of the two well-coiffed saleswomen came over and told me that photos 'are not permitted in the store'. "Shoes Upstream," is half of my revenge. One of these days I'll post my, "Sales Ladies' Two-Step."

@dj.tigersprout: Hey there DJ - thanks for the thoughts. I only learned a few years ago that trout is actually a type of salmon. Spawning shoes may be another matter.

@Ron: Ron - the situation I was in was just stupid - though probably sincere. It was private property and many companies are worried about competitors stealing secrets from them and don't allow photography - I've even been requested to stop taking photos inside a Whole Foods store.

Your situation in the St. Louis subway is quite different and I would have (politely) stood up to him. I would have insisted on seeing the ordinance or whatever other authority he had - to prohibit my taking photographs. As a tax payer - you 'own' the subway and it is public property. I'll quickly point out that in our post-911 world - it is important to calmly let the officer/security person know you are not trying to cause a problem - but question image restrictions in a public transit facility.

I have taken plenty of photos in our two underground rail systems without any problem. I suspect your gun-toting protector-of-light-rails was over stepping his authority - but I'd be curious to know if you find additional information.