So, I recently (about 4 months ago) decided that my US Luggage briefcase was too big, allowing me to pack too much stuff into it and consequently hurting my shoulder.

Rooting around, I found an unused Dell laptop bag that came with my computer that would work nicely. It's large enough to take the stuff I need, yet small enough that I can't bring all kinds of extra crap that I never use. I've been meaning to replace it with a nicer one, but I never got around to it.

The problem, though, is that there is something wrong with my new briefcase. It is apparently quite dangerous. In my last ten trips through the Invincible Kingdom of Securityland, my briefcase has been flagged for a thorough search nine times. Eight times, the screener has removed every single item. With my previous bag, this hardly ever happened. Maybe once in ten trips.

So what gives? My standard carry-on fare includes a computer, the AC-plug, my Bose headphones, a flashlight with spare batteries, keys, a phone, two or three books, a MP3 player, assorted coins, a couple DVDs, and my sunglasses.

I brought the same load of junk in my old bag, yet I never had problems with security. This has happened, so far, in PHL, EWR, SEA, ANC, and FAI.