"Satellites have much longer ping times"

Satellites at geostationary orbit have long ping times, but you can have satellites at lower orbits like a few hundred miles. It only adds a few ms to the ping time.

And of course there are far more people that don't live in the USA that don't have those 'rights'

I guess people couldn't afford to march during past droughts

"However, for a flight that *does* go to orbit and stays a few turns, and doesn't require a spacesuit"

Its probably a good idea to be wearing a spacesuit in case something goes wrong. Theres a lot of junk in low orbit, and if your small craft hits something and starts leaking it could get very uncomfortable. In a bigger craft you would have more time to get your suit on if there was an accident.

"Anyone who could afford a Karma and wanted electric would have already bought a Tesla S or Roadster"

Like a ;ot of people here, I have Excellent Karma and certainly can't afford a Tesla

More people would have joined up
if they got free Rollo chocolates

In a similar way, around here they are trying to promote the annual flu shot.
You get a free Klondike Bar with your flu shot.

I think a Klondike bar is something that used to be called an "Eskimo Pie" until some PC folks thought the Inuit tribe would be upset.

"Or they could just use the gatling gun instead and utterly obliterate the offending drone"

Triple A can cause collateral damage. Espescially if its using depleted uranium slugs.

I think even Robin Hood would have difficulty hitting a moving, aerial target.

I don't think pitch would make a good rocket fuel - not enough power per weight.

While Boeing would like NASA to buy the craft, I don't think Congress would give them the budget to do that. Instead they will probably be leased or hired.

I think Alibaba is a stupid namr.
The first thing I think of is "Alibaba and the 40 thieves"

"Canterbury is closer to France than to London."

Canterbury is nearly halfway around the world from both France and England and although there have been earthquakes in Christchurch in recent years, it hasn't moved very far.

Of course there is the small town of Akaroa on Banks Peninsular that used to be a French settlement in the early 1800s - the street names are French

UK nuclear weapons are on submarines that are based in Scotland. So theres probably only one or two boats there at any one time, the other two are at sea. ready to nuke Russia, China, Iran or Pakistan or Korea if any of them attack NATO with WMDs

It looks like the vote is going to be 'No'

Which is a pity. If Scotland had voted for independence we (USA) could have sent them some of our Scots

Scott Brown
Scott Walker
Rick Scott

"It can't be Apple - they download WESTERN music to your phone, without your permission"

Huh? U2 is not Western music - it isn't even Country..