And most first-class seats are "zero clearance" style, like modern recliners. You can tilt back, but the seat also moves forward when you do, so the net effect is no change to the space behind the seat.

Curious, when has the Washington State budget dropped at a rate less than inflation? When have receipts caused a deficit? If social services and schools are cut, it's not from a lack of revenue - it's the slime in Olympia deciding to change priorities and then use "we don't have enough money left for schools!" to try to extort even more dollars out of the taxpayers. There is plenty of funds for social services and schools - the problem is that Olympia (the Legislature AND the Governor) don't have the intestinal fortitude to actually prioritize as the State Constitution requires.

I take it you will choose not to recline your own seat as well?

Hi there. You don't know me, but Alaska Airlines and Cathay Pacific certainly do. I've maintained MVP Gold (and, since 2011 when the new tier started, MVP Gold 75K - 75,000+ miles per year) on Alaska, and Diamond (120,000+ miles per year) on Cathay Pacific for the last 9 years. About 2 million miles in less than a decade. I fly a bit... In fact, I just got back from Hong Kong, on CX882 that arrived this afternoon in Los Angeles.

I am curious about your claim of only 1 airline offering your flight. What city do you arrive in, Internationally? Short of North Korea, Turkmenistan (Tashkent Air really isn't that bad), or a handful of other fascist dictatorships, I can't think of an International city that would be served by just 1 airline.

As far as US travel goes, I can't remember the last time I bought a business/first class seat - exclusive buyer of economy here. And I cannot remember the last time I was NOT bumped up to business class (that's what comes with massive standing with the airlines). That means that, up to 2 days prior to my domestic departure, there were still business-class seats unsold - and they give them to high-mileage travelers like me, for free. If you want extra legroom, I suggest you consider buying extra legroom - it seems to be plentiful, at least on Alaska Air and Delta (Delta recognizes my status with Alaska) - my two choices for domestic flights.

As far as Asian flights, you must not mean any going into, out from, or within China. For example, China Southern flies A380s for some of its domestic flights, it has so many fliers. China Eastern, Xiamen Air, Shanghai Air, all pack out all the time. It does pay to buy business class in China - but it's relatively affordable.

Except NO one uses "guizi", they use "laowai". SOURCE: living and working in Shanghai and neighboring provinces for most of the last decade. Not to mention what my Shanghainese wife and family say is customary...

Then that was actually illegal. The ONLY stock that can be given to Chinese nationals, working in China, is that of a company publicly traded on a Chinese stock exchange. No other stock transaction is actually legal. Now, many do it anyway (hey, TIC - This Is China), but it is illegal.

FTA: "In the belly of the beast, gases like carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and hydrochloric acid" HYDROCHLORIC ACID GAS? Screw the CO2, the last thing I want anywhere is air that literally eats you alive from the inside out!

Quick correction - foreigners CAN own Chinese companies. In fact, I own one - a Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise (called a "woofy"). You can own a company in China; what you cannot do is sell OR EVEN OFFER stock or options of a foreign company to any Chinese national. Meaning that foreign companies who provide stock options to their employees in the US or other countries cannot do that for their Chinese employees. That's about the only difference, however.

Hangzhou is close to Shanghai, it's out of the Cantons. It's not "gwai lo", it's "lao wai". You're using Cantonese, not Mandarin (as you exhort the OP to learn). Perhaps you should learn a little yourself...

Interesting to read your statement, given that whaling in the US is still allowed.

However, the rest of the world does care about grammar. Perhaps that's why geeks have so little power or influence to start with - social rejects are rejected by society...

It's not because we're Republicans that we hate you.

It's because you're a ranting dolt that we hate you. And you smell bad. And dress worse. Plus, it wouldn't hurt to brush your teeth once a day at least, and shave those 7 whiskers you grow on your chin - nobody likes patchy hipster beards. Nobody. Including your mom, regardless of what she shouts down the basement stairs to your "command station".

- The GOP

PS: the Libertarians and Democrats asked us to not send you their way - they don't want want to associate with you either. Can't say we blame them. Who knew it would take a loathsome beast like you to unite the political parties...

So, somewhere around 25 deg Latitude South, then?

Of course it is - after all, the Obama Administration has been railing about the gender gap when it's leading the way in keeping the gender gap alive... Another case of our President being "do as I say, not as I do".

Because Technology can NEVER be mechanical in nature. Never...