Nevertheless - equal or MORE uses for defense than for offense. And as far as "2A absolutists", what other rights are you willing to sacrifice as not absolute?

See page 8 of the PDF: 235,000 violent crimes, 103,000 property crimes. Total of 338,000 uses over 5 years, about 67,000 per year.

But it if takes 15 seconds to recognize your fingerprints and unlock...

How long does it take to recognize and unlock? I know the GlobalEntry kiosk at US Customs takes a solid 5-10 seconds...

Would you accept a report by the anti-gun Violence Policy Center that concludes there are 67,000 valid defensive uses of a firearm each year, making it slightly more likely that a firearm will be used for defense rather than for committing a crime? Reality probably lives somewhere between the points (VPC and NRA), but in either case - it's more than the criminal use of firearms.

Yep! And for every iPhone that Apple sells, Samsung will sell 2 to 3 smartphones...

Based on your UID, you were around when it was steam and gaslight, right?

Instead of firms like Solyndra, how about firms that don't go bankrupt?

So don't do wires - just put a high-voltage rail in the ground instead of a wire. Sure, we lose a few people not smart enough to NOT touch the third rail - but that would also serve to eliminate overcrowding on buses as well. Win-win!

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.