Awww, the press is upset that someone checked over their phone records. At least they obtained a warrant. The FBI appears to think that no such thing is needed when it's a common citizen that they want records for. How come the press is upset when it happens to them but seems to ignore the FBI doing it to others?

You asked, I answered! :-) I do shop online a great deal and a large part of that is price but it's also convenience and the ability to get a far wider variety of goods than any local store is likely to carry. Online stores that are run well have the advantage of volume, something no brick store really has by comparison and often ends up with higher prices as a result. I shop local when it makes sense but just this week I had packages from multiple stores delivered to my home that I couldn't have gotten locally anywhere near as easily. Sometimes you just don't need any of the advantages I listed but they do exist...

Yeah, but one can dream right?

I got screwed in a few different ways but in the end I'll have the last laugh and no I have pretty much zero contact with the loser. My father warned me and he was proven right :-(

That makes more sense to me. I believe you can still carry them in checked luggage but they must be declared, locked, and they search them. I also believe that ammo cannot go along for the ride. This is what I'm told anyway by owners, I own no firearms myself

Or you know maybe having those bridge guys goto another state that needs them when done in your state?

I can only look at pictures, I cannot handle the item in question. I have to wait for shipping and sometimes even have to be home when it arrives during business hours or travel miles to a shipping depot - during business hours. If left the item can be stolen from my doorstep, the item can be broken in shipping, I have to use a credit card or other more direct form of payment and cannot use cash. I'm often forced to setup an account and divulge email information for marketing purposes. I could go on but that's a start.... there is indeed some friction in making an online sale, it's often made up by the more competitive pricing and the ability to easily price compare. It's also nice when a site offers online reviews that aren't full of shills.

I just bought some interesting toys from DealExtreme and they ship straight from China. I bought from them because our asinine Govt. has recalled the same product from US sellers (Buckey Balls). I can still get much the same thing from DX with no problem.

So, I suspect that DX won't collect taxes, my money goes overseas. Will this not have the unintended side effect of making overseas businesses more attractive? For many things shipping is just as reasonable if you don't mind a little delay. I'm already forced to buy some things I want overseas, buying more of them isn't that great a stretch IMO and this could certainly make them more competitive...

I'll agree that this is happening but I'd also point out that there are now more hobbyist machinists and that CNC is coming on strong. All sorts of car guys are getting into it and you can find all sorts of custom machined stuff out there even flashlights. I have some hope that this will come back but before it does kids have to see it as "cool" and not something only fat sweaty guys do. Having computers involved, 3D printing, and other cool computer things should help. If I had the time and access to a little training, plus perhaps a reason to do it, I'd learn for sure! I had a lathe willed to me but an Uncle threw it away, he's lucky I didn't beat him for doing so too :-(

You say this but meanwhile in other countries teens are being shaken down by cops to make sure they aren't carrying screwdrivers and people talk about making kitchen knives that cannot be used to stab someone and do it with a straight face.

http://www.dailybulldog.com/db/features/man-arrested-following-screwdriver-stabbing/
http://www.insight-security.com/facts-knife-crime-stats.htm
http://allamericanblogger.com/13474/in-london-its-illegal-to-carry-a-screwdriver-without-a-good-reason-by-the-way-knife-crime-is-skyrocketing/

http://frontpagemag.com/2012/dgreenfield/british-doctors-call-for-ban-on-long-kitchen-knives-to-end-stabbings/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1192969/Pointless-The-new-kitchen-knife-chops-wont-stab.html

What's next, bats that can't be used to clobber someone? You call US nuts?! If people want to hurt one another they will find a way....

P.S. OMG they actually made such a knife! Sure hope no one decides to slash someone with it - then what?

I'm pretty sure that just because they weren't checking for it didn't make it "legal". If someone had waved one around I wouldn't have been surprised if there were objections raised to having it in a pressurized aircraft. Things might have been a bit more "free" but people certainly weren't stupid.

The first version apparently misfired, the second version corrected that issue. The second version was fired successfully but came apart when equipped with a more powerful cartridge. When using a suitable cartridge it apparently worked just fine - the second revision anyway.

When was it ever legal to bring guns into the passenger compartment of a commercial aircraft? Citation please...

yes, it exploded on the second shot AFTER having a much more powerful shell loaded not because it had any issues after the first firing... I agree some pipe would be an improvement.

For those screaming that it would then have an issue with security I'd point out that the pipe need not be installed in the weapon at all times and that it could be brought through security easily as part of another object - say a tripod for a camera. And no, he wasn't trying to build a gun that could be brought through security although he has likely come pretty close to accomplishing that.

Well consider the audience. I once sat through a discussion at DEFCON about "survival" should the worst happen. Speaker said he didn't like guns or violence and would try to bargain and trade for goods when someone came calling looking for things to survive. This is what's known as a "victim" and the first time someone came knocking they would take everything he had. But he still really believed that he could make it.... This is the mentality you face when talking common sense about this stuff with this group - fantasy land.