I think that certain traffic is slowed/delayed to give people the impression they need a faster link.

When is the +1 button :-)

This is just smart trading. I know 100 guys that COULD do this, assuming they had the requisite margin. As long as you place trades on the book that you're willing to fill based on the rules of that market there's no reason why you should be called a 'crook' for that.

Technically yes. Fewer people working means fewer people paying income tax, and fewer refunds. It may be a negligible amount though.

personally I want to see taxes get slashed accross the board and spending at a federal level cut by a drastic number as well. Let the people and states keep their money

You don't always have a choice. If a document is required and specified to be uploaded in a Microsoft format (and generally this is the case because only geeks believe there's still a fight regarding which format to use, even though the world's decided on doc/docx years ago and fucking MOVED ON), you have to submit in said format.

At some point people have to understand that the world doesn't revolve around them. Sometimes they need to just use what other people use to promote maximum communication. It doesn't matter what the ideal is - it matters what the practicality is. Otherwise you're just manufacturing stress and effort when there doesn't need to be any.

Not exactly true; there are other factors. Our son was born very premature, 2 lbs 12 oz. You could hold him in one hand. (He is a big strapping 13 year old now) They are finding that there is a higher rate of autism in preemies compared to normal births. 'Decades' ago, there is a good chance he would not have survived, thus there is a higher incident of autism simply because preemies are surviving instead of dying.