'To start with, pilots cannot tinker with a plane's air-conditioning systems...to modify the ratio of fresh to recirculated air.'

'"Airbus series aircraft, from the A320 through the much larger A380, do provide a way for pilots to vary airflow," says Dave English, an A320 captain.'

You made it almost 5 paragraphs before contradicting yourself. Then you've got Dave saying that usually they keep airflow at Norm *snip*

You do understand that fresh/recirc air RATIOS and air FLOW are two different things, right?

My most memorable go-around happened at Washington National Airport. The weather wasn't so great and the wind was shifting and gusty. The wind shifted around again just as we were about to land, and a tailwind pushed the plane down the runway.

The pilots went around, and while we were getting back in line to try again, they closed the airport due to the wind. We had to divert to Norfolk, VA to gas up and wait it out.

If the wind had held off for one more minute, we would have made the first landing, and the flight wouldn't have been three hours longer.

Oh well, it happens.

It's been fascinating, and a bit revolting, to watch this whole thing unfold. Most rational people understand the multiple causes of this meltdown, and understand there is plenty of blame to go around. But like with most issues, your wingnuts have been thrashing around for a way to lay this at the feet of all those they hate: liberals, minorities, poor people, consumers. I guess they've finally settled on a story, and that story is it's the fault of Carter, illegal immigrants, and blacks. Good work righties!

Watching their mental gymnastics in real time has made me die a little on the inside.

GK: Even atheists say a little prayer now and then: Dear God, I am an idiot, thank you for protecting my children.

Nonsense.

Isn't that like writing on the party invitation, "Come dressed as you are...in your tuxedo or your ball gown"?

--Kitt

I certainly hope not, all my gowns are soooooo last season.

What I've found frustrating is the McCain's campaign's use the term "townhall meeting" to describe a series of closed, invitation-only campaign events.

What's particularly irritating is the media jumping on board and using the phrase "townhall meeting" when describing the event in their reporting. Uh guys? If it's not open to the public, it's not a townhall meeting.

I will note that I heard NPR describe one as an "invitation-only townhall meeting" this morning, which is marginally better. But still.

American has it backwards. Instead of $15 for the first checked bag, they should let the first checked bag be free and charge $15 for the first carry-on bag. I'm thinking small bags (briefcase, laptop bag, courier bag) would be free, but any sort of rolling suitcase would cost you. That would make the boarding/de-boarding process a lot smoother.

Oh, and not only did I get a small chuckle over Patrick's obviously tongue-in-cheek muzzled children idea, but I got a hearty laugh over all the people in thread who got all shocked and offended over the idea that not everyone else finds their precious little snowflakes as wonderful as they do.

Andrew Leonard wrote:

I can't decide whether to frame or burn the receipt from a Chevron filling station in Berkeley, Calif., that documents how much I spent to fill the tank of my 12-year-old Nissan Quest minivan on Sunday morning. At $4.09 a gallon for regular unleaded, the total came to $65.68. That's the most I've ever paid for a tank of gas, so I feel inclined to treat the paper record with respect.

That's not so bad, just this morning I filled my almost empty tank. At $4.069 per gallon, the almost 27 gallons I put in there cost me over $108. It didn't even give me one receipt. Because the pumps stop at $75 on a debit card purchase, I ended up with two receipts.

But I'm not complaining. I knew what I was getting into when I bought my current vehicle, and I forfeited my right to complain when I did so. Filling it is still cheaper than buying a different car.

First let me disclose that I'm a straight white male, who lives in the suburbs of a midsized rustbelt city and works as a professional in a manufacturing company, so you'll know how to evaluate the following statement:

It is possible to discuss the process by which court rulings are acheived and their role in our system of governement - along with criticizing others who deliberately mis-state this relationship - while not addressing whether the specific ruling is good or bad in some moral sense, or is desireable from the point of view of politics, tradition, or values.

I agree with King. Although I would have summed it up something like this: Just because you're right doesn't mean you're not a douchebag.

Another Saginaw resident checking in. Saginaw has the feel of town balanced on a knife's edge, ready to tip into complete devastation on one side, or a slow, modest prosperity on the other. I suppose our story isn't much different from a couple dozen other small rustbelt cities, but when it's your (adopted) home, if feels different.

And though I doubt he'll read it here, I too would like to thank Garrison Keillor for coming here. It's the same for bands, speakers, exhibits, shows, or anything else; it's a rare victory when we're able to snag one traveling between Detroit and Chicago and haul it far enough North to put on a show in Saginaw. And we need all the help we can get.

Too much moping emo John, not enough hot Terminator butt kicking.

Seriously. The story of seeing humanity through the lens of terminator girl's eyes is a much more compelling story than John's teenage angst about living up to his supersoldier future.