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Whenever Musk or one of his rivals sends up a spacecraft

Damn those evil soulless billionaires! If only it were NASA doing the launches, things would've been completely different...

the carriers which operate closer to the ground must avoid large swaths of territory and incur sizable expenses

Those are FAA requirements, from the same people, who only a few years ago claimed (and compelled the airlines to claim), your cellphone could bring down your airliner...

I fly several times a year for my company, and I completely disagree. I think it's more perception than reality.

1) This is the most valid point, but unless you're late to the airport it's a moot point, because the plane's not leaving any sooner because you didn't have to check a bag. If you are late, then it's your own damn fault.

2) Nearly every time I've flown the bag is already there by the time I get to the carousel, or within 5 minutes or so. It depends when you get off the plane. If you rush off, pushing and shoving people out of your way so that you can be first, then you will wait longer.

3) Yes... I've even had luggage lost before. But the fact is that it's really quite rare. Last stat I read didn't clearly say how much was lost, but "Mishandled" bags was around 0.6%, I would expect most of that was damage - and while it may be a hassle, airlines are responsible for up to over $3k per lost bag, so they are actually doing quite a bit to stop it from happening. They REALLY do not want to lose your luggage. From this report, airlines are "now 70 percent less likely to lose our bags than they were 10 years ago."

I've flown for quite some time, and I can tell you that when they didn't charge for checked bags, a LOT fewer people used carry-ons.

Most of what is being called "Smart Luggage" is just luggage that has a rechargeable battery pack incorporated into it with a couple of USB ports on it. However there are are other options to them http://www.travelandleisure.co...

The other part was the airlines' growing limits on "excess" baggage, plus their tendency to fly your luggage to some place remote from where they were flying you. People reported that handing it over to the package-shipping people to deliver to your destination did an end run around the airlines' lost luggage issue and the government's incompetent security theater

You're actually more likely to have your packages lost than have the airlines lose your luggage. A loss rate of 0.5%-1.2% for package delivery vs 0.3% for the airlines. The main reason to ship your luggage is to avoid slowdowns due to airport security, and because the airlines make it a PITA to get the compensation you're entitled to if they lose a bag. Whereas when you ship a package, the compensation is pre-negotiated - you declare its value on the waybill and (presumably) insure it for that amount.

Anything with substantial monetary or sentimental value goes in my carry-on bag. The stuff that goes in my check-in bags can all be easily replaced in any developed country.

Stand up airline seats

Right - Americans certainly wouldn't show inordinate deference to superiors. They just drink 16 rum and diet cokes the night before they fly. http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-dumbest-pilots/8

Ouch. You're arguing with drinking against Americans in a comment to an article about pilots from a country where being an alcoholic is almost a job requirement in many corporations? Epic fail.

Right - Americans certainly wouldn't show inordinate deference to superiors. They just drink 16 rum and diet cokes the night before they fly. http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/worlds-dumbest-pilots/8

According to a travel magazine, Times square is the most visited tourist location in the world bringing in 39 million people annually

That would put slashmydots 1 in 10 estimate in the right ballpark. Now, this probably just includes visitors, there is probably an equal number of New Yorkers who pass through the area / visit it multiple times. But still it should not change the order of magnitude.

I live in Phoenix now, and it's not just Fry's employees who are clueless, the whole city is clueless. Just look at the way people drive here; this city has (no kidding) the worst drivers in the country.

sausage-flavored ice cream

Interesting example-- I agree with this woman regarding pro-life as the trump card!

• Limiting financial assistance for pre-natal care if the organization mentions the option of abortion.
• A stay the course policy in Iraq & Afganistan - resulting in continued military & civilian deaths in both - as well as a continued/accelerated propogation of terrorism supporters.
• Spending cuts on health care & social services - most effecting poor single parents.
• Massive overspending for projects of dubious bennifit - DHS control of airport security comes to mind - From a travel magazine at least it doesn't appear to have a direct bias - Wired tends to be more liberal but check the GAO & DHS papers refered to by PDF links in the 5th paragraph. Which results in not only a huge deficit, but further reduced spending for education, local services (Police, fire, ambulance), and housing.