I work for a "dream" job and company, too. I knew going in they grind people down; some can handle it and others can't. There are 150 strong men who would shank me tomorrow for the job, without hesitation, with 10,000 alternates world over. Period, end...

(A gun commentary...and somewhat obtuse. A '1911' is a type of pistol, an engineering marvel designed by John Browning more than a hundred years ago. They are still in use today, and were a major part of US troop arsenals from WW I (!) to today's war theaters. Think on that: a mechanical device built BEFORE the Ford Model T is still relevant and beloved today, by both modern armies and civilian enthusiasts (and certain law enforcement). The high end versions of these, today, are like fine watches,...

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About that in my home: Seattle is weird, in any number of ways, both endearing and annoying. The weather is a hot topic because it can be...wildly unpredictable. Yes, it rains in Seattle. There are also windstorms, and rare nasty snowstorms. So what kind of vehicle, exactly, should one purchase?

Decade and a half later, I'm still trying to puzzle it out.

Some years we get essentially zero snow (trace, or less). Last season, 2013-4, was that way. Year before,...