Upper panel: total H i column densities are plotted against the velocity widths, Δv, for the 24 antipodal composite spectra. No systematic trend is visible. Lower panel: the velocity widths are plotted against the inclination i of the Milky Way disk (assuming an external vantage point). The velocity widths are systematically higher for i> 40° (“edge-on” case) than for i ≤ 40° (“face-on” case). In both panels, MS sightlines are indicated in red.