Really tired. I’ve got nothing. Actually I do, but don’t feel like writing. It’s days like this that made me think of shutting down the blog. I’ll be back. Meanwhile thanks for the comments on the Streetcar post. I forgot to ask what people in other cities that had streetcars thought of their streetcars. Waste of money? My cousin in St. Louis sent me an article about St. Louis and their 2.2 mile streetcar line that is already over schedule and over budget. Funny how that seems to happen with gummint programs isn’t it?
Your blog is one of my go-to sites. I fully understand the pain it can be to post every day. I would certainly prefer an occasional post rather than none. However, if you choose to end it, I have really enjoyed you and wish you the best.
Another curmudgeon in VA.
I’m not ending it. Don’t worry about that. I just need occasional breaks. I’m having sleeping problems at night.
I’m retired…no sleeping problems…I sleep when tired, stay in jammies etc…no problems. Oh by the way these city projects are not for city…they are union jobs…that’s all!!?
You took the words out of my mouth, JH. I always check your site, Denny. But, posy only as often as you can, My sleep is on-again Off-again mess, so I can see where you are coming from.
Even Seattle with all its “progressive” inhabited can’t make a street car go. Its quicker to walk!
From Kansas City, 2 miles of track, $100 million, a waste. They want to do more now. All political payoffs.
Baltimore added it’s “Light” rail in the early 90’s. It pretty much finished off what was left of retail in the city. I knew a black man in his ’60’s at the time, he was afraid to ride it because of the violent, vulgar young kids that rode it in the city. And like ATL, payment is optional an unenforced. A total joke. People who park at the satellite areas have cars broken into to on occasion. The solution? Not enough rail, so they have started an “east-west” spur, another transportation boondoggle. Luckily, a republican governor has stopped the funding. What a hue and cry from all the leeches awaiting political payback and fat contracts.
Streetcars made economic sense when there were few roads and cars. Developers such as Huntington could turn cheap land into valuable housing by slapping down some rails (cheaper than building a road) and linking that land to locations that needed labor. But when roads came, buses gained the advantage, because the buses could use the general-purpose roads, whereas the streetcars required a special infrastructure. And buses could compete with traffic better than rail cars. In the modern era, rail may make sense when it has an unimpeded right-of-way, especially if traffic is bad but rail moves quickly. And it may have some tourist or spiritual value, such as San Francisco streetcars. All in all, rail has its place, and can in theory do good, if only we can keep the fools from messing up the plans and the cronies from stealing the people’s money. But that’s a tall order.
Insomnia sucks royal moose cock! It’s pretty much ruined my life. Doctors don’t give a shit.
Streetcars: I went to school in the Boston/Cambridge area and the trolley made the whole metropolitan area accessible. In the 70’s I could go anywhere for 50ยข Harvard Square shopping. Park Street to pick up a Greyhound for home. Even Logan Airport. I think it works there because they never tore it up. The city has grown up around it.
I check this blog twice a day. I lurk more than I comment.
I can remember catching the bus in my youth(the 60s). They were clean and dependable. They were also run by private companies.
Now the buses are subsidized by the tax payer and ridden by people that pay no taxes.
Today the buses are filthy and dangerous.
I’d rather hitch hike.
Denny,
Can relate, insomnia takes the wind out one’s sails. Your fan club up here in the “Great White North” is on-board for however much you post and do. Certainly a respite is in order and well earned.
Streetcars: First, bureaucrats should never run engineering projects. Second, bureaucrats should not plan such works. 2 miles for a developed urban core like Atlanta just doesn’t have critical mass to make a difference. And to be sufficiently large enough to help with traffic and moving people would make a manned trip to Saturn and back look like pocket change. So it shouldn’t even be attempted, the window of opportunity has long passed.
Recharge, reboot and re-invigorate.
After multiple back surgeries and 65 cortisone injections in the last 6 years I understand some of what you deal with. All of us read your blog WHEN you can do it Denny. Take a break and write when you can. Thanks
Hell, Denny, we probably all agree that good GOC content a couple of times a week beats what lots of blogs put out on a daily basis. I’ll keep checkin’ every day.
Stay well, my friend.
Rob J
We used an Ivory Soap bar on the tracks just in front of the last stop.The street car would hit the spring bumper at the traack end at less than 5 mph, and ka-boingggggg,,go backwards and then stop.
In Portland, Oregon, laying the track for their little choo-choo train cost about the same as KHS said it was for Kanasa City – about $100-Mil per mile. All that money for a train that whizzes you to wherever you want to go and a blinding rate of 19-miles-per-hour. And now there is a crowd that wants to bring the Portland choo-choo across the Columbia River into Vancouver when, and if, they ever get around to replacing tho somewhat ancient I-5 bridge over the Columbia. And those same ones want it to go only to Clark College, less than 3 miles from the river.
Hang in there Denny….I am another old guy that reads your blog pretty much everyday and enjoy your point of view along with the things the others here write. Sorry to here you are not sleeping well, but I think most of us oldies get that affliction every once in a while. Best of health to you and all the fine folks here!
Light rail? Well, I’ve read that the San Diego Trolley actually makes money. It’s usually used by tourists.
Los Angeles has light rail. If you look at the routes, it almost services LAX — at it’s closest point it’s about half a mile from the airport. I’m told that certain interests that contribute money to local politicians’ election campaigns — *cough* taxi companies *cough* — wanted it that way.
Insomnia? Sleep when you want to, don’t sleep when you don’t want to. Nobody’s gonna fire you for being late to work! My body wants a 30-hour sleep schedule. Sometimes I let it have its way.