2008 [PART 2] and the Coffee Pot is still on and now 4 years old. Here we gather as friends with trains. Sweet ice tea too.

[laz 57]

HI GIZ,

  38 and cool day here to get to 68.  GOLF tonite if it don't rain.  Its Friday for me today, Comp day tomorrow on the count of its  DA PROM.  For me its day 2 of moving DA PRINCIPAL.  We start at 6AM.

  CHUCK, yep I can use that zero turn Cub anytime I want.  But for now I use my 2500 series Cub with bagger.  I like picking up the debris from the trees now, in about a month I will take it off and let grass fall.

  BRUTUS, LOL about DA CUB.  Love it!

  About Global warming, History of the world has had both warm periods and cold periods.  We are just in the up swing of a warm period.  Give it another 2-300 years and it will be an ice age again.

  Gas prices high, stop driving and walk or ride a bike as they do in Europe.

  Something to ponder,  HOW IS THIS GAS HIKE GOING TO EFFECT THE TRAIN HOBBY? 

  We are going to see big mark up in prices.  Might be tougher to own a Lionel or MTH engine?

  B GOOD or B GONE,

laz57

[Blueberryhill RR]

Good Morning from Blueberryhill....

It is a partly sunny 47 degrees. Going up to 74 today with some sunshine.

Today is  a busy day. I have some errands to run and things to fix around the house.  All the repairs come at once.

Some very interesting comments on this Forum about subjects such as " Gas prices , global warming, weak dollar ". I think this country better start taking care of ITSELF and do it quickly. Just my opinion.

Dining car is here and it's time for breakfast. Later.

Y'all  have a great Thursday.

Chuck

[anjdevil2]

and a HAPPY to all today...this wonder MAY DAY

45 again today up to 80...usually 90 & 90% humdity...I'll take it, it's comfortable no mattter what the Earth is doing

Bride came to work yesterday in tears....after 20 years of service, they layed her off.  Was very upset, as she is the major breadwinner in the family.  So with that, we'll hike up our trousers and walk to the next part of life.  It'll be ok, just have to convince her that.  If it gets desperate, I'll give you guys first shot at the small collection......

I really want to say something else on this warming thing, but I said I'd shut up and I will.  88..you are soooooo right!  Dennis...you are also correct.

Anyone see the Sprint commercial..if the country was run by firefighters?  THAT'S what we need!!!  Dennis....you in? (geez, that was easy...)

OK youse guyz, let's all play nice, See ya later!!!

Rich

[cheapclassics]

Good morning all,

IIABSDISEI with temps in the 70s.  Anjdevil2, sorry to hear about your wife's job loss.  I know how she feels as I had worked almost 20 years at a factory when they closed down.  Times will be tough, but they will get better.  It took me 3.5 years to get back to where I was, but we are ok now. 

Spent 1.5 hours helping Lucas with his homework.  Even though I understood most of it, it was still hard and complicated to do.  I did get my weight work in, did a little eBaying, a little Second Life, watched some of "Deal or No Deal".

For once, I had the regular fare on the dining car for breakfast, but I got to sleep on the way to work this morning as the other person drove.  I hope everyone has a good day.

Keep on training,

Mike C. from Indiana

[sir james I]

GOOD MORNING

Overcast and 40s, no global warming here, Or this past winter when we got umpteen inches of snow. It might reach 60 today. No breakfast yet either. Don't take pity on me and send grits our potholes are already full of them. I'm thinking I might check some more engines today and see if the armatures are running free, if not today it will be a future project. I hope everyone is well or mending, Twenty years work down the drain, that sucks big time.  TTFN,,,S.J.

[Anonymous]

You did NOT read what I wrote.  I said stop the taxes and fund the difference with the profits of the oil companies.  Nothing lost to the transprotation infrastructure funding.  Loss is to the share holders of the oil companies.  

That is the reason the country is in recession.  GWB economics.

Soon to be gone.

I most certainly did!

IF they were to do this, the price of gas would go up again. Why? Because we are increasing the taxes on Big Oil... so your end result would be reduce price of gas by 18 cents (federal gas tax), and Big Oil increasing gas prices by 24 cents. So the end result is we pay more for the gas anyway.

I'll say this again... The reason we are in a recession is because of Wall Street investors. They hedged the bets that the house boom would keep going and when it started to slow down the banks and lending institutions loosened their lending standards and allowed higher risk mortgages to be approved - they did this at the behest of Congress. So borrowers, who KNEW they couldn't afford these expensive homes, went to the lenders and fudged their incomes and debt levels (Congress loosened the documentation requirements as well), got these high risk loans and now they can't afford them. This has resulted in foreign investors pulling out of American companies and reinvesting their money in Hong Kong, China, EU, Inda, the Pacific Rim, etc. This drove the value of the dollar down, thus driving the price of goods and services higher.

This isn't POLITICAL it is ECONOMICS. Every time there is a bubble, something occurs to correct the markets. Back in the late 90's it was the tech industry that was grossly over valued, now it was the housing industry.

GWB will be gone in 8 months, yes you are correct. But one thing that will not change and that is how our government is run and influenced. The only way to really affect change is to outlaw lobbying and special interest money. Make politicians run for office on their own dime and not allow other people to donate to them or corporations to donate to them. Enact term limits and do away with their pensions.

[ChiefEagles]

Sure is a pretty day here.  Already short sleeve temps.  Waiting for Enterprise to pick me up.  Everytime I call, "Mr. Eagles, we did not realize you needed picking up."  Reservation was for 9 AM.  They know me as it is a tiny office.  Short staffed.  Nice friendly folks though.  Gone soon I hope.

[Sturgeon-Phish]

Morning all from beautiful Southern Ohio

I got a lot of outside work done yesterday.  The yard I cut for a friend had not been cut yet and it was a jungle, taking almost 5 hours to do.  Throw in a small concrete patch job, and transplanting a holly bush made my day.  I start back to work on night shift tonight so I wanted to get that stuff done.

Mike- I pray for Lucas to get turned around from his case of "senioritis".  It would be a shame to screw up potential college or career choices due to bad choices.

Dennis - Prayer sent

Mike Steve Doug Roy - I can sympathize.  There must be some sort of support group for parents of teens who make such bad choices.  My oldest daughter (27) and in essence me, are continuing to pay for her bad choices....

Mitch - Sounds like your son is doing well

Rich - I hope all turns out well for you and your wife.  Is the company offering any placement help?

Laz - the increase in fuel prices has cut into my discretionary spending i.e. the train budget is being CUT

May God bless

Jim

[sarpilot]

Morning GANG, Its a nice sunny day in Pensacola and just up and about getting some things done before I go to work. Gotta get the place cleaned up a bit before the wife gets home on Saturday. Well I finally broke down and ordered a TMCC command set and 2 PM-1s yesterday. I probably souldn't have done it yet since I'm still doing all the final wiring and stuff but I couldn't resist. Its gonna take a few weeks before it gets here so that will give me time to get the prep work done. Is any one familiar with programming the PM-1s and setting the addresses up? I just hope its not a major pain to do it. Well I got to get going for now. Everyone have a great day.

 

STEVE

[phillyreading]

Good morning!

Hope you guys don't think that I am being too hard on the president but who decided to go into Iraq and overthrow the current government? Before the US went into Iraq things were running smoothly over there and gas prices were under $2.80 a gallon. I am not anti-government just anti BUSH!!!

The housing market is more to do with the senate or congress passing loosed lending laws. 20 years ago or more you had to put up 20% down for a house, now you just sign and buy like a car, too many flimsy loans and I believe that this has caused the crash in the housing market.

Warm and sunny here in south Florida today, around 78 this morning already!

Still need to wire in some switches on my layout, may wait for the weekend.

Lee F.

[dbaker48]

Good Morning -

Looks like were still into the politics issues, lasts night Boston Legal, sure did a good job.  It will be interesting to see just how many people are motivated after they realize hot the election process really works.

The other thing that is interesting here.  After someone expresses there view, most close off their post with a comment about no additional comments to be made.  Everyone wants the last word.

Weather sure has cooled off yesterday, and will continue cool for the next week.  Only in the low  to mi 70's.  

This weekend is going to be busy, Fullerton Rail-Fest, and have to get the joint ready for the Big Bunco Bash coming up next week.

Better get ready for work, have agreat day. 

[ezmike]

Chief and doug, thanks for the name of the "sound board" products. I do remember reading about Celotex (sp), I'll check it out.

As for my oldest child, the daughter, who is getting married in 14 months and quit her job, well, talked to her yesterday and she sounded pretty upbeat (ahh youth). She has already arranged to work for that friend I mentioned yesterday. I believe she starts Monday. You gotta love them.

As for the son, in the middle of finals. He'll do "observation" for about three to four weeks at our local high school when he gets home. Then he has one more year and then student teaching for a semester. He'll "walk" next May and hopefully do his student teaching back at our local high school. Keep you collective fingers crossed.

Not touching the global warming issue and have already voiced my opinion, what little it is, about the oil industry.

Trains, that's what I'm concentrating on now. Been hitting the drawing board for the layout. Have some possibilities. I think I'm trying to do too much with my space so I'm going to start thinking on a smaller scale and see where that takes me.

Is it me or are there fewer post-war offerings (ebay, trains.com...) out there this year at this time?

Mike

PS: Oh yeah, 29 degrees at 7:00 am with low 50's and rain coming from tonight through the weekend.

[edw]

 

EDW:  Perhaps I should rephrase...Global Warming is an unsubstantiated theory.

Actually, Kurt, our discussion yesterday was not about theory, but whether global temperatures were rising or falling.

Just to set the record straight, if you re-read my comments to you and anjdevil2, you will notice that I never mentioned the term "greenhouse gases", or made any arguments about the causes of global warming. 

In both instances, I simply challenged what I considered to be factually incorrect statements regarding the actual temperature trends.

                Kpolak wrote: "Global temperatures peaked in 1998, and have been going back down since."

                Anjdevil2 wrote: "Total global temps DOWN 2 degrees."

I believe the weight of the evidence contradicts the above statements, and actually supports the opposite conclusion.

I would agree with you, however, that the question of why temperatures are rising is certainly a legitimate topic for debate.

[anjdevil2]

JimPhish - no, no placement, but 2 differing comp packages and 1 with a no compete clause - which is funny, since this job is all she knows....and thanks to all who have offered up prayers and sentiments about my wife.  She appreciates them all, as do I.

Brent - I knew there was a reason I liked you....

Anti-Bush people - there are AT LEAST 323 reasons I supported him and this war.  Dennis knows and remembers, Al-qaida bases and all.  Faulty intel from your FORMER offender & Chief Mr. Bill and his lovely candidate, may have contributed to the problems we've encountered.  But no one remembers the mistakes of the cordial Clinton White House.  You can thank your BIASED media.

Forget what 323 reasons? Then check this out, if you haven't already.  I still can't watch all of it without crying, but I DO, SO I DON'T EVER FORGET!

http://www.fdnylodd.com/9-11-Never-Forget/Memorials/Blood-Of-Heroes.html

Sorry too close to where I live.....but this is the reality and truth.  Your President leads us, but your elected officials make the laws.  His vetos can be over-ridden. Basic government.  The President is the official head of the country but cannot institute his plans with out help from the House and Senate.  Pelosi and Reid are corrupt as they come, but no word on their mistakes...

OK, I'm done.  We may differ on the politics, but we're still friends, right?

[dwiemer]

Just checking in as I am bored!  Wife is at home with the maid taking care of the house and waiting on the dishwasher folks to come install  the new one.  Can hardly wait to get home and see how it all went.  Of course we have a practice for my daughter's first ballet recital.  I hope she is not one of "those" kids that just stands there with a clueless look about her.  My wife has spied on her when parents were not supposed to be watching and she does great.  But when she was in there for the parent present part, the kid just stopped.  Oh well, we'll see.

Rich, sorry to hear about the bride's job.  My grandfather retired from a newspaper company and right afterward, the union had stollen all the retirement from the employee retirement package and then the paper closed.  He was left with nothing.  It can always be worse.  Who knows, this may be a closing of a door, only to open another.  You had spoken of returning to NJ, perhaps this is meant to be.  Either way, will pray for guidance for you and your wife.

Don, you said that folks like to voice their opinion and then want to close the subject... and have the last word:  Well, In my humble opinion, which I highly regard, it is a beautiful day here.  Case Closed!

God Bless,

dennis

PS: one last thing: Watched the program on the Frisco #1522's last ride.  Not sure what the disposition of that fine piece of steam machinery is, but perhaps some of our St. Louis crowd can chime in.

[dbaker48]

Don, you said that folks like to voice their opinion and then want to close the subject... and have the last word:  Well, In my humble opinion, which I highly regard, it is a beautiful day here.  Case Closed!

God Bless,

dennis

Dennis,

I actually respect your opinon, and definetly will defend your right to express it.  However, unfortunately I don't think it is truly representative.  You are taking a sample size of 1, and establishing not only a premise, but a theory, and unfortunately even a conclusion.  Now, I too have an opinion, and maybe it may not be as humble as yours, but it certainly is as valid.  And I must admit that I actually hold it in higher regard than your opinion.  (Sorry, (not really)).  But I have convinced my family that mine is more valid than yours, at least realatively speaking.  And It is a beautiful day HERE !

Enough Said !!

[kpolak]

  Actually, Kurt, our discussion yesterday was not about theory, but whether global temperatures were rising or falling.

Sorry EDW...I hear 'global warming', and I get very defensive, mostly because it is not understood, but is being touted in the media, as a defined problem, when it is speculative at best.  I applaud you in keeping yourself informed.  This and the Darwin Theory are two hot buttons of mine.

I did not add that to start anything else.  Simply information.

Kurt

[anjdevil2]

And it's pretty nice here, as well.....

[edw]

This and the Darwin Theory are two hot buttons of mine.

Hey, I don't mind being called a chump; just don't call me a "chimp".

[jonadel]

Here's the solution to high gas prices, win/win. CHEERS!

[fifedog]

Here's the solution to high gas prices, win/win. CHEERS!

YAHTZEE!!!  Way-ta-go,jonny boy!

Pleasant & 64 here in the Mid-Atlantic region, where I contributed to the green house gasses by firing up my grill with KINGSFORD MATCH-LIGHT (hopefully from one of my favorite railfan spots in BERYL,WV).  Forgive me my little indulgence here folks, but I've learned that the biggest contributors to green-house gasses are ACTIVE VOLCANOS.  Now, how in the blue blazes are we supposed to regulate that?

Mitchie - Nice job...Dad...

anjdevil - Time to head back to Joisey...or sell the house, and buy a Winnebago like Eddie in CHRISTMAS VACATION.

Chief - Some of these pilgrims have never been to ROANOKE, so take lots of pics.

[ChiefEagles]

158 right through Roanoke.  You see big scrap yard with gons full of metal, next tons of hoppers full of coal and then the big BLACK and WHITE sign with the WHITE STALLION and Norfolk Southern Shops.   Only bad thing the hooper cars were sitting next to a line of UP diesels.   Hope I can get close to the yards to get photos.  OH, across from the shops is the old N&W Hotel and the O Winston Link Museum [old N&W depot].

Sunny and breezy.  Off to the store for a few.  BTW: isn't it nice we can have a difference of oppinion and not get mad at each other.  Now that is respect for you fellow CTT member.   Well, Yankees might be different.   No, love them too. 

[Blueberryhill RR]

It's May 1st........May Day.

The First of May.........Outdoor Naptime starts today.

Took a nice nap in the shade today. Life is good.

Beautiful weather in downtown, rural Ohio. Trees are in bloom.

I think I will set up my outdoor train set. Blue Comet in " G " gauge.

[anjdevil2]

Here's the solution to high gas prices, win/win. CHEERS!

 Long May she Wave!!!

anjdevil - Time to head back to Joisey...or sell the house, and buy a Winnebago like Eddie in CHRISTMAS VACATION.

 

Hey Fife, you live near me?  Or have you been talking to the guy in blue downstairs from me?  I'd LOVE to move back, at least I'd be within driving distance to youze giz in MD (scary, ain't it?)  The Winnebago thing is a dream I have loading up the 'bago with the race car on the trailer and hit the hi-ways in search of drag strips and railyards.  American History awaits!!!!  DANG THE CARBON FOOTPRINT!!! FULL SPEED AHEAD!!!

>>Batteries to Power, Turbines to Speed!!<<<<<<

[RockIsland52]

Here's the solution to high gas prices, win/win. CHEERS!

I was reading all this back and forth stuff about who and what is responsible for the state we are in.  I have kept my mouth shut long enough.  After carefully considering the remaining candidates for President, I can only conclude that the answer is  

JON FOR PRESIDENT IN 08

Jack

[dougdagrump]

Here's the solution to high gas prices, win/win. CHEERS!

Boy o' boy, was I glad to scroll down and see the beer statement. The first thing that came to my mind was that old joke about saving gas by eating beans and doing something in a jar.    

[Brutus]

Beer!

Volcanoes!    Fife, I guess we need to tax those volcanoes, or maybe they can buy extra carbon credits?

Hey folks, no mowing tonight, but need to get out new trimmer this weekend and check it out.  Gas was $3.58 this AM, now who knows?  It's not just oil, folks.  The reason the Wii is so scarce in the USA is because of the dollar being so worthless.  They can sell in Europe and other countries and get higher profit based on currencies being worth more. 

Going to storm here, maybe severe hail!  I'm going on a fishing field trip tomorrow with my son.  It's at Busch Wildlife, so we are going rain or shine in case it is not raining there.  If it is raining there, then it will depend on whether there is lightning.  Hoping for clear weather for fishing!

Oh - preordered the Santa gateman, eggnog vat car and bobbing Santa car!

Doug M - Are you getting that Halloween Trolley?

[mitchelr]

Mike- I pray for Lucas to get turned around from his case of "senioritis".  It would be a shame to screw up potential college or career choices due to bad choices.

Mike Steve Doug Roy - I can sympathize.  There must be some sort of support group for parents of teens who make such bad choices.  My oldest daughter (27) and in essence me, are continuing to pay for her bad choices....

Mitch - Sounds like your son is doing well

Jim - Thanks for the kind words.  Our son is doing well but still makes us crazy at times.  That is the very same son (and only Child) that flunked a Math Course due to Senioritis and had to drop out of the HS Band his last semester even though he was a band officer.  I truly believe that kids are put in our lives to keep us humble.  He's a good boy but.....

Mitch 

 

 

 

[sir james I]

GOOD EVENING ALL

Brutus smart move on the christmas preorder. You will probably have them before summer is over.  We always have banilla if you and the guys want to come by.

I did run some trains today, some that have not ran in years took right off,a good feeling knowing they had no battery to worry about. don't ruffle any feathers, I like their engines, its the battery thing I have a total dislike for. We got to 63 today but it felt chilly to me, not that warm spring feeling,and 15mph winds. I guess I'll meander a bit so TTFN,,,,S.J.

[ChiefEagles]

Mike- I pray for Lucas to get turned around from his case of "senioritis".  It would be a shame to screw up potential college or career choices due to bad choices.

Mike Steve Doug Roy - I can sympathize.  There must be some sort of support group for parents of teens who make such bad choices.  My oldest daughter (27) and in essence me, are continuing to pay for her bad choices....

Mitch - Sounds like your son is doing well

Jim - Thanks for the kind words.  Our son is doing well but still makes us crazy at times.  That is the very same son (and only Child) that flunked a Math Course due to Senioritis and had to drop out of the HS Band his last semester even though he was a band officer.  I truly believe that kids are put in our lives to keep us humble.  He's a good boy but.....

Mitch 

 

 

 

It will work out.  He may be bored.   I tell you, I had the same problem with Frankie  Reason, he wanted to be law enforcement and nothing in HS for those kids.  HS is geared for everyone to go to college.  Wrong!!!  Some don't want to and others just can't make it.  We need Hs education for those kids who just want to work.  Brick masons, welders, machinists, builders, finish carpenters and so on.  Our HS education has failed a lot of kids.