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Chatterbox Summer 2017

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Thursday, July 13, 2017 9:01 PM

Norm48327

 

 
Murphy Siding
And the kids who access that information because they want to learn can go far.

 

The problem is that most kids wont go on line for information and learning. They only want entertainment.

 

I dunno. Replace "kids" with people in general and I'd have to agree. One of my sons said something in reference to homework that made sense- "Why do I have to learn about Steven Douglas? If I ever need to know anything about him, I'll just Google the information."

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Thursday, July 13, 2017 8:57 PM

zugmann

Even before the Internet that was true for most kids. 

 

If I had the internet as a kid, I never would have left the house. I'm a reader and there's a lot on there to read. Raise your hand if you've recently Googled how to pronounce the name of the country of Djibouti?Geeked

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Thursday, July 13, 2017 8:53 PM

tree68

 

 
Murphy Siding
...on account of missing 37(!) days of school last year.

 

And to think, I missed four and a half days in 13 years....

 

I'm with you there. I probably had 5 or 6 years where I got a perfect attendance award. If I had to do it over I don't think I would place that much importance on being in school every day. Of course there weren't as many other things to do then, like the internet or cable TV, or cell phones.

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Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, July 13, 2017 8:31 PM

I really do not remember much help from my mother after I started to school; she did help me with my French pronunciation and with the pronunciation of other words (such as "Potomac") that were new to me. The year before I started to school, my brother (who was then one year ahead of me) would bring a a book home and read it to our mother--then I would pick the book up and read it, asking for help with unfamiliar words. It was understood that I WOULD go to school and learn what I could. Sickness and doctor appointments were, in genearl, the only exceptions--though one Thursday in the spring of my senior year, I told my homeroom teacher that I did not think that I would be in school Friday or Monday since I was considering hitchhiking to Bristol to visit my brother who was in college there; I imagine that the next day my other teachers asked where I was and were told, "He's gone to Bristol to visit Tommy."

Back in those days, there were children who had great difficulty in school, and dropped out after reaching the age that exempted them from the required schooling. I really know nothing of their home life. One of my classmates kissed his diploma after it ws given to him. His older brother went on to college, and then taught school.

One day when I was in the fifth grade, one boy opened his desk--and found a beer bottle in it; it was quickly determined who was responsible for the bottle's presence, and he was given the quickest promotion ever--he was in the seventh grade the next day. I do not know how many times he had been held back because of his not making passing grades. He did not finish school. His sister also did not finish high school; I do not remember which grade she was in when she married.

Another girl married when we were juniors--and she was one of two honor students in our class--she and her double first cousin had the same GPA, so we had two honor students instead of just one at our commencemnet exercises.

Johnny

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, July 13, 2017 8:25 PM

ChuckCobleigh
I guess perspectives did differ around the country.

Grades 4-6 we walked to school, about a half mile, on a path that ran through a couple of back yards and some woods.  Rain, snow, it didn't matter.  It was only up hill one way (going home).

Grades 7-9, it was a mile to the junior high school - all on village streets, but still rain or shine.  They wouldn't pick us up with the bus within the village.  This time it was up hill both ways - we lived on top of a hill on one side of the village, and the school was on top of the hill on the other side, with the river running through the middle...

The school wasn't quite at the top of the hill.  However, in the days when my step-grandfather was a kid (ca 1910), they would start at the top of the hill on their sleds, run down the street and up a small rise, then after making a left turn onto main street, would slide through downtown all the way down to the river - a good half mile plus.  Of course, then you had to haul your sled all the way back so you could do it again.

LarryWhistling
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Posted by ChuckCobleigh on Thursday, July 13, 2017 7:32 PM

tree68
It had to be pretty nasty before we had to stay in the classroom during recess (even in sixth grade!), and even then, it was recreation time, not study time.

My wife, who mostly grew up in Southern California and taught there her whole career got a chance to see some Illinois schoolkids out at recess in a light snow in January when I was being interviewed for a job there.  She was astonished, since in California, the lightest sprinkle made them keep the kids inside the classroom.

I guess perspectives did differ around the country.

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, July 13, 2017 6:54 PM

Murphy Siding
...on account of missing 37(!) days of school last year.

And to think, I missed four and a half days in 13 years....

LarryWhistling
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Posted by zugmann on Thursday, July 13, 2017 6:25 PM

Even before the Internet that was true for most kids. 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.t fun any

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Posted by Norm48327 on Thursday, July 13, 2017 6:24 PM

Murphy Siding
And the kids who access that information because they want to learn can go far.

The problem is that most kids wont go on line for information and learning. They only want entertainment.

Norm


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Posted by Murphy Siding on Thursday, July 13, 2017 5:57 PM

zugmann

 

 
tree68
The problem is that the kids aren't coming out of school any smarter than we did, and some say not as smart...

 

I wouldn't say that.  A school is half the battle.  If the kids and their families care about education,. they have opportunities that are way beyond the reach of what I even had.  With online learning, it's almost limitless what a kid has access to now. 

 

And the kids who access that information because they want to learn can go far.

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Thursday, July 13, 2017 5:55 PM

zugmann

 

 
tree68
The problem is that the kids aren't coming out of school any smarter than we did, and some say not as smart...

 

I wouldn't say that.  A school is half the battle.  If the kids and their families care about education,. they have opportunities that are way beyond the reach of what I even had.  With online learning, it's almost limitless what a kid has access to now. 

 

My wife is a teacher's aid. Put a quarter in her and she'll tell you a lot of the problems lie with the parents. They want the school to educate their children without any parental imput, yet complain when their kid is given a hard asignment, or a reading asignment, or homework. She tried to tutor a grade school girl this summer who was behind on account of missing 37(!) days of school last year. Trouble is, mom cancelled 3/4 of the tutoring sessions because Sunshine didn't want to go and mom sure didn't want to insist. My wife cancelled the tutoring. Mom doesn't understand why school is so hard for her daughter.

     I can't help but think the reality of the job market and adult life is going to be hard on a lot of the kids in school today.  In the end, you go only as far as you're willing to push yourself. The percentage of parents willing to help push their kids to succeed seems to be diminishing.

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Posted by zugmann on Thursday, July 13, 2017 5:27 PM

tree68
The problem is that the kids aren't coming out of school any smarter than we did, and some say not as smart...

I wouldn't say that.  A school is half the battle.  If the kids and their families care about education,. they have opportunities that are way beyond the reach of what I even had.  With online learning, it's almost limitless what a kid has access to now. 

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, July 13, 2017 5:02 PM

When I was in kindergarten, it was sandbox, blocks, and naps.  Maybe some colors and shapes and some of the alphabet.

Nowadays they have to do stuff we used to learn in first grade...

The problem is that the kids aren't coming out of school any smarter than we did, and some say not as smart...

LarryWhistling
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Posted by Deggesty on Thursday, July 13, 2017 4:47 PM

The things that parents have to put up with today. My mother went to the schoolhouse when her sons graduated (she did do a little substitute teaching). Orientation? the first day in each grade--here are your books, now sit there and learn.

Johnny

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, July 13, 2017 3:51 PM

Some parents today are so focused on their child's future achievements that they have no room for levity.  It's a shame.

It's kinda like how they're suddenly discovering that if you let the kids go outside a couple three times a day, they learn better.  Hello?  Recess?  

Anyone my age knows that already.  It had to be pretty nasty before we had to stay in the classroom during recess (even in sixth grade!), and even then, it was recreation time, not study time.

Played some wicked games of tetherball...

 

LarryWhistling
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Posted by zugmann on Thursday, July 13, 2017 3:29 PM

So I got to play the part of Uncle again. 

My niece had to go to her freshman high school orientation thing, and since her parents had to work and I worked last night, I could go in place.  You have to understand - my niece is a lot like me, and we share a lot of the same interests (and humor).  Poor girl.

Anyhow,  I almost got sent to the principal's office.

 

Myself? I went to a small-town school (two hallways, 50 kids sort of thing).  This school my niece is going to is the size of some third-world nations.  And the parents that attended had no sense of humor at all.  When I was in school, there was a parents' night.  The one long-time science teacher would pass around a sign-in sheet.  Every year he'd get "I.P. Freely" and "Seymour Butts" attending.  "And these are the parents!" he'd say. 

 

By the end of the little tour, I'd make a comment to my niece - she'd laugh, and all the parents would give me dirty looks.  If anyone is missing several 10-foot long sticks, I know where they are.  Even the 9th grade principal (like I said - big school) wasn't even making any of the super-corny but almost traditional jokes teachers used to make at these things.   Still, the size of the school and the stuff they have access to.  I had none of that.  Maybe that's why I ended up driving trains?  Sometimes I think I missed my calling.  Ok, a lot of the time lately.

It's been fun.  But it isn't much fun anymore.   Signing off for now. 


  

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Posted by JoeKoh on Thursday, July 13, 2017 2:43 PM

afternoon

Swamp drying out.Ns was clear when I left work.Chores to do here at home.

stay safe

Joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

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Posted by CShaveRR on Thursday, July 13, 2017 10:56 AM

Durand makes me sad when I visit these days.  Last time I was there something was bouncing over the OWLS diamonds they've installed there.  I'm still remembering the 2x2 diamond there (and the AA diamonds, too!), protected by gates, and the waiting-room with the curving window panes, from which it could all be seen.

Carl

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Posted by tree68 on Thursday, July 13, 2017 7:31 AM

Bob - nice visit to Durand.  Didn't see much last time I was there, but didn't stay long, either, as I had to hit the road.

Not quite a half inch of rain from a couple of little storms last night.  No thunderbumpers, though.  Looks like the next system will miss us, but there's still some rain in the forecast for the day.  I can probably guarantee it by hanging out some laundry.

Cooler today, which is good as I have work to do in the print shop (a spare bedroom) and it can get plenty toasty there...

LarryWhistling
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Come ride the rails with me!
There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...

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Posted by BOB WITHORN on Thursday, July 13, 2017 7:21 AM
Had a desent, (for Michigan), evening at the station in Durand, Mi. Huron & Eastern (G&W) backed out of the yard on the 'Y' at about 7pm then headed north to Saginaw. Tookoff to Subway to get food got back about 7:40? to the depot and a east bound showed up with 2 cowl units pulling a general merch. freight of maybe 150 cars, half were auto racks of lumber flats. 5 minutes behind , west bound was a single GE pulling an auto rack unit train of 150 car, maybe 40 loaded. Ten minutes later east bound a pair of BNSF GE locos showed up headed to Flint to take a knap till needed to pull the empty unit coal train out of Durand back west. Last Amtrack showed up ON TIME!!! at 9:30. All-in-all, not a bad way to kill some time. Weather dummies said "flood warnings up to 2" of rain per hour". It did rain, this morning the truck looked like it did anyway. Oh ya, I remembered my rain coat this time, guess what I didn't need!!
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Posted by mudchicken on Thursday, July 13, 2017 6:57 AM

Weatherliar said heavy thunderstorms. We got 20 minutes of drizzle and no electricity. Somebody working for Ma Nature is about to get fired. Grass starting to go dormant. No Rocky Mountain Monsoon Season so far.

Have a pair of Air Force Academy underclassmen job shadowing our office this week (Engineers/Surveyors/Architects/Technicians)...Interesting fellas.

Randy: Got oar davits on that thing? (sounds like that may be standard equipment in some places you operate./ store the oars behind the cab cowling...)

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by rvos1979 on Thursday, July 13, 2017 5:33 AM

River crested at 16.1 feet overnight, the old record was 13.5, I believe.  Hopefully will drop enough today that the power company can get to and dry out the substation in town that blew up so power can be restored. This may put a crimp in my weekend..........

Randy Vos

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Posted by CShaveRR on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 10:36 PM

We're bracing ourselves for the rain that Brian just reported.  It's supposed to track south of the northern tier of Illinois counties this time--hitting us instead.  Last night we had about two inches total, nothing like our friends north of the border.

The rain in this area can't be blamed or the delay of the Southwest Chief... nor can I.  I'm wondering if the BNSF freight derailment near Aurora had anything to do with it.  Probably not...it happened too early in the day.

I'm afraid I'm sticking around Illinois for the rest of the year, unless Linda takes a dramatic turn for the worse.  Right now, all that can be said for her is that she's coping with things as they come.  We get a bit of gallows humor now and then.

Carl

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Posted by blhanel on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 7:57 PM

More on the way, Randy- we just had 0.95" in 45 minutes here.

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Posted by rvos1979 on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 7:42 PM

Got 8 inches of rain so far today at the house, river is supposed to crest tonight nearly a foot above the previous record. Flood blew up the substation in town, so I'm sleeping in the semi tonight, hopefully we will have power by tomorrow...........

Randy Vos

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Posted by ChuckCobleigh on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 6:30 PM

Was just looking at the Amtrak "Track a Train" status map and saw a WB SW Chief nearing Needles almost 16 hours late.  Is Carl sneaking back to California without telling us?

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Posted by JoeKoh on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 6:23 PM

evening

still muggy here in Nw Ohio.Work still busy.Ns had an autorack train in the siding when I left work.Went into town to take care of some yardwork there.Saw a CSX inspection truck on track 2.Will get a good view of the river when he crosses the bridge.More rain tomorrow.Will order the bale wagon for Saturday.

stay safe

Joe

Deshler Ohio-crossroads of the B&O Matt eats your fries.YUM! Clinton st viaduct undefeated against too tall trucks!!!(voted to be called the "Clinton St. can opener").

 

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Posted by Murphy Siding on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 9:24 AM

mudchicken

 

(don't have to plant dill here - it self generates in places you would not expect, but no hedges here)

 

Trust me- if it rains enough, you have hedges. I'm hoping to at least get one stalk hefty enough to put up a tire swing.

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Posted by mudchicken on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 8:25 AM

blhanel
 
Mookie

 

 
mudchicken
Hey Mooks, Ghurkensalat? (BH hears it's really good with asparagus too!)

 

Had this as a kid - got better with age (mine) - but then you and tin shoes went and insulted a good dish.  Aargh....

 

 

 

 

I think he was referring to Boss Hen, not me... ;-)

 

It was Boss Hen, no tarnish on those tin shoes.

(don't have to plant dill here - it self generates in places you would not expect, but no hedges here)

Mudchicken Nothing is worth taking the risk of losing a life over. Come home tonight in the same condition that you left home this morning in. Safety begins with ME.... cinscocom-west
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Posted by blhanel on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 8:17 AM

Mookie

 

 
mudchicken
Hey Mooks, Ghurkensalat? (BH hears it's really good with asparagus too!)

 

Had this as a kid - got better with age (mine) - but then you and tin shoes went and insulted a good dish.  Aargh....

 

 

I think he was referring to Boss Hen, not me... ;-)

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