Journeyman

OK, I got an electronic shipment late yesterday, rush, from PA. There was special packing tape seal on top with the important warnings:

DO NOT DROP! FRAGILE! KEEP DRY!

Understand that the contents were about the size of a well-boxed external hard drive or older desktop modem ...
and that there was a packing slip, too. A LARGE packing slip, if I may say so -- in fact, the packing slip entirely covered, not to say obscured, the important warnings ... sigh. The contents arrived OK anyhow.

Always expect a train and other stories: here's a lucky fellow -- please don't try this at home:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/01/driver-falls-asleep-on-railroad-tracks-car-cut-in-half.html ....

Worldcon party plans for FoL continue -- more as details emerge. If you expect to be at RenoVation and will have a car available for sight-seeing or supply pick-up, be sure to let us know as the time come closer.

On or near the tracks? Always expect and always respect the train ...

http://www.wxyz.com/news/story/BREAKING-Amtrak-Train-Fire-Truck-Collide/_NtjejMHoESBFPmpsGAhEg.cspx?hpt=T2

Quick shots, some with notes:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html ... Space Shuttle action. Shuttle set for landing tomorrow.

http://morningsentinel.mainetoday.com/news/local/5654474.html ... beautiful seaside Waterville?

http://www.kptm.com/Global/story.asp?S=9427069&nav=menu606_2 ... Always EXPECT and RESPECT a train...
this happened at a town we've never stepped off the train in, but which we've been through in good weather and bad, and which is notable for being in a flood plain. One of the sad things about many of these rail-pedestrian and rail-auto things I cite here is that in a lot of cases I can quickly picture in my mind where they happen. Mostly they are 100 percent avoidable.

see above: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-train-crash-victims-112908,0,4731452.story
quote from the LINK DIRECTLY ABOVE --
"When a train crushes a car, it's equivalent to the force with which a car crushes a pop can."

Elsewise, today's run to the P.O. brought with it sightings of yet another grove of trees (this is 4 in a week) cut for retail expansion. Let's hope jobs are as green.

Wow, here's a guy who needs to learn how to ride his bike along the bike trails...

http://www.wmtw.com/news/17549884/detail.html


Cleaned up some of the tomato plants this morning, moved the humming bird feeder pole out of harms way, did some minor PR stuff, have an afternoon meeting in town, stuff to pack this morning. Will catch you if I can.

Man seeks reward for stupidity:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08312008/news/regionalnews/zapped_amtrak_trespasser_sues_126902.htm

In other news:

http://www.kget.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=8e637cb2-d28a-4141-81c6-ccf807950f18

http://www.wxvt.com/Global/story.asp?S=8887988&nav=menu1344_2

Note -- it appears that people are being killed in train-car incidents almost daily. Please do not try to outrun a train to the gate, do not walk on the railroad tracks, do not go swimming from railway bridges, and don't climb on trains. Really.