Sources: Train Reportedly Speeding When It Derailed - UPDATE: @ChuckCJohnson Spews Racism, Tries to Dox Engineer

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US News • Views: 29,489

The news of the day is the terrible Amtrak derailment in Philadelphia; and now reports are emerging that the train was traveling at more than twice the speed limit as it entered a sharp S-curve.

An automatic train control system designed to prevent speeding was not in place where Amtrak Train 188 crashed, killing seven people and injuring more than 200.

The train’s engineer, who has not been identified, declined to give a statement to police investigators and left the East Detectives Division with an attorney, police commissioner Charles H. Ramsey said Wednesday.

UPDATE at 5/13/15 11:15:55 am by Charles Johnson

Presented without comment:

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396 comments
1 GlutenFreeJesus  May 13, 2015 10:53:04am

Lack of sleep I bet.

2 Lord Of The Pies  May 13, 2015 10:54:15am

Somebody Tweet Chuck the engineer’s name is Casey Jones.

3 b.d.  May 13, 2015 10:54:36am

re: #2 The Pie Mother

Somebody Tweet Chuck the engineer’s name is Casey Jones.

and that he was high on cocaine

4 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 10:55:31am
5 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 10:57:26am

re: #4 Charles Johnson

6 William Lewis  May 13, 2015 10:58:23am

SMH - Good old UpChuck, straight out of Don Henley…

We got the bubble-headed-bleach-blond who
Comes on at five
She can tell you ‘bout the plane crash with a gleam
In her eye
It’s interesting when people die
Give us dirty laundry

Same hate, same ignorance. Just substitute Ginger for Blond.

7 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 10:58:48am
8 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  May 13, 2015 10:59:23am

re: #2 The Pie Mother

Somebody Tweet Chuck the engineer’s name is Casey Jones.

If his name is Jones or Williams, to name two, he’ll just assume they’re black.

9 lawhawk  May 13, 2015 10:59:46am

This accident is eerily reminiscent of an earlier crash in nearly the same spot back in 1943, and much more recently, a Metro North derailment in the Bronx that killed 4 and injured 113.

PTC, which is positive train control, was not installed in the locomotive in that Metro North crash either. MNRR and LIRR just got nearly $1 billion in a loan to install PTC, but it wont be completed for years since it requires not only new equipment on all the cars, but transponders along all the track used by the railroads.

So, while the cause is leaning towards excessive speed, there are infrastructure improvements that could reduce/eliminate the chances for a similar accident. That includes not only the aforementioned PTC, but also eliminating the need for these speed reductions on what should be high speed rail corridors. There’s no reason there should be a 50mph zone on a corridor designated as high speed rail. That would mean reworking and eliminating the curve altogether, or adjusting the route (burying the track, separating from adjacent freight, etc.).

None of this will come cheap, but we’ve been shortchanging rail for generations (and infrastructure generally for almost as long). It’s catching up.

10 William Lewis  May 13, 2015 10:59:52am

re: #3 b.d.

and that he was high on cocaine

Might be more fun to tweet stuff from the old time ballad - he’d be even less likely to recognize it … :D

11 Dr. Matt  May 13, 2015 11:00:33am

Where the hell is the Ginger going to get $400 from? The little shit can’t even afford a decent camera.

12 wrenchwench  May 13, 2015 11:00:58am

re: #7 Backwoods_Sleuth

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People in NM can be very sensitive about that kind of thing. But Susana is from Texas.

13 Dr. Matt  May 13, 2015 11:02:30am

Have conservatives started politicizing this latest tragedy? Set an egg-timer….

14 Lord Of The Pies  May 13, 2015 11:02:37am

What was the name of that movie with Denzel Washington trying to stop a speeding train? I know it wasn’t Speed, that was a different franchise.

15 GlutenFreeJesus  May 13, 2015 11:02:39am

It was Roy G. Biv. He was distracted while viewing his Updog account on his smartphone.

16 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 11:02:48am

re: #11 Dr. Matt

I’ve never heard anyone say they actually got paid by Chuck for giving him information. It’s probably a scam like everything else he does.

17 GlutenFreeJesus  May 13, 2015 11:02:56am

re: #14 The Pie Mother

Unstoppable. And it’s a great movie.

18 Lord Of The Pies  May 13, 2015 11:03:21am

re: #16 Charles Johnson

I’ve never heard anyone say they actually got paid by Chuck for giving him information. It’s probably a scam like everything else he does.

He expects them to pay him the $400 for putting their name on his website.

19 Skip Intro  May 13, 2015 11:04:50am

re: #11 Dr. Matt

Where the hell is the Ginger going to get $400 from? The little shit can’t even afford a decent camera.

He’s found where the Hot Asian Wife keeps her divorce lawyer money hidden.

20 Lord Of The Pies  May 13, 2015 11:05:37am

Runners-up in the Derp Challenge

21 lockjawcanbefun  May 13, 2015 11:05:53am

re: #2 The Pie Mother

I was going to go for Dick “Night Train” Lane, but he’s already blocked me.

22 Lidane  May 13, 2015 11:06:15am

re: #17 GlutenFreeJesus

Unstoppable. And it’s a great movie.

Denzel and Baby Kirk stopping a runaway train. I liked it.

23 lawhawk  May 13, 2015 11:06:34am

The right wing take so far seems to be just what exactly is infrastructure spending going to do when the guy was speeding. Which, of course, ignores, that there are infrastructure improvements that would have prevented the accident, including PTC and eliminating the need for slowing down on that curve altogether (with replacing/modernizing the route with one that can handle true high speed rail speeds).

24 wrenchwench  May 13, 2015 11:06:43am

From the link at the top:

Amtrak crews have been installing “Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement” on the Northeast Corridor and other Amtrak rail routes, and were to install the system this year in the Philadelphia area.

The system is designed to prevent collisions, automatically slow speeding trains and enforce speed restrictions.

Positive Train Control, which includes Amtrak’s system, is required by federal law to be installed on all passenger and major freight railroads by the end of this year.

But many railroads have asked for more time to install the expensive systems, and Congress is considering extending the deadline to 2020.

Safety equipment needs to be given a higher priority.

25 Amory Blaine  May 13, 2015 11:07:27am

100 bucks for the name of anyone who was ever paid by CCJ .

26 Lord Of The Pies  May 13, 2015 11:08:25am

I literally can not remember the last time I rode on a train, not counting the NY subway.

27 makeitstop  May 13, 2015 11:08:30am

re: #15 GlutenFreeJesus

It was Roy G. Biv. He was distracted while viewing his Updog account on his smartObamaphone.

FTFY

28 Dr. Matt  May 13, 2015 11:09:05am

From Amtrak’s Blog

Update: Wednesday, May 13 2:45am

We are deeply saddened by the loss of life from Amtrak Northeast Regional Train 188 that derailed north of Philadelphia Tuesday evening. We ask the news media to be respectful of our customers, our employees, and their families.

Read the rest here: blog.amtrak.com

They should revise their statement to: We ask the news media and vultures to be respectful of our customers, our employees, and their families

29 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 11:09:18am

re: #16 Charles Johnson

I’ve never heard anyone say they actually got paid by Chuck for giving him information. It’s probably a scam like everything else he does.

He already backtracked earlier:

30 Amory Blaine  May 13, 2015 11:09:54am

re: #25 Amory Blaine

100 bucks for the name of anyone who was ever paid by CCJ .

* Besides his coke dealers.

31 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 11:10:11am
32 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  May 13, 2015 11:10:17am

re: #20 The Pie Mother

Runners-up in the Derp Challenge

[Embedded content]

Train travel is to America’s transportation industry as solar power is to America’s energy industry.

Fuck, what a maroon! How do you think all the shit you buy get to you, you toad? The town I live in, Kent, is the transshipment center for the Seattle-Tacoma area: train to warehouse to truck to stores. There’s a metric fuckton—well, millions of metric fucktons—of freight coming in here on trains on a daily basis. I know because they go by a couple of hundred feet away from me.

33 Dr. Matt  May 13, 2015 11:10:21am

re: #26 The Pie Mother

I literally can not remember the last time I rode on a train, not counting the NY subway.

I’ve taken the Amtrak from DC to Philly many times. It’s a great trip and really inexpensive even in the Business Class section.

34 Bear  May 13, 2015 11:10:35am

Wasn’t there a train crass in Europe last year or so where the train derailed going around a curve at excessive speed?

35 urbanmeemaw  May 13, 2015 11:10:46am

re: #14 The Pie Mother

Unstoppable, one of my all time favorite movies. In addition to the superlative plot and action sequences, the sub text was two working class stiffs through brains, brawn and experience saved the town with their heroics in spite of their orders from their VP. Also, too, Denzel had just gotten a letter stating he’d been laid off just as he was about to get his pension.

36 wrenchwench  May 13, 2015 11:11:38am

re: #26 The Pie Mother

I literally can not remember the last time I rode on a train, not counting the NY subway.

Last time rode Amtrak,I got on in a small NM town where the ‘station’ was a plywood shack in which the floor had caved in.

37 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 11:12:00am
38 Lord Of The Pies  May 13, 2015 11:13:31am

There has never been even one “Dagny Taggart” in real life, unless you count the creature who was fired from HP

39 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  May 13, 2015 11:14:08am

re: #37 Charles Johnson

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Now maybe it’s arithmetic that has him buffaloed and not history—you don’t know!

40 Lidane  May 13, 2015 11:14:24am

re: #26 The Pie Mother

I literally can not remember the last time I rode on a train, not counting the NY subway.

Aside from taking the train here in Austin for a while at my previous job, I haven’t ridden a train since 1988 when I was in Europe.

I wish we had an actual European or Japanese high speed rail system. It would open up job markets like crazy, since folks could commute to nearby cities for work without much hassle. And getting people to travel outside of their own state would be a good thing.

41 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse  May 13, 2015 11:15:27am

re: #37 Charles Johnson

math is hard

42 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse  May 13, 2015 11:15:40am

re: #38 The Pie Mother

There has never been even one “Dagny Taggart” in real life, unless you count the creature who was fired from HP

What is Chucky bleating about here?

43 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 11:15:41am

re: #37 Charles Johnson

LOL!

44 lawhawk  May 13, 2015 11:16:10am

re: #34 Bear

2013 Spanish train crash (high speed train going 2x the posted limit):

45 Amory Blaine  May 13, 2015 11:16:13am

re: #41 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse

math is hard

The Lord will provide.

46 Lord Of The Pies  May 13, 2015 11:16:28am

OK I remember now.
I took the Rakevet from Tiberias to Tel Aviv in 2008
VIARail from Windsor to Toronto in 1987

47 Higgs Boson's Mate  May 13, 2015 11:16:47am

re: #39 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

Now maybe it’s arithmetic that has him buffaloed and not history—you don’t know!

He should borrow Rick Perry’s Smart Glasses.

48 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse  May 13, 2015 11:16:50am

re: #28 Dr. Matt

They should revise their statement to: We ask the news media and vultures like Chuck C Johnson to be respectful of our customers, our employees, and their families

49 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  May 13, 2015 11:17:05am

re: #23 lawhawk

The right wing take so far seems to be just what exactly is infrastructure spending going to do when the guy was speeding. Which, of course, ignores, that there are infrastructure improvements that would have prevented the accident, including PTC and eliminating the need for slowing down on that curve altogether (with replacing/modernizing the route with one that can handle true high speed rail speeds).

Passenger trains should be able to go at least 100 mph—this is the 21st century fer cryin’ out loud.

50 Bear  May 13, 2015 11:17:26am

re: #44 lawhawk

Thanks.

51 Iwouldprefernotto  May 13, 2015 11:18:05am

re: #4 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

I reported CCJ tweets. So far, it’s the only reason that I use twitter, so they might not care what I think, but it felt good to do so.

52 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 11:18:27am

“patriarchal liberal haters”
O_o

53 Higgs Boson's Mate  May 13, 2015 11:19:30am

re: #52 Backwoods_Sleuth

Wouldn’t that be the same Ayn Rand who collected Social Security?

54 b.d.  May 13, 2015 11:20:18am

re: #10 William Lewis

Might be more fun to tweet stuff from the old time ballad - he’d be even less likely to recognize it … :D

Thomas Percy

55 Amory Blaine  May 13, 2015 11:20:19am

re: #52 Backwoods_Sleuth

I’m more of a matriarchal liberal hater.

56 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 11:21:03am

I updated the post above with Chuck’s racist tweets and his offer of money to dox the engineer.

57 Iwouldprefernotto  May 13, 2015 11:22:49am

re: #38 The Pie Mother

There has never been even one “Dagny Taggart” in real life, unless you count the creature who was fired from HP

[Embedded content]

I had to look up who the F “Dagny T” was. Started reading the synopsis of Atlas Hugged and feel asleep. Has anyone very finished this novel? Really. If it’s between waterboarding and reading Ayn Rand I may have to thin about it.

58 WhatEVs  May 13, 2015 11:24:37am

re: #26 The Pie Mother

I literally can not remember the last time I rode on a train, not counting the NY subway.

I used to take Amtrak from Chicago to MI on a regular basis before I married my Canadian sweetie. Did the overnighters a lot when I was a kid; mom and I would take it from Chicago to FL every year, then dad would drive down and we’d all drive home together. I always enjoyed it.

While I love driving, sitting back and playing with the iPad makes time fly.

59 Lord Of The Pies  May 13, 2015 11:24:42am

re: #57 Iwouldprefernotto

I had to look up who the F “Dagny T” was. Started reading the synopsis of Atlas Hugged and feel asleep. Has anyone very finished this novel? Really. If it’s between waterboarding and reading Ayn Rand I may have to thin about it.

I have never read AS but from the various synopses it is clear that Dagny inherited her Railroad and did not build it herself from rocks and dirt like an honest Libertarian would do.

60 Kragar  May 13, 2015 11:25:36am

But remember, Chuck isn’t racist, because SCIENCE!
///

61 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  May 13, 2015 11:26:22am

re: #56 Charles Johnson

I updated the post above with Chuck’s racist tweets and his offer of money to dox the engineer.

But…but…but—I thought “Doxxing” (the more Xs the worse) was the most heinous sin there was! (Even when the info is a matter of public record.) And only lie-bruls and Feminazis would be depraved enough to do it. I’m all confused now!

62 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse  May 13, 2015 11:26:43am

re: #52 Backwoods_Sleuth

“patriarchal liberal haters”
O_o

PATRIARCHAL LIBERAL HATERS!!!!!!!!!

63 WhatEVs  May 13, 2015 11:26:53am

re: #31 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Unless I’m arithmetically challenged, his math sux, too.

64 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 11:27:46am
65 wrenchwench  May 13, 2015 11:28:16am
66 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 11:29:07am

re: #65 wrenchwench

I see chemtrails.
Lots and lots of chemtrails

67 WhatEVs  May 13, 2015 11:29:32am

re: #53 Higgs Boson’s Mate

Wouldn’t that be the same Ayn Rand who collected Social Security?

And Medicare, IIRC.

68 Kragar  May 13, 2015 11:29:43am

re: #64 Backwoods_Sleuth

Are there a lot of Amtrak lines running in Europe?

69 wrenchwench  May 13, 2015 11:30:03am

re: #66 Backwoods_Sleuth

I see chemtrails.
Lots and lots of chemtrails

Are they coming out of his head?!?

70 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 11:30:21am

re: #69 wrenchwench

Are they coming out of his head?!?

looks like they are!

71 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  May 13, 2015 11:30:39am

re: #57 Iwouldprefernotto

I had to look up who the F “Dagny T” was. Started reading the synopsis of Atlas Hugged and feel asleep. Has anyone very finished this novel? Really. If it’s between waterboarding and reading Ayn Rand I may have to thin about it.

Waterboarding would be over much quicker.

72 Snarknado!  May 13, 2015 11:31:12am

re: #57 Iwouldprefernotto

I had to look up who the F “Dagny T” was. Started reading the synopsis of Atlas Hugged and feel asleep. Has anyone very finished this novel? Really. If it’s between waterboarding and reading Ayn Rand I may have to thin about it.

I finished it, when I was much younger and had more stamina. Waterboarding would probably be preferable to reading John Galt’s “statement” a second time (or a first, but I was younger then). On the other hand, it has a few (unintentionally) hilarious moments. They do not make it worth slogging through, however.

73 WhatEVs  May 13, 2015 11:33:12am

re: #57 Iwouldprefernotto

I had to look up who the F “Dagny T” was. Started reading the synopsis of Atlas Hugged and feel asleep. Has anyone very finished this novel? Really. If it’s between waterboarding and reading Ayn Rand I may have to thin about it.

I did. And I’m, apparently, in the minority because I liked it - as a novel. I never once considered it a philosophy or anything like that as I read it. Even now I LOL at the thought of it as a philosophy.

I did, however, skim the 50+ pages of Galt’s radio tirade as it was incredibly boring and tedious. That said, it got me through a trip to Central America quite nicely.

74 Kragar  May 13, 2015 11:35:02am

You know, I’m not usually big on allowing opponents to proxy a model, but in some cases, I’d be willing to make an exception.

75 Lord Of The Pies  May 13, 2015 11:35:37am

Because Dana, MOAR MONEYS would make the train go SAFELY at 100mph

76 Kragar  May 13, 2015 11:36:30am
77 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse  May 13, 2015 11:36:31am

re: #75 The Pie Mother

Because Dana, MOAR MONEYS would make the train go SAFELY at 100mph

Doesn’t Dana have a gun to kiss or something?

78 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 11:37:32am

re: #64 Backwoods_Sleuth

UpChuck is so full of shit. A couple of minutes on google revealed that rail employees in Europe are paid equal to or more than Amtrak employees.

79 b.d.  May 13, 2015 11:38:16am

Funny on how when a plane crashes you never hear the race of the pilot brought up or the amount of money the FAA gets.

80 Higgs Boson's Mate  May 13, 2015 11:38:28am

re: #75 The Pie Mother

Because Dana, MOAR MONEYS would make the train go SAFELY at 100mph

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Dana’s been wearing her sling too tight for quite some time.

81 Kragar  May 13, 2015 11:38:40am

re: #75 The Pie Mother

82 Iwouldprefernotto  May 13, 2015 11:38:57am

From the Wikipedia page on Rand

In 2013, it was announced that Galt’s Gulch Chile, a settlement for libertarian devotees named for John Galt’s safe haven, would be established near Santiago, Chile.[80] The settlement has been dogged by internal power struggles, bureaucracy, and accusations of fraud against the founders.[81][82][83]

83 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 11:40:10am

heh:

84 prairiefire  May 13, 2015 11:40:27am

re: #82 Iwouldprefernotto

From the Wikipedia page on Rand

In 2013, it was announced that Galt’s Gulch Chile, a settlement for libertarian devotees named for John Galt’s safe haven, would be established near Santiago, Chile.[80] The settlement has been dogged by internal power struggles, bureaucracy, and accusations of fraud against the founders.[81][82][83]

Of course it has.

85 Lord Of The Pies  May 13, 2015 11:40:35am

re: #82 Iwouldprefernotto

From the Wikipedia page on Rand

In 2013, it was announced that Galt’s Gulch Chile, a settlement for libertarian devotees named for John Galt’s safe haven, would be established near Santiago, Chile.[80] The settlement has been dogged by internal power struggles, bureaucracy, and accusations of fraud against the founders.[81][82][83]

There is a new Libertarian Utopia near Croatia

86 HappyWarrior  May 13, 2015 11:41:09am

re: #52 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

“patriarchal liberal haters”
O_o

Lol, Ayn Rand was ridiculed because she lived in a fairy tale world Chuckles. Yes liberal patriachy. God what a pathetic loser.

87 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 11:41:39am
88 HappyWarrior  May 13, 2015 11:41:59am

You know it’s just like the fucking right- Chuckles, Dana, and company to blame the left whenever a tragedy like this happens.

89 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 11:42:13am

re: #52 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

“patriarchal liberal haters”
O_o

now he’s a feminist?

90 Lidane  May 13, 2015 11:42:18am

re: #57 Iwouldprefernotto

Has anyone very finished this novel? Really. If it’s between waterboarding and reading Ayn Rand I may have to thin about it.

The most honest review of Atlas Shrugged ever:

91 HappyWarrior  May 13, 2015 11:42:24am

re: #87 Charles Johnson

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I feel sorry for you both and the other Charles Johnsons out there for having to share a name with this creep.

92 Kragar  May 13, 2015 11:43:01am

re: #86 HappyWarrior

93 HappyWarrior  May 13, 2015 11:43:20am

re: #90 Lidane

The most honest review of Atlas Shrugged ever:

[Embedded content]

Video

The best part of that is it comes from people who you’d think would be sympathetic to Rand and her message.

94 HappyWarrior  May 13, 2015 11:43:51am

re: #92 Kragar

Embedded Image

Never gets old, thank you.

95 HappyWarrior  May 13, 2015 11:44:14am

Ayn Rand’s philosophy is for teenagers who don’t like being told that they’re not the only people in the world.

96 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 11:44:37am

re: #73 WhatEVs

I did. And I’m, apparently, in the minority because I liked it - as a novel. I never once considered it a philosophy or anything like that as I read it. Even now I LOL at the thought of it as a philosophy.

I did, however, skim the 50+ pages of Galt’s radio tirade as it was incredibly boring and tedious. That said, it got me through a trip to Central America quite nicely.

It kinda reads better if you substitute “privatization” for “nationalization” everytime she writes about the government taking over an entire industry.

97 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse  May 13, 2015 11:45:15am

re: #78 Backwoods_Sleuth

UpChuck is so full of shit. A couple of minutes on google revealed that rail employees in Europe are paid equal to or more than Amtrak employees.

DOUBLE!!!!!!111 I haz sources!!!!11

98 HappyWarrior  May 13, 2015 11:45:27am

You know what would have prevented Train 188? More guns.//

99 Higgs Boson's Mate  May 13, 2015 11:45:56am

re: #89 FemNaziBitch

now he’s a feminist?

Looks to me like he’s trying to cozy up to the libertarians - AKA the AV Club of politics.

100 Kragar  May 13, 2015 11:46:00am

re: #97 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse

DOUBLE!!!!!!111 I haz sources!!!!11

But how many of them work for Amtrak in Europe?

101 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 11:46:03am

re: #86 HappyWarrior

Lol, Ayn Rand was ridiculed because she lived in a fairy tale world Chuckles. Yes liberal patriachy. God what a pathetic loser.

a fairytale land in which pregnancies never when awry, children were all healthy and no one ever got old, had joint problems, car wrecks, weather related disasters … .

102 klys (maker of Silmarils)  May 13, 2015 11:46:11am

I don’t think it will surprise you guys that mr. klys and I are fans of rail travel. We did Amtrak from Atlanta to DC last month and it was really pleasant - a great chance to decompress between meeting family and time with friends at the wedding we were heading to. We’ve also done it from Denver to SFO, which is a fantastic trip and I highly recommend.

Closer to home, we occasionally just do a loop around the Bay on trains. Or to Sacramento, or Paso Robles. Doing to Coast Starlight to Seattle is on the to do list.

And this isn’t even counting what we’ve done overseas. (If you travel to Japan, the rail pass is one of the best things you can do for your trip. Trust me.)

I wish rail wasn’t as much of an afterthought here in the States as it is. It’s such a world of difference, and a huge part of that is the differing attitudes towards cars here (with our heavily subsidized gas prices) and overseas. Some of it is the sprawl that’s been encouraged by cars, and the desire for a McMansion on an acre of land. A lot of the old railway right of ways have disappeared, which complicates any chance to rebuild. You used to be able to take the train from SFO to Santa Cruz. Not anymore. (It’s a shame, would be a hell of a lot better than sitting in beach traffic.)

103 lawhawk  May 13, 2015 11:46:39am

re: #75 The Pie Mother

Combination of both answers really. PTC would automatically reduce speeds to conform to the segment speed limit, so if there’s a reduction in place to 50 mph, and the train was entering at 100, it would automatically hit the brakes to reduce to a safe state.

More money would also allow the trains to run at a higher speed because of track geometry issues that could be fixed, catenary (power systems) that can handle higher speeds) and bridges/track are able to take higher speeds due to how they are built.

Right now, the NEC is a designated HSR route, but there are segments that have significant speed restrictions in place. For instance, the segment between Newark and Secaucus is limited to 60 mph because of the Portal Bridge, which has had derailments, and constant problems. A replacement bridge (aka infrastructure improvement) would allow speeds up to 90 mph in that segment and eliminate the bridge openings that would create constant delays throughout the system.

There are similar speed restrictions in place throughout Connecticut with similar bridge issues, Baltimore has speed restrictions through the city due to two-tracking and tight radius tunnel into the city, Philly has this segment, and there are numerous other points identified that additional money would provide a much safer and reliable trip.

As of 2010, Amtrak had a state of good repair backlog of more than $8 billion on the NEC alone. That’s reprehensible and traces back to Congress refusing to adequately fund. The ARRA of 2009 (aka stimulus) only managed to get a single year’s worth of Amtrak - in 2010 - funding to be close to what Amtrak believed necessary to get to state of good repair by 2023. Amtrak hasn’t been near that level of funding since.

104 HappyWarrior  May 13, 2015 11:46:43am

re: #101 FemNaziBitch

a fairytale land in which pregnancies never when awry, children were all healthy and no one ever got old, had joint problems, car wrecks, weather related disasters … .

Pretty much.

105 WhatEVs  May 13, 2015 11:46:55am

re: #85 The Pie Mother

There is a new Libertarian Utopia near Croatia

“From Serbia, Croatia, we expect some trouble but we expect international laws will applied and any movement against us would be an attack on a sovereign nation, and we will offer nothing but passive resistance. For now, (though) we will make roads, docks.”

Who wouldn’t want to live there? //

106 Mike Lamb  May 13, 2015 11:47:04am

re: #87 Charles Johnson

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You need to start a club.

107 Kragar  May 13, 2015 11:47:28am
108 HappyWarrior  May 13, 2015 11:48:24am

re: #107 Kragar

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From the people who brought you Benghazi is Obama’s fault!!!! but we’ll cut embassy and consulate security.

109 klys (maker of Silmarils)  May 13, 2015 11:48:28am

In other news, if it rains in the Bay Area today, you’re welcome. I’ve got the comforter, pillows, and mattress pad all out to air.

110 Lord Of The Pies  May 13, 2015 11:49:05am

re: #105 WhatEVs

Who wouldn’t want to live there? //

Except for the part that the land actually belongs to Croatia.

111 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 11:49:57am

List of all Rail Accidents

Everything you never wanted to know about derailment.

World Map of Train Accidents.

first two are Wiki

112 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  May 13, 2015 11:50:03am

If we want to privatize the railroads, we should go back to square one and make them pay for all those government land grants that helped get them started.

113 Snarknado!  May 13, 2015 11:50:30am

re: #109 klys (maker of Silmarils)

In other news, if it rains in the Bay Area today, you’re welcome. I’ve got the comforter, pillows, and mattress pad all out to air.

I’ve been leaving my umbrella at home, hoping to call the rain.

114 Kragar  May 13, 2015 11:50:48am
116 lawhawk  May 13, 2015 11:52:43am

The video shows the train passing in front of the surveillance video of a private business, and then multiple flashes of light as the train derails off camera.

117 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 11:53:12am

re: #114 Kragar

[Embedded content]

AS Oppossed to an ICE BOX ala 1955?

118 Dr. Matt  May 13, 2015 11:55:54am
119 Mike Lamb  May 13, 2015 11:56:22am

re: #114 Kragar

[Embedded content]

It’s amazing to me that they think you aren’t poor unless you are some sort of street urchin in Mumbai.

The fact is that standards of living for everyone have risen. You can, as an example, still be very poor and have a TV or internet or a cell phone. It’s really not that hard of a concept to grasp. Internet and a cell phone are basically must haves for anyone looking for a job.

120 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  May 13, 2015 11:56:48am

re: #114 Kragar

[Embedded content]

let them eat mouldy cake!

121 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 11:57:15am

The image is too large for me to figure out how to upload.

122 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 11:59:05am
123 Feline Fearless Leader  May 13, 2015 11:59:13am

re: #102 klys (maker of Silmarils)

I don’t think it will surprise you guys that mr. klys and I are fans of rail travel. We did Amtrak from Atlanta to DC last month and it was really pleasant - a great chance to decompress between meeting family and time with friends at the wedding we were heading to. We’ve also done it from Denver to SFO, which is a fantastic trip and I highly recommend.

Closer to home, we occasionally just do a loop around the Bay on trains. Or to Sacramento, or Paso Robles. Doing to Coast Starlight to Seattle is on the to do list.

And this isn’t even counting what we’ve done overseas. (If you travel to Japan, the rail pass is one of the best things you can do for your trip. Trust me.)

I wish rail wasn’t as much of an afterthought here in the States as it is. It’s such a world of difference, and a huge part of that is the differing attitudes towards cars here (with our heavily subsidized gas prices) and overseas. Some of it is the sprawl that’s been encouraged by cars, and the desire for a McMansion on an acre of land. A lot of the old railway right of ways have disappeared, which complicates any chance to rebuild. You used to be able to take the train from SFO to Santa Cruz. Not anymore. (It’s a shame, would be a hell of a lot better than sitting in beach traffic.)

Passenger rail is being ignored possibly. Not freight. Though the interstate highway system made inroads and really butchered a bunch of the short-line and commuter rail.

124 Dr. Matt  May 13, 2015 11:59:18am

re: #121 FemNaziBitch

The image is too large for me to figure out how to upload.

Try this: imageresize.org

125 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 12:00:40pm

Has anyone seen this yet?

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter says Amtrak engineer gave a statement to investigators after crash.
end of alert

126 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 12:01:00pm

WTF

127 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  May 13, 2015 12:01:09pm

re: #117 FemNaziBitch

AS Oppossed to an ICE BOX ala 1955?

It was meant as a joke that Ralph and Alice Kramden still had an icebox in 1955….

128 Lord Of The Pies  May 13, 2015 12:01:46pm
129 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 12:02:18pm

re: #124 Dr. Matt

Try this: imageresize.org

BOB! you are awesome.

130 klys (maker of Silmarils)  May 13, 2015 12:02:44pm

re: #123 Feline Fearless Leader

Passenger rail is being ignored possibly. Not freight. Though the interstate highway system made inroads and really butchered a bunch of the short-line and commuter rail.

There has been a lot of consolidation of the freight lines too, though. I know in CA there are lines running at capacity, and I don’t think they can do much to add more.

The CA State Railroad museum in Sacramento was surprisingly good. (We are normally more about the “riding” and don’t care much about the “which train or engine” bit, but there was a lot to enjoy there, especially about the heyday of passenger rail in the US.)

131 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 12:03:16pm

re: #127 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

It was meant as a joke that Ralph and Alice Kramden still had an icebox in 1955….

No, there is some report from way back then that the Whacko think tanks are still using to prove that American Poor are not poor.

132 Dr. Matt  May 13, 2015 12:03:31pm
133 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 12:03:36pm

Now AP is pulling a Bill Frist:

AP analysis of surveillance video estimates train in fatal crash was traveling 107 mph - @AP
read more on bigstory.ap.org

134 Ace-o-aces  May 13, 2015 12:03:46pm
135 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 12:04:05pm

re: #132 Dr. Matt

[Embedded content]

This guy is just so sad.

136 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 12:05:22pm

much needed cuteness interlude:

137 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  May 13, 2015 12:05:23pm

re: #126 FemNaziBitch

Democrats want to shut down online ammo salesconfiscate all our weapons and herd us into disused Wal Marts

WTF

Fixed for TPGOP Truthiness

138 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  May 13, 2015 12:05:43pm

re: #131 FemNaziBitch

No, there is some report from way back then that the Whacko think tanks are still using to prove that American Poor are not poor.

Oh, I know—they’re still quoting the same list from the 70s: refrigerators, color TVs…etc.

139 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 12:06:13pm

re: #135 FemNaziBitch

This guy is just so sad.

Nope. No self-control, just like Upchuck.

140 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 12:08:10pm

re: #139 Justanotherhuman

Nope. No self-control, just like Upchuck.

Oh, I think he has self-control. It’s just that when, where and what he chooses to control is criminal.

It is a myth that Abusers have anger-management issues.

141 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 12:08:47pm

re: #138 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

Oh, I know—they’re still quoting the same list from the 70s: refrigerators, color TVs…etc.

Yeah, that one.

142 Ace-o-aces  May 13, 2015 12:09:27pm
143 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  May 13, 2015 12:10:05pm

re: #141 FemNaziBitch

Yeah, that one.

I meant even in 1955, poor people had refrigerators…these people think the Great Depression was utopia.

144 Kragar  May 13, 2015 12:13:36pm

re: #142 Ace-o-aces

145 lawhawk  May 13, 2015 12:15:29pm
146 Skip Intro  May 13, 2015 12:15:50pm

re: #79 b.d.

Funny on how when a plane crashes you never hear the race of the pilot brought up or the amount of money the FAA gets.

You do hear the religion if it’s the “wrong” one.

147 WhatEVs  May 13, 2015 12:16:00pm

re: #110 The Pie Mother

Except for the part that the land actually belongs to Croatia.

Pshaaah! Details! Libertarian Utopia Rules All Else!!11!!!

148 Shiplord Kirel  May 13, 2015 12:18:50pm

re: #114 Kragar

[Embedded content]


………and store bought clothes!

149 Skip Intro  May 13, 2015 12:19:05pm

re: #114 Kragar

Because a refrigerator is such a fucking luxury. Next we’ll hear they have running water and a toilet inside the house.

150 klys (maker of Silmarils)  May 13, 2015 12:19:37pm

re: #133 Justanotherhuman

Now AP is pulling a Bill Frist:

AP analysis of surveillance video estimates train in fatal crash was traveling 107 mph - @AP
read more on bigstory.ap.org

To be fair to the AP, that kind of analysis is doable. It’s not the sort of thing that needs to be done in person. You can calculate the speed of a moving object from a video as long as you know a few key parameters, and those parameters aren’t hard to get the information for.

151 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 12:20:30pm

Shannon is about to name someone who most likely has nothing to do with it.

Again…

152 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 12:21:46pm

re: #150 klys (maker of Silmarils)

NTSB confirms preliminary data shows Amtrak train speed exceeded 100 mph prior to derailment. Further calibrations are being conducted. - @NTSB
see original on twitter.com

153 Skip Intro  May 13, 2015 12:22:21pm

re: #134 Ace-o-aces

Its almost like AynRand knew what she was talking about, if she wasn’t ridiculed & marginalized by the patriarchal liberal haters

Like so much of CCJ, that attempt at a sentence doesn’t even make sense. And aren’t the patriarchal liberal haters conservative white men like Rush Limbaugh?

154 Lord Of The Pies  May 13, 2015 12:22:37pm

re: #149 Skip Intro

Because a refrigerator is such a fucking luxury. Next we’ll hear they have running water and a toilet inside the house.

YOU SEE!!! TEH POORS ARE IN THE 1%, TEH ENVY OF THE WORLD!!!!!!

155 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 12:23:02pm
156 Lidane  May 13, 2015 12:25:37pm
157 klys (maker of Silmarils)  May 13, 2015 12:25:51pm

re: #152 Justanotherhuman

NTSB confirms preliminary data shows Amtrak train speed exceeded 100 mph prior to derailment. Further calibrations are being conducted. - @NTSB
see original on twitter.com

Right, so I guess I’m saying the Bill Frist comparison was kind of uncalled for? The AP was doing an analysis from the video that is legitimately done to produce the speed number, and it appears to be roughly accurate.

Not attempting to diagnose a patient without ever having been in the same room with them for political purposes.

158 Lord Of The Pies  May 13, 2015 12:26:06pm

Who is stupider, Chuck or Ben?

159 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 12:26:40pm

UpChuck just retweeted another loon who has the engineer’s name, so will be claiming a Breaking! Exclusive! pretty soon.

ABC had it 45 minutes ago:
Source: Amtrak engineer ID’d; refused to give statement

160 Targetpractice  May 13, 2015 12:26:43pm

The Passion of the Bush:

I think it’s time we had a serious reevaluation of Jeb’s chances of becoming the nominee, let alone president.

161 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 12:26:57pm

ABC News beat Chucky to the engineer’s name.

Source: Amtrak Engineer ID’d; Refused to Give Statement | 6abc.com

PHILADELPHIA — Sources tell Action News that the engineer of the Amtrak train that crashed in Philadelphia on Tuesday night refused to give a statement to police without his lawyer.

ABC News has learned the engineer’s name is Brandon William Boshan, a 32-year-old from Forest Hills, New York.

162 jimmyvluv4u  May 13, 2015 12:27:03pm

...

163 Lidane  May 13, 2015 12:27:08pm

re: #158 The Pie Mother

Who is stupider, Chuck or Ben?

Yes.

164 Dr. Matt  May 13, 2015 12:28:12pm

re: #159 Backwoods_Sleuth

UpChuck just retweeted another loon who has the engineer’s name, so will be claiming a Breaking! Exclusive! pretty soon.

ABC had it 45 minutes ago:
Source: Amtrak engineer ID’d; refused to give statement

The RWNJs are all googling right now to “prove” he’s an Obama supporter.

165 b.d.  May 13, 2015 12:28:59pm

re: #161 Charles Johnson

ABC News beat Chucky to the engineer’s name.

Source: Amtrak Engineer ID’d; Refused to Give Statement | 6abc.com

Brandon William Boshan? THAT’S A LIB SOUNDING NAME IF I’VE EVER HEARD ONE

166 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 12:29:32pm

re: #157 klys (maker of Silmarils)

I just saw that. I would think it would be hard synchronizing a moving picture with the speed of the train, but they must have someone who can. They also must have a CCTV camera at that curve.

167 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 12:29:46pm
168 Lidane  May 13, 2015 12:30:14pm

re: #160 Targetpractice

I think it’s time we had a serious reevaluation of Jeb’s chances of becoming the nominee, let alone president.

The sad thing (for Republicans, anyway) is that Jeb’s arguably the best chance the GOP has against Hillary.

I have to wonder if everything he’s saying lately is some sort of passive-aggressive way to back out of running and to pave the way for one of the other clown car residents to get beaten like a red-headed stepchild in 2016.

169 b.d.  May 13, 2015 12:31:39pm

(CNN)—The Iraqi military said Wednesday that ISIS’ No. 2 leader has been killed in a coalition airstrike — a claim that the Pentagon said it does not corroborate.

The airstrike struck a mosque in northern Iraq’s Tal Afar city, killing ISIS deputy Abu Alaa al-Afri and a senior ISIS security figure named Akram Qirbash, also known as the “Judge of Judges,” the Iraqi Defense Ministry said.

cnn.com

Quandary in the logic loop of baggers if Obama’s US military struck a mosque,

170 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 12:32:03pm

God, what a fucking scumbag he is. It still amazes me that a human being can be that despicable.

171 klys (maker of Silmarils)  May 13, 2015 12:32:27pm

re: #166 Justanotherhuman

I just saw that. I would think it would be hard synchronizing a moving picture with the speed of the train, but they must have someone who can. They also must have a CCTV camera at that curve.

It’s not too hard. You just need to know how many frames per second the camera records at, and what the length of a train car is, for example, and then you look at it frame by frame to see what the difference was in location.

Mythbusters does something along these lines all the time to determine velocity of …lots of things. It’s easier and more precise if you can set it up with the right conditions but even with footage like they had, you can get a reasonable estimate.

172 allegro  May 13, 2015 12:33:28pm

re: #168 Lidane

The sad thing (for Republicans, anyway) is that Jeb’s arguably the best chance the GOP has against Hillary.

I have to wonder if everything he’s saying lately is some sort of passive-aggressive way to back out of running and to pave the way for one of the other clown car residents to get beaten like a red-headed stepchild in 2016.

I’d think there’s a decent chance of that. Both Daddy and little brother won and he knows he’s fucked. Lousy legacy.

173 EPR-radar  May 13, 2015 12:33:39pm

re: #156 Lidane

It would be funny if the Vatican were to respond with a robust criticism and enumeration of the heresies and errors inherent in US RWNJ Christianity.

174 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 12:33:49pm

re: #167 Charles Johnson

From Wiki:

Forest Hills is an affluent neighborhood located in the New York City borough of Queens. Originally, the area was referred to as “Whitepot”.

Demographics:

Ethnicity
• White 59.58%
• Asian 23.70%
• Hispanic 12.03%
• Black 3.73%
• Foreign-born 48.30%

175 Drive By Commenter  May 13, 2015 12:34:31pm

Amtrak photos from Philly.

I know right where those tracks are. It’s a sweeping curve and a bit sharper than the last one that mirrors Glenwood Ave.

176 Ace-o-aces  May 13, 2015 12:34:55pm
177 lawhawk  May 13, 2015 12:35:06pm

re: #167 Charles Johnson

Yeah, forget the part that the engineer was likely responsible for the crash killing 7 and wounding over 100 people. The important part is the guy’s skin color.

Nothing Chuck writes surprises me. He’s that excremental.

178 Targetpractice  May 13, 2015 12:35:34pm

re: #168 Lidane

The sad thing (for Republicans, anyway) is that Jeb’s arguably the best chance the GOP has against Hillary.

I have to wonder if everything he’s saying lately is some sort of passive-aggressive way to back out of running and to pave the way for one of the other clown car residents to get beaten like a red-headed stepchild in 2016.

I’ve said for a bit now that I think he’s actively sabotaging his own campaign so as to have a reason to back out. I think he wanted in when it looked like he was the odds-on favorite, but between Walker and Rubio, he’s now dealing with the very real chance that he’ll not only lose the nomination, but also do permanent damage to his political brand. So he’s trying to get some of this shit out there now, before he bows out, so it’ll be “old news” when he chooses to run later.

179 Dr. Matt  May 13, 2015 12:35:50pm
180 Bubblehead II  May 13, 2015 12:36:02pm

re: #169 b.d.

cnn.com

Quandary in the logic loop of baggers if Obama’s US military struck a mosque,

Centcom says they didn’t hit a mosque.

181 Great White Snark  May 13, 2015 12:38:44pm

re: #126 FemNaziBitch

*facepalm*

Not going to support that idea ever. Really hate the idea of being reported to authorities just for buying enough ammunition to practice and compete. Heck, we used to go through up to 600 rounds in a weekend at the Steel Challenge. And there are tens of thousands of competitors in the sport. USPSA, IPSC, IDPA SCSA, and more. Besides it’s hard to buy online and hide a method of payment and destination address. And has the balls to call that mess “common sense”. All too common nonsense.

182 lawhawk  May 13, 2015 12:39:43pm

Memo to Chuckles:

It’s absolutely the right of the engineer to lawyer up. Union or not. He’s facing potential criminal and civil lawsuits (as does Amtrak on the civil side). Anything he says could potentially implicate him in criminal or civil liability, and any lawyer worth their time would counsel him on that point.

And that has nothing to do with race. It’s how our justice system works.

After all, Chuckles claims to be lawyered up to sue anyone and everyone that says something truthful about his claims being total BS.

183 Targetpractice  May 13, 2015 12:40:47pm

Chucky aside, I’m seeing wingnuts aplenty wanting to argue “operator error” as a way of avoiding any discussion on the poor state of rail infrastructure and the lack of safety equipment despite both the federal mandate and the fact that it’s 2015. Just say “There’s no way to prevent operator error” and then snidely remark that any calls for more funding to cover safety equipment is calling for more “shovel-ready work.”

184 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 12:42:02pm
185 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 12:42:50pm

re: #183 Targetpractice

What if it was equipment failure, like a stuck throttle? Obviously, speed had something to do with it.

186 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 12:44:12pm
187 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 12:44:49pm

Sources: Philadelphia Amtrak route lacked advanced braking system - @Reuters
end of alert

188 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 12:45:02pm

Sources, again.

189 Skip Intro  May 13, 2015 12:45:17pm

re: #170 Charles Johnson

God, what a fucking scumbag he is. It still amazes me that a human being can be that despicable.

It amazes me that Twitter seems to think he enhances their brand.

190 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 12:45:44pm

re: #189 Skip Intro

It amazes me that Twitter seems to think he enhances their brand.

He’s just one of many.

191 Shiplord Kirel  May 13, 2015 12:45:44pm

re: #180 Bubblehead II

cnn.com

Quandary in the logic loop of baggers if Obama’s US military struck a mosque,

Centcom says they didn’t hit a mosque.

[Embedded content]

If true, it would obviously be a false flag operation to discredit the last few remaining patriotic, pro-American officers and allow the Kenyan usurper to replace them with more Muslim Brotherhood operatives and gay Mexicans.

192 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 12:46:36pm

re: #143 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

I meant even in 1955, poor people had refrigerators…these people think the Great Depression was utopia.

Well, IIRC, in 1955 there were still areas that were literally dirt poor.

I remember my Dear Ole’ Dad went back to the area in which he grew-up in the 1990s. He comment that there were no more shacks —everyone had mobile homes. I think he hadn’t been back there since the early 1960s.

Standards have changed dramatically.

193 Mike Lamb  May 13, 2015 12:47:08pm

re: #176 Ace-o-aces

[Embedded content]

It’s already a fail just because he’s asking the question.

194 EPR-radar  May 13, 2015 12:48:20pm

re: #168 Lidane

The sad thing (for Republicans, anyway) is that Jeb’s arguably the best chance the GOP has against Hillary.

I have to wonder if everything he’s saying lately is some sort of passive-aggressive way to back out of running and to pave the way for one of the other clown car residents to get beaten like a red-headed stepchild in 2016.

If a total head case gets the GOP nomination, that would improve the chance of a GOP loss in 2016. However, it seems impossible for the GOP to suffer a loss of such magnitude (e.g., getting 5 states or less in the electoral college) that it would spur reform.

My real concern is that there may be enough swing-voter idiots out there to give 2016 to the Republicans because it is their turn, no matter which idiot is the last clown standing in the GOP primary.

195 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 12:48:33pm
196 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 12:48:36pm

re: #192 FemNaziBitch

Well, IIRC, in 1955 there were still areas that were literally dirt poor.

I remember my Dear Ole’ Dad went back to the area in which he grew-up in the 1990s. He comment that there were no more shacks —everyone had mobile homes. I think he hadn’t been back there since the early 1960s.

Standards have changed dramatically.

I know there were outhouses still in use in NC in 1972 because I saw them.

197 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 12:49:08pm

re: #173 EPR-radar

It would be funny if the Vatican were to respond with a robust criticism and enumeration of the heresies and errors inherent in US RWNJ Christianity.

No, they’ll just attack the nuns again.

198 Mike Lamb  May 13, 2015 12:50:03pm

re: #158 The Pie Mother

Who is stupider, Chuck or Ben?

[Embedded content]

Well, Ben, I hate to say this, but there is a slight difference in risk for Sasha and Malia versus your average student that might make sending them to private school a better option. Fuckstick.

199 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 12:50:08pm

Good grief!

And he’s lying again anyway. He retweets and responds to people all the time with less than 100 followers.

200 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 12:50:40pm

re: #181 Great White Snark

*facepalm*

Not going to support that idea ever. Really hate the idea of being reported to authorities just for buying enough ammunition to practice and compete. Heck, we used to go through up to 600 rounds in a weekend at the Steel Challenge. And there are tens of thousands of competitors in the sport. USPSA, IPSC, IDPA SCSA, and more. Besides it’s hard to buy online and hide a method of payment and destination address. And has the balls to call that mess “common sense”. All too common nonsense.

I’m just tired of the scare tactics. The bru-haha over the government buying all the ammunition to prevent civilians from having it fake scandal has faded, now they need something else.

201 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 12:50:53pm

re: #199 Charles Johnson

202 Kragar  May 13, 2015 12:51:14pm
203 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 12:51:37pm

re: #198 Mike Lamb

Well, Ben, I hate to say this, but there is a slight difference in risk for Sasha and Malia versus your average student that might make sending them to private school a better option. Fuckstick.

I think Amy Carter was the only and last Child of a POTUS that went to public school.

204 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 12:56:12pm
205 wrenchwench  May 13, 2015 12:56:44pm

Oh, man, the public. I just had a nice long talk with a guy looking for panniers. We talked about all kinds of things, but when he starts in on the Kennedy assassination with the conspiracy theories, I told him I have to take my lunch break. Also that I’d met the chair of the Warren Commission.

206 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 12:57:14pm
207 Shiplord Kirel  May 13, 2015 12:57:24pm

re: #192 FemNaziBitch

Well, IIRC, in 1955 there were still areas that were literally dirt poor.

I remember my Dear Ole’ Dad went back to the area in which he grew-up in the 1990s. He comment that there were no more shacks —everyone had mobile homes. I think he hadn’t been back there since the early 1960s.

Standards have changed dramatically.

We lived in England in 1955. As Americans we had a car, a tv set and a refrigerator. Working class English families typically didn’t (though fridges were becoming fairly common). A horse drawn wagon (for real) still delivered ice door to door and horse drawn farm carts were a common sight. Anyone who has been in Britain recently knows that they have long since caught up with, and in many respects surpassed, us. This is true in most of western Europe.

208 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 12:58:17pm

re: #206 FemNaziBitch

Does that also apply if she actually was hired by Black lawyers? ///

209 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 12:58:20pm

re: #207 Shiplord Kirel

We lived in England in 1955. As Americans we had a car, a tv set and a refrigerator. Working class English families typically didn’t (though fridges were becoming fairly common). A horse drawn wagon (for real) still delivered ice door to door and horse drawn farm carts were a common sight. Anyone who has been in Britain recently knows that they have long since caught up with, and in many respects surpassed, us. This is true in most of western Europe.

Yes, it is a different world.

Kids in other parts of the world that we would consider dirt poor know how to work a cell phone within an inch of it’s life.

210 Targetpractice  May 13, 2015 12:58:24pm

re: #202 Kragar

[Embedded content]

“Well, if Amtrak didn’t waste money, it would have the latest equipment! Just more reason to cut money from their budget!!!”

211 Feline Fearless Leader  May 13, 2015 12:58:26pm

re: #125 Justanotherhuman

Has anyone seen this yet?

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter says Amtrak engineer gave a statement to investigators after crash.
end of alert

I saw the press conference on CNN. He said that the engineer had been interviewed and gave a statement, but no details of what was in the statement.

212 klys (maker of Silmarils)  May 13, 2015 1:06:45pm

In the meantime, stuff happening on the Hill. Like, actual productive stuff and not the mess that House Republicans are dicking around with.

213 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 1:11:29pm
214 wrenchwench  May 13, 2015 1:11:34pm
215 Feline Fearless Leader  May 13, 2015 1:11:46pm

CNN came away from the presser with the woman anchor saying something that deliberately implied that Nutter was withholding information, but then caveated with “but it is probable that he didn’t know” or something like that. Nutter did answer a few questions with “I don’t know” which is refreshingly honest. And he avoided speculating on the speed of the train since that had not been confirmed yet.

More CNN making these flaky editorial leads in their commentary.

They also rolled out Pat Toomey about five minutes later. Like he was going to be knowledgeable about the accident in any way. And they didn’t ask him anything on a subject where it would possibly make sense to interview him about; e.g. infrastructure bills, laws about safety requirements, etc.

Standard time-filling squawking head BS.

216 BlueSpotinAL  May 13, 2015 1:13:12pm

Chuck should go out on a limb and call the conductor a thug even before finding out his/her race. Then Chuck could think about what he would say about the guy actually driving the train.

217 lawhawk  May 13, 2015 1:14:53pm
218 FemNaziBitch  May 13, 2015 1:16:35pm

bbl

219 blueraven  May 13, 2015 1:19:10pm

re: #161 Charles Johnson

ABC News beat Chucky to the engineer’s name.

Source: Amtrak Engineer ID’d; Refused to Give Statement | 6abc.com

Looks like that page has been taken down. Wrong info or name released by accident?

220 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 1:21:51pm

re: #219 blueraven

Looks like that page has been taken down. Wrong info or name released by accident?

They had the name spelled wrong, maybe that’s why.

221 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 1:23:02pm

Here’s Brandon Bostian’s Facebook page - looks like this is the guy.

facebook.com

222 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 1:24:20pm

Hey Observer Art, heads up!

223 b_sharp  May 13, 2015 1:24:45pm

1st world problem: Was awakened last night by the sound of pounding from outside. Somebody had entered and was smashing the ignition in my Cherokee in order to steal it.

They tore off in an older Cherokee after I yelled at them but I couldn’t see the license plate, assuming that vehicle wasn’t stolen.

There is no battery in the truck because I’m in the process of doing some engine repairs, so none of the lights would come on when they opened the door. You’d think they would have noticed that before smashing the steering column.

Stupid people are stupid.

224 blueraven  May 13, 2015 1:25:08pm

re: #221 Charles Johnson

Here’s Brandon Bostian’s Facebook page - looks like this is the guy.

facebook.com

hmmm…no prize for me today.

I am getting:
Sorry, this page isn’t available

The link you followed may be broken, or the page may have been removed.

225 Feline Fearless Leader  May 13, 2015 1:26:00pm

re: #223 b_sharp

1st world problem: Was awakened last night by the sound of pounding from outside. Somebody had entered my Cherokee and was smashing the ignition in order to steal it.

They tore off in an older Cherokee after I yelled at them but I couldn’t see the license plate, assuming that vehicle wasn’t stolen.

There is no battery in the truck because I’m in the process of doing some engine repairs, so none of the lights would come on when they opened the door. You’d think they would have noticed that before smashing the steering column.

Stupid people are stupid.

Why would they steal your ignition when theirs was apparently working?

j/k ;P

226 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 1:26:12pm

re: #221 Charles Johnson

And it appears that he is quite open about being gay.
themidtowngazette.com

227 Bubblehead II  May 13, 2015 1:26:19pm

re: #221 Charles Johnson

Here’s Brandon Bostian’s Facebook page - looks like this is the guy.

facebook.com

Page has been taken down.

228 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  May 13, 2015 1:26:24pm

re: #221 Charles Johnson

Here’s Brandon Bostian’s Facebook page - looks like this is the guy.

facebook.com

Name looks Armenian—they’re all Mooslins, right? ///////

229 WhatEVs  May 13, 2015 1:26:25pm

re: #160 Targetpractice

The Passion of the Bush:

[Embedded content]

I think it’s time we had a serious reevaluation of Jeb’s chances of becoming the nominee, let alone president.

And that he’s the supposed smarter brother because those facts are not in evidence.

230 klys (maker of Silmarils)  May 13, 2015 1:26:36pm

re: #224 blueraven

hmmm…no prize for me today.

I am getting:
Sorry, this page isn’t available

The link you followed may be broken, or the page may have been removed.

Might be set to only be visible if you are logged in.

He changed his profile photo 14 hours ago to a black square, and the comments on that change make it clear he works for Amtrak, likely in a train-driving context.

231 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 1:26:38pm

re: #224 blueraven

He probably deleted his account. Way too late, though.

232 Targetpractice  May 13, 2015 1:26:39pm

Had one of those cynical moments where I realized, going off the 9/11 example and the push to get all sorts of safety mechanisms installed into airliners, that might take a terrorist event on a train to convince American conservatives of the need for such safety mechanisms on our trains.

233 b_sharp  May 13, 2015 1:26:39pm

re: #225 Feline Fearless Leader

Why would they steal your ignition when theirs was apparently working?

j/k ;P

Maybe it was the wrong colour?

234 wrenchwench  May 13, 2015 1:26:42pm

re: #224 blueraven

hmmm…no prize for me today.

I am getting:
Sorry, this page isn’t available

The link you followed may be broken, or the page may have been removed.

I got his page, but I’m logged into Facebook.

235 klys (maker of Silmarils)  May 13, 2015 1:26:55pm

re: #230 klys (maker of Silmarils)

Might be set to only be visible if you are logged in.

He changed his profile photo 14 hours ago to a black square, and the comments on that change make it clear he works for Amtrak, likely in a train-driving context.

Or maybe I got in just before it got deleted, and now have it cached.

236 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 1:27:32pm

re: #227 Bubblehead II

Page has been taken down.

I still see it.

237 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 1:27:51pm

I think it’s still up, actually. I’m logged in to Facebook and just reloaded it, and it’s still showing up.

238 makeitstop  May 13, 2015 1:29:01pm

re: #227 Bubblehead II

Page has been taken down.

Still there when I hit it.

239 b.d.  May 13, 2015 1:30:39pm

re: #212 klys (maker of Silmarils)

In the meantime, stuff happening on the Hill. Like, actual productive stuff and not the mess that House Republicans are dicking around with.

[Embedded content]

So the problem with Obama’s trade deal wasn’t Obama’s trade deal it was that the Senators didn’t get a chance to attach pet projects to the bill?

Glad that crisis is now solved.

240 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 1:31:04pm

This is probably why Chuck thinks he’s gay - a picture of him wearing a “No to Prop 8” t-shirt, with another guy. Because of course nobody who isn’t gay would ever be opposed to Prop 8, or be photographed with another man.

Image: 37728_883357352780_31010_n.jpg

241 Bubblehead II  May 13, 2015 1:31:17pm

re: #236 Backwoods_Sleuth

I still see it.

re: #238 makeitstop

Still there when I hit it.

Are you logged into Facebook? Because all I am getting is a Page not Found error.

242 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 1:31:43pm

re: #241 Bubblehead II

Are you logged into Facebook? Because all I am getting is a Page not Found error.

yes, I’m logged in.

243 makeitstop  May 13, 2015 1:32:28pm

re: #240 Charles Johnson

This is probably why Chuck thinks he’s gay - a picture of him wearing a “No to Prop 8” t-shirt, with another guy. Because of course nobody who isn’t gay would ever be opposed to Prop 8, or be photographed with another man.

Image: 37728_883357352780_31010_n.jpg

BWS posted a story that he’s extensively quoted in regarding SSM - provided it’s the same guy.

244 Ace-o-aces  May 13, 2015 1:32:28pm

re: #237 Charles Johnson

I think it’s still up, actually. I’m logged in to Facebook and just reloaded it, and it’s still showing up.

It’s there, but he’s blanked out his profile picture.

245 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 1:32:39pm

re: #240 Charles Johnson

see my link at 226.

246 makeitstop  May 13, 2015 1:32:46pm

re: #242 Backwoods_Sleuth

yes, I’m logged in.

Me, too.

247 klys (maker of Silmarils)  May 13, 2015 1:33:15pm

re: #239 b.d.

So the problem with Obama’s trade deal wasn’t Obama’s trade deal it was that the Senators didn’t get a chance to attach pet projects to the bill?

Glad that crisis is now solved.

The problem is apparently that he referred to Senator Warren by her first name.

No, really, that’s apparently being a thing for some people.

248 Bubblehead II  May 13, 2015 1:36:45pm

re: #242 Backwoods_Sleuth

yes, I’m logged in.

Ah. Guess I’ll have to log in then.

249 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 1:36:46pm
250 b.d.  May 13, 2015 1:37:17pm

re: #247 klys (maker of Silmarils)

The problem is apparently that he referred to Senator Warren by her first name.

No, really, that’s apparently being a thing for some people.

I am so sick of the poutraged emoprogs, DailyKos has become unreadable since the masses have gone into their irrational and impenetrable TPP hate frenzy.

251 wrenchwench  May 13, 2015 1:37:50pm
252 D_Red  May 13, 2015 1:38:57pm

He lives close to my parents. I wonder how much Chuck would pretend to pay me to go take shitty pictures of his apartment?

253 b.d.  May 13, 2015 1:40:06pm

there goes one dudebro talking point

NBC News Walks Back Report That Pakistani Officer Gave Bin Laden’s Location To CIA

huffingtonpost.com

254 Dr. Matt  May 13, 2015 1:40:11pm

re: #237 Charles Johnson

I think it’s still up, actually. I’m logged in to Facebook and just reloaded it, and it’s still showing up.

I see his FB page on my iPhone. He took down his profile pic though. Smart move.

255 Bubblehead II  May 13, 2015 1:40:30pm

Ok, logged into Facebook for the first time in ages and this post from my Daughter. LoL.

**** I learned something about myself today at work. My filter is not just broken, it has now gone 100% non-functioning.
unsure emoticon
I am probably going to have to answer for this at some point, but damn it felt good****
Beautiful day at the beach, lots of people, and my patience was starting to become rather thin. A couple came into the store, I noticed he was with wearing a revolver on his waist. Ok, so I am thinking ‘Humm, nice holster, beautiful grip, I will ask him about it if I get a chance.’ I acknowledged them as they came in just like I do everyone. Then go around straightening up. Within just a few minutes, this lady comes up to me in a hushed voice and in a bit of a panic, and loudly whispers to me ” Are you going to do anything about THAT guy? ” I’m puzzled and started to look around to see what was wrong.
I whisper back “What guy?”
She leans in closer “The guy with the gun?”
I look at the guy and he is looking at our belts, gun still holstered
“What? Why? He isn’t doing anything wrong? He does have a constitutional right to carry a gun. Plus, I am more than sure he is licensed to do so, or he wouldn’t have on his waist in plain sight.”
She looks at me in in shock and says ” What if he goes on a murdering rampage in your store?”
“Really?!”
“Well, he could, what would you to do?”
I looked her in the eye, and next thing I hear is this….
“Well, then I’ll just have to use you as a human shield and make a run for it.”
She looks at me in utter horror ” Why would you say something so terrible? ”
” Because you’re a f*****g idiot, why not?”
She stands there with the look of utter horror, and asks to speak to the manager.
“I am the manager.”
She then covers her mouth and walks out of the store.
Then it hits me, Holy Crap?! What did I just say?! Then comes an eruption of laughter from people in the store (she had a very loud whisper), and everyone was laughing and shaking their heads. The gentleman then walks up to me and says with a smile “Please, don’t worry, I am an off duty cop. I won’t go on a rampage today, I am feeling very chill.
smile emoticon
So, would you have really used her as a shield?”
I smile and say “No, but it was fun to see her reaction.” (In my mind I was thinking two things at once, you beat your a** I would have, she is a moron and OMG! Where did that come from?)
“Yes, that was a funny to witness.” he shakes my hand as they laugh walk out of the store laughing.
WoW, I am surprising myself everyday

256 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 1:40:31pm
257 Dr Lizardo  May 13, 2015 1:40:55pm

re: #174 Backwoods_Sleuth

Heh…..reminds me of Lake Oswego, a suburb of Portland, OR - referred to locally as “Lake No Negro”.

258 Kragar  May 13, 2015 1:41:04pm

re: #249 Charles Johnson

259 b.d.  May 13, 2015 1:41:20pm

re: #252 D_Red

He lives close to my parents. I wonder how much Chuck would pretend to pay me to go take shitty pictures of his apartment?

Demand some cash and let us know how that works out.

260 Dr. Matt  May 13, 2015 1:41:28pm

Brandon Bostian appears to be….get this….a ginger.

261 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 1:41:46pm

re: #254 Dr. Matt

Too late, though. His photo is all over the place.

262 Ian G.  May 13, 2015 1:42:35pm

re: #114 Kragar

Remember, the right genuinely believes that the poor in this country should live like the poor in Pakistan or Congo. If they’re not living in corrugated shacks with open sewers, they have it too good.

263 Dr. Matt  May 13, 2015 1:42:51pm

re: #261 Charles Johnson

Yeah. I’m seeing it now.

264 BeachDem  May 13, 2015 1:43:18pm

re: #201 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]


Some people on Twitter don’t understand hierarchy. If you have fewer than 100 followers I won’t respond unless you are helpful to me.

That explains why Neil DeGrasse Tyson didn’t have much of a response was totally unaware he’d been DESTROYED when upchuck “TOOK HIM DOWN.” (Remember that? Wow, was THAT ever a giant scoop of nothingburger.)
//

265 Dr. Matt  May 13, 2015 1:43:45pm
266 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 1:45:00pm

Oh, for Pete’s sake. Now he’s going to be claiming he had a “scoop.”

267 Targetpractice  May 13, 2015 1:45:20pm

re: #249 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

That’s not simply ahistorical, it’s a kick in the teeth to anybody of Native American heritage.

268 Ian G.  May 13, 2015 1:45:50pm

re: #156 Lidane

I won’t go back to being Catholic because I can’t bring myself to believe in God, but I’d be happy to be Pope Frankie’s political ally.

I cannot wait for his speech to Congress. The howling on the right is going to be deafening.

269 D_Red  May 13, 2015 1:46:38pm

re: #259 b.d.

Demand some cash and let us know how that works out.

Chuckles blocked my tweeter a long time ago

270 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 1:48:16pm
271 EPR-radar  May 13, 2015 1:49:29pm

re: #250 b.d.

I am so sick of the poutraged emoprogs, DailyKos has become unreadable since the masses have gone into their irrational and impenetrable TPP hate frenzy.

DailyKos may well be largely irrational about the TPP.

However, IMO the TPP is a legitimately controversial issue, especially from a lefty POV.

272 wrenchwench  May 13, 2015 1:49:45pm

re: #268 Ian G.

I won’t go back to being Catholic because I can’t bring myself to believe in God, but I’d be happy to be Pope Frankie’s political ally.

I cannot wait for his speech to Congress. The howling on the right is going to be deafening.

I’m waiting for him to have women priests and support abortion rights.

273 Ian G.  May 13, 2015 1:50:59pm

re: #270 Charles Johnson

And the Philippines. And Mexico. And Canada. I think sometimes we forget that we tried to invade and annex Canada, but they kicked our ass in 1812.

274 Decatur Deb  May 13, 2015 1:51:25pm

re: #260 Dr. Matt

Brandon Bostian appears to be….get this….a ginger.

Heh.

littlegreenfootballs.com

275 prairiefire  May 13, 2015 1:51:41pm

re: #102 klys (maker of Silmarils)

Try Montreal to Quebec!

276 Mike Lamb  May 13, 2015 1:51:54pm

re: #203 FemNaziBitch

I think Amy Carter was the only and last Child of a POTUS that went to public school.

It’s probably a “requirement” of the Secret Service that they go to certain schools where the infrastructure is in place to make protecting the kids easier.

277 Decatur Deb  May 13, 2015 1:52:29pm

re: #266 Charles Johnson

Oh, for Pete’s sake. Now he’s going to be claiming he had a “scoop.”

[Embedded content]

If CCJ had a scoop in his dorm, his reputation would be cleaner.

278 EPR-radar  May 13, 2015 1:52:59pm

re: #272 wrenchwench

I’m waiting for him to have women priests and support abortion rights.

Support of contraception would be a significant step in the correct direction. Won’t happen. If the RCC ever gets around to reversing itself on Humanae Vitae, the process will take centuries.

279 b_sharp  May 13, 2015 1:53:56pm

re: #276 Mike Lamb

It’s probably a “requirement” of the Secret Service that they go to certain schools where the infrastructure is in place to make protecting the kids easier.

It doesn’t really matter because the wingnuts have twisted Obama’s context from talking about the self imposed isolation from others of the wealthy to claiming he’s saying private schools are bad.

280 Mike Lamb  May 13, 2015 1:54:13pm

re: #217 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

Set bigotry phasers to FABULOUS!

281 wrenchwench  May 13, 2015 1:54:14pm

re: #278 EPR-radar

Support of contraception would be a significant step in the correct direction. Won’t happen. If the RCC ever gets around to reversing itself on Humanae Vitae, the process will take centuries.

I’m not holding my breath.

282 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 1:54:22pm

and there he goes with BREAKING! EXCLUSIVE!!11!!!

283 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 1:55:03pm
284 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 1:56:00pm

re: #283 Charles Johnson

Not much of a photo to go with that tweet.
And he forgot his watermark….

285 Kragar  May 13, 2015 1:56:29pm

re: #270 Charles Johnson

286 b.d.  May 13, 2015 1:56:32pm

heh

287 Timothy Watson  May 13, 2015 1:56:40pm

re: #249 Charles Johnson

288 Decatur Deb  May 13, 2015 1:57:00pm

re: #283 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

It is going to take the NTSB several months to determine what caused that crash. Because it does.

289 Ian G.  May 13, 2015 1:57:23pm

re: #272 wrenchwench

I’m waiting for him to have women priests and support abortion rights.

Well, on some issues at least. Wealth inequality and climate change are too important to not be thankful that he’s on the right side of those issues, regardless of his other views.

290 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 1:58:08pm
291 wrenchwench  May 13, 2015 1:58:18pm

re: #289 Ian G.

Well, on some issues at least. Wealth inequality and climate change are too important to not be thankful that he’s on the right side of those issues, regardless of his other views.

Granted, it’s progress.

292 Mike Lamb  May 13, 2015 1:58:24pm

re: #270 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

No no no…Native Americans were given the freedom to re-locate to any area that was generally terrible and had no ancillary economic benefits whatsoever. If that doesn’t say expansion of freedom, I don’t know what does.

293 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 1:59:59pm
294 Kragar  May 13, 2015 2:00:04pm
295 Ian G.  May 13, 2015 2:00:43pm

re: #283 Charles Johnson

Well, if he can’t scream “n****r!” to exploit a tragedy, he’ll fall back on “f****t!” instead. After all, one can never pass up an opportunity to spew hate at everyone when you’re a right wing Twitter warrior.

296 blueraven  May 13, 2015 2:01:29pm

re: #288 Decatur Deb

It is going to take the NTSB several months to determine what caused that crash. Because it does.

It could have been some sort of mechanical or technical malfunction. Who would be traveling over 100 mph in a area designed to go half of that?

Unless he was drunk or high, that just seems crazy. But in the days of pilots deliberately crashing into mountains, I guess anything is possible.

297 Mike Lamb  May 13, 2015 2:01:35pm

re: #290 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Ah, yes, stats. So now 40% (assuming for a second his stat is accurate) is a majority?

298 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 2:03:32pm

hahahaaa, his “readers”…

299 Mike Lamb  May 13, 2015 2:03:39pm

re: #293 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

AAAARGHH! Am I in backwards land today? WTF? No dipshit—YOU decided it was important and therefore reported it. No one else made that decision.

I like to consider myself a reasonably intelligent individual, but I feel like I’m losing my intelligence in the same way that nature abhors a vacuum…

300 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 2:04:19pm
301 wrenchwench  May 13, 2015 2:05:56pm

re: #293 Backwoods_Sleuth

Time to smear gingers. No, I can’t ‘calibrate’ my bigotry that way. Time to stop reading tweets from morons.

302 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 2:07:24pm

That’s because he was still in college you idiot.

303 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 2:08:08pm

Brandon Bostian has been w/Amtrak for 9 yrs, 4.5 as a conductor before he became an engineeer for the last 4.5 yrs.

He went graduated from the Univ of MO-Columbia with a BS in Bus Admin & Mgmt. Worked as a cashier at Target in MO for a year 2005-2006, probably his sr yr.

If he’s gay, so damn what? It has nothing to do with this wreck.

304 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse  May 13, 2015 2:08:28pm

re: #302 Backwoods_Sleuth

That’s because he was still in college you idiot.

Because you know what gay people do, they are in league with the
Sharia law and they crash planes and trains.

////

305 Bubblehead II  May 13, 2015 2:09:28pm

re: #298 Backwoods_Sleuth

hahahaaa, his “readers”…

[Embedded content]

306 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse  May 13, 2015 2:09:30pm

re: #298 Backwoods_Sleuth

hahahaaa, his “readers”…

“OK, well, I hit up all my readers for ‘facts’ that I then can give them.”

307 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 2:09:31pm

because equipment failure is totally not a possibility.

308 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 2:10:09pm

re: #274 Decatur Deb

Yeah, that appears to be the photo from the FB acct, which has been taken down. If it’s the same person as the engineer.

309 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 2:10:21pm

But GotNews is gonna run with it anyway!

310 Targetpractice  May 13, 2015 2:10:54pm

re: #307 Backwoods_Sleuth

because equipment failure is totally not a possibility.

[Embedded content]

So, since he’s decided the fellow is gay, he must either be suicidal, a junkie, or both?

My head hurts.

311 Mike Lamb  May 13, 2015 2:11:39pm

re: #302 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

That’s because he was still in college you idiot.

What? Didn’t you check the box next to your sexuality on the demographic section of the job application? I mean everyone knows who is gay, straight, bi, etc. just from the interview right? Gaydar and whatnot?

312 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse  May 13, 2015 2:11:42pm

re: #307 Backwoods_Sleuth

because equipment failure is totally not a possibility.

UpChuck is a mind-reader with his own personal video-cam inside the engineer’s booth.

///

313 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 2:11:51pm

Guess he has a lot of mentally ill friends then, based on his previous tweet about gays being mentally ill:

314 Targetpractice  May 13, 2015 2:12:06pm

So this is that “new journalism” I hear about all the time? Wild-assed guessing with no corrections, no ethics whatsoever, and attacking critics?

If I wanted that shit, I’d just turn on Fox News.

315 Mike Lamb  May 13, 2015 2:13:01pm

re: #307 Backwoods_Sleuth

because equipment failure is totally not a possibility.

[Embedded content]

Yes, in the same way that every car crash involving speeding has one of those factors involved.

316 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 2:14:01pm

Because all gay men have Grindr accounts, of course.

317 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 2:14:06pm

good freaking grief.

318 Decatur Deb  May 13, 2015 2:14:55pm

Has CNN located the wreckage of Amtrak 188 yet?

319 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 2:15:01pm

Hahahaha!

Jeb Bush accidentally says he is running for president while speaking to reporters in Nevada; quickly corrects himself - @msnbc
read more on msnbc.com

320 Bubblehead II  May 13, 2015 2:15:15pm

re: #307 Backwoods_Sleuth

because equipment failure is totally not a possibility.

[Embedded content]

321 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 2:15:42pm
322 blueraven  May 13, 2015 2:16:03pm

Press conference NTSB:

engineer induced full emergency breaking at 106 mph

323 Targetpractice  May 13, 2015 2:16:24pm

re: #321 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Obviously was trying to throw off the scent about being suicidal on account of his homosexuality.

/////

324 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 2:17:27pm

re: #322 blueraven

Press conference NTSB:

engineer induced full emergency breaking at 106 mph

And, as noted earlier above, this train did not have an advanced braking system.

325 EPR-radar  May 13, 2015 2:17:49pm

re: #316 Charles Johnson

Surely one of CCJ’s gay friends could tell him how Grindr works.

Oh, that’s right, CCJ’s gay friends are all imaginary, and can’t help with real-world questions.

Silly me.

326 goddamnedfrank  May 13, 2015 2:18:53pm
327 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 2:19:37pm

If Bostian is going to have to take the heat for this, then Amtrak should have to take it, also.

328 EPR-radar  May 13, 2015 2:19:58pm

re: #314 Targetpractice

So this is that “new journalism” I hear about all the time? Wild-assed guessing with no corrections, no ethics whatsoever, and attacking critics?

If I wanted that shit, I’d just turn on Fox News.

Fox News is just a slightly more presentable (and vastly more lucrative) version of CCJ’s ravings.

329 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 2:23:39pm
330 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 2:24:34pm

“Positive train control” not installed in tracks where ax occurred.

Approved by Congress, but not mandated until end of this year.

Shit.

331 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 2:24:53pm

Followed by:

332 Timothy Watson  May 13, 2015 2:25:17pm

re: #317 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

good freaking grief.

Unpossible! He was a secret Mohammedan!!1!

333 Targetpractice  May 13, 2015 2:25:42pm

So the engineer engaged in the emergency brakes as the train was going into the turn at 106 mph. I wonder if we’re dealing not with operator error, but equipment failure?

334 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 2:25:46pm

Watch an NTSB briefing on the Amtrak train derailment in Philadelphia

nbcnews.com

335 funky chicken  May 13, 2015 2:27:28pm

re: #23 lawhawk

The right wing take so far seems to be just what exactly is infrastructure spending going to do when the guy was speeding. Which, of course, ignores, that there are infrastructure improvements that would have prevented the accident, including PTC and eliminating the need for slowing down on that curve altogether (with replacing/modernizing the route with one that can handle true high speed rail speeds).

It’s ridiculous that passenger trains in the US travel on such outmoded tracks. 50 mph? gah

336 Timothy Watson  May 13, 2015 2:29:05pm

re: #331 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Hadn’t the pilot’s girlfriend just broke up with him or something?

337 Kragar  May 13, 2015 2:29:55pm
338 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 2:30:16pm

Had “positive train control” been installed on this part of the track as it is in most other areas, this ax would not have occurred. - NTSB.

339 Targetpractice  May 13, 2015 2:31:25pm

re: #338 Justanotherhuman

Had “positive train control” been installed on this part of the track a it is in most other areas, this ax would not have occurred. - NTSB.

“It’s just government asking for more money! We know the engineer is at fault! Damn government employees!!!”

340 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 2:31:40pm

NTSB’s Robert Sumwalt: Amtrak train equipped with forward-facing video and event recorder, both being sent to NTSB lab in Washington, DC - @NTSB
see original on twitter.com

341 thedopefishlives  May 13, 2015 2:32:19pm

Evening Lizardim from the beautiful and mild wild north country. How go things among the lizardfolk on this sunny spring day?

342 Timothy Watson  May 13, 2015 2:33:41pm

re: #341 thedopefishlives

Evening Lizardim from the beautiful and mild wild north country. How go things among the lizardfolk on this sunny spring day?

Chuckles is talking out of his ass, so SSDD.

343 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 2:34:15pm

re: #341 thedopefishlives

Upchuck is being a total asshole again, Dad!

Really, he’s a vile sicko.

344 thedopefishlives  May 13, 2015 2:34:47pm

re: #343 Justanotherhuman

Upchuck is being a total asshole again, Dad!

Really, he’s a vile sicko.

Oh, so nothing new, then.

345 BeachDem  May 13, 2015 2:38:48pm

Do no despair, folks. All will be well after this weekend’s REVELATION’S HOPE FOR A WORLD IN CRISIS.

You will understand the biblical facts concerning…
Signs of the End
The Battle of Armageddon
The United States in Prophecy
The Rapture
The Mark of the Beast
666 & Antichrist
The Mystery of Death

Jeez—it goes on for days (kinda like a tent revival)
May 11—Revelation’s Hope Beyond the Hype
May 16—Revelation’s Greatest End-time Signs
May 17—Revelation’s Biggest Surprise
May 22—Revelation’s Peace Maker
May 23—Revelation Unmasks Cult Deceptions
(that oughtta be good)
May 24—Revelation’s Final Judgment
May 26—Revelation’s Answer for Global Peace

You would surely lose whatever was left of your mind after all that.

You will meet (I am not making these names up):
Ralph Ringer (he’s made a deep study of Bible prophecy, y’all)
Charles Hugabrooks (he has an outstanding music ministry, y’all)

It’s Especially designed for busy people, you are invited to come as you are. Find peace and confidence for your future!

Who said direct mail wasn’t worth its weight in gold!

346 Great White Snark  May 13, 2015 2:38:59pm
347 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 2:40:31pm

re: #344 thedopefishlives

Oh, so nothing new, then.

He has really outdone himself in making up shit today.

348 Lord Of The Pies  May 13, 2015 2:42:23pm

Michigan GOP, trying to suck harder than Texas

349 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 2:43:29pm
350 Timothy Watson  May 13, 2015 2:43:50pm

re: #347 Backwoods_Sleuth

He has really outdone himself in making up shit today.

I keep thinking about Duke Nukem Forever for some reason. It kept getting vaporware awards until a publication gave it a Lifetime Achievement Award so it would stop hogging the #1 spot.

We need to do the same with UpChuck so we can focus on the lesser known assholes out there.

351 thedopefishlives  May 13, 2015 2:45:56pm

re: #349 Charles Johnson

That is the non sequitur to end all non sequiturs. I mean, wow.

352 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 2:46:41pm
353 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  May 13, 2015 2:47:35pm

Rand Paul: Why Help Iraqi Refugees? We Won, So Suck It, Losers.:

“We won the war in Iraq, why would we be giving political asylum to people to come from a country where we won the war?” Paul asked. “It’s one thing if you’re trying to escape Castro or trying to escape communism in Russia or Vietnam or somewhere else or China, I can understand asylum, but when you win the war, why would you give people asylum? And if the 60,000 coming here are friends of the West, wouldn’t you want that 60,000 to be in Iraq helping to form a better country over there?”

354 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 2:48:17pm

Well, why would anyone think of doing such a thing???!!!???

idiots.

355 EPR-radar  May 13, 2015 2:48:20pm

re: #351 thedopefishlives

That is the non sequitur to end all non sequiturs. I mean, wow.

Give CCJ time. I’m sure speculations of a drugged-out gay orgy while the engineer was on duty will come in due course.

Edited to add: After all, the operations of the mighty 150+ IQ brain cannot be rushed.

356 dell*nix  May 13, 2015 2:49:11pm

OT. Trying to get resize to work.

357 Kragar  May 13, 2015 2:49:13pm
358 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 2:52:20pm

Goddamnit. I’ll bet there are no exceptions.

House passes bill that bans abortions after 20 weeks, 242-184 - @ChadPergram
see original on twitter.com

359 Kragar  May 13, 2015 2:54:40pm
360 Dr Lizardo  May 13, 2015 2:54:57pm

re: #345 BeachDem

Do no despair, folks. All will be well after this weekend’s REVELATION’S HOPE FOR A WORLD IN CRISIS.

You will understand the biblical facts concerning…
Signs of the End
The Battle of Armageddon
The United States in Prophecy
The Rapture
The Mark of the Beast
666 & Antichrist
The Mystery of Death

Jeez—it goes on for days (kinda like a tent revival)
May 11—Revelation’s Hope Beyond the Hype
May 16—Revelation’s Greatest End-time Signs
May 17—Revelation’s Biggest Surprise
May 22—Revelation’s Peace Maker
May 23—Revelation Unmasks Cult Deceptions
(that oughtta be good)
May 24—Revelation’s Final Judgment
May 26—Revelation’s Answer for Global Peace

You would surely lose whatever was left of your mind after all that.

You will meet (I am not making these names up):
Ralph Ringer (he’s made a deep study of Bible prophecy, y’all)
Charles Hugabrooks (he has an outstanding music ministry, y’all)

It’s Especially designed for busy people, you are invited to come as you are. Find peace and confidence for your future!

Who said direct mail wasn’t worth its weight in gold!

I remember those fliers in my mailbox from time to time back when I lived in the states.

361 GlutenFreeJesus  May 13, 2015 2:55:35pm

re: #359 Kragar

He takes the stage and screams out “I AM THE WALRUS!!!”

362 BeachDem  May 13, 2015 2:57:08pm

re: #352 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

The guy upchuck’s dissing might not be that well known, but he’s apparently worked pretty damn steadily since 1996 and has actor, writer, director, editor and producer credits galore.

imdb.com

And, (drumroll) he has a blue checkmark!

363 Charles Johnson  May 13, 2015 2:57:28pm
364 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  May 13, 2015 2:57:51pm

re: #360 Dr Lizardo

I remember those fliers in my mailbox from time to time back when I lived in the states.

“Charles Hugabrooks”? No “Amanda Huggenkiss”? Or “Oliver Klozoff”?

365 Kragar  May 13, 2015 2:59:13pm
366 EPR-radar  May 13, 2015 3:01:08pm

re: #365 Kragar

Either ‘encyclopedias’ or ‘libraries’ might be a better punch line for that.

367 Timothy Watson  May 13, 2015 3:01:48pm

re: #354 Backwoods_Sleuth

Well, why would anyone think of doing such a thing???!!!???

[Embedded content]

idiots.

Embedded Image

I am sure they did require a test, if not at the accident scene, than probably today, which would be perfectly legal given the case law on the subject.

368 Targetpractice  May 13, 2015 3:02:59pm

re: #358 Justanotherhuman

Goddamnit. I’ll bet there are no exceptions.

House passes bill that bans abortions after 20 weeks, 242-184 - @ChadPergram
see original on twitter.com

Election year stunt. It’s not going anywhere in the Senate, and even if it does, there’s no way they’re gonna manage a veto-proof majority.

369 Kragar  May 13, 2015 3:04:00pm

re: #366 EPR-radar

Either ‘encyclopedias’ or ‘libraries’ might be a better punch line for that.

I was considering volumes.

370 Kragar  May 13, 2015 3:04:20pm
371 BeachDem  May 13, 2015 3:05:03pm

Game. Set. Match.

372 Timothy Watson  May 13, 2015 3:06:31pm

re: #370 Kragar

[Embedded content]

Violations of international cyberspace?

373 thedopefishlives  May 13, 2015 3:08:25pm

re: #371 BeachDem

Game. Set. Match.

[Embedded content]

OH BURN!

374 EPR-radar  May 13, 2015 3:09:10pm

re: #369 Kragar

I was considering volumes.

‘more issues than the National Geographic’ is a phrase I’m fond of in this context.

375 Kragar  May 13, 2015 3:09:18pm
376 BlueSpotinAL  May 13, 2015 3:12:10pm

Marco Rubio’s Tweet “America is the first power in history motivated by a desire to expand freedom rather than its own territory.” is an example of Manifest Derpity.

377 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 3:16:21pm

Because once you work at Target, you’ll be a failure the rest of your days, especially if you’re gay.

*spit*

378 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 3:18:14pm

re: #368 Targetpractice

: )

More: Senate has no plans to take on House-passed 20-week abortion ban; Obama administration has issued veto threat - @thehill
read more on thehill.com

379 Skip Intro  May 13, 2015 3:18:17pm

Yeah, and who says it wasn’t ancient aliens?

Hey, I’m just asking questions here.

380 Justanotherhuman  May 13, 2015 3:19:17pm

re: #377 Backwoods_Sleuth

Chuck C. Johnson is a genius! Said no one, ever.

381 Timothy Watson  May 13, 2015 3:21:23pm

re: #377 Backwoods_Sleuth

Because once you work at Target, you’ll be a failure the rest of your days, especially if you’re gay.

*spit*

[Embedded content]

As opposed to Chuckles, who has never had a job.

382 BeachDem  May 13, 2015 3:21:34pm

re: #377 Backwoods_Sleuth

Because once you work at Target, you’ll be a failure the rest of your days, especially if you’re gay.

*spit*

[Embedded content]

I’m a little bit behind—what has the guy done to be labeled a “radical activist?”

383 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 13, 2015 3:23:21pm

re: #382 BeachDem

I’m a little bit behind—what has the guy done to be labeled a “radical activist?”

he’s gay

384 Romantic Heretic  May 13, 2015 3:23:44pm

re: #42 Fourth Football of the Apocalypse

What is Chucky bleating about here?

I believe he’s asking for a woman that will worship him after he rapes her.

Because he’s just sick like that.

385 Skip Intro  May 13, 2015 3:24:04pm

re: #382 BeachDem

I’m a little bit behind—what has the guy done to be labeled a “radical activist?”

Apparently he’s gay.

386 WhatEVs  May 13, 2015 3:24:42pm

re: #352 Backwoods_Sleuth

387 BeachDem  May 13, 2015 3:26:02pm

re: #383 Backwoods_Sleuth

he’s gay

Ah—silly me.

388 BlueSpotinAL  May 13, 2015 3:27:52pm

Jade Helmers know they could beat a Union army with Scott Walker as its Commander in Chief.

389 Romantic Heretic  May 13, 2015 3:29:12pm

re: #95 HappyWarrior

Ayn Rand’s philosophy is for teenagers who don’t like being told that they’re not the only people in the world.

Ayn Rand is the Marxist equivalent of a Satanist. She accepted the theology but inverted it so bad became good and good became bad.

John Galt is a character straight out of Soviet propaganda, except he’s the hero rather than a villain.

390 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge  May 13, 2015 3:30:54pm

re: #389 Romantic Heretic

Ayn Rand is the Marxist equivalent of a Satanist. She accepted the theology but inverted it so bad became good and good became bad.

John Galt is a character straight out of Soviet propaganda, except he’s the hero rather than a villain.

The whole right wing has become like Stalin in the ’30s—anything bad that happens was caused by “wreckers”.

391 Kragar  May 13, 2015 3:34:03pm

re: #390 The Very Reverend Battleaxe of Knowledge

Only in RWNJ land can a guy who inherited his wealth be called a Maker while the guy working 60+ hours a week for minimum wage is called a Taker

392 wrenchwench  May 13, 2015 3:37:01pm

Oh man, the customers today. Two of the last three were fellow TBI victims, one who got his in Iraq, the other at home from an alpaca. Between those two was a German guy whose wheel I worked on last Saturday, after which he was knocked unconscious while riding his bike. He’ll be back to buy a helmet.

393 EPR-radar  May 13, 2015 4:05:15pm

re: #388 BlueSpotinAL

Jade Helmers know they could beat a Union army with Scott Walker as its Commander in Chief.

I’m no expert on military affairs, but I imagine the odds of success go up sharply when the opposing forces CinC is a traitor to his supposed cause.

394 Lord Of The Pies  May 13, 2015 4:42:31pm

re: #371 BeachDem

Game. Set. Match.

[Embedded content]

PWN3D

395 meteor  May 13, 2015 5:19:28pm

re: #14 Lord Of The Pies

Remake of “The Taking of Pelham 1-2-3.”

396 vgranucci  May 13, 2015 8:34:49pm

re: #172 allegro

I’d think there’s a decent chance of that. Both Daddy and little brother won and he knows he’s fucked. Lousy legacy.

Actually, George W. is big brother. He’s 6 years older than Jeb


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