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Mendon, Missouri

seandietrich.com

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Re: Mendon, Missouri

#201

Post by cozzyd »

kiernanmcgowan wrote: post #141
ryan_j_naughton wrote: post #35

> And the most unusual thing about all this is: None of this is unusual. At least not within the national tapestry that is The Great American Small Town. It also isn't unusual in the cities. Humans are wonderful and terrible everywhere. It reminds me of the 30 Rock episode where Jack and Liz go to Georgia to find a new comedian in touch with the "real America" and Liz keeps insisting that all Americans are real Ameri…

When I lived in Chicago I saw the aftermath of a car/moped accident up close. I had just gotten off the L at Western and was walking to the north exit. To my right was a moped turning left under the tracks and to my left was a sedan driving out of an alley, also turning under the tracks. I heard a crunch and a group of people at the exit all jumped and rushed over. I hadn't seen the actual accident, but feared the wo…

Which of the 5 Western L stations? :) (I assume the one in Bucktown/Logan Square)

Re: Mendon, Missouri

#202

Post by coryrc »

VictorPath wrote: post #132
mindslight wrote: post #87

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The absence of traffic control devices isn't unusual, but it's most certainly condemnable. Being in a denser area where crossings generally have a light and a gate, it really irks me when I see a no-visibility at-grade crossing with just an intended-to-be-ignored "yield" sign for the road. It's nothing more than a pathetic fiction to legally cover the railroads ass after the fact, and the setup should be outright ill…

This is the real story behind the story - a giant corporation creating a dangerous situation for the sake of profit, a government which does not protect people but corporate profits, and a small town that sits by and allows this to happen, but will pitch in and carry off the bodies when tragedy inevitably strikes. One person in the town did try to prevent this, but one person is not enough in the face of everyone els…

The train was there first. Why is always the default assumption that cars can go wherever they want and everyone else should pay for it?

Re: Mendon, Missouri

#203

Post by shadowofneptune »

lotsofpulp wrote: post #177
la64710 wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tribes are actually very benevolent and certainly helpful to many strangers that in their eyes seek help. There have been numerous incidents all around the world where poor tribals have come and nurture a sick stranger back to life. It is basic human nature.

I am using a more generalized definition of tribe, to mean any group you belong or you categorize others to belong to. For example, my first priority tribe is my kids. Second priority tribe is probably kids and spouse. Then kids, spouse and myself. Then my siblings, and parents, and then maybe friends/extended family/members of my parents’ immigrant diaspora/my college class/neighbors/political allies/business partne…

It is a poor choice of words then if you have to disregard the actual tribes in the world.

Re: Mendon, Missouri

#204

Post by kiernanmcgowan »

cozzyd wrote: post #201
kiernanmcgowan wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When I lived in Chicago I saw the aftermath of a car/moped accident up close. I had just gotten off the L at Western and was walking to the north exit. To my right was a moped turning left under the tracks and to my left was a sedan driving out of an alley, also turning under the tracks. I heard a crunch and a group of people at the exit all jumped and rushed over. I hadn't seen the actual accident, but feared the wo…

Which of the 5 Western L stations? :) (I assume the one in Bucktown/Logan Square)

Oooh, you jogged my memory. I actually meant the Damen station, down at the 6 corners. I did also use the Western station at Logan Square often though :)

Re: Mendon, Missouri

#205

Post by kodah »

cagey wrote: post #144
kodah wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I used to work for BNSF, I'm well aware of how those programs materialize on the private end. Sometimes states will chip in, but it's mostly on the line owner. You can't just install a crossing anymore. They're wired into national and global networks that are part of track-side overhauls. Additionally, when AMTRAK goes over BNSF lines (at least when I worked there) you don't have automated train control (which is rea…

The situation is quite confusing. Restricting the discussion to the vast numbers of existing RR/road crossings (not new crossings), then to what degree does the state control the installation of automated crossing protection (upgrades)? The various articles I read about this crash strongly suggest that MODOT is largely throttling which RR/road crossing automated protection upgrades are executed, and implies this thro…

That could be specific to the state. As I said, federal and state rail commissions can exercise authority in that space, and have varying agreements state by state. The point of what I was saying is that getting a signal in place is one thing, actually having it connected up to BNSF's CTC network and integrating that into passenger trains is the more effective thing to do, and $400k sounds very short for that.

You're looking to assign blame, I'm looking to say, "How does this problem get resolved". Very different questions.

Re: Mendon, Missouri

#206

Post by rospaya »

phtrivier wrote: post #21
rospaya wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> No. The author indicated that the exceptional (and it was, indeed, "exceptional") generosity and sense of Duty, exhibited by the townsfolk was ignored by the press. Man bites dog is news. Dog bites man isn't. Sorry to be cold and unaffectionate (I love the story though) but I believe it happens regulary. Big town, small town, there's good people everywhere.

I'm pretty sure there is a market for a social network that would tweak their algorithm to present positive content rather than the usual junk, though. It's not like FB or twitter doesn't have the resource and skill to A/B test that - but I'm pretty sure their biased by the 19th century tradition of "sex sells, and we only have one frontpage".

Every time I saw a website present itself as "good news only" it was almost always religious in nature. Not sure if there's a market.
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