Saturday, August 30, 2008

The Electric Circus


Amtrak seems worth checking out these days. When I worked at Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, I knew this guy who worked on travel books (he was also a jazz DJ on UNC public radio) -- Algonquin got him to do "field research" and write one on Amtrak eventually called Booked on the Morning Train: A Journey Through America (George F. Scheer III, 1991). Seemed like a good idea at the time and still does. Personally, I can vouch for Canadian Via Rail, first class -- an absolutely civilized and fun form of travel that even features laptop plug-in, wireless connection, a morsel of decent food and a personally served drink. What I've seen of Amtrak so far is that it's cheap for coach class, more expensive for added "mod cons" and extra room.

Personal resolution: more train rides in the near future!


Here's the latest snapshot of the electoral struggle between Blues and Reds. Note that Alaska has a whopping three electoral votes! Obama still needs Michigan and Pennsylvania to win, me thinks.

Today's Rune: Signals.

5 comments:

JR's Thumbprints said...

... and the train kept a rollin' all night long.

Hard to believe this presidential election will be close. Hard to believe some Hillary supporters will now crossover to McCain.

Charles Gramlich said...

I've only been on a couple of long train rides but I actually enjoyed them. You get to see a different side of the towns you pass through.

Anonymous said...

Four more years!!!! Four more years!!!!--K. Rove

the walking man said...

The die is cast, the webs are slung time will now tell if we are a nation of the free, the sheep or the masochistic. soon enough even a passport won't be enough to get you on a VIA train.

Johnny Yen said...

He's up in Pennsylvania, down in Ohio.

His strategy was fascinating, concentrating on small states. Looking at a map of current polls, he's close in states like Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Florida. He's in a dead heat in Virginia. I think that if he can squeak out a victory in one or two of those states, he might do it.

I love trains, and used to ride Amtrak frequently. When I was in college, I would take Amtrak to travel from central Illinois to Northern California to see my folks. Later, after college, they moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, and I'd take the train to see them there too. The bonus of that trip was a couple hour layover in Washington, D.C., which was just enough time to stroll the Mall and see the Capitol building and a few other sites.