Never fear, the readers of TAFM have not been forgotten. I have been busy rewriting the current book project, having finally figured out what was bothering me about the way I was going at it. Since it has to be in next month, that has writing priority.
I so admire your candid sharing about Jurate, Tom. It sounds like you are both ready for her to leave, I hope you are finding some peace and comfort in that.
Never thought for a nano-second that you had forgotten about us. We all know you have your priorities sorted out - Jurate being #1.
I have set an intention for you to experience profound peace in your life: "TC is at peace with his life". Saying it as a done deal.
As always, your priorities are in good order and you're taking care of business. Thanks for the ad, that means I didn't miss anything at all by not watching the circus.
How beautiful to have had that conversation, although it must have been of the briefest kind. A very good and long years friend of ours is in the last stages of Parkinsons. He is having hospice care at home presently. Just had a final journey to see him and his wife. Our hearts broken as they are continue to beat and to hope. You and Jurate are remembered daily.
I just finished watching Jon Stewart's podcast regarding the rail disaster in E.Palestine, Ohio. He had 2 journalists and a member of a railroad union. I was never aware that the brake systems on these freight trains were from the Civil War Era - that the Obama administration had passed some regulatory changes & then of course the next administration did away with them! There was much to learn on this podcast & it should be PUBLIC knowledge - you know - from our "media"? Not much said about this - and not much from Biden's administration either - hopefully they are only waiting for the NTSB's inspection to be concluded - hopefully. I must say the whole push to settle the railroad strike - without making any effort to give sick days to workers OR to increase the safety of those same workers never seemed quite kosher. Then there is the amount of profit & stock buybacks the rail industry somehow managed! Aint capitalism grand?
the cover story on the current issue of "In These Times" is "Is it Time to Nationalize the Railroads?" and this obviously came out BEFORE the accident. god knows the government would do a better job, and I don't say that lightly. we have the worst trains in the world, which is why most people don't take them seriously for long trips.
along the same lines, how has de-regulating the airlines worked out for us?
when I heard that the train had 150 cars, THAT struck me as being the craziest thing about this. I can't even CONCEIVE of a train that long.
I've seen them. And everyone in LA not in the 310 has cursed them when one stops as they come tracking through LA to keep their right of way active. Talk about traffic jams to end all!
David, be sure to watch Jon Stewarts podcast & listen to what the rail worker says about the safety issues alone, plus cutting the work force. I mean really, refusing the railworkers SICK time? That alone should have raised some flags before settling this strike. But this accident - with the explosion then venting that chemical into the air, plus the water runoff!!! Why havent there been any news articles about this? Or if there have been - where?
I've seen a number of reports on the derailment and effects of the toxic chemicals, mostly on CNN & MSNBC but also on ABC Nightly News. I also, somewhere, did read (as mentioned by a commenter above) that the railroads have not followed through on upgrading the train braking systems, upgrades legislated under Obama but which the TFG administration didn't enforce.
The owners are responsible. I don't want the name of the company. I want the names of the owners and the board of directors. They should be sent to Russia. They would fit right in. They are unAmerican.
He always does a bang-up job - must be doing lots of research plus having great guests. I learn as much if not more listening to him than I do to news "commentators".
I think I saw some pretty long trains when I rode my bicycle across the country. It seems to me there was one where the cars kept coming and coming. But these memories are very vague. I was alot more aware of all the garter snakes that sunned themselves on the road in North Dakota--and the one green snake I saw, and the never ending agricultural fields, and the pain in my ass from that GD seat that I bought just before the trip. (It was finally broken in with two days left to go in the trip. When I realized that I took off the two sponges that I'd jerry-rigged to the seat in North Dakota, and had kept watered because without the H2O they'd squash down like crepes, and I'd start hurting again.)
I, too, missed Jon Stewart's podcast. I didn't know we had freight trains running that had brakes from the Civil War. That was a long time ago, when my friend Paul's great great grandfather was a railroad magnate. Facts like this make you feel like you can touch the distant past--reminds me of hearing on NPR 6-7 years ago that there were still 30-odd Americans who had fathers who'd fought in the Civil War, including one who'd met Lincoln. Those Civil War era brakes may have been durable, but I think it's time to put new brakes on those trains. The old brakes can go to the Smithsonian, and I'll happily have a look at them next time I'm in DC.
We know exactly who that creep is, may he shortly be in prison, or barring that, dead--unless he is needed in the world at large to prevent the GOP from winning anything next year.
To be honest - I dont really watch much news - other than seeing the blurbs on MSN. So I'm to blame for not paying more attention, I guess. However, I find I get the gist of things from Colbert & Stewart!! And then theres LFAA!
I"ve watched nearly 20 minutes of Stewart on this. 1) it's appalling. And 2) this is a world that I'm not very familiar with, but these people in this town and the train workers are treated terribly.
I'm glad you found the solution to how to rewrite the book.
I'm glad you and Jurate are at peace with each other and that she is not in pain (a blessing!), and am so sorry she's getting close to the end. Thank you for sharing that update, Tom.
I'm sure you connected the "Say its name" in the commercial to Ali's "What's my name?" taunt to Terrell.
I've been thinking of you and Jurate. Thank you for the update. I'm glad that some important parts of of your life and THE person in your life are your priorities. Your community can wait.
Sending 💕 from Hobart in sunny Tasmania. Thinking of you and Jurate. Thank you for linking ad of my fav Pop Corners. Must have cost a fortune. Hope it helps them. xo
Take all of the time you need to be with Jurate, and to finish your book. We will all still be here. I am so glad you and Jurate have found the peace you both deserve. I am sending my love to both of you. Take care of yourself Tom.
Thank you. I still have some neck and back pain but it’s improving. We were short staffed with several nurses out with Covid, so I ended up working the last three days to help cover. So much for resting.
Take care of yourself, so you can be there for Jurate - and yourself, later..... We knew a break was for good reasons. Good books take time, and deadlines.....well, I know about deadlines too.....:-) Take care and all the time you need - we'll be here on the corner waitin' fer ya.....
You and your love Jurate have not been forgotten. Take your time to do what’s most important. We will wait. 💔
We figured Jurate is your priority right now. You are both lucky to have had that last loving conversation. Don't worry, we will wait.
I so admire your candid sharing about Jurate, Tom. It sounds like you are both ready for her to leave, I hope you are finding some peace and comfort in that.
Never thought for a nano-second that you had forgotten about us. We all know you have your priorities sorted out - Jurate being #1.
I have set an intention for you to experience profound peace in your life: "TC is at peace with his life". Saying it as a done deal.
I'm at peace with us. Nothing left unsaid/undone.
As always, your priorities are in good order and you're taking care of business. Thanks for the ad, that means I didn't miss anything at all by not watching the circus.
God be with you and Jurate.
How beautiful to have had that conversation, although it must have been of the briefest kind. A very good and long years friend of ours is in the last stages of Parkinsons. He is having hospice care at home presently. Just had a final journey to see him and his wife. Our hearts broken as they are continue to beat and to hope. You and Jurate are remembered daily.
So glad we are not forgotten!
I just finished watching Jon Stewart's podcast regarding the rail disaster in E.Palestine, Ohio. He had 2 journalists and a member of a railroad union. I was never aware that the brake systems on these freight trains were from the Civil War Era - that the Obama administration had passed some regulatory changes & then of course the next administration did away with them! There was much to learn on this podcast & it should be PUBLIC knowledge - you know - from our "media"? Not much said about this - and not much from Biden's administration either - hopefully they are only waiting for the NTSB's inspection to be concluded - hopefully. I must say the whole push to settle the railroad strike - without making any effort to give sick days to workers OR to increase the safety of those same workers never seemed quite kosher. Then there is the amount of profit & stock buybacks the rail industry somehow managed! Aint capitalism grand?
the cover story on the current issue of "In These Times" is "Is it Time to Nationalize the Railroads?" and this obviously came out BEFORE the accident. god knows the government would do a better job, and I don't say that lightly. we have the worst trains in the world, which is why most people don't take them seriously for long trips.
along the same lines, how has de-regulating the airlines worked out for us?
when I heard that the train had 150 cars, THAT struck me as being the craziest thing about this. I can't even CONCEIVE of a train that long.
I've seen them. And everyone in LA not in the 310 has cursed them when one stops as they come tracking through LA to keep their right of way active. Talk about traffic jams to end all!
David, be sure to watch Jon Stewarts podcast & listen to what the rail worker says about the safety issues alone, plus cutting the work force. I mean really, refusing the railworkers SICK time? That alone should have raised some flags before settling this strike. But this accident - with the explosion then venting that chemical into the air, plus the water runoff!!! Why havent there been any news articles about this? Or if there have been - where?
I've seen a number of reports on the derailment and effects of the toxic chemicals, mostly on CNN & MSNBC but also on ABC Nightly News. I also, somewhere, did read (as mentioned by a commenter above) that the railroads have not followed through on upgrading the train braking systems, upgrades legislated under Obama but which the TFG administration didn't enforce.
The owners are responsible. I don't want the name of the company. I want the names of the owners and the board of directors. They should be sent to Russia. They would fit right in. They are unAmerican.
John Stewart's terrific podcast on the train derailment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8Jrk6fvmQ8
John Stewart's podcast on the derailment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8Jrk6fvmQ8
Heres an article writing about the people who live in the area.
https://www.alternet.org/ohio-train-derailment/?utm_source=123456&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=13112
Thanks Maggie!
He always does a bang-up job - must be doing lots of research plus having great guests. I learn as much if not more listening to him than I do to news "commentators".
I think I saw some pretty long trains when I rode my bicycle across the country. It seems to me there was one where the cars kept coming and coming. But these memories are very vague. I was alot more aware of all the garter snakes that sunned themselves on the road in North Dakota--and the one green snake I saw, and the never ending agricultural fields, and the pain in my ass from that GD seat that I bought just before the trip. (It was finally broken in with two days left to go in the trip. When I realized that I took off the two sponges that I'd jerry-rigged to the seat in North Dakota, and had kept watered because without the H2O they'd squash down like crepes, and I'd start hurting again.)
I, too, missed Jon Stewart's podcast. I didn't know we had freight trains running that had brakes from the Civil War. That was a long time ago, when my friend Paul's great great grandfather was a railroad magnate. Facts like this make you feel like you can touch the distant past--reminds me of hearing on NPR 6-7 years ago that there were still 30-odd Americans who had fathers who'd fought in the Civil War, including one who'd met Lincoln. Those Civil War era brakes may have been durable, but I think it's time to put new brakes on those trains. The old brakes can go to the Smithsonian, and I'll happily have a look at them next time I'm in DC.
One of the things the Obama administration did was update the regulations to 1990!! But then you know who came along & un-did it.
We know exactly who that creep is, may he shortly be in prison, or barring that, dead--unless he is needed in the world at large to prevent the GOP from winning anything next year.
https://www.nytimes.com/article/ohio-train-derailment.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/02/12/east-palestine-ohio-derailment-residents/
There are plenty more articles.
To be honest - I dont really watch much news - other than seeing the blurbs on MSN. So I'm to blame for not paying more attention, I guess. However, I find I get the gist of things from Colbert & Stewart!! And then theres LFAA!
I"ve watched nearly 20 minutes of Stewart on this. 1) it's appalling. And 2) this is a world that I'm not very familiar with, but these people in this town and the train workers are treated terribly.
I think a lot of us arent familiar with whats going on in these small towns - many that have lost their way in the current world.
Writing is a good balance for the other things going on in your life. Glad you're sticking with it. Peace will find both of you.
I'm glad you found the solution to how to rewrite the book.
I'm glad you and Jurate are at peace with each other and that she is not in pain (a blessing!), and am so sorry she's getting close to the end. Thank you for sharing that update, Tom.
I'm sure you connected the "Say its name" in the commercial to Ali's "What's my name?" taunt to Terrell.
Peace to Jurate and to you.
H
No worries. Peace, brother.
when you don't post, Tom, it's ALWAYS for a good reason.
I missed you here (as did everyone else), but I figure that WE all figured it was for excellent reasons.
so I'm content to wait.
as I've said before, you have a LOT of friends.
and now I want a box too. best ad I've seen in...maybe the best of all time.
It's interesting that 12 years later, BB is still "up there."
it is.
I've been thinking of you and Jurate. Thank you for the update. I'm glad that some important parts of of your life and THE person in your life are your priorities. Your community can wait.
Sending 💕 from Hobart in sunny Tasmania. Thinking of you and Jurate. Thank you for linking ad of my fav Pop Corners. Must have cost a fortune. Hope it helps them. xo
Take all of the time you need to be with Jurate, and to finish your book. We will all still be here. I am so glad you and Jurate have found the peace you both deserve. I am sending my love to both of you. Take care of yourself Tom.
Thanks. I hope you are feeling better from the accident?
Thank you. I still have some neck and back pain but it’s improving. We were short staffed with several nurses out with Covid, so I ended up working the last three days to help cover. So much for resting.
It is our privilege to be with you and Jurate at this time. Thank you.
Take care of yourself, so you can be there for Jurate - and yourself, later..... We knew a break was for good reasons. Good books take time, and deadlines.....well, I know about deadlines too.....:-) Take care and all the time you need - we'll be here on the corner waitin' fer ya.....