Paradoxically, my favorite transportation *experience* is airports. I love airports. Like, love ‘em. But actually flying? Whole ‘nother story (other than takeoff, which is always epic).

Even LAX?

Okay, I’ll admit: LAX does mark it hard to love.

Flying is very difficult for me, mostly because I'm fairly tall, but also, if I'm being honest, because I still find being up in the air kind of improbable.

The US lost most of it train travel love in the 50s when everybody starting buying cars. It's never returned and it's not going to for a while yet. And the legalities of laying new track anywhere in the US is a nightmare.

The legalities of doing anything in the US are a nightmare because rent seekers wait at every turn.

We have rent control here in Oregon. It's been a blessing...

Economic rent is any money acquired by one's social position or what one owns rather than by labor or the excess over what could be got by trade in an ideal free market kas in monopolies). It includes the kind of rent you are talking about, but also things like bullshit fees on your cable bill.

(Everyone west of . . . Pennsylvania.) Le Sigh.

@alstom.bsky.social scores again!!

trains interrupt my life blowing their horns day & night in this small town. yes, I said horns. they have abandoned whistles for blaring horns. Here's a train whistle: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oJA... no way does this resemble what drowns out conversations, tv programs, sleep in earliest morning hrs

Nice picture. I retired from Amtrak