World Wide (web)

Internet: So much Information we'll choke ourselves to death; so little knowledge our Brains will dry out like dead fish on the rocks...

Short Stories

Reading William Trevor. Short Stories are more in line of the "oral tradition"; Family stories, Rhymes, fables, myths, fairy tales. The story is told over and over (NOT like re-inventing the wheel) across generations but each time the teller adds something and the reader's "wheel' gets a little rounder; the axle gets a little more grease; the wheel rolls a little easier...


Raymond Carver, William Gay, Annie Proulx...

Nation Wide Rail Bed

Dear Editors,

The Michigan Legislature refused to spend money to upgrade rail here in Michigan perhaps for a good reason. Railroads in this country are hopelessly antiquated and spending money willy-nilly on Light Rail or fixing a few bridges here and there will not improve the overall performance of a thoroughly outdated system.

On the other hand the Interstate Highway System in our country is truly one of the wonders of the world. No one thing has done more for economic growth and individual freedom as this safe and efficient system of roads that link virtually all of our country. Anyone is free to use the roads for whatever personal or business reason they choose as long as their vehicle meets certain minimum and maximum specifications and they operate it legally. You can drive a GM, Ford or a Hyundai car or a truck, bus or motorcycle on any road at any time and for any purpose.

Railroads operate very differently; each rail company owns, maintains and operates their own freight cars and locomotives on their own tracks. Shipping goods or passengers even short distances may require a train to obtain permission from many different rail companies all with conflicting schedules. The long delayed “Ann Arbor to Detroit” train is one example of just how difficult it is to operate a train over tracks that several different companies own. Can you imagine if each auto company had to build a road for just their own brand of car to use? An owner of a Ford Focus would have to seek permission (and pay a hefty toll) from somebody at General Motors if they wanted to use a GM built road. This is how the rail system in our country works (or not).

We need to finance and build an entirely integrated rail system that is financed and run by private, profit making companies:


• The entire rail bed would be bought by the federal government financed by stock in a public holding company
• The track would then be leased to private companies to operate and maintain
• Establish a 20 year plan to build a two-way track system that links all major metro areas which would eventually enable non-stop train service across the country
• These companies would be for-profits and granted monopoly status like electric, natural gas and cable companies overseen by state governments
• A central control system similar to our air traffic control (and be charged to find the most economical paths for shippers without discrimination) would run the system but under the ultimate control of the federal government
• Private passenger and freight companies (like trucking and passenger bus companies) would buy time from track operators much like the turnpikes in Ohio and Pennsylvania operate
• A permanent separation between shippers (rolling stock) that use the tracks and companies that maintain the fixed rail, bridges, switches and other infrastructure would be maintained

Before we spend a dime on bullet trains or Light Rail like the “M-1 Woodward” passenger train, each requiring a completely new and unique set of tracks, we need to have a comprehensive, nation-wide rail track system like the Interstate Highways.

Skipping Stones

skip stones all afternoon;
took a nap on the beach;

roast hot dogs on a driftwood fire;
sunset 3 hours long; my girl's hair,

tangled and bleached;
she has the scent of the Lakes.

canada dry ginger ale,
from the can.

23 years
buried in the
sand