passenger rail — Transition Voice

High-speed rail is BS, but I love it anyway

By Erik Curren February 11, 2011

The Obama administration has re-started its campaign for high-speed rail this week. I want to believe in it. I love all trains, and especially fast ones with aero nosecones like rockets, speeding through a field of sunflowers while cozy inside, passengers read Proust on a Kindle and sip Cointreau from Bohemian crystal. But given that deficit-hawk Republicans committed to paring federal discretionary spending back to 2008 levels control the House, I think Obama's rail plan has as much chance … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Barack Obama, Florida, Joe Biden, passenger rail, US Congress

Interview: Gail the Actuary

By Erik Curren December 17, 2010

"If I plant a garden and all my neighbors are starving, I'll have to share it with them and it's not going to go very far," says Gail Tverberg, known to readers of the Oil Drum as Gail the Actuary. "You have to solve the problem for the whole population." Maybe that's why Tverberg thinks that people who care about peak oil need to reach out beyond energy buffs to a larger public. "I hope that content will not be cut back too much," Tverberg writes of recent changes to the five-year-old hub … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Transition Tagged With: conservation, infrastructure, interview, passenger rail, Stars of Peak Oil, The Oil Drum

America in decline?

By Lindsay Curren December 15, 2010

E. J. Dionne Jr.'s recent column in the Washington Post, "Can Obama Find His Morning in America?" notes an increasingly widespread domestic view that America is in decline. Dionne argues that such an infectious tumult could either cripple Obama or, alternatively, create an opportunity to right his presidency and recapture the confidence of the American people. What Obama needs, says Dionne, is a morning in America moment. But what he lacks, Dionne believes, is a compelling narrative around … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Politics Tagged With: Barack Obama, China, Dec 2010, energy policy, local economy, passenger rail

Readers and authors talk

Elisabeth J. Potts on Climate collision course: CO2 levels about to hit 400 ppm » As of this week, we have already reached the 400ppm milestone. Here's the thing: We all need some sp...

Ed Johnson on Roundup of distressing climate news » Thank you all for your comments and commitments. I too sense this with out all the research backgrou...

Lee Samelson on The climate change mountaintop » It seems like the stages occur in reverse order for climate hawks Climate hawks or climate activists...

Steve on For sale, habitable planet, too late » Doug, I am in a similar place to you, I think. I have probably never really faced up to the reality ...

Elisabeth J. Potts on Climate collision course: CO2 levels about to hit 400 ppm » As of this week, we have already reached the 400ppm milestone. Here's the thing: We all need some sp...
Ed Johnson on Roundup of distressing climate news » Thank you all for your comments and commitments. I too sense this with out all the research backgrou...
Lee Samelson on The climate change mountaintop » It seems like the stages occur in reverse order for climate hawks Climate hawks or climate activists...
Steve on For sale, habitable planet, too late » Doug, I am in a similar place to you, I think. I have probably never really faced up to the reality ...