Thursday, November 13, 2003

"Train Ride from Hell"

Well for those of you that don’t pay much attention to local news you might not be aware that South Jersey has it’s own version of the MONORAIL going on. Okay its not that bad but the proposed Light Rail has been a complete and utter disaster.

For those of you that don’t know New Jersey ( it actually started under Whitman’s Watch) thought it would be cool to offer a train that went from Camden to Trenton. This could help out some of the South to North Jersey commuting headaches (Because who wants to live in North Jersey?) on paper it looked great. However the budget, planning and marketing of the Light Rail woefully misguided. The project went well over budget and has NJ politicians looking to raise taxes on gasoline by 15 cents per gallon in order to help pay for it. Although it will likely not be that much of a hike its one of the reasons the states has financial problems right now.

The Light Rail ran into many problems over the past few years. First off some businesses and townships weren’t big on the idea of having the train juggling. Secondly they had major problems with intersections. The traffic lights that were put in around intersections made traffic worse. There were also reports of minor derailments during the dry runs. However some businesses are banking on being near stops for the rail.

If this wasn’t bad enough many public officials made it public that the project was a disaster and no one would ride it. Some suggested we forget there was ever a Light Rail and let the project die and the trains and tracks rot. Everyone kept saying how much it was going to suck and no one cares about the Light Rail and no one will use it. The official opening of it was delayed at least twice. This was a bad move making anyone that want to ride feel like a loser. What would they tell us how no one is going to ride it and how much it sucks and how stupid it is? Now NO ONE will ride it. I was waiting for the them to set the tracks a blaze.

I thought they should change the name of the light rail to the lame rail. However they just announced today that it will be now called the “River Line” and now are going to start a marketing campaign to get people to think that it doesn’t suck that bad. It will only cost 1.10 to ride the 34-mile and you can ride the thing all damn day if you want. They are going have 20 stops (I don’t know any closer to me other than Camden).

So it should be interesting to watch how the state will sell this after they told is it was the worst idea ever for a few years. WORST IDEA EVER! “Ride the River Rail it DOESN’T suck." It has been 4 years in the making and they have slated Feb 15th as their opening day. I am disappointed that it wasn’t a day earlier because I planned to take Liza on ride on it all day long for Valentines Day. They really blew my plans. I hear Trenton is lovely that time of year. The date is set yet again, although there might be a better chance of Ryan calling to congratulate Lima Beanz and Jenna on their new kid than this RIVER LINE running according to planned.


Sorry for the dealy in posts I have had some minor problems with my internet connections this week. Look for some articles this weekend.

“Winter Outlook”



Okay in Tucker’s World I am always making predictions and informing my readers. Last year I gave a preview on what to expect for the winter as far as how cold it will be and how much snow will get. I was totally wrong last year. However after much sifting through webpages that I read on such matters I am ready to put my new prediction on this site.

Did you notice that the weather has been doing a Yo-Yo type deal? It’s mild for a few days than its freaking freezing the next. Well that manic cycle will continue all Winter long. There will be times when it get REALLY cold, but the consecutive days wont be like they were last year. In fact in January and February we will see days that it gets as high at 60.

The first flakes of the season will arrive around Turkey Day. It will be in the form of wet snow and not much to write home about either. The biggest chance of storms will be in Mid January and Mid February.

The final tally will be roughly around 21 inches when the Winter ends. Believe it or not that is normal for the South Jersey/Philly region.

So this winter expect some snow, but just don’t expect your snowmen to stay around too long with the mild air returning frequently.

Sunday, November 09, 2003

"Veteran's Day"

This Tuesday is holiday. Yeah it really is despite most people still having to go to work. Amongst all the Christmas maddness that for some reason has to started several weeks before thanksgiving this year we get a hoilday before its even time to carve up the old bird.

This Tuesday is Veteran's Day a day that is ment to honor people who faught and died for this country. People might get this holiday mixed up with other patrotic hoildays. Memorial Day is to honor the fallen heros, 4th of July is mainly to celeberate our freedom and celebrate the birth of the nation, and Labor Day has nothing to do with veterans what so ever. Although it is now undestandable to see flags waving since it is so close to Sept. 11th.

Anyway I think its just a shame a hoilday to honor people living and dead who fought for this country is prettty much glossed over my society. Do yourself a favor and ask people what hoilday it is on Tuesday I doubt more than half of them will even know its a holiday.

At beast the day to honor citzens of this country has been reduced to an excuse for retail stores to throw a big sale. Just because it is too cold out for the few of us that are off for the holiday to go swiming and grill stuff makes the day get lost in the shuffle. Sadly hoildays like that are more of an excuse to get drunk for most people.

I suggest for my readers who do read this that they call up just on person that they know is a war veteran (who doesnt have a friend, uncle or neighbor) and either thank them for their service or at the very least wish them a happy veteran's day. Then you can bgo back to Christmas Shopping.