Just isn't that easy in America to condemn thousands of homes and businesses to build a high speed rail line. Even though railroading might be more environmentally adventageous, it would take hundreds of years to buy up a line of property stretching hundreds or thousands of miles. Maybe in the 1950s if you said it was for national defense, you could acquire these kinds of rights of way. Today, the right of way would cost more than Social Security and that doesn't include lawsuits from neighbors who don't want a 200 mph train going through their yard. I think you are barking up the wrong tree if you think high speed rail has a chance in the US. I think it's more likely that we would return to horse and buggy first.

Taking hundreds of tractor trailors off the highway onto railroads is not only good for the environment, but makes our roads safer too. Freight happily moves at 40 mph because it's fuel efficient and trains can run non-stop. Passenger trains are inadequate at 40 mph (which is about all Amtrak averages except on the Northeast corridor). You can't have trains running at different speeds over the same track so the only way to have high-speed rail would be to condemn thousands of homes and businesses and buy up new right of ways that would also have to be grade separated because a truck vs. 200 mph train collision would not be pretty. To establish such track between even half the cities served by air would, however, provide work for millions of people even if Social Security and Medicare would have to be trimmed back to pay of it.

What is less, a billion dollars per year or 2 cents per day for each of the 300 million plus Americans for 365 days? Answer, a billion dollars per year is much cheaper. I hate these kinds of articles that play to Americans inability to do simple math. A couple of years ago, it was an ice sheet the size of Rhode Island braking off from Antarctica, without mentioning what a tiny fraction of a tiny fraction of Antarctica was involved. It's hard enough making rational decisions about scientific issues without salesmen trying to confuse the issues. These environmental salesmen promoted ethanol for decades and got the US government to invest billions (or as this pitchman would say pennies per day per citizen) before it was revealed that ethanol was problematic. Stem cell research is the same thing. Salesmen tauted it as the cure for every disease imaginable until the government spent billions (pennies per day) to buy a nice lifestyle for laboratory scientists who produced nothing of value.

There's not a compelling need for them to have a 50th wedding celebration. I suppose the who family gathered together to suggest that it's one big happy family does have some appeal if you are very shallow. I would suggest doing your own thing with your parents, if you choose, and let it go at that. The public display of family wonderfulness just doesn't fit this situation -- or actually most people's situation.

We're in the midst of a heat wave, just as we were when ice road truckers was on last year. When you can't sleep because you're too sticky, watching guys drive through the frozen tundra at 50 below zero is quite restful.

Amtrak trains are very heavy. They weigh much more on a per passenger basis than airplanes or cars. Airplanes uses the lightest possible skins of aluminum and the sheet metal on cars is now so thin you can almost poke your finger through them. Passenger trains, however, still use very strong and heavy steel construction.

The really inconvenient truth is that Greyhound beats them all by a mile in terms of energy efficiency. If we were serious about controlling carbon emmissions, we would all get on the bus. Unfortunately, the bus ain't got not class.

Hard to imagine that the Democrats could blow another election when you consider the war, the economy, gas prices etc. But they you read articles like this and realize that the Democrats are totally consumed with hatreds and understand the Obama doesn't have a chance.

I'm sure the people who find this article humorous also laugh when TV guys joke about crossing their legs when they hear Hillary speak. That's funny, right? Or joke about Hussein Obama. Or Obama's baby mama. I'm sure alll you folks with the great senses of humor just fall on the floor, laughing your asses off.

I wonder how many of these people who feel superior to RV users stay in hotels that exploit illegal alien women to make the beds and tidy up after you. And they wash the sheets and towels almost every day in scalding water and bleach.

I wonder how many of these superior people fly in jet airplanes that consume far more fuel than any RV. Basically if you are in a frequent flyer program you shouldn't be complaining about anybody elses RV or SUV. As a matter of fact, when gas does hit $10 a gallon, it's those airplanes that will be grounded and taking a driving vacation, including in a rental RV, will still be an available option.

Many people take RV vacations because they have a large family that would be uneconomical to put on an airplane or they have a medical condition (often brought on by age) that is easier to deal with in an RV with all their own stuff rather than in airports/hotels/etc.

People with nationally syndicated radio programs will always be able to fly by using corporate jets if necessary, but when they become older, they will enjoy making a few more trips out to the wilderness in the comfort of an RV.

I'm sure in the 1950s, eating fish out of a can was considered gourmet, but today's it's pathetic. Dull, grey, briney -- horrible. For God's sake, buy fresh fish -- even if you're making tuna sandwiches.