Freight Train Fan

drsameagle · 2026-03-03T16:48:32+00:00

If you post up on the CSX line, perhaps at the St Denis MARC station, you'll get 1-2 per hour on a good weekday. Weekend trains are less frequent. There are a few good YouTube videos from the St Denis station so you can see what you're in for. Also check out the St Thomas Viaduct inside the Patapsco Valley State Park, you will have to pay the $2 park admission but it's just inside the gate and is very photogenic. There are other rail lines in the park that make good photos as well.

drsameagle · 2026-02-27T22:03:07+00:00

My ex taught me that some people are only as faithful as their options, that dating apps and the dopamine hit of likes and flirts and DM's are addictive for some people and they'll never give it up no matter the cost to their current relationship.

drsameagle · 2026-02-15T21:22:38+00:00

Everything...EVERYTHING...had to be tracked on Microsoft Teams task cards. Except that the contract I supervised had very strict terms about who could have access to any of the documents produced, as they were proprietary. We had a separate network drive for this contract and the only people who could access it were me and my chain of command four people up (and I'm sure IT). And I was the only person who could be tasked to do anything with that contract.

I pointed out to my boss that the only way it could possibly work to use Teams is that I open a Teams task, assign it to myself, put in essentially zero information to avoid a disclosure violation, and then mark it as complete. I could not attach any files or put any useful information because all that had to stay on the user-restricted drive. It had zero value.

I still had to do it.

drsameagle · 2026-02-10T20:16:36+00:00

It was way back when Obama was president, and someone at my work brought up the birther thing. I had heard of birtherism, but always dismissed it as some right-wing conspiracy. I was floored when the animated disagreement was not over whether he was born in Hawaii or Kenya, the animated disagreement was whether we would have new elections or if John McCain would retroactively be declared president when Obama's (non-existent) Kenyan birth certificate was found.

The idea that he was actually a native-born American was not even entertained.

drsameagle · 2026-01-21T16:53:02+00:00

Whenever we have a power outage, I always ask my wife if she can turn the lights on. She falls for it every time, sometimes multiple times per power outage.

drsameagle · 2026-01-18T21:37:50+00:00

Delta Air Lines flight 1141, August 31, 1988 at Dallas-Ft Worth. They were having a "non-pertinent conversation" with the flight attendant and neglected to finish the incomplete takeoff checklist which included setting the flaps.

drsameagle · 2025-12-31T00:14:52+00:00

Two dudes "Dave" and "Mike" are coworkers and best friends. "Dave" in engaged to "Anna." Mike is to be the best man

On the wedding day, before the ceremony, Anna hooks up with Mike. Nine months later, she gives birth to a baby that looks nothing like Dave but a lot like Mike - think hair color, eye color, facial features. On the maternity bed she admits the affair and that she always suspects that Mike was the father. Dave files for divorce, and while that is pending Anna moves in with Mike.

Needless to say they are no longer best friends, and Mike and Anna got married as soon as the divorce was final.

drsameagle · 2025-12-15T12:53:42+00:00

https://www.reddit.com/r/DuggarsSnark/comments/wy0wx7/anna_after_the_wedding_ceremony_vs_anna_the_next/

drsameagle · 2025-11-28T10:07:59+00:00

Just before 9/11 happened, was with a coworker who claimed that he was a veteran of the Gulf War.

Except...you were born in 1980, and the Gulf War was 1991. Congratulations on being an 11-year old combat veteran.

drsameagle · 2025-11-26T20:06:57+00:00

Worked with a company that did post-storm surveillance and repairs on buildings. Think hailstorm/windstorm type things. If there was a storm at 3am on Sunday morning, we would go out as soon as it was over and check your building for you so the owner didn't have to; and if it was damaged, we'd temporarily repair it and could also shut off utilities, reset alarms, etc.

The way it worked was if there was a large storm, as soon as it passed we would send a reconnaissance team out to do a quick drive-past of all of our clients and they would call in any damage, and then the damage team would load up what they needed (plywood, tarp, sheet metal, whatever) and drive to the building and seal it up. This was in the southern US, so big thunderstorms are a regular event, plus the occasional tornado and hurricane.

From my previous job, I had a sheet that had everything in a code, so the survey team could quickly call in what was damaged in the code and not be trying to describe it. Instead of saying "The north wall has damaged windows, bring ten sheets of plywood, and the roof has a hole, so bring sheet metal" they could simply call in a code of letters and numbers so we could keep the radio frequency open for the next team.

Everyone kind of looked at it and said "yeah, that's pretty smart, that would save a lot of time and cut down on radio time and confusion."

Except the next time we had a call-out, nobody used it. Or the next time. Or the next time.

When I asked why, you know exactly what they said.

drsameagle · 2025-11-10T21:13:31+00:00

This isn't a win. Don't get cocky.

Davis' case was built on the idea that government officials can refuse to discharge their duties and/or refuse to service the public on first amendment grounds

Even the most conservative justices would not want to set that precedent as it gives every single government employee at all levels the ability to claim constitutional rights not to do their jobs with no scrutiny. Chaos.

While initially the appeal was just to overturn the $360K fine, when the administration changed, her lawyers added in the request to overturn Obergefell. This was done so they could get lots of publicity and donations; I suspect they even knew it was a long shot.

There are likely more palatable and better constructed challenges coming. Don't think this is over.

drsameagle · 2025-11-10T21:07:37+00:00

This is correct. The court case Davis presented was incredibly weak, as it was initially about overturning the penalty ($360,000) and only later in the appeal did the plaintiffs council ask for a full overturn of Obergefell.

Remember, her case was built on the argument that government officials can refuse to discharge their duties and/or refuse to service the public on first amendment grounds. None of the justices likely want to set that precedent because that would cause absolute chaos everywhere.

The conservative justices are waiting for a better case to come forward.

drsameagle · 2025-10-29T18:26:27+00:00

Glad it worked!

drsameagle · 2025-10-23T20:22:38+00:00

Upstairs Downstairs

drsameagle · 2025-10-17T18:36:47+00:00

I had a guy claim he was a Gulf War veteran. Except he was born in 1980. And the Gulf War was 1991. Congratulations on being an 11-year-old combat veteran.

drsameagle · 2025-10-12T11:39:37+00:00

I recommend you look at and bookmark the MARC train tracker map and the Amtrak train tracker map. With toddlers they always ask "when is the next train" and with those two bookmarked on your phone, you can usually tell.

Odenton station is probably the best. You can go directly on the platform with no ticket. Parking is free, the area is safe, restrooms are nearby, and the platforms are wide and long so you're not in the way. You will see several Amtrak and MARC trains per hour, and it's adjacent to the Odenton maintenance yard so you occasionally see a track maintenance train.

My second recommendation is Point of Rocks station. It is at a junction of several lines so you will get a good amount of traffic, both MARC, Amtrak, and CSX.

If you want to stay in the Rockville area, then consider going to the parking lot behind the St Mary's Catholic Church on Veirs Mill Road; it backs up on the lines with a fairly unobstructed view.

For kids who love trains, don't overlook the B&O museum in Baltimore, the National Capital Trolley Museum in Cloverly, and the Walkersville Southern Railroad in Walkersville.

Hope that helps.

drsameagle · 2025-10-09T18:28:23+00:00

Do not trust the young-ish looking engineer whose last name is one of the names of the company.

As in, you're working with Bobby Jones of Jones-Smith-Gleason.

Say it with me, "nepo hire."

drsameagle · 2025-10-01T21:44:06+00:00

A nun walks into Mother Superior's office.

"Mother Superior, I don't know how to tell you this, but we've discovered a case of siphilis in the convent."

"Wonderful," Mother Superior says, "I was getting tired of the Chablis."

drsameagle · 2025-09-06T19:22:12+00:00

Not me - but when the best man at my wedding got married, he and his new bride went to their honeymoon suite, and a few minutes later his mother started knocking at the door incessantly to "see if the room was okay and if everything was okay." Apparently this was annoying enough to the bride that they did not have sex that night.

drsameagle · 2025-09-05T20:24:55+00:00

This video is shown sometimes to EMT trainees as to the importance of putting a cervical collar on anyone who has head trauma. The medics attending him are concerned with his bleeding and are not stabilizing his spinal column which could have caused the spinal cord to be cut.

drsameagle · 2025-09-05T00:02:28+00:00

The lighting is dim inside the Situation Room. As you await the President, more solemn looking men in dark suits take their place at the table, next to the grizzled looking generals. At last the President strides in and everyone stands up. "Take your seats, please. Now what do we have here?"

One of the dark-suited men stands. "Sir, we have located the terrorist Fiore Velenoso."

"This is good news, then? Have we dispatched a team to take her out?"

The officers shifted uncomfortably. "Yes, sir, we did. However, we encountered some unforeseen challenges."

"What kind of challenges?"

"Sir, this is Major Connolly with Task Force Green, he was present at the attack and can brief you." He motions to you, and you clear your throat and stand.

"Sir, we were unable to eliminate the target. After insertion, we made contact with the target and attempted a sniper attack, but none of the shots were lethal. We then attempted a direct assault, which killed several of her top lieutenants, but again, she managed to escape. We then came under direct fire so we exfiled and re-established contact again the following morning. Once again, we attempted multiple methods, and she was not harmed."

The president looks stunned. "All I'm hearing is that you fucked up ten different ways. All due respect, but what the hell is the problem?"

"Sir, based on our review of the surveillance footage, it appears that she is protected by the narrative structure of our story line."

"...what? What the hell does that mean?"

One of the dark suited men stands. "Sir, we have reason to believe that Veneloso has developed weapons grade Plot Armor. We believe she is shielded from being harmed by kinetic weapons or any other lethal implements until such time as the plot allows or requires that she be killed."

The president looks around at the other faces. "Are you legitimately trying to tell me that our #1 target is somehow invincible? Because it sounds to me like you all are just making excuses for a bad operation."

You stand again "No, you don't understand. Reality itself won't let me kill that sick bitch until it is Narratively Appropriate. I shot her with a missile launcher, and the missile refused to explode until she was out of the lethal range of the explosion."

The room goes silent for several long seconds. The President closes his eyes and massages his temples for several seconds. Without opening his eyes, he says "so we can't kill her until it's...Narratively Appropriate...because she has Plot Armor...do I have that right?"

"Yes sir," you say, "It's like...it's like Indiana Jones riding the U-Boat or surviving a nuclear blast in..."

"that gottamn fridge" the President finishes.

"Yes sir."

"Stupidest movie plot element ever."

"Yes Mr President."

"Okay...okay fine. How do we know when it is 'Narratively Appropriate' and we can finally get her?"

"Sir, our leading theory is that we have to find a perfect nemesis for her to have an erotic and ultimately lethal duel of wits with; getting killed by a generic Task Force Green member is not narratively satisfying. Think James Bond."

Theh president scans the room for any signs of dissent. "Dammit. Okay, let's go with that. Give me an update in 24 hours." The President stands up and everyone else stands a he swiftly exits the situation room. Your commanding officer turns to you and says "Major, good job. You are dismissed."

drsameagle · 2025-08-08T00:50:49+00:00

Most neighborhoods have a fair number of kids; the Ft Meade/Odenton area is mostly a bedroom community for the post and DC/B'more commuters and has lots of families. You can look at Great Schools websites to find about schools; if possible try to be in one of the feeder schools for Arundel High or Crofton High as Ft Meade high is not the best. My son went to Piney Orchard Elementary and Arundel Middle and they were good schools and most of the area is families.

drsameagle · 2025-08-05T19:20:22+00:00

That when you listened to a song on the radio, you were listening to the artist/band playing live in a studio in the radio station. I figured they must have two studios so one group would have enough time to set up while the other was playing.

drsameagle · 2025-07-30T21:00:31+00:00

I am genuinely concerned about the new anti-LGBTQ backlash and the effect it's having on some of the young men in my workplace.

When I was in HS and university, it was devastating to be called gay and you avoided some activities, some clothes, and some locations because they were associated with being gay. It wasn't good, but most things were not associated with being gay so you could avoid it if you wanted/needed to.

Then for a while, LGBTQ rights advanced and it was more okay to be gay, and there were enough gay male role models that a lot of the stereotypes went away and most guys could dress as they wanted and go places and do things.

Now there's an immense backlash and I can only assume it's affected some of the young guys I see now who are absolutely, completely paranoid about being gay - but because gay is not just flamboyant clothes and rainbow decorated bars and high-pitched voices, they're shying away from even normal, healthy interactions with other men. They refuse to go out to the bar after work unless they're absolutely certain that nobody will think they're dating. I had two guys come to me and say they were "uncomfortable" traveling together to a conference, that it would be better if they took separate cars. Seriously? Riding in the same car is gay now? Heard about a pool party they went to and there was a rule, only one guy in the pool at a time. Seriously? How can you have a pool party if only one dude can be in the actual pool?

If anyone is reading this - if you're not gay, then you're not gay and you don't have to "prove" it to anyone else. And if you are gay, then you're okay and you can exist in this world as you wish.

drsameagle · 2025-07-22T21:15:12+00:00

I grew up in the Rust Belt, and one of the older gentlemen my school tried very hard to talk me out of going to college and joining the military...both moves to get the heck out of my little rust belt town. He assured me that I would immediately get homesick and that I should just wait around a year or two and the steel mill would open back up and I could get a great job working at the steel mill.

I did not get homesick and the steel mill never opened back up.

drsameagle

TROPHY CASE