The New Panama Canal Locks Are Mired In Controversy, Bloated Budgets, Crumbling Infrastructure, And Corruption (Just Like The U.S.) [CBD]

In a long and interesting article in the NY Times, The New Panama Canal: A Risky Bet, complete with interesting video and interactive fluff, there is some real journalism happening, including interviews with both sides of the debate. Weird...huh!

It's worth a read, in spite of its source, both for the very interesting descriptions of the new canal system, but also as a glimpse of the kind of corruption that is increasingly becoming just the way business is done. The unholy alliance of government and business, something that has accelerated in this country in the last decade, is anathema to free and open markets. This canal project is a wonderful example of what happens when government....any government...gets involved with private capital and makes decisions that should have been made by Adam Smith's invisible hand.

The canal authority's plan to move about 12 neo-Panamax ships a day now appears unrealistic -- at least for the time being, according to shippers, given that many East Coast ports are still preparing the infrastructure to accommodate the big ships.

Hmmm....maybe that is a bit backward?

And the 14 new tugboats purchased from a Spanish company with shady connections to the canal authority?

The Santiago is no outlier. Each Spanish tugboat can do a 360-degree spin. Each can move sideways, as Mr. Viluce demonstrated by positioning his boat perpendicular to the moving cruise ship and keeping it there. But to go confidently in a straight line, bow first -- that's another matter.
Eric Viluce, a tugboat captain on the canal, guided one of 14 Spanish tugs purchased primarily for the new locks.
When it came time for the new tugboats to cross the Atlantic to Panama, all made the journey backward, Mr. Viluce said, adding, "They tried bow first, and it wasn't working."

I've been around boats my whole life, and while I am no expert, the best ones seem to handle going forward rather well.

Those tugs are a wonderful metaphor....

Posted by: Open Blogger at 01:45 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 No Way!

Posted by: Duke Lowell at June 24, 2016 01:42 PM (kTF2Z)

2 Now to read the content

Posted by: Duke Lowell at June 24, 2016 01:42 PM (kTF2Z)

3 And it was all done by open bid?

Posted by: rd at June 24, 2016 01:42 PM (v0YLX)

4

This isn't a food thread.

Need to go make a strawberry-rhubarb pie now.

/wave

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at June 24, 2016 01:43 PM (qCMvj)

5 Barack Obama is a SCOAMT.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) #Texit at June 24, 2016 01:43 PM (kff5f)

6 Burn it down.
Scatter the stones.
Salt the earth where it stood.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) #Texit at June 24, 2016 01:44 PM (kff5f)

7 Future Editorial

Don't worry about the collapse and the loss of life...

All the paper work was in order.

Posted by: rd at June 24, 2016 01:44 PM (v0YLX)

8 Government meddling is a waste of resources and is unsustainable.

Posted by: Emmie at June 24, 2016 01:44 PM (xVuS6)

9
No worries. I gots this.

Posted by: Project Plowshare*

*wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Plowshare

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at June 24, 2016 01:44 PM (kdS6q)

10 Bbbbut Brexit!

Or something.

/CNBC "Financial analysis"

Posted by: Anon a mouse... at June 24, 2016 01:44 PM (C9pBZ)

11 Not to go all common-sense here, but there are different tugs suited for different purposes. For example, there are 'ocean going tugs' that are distinct from ones that nudge stuff around a dock.

I'm sure a navy guy or a tug boat fetishist can give details, but that hill isn't the one to die on.

My question: why didn't they just load all the tugs onto a ship-moving ship (they exist!) and have them freighted over to the locks en masse?

Posted by: BumperStickerist at June 24, 2016 01:44 PM (GajfA)

12

btw, Trump his this topic this morning
infrastructure in ruins
used an anecdote about a buddy how owns a trucking company, and how the roads are destroying their new trucks (all the trucks) and costing them more money

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at June 24, 2016 01:44 PM (qCMvj)

13 A man, a plan, a canal... Panama!

Posted by: BurtTC at June 24, 2016 01:45 PM (TOk1P)

14 They crossed the Atlantic in reverse? Were drugs involved?

Posted by: Duke Lowell at June 24, 2016 01:45 PM (kTF2Z)

15 I saw the Spanish Tugboats open for Linda Ronstadt at the Cow Palace in '89.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at June 24, 2016 01:45 PM (8ZskC)

16 I don't understand. You mean that the government making decisions for business leads to inefficiencies and error?

No way. That can't be right. I'm told the government knows better than everyone what needs to happen, and only has my best interests at heart!

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) #Texit at June 24, 2016 01:45 PM (kff5f)

17 New canal? I didn't know about that.

*scurries off to read*

Posted by: Bandersnatch at June 24, 2016 01:45 PM (1xUj/)

18 A Man,
A Plan,
A Canal,
Panama

Posted by: Able Was I Ere I Saw Elba . at June 24, 2016 01:46 PM (GajfA)

19 My question: why didn't they just load all the tugs onto a ship-moving ship (they exist!) and have them freighted over to the locks en masse?

It was all Gilligan's idea.

Posted by: The Skipper at June 24, 2016 01:46 PM (8ZskC)

20 I don't know why anybody bothers sending things by boat and train and plain and truck anyway.

We have the internet now, all things are right there at our fingertips. We press a button and whoosh! It arrives at our doors.

All this old way of doing things is gonna go the way of the pony express, just you wait and see.

Posted by: BurtTC at June 24, 2016 01:47 PM (TOk1P)

21 Could the Panama Canal be built today? I doubt it. It's not an app, so who is capable of the work that needs to be done.

Posted by: ejo at June 24, 2016 01:47 PM (il4FI)

22 Hillary is as straight forward as a Panama Tugboat

Posted by: tmitsss at June 24, 2016 01:48 PM (tGfPA)

23 The gCaptain website has had a series of articles on the new locks.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Tent Sale at the Outrage Outlet! Sizzling Summer Savings on Slurs, Slams, and Slanders at June 24, 2016 01:48 PM (hLRSq)

24 Hillary is a little wider than a tug

Posted by: Roman Maroni at June 24, 2016 01:48 PM (vCA4F)

25 Any word on what TFG is going to lecture us about today?

Posted by: IrishEi at June 24, 2016 01:49 PM (Lsu4e)

26 Neatest tugs I've seen were portable tugs carried on a container ship delivering supplies to towns in northern Canada off the inlets of the Hudson Bay. They would be unloaded and used to push the cargo on barges the rest of the way .

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at June 24, 2016 01:49 PM (cNJvW)

27 No way can we get a new canal built. Technically it would be easier and faster now, but it would cost eight hundred trillion dollars and be blocked by endless lawsuits and claims about the marbled crap newt and wetlands.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at June 24, 2016 01:49 PM (39g3+)

28 Could the Panama Canal be built today? I doubt it. It's not an app, so who is capable of the work that needs to be done.

Posted by: ejo at June 24, 2016 01:47 PM (il4FI)

Hell it couldn't be built when it was built

Posted by: Velvet Ambition TEXIT at June 24, 2016 01:49 PM (QPdNE)

29 Satan oscillate my metallic sonatas.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at June 24, 2016 01:49 PM (Fn6GI)

30 Government meddling is a waste of resources and is unsustainable.

Posted by: Emmie at June 24, 2016 01:44 PM (xVuS6)

Government meddling built the original Panama Canal. On time and under budget, if I recall correctly.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Tent Sale at the Outrage Outlet! Sizzling Summer Savings on Slurs, Slams, and Slanders at June 24, 2016 01:49 PM (hLRSq)

31 Fascism has never worked before because the capitalists kept it from being done right. This time we'll get it right.

Posted by: Your Fascist Overlords at June 24, 2016 01:49 PM (IcWpp)

32 Good article iin the WSJ yesterday how the new canal will boost the economy of South Carolina. They are already dredging Charleston harbor to make it the deepest on the East Coast and building thousands of square feet in new storage facilities for the cargo around Greenville.

Posted by: Marcus T at June 24, 2016 01:49 PM (O0lVq)

33 Could the Panama Canal be built today? I doubt it. It's not an app, so who is capable of the work that needs to be done.

Posted by: ejo at June 24, 2016 01:47 PM (il4FI)

I sure hope it is possible to do these days, in spite of our idiocratic ways. My plan for sawing Florida in half depends on it.

Posted by: BurtTC at June 24, 2016 01:50 PM (TOk1P)

34 Reagan jump started his 1980 campaign by criticizing Carter's Panama Canal give away, similarly to the Trumpster's promise to build a wall.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Racist for Dinosaurs at June 24, 2016 01:50 PM (Nwg0u)

35 No no no, corruption is impossible in our new corporatist utopia, citizen. Say, that's a nice business you have there, pity if you were to have a work stoppage...[holds out hand]

Posted by: joncelli, Bridge Troll and Crossbow Afficianado at June 24, 2016 01:50 PM (+wjl1)

36 I helped a friend take a 45-ft ketch through the canal a few years ago. It was quite an adventure, especially keeping the boat from bashing the walls of the lock when they flooded it. It didn't help that we had to share our first locks (Gatun) with a huge container ship that took up 90 percent of the room.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at June 24, 2016 01:50 PM (8ZskC)

37 Government meddling built the original Panama Canal. On time and under budget, if I recall correctly.

Was it actually "Government meddling?" Or was it "the government hired someone to do something, and then got the heck out of the way?"

Because those are different.

Posted by: AllenG (DedicatedTenther) #Texit at June 24, 2016 01:51 PM (kff5f)

38 My question: why didn't they just load all the tugs onto a ship-moving ship (they exist!) and have them freighted over to the locks en masse?"

Took a couple of years, with the last one delivered a couple of years ago.
The article is interesting, but not entirely accurate...

and yes, such "tugs" can be a handful sailing in a straight line. That's not what they're built for.

Didn't we cover, er, point our fingers and laugh at this a couple of years ago?

Posted by: Anon a mouse... at June 24, 2016 01:51 PM (C9pBZ)

39 Locks? Like on a bagel?

Posted by: Hillary at June 24, 2016 01:51 PM (kTF2Z)

40 The Canal Zone was pretty dysfunctional 20 years ago when I was there. I can only imagine how screwed up it is now.

Posted by: Country Singer, Order of the Ditch at June 24, 2016 01:51 PM (uiwCw)

41 Could the Panama Canal be built today? I doubt it. It's not an app, so who is capable of the work that needs to be done.

Posted by: ejo at June 24, 2016 01:47 PM (il4FI)

Hell it couldn't be built when it was built

Posted by: Velvet Ambition TEXIT at June 24, 2016 01:49 PM (QPdNE)

Nonsense, my good man. Why, I've dug 12 locks in the basement, all by myself!

CHAAAAAAAARRRRGE!!!!

Posted by: Uncle Teddy at June 24, 2016 01:51 PM (TOk1P)

42 I sure hope it is possible to do these days, in spite of our idiocratic ways. My plan for sawing Florida in half depends on it.
Posted by: BurtTC at June 24, 2016 01:50 PM (TOk1P)

Why would you want to circumcise Florida?

Posted by: Aetius451AD at June 24, 2016 01:52 PM (3ZoRf)

43 I'm sure a navy guy or a tug boat fetishist can give details,

There was someone in the book thread who is a tugboat fetishist.

It's why I love this place.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at June 24, 2016 01:52 PM (1xUj/)

44 Gulf coast cities have been preparing for this and will be ready to handle these new boats a lot quicker than the east coast cities.

Posted by: SH at June 24, 2016 01:52 PM (gmeXX)

45 Government spending programs seem to all suck. Whodathinkit?

Posted by: MTF at June 24, 2016 01:52 PM (/m8T6)

46 Stations everyone! TFG is speaking. And remember to keep your eyes lowered.

Posted by: IrishEi at June 24, 2016 01:52 PM (Lsu4e)

47 What's the old saying? Put the government in charge of the Mojave desert and in two years there'd be a shortage of sand.

Posted by: Duke Lowell at June 24, 2016 01:52 PM (kTF2Z)

48 my son's been lecturing me on how all this Brexit stuff is teh bad... et cetera

... the music I have on in the background as he's talking is a mix of Kate Bush Live at the Hammersmith Odeon, ELP's "Jerusalem" and, soon, the soundtrack to 'Battle of Britain' and "Sink the Bismarck".

I might go out and buy a Jaguar E-Type and get a Spitfire RC plane.

-

.

Posted by: BumperStickerist at June 24, 2016 01:53 PM (GajfA)

49 Brexit. Now time for Texit. Oklahoma is welcome to join in.

Posted by: Shannon at June 24, 2016 01:53 PM (gYfDM)

50 What did Reagan say. We own it. We built it. Its ours.

He was right of course. It should be ours.

Posted by: SH at June 24, 2016 01:53 PM (gmeXX)

51 Nonsense, my good man. Why, I've dug 12 locks in the basement, all by myself!

CHAAAAAAAARRRRGE!!!!
Posted by: Uncle Teddy at June 24, 2016 01:51 PM (TOk1P)

Except, unlike Brian Williams, I might actually believe it of TR.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at June 24, 2016 01:53 PM (3ZoRf)

52 I saw the Spanish Tugboats open for Linda Ronstadt at the Cow Palace in '89.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at June 24, 2016 01:45 PM

You poor bastard! I hope you didn't pay for those tickets.

Posted by: StrawMan at June 24, 2016 01:53 PM (8Unxl)

53 Could the Panama Canal be built today? I doubt it. It's not an app, so who is capable of the work that needs to be done.

The first guy who proposed a canal in Panama was the Frenchman who had already overseen the building of the Suez Canal. His success digging a channel in sand over flat terrain convinced him that the isthmus of Panama would be equally straightforward.

Boy, was he wrong. And another French surrender ensued.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at June 24, 2016 01:54 PM (8ZskC)

54 hehhehhehhehh, he said tug, hehhhehhhehhhehhheh

Posted by: Butthead at June 24, 2016 01:54 PM (XVTvT)

55 I sure hope it is possible to do these days, in spite of our idiocratic ways. My plan for sawing Florida in half depends on it.
Posted by: BurtTC at June 24, 2016 01:50 PM (TOk1P)

Why would you want to circumcise Florida?

Posted by: Aetius451AD at June 24, 2016 01:52 PM (3ZoRf)

Read the news, man! And I don't want to circumcise it, I want to Lorena Bobbitt it!

Come on!

Posted by: BurtTC at June 24, 2016 01:55 PM (TOk1P)

56 Is a Spanish tug anything like a Dutch rudder?

Posted by: Banana Splits Guy at June 24, 2016 01:55 PM (xVvO7)

57 Brexit. Now time for Texit. Oklahoma is welcome to join in.

Posted by: Shannon at June 24, 2016 01:53 PM (gYfDM)

But no Methodist

Posted by: Velvet Ambition TEXIT at June 24, 2016 01:55 PM (QPdNE)

58 Good article in the WSJ yesterday how the new canal will boost the economy of South Carolina.

Posted by: Marcus T

You would think so, right?

Posted by: union execs at June 24, 2016 01:55 PM (p2X2f)

59 FBI Director Comey just said the Orlando shooter showed "strong sign of radicalization" when he was interviewed.

This is the same guy people are pinning their hopes on to rightly indict Hillary of obvious crimes?

The guy can't even tie his own shoes or get dressed by himself apparently.

Posted by: Marcus T at June 24, 2016 01:55 PM (O0lVq)

60 I haven't read it yet, but looks like a great article.

What happens with the canal has big effects on ports on our Texas coast. My second home is on the Corpus ship channel, where they're deepening the channel and planning a higher harbor bridge to accommodate the bigger ships. They're also building an LNG export facility and a container facility.

Posted by: stace, TEXIT at June 24, 2016 01:55 PM (ozZau)

61 >>>When it came time for the new tugboats to cross the Atlantic to Panama, all made the journey backward, Mr. Viluce said, adding, "They tried bow first, and it wasn't working."

It sucks when the bowsprit gets mixed with the rudder sometimes.

Posted by: Snarky McBellman at June 24, 2016 01:56 PM (UYZPG)

62 "The canal authority's plan to move about 12 neo-Panamax ships a day now
appears unrealistic -- at least for the time being, according to
shippers, given that many East Coast ports are still preparing the
infrastructure to accommodate the big ships."

These gigaships are starting to run up against scaling laws.

There was a comment from zombie about watching the behemoth CMA-CGM _Benjamin Franklin_ come through the Golden Gate to the port of Oakland.

It fits under the bridges, barely, and fits dockside in Croakland, barely, but the damn thing took so long to offload that it constipated port operations for three days. A bunch of smaller container ships were loitering at anchor in mid-Bay with late cargoes until the _Franklin_ finally departed.

Posted by: torquewrench at June 24, 2016 01:56 PM (noWW6)

63 Nonsense, my good man. Why, I've dug 12 locks in the basement, all by myself!

CHAAAAAAAARRRRGE!!!!
Posted by: Uncle Teddy at June 24, 2016 01:51 PM (TOk1P)

Except, unlike Brian Williams, I might actually believe it of TR.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at June 24, 2016 01:53 PM (3ZoRf)

Uncle Teddy wasn't really TR.

See: And Old Lace, Arsenic.

Posted by: BurtTC at June 24, 2016 01:56 PM (TOk1P)

64 Went through several times.
Proud holder of "The Order of the Ditch" Certificate.

It was amazing to see how everything worked in a synchronistic ballet with each other.

Yeh....good luck with the new one, suckers.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at June 24, 2016 01:56 PM (ptqRm)

65 been lecturing me on how all this Brexit stuff is teh bad"

Now that the "expected" financial apocalypse hasn't happened, the "bad" I'm hearing revolves around "it's rayciss"

That's pretty much the sum total of the "remain" statements...

Posted by: Anon a mouse... at June 24, 2016 01:56 PM (C9pBZ)

66 Was it actually "Government meddling?" Or was it "the government hired someone to do something, and then got the heck out of the way?"

It was finally overseen by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

*shakes head*

This isn't exactly secret information.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Tent Sale at the Outrage Outlet! Sizzling Summer Savings on Slurs, Slams, and Slanders at June 24, 2016 01:57 PM (hLRSq)

67 How about instead of a wall, we build a new canal along the U.S. and Mexico border?

Win!

Posted by: Marcus T at June 24, 2016 01:57 PM (O0lVq)

68 Okay. I have already read the NYT article and all I can say is that it surprises me how they write these things about FOREIGN crony socialism but never, ever seem to get that this is a problem here.

From high-speed rail to Obamacare to Solyndra, the NYT slobbers over every crony project imaginable.
The only difference here is that in this (rare) instance, Panama will (eventually, probably) end up with a capital improvement, which is more than you can say about most cronyism.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at June 24, 2016 01:58 PM (T/5A0)

69 NEWS FLASH, Conservatives:

Water seeks its own level.

You Don't NEED LOCKS.

JUST LEAVE The LOCKS OPEN AND LET THE SHIPS SAIL THROUGH.

man, I fuckin' love Science.

-

Posted by: Neal de Grasse Tyson Devotee at June 24, 2016 01:58 PM (GajfA)

70 If the tugs had travelled on the Pacific instead they could have went forward.

Posted by: Bigbys Cellphone at June 24, 2016 01:58 PM (jeVt0)

71 They're also building an LNG export facility and a container facility."

Shhh. That's just our little "in Texas" secret, dontchaknow?

Posted by: Anon a mouse... at June 24, 2016 01:58 PM (C9pBZ)

72 59 He showed such strong signs of radicalization that they took him off the watchlist and blamed his behavior on islamophobic colleagues?Huh,whut??

Posted by: steevy at June 24, 2016 01:58 PM (B48dK)

73 25 Any word on what TFG is going to lecture us about today?
____________________

Something about how we're all a bunch of raaaaaacists and xenophobes and Islamophobes, probably.

Posted by: TrivialPursuer at June 24, 2016 01:59 PM (NnYnv)

74 >>> How about instead of a wall, we build a new canal along the U.S. and Mexico border?

I'm more than a little concerned that we would float away, like an island

Posted by: Hank Johnson at June 24, 2016 01:59 PM (Fol9S)

75 "How about instead of a wall, we build a new canal along the U.S. and Mexico border?"

I am intrigued by your ideas and wish to subscribe to your newsletter.

Posted by: torquewrench at June 24, 2016 01:59 PM (noWW6)

76 Any word on what TFG is going to lecture us about today?

---------

He's giving us the day off, but he is really giving it to the Brits.

Posted by: SH at June 24, 2016 01:59 PM (gmeXX)

77 Something about how we're all a bunch of raaaaaacists and xenophobes and Islamophobes, probably."

Not just us, but some Brits too.

Posted by: Anon a mouse... at June 24, 2016 02:00 PM (C9pBZ)

78 Didn't read the article but isn't it the Chinese who are building the canal? Okay okay I'll read the article.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at June 24, 2016 02:00 PM (cNJvW)

79 A surgeon, a scalpel, silicone ... Caitlyn!

Posted by: Caitlyn Jenner at June 24, 2016 02:00 PM (UYZPG)

80 Uncle Teddy wasn't really TR.

See: And Old Lace, Arsenic.
Posted by: BurtTC at June 24, 2016 01:56 PM (TOk1P)

Doh! Reference fail on my part.

Posted by: Aetius451AD at June 24, 2016 02:00 PM (3ZoRf)

81 If everyone in Panama flushed their toilets at once, would the canal burp? Maybe NDT can weigh in...

Posted by: Banana Splits Guy at June 24, 2016 02:00 PM (xVvO7)

82 Boats that move best in reverse? Spanish built, you say? Sounds more like a French naval vessel to me.

Posted by: Rocketeer at June 24, 2016 02:00 PM (mUWtd)

83 >>> How about instead of a wall, we build a new canal along the U.S. and Mexico border?

I'm more than a little concerned that we would float away, like an island

Posted by: Hank Johnson at June 24, 2016 01:59 PM (Fol9S)

That's exactly why they had to build a couple of bridges over the Panama Canal. It keeps South America from floating into Antarctica.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at June 24, 2016 02:01 PM (8ZskC)

84 Marcus -

While a water hazard on the border might be a good idea, Mexico would turn it into an open sewer in about 30 minutes.

Heh.....might open up piracy opportunities, too. They've been doing that on the lakes for years

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at June 24, 2016 02:01 PM (Fn6GI)

85 68 Okay. I have already read the NYT article and all I can say is that it surprises me how they write these things about FOREIGN crony socialism but never, ever seem to get that this is a problem here.
__________________________

They would, but they're too busy trying to decide on how big a check they will be writing to the Clinton Money-Laundering and Influence-Peddling . . . er, I mean "Foundation" . . . this year.

Posted by: TrivialPursuer at June 24, 2016 02:01 PM (NnYnv)

86 What's all this I hear about the Canada Canal?

Posted by: Emily Latella at June 24, 2016 02:01 PM (XVTvT)

87 OK, this is a tangent but it's on topic.

The financially weakest consortium was led by a Spanish company, Sacyr Vallehermoso, which American officials called "nearly bankrupt" in one cable and "technically bankrupt" in another.

Cable?

I'm old enough to have used a telex machine, but cables?

Posted by: Bandersnatch at June 24, 2016 02:01 PM (1xUj/)

88 Somehow I'm getting a odd tingle that there were underage hookers and blow involved in this expansion.

Posted by: Fritz at June 24, 2016 02:02 PM (2Mnv1)

89 I thought the Panama Canal was managed by a Chinese company? That's changed?

Posted by: Hiding in Podunk at June 24, 2016 02:02 PM (kOvs6)

90 Don't recall how much light it sheds on the guvamint/private sector aspects discussed here, but "The Path Between the Seas" is a good read on the building of the canal.

Maybe there's as much a cultural as govt/private aspect to consider.

The canal was built in the full flush of western/modern/industrial confidence, bravado, and seriousness (even arrogance). That's an intangible difference between then and now.

And this is a bigger point but an important one - govt. can do things correctly - usually things that are public goods. Defining and recognizing what are public vs. private goods (and sometimes there's a mix) is the hard part. Putting a man on the moon, and inventing nuclear weapons nearly overnight (far ahead of the general technological level of the time) worked pretty well.

(cue endless circular over-generalized taffy yank that refuses to divert from black/white 100% never/always "analysis" .....)

Posted by: rhomboid at June 24, 2016 02:02 PM (QDnY+)

91 "While a water hazard on the border might be a good idea, Mexico would turn it into an open sewer in about 30 minutes. "

Maybe we could throw pesos in it, and call it Shit River?

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at June 24, 2016 02:03 PM (ptqRm)

92 The backward tugboats: In many ways, this is the story of Obama.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at June 24, 2016 02:03 PM (1ZOkK)

93 50 What did Reagan say. We own it. We built it. Its ours.

He was right of course. It should be ours.
Posted by: SH at June 24, 2016 01:53 PM (gmeXX)
---------------------------
I liked Senator Hayakawa's statement that we should keep it because "we stole it fair and square."

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at June 24, 2016 02:03 PM (T/5A0)

94 58
You would think so, right?

Posted by: union execs at June 24, 2016 01:55 PM (p2X2f)

Yeah you union toadies have already got a lesson from Nikki Hailey. You don't want another one.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at June 24, 2016 02:04 PM (mpXpK)

95 Probably not a good idea to do a search for the term "backward tugboat".

Posted by: steevy at June 24, 2016 02:04 PM (B48dK)

96 "Eric Viluce, a tugboat captain on the canal, guided one of 14 Spanish tugs purchased primarily for the new locks. When it came time for the new tugboats to cross the Atlantic to Panama,
all made the journey backward, Mr. Viluce said, adding, 'They tried bow
first, and it wasn't working.'"

The state of the art in naval architecture in Spain is pretty crummy.

They had an epic design disaster recently with a new class of submarines, wherein the Spanish shipyards were already busily cutting and bending metal when someone from a prospective foreign customer pointed out that the buoyancy calculations were all wrong, and any sub built to that spec would never return to the surface after diving.

Oh, you wanted it to come back up again? That'll be extra.

Posted by: torquewrench at June 24, 2016 02:04 PM (noWW6)

97 Bander the term "cable" is still used, but the messages are just a particular form of email, in effect.

With varying degrees of skulduggery going to, avoiding the formalities (and accountability) of the cable system with its clearances and records by using email.

And you might have heard of a minor ongoing scandal or something involving emails of senior State officials.

Posted by: rhomboid at June 24, 2016 02:04 PM (QDnY+)

98 Isn't TFG scheduled to scold us this afternoon?

Posted by: Jane D'oh at June 24, 2016 02:04 PM (1ZOkK)

99 Shhh. That's just our little "in Texas" secret, dontchaknow?
Posted by: Anon a mouse... at June 24, 2016 01:58 PM (C9pBZ)

Oh. right. I'll just talk about tanker surfing then. I haven't yet seen it done in person, but I know someone who does it and the youtubes are pretty funny. I'm told it works best with fully laden crude tankers (which are usually bigger than the oil products tankers).

Posted by: stace, TEXIT at June 24, 2016 02:05 PM (ozZau)

100 Just like the government is order East facing tugboats

Posted by: Bigbys Cellphone at June 24, 2016 02:05 PM (jeVt0)

101 Video of new locks:

http://gcaptain.com
/time-lapse-onboard
-mv-baroque-during
-trial-transit-of-expanded
-panama-canal-locks/

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Tent Sale at the Outrage Outlet! Sizzling Summer Savings on Slurs, Slams, and Slanders at June 24, 2016 02:05 PM (hLRSq)

102 In my parts, there's a stretch of I-95 that's getting completely bypassed.

Now, that's no small feat, but the projected date for completion? 2030. And this started a few years ago.

So, you know. Probably 20 years when all's said and done.

Posted by: Chupacabra at June 24, 2016 02:05 PM (V40IZ)

103 The not so little Tugboat who couldn't.

Posted by: Buzzsaw at June 24, 2016 02:05 PM (wrS2o)

104 59 FBI Director Comey just said the Orlando shooter showed "strong sign of radicalization" when he was interviewed.

This is the same guy people are pinning their hopes on to rightly indict Hillary of obvious crimes?
------------------------------------------------------

This.

"Water is wet" would be stunning news to this crowd, you sometimes think. If the FBI has any institutional self-respect at all, Comey will go public and soon about Hillary. Indictment or not, she's obviously guilty and a decent respect to the opinions of mankind dictates that he should get it out there.

Posted by: MTF at June 24, 2016 02:05 PM (/m8T6)

105 The canal problem was like the Hong Kong problem.

Everyone assumed that "99 year lease" meant "it's ours forever".

Posted by: Bandersnatch at June 24, 2016 02:05 PM (1xUj/)

106 Margarita, you beat me to it, a Hayakawa classic.

Another one - not sure if it was Senator Sam - "fill it up, and give it back".

Posted by: rhomboid at June 24, 2016 02:05 PM (QDnY+)

107 And no , Vic didn't work building the original Panama Canal.

Now the Erie Canal ...

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at June 24, 2016 02:06 PM (cNJvW)

108 "Probably not a good idea to do a search for the term "backward tugboat".

It's safe.

Even Urban Dictionary comes up empty.

That's almost unheard of.

Posted by: Village Idiot's Apprentice at June 24, 2016 02:06 PM (ptqRm)

109 And this is a bigger point but an important one - govt. can do things correctly - usually things that are public goods. Defining and recognizing what are public vs. private goods (and sometimes there's a mix) is the hard part. Putting a man on the moon, and inventing nuclear weapons nearly overnight (far ahead of the general technological level of the time) worked pretty well.

(cue endless circular over-generalized taffy yank that refuses to divert from black/white 100% never/always "analysis" .....)
Posted by: rhomboid at June 24, 2016 02:02 PM (QDnY+)

I get this, it's just that the criteria for determining what's appropriate for government and what for the private sector is too slippery. My wife pointed out that the Euros have better internet and cell phone service because the government stepped in at the beginning and knocked heads together. I tried to think of a comeback, but she's right. The problem is, the left tries to make the exceptions the rule and we try to apply the rule to the exceptions.

Posted by: joncelli, Bridge Troll and Crossbow Afficianado at June 24, 2016 02:06 PM (+wjl1)

110 91 "While a water hazard on the border might be a good idea, Mexico would turn it into an open sewer in about 30 minutes. "

...

They already do. Half of the US Mexico border is the Rio Grande, and the other side does put raw sewage into it, or at least they used to.

Posted by: stace, TEXIT at June 24, 2016 02:07 PM (ozZau)

111 108 We are going to have to come up with something...

Posted by: steevy at June 24, 2016 02:07 PM (B48dK)

112 Everyone assumed that "99 year lease" meant "it's ours forever".

----------

I assumed an indefinite lease and our building of it meant it was ours forever. If they want it they can take it.

Posted by: SH at June 24, 2016 02:07 PM (gmeXX)

113 Somehow I'm getting a odd tingle that there were underage hookers and blow involved in this expansion."

Hmm. That sounds more like the VW Group, but go on...

Posted by: Anon a mouse... at June 24, 2016 02:07 PM (C9pBZ)

114 108 We are going to have to come up with something...

Duh!

Posted by: German Porn at June 24, 2016 02:08 PM (1xUj/)

115 I just figured out that the song is about a 'canal.'

Posted by: Van Halen at June 24, 2016 02:08 PM (RHnu3)

116 By the way, what is it with Democratic presidents wanting to give away strategic global resources in our own hemisphere - Guantanamo, Panama Canal.

Monroe and Q Adams and Teddy would not be pleased.

Posted by: SH at June 24, 2016 02:08 PM (gmeXX)

117 When designing the 747, Boeing had to be mindful of the existing airport infrastructure because airport upgrades cost money that in turn impact airlines through fees and taxes.

It looks like Panama went the Field of Dreams route - build it, the new locks and canal, and they, the larger ships, will come.

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 24, 2016 02:09 PM (0P3fm)

118 76 Any word on what TFG is going to lecture us about today?
___________________

I enjoyed yesterday's lecture about how raaaaacist and xenophobic the Supreme Court is for not rubber-stamping his unconstitutional amnesty scam.

Especially enjoyed the part where he lectured us bitter clingers that we have no need to fear illegal aliens because they (like all the muzzie immigrants he's importing on our dime) are only coming here because they so strongly believe in our "American ideals of equality."

LOL. Funny, all those Mexican illegals waving their Mexican flags while holding signs saying "Make America Mexico Again" don't strike me as being particularly interested in American ideals. And the illegal aliens' main sponsor, LaRaza, whose motto is "everything for the race, nothing for those outside the race" also doesn't strike me as interested in any ideals of "equality."

Ditto for the muzzies, who all have pledged their allegiance to an ideology that teaches that females are inferior to men, homosexuals are inferior to heterosexuals, infidels (i.e. Christians) are inferior to muzzies, and Jews are inferior to everybody.

But hey, Obama has to ignore reality, because that's the only way his policies make sense.

Posted by: TrivialPursuer at June 24, 2016 02:09 PM (NnYnv)

119 this is what happens when you let the locals take over running First World stuff...

Posted by: redc1c4 at June 24, 2016 02:09 PM (4/aeb)

120 "My wife pointed out that the Euros have better internet and cell phone
service because the government stepped in at the beginning and knocked
heads together."

On the other hand, the telecom sector here in the USA is behind the curve because of crony capitalism and government meddling. So comparing European and American telecom markets is not a pure example of government control versus laissez-faire free markets.

Posted by: torquewrench at June 24, 2016 02:10 PM (noWW6)

121 New canal is a death blow to West Coast (commie) container ports. Seattle, Bay Area and LA hardest hit. Good to see bidness going to capitalist running dogs.

Posted by: Headless Body of Agnew at June 24, 2016 02:10 PM (FtrY1)

122 Stace, I know. Been down to the border once or twice, just to see for myself. Appalling.....

If I ever get drafted into the ROT Defense Forces, I'd gladly lay mines in August.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at June 24, 2016 02:10 PM (Fn6GI)

123 The state of the art in naval architecture in Spain is pretty crummy.

They had an epic design disaster recently with a new class of submarines, wherein the Spanish shipyards were already busily cutting and bending metal when someone from a prospective foreign customer pointed out that the buoyancy calculations were all wrong, and any sub built to that spec would never return to the surface after diving.

Oh, you wanted it to come back up again? That'll be extra.
Posted by: torquewrench at June 24, 2016 02:04 PM (noWW6)

That sounds fake. I'm pretty sure you test models in flow tanks during the design phase. Just like planes, ships, and cars.

Posted by: StrawMan at June 24, 2016 02:10 PM (8Unxl)

124 >>> It looks like Panama went the Field of Dreams route

The newest Super-Size container ships wouldn't fit the old canal.

Posted by: IP at June 24, 2016 02:11 PM (Fol9S)

125 It looks like Panama went the Field of Dreams route - build it, the new locks and canal, and they, the larger ships, will come.

-------------

The East and West Coast ports may not be ready, but the gulf coast is (and I guess SC).

Posted by: SH at June 24, 2016 02:11 PM (gmeXX)

126 105
The canal problem was like the Hong Kong problem.

Everyone assumed that "99 year lease" meant "it's ours forever".

Posted by: Bandersnatch at June 24, 2016 02:05 PM (1xUj/)

The original 1903 guaranteed the US the canal "in perpetuity". Jimmy Peanut renegotiated it to give it away by 1999.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at June 24, 2016 02:11 PM (mpXpK)

127 I'll just talk about tanker surfing then. I haven't yet seen it done in person"

Was at East Beach Galveston the other day - saw plenty, looked fun!

"My wife pointed out that the Euros have better internet and cell phone service"

Oh really? On which planet?

Posted by: Anon a mouse... at June 24, 2016 02:11 PM (C9pBZ)

128 Everyone assumed that "99 year lease" meant "it's ours forever".

----------

I assumed an indefinite lease and our building of it meant it was ours forever. If they want it they can take it.>>>

A Republic, If you can keep it.

Posted by: Ben Franklin at June 24, 2016 02:11 PM (wrS2o)

129 Is a Spanish tug anything like a Dutch rudder?

Similar to a Cleveland Steamer!

Posted by: rickb223 TEXIT at June 24, 2016 02:11 PM (/IMJl)

130 The battleship USS Maryland took a torpedo hit to the bow at Saipan and the sailed in reverse all the way to Eniwetok for repairs.

Hurrah, for turbo electric drive!

Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at June 24, 2016 02:12 PM (tEDMc)

131 "My wife pointed out that the Euros have better internet and cell phone
service because the government stepped in at the beginning and knocked
heads together."

On the other hand, the telecom sector here in the USA is behind the curve because of crony capitalism and government meddling. So comparing European and American telecom markets is not a pure example of government control versus laissez-faire free markets.

------------

I'm not sure I agree with the wife's premise.

Posted by: SH at June 24, 2016 02:12 PM (gmeXX)

132 No,torque is correct.The Spanish made major miscalculations on the sub design.

Posted by: steevy at June 24, 2016 02:12 PM (B48dK)

133 Given the tiny number of television sets out there, why should anyone start broadcasting television signals?

Posted by: Spellcheck at June 24, 2016 02:12 PM (HKBpI)

134 The canal problem was like the Hong Kong problem.

Everyone assumed that "99 year lease" meant "it's ours forever".
Posted by: Bandersnatch at June 24, 2016 02:05 PM (1xUj/)
----------
The canal problem is that "in perpetuity" was assumed to mean in perpetuity. Hong Kong island was never a 99 year lease. The New Territories of Hong Kong (which contained the water supply and most of the land) were held with a 99-year lease.

Posted by: RioBravo at June 24, 2016 02:12 PM (NUqwG)

135 Is a Spanish tug anything like a Dutch rudder?

Similar to a Cleveland Steamer!

Posted by: rickb223 TEXIT at June 24, 2016 02:11 PM (/IMJl)
___________________________
Havana Omelet?

Posted by: IP at June 24, 2016 02:12 PM (Fol9S)

136 Fuck the Panama Canal.

Bring back the Erie Canal.

'Low Bridge! - Everybody down.'

Posted by: garrett at June 24, 2016 02:12 PM (oeOT+)

137 Damn, they better finish it and get it right. I want my Chinese dollar store inventory delivered NOW.

Posted by: Sphynx at June 24, 2016 02:12 PM (OZmbA)

138 Joe-

As for Vic,

You can always tell your neighbor
You can always tell your pal
If you ever navigated on the Erie Canal

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at June 24, 2016 02:13 PM (Fn6GI)

139 mmmm, Lox.

Posted by: garrett at June 24, 2016 02:13 PM (oeOT+)

140 Especially enjoyed the part where he lectured us bitter clingers that we have no need to fear illegal aliens because they (like all the muzzie immigrants he's importing on our dime) are only coming here because they so strongly believe in our "American ideals of equality."
...
Not to mention that the case was actually about whether the president can make his own laws, but Prezzy Pissypants has to make it about how racist US citizens are.

Posted by: stace, TEXIT at June 24, 2016 02:13 PM (ozZau)

141 That sounds fake. I'm pretty sure you test models in flow tanks during the design phase. Just like planes, ships, and cars."

Bing up the Spanish S 80 (IIRC). Funny stuff.

Posted by: Anon a mouse... at June 24, 2016 02:13 PM (C9pBZ)

142 O/T,

Flying Jihadi goodness:

http://tinyurl.com/zw7wm8s

Posted by: SMFH while circling the drain... at June 24, 2016 02:14 PM (rlfds)

143 I finally found out what the acronym LGBT means:

Liquor, Bacon, Guns, and Tits.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at June 24, 2016 02:14 PM (39g3+)

144 Spanish tug is close to a Havana hand job but nothing like a Lewinski.

Posted by: Billy Jeff Clinton at June 24, 2016 02:14 PM (OZmbA)

145 >> I finally found out what the acronym LGBT means:

>Liquor, Bacon, Guns, and Tits.

Close enough. I'll allow it.

Posted by: garrett at June 24, 2016 02:15 PM (oeOT+)

146 Garrett - heh.....east coast blood will tell

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at June 24, 2016 02:15 PM (Fn6GI)

147 'Battle of Britain

-
I've been reading The Hardest Day by Alfred Price about August 18, 1940, the day both the Brits and the Krauts suffered greater losses than they ever would again during the battle. This book is exactly the kind of thing I like. It gives you the down and dirty about how they actually did things. For example, I thought I knew how barrage balloons worked. Wrong! I thought the planes flew into the cables, the wings are cut through, and the airplane crashes. Actually, plane hits cable, two small explosives cut the cable above and below where the plane hit, a relatively small parachute opens at each end of the cable opens, and the parachutes create enough drag to either stall the plane or shear the wing.

This nuts and bolts information plus personal stories from both sides make this a great book.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Racist for Dinosaurs at June 24, 2016 02:15 PM (Nwg0u)

148 The canal problem is that "in perpetuity" was assumed to mean in perpetuity. Hong Kong island was never a 99 year lease. The New Territories of Hong Kong (which contained the water supply and most of the land) were held with a 99-year lease./i]

Yeah, Jimmy Carter didn't surrender the canal because the lease ran out. He gave it up because he's a cringing one-worlder jackwagon

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at June 24, 2016 02:15 PM (39g3+)

149 >>Spanish tug is close to a Havana hand job but nothing like a Lewinski.

I was always partial to the Dutch Rudder.

Posted by: Barack Hussein Obama at June 24, 2016 02:15 PM (oeOT+)

150 They had an epic design disaster recently with a new class of submarines, wherein the Spanish shipyards were already busily cutting and bending metal when someone from a prospective foreign customer pointed out that the buoyancy calculations were all wrong, and any sub built to that spec would never return to the surface after diving.

Oh, you wanted it to come back up again? That'll be extra.
Posted by: torquewrench at June 24, 2016 02:04 PM (noWW6)

That sounds fake.

Sounds like a Soprano's deal.

Posted by: rickb223 TEXIT at June 24, 2016 02:16 PM (/IMJl)

151 Was at East Beach Galveston the other day - saw plenty, looked fun!
...

Cool, and with bigger ships coming through the canal, the surfing will only get better!

Posted by: stace, TEXIT at June 24, 2016 02:16 PM (ozZau)

152 The original 1903 guaranteed the US the canal "in perpetuity". Jimmy Peanut renegotiated it to give it away by 1999.

I stand corrected. Thanks.

Posted by: Bandersnatch at June 24, 2016 02:16 PM (1xUj/)

153 Tugjob in Panama.
What could go wrong?

Posted by: Roland [OMITTED] at June 24, 2016 02:16 PM (QM5S2)

154 This is the Brexit blog, right?
How did Panama get itself involved in Brexit?

Posted by: Hank at June 24, 2016 02:16 PM (kf0Rz)

155 I'm not sure I agree with the wife's premise."

Yeah. I've had better luck with reliable connectivity in West Virginia than in spots around 'yurup. Funny part is that folks here usually don't believe me, 'cause the interwebs is soooo much better there.

Wherever "there" is...

Posted by: Anon a mouse... at June 24, 2016 02:16 PM (C9pBZ)

156 Read 'The Path Between the Seas" by David McCullough. Fascinating

Posted by: Vashta Nerada at June 24, 2016 02:16 PM (7ZVPa)

157 Wiki - A former Spanish official says the problem can be traced to a miscalculation, someone apparently put a decimal point in the wrong place...

But Mars is totes doable..

Posted by: IP at June 24, 2016 02:16 PM (Fol9S)

158 >>....east coast blood will tell

Wigwams > Tee-Pees

Posted by: garrett at June 24, 2016 02:17 PM (oeOT+)

159 Tug my boat and watch this!

Posted by: Metaphorical Spanish Captain at June 24, 2016 02:17 PM (/ChCs)

160 136 Bring back the Erie Canal.

'Low Bridge! - Everybody down.'

Posted by: garrett at June 24, 2016 02:12 PM (oeOT+)

It never went away. It is still in use today.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at June 24, 2016 02:17 PM (mpXpK)

161 @110 stace-The river is still there and they still dump raw sewage into it. Its a pretty popular surf break for the locals, you just have to watch out for turds when the tide ebbs.

Posted by: JROD at June 24, 2016 02:18 PM (wnwJC)

162 But Mars is totes doable.."

How many meters in a foot is there anyway?

/JPL

Posted by: Anon a mouse... at June 24, 2016 02:18 PM (C9pBZ)

163 >>>>>That sounds fake. I'm pretty sure you test models in flow tanks during the design phase.<<<<<<

The problem is the deeper you go the more displacement and buoyancy changes.

Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at June 24, 2016 02:18 PM (tEDMc)

164 Remember when I was a kid, and I'd go down to the river and watch the tugs and barges. I always sort of admired those guys, and had ambitions - as an 8 year old - of becoming a tug captain.

Good money, too, but Lord don't they earn it?

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at June 24, 2016 02:18 PM (Fn6GI)

165 It looks like Panama went the Field of Dreams route - build it, the new locks and canal, and they, the larger ships, will come.

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 24, 2016 02:09 PM (0P3fm)

Not exactly. Many container ships are already too big for the Panama Canal (PanaMax is the largest that could fit through the old locks.) The Iowa-class battleships barely fit in the current locks, for example. There will still be commercial vessels too large for the new locks.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Tent Sale at the Outrage Outlet! Sizzling Summer Savings on Slurs, Slams, and Slanders at June 24, 2016 02:19 PM (hLRSq)

166 >>It never went away. It is still in use today.

It has long since left the public consciousness. It's all trucks and trains these days.

I say, our Strength is our Diversity -

Barges to the Future!

Posted by: garrett at June 24, 2016 02:20 PM (oeOT+)

167 Corruption can kill a goverment from the smallest to the greatest nation

Posted by: Skip at June 24, 2016 02:20 PM (d9qXV)

168 Reverse tugboat. Isn't that what docs do to guys over 40 during medical exams?

Posted by: Soona at June 24, 2016 02:21 PM (iI/ES)

169 113 Somehow I'm getting a odd tingle that there were underage hookers and blow involved in this expansion.

Posted by: Anon a mouse... at June 24, 2016 02:07 PM
--------------------------
Well, I don't know about that, but one of my Panamanian cousins has a beautiful beach house in Chiriqui.
Not that I'm suggesting anything shady, mind you. And besides, he lefts us use it every now and then so it's kind of a charity. Yes, that's it.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at June 24, 2016 02:21 PM (T/5A0)

170 151 Was at East Beach Galveston the other day - saw plenty, looked fun!
...

A dad got flesh-eating bacteria on the beach there on Father's Day.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at June 24, 2016 02:21 PM (1ZOkK)

171 How about instead of a wall, we build a new canal along the U.S. and Mexico border?

-
And fill it with sharks on crack with AIDS.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Racist for Dinosaurs at June 24, 2016 02:21 PM (Nwg0u)

172 166 >>It never went away. It is still in use today.

It has long since left the public consciousness. It's all trucks and trains these days.

I say, our Strength is our Diversity -

Barges to the Future!

Posted by: garrett at June 24, 2016 02:20 PM (oeOT+)

This sounds like the lefty transportation geeks, all of them convinced that if we ban cars and mandate trollies all problems will disappear and the lion will lie down with the lamb, etc. etc.

Posted by: joncelli, Bridge Troll and Crossbow Afficianado at June 24, 2016 02:21 PM (+wjl1)

173 121 New canal is a death blow to West Coast (commie) container ports. Seattle, Bay Area and LA hardest hit. Good to see bidness going to capitalist running dogs.
Posted by: Headless Body of Agnew at June 24, 2016 02:10 PM (FtrY1)

Yep, no shutdowns on the Gulf due to strikes or Occupoopers. We're always ready to roll. Except for the hurricanes, but oh well no one's perfect.

Posted by: stace, TEXIT at June 24, 2016 02:22 PM (ozZau)

174 The Spanish Tugboat? That's disgusting!

Posted by: Dirty Sanchez at June 24, 2016 02:22 PM (/ChCs)

175 The Spanish sub story is true. After the boat was almost completed it was realized the pig was too heavy to ever surface. I think the Spanish were talking of cutting the hull in two and welding in an extension.

Here we go from 2013, they were going to bring in General Dynamics to offer solutions.
http://preview.tinyurl.com/z76rahu

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 24, 2016 02:22 PM (0P3fm)

176 Savannah is the fourth busiest port in the nation right now, ahead of Charleston.

And we've begun deepening the river to make way for the super tankers.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at June 24, 2016 02:22 PM (1ZOkK)

177 My grandfather's first job was making bolts for the original Panama Canal. They allowed them to keep scraps to fashion items for themselves. My grandpa made two rings. We still have one of them in the family.

Posted by: Miley's Tongue at June 24, 2016 02:23 PM (4p3Tz)

178 i'd love for someone to do a definitive article on Moonbeam's HIgh Speed Fail project here in #Failifornia.

his toy train is already way over budget and behind schedule, but he keeps doubling down on it, because this state is full of idiots who vote for dumb shits.

Posted by: redc1c4 at June 24, 2016 02:23 PM (4/aeb)

179 Oh for everyday working on the Illinois river, I get a half a day off with pay..
Just a towboat picking up barges, on a long hot summer day....

-Turnpike Troubadours.

Posted by: IP at June 24, 2016 02:23 PM (Fol9S)

180 And fill it with sharks on crack with AIDS.

What will those perfidious Joos think of next!

Posted by: Palestinian Goatfuckers at June 24, 2016 02:23 PM (/ChCs)

181 A dad got flesh-eating bacteria on the beach there on Father's Day.

Just wait til the Olympic athletes start having their face rot off from Brazilian water. Probably no brain-eating amoebas in the swimming pool either.

Probably.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at June 24, 2016 02:23 PM (39g3+)

182 Just convert the Spanish sub into an under water living habitat.

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at June 24, 2016 02:23 PM (cNJvW)

183 A dad got flesh-eating bacteria on the beach there on Father's Day."

And see, everyone thinks that dads get left out these days.

Posted by: Anon a mouse... at June 24, 2016 02:24 PM (C9pBZ)

184 Posted by: stace, TEXIT at June 24, 2016 02:22 PM (ozZau)

Don't forget the railroads that move the containers cross country.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Tent Sale at the Outrage Outlet! Sizzling Summer Savings on Slurs, Slams, and Slanders at June 24, 2016 02:24 PM (hLRSq)

185 178 i'd love for someone to do a definitive article on Moonbeam's HIgh Speed Fail project here in #Failifornia.

his toy train is already way over budget and behind schedule, but he keeps doubling down on it, because this state is full of idiots who vote for dumb shits.
Posted by: redc1c4 at June 24, 2016 02:23 PM (4/aeb)

And it's vitally important to get from Fresno to the middle of nowhere very, very fast.

Posted by: joncelli, Bridge Troll and Crossbow Afficianado at June 24, 2016 02:24 PM (+wjl1)

186 >>>>'Low Bridge! - Everybody down.'<<<<<

Forever associated with John Wayne and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.

Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living at June 24, 2016 02:24 PM (tEDMc)

187 Do the Red Chinese still run the Panama Canal? Impossible to see how that could go wrong.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at June 24, 2016 02:25 PM (39g3+)

188 I say, our Strength is our Diversity

-
And that's why you all have to do it my way.

- Obozo

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Racist for Dinosaurs at June 24, 2016 02:25 PM (Nwg0u)

189 >>My grandpa made two rings. We still have one of them in the family.

I saw The Heirloom Cock-Rings open for Hole at Sasquatch 2002!

Posted by: garrett at June 24, 2016 02:26 PM (oeOT+)

190 I always sort of admired those guys, and had ambitions - as an 8 year old - of becoming a tug captain.

Good money, too, but Lord don't they earn it?
...
I think that would be a cool job, and another one is port pilot, but talk about stress. It's a huge responsibility, and then there's just getting on and off the ships. I watch them do it and it looks pretty scary when the water's rough.

Posted by: stace, TEXIT at June 24, 2016 02:26 PM (ozZau)

191 176 And we've begun deepening the river to make way for the super tankers.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at June 24, 2016 02:22 PM (1ZOkK)

Too late, we are ahead.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at June 24, 2016 02:26 PM (mpXpK)

192 An interesting site is marinetraffic dot com. Shows the locations of a lot of shipping.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Tent Sale at the Outrage Outlet! Sizzling Summer Savings on Slurs, Slams, and Slanders at June 24, 2016 02:26 PM (hLRSq)

193 Do the Red Chinese still run the Panama Canal? Impossible to see how that could go wrong.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at June 24, 2016 02:25 PM (39g3+)

I thought they were interested in building a canal in Nicaragua.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Tent Sale at the Outrage Outlet! Sizzling Summer Savings on Slurs, Slams, and Slanders at June 24, 2016 02:27 PM (hLRSq)

194 119 this is what happens when you let the locals take over running First World stuff...
Posted by: redc1c4 at June 24, 2016 02:09 PM (4/aeb)
---------------------
Well, no. Nearly all of the people who actually "run stuff" in Panama are what you would call "First-World" types.
This is what happens when you let cronyism run amok --- like high-speed rail in California.

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at June 24, 2016 02:27 PM (T/5A0)

195

Don't forget the railroads that move the containers cross country.
Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Tent Sale at the Outrage Outlet! Sizzling Summer Savings on Slurs, Slams, and Slanders at June 24, 2016 02:24 PM (hLRSq)

-------------

I've read articles that said intermodal freight is what saved the American railroads. I think "reinvigorated" would be a better word.

Posted by: Soona at June 24, 2016 02:27 PM (iI/ES)

196
Too late, we are ahead.

Posted by: Vic We Have No Party at June 24, 2016 02:26 PM (mpXpK)

Well, Shit Midas threw a wrench in the works here.

We've got some snazzy new super cranes now.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at June 24, 2016 02:28 PM (1ZOkK)

197 We were ahead of our time.

Posted by: Heirloom Cock Rings at June 24, 2016 02:28 PM (/ChCs)

198 Another problem created by that idiot Bush !!!!!!!

Posted by: Mary Clogginstien from Brattleboro, VT at June 24, 2016 02:28 PM (NuElX)

199 Don't forget the railroads that move the containers cross country.
Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Tent Sale at the Outrage Outlet! Sizzling Summer Savings on Slurs, Slams, and Slanders at June 24, 2016 02:24 PM (hLRSq)

Yes, and up from Mexico too. The US west coast unions have really helped out the Pacific Mexican ports.

Posted by: stace, TEXIT at June 24, 2016 02:28 PM (ozZau)

200 I've read articles that said intermodal freight is what saved the American railroads. I think "reinvigorated" would be a better word.

I'd like to believe the guy who came up with that got paid well but knowing railroads he probably got 50 cents and a beating with tire irons.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at June 24, 2016 02:29 PM (39g3+)

201 Not exactly. Many container ships are already too big for the Panama Canal (PanaMax is the largest that could fit through the old locks.) The Iowa-class battleships barely fit in the current locks, for example. There will still be commercial vessels too large for the new locks.

Do cruise ships fit?

Posted by: rickb223 TEXIT at June 24, 2016 02:29 PM (/IMJl)

202 >>Don't forget the railroads that move the containers cross country.

And the Drug Mules.

With their Colons filled with Love and pellets of heroin wrapped in condoms.

Posted by: garrett at June 24, 2016 02:29 PM (oeOT+)

203 177 My grandfather's first job was making bolts for the original Panama Canal. They allowed them to keep scraps to fashion items for themselves. My grandpa made two rings. We still have one of them in the family.
Posted by: Miley's Tongue at June 24, 2016 02:23 PM
--------------------------------
Now, that is cool.
I pray that whoever inherits it appreciates it!

Posted by: Margarita DeVille at June 24, 2016 02:29 PM (T/5A0)

204 That's it - I'm going blonde!

https://twitter.com/JimRoseVSOP/status/746371506490400768

Posted by: @votermom at June 24, 2016 02:29 PM (7lVbc)

205 That's it - I'm going blonde!

Your mom told you to stop touching...

oh, blonde, right.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at June 24, 2016 02:30 PM (39g3+)

206 CT -

Heh.....had some family who worked for the Chesapeake.... Yeah, that sounds about right.

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at June 24, 2016 02:31 PM (Fn6GI)

207 Well. Merkel just made her first threat over Brexit.

Posted by: Soona at June 24, 2016 02:31 PM (iI/ES)

208 I think that would be a cool job, and another one is port pilot, but talk about stress. It's a huge responsibility, and then there's just getting on and off the ships. I watch them do it and it looks pretty scary when the water's rough.

Knew a guy who captained a pilot boat out of Galveston.

Posted by: rickb223 TEXIT at June 24, 2016 02:31 PM (/IMJl)

209 Because of course she did.

Posted by: Chupacabra at June 24, 2016 02:31 PM (V40IZ)

210

Lazy snow
The sky's falling
And it's beautiful
And it's beautiful

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMoIbwvHe0g

Posted by: artisanal 'ette at June 24, 2016 02:31 PM (qCMvj)

211 192 An interesting site is marinetraffic dot com. Shows the locations of a lot of shipping.
Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Tent Sale at the Outrage Outlet! Sizzling Summer Savings on Slurs, Slams, and Slanders at June 24, 2016 02:26 PM (hLRSq)

Good site. Always knew the traffic in the Straits of Malacca was heavy but it's kinda cool to visualize it.

Posted by: joncelli, Bridge Troll and Crossbow Afficianado at June 24, 2016 02:32 PM (+wjl1)

212 Well. Merkel just made her first threat over Brexit.

Did she bring up the Sudetenland? That's an old German classic.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at June 24, 2016 02:32 PM (8ZskC)

213 Do cruise ships fit?

Posted by: rickb223 TEXIT at June 24, 2016 02:29 PM (/IMJl)

Some do.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Tent Sale at the Outrage Outlet! Sizzling Summer Savings on Slurs, Slams, and Slanders at June 24, 2016 02:33 PM (hLRSq)

214 192 An interesting site is marinetraffic dot com. Shows the locations of a lot of shipping.
Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Tent Sale at the Outrage Outlet! Sizzling Summer Savings on Slurs, Slams, and Slanders at June 24, 2016 02:26 PM (hLRSq)

My husband and I are addicts. Sometimes it determines our schedule if we see an interesting ship or rig will be coming through. Such nerds.

Posted by: stace, TEXIT at June 24, 2016 02:33 PM (ozZau)

215 I'd like to believe the guy who came up with that
got paid well but knowing railroads he probably got 50 cents and a
beating with tire irons.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at June 24, 2016 02:29 PM (39g3+)
______________________________________

I think the guy that designed the special container carrying cars for the RR lives in the Chicago area.
The late 80's saw the start of a lot of consolidation in RR lines and the move to containers really did save them. Containers are efficient, but a slow as hell way to move product if you're on a time line though.

Posted by: IP at June 24, 2016 02:33 PM (Fol9S)

216 Do cruise ships fit?

The crews do if I take them two at a time.

Posted by: Sandra Fluke at June 24, 2016 02:33 PM (8ZskC)

217 >>Do cruise ships fit?

Plenty of room.

Posted by: Sandra Fluke at June 24, 2016 02:33 PM (oeOT+)

218 Gah!

Posted by: garrett at June 24, 2016 02:34 PM (oeOT+)

219 Good site. Always knew the traffic in the Straits of Malacca was heavy but it's kinda cool to visualize it.

Posted by: joncelli, Bridge Troll and Crossbow Afficianado at June 24, 2016 02:32 PM (+wjl1)

Imagine the 405 at rush hour, but you're being cut off by supertankers and ROROs.

Posted by: Country Singer, Order of the Ditch at June 24, 2016 02:34 PM (uiwCw)

220 "And it's vitally important to get from Fresno to the middle of nowhere very, very fast."

Another facepalm moment for Commiefornia high speed rail is that they're running it up and down the Central Valley.

Except that there are already massive subsidence problems all over the very same region, as desperate farmers and ranchers use very powerful and expensive well rigs to suck up every drop of groundwater they can get. (This because of the official diktat to cut off aqueduct water to protect the Delta smelt, a tiny obscure bait fish.)

I can point you to Central CA communities where entire roadways and adjacent business frontages are having to be expensively torn out and redone from the footings up, because of subsidence cracking.

The allowable dimensional deviations for a high speed rail roadbed are a hell of a lot tighter than for an ordinary low speed vehicle roadway. People aren't going to much enjoy derailments at two hundred miles per hour.

Posted by: torquewrench at June 24, 2016 02:34 PM (noWW6)

221 I think Merkel might be on her way out, too so what she says probably is irrelevant.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at June 24, 2016 02:35 PM (39g3+)

222 Why does Merkel hate persons of color? She should support Presdent Obona and what he has done to help hut contry of Poleland.

Posted by: Buster Hymannd at June 24, 2016 02:35 PM (mM9HB)

223 Do the Red Chinese still run the Panama Canal? Impossible to see how that could go wrong.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at June 24, 2016 02:25 PM (39g3+)

----------
Chinese companies operate container ports on both sides - Panama Ports Co., a Hutchison Whampoa subsidiary

The Panama Canal Authority owned by Panama operates the canal.

Be Insane Obama, a well-known international authority on everything, once said a Chinese company runs the canal so it must be true!

Posted by: RioBravo at June 24, 2016 02:36 PM (NUqwG)

224 Now Londonistan's muzzie mayor wants out of the UK. See Drudge.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Racist for Dinosaurs at June 24, 2016 02:36 PM (Nwg0u)

225 Did she bring up the Sudetenland? That's an old German classic.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at June 24, 2016 02:32 PM (8ZskC)

----------

I didn't see her whole statement, but I did see the word "verklempt".

Posted by: Soona at June 24, 2016 02:37 PM (iI/ES)

226 Recalling the founding aim of the EU, Merkel urged Europeans to "never forget that the idea of European unity was an idea of peace."

And the Euro was nothing but a bald-faced attack on the dollar.

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at June 24, 2016 02:37 PM (mBYZv)

227 Now Londonistan's muzzie mayor wants out of the UK. See Drudge.

Pick your muzzie ass up and leave.
Real estate stays, though.

Posted by: rickb223 TEXIT at June 24, 2016 02:37 PM (/IMJl)

228 Do cruise ships fit?
-------
Who cares? What a loser. Does the Trump yacht fit?

Posted by: Trumpee at June 24, 2016 02:37 PM (NUqwG)

229 Sea freight is a funny thing. In another life, I had to get some product from Tianjin to the Port of Los Angeles. It wasn't YUUUGE, but it was too big to send airfreight.

Any who, priced it out for LCL and realized it was almost as much as a full conex. Quickly called the supplier, and realized I could haul three times as much for only about 25% more in terms of cost of goods and freight.

There was some nail-biting, but I managed to line up buyers and coordinate intermodal - and those guys are geniuses and worth every penny they earn - and made a tidy bundle off it all. The then-future-ex ploughed the proceeds into hardwood floors and a family vacation; I didn't go - had to stay behind to work, dontcha know?

Posted by: Your Decidedly Devious Uncle Palpatine, Still Accepting Harem Applicants at June 24, 2016 02:38 PM (Fn6GI)

230 Recalling the founding aim of the EU, Merkel urged Europeans to "never forget that the idea of European unity was an idea of peace."

Didn't the Germans try that twice last century?

Posted by: rickb223 TEXIT at June 24, 2016 02:38 PM (/IMJl)

231 221 I think Merkel might be on her way out, too so what she says probably is irrelevant.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at June 24, 2016 02:35 PM (39g3+)

When's the next Kraut federal election?

Posted by: joncelli, Bridge Troll and Crossbow Afficianado at June 24, 2016 02:38 PM (+wjl1)

232 Now Londonistan's muzzie mayor wants out of the UK. See Drudge.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Racist for Dinosaurs at June 24, 2016 02:36 PM (Nwg0u)

I can spare him a hundred bucks towards his ticket.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Tent Sale at the Outrage Outlet! Sizzling Summer Savings on Slurs, Slams, and Slanders at June 24, 2016 02:39 PM (hLRSq)

233 I like the idea of a bullet train running from Vancouver BC to San Diego, down the middle of I-5. But the reality is it wouldn't make enough money to run, would cost trillions to build, and would be a waste. I like the idea of lots of stuff, like the Hulk and a manned mission to Venus. But the reality of it is a different story.

Posted by: Christopher Taylor at June 24, 2016 02:39 PM (39g3+)

234 Boat design is such a new technology. Who can tell if they'll ever be able to design one that can go forward??

Posted by: Mr. Peebles at June 24, 2016 02:39 PM (mL2BD)

235 Didn't the Germans try that twice last century?

Posted by: rickb223 TEXIT at June 24, 2016 02:38 PM (/IMJl)

And like when the French tried it the British stepped in and ended those dreams.

Sort of a habit of theirs.

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Tent Sale at the Outrage Outlet! Sizzling Summer Savings on Slurs, Slams, and Slanders at June 24, 2016 02:40 PM (hLRSq)

236 Dear Mayor of London,

Take the Chunnel and never come back.

Signed,
Elizabeth II.

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 24, 2016 02:40 PM (0P3fm)

237 I like the idea of a bullet train running from Vancouver BC to San Diego, down the middle of I-5. But the reality is it wouldn't make enough money to run, would cost trillions to build, and would be a waste. I like the idea of lots of stuff, like the Hulk and a manned mission to Venus. But the reality of it is a different story.

I like the idea of a Moon to Mars in 2 hours trip.

Posted by: rickb223 TEXIT at June 24, 2016 02:40 PM (/IMJl)

238 his toy train is already way over budget and behind
schedule, but he keeps doubling down on it, because this state is full
of idiots who vote for dumb shits.

Posted by: redc1c4 at June 24, 2016 02:23 PM (4/aeb)

Its going to make a great bike trail, flat and wide, so if it costs 100 billion.Bike riders will come from all over the world to ride from Merced to Chowchilla.

Posted by: Colin at June 24, 2016 02:40 PM (3skdc)

239 I heard Model A's had to go up steep hills backwards because of gravity fed fuel tanks.
Vic? Confirm?

Posted by: IP at June 24, 2016 02:40 PM (Fol9S)

240 London Threatens to Move To France if ~~Bush~~ Brexit Wins

Posted by: Mr. Peebles at June 24, 2016 02:41 PM (mL2BD)

241 I just read Greenspan's BREXIT comments, and he finally dances around to his main point: America and Europe have a couple of problems in common and the biggest, in his view, is the public fisc is in really bad shape.

Borrowing to pay for SS/Medicare/ObamaCare/Phones/Housing/EBT Cards etc etc can only go on for so long, and then it all collapses.

Add in porous borders and disconnected bureaucracies and the nature of the distance between the ruling elites and the voters becomes crystal fucking clear.

Posted by: MTF at June 24, 2016 02:42 PM (/m8T6)

242
I like the idea of lots of stuff, like the Hulk and a manned mission to Venus.

The Hulk could build the railway and then go to Venus.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at June 24, 2016 02:42 PM (IqV8l)

243 I like the idea of a bullet train running from Vancouver BC to San Diego,

-
I like a bullet train from San Fran to Tokyo. Spain can build the submarine trains.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Racist for Dinosaurs at June 24, 2016 02:43 PM (Nwg0u)

244 it's good the tugboats have reverse maneuverability but it reminds me of 'some like it hot'

the fake tony curtis character had to drive a boat backwards because he didn't know any better.

Posted by: concrete girl at June 24, 2016 02:44 PM (ceWrl)

245 I can point you to Central CA communities where entire roadways and adjacent business frontages are having to be expensively torn out and redone from the footings up, because of subsidence cracking.

The allowable dimensional deviations for a high speed rail roadbed are a hell of a lot tighter than for an ordinary low speed vehicle roadway. People aren't going to much enjoy derailments at two hundred miles per hour.

Posted by: torquewrench at June 24, 2016 02:34 PM (noWW6)

The Hwy 99 widening, which runs up Calif Central Valley, , has been going on for over 8 years... that's to widen it out to 3 lanes per side.

It is nowhere near complete... and in fact the LAST place that will be complete will be my hometown.... where they have not even STARTED yet. It will necessitate the complete rebuilding of about 2 miles of overpass, right next to existing Rail Road tracks.

Reason? They are still playing around with plans for the high speed rail, figuring out where to put it... and the stations which will support it.

Posted by: Don Q. at June 24, 2016 02:45 PM (qf6WZ)

246 a manned mission to Venus.

I would like to see Barky and his cabinet on that trip. I'll laugh my head off when they enter the atmosphere and immediately burn to a crisp.

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at June 24, 2016 02:45 PM (mBYZv)

247 Spain can build the submarine trains.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks

They'll have to be solar powered, of course. FOR THE ENVIROONMANT!!@!!@

Posted by: weft cut-loop at June 24, 2016 02:45 PM (p2X2f)

248 More funny to watch Joey Bidet try to land on Jupiter.

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 24, 2016 02:46 PM (0P3fm)

249 234 Boat design is such a new technology. Who can tell if they'll ever be able to design one that can go forward??

Posted by: Mr. Peebles at June 24, 2016 02:39 PM (mL2BD)

Well.... we have the new DDG 1000 class, which may very well tip over in high seas...

so... you know.... progress!

Posted by: Don Q. at June 24, 2016 02:47 PM (qf6WZ)

250
I like the idea of a bullet train running from Vancouver BC to San Diego, down the middle of I-5.

200mph right along the San Andreas Fault? I'll pass

Posted by: Flawless Male Logic at June 24, 2016 02:47 PM (lKyWE)

251 newy new content

Posted by: *Mikey NTH - Tent Sale at the Outrage Outlet! Sizzling Summer Savings on Slurs, Slams, and Slanders at June 24, 2016 02:47 PM (hLRSq)

252 They'll have to be solar powered, of course. FOR THE ENVIROONMANT!!@!!@

Posted by: weft cut-loop at June 24, 2016 02:45 PM (p2X2f)

I read where if you put wind turbines on the roof of the train, it will generate the power to run the train...

Posted by: Colin at June 24, 2016 02:48 PM (3skdc)

253 246 a manned mission to Venus.

I would like to see Barky and his cabinet on that trip. I'll laugh my head off when they enter the atmosphere and immediately burn to a crisp.

Posted by: ThePrimordialOrderedPair at June 24, 2016 02:45 PM (mBYZv)

Hey now.... don't send them... we got a good thing going here....

Posted by: Carson, of Venus at June 24, 2016 02:48 PM (qf6WZ)

254 Cotton/Trump thread

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 24, 2016 02:48 PM (0P3fm)

255 Watching an advertisement with Cindy Crawford. Damn, that's a fine looking woman.

Posted by: Soona at June 24, 2016 02:48 PM (iI/ES)

256 "I like the idea of a bullet train running from Vancouver BC to San Diego, down the middle of I-5."

Between L.A. and Portland, which is a looooooooooooong way, there really isn't all that much of grand significance.

California's trouser seat of government in Sackamanura is the biggest thing on the route, and is hardly a tourist magnet.

Posted by: torquewrench at June 24, 2016 02:49 PM (noWW6)

257 The dissolution of East Germany and merger with West Germany will destroy the German economy. This will cause a domino disaster for Europe.

There is no way that Czechoslovokia can be split into two countries. Both will be crippled and will cause a domino disaster for Europe!!!!

Posted by: Joe Hallenbeck at June 24, 2016 02:49 PM (cNJvW)

258 I-5 bullet train... hey we could remake that Gene Wilder train movie. But with volcanoes and earthquakes added in.

Posted by: Anna Puma at June 24, 2016 02:51 PM (0P3fm)

259 Could the Panama Canal be built today? I doubt it. It's not an app, so who is capable of the work that needs to be done.

ADMs baby, 2 weeks - no locks

Posted by: Jean at June 24, 2016 03:21 PM (Doh4+)

260 Anon a mouse. Next time yer in the area, give a Moron a shout, right?

Jim
Sunk New Dawn
Galveston, TX

Posted by: Jim at June 24, 2016 04:25 PM (v5iqM)

261 Lived in Panama 1981-84 on the Atlantic side. Coming from desert country I was fascinated by the Gatun locks and the ships from all over the world. Was there so often the guards said "you here again?" Favorite transit viewed was a US ship on its way to the Middle East. Anyway, read The Path Between the Seas (awesome book) and my reward for three years at the end of the world was a ride through most of the canal on a U.S. tugboat (went forward). And I was able to visit the control room and open one of the Gatun locks! Original equipment and did it with one hand. Such an engineering and medical triumph and treasure and then Jimmah (*spit*) gave it away without Senate approval.

Posted by: Legally Sufficient at June 24, 2016 04:35 PM (tbKrr)

262 For giving away the Canal Jimmah cemented himself in the history books as the 2nd worst President evah.

Posted by: torabora at June 24, 2016 04:57 PM (5I2N2)

263 "The unholy alliance of government and business"

Or, as they call it, a public private partnership. The first big one of my life was cable TV. That's worked out well for us, huh?

Posted by: PJ at June 24, 2016 05:10 PM (cHuNI)

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