Riding The Rails

Ever wanted to be a hobo? Riding the rails, no man your master, living life on your terms?

hoboboardingtrain.0.0-3866154933.jpg

At the 1889 National Hobo Convention, held in St. Louis, they adopted a "Hobo Ethical Code" to provide guidelines for how hobos should behave. Here it is:

1. Decide your own life; don't let another person run or rule you.
2. When in town, always respect the local law and officials, and try to be a gentleman at all times.
3. Don't take advantage of someone who is in a vulnerable situation, locals or other hobos.
4. Always try to find work, even if temporary, and always seek out jobs nobody wants. By doing so, you not only help a business along but ensure employment should you return to that town again.
5. When no employment is available, make your own work by using your added talents at crafts.
6. Do not allow yourself to become a stupid drunk and set a bad example for locals' treatment of other hobos.
7. When jungling in town, respect handouts and do not wear them out; another hobo will be coming along who will need them as badly, if not worse than you.
8. Always respect nature; do not leave garbage where you are jungling.
9. If in a community jungle, always pitch in and help.
10. Try to stay clean, and boil up wherever possible.

11. When traveling, ride your train respectfully. Take no personal chances, cause no problems with the operating crew or host railroad; act like an extra crew member.
12. Do not cause problems in a train yard; another hobo will be coming along who will need passage through that yard.
13. Do not allow other hobos to molest children; expose all molesters to authorities - they are the worst garbage to infest any society.
14. Help all runaway children, and try to induce them to return home.
15. Help your fellow hobos whenever and wherever needed; you may need their help someday.
16. If present at a hobo court and you have testimony, give it. Whether for or against the accused, your voice counts!

What a country, huh? Even the vagabonds in 19th century America felt it important to have a code of ethics. Oh, I'm sure plenty of folks didn't abide by the code, but they very concept...Can you imagine a "Homeless Code of Ethics" today? The very idea is absurd, how many homeless would even think they needed one, and how many would follow it if it existed?

Posted by: WeirdDave at 05:10 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 first.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at April 30, 2025 05:10 PM (e5NfL)

2 Weird Dave, what does Gingy think of the current situation in Canada?

Posted by: Bulg at April 30, 2025 05:11 PM (77rzZ)

3 Read the content

Posted by: Steve_in_SoCal at April 30, 2025 05:11 PM (FxH7T)

4 >>> 6. Do not allow yourself to become a stupid drunk and set a bad example for locals' treatment of other hobos.

A rule to live by, for sure.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at April 30, 2025 05:12 PM (uCjyK)

5 At the 1889 National Hobo Convention........

The democrats could learn a thing or two from our hobo's.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at April 30, 2025 05:12 PM (e5NfL)

6 10. Try to stay clean, and boil up wherever possible.

That's right, hobos, keep your pelts shiny.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at April 30, 2025 05:14 PM (4/BuS)

7 What's the guideline on parley with the conductor? Ernest Borgnine is asking.

Posted by: stuckInCalifornia at April 30, 2025 05:14 PM (1bJbh)

8 It's a shame most of the hobos were wiped out by the great AoSHQ Hobo Hunt of '06...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 30, 2025 05:14 PM (7fElN)

9 pre-fentanyl

Posted by: m at April 30, 2025 05:14 PM (CQE5S)

10 Rules for everyone to live by. Especially the child molester stuff. Maybe there should be 13b for disappearing the molesters.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at April 30, 2025 05:15 PM (w6EFb)

11 Present!

Oh...HoBo Convention.

Posted by: Pete Bootyjudge at April 30, 2025 05:15 PM (CDS5Z)

12 National Hobo Convention???

Was it in San Francisco?

Posted by: dantesed at April 30, 2025 05:15 PM (Oy/m2)

13 Jungling?

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 30, 2025 05:15 PM (bW09W)

14 6. Do not allow yourself to become a stupid drunk and set a bad example for locals' treatment of other hobos.
________________________

I love this one. It implies that the locals generalize all hobos to be "stupid drunks" if one guy lays into the paint thinner.

You're on thin ice, mister.

Posted by: Orson at April 30, 2025 05:15 PM (dIske)

15 13. Do not allow other hobos to molest children; expose all molesters to authorities - they are the worst garbage to infest any society.

What about Presidents of the United States?

Asking for a friend.

J.R.Bumblefuck

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, still gloating at April 30, 2025 05:16 PM (oSeBJ)

16 You'll get the hell beaten out of you by Ernest Borgnine.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 30, 2025 05:16 PM (63Dwl)

17 As a kid we played down by the train tracks, been in a local long tunnel while trains went by. Never ever even thought to try and get on one yet heard others did and went miles away.

Posted by: Skip at April 30, 2025 05:17 PM (ypFCm)

18 17. Keep your shotgun cleaned and in proper working order.

Posted by: Rutger Hauer at April 30, 2025 05:17 PM (Vj4xA)

19 One of my favorite artists, James Gurney, who was good friends with Thomas Kincade when they were in art schools, took a summer off and rode the rails with the future Painter of Light, and drew and painted their way across America.

He has a blopost on it and also an audio recording travelogue on YouTube.

https://tinyurl.com/27wketl4

Posted by: Thomas Bender at April 30, 2025 05:17 PM (XV/Pl)

20 Still hoping that the 'Ette who shared the Golden Chicken Soup with fenugreek will pop up. Even after signing up at Bon Appetit, their dumb website won't give me recipes.

I've learned my lesson - no more links. Write it down so they can't remove access.

Posted by: Miley, okravangelist at April 30, 2025 05:17 PM (w6EFb)

21 If present at a hobo court and you have testimony, give it. Whether for or against the accused, your voice counts!
---
How does a "hobo court" work? Who is the adjudicator? Who acts as the prosecutor and who acts as the defense?
What sort of punishments are meted out?

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 30, 2025 05:17 PM (7fElN)

22 Hard Times

Great film. Great cast. Slightly rail riding hobo related. Also, bare knuckle boxing.

Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at April 30, 2025 05:17 PM (Uyvzb)

23 17. Keep your shotgun cleaned and in proper working order.
Posted by: Rutger Hauer at April 30, 2025 05:17 PM (Vj4xA)

That's a fun flick.

Posted by: BruceWayne at April 30, 2025 05:17 PM (MGB5H)

24 When jungling in town...

Ok, I'm not looking up jungling at the urban dictionary.

Posted by: dantesed at April 30, 2025 05:17 PM (Oy/m2)

25 You know who else rode the rails?

Posted by: Max Power at April 30, 2025 05:18 PM (q177U)

26 Fascinating post. You’re so right, in the 19th century Hobos had a code of ethics that our current congressional representatives can’t live up to. Thanks WD, I enjoyed this.

Posted by: Rufus T. Firefly at April 30, 2025 05:18 PM (YSnaO)

27 Top NYC mayoral candidate unveils plan to make subway stations hubs for the homeless and mentally ill

Thins should work out.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at April 30, 2025 05:18 PM (/U5Yz)

28 Ever see Emperor of the North ?

Posted by: steevy at April 30, 2025 05:19 PM (YwEeS)

29 Britt, Iowa used to have a national hobo convention. Dunno if they still do, I went to church in Britt a few years so I heard it talked about.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 30, 2025 05:19 PM (xcxpd)

30 https://tinyurl.com/mvd293dy

Obligatory, but not the Roger Miller version.

Posted by: Stu Podaso at April 30, 2025 05:20 PM (CDS5Z)

31 They also had their own symbol language that they would carve into trees or fence posts to pass along messages to hobos that came along after them. Like this house has work. Stay away from this one etc.

Posted by: BruceWayne at April 30, 2025 05:20 PM (MGB5H)

32 Note that there's distinct differences between hobos, tramps, and bums.

Hobos travel and will work to earn their way.

Tramps will travel, but avoid work whenever possible.

Bums neither travel nor work and are basically looked down on by both hobos and tramps.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 30, 2025 05:20 PM (7fElN)

33 22 Hard Times

Great film. Great cast. Slightly rail riding hobo related. Also, bare knuckle boxing.
Posted by: Puddleglum, cheer up for the worst is yet to come at April 30, 2025 05:17 PM (Uyvzb)

James Coburn and the might Charles Bronson.
Great film, unexpectedly good writing for Bronson's character.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 30, 2025 05:20 PM (xcxpd)

34 13 Jungling?
Posted by: Boss Moss at April 30, 2025 05:15 PM (bW09W)

From the context, I'm assuming it's slang for sleeping / camping in the woods.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at April 30, 2025 05:20 PM (uCjyK)

35 *mighty

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 30, 2025 05:20 PM (xcxpd)

36 MAGA!

If every homeless person actually lived by that Hobo Code (because they believe in personal freedom), how much better off would the U.S. be right now?

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at April 30, 2025 05:20 PM (HlyYF)

37 Where is the lurking ewok in that picture, clutching his knife and waiting for an opportunity???

Posted by: Helena Handbasket at April 30, 2025 05:20 PM (Vqx30)

38 Hoboes are not the same as homeless bums. Who turn every place they lodge for a day into a trash bin.

Posted by: Xipe Totec at April 30, 2025 05:21 PM (pohLc)

39 Every thread is a gun thread -
https://t.co/QNz3r6dxen

/ Go go boots catch hot brass

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 30, 2025 05:21 PM (/lPRQ)

40 34 13 Jungling?
Posted by: Boss Moss at April 30, 2025 05:15 PM (bW09W)

From the context, I'm assuming it's slang for sleeping / camping in the woods.
Posted by: Harry Paratestes at April 30, 2025 05:20 PM (uCjyK)

hobo jungle, their name for their makeshift camps.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 30, 2025 05:21 PM (xcxpd)

41 Hard Times is a good one.

Posted by: steevy at April 30, 2025 05:21 PM (YwEeS)

42 27 Top NYC mayoral candidate unveils plan to make subway stations hubs for the homeless and mentally ill

Thins should work out.
Posted by: Maj. Healey at April 30, 2025 05:18 PM (/U5Yz)

They already are.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at April 30, 2025 05:21 PM (uCjyK)

43 Can you imagine a "Homeless Code of Ethics" today?

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

It would begin and end with Valu-Rite Vodka.

Posted by: ShainS at April 30, 2025 05:21 PM (/k9od)

44 A homeless code of ethics?

Pretty much the exact opposite of the 19th century hobos.

Posted by: nurse ratched at April 30, 2025 05:21 PM (qjkZ2)

45 Today's hobos ride Spirit Airlines.

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at April 30, 2025 05:21 PM (wBaIH)

46 Boxcar Willie, 'Wabash Cannonball'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSrEcPdA0hE

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at April 30, 2025 05:21 PM (XeU6L)

47

Well, let's bungle in the jungle
Well, that's all right by me, yeah

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 30, 2025 05:21 PM (63Dwl)

48 Note that there's distinct differences between hobos, tramps, and bums.

Hobos travel and will work to earn their way.

Tramps will travel, but avoid work whenever possible.

Bums neither travel nor work and are basically looked down on by both hobos and tramps.
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 30, 2025 05:20 PM (7fElN)

I think Cher had an album about that.

Posted by: BruceWayne at April 30, 2025 05:21 PM (MGB5H)

49 In the good ol'days, the Bulls(RR cops) used to run out steel balls on chains under the train cars when they were moving to, well, persuade the hobo's to drop to their deaths under the wheels.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at April 30, 2025 05:22 PM (/U5Yz)

50 Sadly, my fate is such that I am the moderator of a friend's YT channel covering a big case in MA. The "Karen Read" case if anyone has heard of it. We are on the second trial now, after a mistrial last year, and I would gleefully accept a Hobo Court over whatever the Hell is happening in Canton.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 30, 2025 05:22 PM (2cS/G)

51 When jungling in town...

Ok, I'm not looking up jungling at the urban dictionary.
Posted by: dantesed at April 30, 2025 05:17 PM (Oy/m2)
----
Dunno about the modern usage, but back then it was a slang term for the tent community hobos would set up as a temporary lodging. Hobos would come and go as they saw fit.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 30, 2025 05:22 PM (7fElN)

52 My dad loved Emperor of the North. Not a big movie guy but that was one he would always watch if it happened to be on. Flight of the Phoenix was his favorite though.

Posted by: steevy at April 30, 2025 05:22 PM (YwEeS)

53 Happy vietnam war protesters victory day! April 30 1975.

Posted by: raimondo at April 30, 2025 05:22 PM (hb9ma)

54 Lightfoot had a great number about the Canadian railroads. Canadian Railroad Trilogy, I think it’s called.

The Canucks weren’t always metrosexual pansies.

Posted by: Bulg at April 30, 2025 05:23 PM (77rzZ)

55 8. Always respect nature; do not leave garbage where you are jungling.

Hobo camps are clean??
I don't think so.

Posted by: dantesed at April 30, 2025 05:23 PM (Oy/m2)

56 49 Shack(Ernest Borgnine) does it in Emperor of the North

Posted by: steevy at April 30, 2025 05:23 PM (YwEeS)

57 Fuck off, raimondo.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 30, 2025 05:23 PM (2cS/G)

58 39 Every thread is a gun thread -
https://t.co/QNz3r6dxen

/ Go go boots catch hot brass

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 30, 2025 05:21 PM

Wow! In a bad way.

She even had a ND after she started dancing.

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at April 30, 2025 05:23 PM (HlyYF)

59 Seems that there were a number of pedos out with the hobos (probably trying to keep ahead of the law).
Enough to require rules.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 30, 2025 05:23 PM (/lPRQ)

60 1889 Hobo by choice. 2025 Homeless by drugs and insanity.

Posted by: Indy Bill at April 30, 2025 05:24 PM (zsXOK)

61 In the movie it was a sash weight, is that where you got the information?

Posted by: Kindltot at April 30, 2025 05:24 PM (D7oie)

62 Post this every 100 meters at the southern border.

Posted by: 2009Refugee at April 30, 2025 05:25 PM (2+BHm)

63 24 Ok, I'm not looking up jungling at the urban dictionary.

===

I did - and now I have some mental images that'll stick with me. None of the 4 definitions for "Jungling" are remotely close to what the hobo code suggests.

Posted by: J. Frank Parnell at April 30, 2025 05:25 PM (eb5mD)

64 Hobo Shoestring(RIP) has a good utube hobo channel.

There's another guy Out Of Town On A Rail or something that still hops trains. Interesting lifestyle.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at April 30, 2025 05:26 PM (/U5Yz)

65 13. Do not allow other hobos to molest children; expose all molesters to authorities - they are the worst garbage to infest any society.

Some things never change.

Posted by: Tonypete at April 30, 2025 05:26 PM (vKNmo)

66 Raimondo is running for President via Bing.

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 30, 2025 05:26 PM (bW09W)

67 Happy vietnam war protesters victory day! April 30 1975.

Posted by: raimondo at April 30, 2025 05:22 PM (hb9ma)

You misspelled "Happy 'Democrats and Communists kill free people" day.

But I get it. Spelling is hard.

Posted by: Washington Nearsider, still gloating at April 30, 2025 05:26 PM (oSeBJ)

68
A#1 TO PORTLAND

Posted by: Don Black at April 30, 2025 05:26 PM (AOsQT)

69 Boxcar Willie, 'Wabash Cannonball'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSrEcPdA0hE
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc.
-----

Terrific lyrics

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at April 30, 2025 05:27 PM (XeU6L)

70 42 27 Top NYC mayoral candidate unveils plan to make subway stations hubs for the homeless and mentally ill

Thins should work out.
Posted by: Maj. Healey at April 30, 2025 05:18 PM (/U5Yz)

They already are.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at April 30, 2025 05:21 PM

Zales is currently running an ad campaign in my area with 5'9" models that weigh 114# riding the subway by themselves wearing expensive jewelry, including a diamond of at least 2 carats.

Clearly no one that works in a big advertising firm has been near a subway for at least 20 years.

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at April 30, 2025 05:27 PM (HlyYF)

71 Waypoint Survival has a You Tube series on hobos. He has great vintage gear too

https://tinyurl.com/44hjram2

Posted by: Notsothoreau at April 30, 2025 05:27 PM (cvWHI)

72 Well, let's bungle in the jungle
Well, that's all right by me, yeah
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 30, 2025 05:21 PM (63Dwl)

That sounds gay.

Posted by: Indy Bill at April 30, 2025 05:27 PM (zsXOK)

73 They also had their own symbol language that they would carve into trees or fence posts to pass along messages to hobos that came along after them. Like this house has work. Stay away from this one etc.
Posted by: BruceWayne at April 30, 2025 05:20 PM (MGB5H)

I saw a symbol carved into concrete outside of a house in a little town in West Texas. It was the sign for "man with a gun". My cousin thought I made it up, but I saw it in a Childcraft Encyclopedia so I know it was true.

Posted by: hobbitopoly at April 30, 2025 05:28 PM (k9OZB)

74 50 Sadly, my fate is such that I am the moderator of a friend's YT channel covering a big case in MA. The "Karen Read" case if anyone has heard of it. We are on the second trial now, after a mistrial last year, and I would gleefully accept a Hobo Court over whatever the Hell is happening in Canton.
Posted by: Lincolntf at April 30, 2025 05:22 PM (2cS/G)

This hobo jurist finds her not guilty by reason of the cops in this case are mighty sketch.

On the other hand, the woman does have crazy eyes and looks exactly like the type of woman who would get black out drunk, run her boyfriend over in a rage, leave him for dead and drive home then wake up in the morning not sure if that was real or not.

So maybe we'd need to empanel a full jury for this one.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at April 30, 2025 05:29 PM (uCjyK)

75 City Of New Orleans is still my favorite railroad song. Willie Nelson version is pretty good.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at April 30, 2025 05:29 PM (/U5Yz)

76 Elvis rode a thousand miles of track and slept in a hobo jungle when he was looking for work as a guitar man.

Posted by: J. Frank Parnell at April 30, 2025 05:29 PM (eb5mD)

77 Miley-
https://www.bonappetit.com/ recipe/fenugreek-turmeric-chicken-soup

Works on the way back machine if the direct link redirects you.

Posted by: none at April 30, 2025 05:29 PM (MxiJ/)

78 WeirdDave, I have spent hours viewing your OntWTF on X. It's even better than Inman.

Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at April 30, 2025 05:30 PM (UBKzV)

79 One evening when the sun went down
And the jungle fires were burning
Along came a hobo hiking
And he said, "Boys, I'm not turning
I'm going to a land that's far away
Beneath the crystal fountain
So come with me and you will see
The Big Rock Candy Mountain."

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at April 30, 2025 05:30 PM (6YdsJ)

80 Whitesnake originally recorded Here I Go Again in 1982 and the first version uses the word hobo instead of drifter.

https://youtu.be/IGIHaKCeVYk

Posted by: Mark1971 at April 30, 2025 05:30 PM (Vj4xA)

81 Hobo camps were called jungles when numbers of hobos were in residence. The implication being they were unsafe.
Oh, and it's Skid Road, not Skid Row.
The road refers to a specific street in Seattle. There used to be a mill in Pioneer Square and logs were skidded to it from the hills above.

Posted by: Winston, trying to think up a new nic at April 30, 2025 05:30 PM (wlv8N)

82 Zales is currently running an ad campaign in my area with 5'9" models that weigh 114# riding the subway by themselves wearing expensive jewelry, including a diamond of at least 2 carats.

Clearly no one that works in a big advertising firm has been near a subway for at least 20 years.
Posted by: Pillage Idiot at April 30, 2025 05:27 PM (HlyYF)

lol.

Posted by: Harry Paratestes at April 30, 2025 05:30 PM (uCjyK)

83 Gina Raimondo considering Presidential bid.

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 30, 2025 05:31 PM (bW09W)

84 Special guests of honor like the Archbishop Desmond Tutu
We watched the Rumble In The Jungle
To see who be the targeted uncle,
to be the first to fall and fumble
'Nuff blows they getting thrown, like solid milestones
Internally shaking up niggas, imbalance your chromosomes

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 30, 2025 05:31 PM (2cS/G)

85 Missed opportunity to include some Boxcar Willie vids at the end of the post.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at April 30, 2025 05:31 PM (4/BuS)

86 Weird Dave, what does Gingy think of the current situation in Canada?

She thinks they're idiots, and that things up in the hat are going to get worse.

Posted by: Weirddave at April 30, 2025 05:31 PM (df/te)

87 Hobo Courts?

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 30, 2025 05:32 PM (bW09W)

88 Lightfoot had a great number about the Canadian railroads. Canadian Railroad Trilogy, I think it’s called.

The Canucks weren’t always metrosexual pansies.
Posted by: Bulg
-----

One of my favorites, 'Steel Rail Blues'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czRtMiSZxzw

Used to sing that to myself while out traveling over the horizon somewhere.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at April 30, 2025 05:32 PM (XeU6L)

89 Where's the hobo code stand on organized bum fights?

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at April 30, 2025 05:32 PM (4/BuS)

90 Comparing hobos to the modern homeless:

I saw an interviewer (not MSM) a while back questioning the females that lived in the homeless population.

She asked a few of them about the rumors of "rare" sexual assaults in the homeless camps.

They all looked at the reporter as if she was a retard. Several of the women replied that they were assaulted about once every day! (I think that lumped together sexual assaults and physical assaults to just steal the stuff of the weaker people.)

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at April 30, 2025 05:32 PM (HlyYF)

91 No one knows the origin of the word hobo

Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at April 30, 2025 05:33 PM (Ew+5k)

92 I love spring in this area . Yesterday it was 82°, today 68° and tonight 30° with frost warnings. I'm still golfing tomorrow morning

Posted by: Smell the Glove at April 30, 2025 05:33 PM (Er3Q7)

93 Thanks Biff, glad you like.

Posted by: Weirddave at April 30, 2025 05:33 PM (df/te)

94
Lez be tramps.
Hobo you don’t!

Posted by: haffhowershower at April 30, 2025 05:34 PM (5SvjB)

95 She thinks they're idiots, and that things up in the hat are going to get worse.
Posted by: Weirddave at April 30, 2025 05:31 PM (df/te)
--------------

You're married to a former Cunuckian too?

I'm sure my wife thinks the same as yours.

Posted by: blake - semi lurker in marginal standing (tT6L1) at April 30, 2025 05:34 PM (tT6L1)

96 90 Comparing hobos to the modern homeless:

I saw an interviewer (not MSM) a while back questioning the females that lived in the homeless population.

She asked a few of them about the rumors of "rare" sexual assaults in the homeless camps.

They all looked at the reporter as if she was a retard. Several of the women replied that they were assaulted about once every day! (I think that lumped together sexual assaults and physical assaults to just steal the stuff of the weaker people.)

Posted by: Pillage Idiot at April 30, 2025 05:32 PM (HlyYF)

This is why almost all shelters segregate male and female homeless.

Posted by: Nova Local at April 30, 2025 05:34 PM (tOcjL)

97 I always like to boil up whenever I can.

Posted by: Shoofly the Boxing Mule at April 30, 2025 05:34 PM (ufJfM)

98 Rules for everyone to live by. Especially the child molester stuff. Maybe there should be 13b for disappearing the molesters

Maybe the hobos who wrote the code understood the "Shut up" part of S,S,S.

Besides, riding the rails is dangerous. You never know when you could get locked in a boxcar, or lose your grip and fall off a moving train.

Posted by: Chuck C at April 30, 2025 05:35 PM (D0HYP)

99 91 No one knows the origin of the word hobo
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at April 30, 2025 05:33 PM (Ew+5k)

It's short for Hobo Sapiens.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at April 30, 2025 05:35 PM (4/BuS)

100 "No one knows the origin of the word hobo"

One theory is that it came from "Hoe Boy," which makes sense considering that they did agricultural work.

Posted by: CTHillary, dead but dreaming at April 30, 2025 05:35 PM (VXSVh)

101 Per Grok, among other etymologies... One popular theory suggests "hobo" derives from "hoe boy," a term used in the American South to describe migratory agricultural workers who carried hoes for farm work. Over time, "hoe boy" may have been shortened to "hobo."

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 30, 2025 05:36 PM (2cS/G)

102 Spring in this part of the Heartland are the two weeks between 45 degree highs and 85 degree highs.

Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at April 30, 2025 05:36 PM (Ew+5k)

103 Do hoboes play oboes?

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at April 30, 2025 05:36 PM (6YdsJ)

104 Hobo Humping Slobbo Babe was a popular song a couple of years back. Band named Whale

Posted by: Smell the Glove at April 30, 2025 05:37 PM (Er3Q7)

105 I am going to guess you need a giggle as much as I did

(X.com)

https://tinyurl.com/28z3mu2c

Posted by: Kindltot at April 30, 2025 05:37 PM (D7oie)

106 I had no idea hobos had their own courts. Did they also have their own hobo lawyers? Juries? Where did they meet?

Coincidentally, these are also the rules for the NoVaMoMe on June 21st which I cordially invite all of you to attend. Email me at the address in my nic for the deets!

Posted by: bluebell at April 30, 2025 05:37 PM (79pEw)

107 I've heard that Hobo comes from "homeward bound"

Posted by: Mark1971 at April 30, 2025 05:37 PM (Vj4xA)

108
Beware of furry midgets, they may be Ewoks, who hunt hobos for their delicious meat.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at April 30, 2025 05:38 PM (y9nCu)

109 hobos were itinerant workers, they did seasonal labor, and when it was done, spent their money and took some time off, then hopped a train to the next region to work there. Tramps just rode around looking for handouts.

Ewoks rely on the kindness of strangers.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 30, 2025 05:38 PM (2VST1)

110 "Oh, I'm sure plenty of folks didn't abide by the code, but they very concept..."

--

But enough about lawyers.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 30, 2025 05:38 PM (dGCAG)

111 Ewoks rely on the kindness of strangers.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 30, 2025 05:38 PM (2VST1)
----------
Yub yub!

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at April 30, 2025 05:39 PM (6YdsJ)

112 Does the spirit of aloha apply in hobo courts??

Posted by: dantesed at April 30, 2025 05:39 PM (Oy/m2)

113 Posted by: Winston, trying to think up a new nic at April 30, 2025 05:30 PM (wlv8N)

Try, "Winston, I can't count to five"

Posted by: Kindltot at April 30, 2025 05:40 PM (D7oie)

114 Does the spirit of aloha apply in hobo courts??
Posted by: dantesed at April 30, 2025 05:39 PM (Oy/m2)
----------
Don't think you can catch a train to Hawaii.

Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at April 30, 2025 05:40 PM (6YdsJ)

115 Do not be fooled by a Hobo Code of Ethics.

Those crafty vagabonds will lure you into social acceptance with their toothless charms and mastery of puppets.

Further, if a hobo makes eye contact, this should automatically trigger a trouncing with a trusty blackjack.

Posted by: Rev Wishbone at April 30, 2025 05:40 PM (fY84s)

116 No one knows the origin of the word hobo
Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at April 30, 2025 05:33 PM (Ew+5k)

Hodor?

Posted by: Hodor at April 30, 2025 05:40 PM (dGCAG)

117 try "Winston posts good like a true Moron should"

Posted by: Kindltot at April 30, 2025 05:41 PM (D7oie)

118 You will drown if you jump a train to Hawaii.

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 30, 2025 05:41 PM (bW09W)

119 106 I had no idea hobos had their own courts. Did they also have their own hobo lawyers? Juries? Where did they meet?

It was usually informal and unproductive. Somewhere near the outset, the lead spokeshobo would invite everyone to examine the contents of his briefs and the proceedings would descend into chaos.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at April 30, 2025 05:41 PM (4/BuS)

120 In the Big Rock Candy Mountains
You never change your socks
And the little streams of alcohol
Come trickling down the rocks

Posted by: CTHillary, dead but dreaming at April 30, 2025 05:41 PM (VXSVh)

121 Hobo court?

Posted by: vmom deport deport deport at April 30, 2025 05:41 PM (GhIJO)

122 Are there any true hobo's left in the US?

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at April 30, 2025 05:42 PM (e5NfL)

123 Hobos would gather in little towns in areas they worked too, called them "jungles" for some reason.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 30, 2025 05:42 PM (2VST1)

124 Cigarette trees. Burl Ives sang of them.

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 30, 2025 05:43 PM (bW09W)

125
Hobo court was like landlubbing pirate court.

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at April 30, 2025 05:43 PM (y9nCu)

126 You will drown if you jump a train to Hawaii.

"Nonsense, you can totally cross the entire Mediterranean on the outside of a submarine!"
--Indiana Jones

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 30, 2025 05:43 PM (2VST1)

127 Theres was this Cartoon Hunkey Durma about the Worlds most riches Hobo who refused to give up his Hobo Ways like riding his Limos in the Running Board

Posted by: Spurwing Plover at April 30, 2025 05:43 PM (FLiOE)

128 122 Are there any true hobo's left in the US?
Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at April 30, 2025 05:42 PM (e5NfL)

I don't think so. I don't recall ever seeing hobo code anywhere, for example.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at April 30, 2025 05:43 PM (4/BuS)

129 Does the spirit of aloha apply in hobo courts??
Posted by: dantesed at April 30, 2025 05:39 PM (Oy/m2)

The hobo courts worked on the spirit of Mahalo, which I think means either "trash can" or "please recycle" due to where it is posted

Posted by: Kindltot at April 30, 2025 05:44 PM (D7oie)

130 There were still hobos here in the mid 80s.

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 30, 2025 05:44 PM (bW09W)

131
Spurwing sign...

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at April 30, 2025 05:44 PM (y9nCu)

132 52 My dad loved Emperor of the North. Not a big movie guy but that was one he would always watch if it happened to be on. Flight of the Phoenix was his favorite though.
Posted by: steevy at April 30, 2025 05:22 PM (YwEeS)

Both of those are great movies; fun fact is that the pilot Jimmy Stewart played in "Flight of the Phoenix" was closer to the real-life Jimmy Stewart than any other part he played. (which is why he was perfect for the role) He piloted 25 B-17 missions over Germany, and I believe retired as a Brigadier General in the AF.

Posted by: Tom Servo at April 30, 2025 05:45 PM (uWKK8)

133 >>>> Are there any true hobo's left in the US?

They are now referred to as "undocumented passengers"

Posted by: Mark1971 at April 30, 2025 05:45 PM (Vj4xA)

134 Still some who ride the rails. Couple YouTube channels you can find. Exciting, they are not, but kinda interesting. One of the more popular ones ceased when the maker ceased to exist, via a close encounter with a train.

Posted by: Ex Rex Reeder at April 30, 2025 05:45 PM (MZ+PY)

135 There are some good videos of h1bs taking selfies with moving trains.

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 30, 2025 05:47 PM (bW09W)

136 Hobo symbols and slang

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobo

Posted by: Don Black at April 30, 2025 05:47 PM (AOsQT)

137 You know who else liked trains?

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at April 30, 2025 05:47 PM (4/BuS)

138 I learned everything there is to know about America when I was a hobo for a year after being laid off from both my day job driving 18 wheelers and my night job mining anthracite coal - HARD coal, fat!

I used what I learned in the rail yards and hobo camps to become what every everyday Amercian wanted. A President who will grow the economy from the inside up and bottom out...wait, the outside out and the inside down....anyway, Uncle Bosey fought those cannibals for days before they ate him and his parachute! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!

Posted by: Joe at April 30, 2025 05:49 PM (aBgBM)

139 I wonder if riding the rails is a N. American activity or is it also elsewhere? Canada? Mexico? S. America?

Posted by: Ciampino - it's an adventure at April 30, 2025 05:49 PM (sPQoU)

140 US and Ukraine sign mineral deal.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 30, 2025 05:50 PM (63Dwl)

141 Used to see them on the RRs that passed through my little town when I was a young kid. They'd always wave and a few would work local jobs and then move on. Always thought they were weird.

Posted by: Diogenes at April 30, 2025 05:50 PM (W/lyH)

142 Ewoks rely on the kindness of strangers.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 30, 2025 05:38 PM (2VST1)
----------
Yub yub!
Posted by: Captain Obvious, Laird o' the Sea, Radioactive Knight, Concertina Czar at April 30, 2025 05:39 PM (6YdsJ)

Ewoks don't rely on Stormtroopers, though.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 30, 2025 05:50 PM (VNX3d)

143 The afore-mentioned Youtuber-

https://www.youtube.com/user/hobestobe

Posted by: Ex Rex Reeder at April 30, 2025 05:50 PM (MZ+PY)

144 21 If present at a hobo court and you have testimony, give it. Whether for or against the accused, your voice counts!
---
How does a "hobo court" work? Who is the adjudicator? Who acts as the prosecutor and who acts as the defense?
What sort of punishments are meted out?
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 30, 2025 05:17 PM (7fElN)

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

IK dunno, but probably more just than our current "judicial system".

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at April 30, 2025 05:51 PM (lJmmt)

145 There are old, circa 1920 Hobo hieroglyphics around our cabin in West Virginia. Etched on some trees... others on rocks. The location was surveyed by George Washington and has ample, fertile soil for growing corn, the most common crop along this stretch of the Ohio River.

We don't currently permit Hobos on the property, FWIW.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at April 30, 2025 05:52 PM (Q4IgG)

146 Could a hobo judge enact a nationwide TRO?

After all, NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!!

Posted by: kbdabear at April 30, 2025 05:53 PM (zBOzm)

147 You know who else liked trains?

My grandfather, he loved trains. He worked for the Union Pacific for like 50 years, working the freight yard.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 30, 2025 05:54 PM (2VST1)

148 139 I wonder if riding the rails is a N. American activity or is it also elsewhere? Canada? Mexico? S. America?
Posted by: Ciampino - it's an adventure a

Nobody rides the rails anymore.
But in the third rail the rides rooftop on the cars.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 30, 2025 05:54 PM (/lPRQ)

149 We don't currently permit Hobos on the property, FWIW.

There goes my vacation plans

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 30, 2025 05:55 PM (2VST1)

150
Pee Wee and the Singing Hobo

https://youtu.be/QrE17OVVW_E

Posted by: Don Black at April 30, 2025 05:55 PM (AOsQT)

151 The Hobo Code was a pretty good episode of Mad Men

Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at April 30, 2025 05:55 PM (Ew+5k)

152 No one knows the origin of the word hobo

Posted by: Victor Tango Kilo at April 30, 2025 05:33 PM (Ew+5k)

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

I think it was a portmanteau of an old hotel chain called Howard Bowman's.

Posted by: ShainS at April 30, 2025 05:55 PM (dBxkv)

153 Do they have Hawaiian Hobo Courts?

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 30, 2025 05:55 PM (bW09W)

154 Be a hobo on the Orient Express.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 30, 2025 05:57 PM (63Dwl)

155 150 comments in and nobody has yet mentioned hobo taint?

I'm disappointed with you people.

Posted by: Grapefruit LaCroix at April 30, 2025 05:57 PM (vOJ4/)

156 Do they have Hawaiian Hobo Courts?
Posted by: Boss Moss

Sort of.
Homeless camps still observe kapu law and the only punishment for kapu is death. Death by bunga bunga.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 30, 2025 05:58 PM (/lPRQ)

157 We don't get any riff-raff in our neighborhood, but at my old house I thought about putting up a board with hobo signs for "angry husband," "vicious dog," "man with a gun," and so forth.

Posted by: PabloD at April 30, 2025 05:59 PM (Z0gSs)

158 the only punishment for kapu is death. Death by bunga bunga.

Prisoner: "That doesn't sound so bad"
Judge: "With Lizzo"
Prisoner: "NOOOOOOOOOOooOOO!!"

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 30, 2025 06:00 PM (2VST1)

159 "How does a "hobo court" work?"

The Insane Clown Posse has a "Gathering of the Juggalos" event where there is a court that apparently works pretty well. This and probably the hobo courts seem to be similar to the mercantile courts that some industries have set up outside of government.

Posted by: CTHillary, dead but dreaming at April 30, 2025 06:00 PM (VXSVh)

160 Used to see them on the RRs that passed through my little town when I was a young kid. They'd always wave and a few would work local jobs and then move on. Always thought they were weird.

Posted by: Diogenes at April 30, 2025 05:50 PM (W/lyH)

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

Pre-Welfare State.

Posted by: ShainS at April 30, 2025 06:00 PM (A5ASI)

161 We still call a local area where the train crosses the river, hobo jungle. There were still some in the 80s. Now it's just bums and drug addicts

Posted by: Hatari somewhere on Ventura Highway at April 30, 2025 06:01 PM (NtVYv)

162 >>>Do they have Hawaiian Hobo Courts?
Posted by: Boss Moss

>No, but they have the Lono Expresso which trafficks coffee and China White with a hobo escort armed with whiskey bottles.

Posted by: Rev Wishbone at April 30, 2025 06:02 PM (fY84s)

163 When jungling in town...

Ok, I'm not looking up jungling at the urban dictionary.
Posted by: dantesed at April 30, 2025 05:17 PM (Oy/m2)

Haven't read all the comments so maybe someone has already answered this. It means "temporary camp".

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 30, 2025 06:03 PM (ExV1e)

164 What about trans hobos? Where are their rights? Huh H8ers?

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at April 30, 2025 06:03 PM (S4ZTs)

165 Thanks for the hobo code and the comments, Weird Dave and others. Very interesting.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at April 30, 2025 06:03 PM (MmjDW)

166 Robert De Niro’s Son Comes Out as Trans Woman — Credits Black Women For Inspiring His Transition
====

Lololol

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 30, 2025 06:04 PM (/lPRQ)

167 Sadly, my fate is such that I am the moderator of a friend's YT channel covering a big case in MA. The "Karen Read" case if anyone has heard of it. We are on the second trial now, after a mistrial last year, and I would gleefully accept a Hobo Court over whatever the Hell is happening in Canton.
Posted by: Lincolntf at April 30, 2025 05:22 PM (2cS/G)

This hobo jurist finds her not guilty by reason of the cops in this case are mighty sketch.

I've watched bits and pieces on a couple of lawyers YT channels. "Sketch" would be an understatement. Those cops, especially that one bald trooper guy, are crooked AF.

Posted by: Noble heroes in blue, them at April 30, 2025 06:04 PM (TbWk/)

168 146 Could a hobo judge enact a nationwide TRO?

After all, NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW!!

Jurisdiction changes with the train schedule.

Posted by: mot at April 30, 2025 06:04 PM (fIPNY)

169 Been racking my brain, and DDG searching, to remember a black-and-white self-published comic from the 1980s that was about Depression-era hobos, including riding the rails. Very well done. I talked to the artist at a Chicago ComiCon about capturing the look of people in those days.

I cannot come up with the name of the comic. Too many great comics back in those days. I know I still have my copies of it, somewhere deep in the catacombs.

Posted by: mindful webworker - what was it? at April 30, 2025 06:05 PM (IcX7N)

170 >>> 104 Hobo Humping Slobbo Babe was a popular song a couple of years back. Band named Whale
Posted by: Smell the Glove at April 30, 2025 05:37 PM (Er3Q7)

Depressing Old Person Fact Of The Day

It came out farther back in the past than The Duke of Earl was before it.

Posted by: banana Dream at April 30, 2025 06:05 PM (cduTK)

171 Jungling?

Posted by: Boss Moss at April 30, 2025 05:15 PM

A hobo camp is called a "jungle". "Jungling" is the verb form of that. Of course, as we all know, verbing weirds language.

Posted by: Cybersmythe at April 30, 2025 06:06 PM (2Insx)

172 >>143 The afore-mentioned Youtuber-
Posted by: Ex Rex Reeder
---
He did not completely follow the hobo code.
Got Sloppy. Good piano and editing.

Posted by: CapeFear at April 30, 2025 06:06 PM (qhuez)

173 You know who else liked trains?

OnlyFans whores.

Posted by: Sloppy 222nds. No thanks. at April 30, 2025 06:06 PM (TbWk/)

174 i hope Miley sees the recipe link, none found for her

Posted by: cherries are the best at April 30, 2025 06:06 PM (TeOtI)

175 91 No one knows the origin of the word hobo
Posted by: Victor Tang

I heard thst it comes from the times when migrant workers would travel with tools of the trade; those carrying hoes would be referred to as "hoe boys" which eventually got shortened down.

Posted by: tankdemon at April 30, 2025 06:07 PM (UCYpC)

176 Robert De Niro’s Son Comes Out as Trans Woman — Credits Black Women For Inspiring His Transition

He was one of those boutique virtue signal adoptions, a little black boy! Raised by DeNiro no wonder he's crazy

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at April 30, 2025 06:07 PM (2VST1)

177 Could transient trolls be considered hobos?

Posted by: Duncanthrax at April 30, 2025 06:07 PM (0sNs1)

178 104 Hobo Humping Slobbo Babe was a popular song a couple of years back. Band named Whale
Posted by: Smell the Glove at April 30, 2025 05:37 PM (Er3Q7)

A truly horrible song.
I wish the band plentiful suffering.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at April 30, 2025 06:07 PM (4/BuS)

179 You know who else liked trains?
Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at April 30, 2025 05:47 PM (4/BuS)

Sandra Fluke

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 30, 2025 06:08 PM (ExV1e)

180 I heard thst it comes from the times when migrant workers would travel with tools of the trade; those carrying hoes would be referred to as "hoe boys" which eventually got shortened down.
Posted by: tankdemon

Maybe where the stick came from... it was a hoe.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 30, 2025 06:09 PM (/lPRQ)

181 in the late 70's a friend and I hitchhiked to california from Houston, then up the coast to SF, rode freight trains back...tracks go through the mountains, along original rail lines, faaaar from the roads for the most part, in the wilderness. LOTS of really old places, abandoned mines, and towns, wrecked trains at the bottom of cliffs, wildlife that was unafraid, bears by the side of the tracks standing up to watch the train go by. One of the most intesting experiences was being on a train that stopped for a while in the middle of nowhere, on a military base, we sat on top of a load of pipe and watched tanks chasing around the desert, shooting at target vehicles and older tanks, then these weird planes started flying around and making strange noises, then the old tanks would erupt, turns out they were A10's, still experiential/prototypes. Met some other "Travelers" that gave us insider knowledge on how to get around, figure out what trains went where,and when, what to watch out for, railyards to avoid, ones where food/showers were available. There was a place near Valentine texas that had a hotel/restaurant where we could shower, wash clothes, get really cheep food.

Posted by: birddog at April 30, 2025 06:09 PM (s5LY2)

182 A truly horrible song.
I wish the band plentiful suffering.

This is how I feel about almost everything Paul McCartney did post-Beatles.

Posted by: Grapefruit LaCroix at April 30, 2025 06:09 PM (vOJ4/)

183 I wonder if riding the rails is a N. American activity or is it also elsewhere? Canada? Mexico? S. America?
Posted by: Ciampino

Hard to jump a bullet train in Japan.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 30, 2025 06:09 PM (xsqwN)

184 You ain't stopping at this hotel, kid. My hotel! The stars at night, I put 'em there. And I know the presidents, all of them. And I go where I damn well please. Even the chairman of the New York Central can't do it better. My road, kid, and I don't give lessons and I don't take partners. Your ass don't ride this train.

Emperor of the North Pole is free to watch at archive.org.

Posted by: 13times at April 30, 2025 06:10 PM (U2XF+)

185 The Tasting History guy discussed Mulligan Stew and hobos yesterday

https://youtu.be/2doMXDFOXeM

Posted by: Chuck C at April 30, 2025 06:13 PM (D0HYP)

186 You know who else liked trains?
Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at April 30, 2025 05:47 PM (4/BuS)

Sandra Fluke
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 30, 2025 06:08 PM (ExV1e)

Rod Stewart.

Allegedly.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 30, 2025 06:14 PM (dGCAG)

187 Used to be in this country, the bums had some class.

Posted by: Don Black at April 30, 2025 06:14 PM (AOsQT)

188 Amtrak hobos are the most vile breed to ever ride the rails.

These nasty scum became divas when railfan, Cadaver Joe Biden, pumped the taxpayers and subsidized this 19th century loser passenger service.

Posted by: Rev Wishbone at April 30, 2025 06:14 PM (fY84s)

189 Always felt McCartney was driving Lennon, but maybe it was the other way around. Both unlistenable post Beatles.

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at April 30, 2025 06:14 PM (wBaIH)

190 You know who else liked trains?
Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at April 30, 2025 05:47 PM (4/BuS)

Sandra Fluke
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 30, 2025 06:08 PM (ExV1e)

Rod Stewart.

Allegedly.
Posted by: BurtTC at April 30, 2025 06:14 PM (dGCAG)

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

Donkey-Chompers.

Posted by: ShainS at April 30, 2025 06:15 PM (iEoh7)

191 You know who else liked trains?
Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at April 30, 2025 05:47 PM (4/BuS)

Sandra Fluke
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 30, 2025 06:08 PM (ExV1e)

Rod Stewart.

Allegedly.
Posted by: BurtTC at April 30, 2025 06:14 PM (dGCAG)

Definitely: https://tinyurl.com/29ypwrdn

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 30, 2025 06:16 PM (VNX3d)

192 Definitely: https://tinyurl.com/29ypwrdn
Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 30, 2025 06:16 PM (VNX3d)

I'm at work, I am NOT clicking that link.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 30, 2025 06:17 PM (dGCAG)

193 "In The Big Rock Candy Mountains
There's a land that's fair and bright
Where the handouts grow on bushes
And you sleep out every night
Where the boxcars all are empty
And the sun shines every day
On the birds and the bees and the cigarette trees
The lemonade springs where the bluebird sings
In The Big Rock Candy Mountains

Posted by: Hatari somewhere on Ventura Highway at April 30, 2025 06:17 PM (NtVYv)

194 Are these Hobo Courts any more fair than our Federal Courts?

Posted by: Skip at April 30, 2025 06:17 PM (ypFCm)

195 Definitely: https://tinyurl.com/29ypwrdn
Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 30, 2025 06:16 PM (VNX3d)

I'm at work, I am NOT clicking that link.
Posted by: BurtTC at April 30, 2025 06:17 PM (dGCAG)

Goes to the BBC, showing off his rather large model railroad.

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 30, 2025 06:17 PM (VNX3d)

196 183 I wonder if riding the rails is a N. American activity or is it also elsewhere? Canada? Mexico? S. America?
Posted by: Ciampino

Hard to jump a bullet train in Japan.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 30, 2025 06:09 PM (xsqwN)
----
I'm visualizing Wiley Coyote splattered on the front of that.

Posted by: Ciampino - it's an adventure? at April 30, 2025 06:17 PM (sPQoU)

197 @noble heroes, yeah, Proctor was a douchebag, he's been fired since then. I still think KR accidentally hit him and left the scene clueless and drunk. Others think it was 2nd degree murder. I just want it to be over.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 30, 2025 06:18 PM (2cS/G)

198 Rooms to let... 50 Cents?

Yeah... I wish...

Posted by: Romeo13 at April 30, 2025 06:18 PM (QAkQ3)

199 I wonder if riding the rails is a N. American activity or is it also elsewhere? Canada? Mexico? S. America?
Posted by: Ciampino

It isn't a thing in Japan but I think it was in Canada for sure, maybe the UK and France.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at April 30, 2025 06:19 PM (xcxpd)

200 196 183 I wonder if riding the rails is a N. American activity or is it also elsewhere? Canada? Mexico? S. America?
Posted by: Ciampino

Hard to jump a bullet train in Japan.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 30, 2025 06:09 PM (xsqwN)
----
I'm visualizing Wiley Coyote splattered on the front of that.
Posted by: Ciampino - it's an adventure? at April 30, 2025 06:17 PM (sPQoU)

Currently most of Calif High Speed rail routes are homeless camps.

Posted by: Romeo13 at April 30, 2025 06:19 PM (QAkQ3)

201 Speaking of hobos and trains, I continue to recommend Bill James' book, "The Man From the Train."

About an axe murderer who went from town to town, killing families as he went. Murders went unsolved, because local cops at the time didn't communicate with each other... and the kinds of things one might expect modern detectives to notice, they didn't have pro detectives back then either.

Interestingly, there was a DIFFERENT axe murderer, active at the dame time, concentrated mostly around the South, whereas the guy from James' book went all over, including the famous Villisca murders, with an alleged haunted house still standing today.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 30, 2025 06:19 PM (dGCAG)

202 They forgot to mention
Watch out for Kitchener Lesley.

Posted by: MikeN at April 30, 2025 06:20 PM (HVZOH)

203 Hard to jump a bullet train in Japan.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 30, 2025 06:09 PM (xsqwN)
----
I'm visualizing Wiley Coyote splattered on the front of that.
Posted by: Ciampino

*snort.

Posted by: rickb223 at April 30, 2025 06:20 PM (xsqwN)

204
www.youtube.com/watch?v=QSGVD2DgWy8

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at April 30, 2025 06:20 PM (wwsl/)

205 Goes to the BBC, showing off his rather large model railroad.
Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 30, 2025 06:17 PM (VNX3d)

Oh.

Not that kind of train.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 30, 2025 06:21 PM (dGCAG)

206 The man in the top photo looks like Ward Bond. Maybe a still from a film?

Posted by: Joe at April 30, 2025 06:21 PM (aBgBM)

207 One of my college buddies nicknamed me "Boxcar" for...reasons...

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 30, 2025 06:24 PM (GlyvH)

208 off sock

Posted by: Gref at April 30, 2025 06:25 PM (aBgBM)

209 Bottle of wine
Fruit of the vine
When you going to let me get sober

Leave me alone
Let me go home
Let me go home and start over

-zombie Box Car Willy

Posted by: Father Julius Santuci at April 30, 2025 06:27 PM (r3F/z)

210 . . . and learn to dance.

Posted by: Leo Sayer at April 30, 2025 06:29 PM (kvDvI)

211 One of my college buddies nicknamed me "Boxcar" for...reasons...
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 30, 2025 06:24 PM (GlyvH)

You met Ronette Polaski in one?

Posted by: BurtTC at April 30, 2025 06:30 PM (dGCAG)

212 Harder to ride a high speed rail in California

Posted by: Skip at April 30, 2025 06:30 PM (ypFCm)

213 Harder to ride a high speed rail in California
Posted by: Skip at April 30, 2025 06:30 PM (ypFCm)

Has it started running, or is it still faster to walk?

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 30, 2025 06:31 PM (VNX3d)

214 Happy Hitler death day 4/30/45

Posted by: Bob Crane at April 30, 2025 06:32 PM (OERWa)

215 Book; Hoboes: Bindlestiffs, Fruit Tramps, and the Harvesting of the West.

Informative but tedious in sections.

Posted by: 13times at April 30, 2025 06:32 PM (djCLr)

216 Are these Hobo Courts any more fair than our Federal Courts?

I've never heard of them, so they must not outrank the President like our Federal courts do.

Posted by: t-bird at April 30, 2025 06:33 PM (Xm4LY)

217 She thinks they're idiots, and that things up in the hat are going to get worse.
Posted by: Weirddave

I'm seeing a lot of X posts assuming a split of east v west. Independent, not running to the embrace of the US. Then running to the embrace of the US.

Posted by: Blutarski, Gradually then Suddenly at April 30, 2025 06:33 PM (b294k)

218 I remember Dennis the Menace would run away from home and hang out with a hobo that looked a lot like Mr Wilson.

Posted by: fd at April 30, 2025 06:34 PM (uH1zk)

219 FIL used to put hobos to work at his roofing yard. paid the worker and the family if he could find them.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 30, 2025 06:35 PM (EafHQ)

220 Pain in my head
Bugs in my bed
My pants are so old they shine
Out on the street
I tell the people I meet to buy me a bottle of wine
- zombie Burl Ives and the railrider Trio

Posted by: Father Julius Santuci at April 30, 2025 06:37 PM (r3F/z)

221 If present at a hobo court and you have testimony, give it. Whether for or against the accused, your voice counts!
---
How does a "hobo court" work? Who is the adjudicator? Who acts as the prosecutor and who acts as the defense?
What sort of punishments are meted out?
Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 30, 2025 05:17 PM (7fElN)

James Blish wrote a series of novels where individual cities were ripped out of the earth and turned into faster than light vessels using Spindizzy motors. They use a hobo analogy for themselves, and bad character cities were called bindlestiffs - those who stole from other hobos.

My guess is there were places where multiple hobos would hang out to travel or get work. When they got together and swapped info, a hobo or group could raise issues about others who did bad things to them or others and some sort of frontier justice could be done.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 30, 2025 06:37 PM (asFox)

222 sugar beat trains going north out of Santa Barbara used to attract friends... Vandenberg on fed property would inspect the train and catch all riders.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 30, 2025 06:38 PM (EafHQ)

223 Off Santucci sock

Posted by: Iwas Gu.by Damn It! at April 30, 2025 06:39 PM (r3F/z)

224 When jungling in town...

Ok, I'm not looking up jungling at the urban dictionary.
Posted by: dantesed at April 30, 2025 05:17 PM (Oy/m2)

staying in a hobo jungle, presumably areas hobo camped for a while while they did jobs or took handouts before moving on.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 30, 2025 06:40 PM (asFox)

225 My Dad 'road the rails' from the time he was 14 to 16 years old. He was fifth in a family of five kids, no father and his mom a hotel maid. They turned him out, just line a lot of family's did. Most 'hobos' were kids

And here is what was called 'riding the rails'

https://tinyurl.com/4h8dh5fw

Posted by: javems at April 30, 2025 06:41 PM (8I4hW)

226 190 You know who else liked trains?
Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at April 30, 2025 05:47 PM (4/BuS)

Sandra Fluke
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at April 30, 2025 06:08 PM (ExV1e)

Rod Stewart.

Allegedly.
Posted by: BurtTC at April 30, 2025 06:14 PM (dGCAG)

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

Donkey-Chompers.

brett kavanaugh

Posted by: anachronda at April 30, 2025 06:42 PM (sGtp+)

227 Fascinating post. You’re so right, in the 19th century Hobos had a code of ethics that our current congressional representatives can’t live up to. Thanks WD, I enjoyed this.
Posted by: Rufus T. Firefly

vs. bindlestiffs.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 30, 2025 06:42 PM (EafHQ)

228 Trailers for sale or rent,
Rooms to let $.50,
No phone, no shoes, no pets,
I ain't got no cigarettes

Oh, but two hours of pushing brooms
buys an 8 x 6 four bit room

Posted by: rickb223 at April 30, 2025 06:44 PM (xsqwN)

229 My brother and I were hobos for Halloween. I wore boys' Jeanas, carried a stick with a kerchief, and my mom made my face dirty, but added more freckles. I loved it.

Posted by: LASue at April 30, 2025 06:46 PM (lCppi)

230 We still call a local area where the train crosses the river, hobo jungle. There were still some in the 80s. Now it's just bums and drug addicts
Posted by: Hatari somewhere on Ventura Highway at April 30, 2025 06:01 PM (NtVYv)

Don't recall any actual hobos but a messy room or backyard with lots of bits of this or that waiting for reuse was compared to a hobo jungle.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 30, 2025 06:46 PM (asFox)

231 About an axe murderer who went from town to town, killing families as he went. Murders went unsolved, because local cops at the time didn't communicate with each other... and the kinds of things one might expect modern detectives to notice, they didn't have pro detectives back then either.

Interestingly, there was a DIFFERENT axe murderer, active at the dame time, concentrated mostly around the South, whereas the guy from James' book went all over, including the famous Villisca murders, with an alleged haunted house still standing today.
Posted by: BurtTC at April 30, 2025 06:19 PM (dGCAG)

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

Even with all our technology and investigative techniques, cops estimate that there are somewhere between 200 and 300 active mass murderers on the loose at any one time.

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at April 30, 2025 06:46 PM (lJmmt)

232 Was almost caught parking in Amtrack lot this week, the cop was parked right next to my truck and couldn't go to it, had to wait him out.

Posted by: Skip at April 30, 2025 06:46 PM (ypFCm)

233 I recently learned (maybe not true?) that HOBO stands for "HOmeward BOund."

Posted by: LASue at April 30, 2025 06:47 PM (lCppi)

234 James Blish wrote a series of novels where individual cities were ripped out of the earth and turned into faster than light vessels using Spindizzy motors. They use a hobo analogy for themselves, and bad character cities were called bindlestiffs - those who stole from other hobos.

Posted by: Oldcat

'Cities in flight', I liked the series way back when.

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 30, 2025 06:48 PM (EafHQ)

235 @noble heroes, yeah, Proctor was a douchebag, he's been fired since then. I still think KR accidentally hit him and left the scene clueless and drunk. Others think it was 2nd degree murder. I just want it to be over.
Posted by: Lincolntf at April 30, 2025 06:18 PM (2cS/G)

I dont think so. The injuries and physical evidence don't match up at all. I think it was the German Shepard in the house with the Brians.

Posted by: LASue at April 30, 2025 06:49 PM (lCppi)

236 Wasn't mortal engines the same kind of concept?

Also that episode of Dr Who.

Posted by: Aetius451AD workphone bot at April 30, 2025 06:49 PM (E2I8c)

237 Even with all our technology and investigative techniques, cops estimate that there are somewhere between 200 and 300 active mass murderers on the loose at any one time.
Posted by: MAGA_Ken

Mass murderers?
Serial killers, sure. All it takes is two at different times.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 30, 2025 06:49 PM (/lPRQ)

238 Even with all our technology and investigative techniques, cops estimate that there are somewhere between 200 and 300 active mass murderers on the loose at any one time.
Posted by: MAGA_Ken

Counting the FBI or not?

Posted by: AZ deplorable moron at April 30, 2025 06:49 PM (EafHQ)

239 Even with all our technology and investigative techniques, cops estimate that there are somewhere between 200 and 300 active mass murderers on the loose at any one time.
Posted by: MAGA_Ken at April 30, 2025 06:46 PM (lJmmt)

Hmmm, I'm curious, because I've heard the number 100-200 SERIAL killers... would mass murderers include serial killers, and others not so designated?

Because yeah, truckers are good candidates for the task.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 30, 2025 06:50 PM (dGCAG)

240 #13 would preclude Democrat Hobos these days

Posted by: Little Larry Sellers at April 30, 2025 06:51 PM (th/4a)

241 Attention Soviet space historians.

Cosmo 482 is in a decaying orbit and may impact the Earth.

Fun thing is Cosmo 482 has been in an elongated orbit around Earth since its booster stage failed in 1972. This satellite was supposed to go to Venus and penetrate the thick Venusian atmosphere.

No one knows which part of Cosmo 482 this is, but the speculation is it is the lander. Which means it stands a good chance of surviving reentry. We might see 500Kg of Soviet space probe crashing to Earth.

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 30, 2025 06:51 PM (HxdNq)

242 Because yeah, truckers are good candidates for the task.
Posted by: BurtTC

Door to door salemen.
Never trust the Kirby vacuum guy.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 30, 2025 06:51 PM (/lPRQ)

243 Because yeah, truckers are good candidates for the task.
Posted by: BurtTC at April 30, 2025 06:50 PM (dGCAG)

This would be a perfect time for commenter Robert to post a *shifty eyes*.

Posted by: Aetius451AD workphone bot at April 30, 2025 06:51 PM (E2I8c)

244 I recently learned (maybe not true?) that HOBO stands for "HOmeward BOund."
Posted by: LASue at April 30, 2025 06:47 PM (lCppi)

The stereotypical hobo is sketchy on the home part. I suppose in reality there might be family men regularly travelling for seasonal work around the country.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 30, 2025 06:51 PM (asFox)

245 No one knows which part of Cosmo 482 this is, but the speculation is it is the lander. Which means it stands a good chance of surviving reentry. We might see 500Kg of Soviet space probe crashing to Earth.
Posted by: Anna Puma

Does it have a diamond lens for a camera?
Prize for whoever's house it lands on.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 30, 2025 06:52 PM (/lPRQ)

246 We might see 500Kg of Soviet space probe crashing to Earth.
Posted by: Anna Puma at April 30, 2025 06:51 PM (HxdNq)

Cool- except for whomever it lands on.

Posted by: Aetius451AD workphone bot at April 30, 2025 06:52 PM (E2I8c)

247 Ace goes on vacation and we start getting pro-Hobo propaganda. For shame.

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director still hunts the North American Hobo at April 30, 2025 06:53 PM (scBt+)

248 Sadly, my fate is such that I am the moderator of a friend's YT channel covering a big case in MA. The "Karen Read" case if anyone has heard of it. We are on the second trial now, after a mistrial last year, and I would gleefully accept a Hobo Court over whatever the Hell is happening in Canton.
Posted by: Lincolntf at April 30, 2025 05:22 PM (2cS/G)

I watch Emily's live feed and The Lawyer you know recaps. Sometimes the other woman lawyer or the Bailey guy from Canada. Are any of those yours??

Posted by: LASue at April 30, 2025 06:53 PM (lCppi)

249 @LaSue. There are plenty of people who believe that, and I rule nothing out, but the Defense has not used that yet in this case, so it's not in question yet. When my dog bites me (friendly while playing catch, etc.) she does leave marks like JOK's arm, but if she was serious, she could probably rip my arm off. 130 pound Cane Corso.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 30, 2025 06:54 PM (2cS/G)

250 Because yeah, truckers are good candidates for the task.
Posted by: BurtTC

Door to door salemen.
Never trust the Kirby vacuum guy.
Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at April 30, 2025 06:51 PM (/lPRQ)

Too many Ring camera-doorbells these days.

Posted by: BurtTC at April 30, 2025 06:54 PM (dGCAG)

251 Thick Venusians are hot!

Posted by: Guy who likes thick Venusians at April 30, 2025 06:55 PM (vFG9F)

252 >> We might see 500Kg of Soviet space probe crashing to Earth.

Tanned, rested, and ready, Oscar.

Posted by: Lee Majors, feeling like $6M again at April 30, 2025 06:55 PM (w6EFb)

253 Meta up 5.5% after-hours on strong earnings. Microsoft up 7.7% on same.

Trump killed the economy! REEEE!

Posted by: Disinterested FDA Director still hunts the North American Hobo at April 30, 2025 06:55 PM (scBt+)

254 Lot of hobos were fucking each other in the ass. Like prison, they had few hobo women to spread their filth in so why don't you just drop them pants.

Posted by: Rock Candy Mountain at April 30, 2025 06:56 PM (R/m4+)

255 @LaSue, No, I am the mod for Yellow Cottage Tales, the host is a longtime friend in real life.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 30, 2025 06:57 PM (2cS/G)

256 Possible landfall is still completely unknown.

What parts of Earth landmasses might be in danger, Estonia all the way south to Cape Town South Africa are the danger zone.

Irony would be it hitting Baikonur.

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 30, 2025 06:57 PM (HxdNq)

257 I'm at work, I am NOT clicking that link.
Posted by: BurtTC at April 30, 2025 06:17 PM (dGCAG)

A picture of his model railroad. Wish mine was 1/4 as nice as that. Damn.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at April 30, 2025 06:57 PM (5xuJ/)

258
Speaking of launch failures, Firefly Aerospace had a mishap yesterday (or day before) with their new orbital launch system. They were attempting to launch a Lockheed satellite of some sort.

During a rather robust staging event, turned out the 2nd stage engine nozzle extension got knocked off. Engine ignited, but without the nozzle, efficiency was way too low, and orbit was not achieved.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 30, 2025 06:57 PM (w6EFb)

259 What's the chance of getting it to fall on Chuck Schumer?

Posted by: Guy who likes thick Venusians at April 30, 2025 06:58 PM (vFG9F)

260

What this world needs is a good two dollar room and a good two dollar broom.

https://youtu.be/LX6ZLTFwSaw

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at April 30, 2025 06:58 PM (63Dwl)

261 No one knows which part of Cosmo 482 this is, but the speculation is it is the lander. Which means it stands a good chance of surviving reentry. We might see 500Kg of Soviet space probe crashing to Earth.
Posted by: Anna Puma
......

Dibs on Laika.

Posted by: wth at April 30, 2025 06:59 PM (v0R5T)

262 What's the chance of getting it to fall on Chuck Schumer?

Probably better chance of winning tonight's Powerball than that happening

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 30, 2025 06:59 PM (HxdNq)

263 Send up Space Cowboys to stop the satellite from falling

Posted by: Smell the Glove at April 30, 2025 07:00 PM (Er3Q7)

264 Laika has been dog-b-que for decades.

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 30, 2025 07:00 PM (HxdNq)

265 What's the chance of getting it to fall on Chuck Schumer?
Posted by: Guy who likes thick Venusians at April 30, 2025 06:58 PM (vFG9F)

So what we need is our snidley whiplash costumes, some rope, and a target area...

Posted by: Aetius451AD workphone bot at April 30, 2025 07:00 PM (E2I8c)

266 I wonder if riding the rails is a N. American activity or is it also elsewhere? Canada? Mexico? S. America?
Posted by: Ciampino - it's an adventure at April 30, 2025 05:49 PM (sPQoU)

You'd need a large country but sparsely populated because in one case you either walk or stay in the same city.

Canada sure could qualify. Russia and parts of the East Europe, sre.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 30, 2025 07:00 PM (asFox)

267 Does India count? Are all those people paying customers?

Posted by: Aetius451AD workphone bot at April 30, 2025 07:02 PM (E2I8c)

268 So what we need is our snidley whiplash costumes, some rope, and a target area...

You'll be thwarted by the Dover boys.

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 30, 2025 07:02 PM (HxdNq)

269 Russia and parts of the East Europe, sre.
Posted by: Oldcat at April 30, 2025 07:00 PM (asFox)

Dress warm.

Posted by: Trans-Siberian Hobo at April 30, 2025 07:02 PM (scBt+)

270 I occasionally check in on this guy to see what he's up to:

https://www.youtube.com/@RanOutOnARail

Posted by: profligatewaste at April 30, 2025 07:02 PM (lkl+P)

271 Laika has been dog-b-que for decades.
Posted by: Anna Puma at April 30, 2025 07:00 PM (HxdNq)

Shed be more freeze dried, right? Oh, when did she come down. I hope it was after....

Fuck, I hate the soviets.

Posted by: Aetius451AD workphone bot at April 30, 2025 07:03 PM (E2I8c)

272 The punk rolled up his big blue eyes
And said to the jocker, "Sandy,
I've hiked and hiked and wandered too,
But I ain't seen any candy.
I've hiked and hiked till my feet are sore
And I'll be damned if I hike any more
To be (blank)
In the Big Rock Candy Mountains.

The missing lyrics were never published. Some say it was "buggered". Big Homo was not active in those days.

Posted by: Rock Candy Mountain at April 30, 2025 07:03 PM (R/m4+)

273 The de-orbit happened after Laika died in orbit.

Soviets.

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 30, 2025 07:03 PM (HxdNq)

274 As a kid I pretended to be a hobo, but never far from home.

Posted by: Eromero at April 30, 2025 07:04 PM (LHPAg)

275 "Laika has been dog-b-que for decades.
Posted by: Anna Puma"

She's at the farm.

Posted by: Guy who likes thick Venusians at April 30, 2025 07:04 PM (vFG9F)

276 Never stop hating the Soviets.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 30, 2025 07:04 PM (2cS/G)

277 The de-orbit happened after Laika died in orbit.

Soviets.
Posted by: Anna Puma at April 30, 2025 07:03 PM (HxdNq)

That was probably better than burning up, not knowing what was going on.

I don't know why, but I can't figure out why it pisses me off more than the chimps.

Posted by: Aetius451AD workphone bot at April 30, 2025 07:05 PM (E2I8c)

278 We have a double rail near our shop. Trains stop at least once a day to let the other go by.
We get a Wyoming coal train almost daily.
If'n I were adventerous...

Posted by: MkY at April 30, 2025 07:05 PM (cPGH3)

279 We might see 500Kg of Soviet space probe crashing to Earth.
Posted by: Anna Puma at April 30, 2025 06:51 PM (HxdNq)

Cool- except for whomever it lands on.
Posted by: Aetius451AD workphone bot at April 30, 2025 06:52 PM (E2I8c)

Bets on landing on the Democrats seeking an audience with Kilmar in El Salvador?

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 30, 2025 07:06 PM (VNX3d)

280 The US brought the chimps home. One even became a leading Democrat Senator - Chuck Schumer.

Soviets left Laika to die in space.

Posted by: Anna Puma at April 30, 2025 07:06 PM (HxdNq)

281 >> Fuck, I hate the soviets.

Why? We sent a lot of critters into space. And we still experiment on dogs a whole bunch.

I guess if you’re PETA you’d only want to experiment on humans, but I’m comfortable with using animals, so long as it’s justifiable.

Posted by: Trans-Siberian Hobo at April 30, 2025 07:06 PM (scBt+)

282 >> Fuck, I hate the soviets.

Why? We sent a lot of critters into space. And we still experiment on dogs a whole bunch.

I guess if you’re PETA you’d only want to experiment on humans, but I’m comfortable with using animals, so long as it’s justifiable.
Posted by: Trans-Siberian Hobo at April 30, 2025 07:06 PM (scBt+)

I think the French sent a cat up on some test flight, but recovered her and she lived a while afterward

Posted by: Oldcat at April 30, 2025 07:09 PM (asFox)

283 I guess if you’re PETA you’d only want to experiment on humans, but I’m comfortable with using animals, so long as it’s justifiable.
Posted by: Trans-Siberian Hobo at April 30, 2025 07:06 PM (scBt+)

PETA just hates competition, they want to kill the pets themselves.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 30, 2025 07:10 PM (asFox)

284 I think the French sent a cat up on some test flight, but recovered her and she lived a while afterward
Posted by: Oldcat at April 30, 2025 07:09 PM (asFox)

How long did the ground crew that opened the hatch survive after the cat's revenge?

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 30, 2025 07:10 PM (VNX3d)

285 263 Send up Space Cowboys to stop the satellite from falling

what's the bounty on it?

Posted by: spike at April 30, 2025 07:10 PM (sGtp+)

286 US Space program killed a bunch of monkeys. In space.

Posted by: runner at April 30, 2025 07:10 PM (g47mK)

287 Posted by: Trans-Siberian Hobo at April 30, 2025 07:06 PM (scBt+)

Oh, I don't have a problem with animal testing in the main. But dogs are different. Like I said, I don't know why aside from I just love dogs.

Posted by: Aetius451AD workphone bot at April 30, 2025 07:10 PM (E2I8c)

288 Let he who has not launched a grasshopper up in an Estes rocket throw the first stone.

Posted by: fd at April 30, 2025 07:11 PM (vFG9F)

289 Insects can die in a fire.

Posted by: Aetius451AD workphone bot at April 30, 2025 07:11 PM (E2I8c)

290 Oh, and turtles.

Posted by: runner at April 30, 2025 07:11 PM (g47mK)

291 The ship cats kill all the vermin.

Posted by: wth at April 30, 2025 07:12 PM (v0R5T)

292 I think the French sent a cat up on some test flight, but recovered her and she lived a while afterward
Posted by: Oldcat at April 30, 2025 07:09 PM (asFox)

The Soviets sent up dogs and recovered them, too. Laika they didn’t bother trying to recover, but the chance of success was probably pretty low.

The US splatted a bunch of macaques before getting the parachutes right.

Posted by: Trans-Siberian Hobo at April 30, 2025 07:12 PM (scBt+)

293 I think the French sent a cat up on some test flight, but recovered her and she lived a while afterward
Posted by: Oldcat at April 30, 2025 07:09 PM (asFox)

How long did the ground crew that opened the hatch survive after the cat's revenge?
Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 30, 2025 07:10 PM (VNX3d)

They had mock beds in the recovery room the cat could piss on to get even.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 30, 2025 07:12 PM (asFox)

294 Pigs, rabbits. Frogs.

Posted by: runner at April 30, 2025 07:13 PM (g47mK)

295 Oh, I don't have a problem with animal testing in the main. But dogs are different. Like I said, I don't know why aside from I just love dogs.
Posted by: Aetius451AD workphone bot at April 30, 2025 07:10 PM (E2I8c)

Fair enough. In the future we should just experiment on commies to avoid any ethical quandries.

Posted by: Trans-Siberian Hobo at April 30, 2025 07:13 PM (scBt+)

296 I dont think these were “hobos” as we today understand the term. They were making their lives on the road, or seasonal migratory workers, or just out for adventure. Many of the most famous early blues and jazz players were basically hobos.

Posted by: Elric the Bladiest Blade at April 30, 2025 07:13 PM (sYo2N)

297 Dogs are trusting companions, monkey are untrustworthy shit throwers.
Therefore: dogs >>> monkeys

Posted by: wth at April 30, 2025 07:15 PM (v0R5T)

298
Speaking of probes, the Dragonfly mission has received final approval. This is going fly a drone quadcopter to Titan. It will be battery powered, with the battery recharged by a RTGs. It will launch in 2028, and take a long, multiple gravity assist path around Venus and Earth and finally get to Saturn by 2034.

When it lands, it will start a 3 year mission of flying all over Titan and sampling everything.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 30, 2025 07:15 PM (w6EFb)

299 Can't say h8 Russians, just Soviets

Posted by: Skip at April 30, 2025 07:16 PM (ypFCm)

300 Here's another from Waypoint Survival on hoboes and hard times

https://tinyurl.com/yr92p2un

Posted by: Notsothoreau at April 30, 2025 07:16 PM (cvWHI)

301 US Space program killed a bunch of monkeys. In space.
Posted by: runner
......

In space no one can hear the monkeys scream

Posted by: wth at April 30, 2025 07:16 PM (v0R5T)

302 287 Posted by: Trans-Siberian Hobo at April 30, 2025 07:06 PM (scBt+)

Oh, I don't have a problem with animal testing in the main. But dogs are different. Like I said, I don't know why aside from I just love dogs.
Posted by: Aetius451AD workphone bot at April 30, 2025 07:10 PM (E2I8c)
What about convicts?
- something those guys said in the 30s and 40s

Posted by: Eromero at April 30, 2025 07:17 PM (LHPAg)

303 My father worked for EG&G for his whole career. Twice he brought home dogs that were supposed to be experimented on and never told us the details. Popeye and Caper were staples of my childhood. Dad also once punched a guy for yelling at our cat, so he was animal-protective, I guess.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 30, 2025 07:17 PM (2cS/G)

304 Well, Clarice, have the monkeys stopped screaming?

Posted by: runner at April 30, 2025 07:18 PM (g47mK)

305 What about convicts?
- something those guys said in the 30s and 40s
Posted by: Eromero at April 30, 2025 07:17 PM (LHPAg)

Probably best not to get into that thicket. That is just a skip from forced organ donation- like the Chinese do now.

Posted by: Aetius451AD workphone bot at April 30, 2025 07:18 PM (E2I8c)

306 Are we sure that the Russia/Ukraine war isn't a complete fake by all parties involved? There are Ukrainians spreading out all over the place but they don't appear too shell shocked.

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at April 30, 2025 07:18 PM (lJmmt)

307
Flying on Titan is a breeze. 0.13g surface gravity and pressure about 1.5 atm, and 4x earth air density. It only takes 1/40th the power to fly the same mass. The low temp is a problem, and also increased drag.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 30, 2025 07:20 PM (w6EFb)

308 US finally got that minerals deals.

Posted by: runner at April 30, 2025 07:20 PM (g47mK)

309 Mars Needs Monkeys

Posted by: wth at April 30, 2025 07:21 PM (v0R5T)

310
Based on what Elon said, the first crew to land on Mars is going to be Optimus robots.

Posted by: publius, Rascally Mr. Miley (w6EFb) at April 30, 2025 07:22 PM (w6EFb)

311 Mineral deal with Z-Dog?
Better keep an eye on the petty cash.

Posted by: wth at April 30, 2025 07:22 PM (v0R5T)

312 Mineral deal with Z-Dog?
Better keep an eye on the petty cash.
Posted by: wth

Has Vlad signed off yet?

Posted by: MkY at April 30, 2025 07:23 PM (cPGH3)

313 US Space program killed a bunch of monkeys. In space.
Posted by: runner
......

In space no one can hear the monkeys scream
Posted by: wth at April 30, 2025 07:16 PM (v0R5T)

I wonder how well they dealt with flung poo....

Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 30, 2025 07:24 PM (VNX3d)

314 Mineral deal with Z-Dog?
Better keep an eye on the petty cash.
Posted by: wth at April 30, 2025

So, I get another billion, right?!

*twitches, wipes nose*

Posted by: Vladimir at April 30, 2025 07:24 PM (E2I8c)

315 Can't say h8 Russians, just Soviets.

Where in the Hell are they all hanging out ? Because the Soviet Union has been dead for about thirty years.

Posted by: Fast Eddie Felson at April 30, 2025 07:25 PM (ZSWqg)

316 Because the Soviet Union has been dead for about thirty years.
Posted by: Fast Eddie Felson at April 30, 2025 07:25 PM (ZSWqg)

LOT of them during covid.

Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at April 30, 2025 07:25 PM (E2I8c)

317 Based on what Elon said, the first crew to land on Mars is going to be Optimus robots.

Commanded by Zombie Dr. Smith.

Posted by: Notorious BFD at April 30, 2025 07:26 PM (mH6SG)

318 Somebody should tell V. Putin that the Soviet Union is over. He apparently didn't get the memo.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 30, 2025 07:27 PM (2cS/G)

319 A cat in space makes a certain amount of sense.

It would feel vindicated. "Look how special I am, doing things the stupid hoomans cant."

And it would totally love the emptiness. "At last! I am free of the stupidity I am forced to deal with."

Posted by: 2009Refugee at April 30, 2025 07:27 PM (8AONa)

320 I think the French sent a cat up on some test flight, but recovered her and she lived a while afterward
Posted by: Oldcat at April 30, 2025 07:09 PM (asFox)

How long did the ground crew that opened the hatch survive after the cat's revenge?
Posted by: Hour of the Wolf at April 30, 2025 07:10 PM (VNX3d)
---
Huh. A real life version of Schroedinger' s Cat.

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at April 30, 2025 07:28 PM (GlyvH)

321 Because the Soviet Union has been dead for about thirty years.
Posted by: Fast Eddie Felson at April 30, 2025 07:25 PM (ZSWqg)

LOT of them during covid.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at April 30, 2025 07:25 PM (E2I8c)

Yeah - but they were all born and raised here. Which was ironic, because at least half of them were of the same generation so proud of winning the Cold War.

Posted by: Fast Eddie Felson at April 30, 2025 07:28 PM (ZSWqg)

322 @LaSue, No, I am the mod for Yellow Cottage Tales, the host is a longtime friend in real life.
Posted by: Lincolntf at April 30, 2025 06:57 PM (2cS/G)

I'll give it a listen! thanks

Posted by: LASue at April 30, 2025 07:29 PM (lCppi)

323 319 A cat in space makes a certain amount of sense.

It would feel vindicated. "Look how special I am, doing things the stupid hoomans cant."

And it would totally love the emptiness. "At last! I am free of the stupidity I am forced to deal with."
Posted by: 2009Refugee at April 30, 2025 07:27 PM (8AONa)
How do we know they're not there neow?

Posted by: Eromero at April 30, 2025 07:30 PM (LHPAg)

324 Are we sure that the Russia/Ukraine war isn't a complete fake by all parties involved? There are Ukrainians spreading out all over the place but they don't appear too shell shocked.
Posted by: MAGA_Ken at April 30, 2025 07:18 PM (lJmmt)

I dont seek out War Porn, but I once saw a video of a Russian shot thru both legs in a trench line by a drone, a friendly drone was doing top cover and he was being directed which way to turn and drag himself along, and over a junction point where the medics could get him out without danger from another Ukraine drone shooting him.

It's nasty in a lot of new ways because the observation is universal and drones can follow you almost anywhere to blow you up.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 30, 2025 07:31 PM (asFox)

325 306 Are we sure that the Russia/Ukraine war isn't a complete fake by all parties involved? There are Ukrainians spreading out all over the place but they don't appear too shell shocked.
Posted by: MAGA_Ken at April 30, 2025 07:18 PM (lJmmt)

It’s reminded me of that war in Star Trek where both planets just pretend to fight on their computers. They enforce casualties every so often to make people think they’re serious.

Posted by: Tom Servo at April 30, 2025 07:32 PM (QULmo)

326 @LASue, Cool, but be forewarned, most people following the case don't like him (he thinks KR is guilty). At this point I don't give an eff, I just want it over.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 30, 2025 07:32 PM (2cS/G)

327 There was "hobo secret code" as well.

They'd mark homes who would feed them somehow.

My grandmother did feed anyone who came to her house hungry. While not inviting them inside, they knew to go to her backdoor and she'd give them a meal.

The hobos of the past were polite and not robbers or bad men, or, apparently, Dimocrats, Auntifa, or BLM.

Posted by: ChristyBlinkyTheGreat at April 30, 2025 07:33 PM (6PCLE)

328 t’s reminded me of that war in Star Trek where both planets just pretend to fight on their computers. They enforce casualties every so often to make people think they’re serious.
Posted by: Tom Servo at April 30, 2025 07:32 PM (QULmo)

Very powerful episode.

Posted by: runner at April 30, 2025 07:33 PM (g47mK)

329 Because the Soviet Union has been dead for about thirty years.
Posted by: Fast Eddie Felson at April 30, 2025 07:25 PM (ZSWqg)

LOT of them during covid.
Posted by: Aetius451AD work phone at April 30, 2025 07:25 PM (E2I8c)

Never heard that. Lockdowns were mostly ignored from what I heard.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 30, 2025 07:33 PM (asFox)

330 NOOD

Posted by: Skip at April 30, 2025 07:33 PM (ypFCm)

331 Send spiders into space so we can get their perspective of web-weaving and navigation in zero g.

Posted by: Rev Wishbone at April 30, 2025 07:34 PM (fY84s)

332 Somebody should tell V. Putin that the Soviet Union is over. He apparently didn't get the memo.

Posted by: Lincolntf at April 30, 2025 07:27 PM (2cS/G)

Tell him yourself. Flights to Kiev every day. They're still taking volunteers.

Its the ultimate in Global Democracy and Independence, if you ask me. No more need for drafts and such. The ultimate opportunity for self-expression. Imagine, back in the 'Nam days - not even having to enlist or dodge the draft !!! Just hop a plane, land in Saigon, and do your part to stop the spread of the Red Menace !!! Really put your Geo-Political Personal Feelings to the test.

Posted by: Fast Eddie Felson at April 30, 2025 07:34 PM (ZSWqg)

333 Send spiders into space so we can get their perspective of web-weaving and navigation in zero g.
Posted by: Rev Wishbone at April 30, 2025 07:34 PM (fY84s)

Did that.

Posted by: Oldcat at April 30, 2025 07:35 PM (asFox)

334 331 Send spiders into space so we can get their perspective of web-weaving and navigation in zero g.
Posted by: Rev Wishbone at April 30, 2025 07:34 PM (fY84s)
Done!

Posted by: Eromero at April 30, 2025 07:35 PM (LHPAg)

335 I took an hour and a half nap so I could get up early to see the doctor in the bright almost auroral AM, so I missed some of the discussion in the last thread: Bulg what is the title of the book you are reading that says the Brits done it? From the comments I caught up on in the last thread I’m beginning to be persuaded that all five eyes were in on it, but there were still a lot of Mossad connections. All deep state worldwide, maybe?

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at April 30, 2025 07:35 PM (sagpo)

336 As far as hobo courts enacting rough justice, there was a study from Tuskegee University that looked at lynchings from 1882 to 1964. There were 4,745 total lynchings. 3,446 were of blacks. 1,299 were of whites. That’s over 27% whites lynched. The study noted that in the early years whites and blacks were lynched in almost equal numbers. Hobos didn’t even need a rope. Nothing easier than taking a hobo who needed killing on a train ride and throwing him out at high speed or over rough or deep terrain. Vigilante justice is wrong, but it came more easily to our ancestors.

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at April 30, 2025 07:43 PM (sagpo)

337
I have a would be SiL if he and our daughter ever got hitched.

He rides the rails hither and yon around the country going from place of work to place of work. He has talked about the life and which rail cars provide the best ride (hopper cars with horizontal platforms at both ends).

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at April 30, 2025 07:51 PM (Tv15w)

338 "Last Thoughts," by Kevin Henry tells the story of Kevin's hobo grandfather who got cornholed in jail. Good times.

Posted by: Marooned at April 30, 2025 08:06 PM (kt8QE)

339 02 287 Posted by: Trans-Siberian Hobo at April 30, 2025 07:06 PM (scBt+)

Oh, I don't have a problem with animal testing in the main. But dogs are different. Like I said, I don't know why aside from I just love dogs.
Posted by: Aetius451AD workphone bot at April 30, 2025 07:10 PM (E2I8c)
What about convicts?
- something those guys said in the 30s and 40s

Have you seen the testing? They have done on primates and cows and horses and lions that have never seen the light of day or had their feet on the grass. Are you that crazy?

Posted by: Gonzotx at April 30, 2025 10:01 PM (nGraA)

340 My father grew up on a dairy farm in Central Wisconsin that had a railway that ran through the fields just north of the barn and stopped in a town just 1.5 miles west. He said that when he was a child, hobos would come and ask for food in exchange for manual farm labor. Farmers were struggling during the depression so they didn't have much to share. At least the story that he told was that the hobos were usually good guys and my grandmother fed them for their work.

Posted by: lcivacic at April 30, 2025 10:18 PM (Hqceu)

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