The Off Topic Topic

[celedhring]

Here's a question:  Is there as much of an economic case for passenger rail in a time where telecommunications has reduced the volume of short-haul business commuters?

I will dispute the claim that it has reduced volume - at least over here. The Barcelona rail commuter system posted one of the highest passenger totals last year, and it's believed we'll have a new record this year.

In the end, just a fraction of work can be WFHed, so you still need to move lots of people around every day, and rail is the best suited mass transit system for that.

[Josquius]

I've seen there's some big furore over in the US about non-biological women using the toilet at the capitol.
I had no idea Terminator 3 was a documentary.

So here's a personal anecdote mixed with some political news:

Donald Trump has named Linda McMahon as his nominee for Secretary of Education.  McMahon is of course an interesting pick as she is former CEO of WWE (and ex-wife of Vince McMahon), although she also ran for senate twice in Connecticut.

But there's reports of a separate controversy: that McMahon falsified her credentials.  In particular, that she falsely claimed to have an education degree.  In fact, however, she instead has a BA in French, and also a teaching certificate.

So a couple different thoughts.

I really am no Trump apologist.  I really don't think Linda McMahon is qualified to be Secretary of Education (although she did serve in the first Trump administration as Small Business something-or-other and did not embarrass herself).

But she's of a similar age to my mother, who was a teacher for many years.  My mother did not initially get a BEd - she instead got a teacher's certificate.  At that time just a teacher's certificate was quite common.  My mother did however go on to get her BEd in her 40s.

But also - I've sometimes said I have a BSc in Geology.  That's not technically correct.  Instead I have a BSc in Environmental Science, with a specialization in geology.  Back then the Environmental Science program was brand new so you had to take a specialization that was quite honestly about 80-90% of the way to a full degree, because there weren't otherwise enough courses in Environmental Science itself in the mid-90s.

But that took me like 4 lines to explain, so sometimes I just go with "geology degree".  But I'd hate for someone to think I was trying to falsify my credentials.

Curious. We have a similar storm in a tea cup at the moment with the chancellor's linked in saying she worked in retail banking for a bank when she usually claims to have been an economist there.

But yes. Similar with me. I usually just say my degree is in computer science rather than explaining what HCI is to people.

[Valmy]

She has a teaching certificate? Well damn she might just be overqualified for her post by most Trump appointment standards.

[Valmy]

I thought Trump and the GOP wanted to close the DoE...so why would a qualified candidate matter?

I think the heritage foundation types want to. God only knows what Trump wants to do with it.

[mongers]

Here's a question:  Is there as much of an economic case for passenger rail in a time where telecommunications has reduced the volume of short-haul business commuters?

Well the service/line I use most, Cardiff-Bristol-Southampton-Portsmouth is still packed with commuters; indeed sometimes they only put three or even two carriage trains on during rush hour to add a little extra spice .

[PJL]

Here's a question:  Is there as much of an economic case for passenger rail in a time where telecommunications has reduced the volume of short-haul business commuters?

Well the service/line I use most, Cardiff-Bristol-Southampton-Portsmouth is still packed with commuters; indeed sometimes they only put three or even two carriage trains on during rush hour to add a little extra spice .

A trick I've starting using to get a seat on crowded trains is to make sure I am in a position on the platform where the front carriage is going to stop. I usually find getting a seat easier there. Granted this probably only works if there are 4 or more carriages, since there's only so much space to go round with less.

[mongers]

Here's a question:  Is there as much of an economic case for passenger rail in a time where telecommunications has reduced the volume of short-haul business commuters?

Well the service/line I use most, Cardiff-Bristol-Southampton-Portsmouth is still packed with commuters; indeed sometimes they only put three or even two carriage trains on during rush hour to add a little extra spice .

A trick I've starting using to get a seat on crowded trains is to make sure I am in a position on the platform where the front carriage is going to stop. I usually find getting a seat easier there. Granted this probably only works if there are 4 or more carriages, since there's only so much space to go round with less.

Yes, that would work well for the both of the London-Exeter/Dorset lines I use at those are invariable 8-10 carriage trains and most people can't be bothered to walk that far up the platform.   

[Barrister]

She has a teaching certificate? Well damn she might just be overqualified for her post by most Trump appointment standards.

She was CEO of a billion dollar company for a number of years and has prior experience running a government agency (Small Business Administration) - she actually kind of is well-qualified.  In fact she's one of very few returning Trump appointees.

And while Trump says he wants to get rid of the DOE - that's been a pretty standard position for Republicans to take.  In the mean time however it is still a Cabinet position, and I believe would require legislation to actually eliminate the department.

[Syt]

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21859852/



 

[mongers]

... image snipped '''

 

How long has the poor soul been suffering from bears?

I guess his absence from this place suggests bears is quite a depilating condition.   

[Neil]

I really don't think Linda McMahon is qualified to be Secretary of Education (although she did serve in the first Trump administration as Small Business something-or-other and did not embarrass herself).

What do you believe qualifies someone for a job like Secretary of Education?

some kind of actual experience in education would help.

Would it?  The Secretary's job is managerial.  It's the job of their departments, the civil service, to design and carry out policy.

[Neil]

Well the service/line I use most, Cardiff-Bristol-Southampton-Portsmouth is still packed with commuters; indeed sometimes they only put three or even two carriage trains on during rush hour to add a little extra spice .

Fair.  I'm mainly thinking in terms of a North American perspective, which would mean spending tens or hundreds of billions of dollars on construction. 

[crazy canuck]

I really don't think Linda McMahon is qualified to be Secretary of Education (although she did serve in the first Trump administration as Small Business something-or-other and did not embarrass herself).

What do you believe qualifies someone for a job like Secretary of Education?

some kind of actual experience in education would help.

Would it?  The Secretary's job is managerial.  It's the job of their departments, the civil service, to design and carry out policy.

One of the advantages of the American system over a Parliamentary system is they can appoint cabinet members who have some expertise.  So why not appoint someone who is both a good manager and has at least some subject matter knowledge.

[Neil]

One of the advantages of the American system over a Parliamentary system is they can appoint cabinet members who have some expertise.  So why not appoint someone who is both a good manager and has at least some subject matter knowledge.

If you can have both, that's great, although I'd prioritize management over SME.  That said, I think that the pool of people who are good managers, who have a good base knowledge within their department, who are actually capable of effectively managing people who know much more about their field of expertise than they do (which isn't an easy thing) and who are aligned with the policy direction of the administration might be very small.  Particularly for this administration. 

[Barrister]

I really don't think Linda McMahon is qualified to be Secretary of Education (although she did serve in the first Trump administration as Small Business something-or-other and did not embarrass herself).

What do you believe qualifies someone for a job like Secretary of Education?

some kind of actual experience in education would help.

Would it?  The Secretary's job is managerial.  It's the job of their departments, the civil service, to design and carry out policy.

Worth noting though of course that Musk/Ramaswammy's DOGE wants to fire enormous number of civil servants.