Monthly Archives: July 2026

Steam Engine Trains

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I have said many times that I chose the wrong profession. I should have pursued a career in railroading, ideally as an engineer specializing in steam engines.

Several decades ago, when I was serving as a sergeant in the Marines, my family and I visited Travel Town in Griffith Park. While we went primarily for my two sons, I found myself enjoying it far more than they did. Standing at the controls of those vintage locomotives was remarkable. I imagined pushing the throttle of one of those powerful machines and feeling it rumble to life.

For years, I assumed they were supplanted by modern diesels due to their superior speed. Recently, however, I discovered that some of those vintage locomotives were capable of pulling trains at speeds exceeding one hundred miles per hour. The engine that Casey Jones operated was among them, and he regularly achieved such velocities. That would certainly be an exhilarating experience, thundering down the track at or near such speeds.

Unfortunately, the steam locomotive had to be retired. Those boilers require extensive maintenance. As a result, the high cost of upkeep has prevented us from seeing the old engines operate regularly.

However, I’m far from being the only one who appreciates these classic locomotives. Numerous excursion trains still operate today. Unfortunately, my closest experience was a brief ride at Knots Berry Farm. Perhaps one day I’ll have the opportunity to take a longer journey on one of these trains. For now, though, that remains out of reach.

Oops. Correction. Just remembered. I did travel by steam engine from Los Angeles to San Francisco when in June during my sixth year. I know it was steam because I got a good look at it before boarding it. From inside the coach, it’s about the same.

Daily writing prompt
Which outdated technology do you miss the most, and why?
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Inspired by Fiction, Maybe?

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This is a subject I have contemplated for years. While I recognize the limitations of my communication skills, I believe the topic merits serious consideration. I hope you’ll focus on the significance of the subject matter itself rather than the delivery.

In 1991, John Grisham wrote “The Firm,” a bestselling novel. I haven’t read the book myself, but I did see the film adaptation. While I initially found it mediocre, I was impressed by one element: the clever use of mail fraud as the mechanism to dismantle the firm and secure the protagonist’s freedom. Though I’m skeptical such a scheme would succeed in reality, the execution was undeniably sophisticated.

I suspect most readers have already seen the movie, so I won’t recap the film or its major plot points here. If you haven’t seen it, I’d recommend it as one of the few modern movies worth watching—primarily for its substance rather than its entertainment value.

I’d like to draw your attention to the Cayman Islands trip and Mitch’s encounter with the prostitute. Initially, I found this part distasteful. Upon reflection, however, I recognize its insight. By leveraging the prostitute and photographs, the firm effectively gained complete control over Mitch.

Nowadays, I notice a recurring pattern: reality seems to mirror a familiar narrative. A prominent figure enjoys the trappings of fame, power, and fortune, cruising along without concern. Then one misstep—upsetting the wrong person or crossing an invisible line—and their world collapses around them.

Oddly, accusations seem to come pouring down out of nowhere like a rainstorm. Whether guilty or not, a person’s life is instantly—if not immediately—destroyed.

I would name those I’m referring to, but it would be futile. If you’ve been following the news, you already know. Today, living a blameless life isn’t enough—you must be able to prove it quickly. Even then, that may not suffice.

Old Question, Old Answer

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The Bible instructs us to train our children, and we certainly should. Yet we’re also told that we inherit our sinful nature from our ancestors—a point worth acknowledging. God declared his preference for Jacob over Esau from birth, even though they shared the same parents. Despite their identical upbringing, one developed into a righteous person while the other did not.

Cain and Abel were brothers born to the same parents. Yet one became a murderer. Try to figure that one out, and you’ll find it perplexing.

To be sure, it’s a bit of both. Beyond that, I don’t think anyone will know.

Daily writing prompt
Do you think we’re shaped more by our experiences or by who we are?
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Functional Bumpers

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I’ve written about bumpers before on various occasions, and I genuinely believe it is a good time to revisit them once again. Maybe it is time to consider them from a slightly different point of view or perspective. The government just loves regulating things, especially automobiles and the automotive industry. Yet, near as I can tell from what I’ve observed, they don’t seem to want to regulate bumpers very much at all.

There was a time when bumpers were engineered to absorb impacts—which, oddly enough, is where they derived their name. Over the years, designers increasingly chose to integrate lights into bumpers, and more recently, sensors and cameras. It’s worth noting that lights and sensors rank among the most fragile components on a vehicle.

My question for our engineers—one I’d like to present before Congress—is straightforward: why do they consistently place the vehicle’s most fragile components in the location most vulnerable to damage? Could financial incentives be driving this decision?

Regardless of whether this is the case or not, it has increased repair costs following accidents and, consequently, insurance premiums. To reduce insurance costs, we need to implement strict regulations prohibiting lights, sensors, and cameras on or near bumpers. While repair shops will likely object, this measure will bring down premium rates.

Truth be told, when you really think about it carefully, putting lights on bumpers honestly serves absolutely no practical purpose whatsoever, and truthfully, it doesn’t even enhance the appearance or look of a vehicle in any meaningful way. It’s just genuinely dumb and doesn’t make a lot of sense!

What is the Difference Between Superman & all the Other Superheroes?

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I never gave it much thought throughout my life. It’s neither important nor genuinely real. The distinction exists only in human perception.

I didn’t enjoy the “Kill Bill” movies—not a single one. I was pressured into watching them against my preference. Someone practically twisted my arm until I had no choice but to sit through them. I found no enjoyment in the experience whatsoever. To this day, I regret watching them.

However, those familiar with the series already understand the connection, particularly from the final movie. In that film, Bill explains it to us in considerable detail.

I’ll save you the trouble and give you the abbreviated version so you won’t have to endure the suffering I went through.

You see, Superman wears his costume as Clark Kent to conceal his true identity. As Superman, everyone sees who he really is. All the others wear costumes to hide who they are.

Aren’t you glad you learned that, if you didn’t already know it?