Recent posts

#1

Off-Topic / Re: Currency nicknames

Last post by Dirt Roads - Today at 08:04:33 PM

Mind if I use some bizarre terms for scrip used in coalmines and logging camps for parts of Appalachia?

• clackers (certain coalmines in West Virginia, South-central Kentucky and North-central Tennessee)
• doogaloo (logging camps in the Smokies; this term spread widely to other logging camps and coalmines)
• drag (certain coalmines in North-Central West Virginia)
• flicker (certain coalmines in the Potomac Highlands of Maryland and West Virginia)
• jingle (certain coalmines in East Tennessee)
• lightweights (certain coalmines in the Potomac Highlands of Maryland and West Virginia)
• p'lolly (not certain, but appears to be from certain coalmines in North Carolina)
• slicker (certain coalmines in Southern West Virginia)
• sticker (certain coalmines in Eastern Kentucky)

Anywhoosit, some of the mine operators and logging camp bosses that issued scrip wanted to scare off their employees and families from exchanging scrip for U.S. currency.  That's where the dollar bill got the "toadhide", which were called "toadies" for short.  Some places had different pejorative for the dollar bill such as "frogskins" and "green frogs".  On the flip side, many coalminers waited patiently for a full paycheck to accumulate so as to be paid in U.S. currency (some sources say most coalminers).  This practice was referred to as "growing green".

#2

Great Lakes and Ohio Valley / Re: Gordie Howe Bridge (US-Can...

Last post by Rothman - Today at 07:59:17 PM

To me, this makes total sense, and I'm amazed it doesn't make sense to everyone else.

Probably because countries insist on that whole sovereignty thing where they're responsible for their own security, hence the entrance stations.

#3

General Highway Talk / Re: XY Challenge

Last post by wanderer2575 - Today at 07:58:30 PM

June 15: Post signage indicating a concurrency between two routes, both of which have numbers ending in 6.

This is my last post for awhile; I'm going roadtripping!

NH-16 and NH-26 in Errol:


M-46 and M-66 west of Edmore:


Another view of M-66 and M-86 east of Nottawa:

[The cartels love their (smuggled out of the USA) 50-caliber rifles. While the Mexican government has more weapons, and bigger, it's a matter of getting them to where they need to be when they need to be there. The cartels don't exactly give them a heads-up.]

#4

Great Lakes and Ohio Valley / Re: Gordie Howe Bridge (US-Can...

Last post by Max Rockatansky - Today at 07:49:44 PM

Isn't it La Presidenta Sheinbaum's problem if the INM isn't properly enforcing weapons importation laws in Mexico?

If people are smuggling US weapons and US currency (etc) out of the USA to arm and fund international criminal organizations, then the US government might like to try and stop that.  If fugitives are fleeing the USA for a foreign country to avoid being punished for their crimes, then the US government might like to try and stop that.  How is this hard to understand?

We've also been stopped while driving northbound toward the US border so Mexican soldiers could search for drugs.  I think it was 2011 or 2012, and our family's vehicle was waved through, but our group's other vehicle was pulled over, everyone had to get out, and the soldiers got out every single piece of luggage and searched through them.  You might ask, isn't it the US president's problem if the CBP isn't stopping fentanyl smugglers?—but, you know, the Mexican government might like to try and stop the criminal activity too, before it ever reaches the border.

Obviously, it isn't worth the effort to search every vehicle at every crossing, all day, every day.  But, based on current events and intel, it might be worth it to do increased searches here or there, now and then.  To me, this makes total sense, and I'm amazed it doesn't make sense to everyone else.

I don't know how much confidence I have in the tactical ability of the Mexican National Guard after the events that transpired in Jalisco this past February.  The Jalisco New Generation Cartel was closer of a match in terms of firepower and manpower than probably should have been.

The cartels love their (smuggled out of the USA) 50-caliber rifles.  While the Mexican government has more weapons, and bigger, it's a matter of getting them to where they need to be when they need to be there.  The cartels don't exactly give them a heads-up.

The thing that got me back in February was the lack of coordination between the National Guard and any stake holder in Jalisco state.  The state was completely unaware when the National Guard stormed that resort up in Tapalpa where El Mencho was hiding.  By the time anyone in the Jalisco government was informed it was already too late.  The cartels had been burning vehicles and blocking highways for hours.

I do wonder though, could the National Guard have actually trustee Jalisco officials?  I was left the impression that there was concern that the Jalisco state government might leaked information to the cartel about the raid in Tapalpa. 

I don't know if I mentioned it when this cartel stuff happened but my wife and I were going to drive to Tapalpa the day of the raid.  Had we actually gotten up when we planned there was a good chance that we would have run into the cartel members actively burning vehicles.  We ended up getting out of the house late and having breakfast along the railroad tracks. 

#5

General Highway Talk / Re: Roadgeek Memes

Last post by SSOWorld - Today at 07:49:36 PM

#6

General Highway Talk / Re: Roadgeek Memes

Last post by SSOWorld - Today at 07:47:02 PM

Very DOT like.

#7

Great Lakes and Ohio Valley / Re: Gordie Howe Bridge (US-Can...

Last post by Molandfreak - Today at 07:35:16 PM

Isn't it La Presidenta Sheinbaum's problem if the INM isn't properly enforcing weapons importation laws in Mexico?

If people are smuggling US weapons and US currency (etc) out of the USA to arm and fund international criminal organizations, then the US government might like to try and stop that.  If fugitives are fleeing the USA for a foreign country to avoid being punished for their crimes, then the US government might like to try and stop that.  How is this hard to understand?

We've also been stopped while driving northbound toward the US border so Mexican soldiers could search for drugs.  I think it was 2011 or 2012, and our family's vehicle was waved through, but our group's other vehicle was pulled over, everyone had to get out, and the soldiers got out every single piece of luggage and searched through them.  You might ask, isn't it the US president's problem if the CBP isn't stopping fentanyl smugglers?—but, you know, the Mexican government might like to try and stop the criminal activity too, before it ever reaches the border.

Obviously, it isn't worth the effort to search every vehicle at every crossing, all day, every day.  But, based on current events and intel, it might be worth it to do increased searches here or there, now and then.  To me, this makes total sense, and I'm amazed it doesn't make sense to everyone else.

I don't know, it's just that we have the luxury of never having to deal with exit customs unlike the majority of external borders in Europe and Asia, and I would rather have that continue to be the case than introduce a new status quo. It's like the only thing the WHTI hasn't screwed up.

#8

Off-Topic / Re: Currency nicknames

Last post by kphoger - Today at 07:32:43 PM

Chamillionaire
50 Cent

Neither one is the guy's real name.

#9

Off-Topic / Re: Minor things that bother y...

Last post by kphoger - Today at 07:26:51 PM

hangers

hangars

Whoosh

Hanging

Okay, I'll bite.  What are you on about lately with all this business about hangings? 

Should be asking "Denver Brian" . . . if that is his real name!

#10

Great Lakes and Ohio Valley / Re: Gordie Howe Bridge (US-Can...

Last post by kphoger - Today at 07:21:41 PM

Isn't it La Presidenta Sheinbaum's problem if the INM isn't properly enforcing weapons importation laws in Mexico?

If people are smuggling US weapons and US currency (etc) out of the USA to arm and fund international criminal organizations, then the US government might like to try and stop that.  If fugitives are fleeing the USA for a foreign country to avoid being punished for their crimes, then the US government might like to try and stop that.  How is this hard to understand?

We've also been stopped while driving northbound toward the US border so Mexican soldiers could search for drugs.  I think it was 2011 or 2012, and our family's vehicle was waved through, but our group's other vehicle was pulled over, everyone had to get out, and the soldiers got out every single piece of luggage and searched through them.  You might ask, isn't it the US president's problem if the CBP isn't stopping fentanyl smugglers?—but, you know, the Mexican government might like to try and stop the criminal activity too, before it ever reaches the border.

Obviously, it isn't worth the effort to search every vehicle at every crossing, all day, every day.  But, based on current events and intel, it might be worth it to do increased searches here or there, now and then.  To me, this makes total sense, and I'm amazed it doesn't make sense to everyone else.

I don't know how much confidence I have in the tactical ability of the Mexican National Guard after the events that transpired in Jalisco this past February.  The Jalisco New Generation Cartel was closer of a match in terms of firepower and manpower than probably should have been.

The cartels love their (smuggled out of the USA) 50-caliber rifles.  While the Mexican government has more weapons, and bigger, it's a matter of getting them to where they need to be when they need to be there.  The cartels don't exactly give them a heads-up.