Riding the train is a great experience, unfortunately, Amtrack is so mismanaged that it detracts from the experience. I hope some brilliant millionaire sees the opportunity that Amtrack is throwing down the toilet and puts together a cross-country train that actually works. I love the train, but I hate what it has become. My Great Great Grandfather was Daniel McCallum (former leader of the erie railroad and head of the railroad during the civil war) and I can guarantee you he would roll over in his grave at the condition of the rail cars, the pathetic timeliness, and frankly the attrocious service I, and more recently my parents, have received within the last five years during rail trips. It is very sad.
On Mon, August 6, 2007 10:51 am, Timothy Meehan wrote: > Perhaps the key word in the Wilson quote was "jetting". The footprint > of ecological meetings would be considerably smaller if, when available, > folks traveled by train (Amtrak gets 800 mpg per passenger when full) > instead of plane (around 80 mpg per passenger when full).(see > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_efficiency_in_transportation). > Granted, you need an extra day for travel, but the journey is generally > more pleasant. > > Tim Meehan. > > _____________________________ > Tim Meehan > Department of Entomology > University of Wisconsin > 1630 Linden Drive > Madison, WI 53706 USA > 608-262-4319 > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://entomology.wisc.edu/~tdmeehan/ > >>>> William Silvert <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 8/5/2007 5:45 PM >>> > Although skipping meetings may reduce environmental impacts, I really > wonder > whether this is a wise policy. E. O. Wilson of course does not need to > go to > meetings, people go to him. As for those of you who just run back and > forth > between the presentations and your hotel without even staying for the > discussions, you won't miss much if you stay home. But if you want to > hear > or participate in discussions, meet colleagues in your field and ferret > out > their ideas, interview prospective students or professors, and in > general > integrate with the scientific community, I think that meetings are so > valuable that their merit outways their environmental impact. > > You could of course go all the way and not only skip meetings but > discontinue your field work, doing your research just by computer > simulation! > > Unfortunately it is already difficult enough to get funding for meeting > > travel, especially for many government scientists, and Wayne's posting > may > make the situation worse. A lot of scientific progress depends on the > exchange of ideas, and the internet has a long way to go before it > approximates human interaction. > > Bill Silvert > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Wayne Tyson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, August 05, 2007 8:25 PM > Subject: ECOLOGY How to Help the Ecosystem Succeed? Re: How to Succeed > in > Ecology session in San Jose > > >> As E. O. Wilson has suggested, we might consider not jetting >> around the world to interesting places for meetings so much, but >> taking full advantage of modern technology like the Internet and >> teleconferencing. May I add that ecolog-l already is doing just >> that, and could do much more--with, of course, help and support. > Malcolm L. McCallum Assistant Professor of Biology Editor Herpetological Conservationa and Biology [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
