Wrong from the get-go (Jack Bog's Blog)

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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on September 18, 2007 1:59 PM. The previous post in this blog was Life after Grampy. The next post in this blog is Never made the schoolmother happy. Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.

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« Life after Grampy | Main | Never made the schoolmother happy »

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Wrong from the get-go

There are so many reasons not to like Portland's streetcars. Extravagant, slow... plus, they don't have a cool name.

Posted at 1:59 PM | Permalink

Comments (19)

"There was a meeting with representatives from the city several years ago," Johnson recalled. "They asked us what we could do for you. Most people raised their hands and said 'affordable housing,' " he said. "Then the people from the city huddled together -- 'whisper, whisper, whisper,' -- and they said, 'How about a trolley?' "

Linchpin!

Posted by Dave J. | September 18, 2007 2:47 PM

Let's you put on a show!

I mean a naming contest...

Posted by rr | September 18, 2007 2:59 PM

Slow Moving Useless Transport

Posted by butch | September 18, 2007 3:02 PM

Shiny Hungarian Innercity Trolley

Posted by rr | September 18, 2007 3:09 PM

I don't know. I think, once again, Seattle's ahead of the curve on this one; they already have the coolest name imaginable.

That's just my view, of course.

Posted by Samuel John klein | September 18, 2007 3:44 PM

Sorry Sam, I disagree. Seattle is deffinately in trouble with their light rail. Last night I saw a news piece on NWCN that interviewed the head of Seattle Transit. She admitted that they have overspent on their light rail by a factor of 3 from original projections, and that they can't make any accurate projections on how much the proposed extention of Tacoma will end up costing. However, they plan on steaming all ahead full into what could be a $80-100 billion project. (Yes, that was billion.)

Not my idea of "ahead of the curve."

Posted by HMLA267 | September 18, 2007 3:55 PM

Rename portlands streetcar
Portland's Environmentally Neutral Innermetro Streetcar

I have more... so many more... but I want to keep it PG

Posted by travis b | September 18, 2007 4:38 PM

HMLA267:

Not my idea of "ahead of the curve."

Well, I was referring to strictly the name issue, myself.

Interesting fact you posted there though, no doubt about that.

Posted by Samuel John klein | September 18, 2007 5:53 PM

Let's make the PHART t-shirts anyway!
It's a start...

Posted by Anne K | September 18, 2007 6:14 PM

whenever we take the streetcar/trolley from one part of PDX to another we always look at each other and say:
"So slow escargot" I cannot think of an ancronym for it...but let's just call it the "SNAIL RAIL"

Posted by kathe w. | September 18, 2007 6:45 PM

Transit for the Urban Renewal District?

Posted by Jack Bog | September 18, 2007 7:43 PM

Lots of people will come onto the SLUT, because a SLUT gets ridden by everyone. It's a perfect name!

Portland should be so lucky.

Posted by Tasteless Tattler | September 18, 2007 8:05 PM

Portland Area Transit On Our Innercity Easements

Posted by Tenskwatawa | September 18, 2007 8:16 PM

I's unfortunate that we can't use Fast And Rapid Transportation.

Posted by David E Gilmore | September 19, 2007 11:38 AM

Streetcar Quietly Undermining All Transit

Posted by rr | September 19, 2007 12:02 PM

Some one should rework it to apply to the trimet name that train contest.

http://www.trimet.org/promotions/namethattrain.htm

Posted by NS | September 19, 2007 12:45 PM

Hey, bojack sycophants, quit whining. The streetcars are fantastic on a number of levels.

Posted by Odenfruede | September 19, 2007 2:43 PM

As a former Portlander, the naming brings back memories of the naming contest for Portland's zoo, the best of which of course were not used. They included: Zippity Do Zoo, Tri-County Taxpayer's Zoo, and Center for Containment without Consent.

Posted by david | September 22, 2007 12:56 PM

I've always called it Maxine.

Posted by Kari Chisholm | September 23, 2007 11:06 PM

In Vino Veritas

Robert Mondavi Solaire, Cabernet 2005
Castello Monaci, Liante, Salice Salentino 2006
Ricardo Santos, Malbec 2006
Quinta da Espiga, Tinto 2006
Charles Smith, Holy Cow Merlot 2006
Charles Smith, Boom Boom Syrah 2006
Charles Smith, The Honorable Pinot Gris 2007
Santa Rita, Cabernet Reserva 2005
King Estate, Pinot Gris 2007
Gloria, Douro, Tinto 2002
Bogle, Petite Sirah Port, Clarksburg 2005
Cardwell Hill, Pinot Noir 2004
Silkwood, Red Duet Cabernet-Syrah 2004
Portuga, Vinho Branco 2006, 2007
Osborne, Solaz 2004
Santa Rita, Cabernet, Reserva 2005
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill, Shiraz Cabernet 2006
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Cabernet, Indian Wells 2004
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills 2004
Hannah Nicole, Red 2004
Penfold's, Koonunga Hill Shiraz Cabernet 2005
Protocolo, Red 2005
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2006
Portuga, Vinho Branco 2006
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1998
Beaulieu, Cabernet, Rutherford 1996
Kirkland, Roogle Shiraz 2004
Garda, Classico Chiaretto
A to Z, Oregon Pinot Gris 2005
I Giusti & Zanza, Nemorino 2006
Treana, Marsanne-Viognier, Central Coast 2005
Fife, Syrah, "Stanford" 2000
B.R. Cohn, Silver Label Cabernet 2005
Marques de Casa Concha, Cabernet 2005
Santi, Sortesele Pinot Grigio 2006
Al Muvedre, Tinto Joven 2006
Layer Cake, Shiraz 2006
Gritti, Ca' Andrea, Umbria red 2005
Altos de Luzon, Jumilla 2004
Thomas Leithner, Zweigelt 2004
Cain Cuvee NV 3
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot 2003
Meridian, Sauvignon Blanc 2005
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2003
Paringa, Shiraz 2005
King Estate, Pinot Gris 2005
Canoe Ridge, Merlot 2003
Maculan, Pino & Toi 2005
Kris, Pinot Grigio 2006
Silvan Ridge, Pinot Gris 2006
Fife, Mendocino Syrah, "Stanford" 2000
Castle Rock, Cabernet, Paso Robles 2005
Willakenzie, Pinot Gris 2006
The Show, Cabernet 2005
Essencia Valdemar, Rioja Rose 2006
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Merlot, Horse Heaven Hills 2004
Beaulieu Vineyard. Napa Valley Cabernet 2004
Irony, Cabernet, Napa Valley 2003
Rosenblum, Petite Sirah, Heritage Clones 2005
Fra Guerau, Montsant 2002
Barefoot Chardonnay
Kana, Syrah 2004
Castell Salegg, Chardonnay, Alto Adige 2004
Fetish, The Watcher Shiraz 2004
Gold Note, Fair Play Zinfandel 2005
Chateau Ste. Michelle, Canoe Ridge Estate Cabernet 2003
Ponzi, Pinot Noir 2004
Red Diamond, Merlot 2003
Mateus, Rose
Benton Lane Pinot Noir 2004
Penya Cadiella Vins de Comtat 2003
Kamiak, Cellar Select Red 2003
Anselmi, San Vincenzo 2005
Rubrato, Aglianico dei Feudi di San Gregorio 2004
Le Grand Noir (Black Sheep) Cabernet-Shiraz
Woodbridge, Chardonnay 2005
Los Vascos, Cabernet, Reserve 2004
Jackaroo, Shiraz 2003
Paul Jaboulet Aine, Crozes Hermitage Syrah, "La Jalet," 2001
Paul Jaboulet Aine, Cotes du Rhone, "Parallele '45,'" 2003
Rolf Binder, Barossa Valley Shiraz 2003
Oyster Bay, Sauvignon Blanc 2006
Woodbridge Chardonnay 2005
Barnard & Griffin, Columbia Valley Cabernet 2004
Quinto do Carmo, Alentejano Red 2000
Forefathers, Alexander Valley Cabernet 2001

The Occasional Book

Oscar Hijuelos - Mr. Ives' Christmas
Madeline L'Engle - A Wrinkle in Time
Steven Hart - The Last Three Miles
David Sedaris - Me Talk Pretty One Day
Karen Armstrong - The Spiral Staircase
Charles Larson - The Portland Murders
Adrian Wojnarowski - The Miracle of St. Anthony
William H. Colby - Long Goodbye
Steven D. Stark - Meet the Beatles
Phil Stanford - Portland Confidential
Rick Moody - Garden State
Jonathan Schwartz - All in Good Time
David Sedaris - Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Anthony Holden - Big Deal
Robert J. Spitzer - The Spirit of Leadership
James McManus - Positively Fifth Street
Jeff Noon - Vurt

Road Work

Miles run year to date: 28
At this date last year: 102
Total run in 2007: 113
In 2006: 100
In 2005: 149
In 2004: 204
In 2003: 269