Abandoned, run down, forgotten... post your pics!

[lostrider]

[David13]

Hey. They closed the post office in Darwin? I thought it was still open, but to be closed.
Or is that the old post office?
It was all just in the L A Times last weekend.
dc

[lostrider]

I didn't see anything that looked like an open PO a few weeks ago.

Then again, nothing looks like it's been open for a while in Darwin.

[David13]

Here is a link to the L A Times article (AND PHOTOS) from Darwin, from this weekend. This link will not work for very long.
dc
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/mar...arwin-20120312

[lostrider]

Thanks for the link....
not sure how I feel about millions of our tax dollars getting spent so people who choose to live in a remote "frontier" ghost town can stream netflix.

[henzilla]

Thanks for the link....
not sure how I feel about millions of our tax dollars getting spent so people who choose to live in a remote "frontier" ghost town can stream netflix.

Same reaction I am sure in 1935 when the REA was formed to provide electricity to rural areas across the country

[David13]

It's a bit off the topic; maybe not.
But I had the same thought. Was that what they said when Hoover Dam was to be constructed to bring electro to Los Angeles, or TVA, etc.
Those are the types of things that can actually stimulate the economy. Infrastructure is always needed as a basis for economic activity. I suppose reasonable minds may differ on how much should be spent on that, and on what exactly it should be spent on.
dc

[roamingbeemer]

As I was reading the LA times article I had the same thoughts as Lostrider. Tax money... why? I am not against spending tax money to bring internet to more rural areas but I wonder where the limit is.
If tax money is involved it must have some kind of cost vs. benefit. I can also see the similiarities to the REA and how short sighted it would appear now to have opposed it. Who knows the answer......?
At least we do not have half of the internet blocked from us by the govt. I work in China most of the time....

[lostrider]

I understand the stretch to try and compare internet to electricity, but I believe electricity increased people's standard of living much more than high speed internet would to rural dwellers. Things like light bulbs and refrigeration would help a person more than Facebook, forums, youtube and porn IMO.

My main problem is after a recent ride up the California coast I was shocked to find more than HALF of our state parks and campgrounds closed. Many closed for good/until further notice, many I camp in this time of year. All closed due to budget shortfalls.

If our state can't even afford to keep PARKS open, how can anyone expect the State to subsidize huge costs to get a couple dozen people high speed internet. (they already have dial up mind you)
No jobs are created from this kind of "expansion", while jobs are lost elsewhere (like the Parks Service and associated jobs created from the campers)
Talk about sense of entitlement those people have. Sorry but they choose to live there, and besides personal entertainment, if you need high speed internet for business then you shouldn't live in a "Frontier" Ghost Town with no post office and expect my tax dollars to pay for it. I wonder how many people living in that dead town with no economy or nearby jobs get a government check?....



And to keep the photos flowing in the photo forum.

[148816]

My main problem is after a recent ride up the California coast I was shocked to find more than HALF of our state parks and campgrounds closed. Many closed for good/until further notice, many I camp in this time of year. All closed due to budget shortfalls.

If our state can't even afford to keep PARKS open, how can anyone expect the State to subsidize huge costs to get a couple dozen people high speed internet. (they already have dial up mind you)
No jobs are created from this kind of "expansion", while jobs are lost elsewhere (like the Parks Service and associated jobs created from the campers)
Talk about sense of entitlement those people have. Sorry but they choose to live there, and besides personal entertainment, if you need high speed internet for business then you shouldn't live in a "Frontier" Ghost Town with no post office and expect my tax dollars to pay for it. I wonder how many people living in that dead town with no economy or nearby jobs get a government check?....

I'll say right up front that I don't live in California, though I have relatives that do and have travelled there frequently as it is a beautiful place. That being said, I would venture a guess that the largest drain on the states coffers is not the few folks that live in the hinterland getting WiFi even if they are collecting a government check. More than likely (at least from what I read in the paper and the Internet) the drain is from the myriad of other social programs the State of California funds for the folks who live in the urban areas, plus the funding for the various public employee unions.

Now those folks living in the boondocks may have been paying their taxes for years and years and may actually want to see some benefit to them for their efforts, such as WiFi. Chances are that they've been paying all along and know that their tax dollars have gone to some other people who are capable of working and chose not to in lieu of receiving "government money" (the boondock's tax dollars).

Just a thought & consideration.

[David13]

We are way off topic here. But.
I think the article said the main line ran up or down 395. That is the eastern Sierra corridor. That would cover many people. The issue was a line way off to the east 35 miles, to Darwin for a few people.
It also said they pay for the first mile, and some one else, some provider or other then would have to pay the other 34 miles.
And it was unlikely anyone would do that (Verizon, ATT, etc.)
Further, I think the internet is now responsible for commerce or expediting commerce to the tune of billions of dollars, which then flow thru' the economy, thru' many hands.
In California internet sales are taxable. So it will pay the state some money. I'm not saying I'm in favor of it, just that I do understand what is some rather good logic to it.
dc

[akbeemer]

Canyon ferry area in Montana in early March..........

[R100R Rider]

Glad that the bike has a reserve.
DSC00874.JPG

[michaellmcc]

The first minute or so of this video contains my images of the old settlements in the Big Bend Country of West Texas:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEKpJ...ature=youtu.be

[terham]

St Mary's County, MD.