Close of play on Day 1

CINCINNATI – I was born and raised a city kid, and I suspect I’ll continue to be one for a long time. But after traveling through West Virginia for the second year in a row and making my first ever trip through southwest Virginia, I can’t help being attracted to the spectacular landscapes of Appalachia. [...]

Slowing down

OSCEOLA, Iowa – A couple of things happened this afternoon that were reasons to pause and think for a while. The less prosaic events were delays, a few of which were considerable. Two were the result of stop signals on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe-owned tracks, while a third was the result of tugboats traveling [...]

My tax dollars not at work

CONNELLSVILLE, Pa. – You know you’re really in the countryside when you have no cell phone signal whatsoever. Miles and miles with nothing but the little X next to the power pole in the upper-right hand corner of the screen, even though you’re technically in the same state as the wired metropolis you call home. [...]