I'm a regular reader, but this is the first time I've felt the need to write in. Not because I'm mad or need to vent about anything, but because I found something you guys might find as hilarious as i did... I noticed a couple of posts about trains today on the site, and as such I thought to myself, hey I wonder how much a train ticket to Tulsa, Ok is from here(where a good friend of mine lives). Now what makes this funny to me is the Google response to my entered text of .... "train tickets"

Now notice if you will the 1st sponsored link. CHEAP TRAIN TICKETS
and where does it take you www.delta.com, which even against my better judgment I clicked on. Thinking maybe they have a deal with Amtrak or something, and that I would be able to look at train schedules and such, but lo and behold my amazement when I realized this was in fact just Delta Airlines site, and had absolutely nothing to do with trains.
Thought you guys might enjoy that.
Zach

We tried these searches a few times and sometimes Delta appears at the top of the main results list, sometimes not. If it doesn't appear on the main results area, it always appears at the top of the right margin under sponsored links (pictured above.) We're not sure whether Delta is responsible for this misdirection or one of their affiliate advertisers, but either way it's misleading to potential ticket buyers. Come on Google, will you do anything a company pays you to do? Ok, don't answer that. Even though they rhyme, we know for a fact that trains and planes are different, don't try to derail our logic.

5. No NAGGING: It’s a frikkin pleasure not having someone bug me about my seatback and tray tables and whether my electronic device is approved for that particular segment of the trip. And no seatbelts at all! Whether or not that’s technically safe, it’s certainly more comfortable.

We doubt that all the Amtrak cars are as nice as the Silverliner pictured above, but for some destinations we could see trains as a viable and pleasant alternative. When was the last time you traveled a great distance by train, if ever? To see all the reasons, check out Ecogeek's full article.

Nine Unexpected Benefits of Trains [Ecogeek]
(Photo: Getty)

Here's how it works: you drop your package off at a participating station, Amtrak ships it off, and the recipient picks it up in the destination city.

Because Amtrak always has to futz something up, express shipping isn't offered out of Penn Station, but New Yorkers can still receive packages "(or human remains.)"

Save With Dave: Amtrak Shipping [CBS 13]
Amtrak Express Shipping [Amtrak]
(Photo: reivax)

Congress will likely put an end to the strike in less than a week because of how crucial Amtrak and its employees are to the nation's transportation infrastructure.

The disruptions in service would affect some commuter rail and freight lines, as well as Amtrak's passengers — about 25 million a year. Many commuter rail lines use Amtrak-owned track between Washington, D.C. and Boston, and many use Amtrak employees to operate trains. Chicago's busy Union Station, for example, would be shut down by a strike because it depends on Amtrak workers. Some freight that travels on Amtrak-owned track on the East Coast would also be stopped if Amtrak employees go on strike.

So, just by way of example, president and CEO Alexander Kummant would be kummanta@amtrak.com.

The only phone number we could find was 202-906-3000. You can reach the employee directory by saying "employee," try to pronounce "Alexander Kummant" correctly (or any of the other officers listed here), and then use the tips in How To Interact With Executive Customer Service to escalate your claim.

(Photo: skunks)

1.5 million Thomas & Friends wooden train sets have been recalled due to toxic levels of lead. The toys were sold in toy stores and at various retailers nationwide from January 2005 through June 2007 for between $10 and $70.

If your kid has any of the above-pictured toys, you should take the toy away immediately and contact the manufacturer for a replacement at: recalls.rc2.com.

According to ABC News, "the CPSC has stepped up scrutiny of products made in China following a rise in dangerous imports from the country." Constant readers of the blog can attest to the overwhelming tidal wave of choking and lead poisoning recalls that this site is forced to report on. Making editorial decisions about which hazard to report on is hard. Pants that could choke you? Lead toys? Deadly ATVs for 1st graders? There's so much to choose from. We wonder why...From ABC News:

China by far leads the list of countries making products that are recalled in the United States, accounting for 65 percent of all the recalled products in this country this year, according to CPSC. In 2006, China accounted for 233 product recalls — nearly double the rate from the previous year, with lead a recurring cause among the recalls.

Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Toys Recalled [ABC News]
RC2 Corp. Recalls Various Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Toys Due to Lead Poisoning Hazard [CPSC]