Just back from 4461 mile train trip

This is totally off topic, but Pam and I got back Sunday from our five day train trip LA to Rocky Mount.  Linked are pictures of our 4461 mile AMTRAK trip: There are currently 76 pictures, more will be added. Generally the newer pictures are at the front of the album. Mousing over the picture should give you the caption, or click on a picture for an enlargement and caption.

Pam and I rode the Coast Starlight LA to Portland, the Empire Builder Portland to Chicago, the Capitol Limited Chicago to Washington, and the Silver Meteor Washington to Raleigh. We had sleeper bedrooms. In addition, I rode the Carolinian Rocky Mount to Raleigh two days before the trip so our car would be in Rocky Mount at the end of the trip. We had flown from RDU to LA and spent two days there at the beginning of the trip. While in LA we were in the Tonight Show studio audience.

My favorite picture: sunrise in the snow, Shasta National Forest, northern California.

This was my longest vacation since two weeks in Vietnam in 2001. I rode an overnight Vietnamese Railways sleeper on that trip Hanoi-DaNang.

Local Government Law blog from UNC School of Government

I’ve forgotten to mention that the University of North Carolina School of Government debuted its “Coates Canons” local government law blog last July.

School of Government faculty are regular posting on topical subjects of interests to local government officials. Recent posts include such diverse topics as:

Bidding Confidential

Blood Exposures and Disease Control Law

What Is A Local Act?

A Guide to Business Improvement Districts in North Carolina

Tapping Private Resources for Construction of Public Facilities – Some Legal Limitations Local Government Officials Should Know About

Summaries of legislation from the 2009 NC Regular Session

Courtesy of North Carolina General Assembly Research Division Director Walker Reagan:

 

“I am pleased to announce that the Summaries of Substantive Ratified Legislation – 2009,  is available on the General Assembly’s web site. “

 This comprehensive 325-page publication is organized by subject areas. The School of Goverment has now discontinued their similar publication.