Ryan
Court Jester
We drove in, I'm pretty sure that we had to pay to park, but other than that there were no impediments. It'd be a pretty long walk from what I remember, but there didn't seem to be anything to stop you.
I do not like vagueness in language. The English language is capable of great precision, and I can't stand it when people keep trying to kill it by improperly using words interchangeably.I'm sure the actual concept of "unprecedented" is as vague to most writers as that of "unique." I'd wager than in ten years the phrase "most unique" is standard English, if it isn't already. We live in fallen times.
I don't believe that one can just walk to the TTC, if memory serves none of the roads that lead there from outside the World have sidewalks. However, one could walk from Outside to Downtown Disney or take a local bus or drive to the free parking lot there. At that point, you could board a free Disney bus to the TTC or Epcot for that matter, and then ride the monorail.Can one walk to the TTC, without being a Disney guest? Can one really walk onto WDW grounds?As I recall (I've been there once, about 2 years ago), anyone can just walk up and ride the monorail from the TTC to the Magic Kingdom without a ticket for anything - once you get to the Magic Kingdom stop, you get off and walk a short distance to the park gate where you present your ticket for admission.
As RTOlson previously asked,"Unprecedented" means, very specifically, "Nothing in the past has taken place to set the standards for this future event." Thus, the statement is, unquestionably, inaccurate. Many things have taken place to set various standards for this. Rail crashes. The NTSB investigating same. The NTSB investigating accidents relating to CTC controlled mass transit- hell the DC crash a few days ago stands as an example. There are many precedents for this. Not all of this is charted territory, but there are precedents. So it isn't unprecedented.
cite precedent for several points:- A previous case of NTSB investigating all-private transport operating on private property.
- A previous case of NTSB investigating a monorail accident at Disneyland or Walt Disney World.
- A previous NTSB investigation of any amusement park attraction, ride or transport.
The online version of Miriam-Webster is an embarrassment. My real dictionary states that it means without precedent, and defines precedent as: N, something done or said that may serve or be adduced as an example, reason, or justification for a subsequent act of a like kind.Ahem - from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary:Unprecedented - having no precedent: novel, unexampled.
I think there are enough "unexampled" aspects of this case to say it was unprecedented. No one has been able to cite examples for two of the three qualities of this unique, novel, unexampled, unprecedented investigation.
Local Orlando news reported tonight that the initial findings of the NTSB indicate that the pilot did indeed attempt to reverse the purple train immediately before the pink train crashed into his cockpit.It is unclear at this point if the operator who was killed had started to slow his train or not, much less what else he did or didn't do in the few seconds that he probably had between realizing that Pink was heading towards him and the actual collision. The fact that Purple was also in motion explains why he didn't reverse his train in an attempt to ourrun Pink. Reversing either requires a full stop or a rather complicated procedure when in motion, and even then the motors and the train won't react all that well to suddenly being thrown into reverse.
So far, unprecedented is batting 2 of 3...cite precedent for several points:- A previous case of NTSB investigating all-private transport operating on private property.
- A previous case of NTSB investigating a monorail accident at Disneyland or Walt Disney World.
- A previous NTSB investigation of any amusement park attraction, ride or transport.
That's what I find so utterly disgusting about newer editions. They suggest that words are flexible. You can make them flexible, but only at a loss in precision, and I hate when it becomes difficult to communicate because people start using words inappropriately. As a reporter, you should be ashamed of yourself for condoning such behavior and, indeed, arguing on its behalf.So ...So far, unprecedented is batting 2 of 3...cite precedent for several points:- A previous case of NTSB investigating all-private transport operating on private property.
- A previous case of NTSB investigating a monorail accident at Disneyland or Walt Disney World.
- A previous NTSB investigation of any amusement park attraction, ride or transport.
Edit to add: I think I'll lay off the point after this post. I believe that there are many aspects of this investigation that are unprecedented (enough to justify the reporter's use of the phrase). Given the different citations for "unprecedented," I also believe that the definition of the word is flexible enough to accommodate many different interpretations.
Ah, so the Purple train pilot did see the Pink train barreling toward him, and did attempt to "peel out in reverse".There are indications that the operator of the Purple train had brought the train to a stop and had attempted to put the train in reverse prior to the collision.
Ahem - from the Merriam-Webster online dictionary:Unprecedented - having no precedent: novel, unexampled.
I think there are enough "unexampled" aspects of this case to say it was unprecedented. No one has been able to cite examples for two of the three qualities of this unique, novel, unexampled, unprecedented investigation.
Among many. That's my point. There are many things in the past that set the standard for this, an investigation of an entirely private transportation system inside a tourist attraction by the National Transportation Safety Board.Wouldn't the NTSB's investigation into the Gettysburg Railroad steam engine explosion be the precedent, at least one of them? At least it appears to me to be.
Note that in 831.3 any of the various directors "may order an investigation into any accident or incident" which in combination with the list in 831.2 ( c ), means that if they choose to investigate a particular accident in any form of transport that moves people or freight they can do so simply by deciding to do so.PART 831—ACCIDENT/INCIDENT INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES
Authority: Independent Safety Board Act of 1974, as amended (49 U.S.C. 1101 et seq. ); Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended (49 U.S.C. 40101 et seq. ).
Source: 53 FR 15847, May 4, 1988, unless otherwise noted.
§ 831.1 Applicability of part.
Unless otherwise specifically ordered by the National Transportation Safety Board (Board), the provisions of this part shall govern all accident or incident investigations, conducted under the authority of title VII of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended, and the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974. Rules applicable to accident hearings and reports are set forth in part 845.
§ 831.2 Responsibility of Board.
. . . .
( c ) Other accidents/incidents. The Board is also responsible for the investigation of an accident/incident that occurs in connection with the transportation of people or property which, in the judgment of the Board, is catastrophic, involves problems of a recurring character, or would otherwise carry out the policy of the Independent Safety Board Act of 1974. This authority includes, but is not limited to, marine and boating accidents and incidents not covered by part 850 of this chapter, and accidents/incidents selected by the Board involving transportation and/or release of hazardous materials.
[62 FR 3806, Jan. 27, 1997]
§ 831.3 Authority of Directors.
The Directors, Office of Aviation Safety, Office of Railroad Safety, Office of Highway Safety, Office of Marine Safety, and Office of Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety, subject to the provisions of §831.2 and part 800 of this chapter, may order an investigation into any accident or incident.
[63 FR 71606, Dec. 29, 1998]
You are quite correct, Alan. Though the intent of ANY of the transportation modes are officially for "Resort Guests Only" and "Resort ID Required," it is not enforced. It wasn't when I worked there 15 years ago, and it wasn't last month. They have the right to enforce it, though, at any time. It won't cost anything to help except goodwill for the few that like to mooch.I don't believe that one can just walk to the TTC, if memory serves none of the roads that lead there from outside the World have sidewalks. However, one could walk from Outside to Downtown Disney or take a local bus or drive to the free parking lot there. At that point, you could board a free Disney bus to the TTC or Epcot for that matter, and then ride the monorail.Can one walk to the TTC, without being a Disney guest? Can one really walk onto WDW grounds?As I recall (I've been there once, about 2 years ago), anyone can just walk up and ride the monorail from the TTC to the Magic Kingdom without a ticket for anything - once you get to the Magic Kingdom stop, you get off and walk a short distance to the park gate where you present your ticket for admission.
At one point many years ago, they used to check to see that one had either a resort ID or a World Pass/ticket coupon book. At that time, failure to have either would have resulted in your being turned away. If I had to guess, I'd say it's going on 15 to 20 years now since they've stopped asking for proof. I think that there is still a disclaimer that you're supposed to be a resort guest or holding a World Passport to board any form of Disney Transportation, but in the interests of guest convienence and keeping costs down, they never ask for proof anymore.
The only thing unprecedented about it is it is the first fatality on the Disneyworld monorail.I think we can enjoy a discussion about semantics without calling someone ignorant (besides it was the NTSB agent who said the investigation was unprecedented).
If the NTSB investigation isn't "unprecedented," then you guys should be able to cite precedent for several points:
- A previous case of NTSB investigating all-private transport operating on private property.
- A previous case of NTSB investigating a monorail accident at Disneyland or Walt Disney World.
- A previous NTSB investigation of any amusement park attraction, ride or transport.
I can only cite precedent for one point — most railroad incidents likely involve railroads (private companies) operating private transport (their trains) largely on private property (their tracks and rights-of-way).
Aside from that, the Orlando Sentinel story cites several other reasons why this NTSB investigation is unique in several ways, seemingly without precedent (hence, its status as "unprecedented").
You've got a surplus of time on your hands to micro-manage words like that. I'm wagering you're a govt. employee - not necesarrily a govt. worker - 2 different things.Among many. That's my point. There are many things in the past that set the standard for this, an investigation of an entirely private transportation system inside a tourist attraction by the National Transportation Safety Board.Wouldn't the NTSB's investigation into the Gettysburg Railroad steam engine explosion be the precedent, at least one of them? At least it appears to me to be.
The above set of words is unique:
- I have never before typed the above set of words.
- I didn't do it before at 12:26.
- I didn't do it before on a Thursday.
- I didn't do it before on Amtrak Unlimited.
- I didn't do it before on a July 9th.
- I didn't do it before in the year 2009.
- To my knowledge, I have never before argued about the word "unprecedented."
All of these things are unique aspects of my above paragraph. It is unique in so many different ways. And yet, as others will admit, this is in the style of many posts I have made that are:
- Argumentative.
- About tiny, unimportant (to most people) things.
- Involve inappropriate usage of the English language.
- In regard to items almost irrelevant to the original topic.
In fact, some people might say this is a typical GML argument. There is precedent for me arguing about stuff like this. Its a unique argument, yes. It is not, in the least, unprecedented.
To be honest, I do it without thought. I'm sure people notice that my frequency of typoing- or simply leaving out words I meant to type- is very high. I don't micro-manage words at all. I just have clear definitions of each one in my head. Unlike far too many Americans, it seems, I happen to have a strong command of the English language. I took Latin when I was in high school, I speak Yiddish and Hebrew quite fluently, and I can communicate successfully in Arabic and German. I guess language is a natural strength of mine.You've got a surplus of time on your hands to micro-manage words like that. I'm wagering you're a govt. employee - not necesarrily a govt. worker - 2 different things.
And it was one of those perks that truly rang of Walt Disney, a railfan himself who was known to enjoy cab rides immensely. It seemed only fitting that you could get that experience at his back yard, so to speak. It's so unfortunate to see that experience go away. Again, expected, but I don't like it either.Biggest lost for guests is no more riding in the cab. That's truly a shame, as it gave MANY guests a really special opportunity to enjoy the magic. I understand the ban, expected it, but don't like it.
Wow, you are great. tell us how great you are some more......To be honest, I do it without thought. I'm sure people notice that my frequency of typoing- or simply leaving out words I meant to type- is very high. I don't micro-manage words at all. I just have clear definitions of each one in my head. Unlike far too many Americans, it seems, I happen to have a strong command of the English language. I took Latin when I was in high school, I speak Yiddish and Hebrew quite fluently, and I can communicate successfully in Arabic and German. I guess language is a natural strength of mine.
As for what I do, you're right. I have way too much time on my hands. But unlike a government employee, at least I have the decency to not collect a pay check for my not working- I'm unemployed. I don't collect unemployment either. I'm an honestly unemployed, no income bum. I'm looking for, have been looking for, work as a trainman, but the freights aren't exactly hiring now.