Proto-Future 11: Layout, Life, and Podcast Update, 2025

This episode is a layout construction progress update amid some pretty major life changes: writing my and defending my Ph.D. dissertation, and looking to move overseas for safety. What will happen next to the layout and podcast? Listen on...A final reminder to support CAN: https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org

In this episode, I describe a project I've been working on with some friends to end car-dependency all across America, not just in cities, and details the many reasons why cars are always harmful to the environment, our health, and our economic prosperity.The Centre County Highway Revolt is a citizen-led organization opposing any new automobile spending in Pennsylvania, and instead promotes building a fast, frequent, regional rail system out of existing, government-owned infrastructure for intercity travel, daily car-free commuting, and transit accessible nature.Learn more at https://www.centrecountyhighwayrevolt.org

The first part of a pilot episode I recorded, testing out the concept of PFP before I released the Manifesto, where I Amtraked from Connellsville to Pittsburgh, explored Pittsburgh, and biked back.A reminder to support CAN: https://creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org

This episode finally gets us around to the "model" part of model railroading, teaching you how to prepare, paint, glue, brace, and detail either plastic or laser-cut wood kits. The different types of kits and glues are discussed, as well as scratch-building and kit-bashing, painting with an airbrush, and how to affix structures on the layout in a realistic manner.

This episode covers the history of the Class II railroads in the Mid-Atlantic Region, primarily the Reading, Central Railroad of New Jersey, Penn-Reading Seashore Lines, and Northern Central.

G4's take on NYC's Congestion Pricing, just in the nick of too late. Plus a report of a recent trip to a live show between City Nerd and the War on Cars in NYC, as well as bicycling around Baltimore, DC, NYC, and Philly.

Much thanks to all those whom asked a question! Feel free to reach out here: https://www.bgtmrring.org/contactLink to the subsequent interview with Tom Barbalet on Model Rail Radio found here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/model-rail-radio/id335536272?i=1000634820061

A one(-ish) year checkup with Tom Barbalet, talking about his incredibly enduring perspective of model railroading, how the hobby has changed over the years, the direction of modeling, transit, urbanism, geopolitics, artificial life simulations, and exobiology.Model Rail Radio/VideoListen to the original interview, from last year: Model Rail Radio November 13th, 2023: Tom Barbalet Talks with John Gardiner IVwww.barbalet.comLondon 1940

This episode addresses the elephant in the room: that America is a now a fascist, dying country. What do we do now, and how do we fight back against the racist conservative idiots that are stealing our freedoms?Please, please donate to:The Freedom from Religion FoundationNova UkraineAneraBlack Lives MatterThe Rail Passengers AssociationThe High Speed Rail AllianceThe Sierra ClubThe Parking Reform Network

In case you all forgot what it was to live like under Tronald Dump. Vote correctly!Once again, if you want to know more, you can Extra-special thanks to Puzzle in a Thunderstorm and all their podcasts. You can find their website here: https://scathingatheist.com and their podcasts following:And the diatribe in question can be sourced here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pW2k4qf_0mc&t=5s&pp=ygUdc2NhdGhpbmcgYXRoZWlzdCAxOTUgZGlhdHJpYmU%3D