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Summary: Sri Lanka Tsunami Train Victims
Associated Press via MaconTelegraph ^ | 12/28/04 | AP

Posted on 12/28/2004 1:29:43 PM PST by nuve9

QUEEN OF THE SEA: Sri Lanka officials say 1,000 tickets were sold for an excursion Sunday from the capital, Colombo, to beach resorts on the train known as "Samudradevi," or "Queen of the Sea." TRAGEDY STRIKES: The train was swept off the track by Sunday's tsunami. AFTERMATH: More than 800 people were killed; no relatives claimed 204 of the bodies, so they were buried in a mass grave along the railway line. "This was the only thing we could do," said Venerable Baddegama Samitha, a Buddhist monk and former parliamentarian. "The bodies were rotting. We gave them a decent burial."


TOPICS: Extended News
KEYWORDS: rail; srilanka; sumatraquake
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1 posted on 12/28/2004 1:29:43 PM PST by nuve9
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To: nuve9

Kind of like the love train, only different.


2 posted on 12/28/2004 1:31:56 PM PST by Max Combined
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To: Max Combined

Only different

3 posted on 12/28/2004 1:34:36 PM PST by Puppage (You may disagree with what I have to say, but I shall defend to your death my right to say it.)
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To: nuve9
One story more horrific than the next. This one reminds me of Thorton Wilder's novel, "The Bridge of San Luis Rey."

There, but for the grace of God...

4 posted on 12/28/2004 1:35:51 PM PST by Dr. Eckleburg (There are very few shades of gray.)
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Comment #5 Removed by Moderator

To: Puppage

"Hey, hey the peace train."
Cat Stevens (not allowed in U.S.A.)

Only different.


6 posted on 12/28/2004 1:41:23 PM PST by shubi (Peace through superior firepower.)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg
Discussion and a number of maps of the Geologic Earth:

Geology Picture of the Week, December 26, 2004-January 1, 2005: Epicenter (and extra)

7 posted on 12/28/2004 1:41:57 PM PST by Ernest_at_the_Beach (A Proud member of Free Republic ~~The New Face of the Fourth Estate since 1996.)
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To: Puppage

8 posted on 12/28/2004 1:42:10 PM PST by Bluegrass Conservative
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To: F15Eagle

I am watching these photos come in on my server. I can't even tell you. A shooter was on the scene of this disaster and will probably file the images soon. What's scary is the thought of an aftershock there, or anywhere in the world.


9 posted on 12/28/2004 1:44:40 PM PST by nuve9
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To: Puppage

I continue to be amazed at FReepers' ability to find humor in dire situations.


10 posted on 12/28/2004 1:47:44 PM PST by RushCrush ("Before I refuse to take your questions, I have an opening statement." Reagan)
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To: F15Eagle

yes, I believe waves were going at 65 mph and 20-25 feet high each.


12 posted on 12/28/2004 1:51:20 PM PST by nuve9
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To: F15Eagle

whoah! my bad. my facts wera a bit off.
"Sunday's massive quake of 9.0 magnitude off the Indonesian island of Sumatra sent 500-mph waves surging across the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal in the deadliest known tsunami since the one that devastated the Portuguese capital of Lisbon in 1755 and killed an estimated 60,000 people."


13 posted on 12/28/2004 2:08:47 PM PST by nuve9
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To: RushCrush

These disasters are just part of the natural world.

Gallows humor is needed psychologically, sometimes.

I like to point out the hypocrisy of the left in complaining about a few hundred soldiers dying to keep terrorists from killing us, but they have few complaints or demands to withdraw from dangerous areas of the world, like California (fires, mudslides, earthquakes, car chases)

I repeat my demand that the causualty rate is too high and everyone must withdraw from Sri Lanka (Ceylon for old codgers like myself).

I visited Ceylon once and wrote this song:
sung to melody of Tea for Two

Tea for you but not for me
since I saw that tea factory
I know how they do it in Ceylon
Never again will I touch the stuff
I saw how they do it and that's enough
I'm gonna drink much stronger stuff than teeeeeeeeee...


14 posted on 12/28/2004 2:16:08 PM PST by shubi (Peace through superior firepower.)
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To: nuve9

The waves slow down as they reach the continental shelf. They were probably going 100-300 miles per hr when they hit.

The waves travel like sound waves in the deep ocean. The one or two foot wave on the surface is hardly noticeable.


15 posted on 12/28/2004 2:19:08 PM PST by shubi (Peace through superior firepower.)
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To: nuve9
Please use the original headline when posting to help prevent duplicates. Thanks.
16 posted on 12/28/2004 2:23:21 PM PST by Sidebar Moderator
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To: shubi

I find no fault whatsoever with FReepers who find humor in these situations- I am simply amazed by the ability.

Would be interested to hear about the tea...


17 posted on 12/28/2004 2:24:41 PM PST by RushCrush ("Before I refuse to take your questions, I have an opening statement." Reagan)
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To: RushCrush
I continue to be amazed at FReepers' ability to find humor in dire situations.

We're an optimistic lot. Every Tsunami has a silver lining and we'll find it. You see the Tsunami as half empty while we see it as half full.

18 posted on 12/28/2004 2:26:53 PM PST by dennisw (G_D: Against Amelek for all generations.)
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To: RushCrush

Tea in Ceylon (Sri Lanka)-

This was many years ago (over 40-I was about 11).

They pick the tea leaves by hand, spread them on dirty mats to dry among numerous flies and other assorted insects. Periodically, a barefooted dirty looking person walks all over them-I guess to help the drying process.

They then collect it in dirty sacks and dump it into vats with unwashed hands.

Then they grind it up and put it in packages to sell to the unsuspecting English.

I don't think Lipton does it this way, but you never know.


19 posted on 12/28/2004 2:34:14 PM PST by shubi (Peace through superior firepower.)
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To: dennisw

I was wondering if Saudi Arabia was sending a billion or so to help out?


20 posted on 12/28/2004 2:37:32 PM PST by shubi (Peace through superior firepower.)
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