Archive for March, 2007
Friday, March 23rd, 2007
Metro(sexual) North
I witnessed two firsts on the 7:52 last night (which, by the way, offered nary a spare seat. At freakin’ 7:52 p.m.!). First, I saw a man reading US Weekly. A man! He was mid-30s, in a tasteful and slightly rumpled charcoal suit, sporting half-sideburns. Have you ever seen a man reading US Weekly before?
(Coincidentally, […]
No Comments » - Posted in Styles Section, US Weekly by TJ
Friday, March 23rd, 2007
Grand Central Interminable
Boy, did I think I was going to be early when the 8:17 chugged in to 125th at 8:49. Boy, was I wrong.
It took all of 18 minutes to get from 125th to Grand Central Terminal, well above the already painstaking 12-13 minutes it normally takes.
I want a full explanation waiting on my train seat […]
No Comments » - Posted in 125th Street, Grand Central by TJ
Thursday, March 22nd, 2007
Blighty Almighty
It’s interesting that most links that come up when Googling “commuter blogs” are of the English variety. Why are our British counterparts beating us to the punch in this regard? Do we not have gigantic cities, hellish challenges in entering and exiting them, and blogs in which to relieve our stress?
Anyway, if you can’t afford […]
1 Comment » - Posted in Scooter London by TJ
Thursday, March 22nd, 2007
Ask Engine Bob: Why Not a No-Cell-Phone Car?
Q: Engine Bob, why don’t have they have a no cell-phone “quiet car” on Metro North, like they do on Amtrak? Surely, enough quiet-seeking commuters could fill a train car?
A: What a fine, fine question. My fingers are twitching already. In fact, hang on a sec while I take another blood-pressure pill, because your question […]
No Comments » - Posted in Badass Gangsta Ho's, Engine Bob, cell phone by TJ
Thursday, March 22nd, 2007
Police on My Track
As expected, the MTA announced last night that it will step up police patrols on trains, platforms and in parking lots. MTA CEO Lee Sander said MTA police will be joined by federal marshals from the TSA, the fine folks who protect our airways.
Look for–well, don’t actually look for–uniformed police on board, as well as […]
No Comments » - Posted in MTA, Marshals by TJ
Wednesday, March 21st, 2007
Oh Yeah — And My Dog Ate My Train Ticket Too
Interesting hint of drama on the 6:10 last night (a train so full that I had to stand with my back to the door in the back row, as the standing room only vestibule spots were cheek to cheek).
The conductor came around near Harlem. A young man looked at him with large, baleful eyes. He […]
4 Comments » - Posted in 6:10, The Wire by TJ
Wednesday, March 21st, 2007
Make Room for the German Shepherds
Metro-North president Peter Cannito holds court at MTA Headquarters on 44th and Madison tonight. He reportedly will outline a new security plan for the railroad, which may or may not include German Shepherds sniffing for Al Qaeda and air marshals dressed as regular commuters.
The forum is open to the public, and the public–you!–will be permitted […]
1 Comment » - Posted in Al Qaeda, President's Forum by TJ
Wednesday, March 21st, 2007
Pretty Fly
This cat commutes each day from his home in Newport Coast, CA to West Los Angelese in his chopper. The 54-mile trip takes him 45 minutes, about 20 of which he spends in his $1.3 million bird. The guy runs Amp’d Mobile, which produces shows and clips for mobile devices like cellphones; Amp’d created the […]
No Comments » - Posted in Helicopter, Lil' Bush by TJ
Tuesday, March 20th, 2007
I Dunno, Something About Squeezing Lemons
As I approached the train the other night, I passed one of the guys who sell booze from a cart at the top of the platform. On his menu was the usual lineup of potables: beers, whiskeys, wines, their brand names typed up nicely next to their prices.
But the man had added another beverage option: […]
No Comments » - Posted in Uncategorized by TJ
Monday, March 19th, 2007
Sad ‘Sack
I’d like to suggest a product recall. No, not poisonous pet food or anything, but these crappy New York Sports Club knapsacks that I see strapped to the backs of lots of commuters.
NYSC (not to be confused with ‘N SYNC) gave these things out to new members, along with crappy baseball hats and some other […]