Monthly Archives: August 2007

Making Your Commute More Fun

Here’s a fun little commuter exercise that most anyone can try. Moments before your train is to arrive, find a place where you can see it approaching from off in the distance, such as an overpass. Set your sights on … Continue reading

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Say Something!

Last year, seven riders said something when they saw something. Thank you, G. Francis, CTRider, PeterFromPort, Straphanger Joe, TJ, Engine Bob and JerseyPat. (And of course anyone else we may have forgotten.) The rest of you, nothing. If you see/hear/smell something … Continue reading

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The Least-Inspired Commuter-Related “Journalism” You’ll Read All Day

It comes from the Fauquier County Times (I believe “Fauquier” is pronounced like “F-You,” but I’m not sure). It’s an article about telecommuting, and how working from home can free up time for you, poor wage slave. “What can you … Continue reading

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An Open Letter To:

The blonde conductress on the Harlem Line. Let’s just say it: Bellies protruding over train-tchochke belt buckles, Metro-North conductors are not a toothsome lot. Nor are they particularly female. Which is fine. They’re professional, usually courteous, and perfectly efficient. They … Continue reading

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Word of the Week: SPEED-READ

SPEED-READ \SPEED reed\ verb: The commuter’s ability to read the Departures screen and figure out his track without slowing down as he passes through Grand Central. Usage: I barely made the 6:14 to Larchmont; if not for my ability to speed-read, I … Continue reading

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I Guess She Doesn’t Do This Every Day

The 8:43 approached the station. They were two blonde girls and a guy, each about23–too young to be commuters, too old to be Grand Central Verminal. One blonde, sporting more cleavage than the entire train she was about to board, … Continue reading

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Queen of Queens

Woman of about 30 on the 6 train headed uptown at 6:20 yesterday. Long, straight brown hair, bare shoulders, print sundress. Pretty. Tattoo on left shoulder: Interlocking N and Y, in royal blue and orange. A Mets tattoo! How many … Continue reading

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Build It, and Maybe They’ll Come

Last night, a man who’d just exited the 6:33 put his foot on the bike rack at Hawthorne station and tied his shoe. It was good to see someone other than me getting some use out of the thing. After … Continue reading

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Engine Bob is Back!!!

Q: Engine Bob, I commute to New Jersey from Penn Station, which means my train runs beneath the Hudson River. Somebody once told me that those tunnels are so shallow that they’re not anchored to anything and they “swing” like garden … Continue reading

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‘Hamer of the Gods

Every day, twice a day, riders on the Harlem line see it: CG Swackhamer. There it is, an ugly industrial building just south of White Plains, with a giant sign that, well, kind of swacks you like a hammer. Swackhamer. … Continue reading

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