Was up in Boston this past weekend (or, the Fisher-Price “My First City” city, according to old neighbor Joey D), and stumbled upon the “Starts & Stops” commuter blog in the Boston Globe. (First off, it’s worth noting that Bostonians refer to giant rainstorms as “Northeasters”, not “Noreasters,” as normal folk do. So formal!

Some interesting train stories in the Globe blog. For one, a rider complains that North Station smells bad. (A train station smells bad! We must be in Fisher-Price-ville!). “Every passenger is aware of the smell, but nobody wants to make eye contact or acknowledge that they’re choking on it,” a reader writes. “I’m afraid, too, that the rider seated next to me might think I’m the source.”

Then a reader named Aaron complains about hearing a conductor on the T sermonizing about world politics and religion…not once, but twice:

“The train’s uniformed attendant came into the car and announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please?”

Aaron said the crowd’s attention was quickly drawn to the speaker. “Obviously, when an MBTA official comes into the train and gets everyone’s attention, there’s an immediate feeling of concern,” he wrote.

But passengers were not asked to leave the train or prepare for a delay.

“The operator then went into a lengthy discourse regarding the violence in Boston and around the country and how we need to embrace one another and look to God to help us stem the surge in violence.”

The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority is investigating the matter.