Tag Archives: iPod

Next stop

Posted on August 8, 2011 | 5 Comments

Today on Twitter, there’s a trending topic called:

ThingsNotToDoOnPublicTransportation

This is a subject near and dear to my heart, because public transportation has been a way of life for me since I moved to Boston way back in 2000.

I took one look at the parking situation, sold my car, and vowed to walk, take the subway or hail a cab for all my transportation needs.

I’m in New York City now and haven’t regretted a day.

That being said, public transportation does put you ‘up close and personal’ with people — some you want to meet, some you don’t.  It doesn’t bother me overmuch, but for the people on Twitter today, their comments have some recurring themes:

  1. Don’t sit next to me.  Let’s face it — sometimes you don’t have a choice.  But when the bus or subway is empty, and a person sits right next to you?  Yeah…that’s creepy.
  2. Don’t play loud music. I feel this one.  And we’re not talking the guy with the big boombox or the singers panhandling for change.  We’re talking the folks with their iPods on and earbuds in… and it’s still too loud.  Future deaf people.
  3. Don’t stink up the place.  Uh, yeah.  Washing before boarding? That would be great.
  4. Don’t take up two seats.  Sometimes that is a simple matter of girth. But when the train is crowded and you’re using seats for your backpack.  Rude.
  5. Don’t make eye contact.  Hate to admit it, but I am a serious violator.  I like to look around at people.  If I catch someone’s eye — and they don’t scare me — I smile.

Perhaps I should start a new trending topic:

ThingsSouthernersDoOnPublicTransportation

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Posted in Comedy, Commentary, Green, Humor, Internet, Life, transportation, Travel

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Characters accepted here

Posted on May 6, 2011 | Leave a comment

I’ve lived in New York City for almost five years now, and people still ask me if I like it.

I do.  But, surprisingly, not for the reasons I thought I would.

Yes, I like going to Broadway shows whenever I want.  I like being able to dabble in TV and film work (translation: audition a lot, get cast very little, do extra work a bit).  I like having access to lectures and writers and museums and all the culture that New York City provides.

But what I love most of all about this city?

The characters you find here…and the city’s total acceptance of them.

Case in point:  Yesterday I was on the 1 train coming back uptown from a meeting.    A guy got on, turned on his iPod — playing the Star Wars theme for some reason — and announced “The king is here!”  Then he started showing large photos to the car; in each one, he was posed with a different celebrity.

He wasn’t trying to sell anything.  He just wanted to show people his pics.  And he kept saying “The king is here” in a very proud way.

The people in the car?  They just ignored him or smiled.  One women talked to him and was quickly dubbed “The queen of the car!”

When he left a few stops later — saying “The king is leaving!” — folks just went about their day.  There wasn’t any drama.  No one was clasping their child in terror or calling a cop.   He was just another character in the city that accepts them as their own.

Yep.  I like it here.

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Posted in Commentary, Entertainment, Humor, Life, Movies, Museums, Television, TV

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Stop the music

Posted on February 13, 2011 | 1 Comment

There’s an awards show on television tonight that I’m not gonna watch (and not just because I’m on an airplane headed east).  I’m not even recording it.

The Grammy Awards.  Yep — Not. Gonna. Do. It.

I’m sure there will be much spectacle.  Lady GaGa and Adam Lambert are performing, so that’s kinda a given.  But when you’ve only heard of about half of the musical groups — and have no clue what songs they currently sing or what awards they have been nominated to receive — well, you feel like one of those folks who hang out by the buffet table at a party.

LOSER.

I could blame it on circumstances.  I used to be better informed when I had a car and actually listened to the radio.  Then I moved to the Northeast and adopted the walking lifestyle.

“So, listen to music on your iPod, Carla.”

It’s a legitimate idea.  But I hate headphones and ear buds — just can’t stand having anything jammed in or around my ears — so music as part of my commute has pretty much disappeared.  And TV is my background noise of choice when I’m working on my laptop.

So this time, The Egg is depending on you — give me the skinny on what goes down at the Grammy’s pre-, during and post-show — complete with your more informed translation.

I may not like headphones, but I’d still like to hear an ear full.

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Posted in Airplanes, Celebrities, Commentary, Entertainment, Humor, Life, Music, Singing, Television, Travel, TV, Walking

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Juiced

Posted on January 21, 2011 | 3 Comments

As someone who doesn’t own any Apple products — that’s right, people, nary a one — I am often fascinated by the passion that iPod, iPad and iPhone owners exhibit when speaking about their toys.

To an outsider, they look and sound like members of a bizarre religious cult.  The zeal in their eyes is unnerving and feverishly bright.  Their quick defense against any perceived insult towards the brand seems almost a rote recitation of hallowed Apple lore.

That must be some tasty Kool-Aid they’re servin’.

I was reminded of this phenomenon Wednesday during my flight to New Orleans.  A true Apple-tonian (Apple-ite?  Appler?) was seated behind me.  As he was putting away his phone for takeoff, the gentleman seated next to him asked if it was the new iPhone4.

Two and a half hours later — when the plane was landing — that apostle of all things Apple emerged from the zone and took a breath.

During that time, he had lovingly detailed every feature, every app, every dimple and dent of his beloved iPhone, the number of “likes” littering his speech increasing exponentially with his level of excitement.

I’ll admit, Apple makes amazing products and has even more effective marketing.  But even their biggest fan on the plane conceded that his iPhone was shit at making phone calls.  Didn’t work well at all.   But this too he turned into an iPositive.

“It’s the only way I can truly escape,” he said with a contented sigh.  “Having ‘no service’ is the perfect excuse.”

Somewhere, an Apple genius has a tear in his eye.

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Posted in Advertising, Airplanes, Business, Commentary, Design, Humor, Life, Shopping, Technology, transportation, Travel

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