The TTIV Poetry Throwdown

Marsh, TTIV's Eastern Pennsylvania Bus Bureau Correspondent, rearranges song lyrics like a wizard. For as long as I've known him, he's thrown them down like Eminem at a rap battle.

The bus commute has been tough lately. During a recent Lincoln Tunnel delay, he came up with the following. Weird Al Yankovic has nothing on Marsh.

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What's On The Commuting Agenda?

In an earlier post, I asked TTIV readers to share what was in their commuting survival kits. Some responses were typical, some unusual. Splenda and Oxycodone were my favorites, and judging from reader comments, yours too.

I'm also nosy about what people do on their commutes, besides obtaining medical test results via cell phone at obnoxious volumes. So I asked the TTIV community. In today's post, we'll look at what they said.

Shakespearean characters are back to protect TTIV readers' privacy.

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Destination... Black Hole

Have you been to Penn Station recently, near the ticket windows on the 7th Avenue side? If so, you've likely noticed the scene depicted in the photograph. The shops selling greasy fast food like KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, and Auntie Anne's Pretzels were shut down. All that remains is a mysterious black wall that extends for 500-1000 feet.

According to news reports, upscale restaurants are coming to the space. But who wants to eat at Penn Station? I have no interest in some big-name, overpriced place with a basement feel and corporate card prices. 

I suppose you can't fight "progress." Vornado Realty can do what they want. However, that won't stop TTIV from dreaming about what COULD go into this space to improve commuting.

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Critical Concerns and CRUDD

Have you noticed the uniforms the Long Island Rail Road Conductors wear? They're not flattering and they look uncomfortable. The Engineers who drive the trains, however, wear whatever they want. A TTIV reader was curious about the inconsistency, and wrote a letter to the LIRR Public Relations Department, or as I call it, the Committee Responsible for Useless Data Dissemination (CRUDD). 

The CRUDD's response was weak. I think the TTIV reader exposed a security risk.

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Rainbows, Unicorns, and Commuting

On the train, man next to me got a phone call. He answered it quietly, and then got up to finish the call in the vestibule. That was very considerate of him.

Sometimes I have to report on good things that happen. I've been told my posts have become too cynical.

Have a nice day.

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And We're Back

On the train, woman next to me smells like mothballs and cigarettes. 

It's good to be back. 

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Haste Makes Waste

Hey #TTIV readers. Some of you told me that my post last night about the panhandler and train delays came off as insensitive. I reread the post and decided you were right.

My intention was not to focus on the injured man, but to look at it solely from the perspective of the commuter who simply wants to get home. If you want to publish essays, you have to be balanced.

Moral of the story: Don't publish an essay the same evening you write it. If you don't have an editor, allow yourself extra time to review what you've written from a fresh perspective. I've updated the story.

Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate all of it.

-- David

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