I had an interesting story about how I managed to make about 50 people hate me this morning as I managed to wedge my way through a gaggle of standing passengers, exit the train, and reenter it at a more advantageous spot, all to beat them off the train and to Dunkin Donuts, but that was before my commute home. Maybe I got what I deserved. But if I deserved what I got on the ride home, and got out of it as fortunately as I did, there must have been a LOT of people that angered the commuter gods today, because there was a LOT of blood.
I've been taking a lot of random late trains recently, as work has required, but Tuesday afternoons are the exception; due to class at Brandeis, I take the 4:45 train back to Canton.
As I may have mentioned (once or twice) in this space before, the MBCR is not known for its swiftness or timeliness. This should be surprising to no one. So I was contently discontent with our trip home; we made nice time out of Ruggles and people deboarded relatively quickly at Hyde Park (at Route 128, though why we have to stop there when another outbound train make stops there 5 minutes earlier is for another, long, ranting discussion.) There's a big bend probably a mile out of 128 station; we usually slow for this bend, because the train tends to tilt quite a bit, and I'm assuming its not good to go fast + tilt, especially if a train is coming from the other direction. Today, we moved through the curve quickly, and then started to slow.
Naturally, I saw all of this as I manned my post, protecting the door of the rearmost car from people that threatened to detrain before me.
We came to a dead stop (again, not surprising), and I waited to get going, knowing we weren't too far out of Canton Junction. What happened next was certainly the most surprising and startling moment of my life, as there was no advanced warning of any kind - suddenly I found, in one swift yet disjointed motion, my head thrown against the glass pane of the door, and my entire body lurching in the opposite direction - and not just away, backwards, but down.
The lights were out, my hat was thrown clear, and my IPod wasn't playing; in fact, my headphones weren't in at all.
And upon further inspection, I realized I hadn't been resting uncomfortably upon a middle aged Hispanic woman shortly before being thrown onto the ground either.
She seemed none to pleased with this outcome.
That was the first 4-9 seconds after my train was hit by a box car rolling in the wrong direction. Everything after is a bit hazy, but I remember the following; people with bloody noses, a lot of pain, and a lot of anger.
I got of the train and looked down the track - I assumed we had been hit by an oncoming train. It felt like we had been hit by an oncoming train. I couldn't see anything though - it was only as I walked down the track later that I saw the single box car.
The conductor yelled for everyone to get back on the train (I'm glad to see that even though he knew we wouldn't be on time, he still had a schedule to keep). I did, briefly (I had to retrieve my hat, of course). But as people started to gather themselves (and, as its been 5 hours since, I'm confident to say that I still haven't gathered myself fully), everyone started clamoring to get off the train.
I was definitely confused - I called my wife, she told me something, but I didn't really figure it out. I saw some people, presumably people that weren't seriously hurt, walking down the tracks to the train station. I started out to follow them - I didn't know what else to do - the conductors had started creating pools of people, those who needed medical attention and those who didn't - and all I could think of was 1) WHAT THE HELL!! and 2) I NEED TO GET TO CLASS!!
I could hear sirens, lots of them, and a helicopter overhead. Help was on the way. I was dazed, and continued to walk down the track, leaving the wreckage behind. I'd say I'm not particularly proud of this, but I quite honestly don't know what I could have done - I was working on instinct and that instinct was to get the eff away. I checked in with the other people that had self diagnosed and made their way to Canton Junction - asking if they were ok and if they had seen anything I hadn't (such as a logical reason for a box car on the track of a major train thoroughfare). I called my boss (why? not sure, still not sure.) I called my wife again. She said to stay put (I think this was reiterating the previous message), but I was already way past that.
I had and still have a few lingering questions - why didn't the engineer warn the commuters? I can only imagine that the panic that would have caused though. What would a real train crash be like? How fast was the box car moving?? It couldn't have been going too fast - but if it caused that much havoc at low speeds, I can't imagine what it would be like to be in a real high-speed collision. And of course, the most important question, HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? How did a train heading to Providence 10 minutes earlier pass through unscathed, and yet a box car appeared seemingly out of nowhere, likely a mile away from the nearest track split and on a track it shouldn't have been on.
A lot of people, I'm quite sure, are very angry and very upset. I feel quite fortunate to have been able to walk away, without serious injury. And I feel quite concerned about the fact that I have to get back on the train tomorrow morning.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
The Madness of March
Meghan's parents have a 2000+ sq ft condo that we've been cat sitting in for two days, so it may seem surprising to you that Meghan, the cat and I are all cozily sitting on the same, small couch. But considering that the weather is also a bit surprising (its been right about at freezing today), and this place gets a bit chilly when you don't crank the heat on a cold day, I bring you my long awaited follow-up post to my... last post. Ok, yes its been a while, but l've been busy, leave me alone about it. Anyway, I've had a lot to say recently, and forgotten most of it. So here's what I'm thinking right now instead.
I think its great that I'm blogging, streaming the UConn - San Diego game, and listening to Linkin Park on Rhapsody, all wirelessly on the laptop. I don't know why this impresses my so, especially because Meghan is making fun of me for being so proud of it. Whatever, the cat is watching the game and he seems to appreciate it.
Of course, I'd be enjoying it a lot more if UConn would just finish off San Diego; instead we're going to overtime. The brackets have taken a bit of a hit today... but I'm still towards the top of the list for my group on Yahoo.
What I don't get, I've never gotten, and probably won't ever get, is why these brackets are frowned upon, in general in the work environment, and specifically in the financial world. It just doesn't make sense to me. You can "bet" on stocks, mutual funds, derivatives; you can invest in energy, commodities, even volatility, yet you can't wager on sports? It just doesn't make sense to me.
I know gambling can be an addiction and I understand why we don't have slot machines next to the cafeteria, bathroom or watercooler, but at work, I can go down to the convenience store in the building and buy a scratch ticket; why can't I go online and wager on the Celts this weekend, or Tiger on Sunday, is just beyond me. Oh well.
I think a few people at the Fours in Boston this afternoon weren't too worried about the legality of filling out their brackets - when Western Kentucky nailed a 3 pointer to close out the game and upset Drake, there were a few hoots and shouts of astonishment. Also, random note - where did the huge building come from accross the street from the Fours?? Weird.
And what are the chances that when W. Kentucky won that game, as a 12 seed, their first thought was immediately, maybe we'll be favored in the next game - UConn versus San Diego (a 13 seed). Well, now that SD has won in overtime, that'll happen on Sunday. I'll take "Throwing my Bracket in the Trash" for $500 Alex.
I think its great that I'm blogging, streaming the UConn - San Diego game, and listening to Linkin Park on Rhapsody, all wirelessly on the laptop. I don't know why this impresses my so, especially because Meghan is making fun of me for being so proud of it. Whatever, the cat is watching the game and he seems to appreciate it.
Of course, I'd be enjoying it a lot more if UConn would just finish off San Diego; instead we're going to overtime. The brackets have taken a bit of a hit today... but I'm still towards the top of the list for my group on Yahoo.
What I don't get, I've never gotten, and probably won't ever get, is why these brackets are frowned upon, in general in the work environment, and specifically in the financial world. It just doesn't make sense to me. You can "bet" on stocks, mutual funds, derivatives; you can invest in energy, commodities, even volatility, yet you can't wager on sports? It just doesn't make sense to me.
I know gambling can be an addiction and I understand why we don't have slot machines next to the cafeteria, bathroom or watercooler, but at work, I can go down to the convenience store in the building and buy a scratch ticket; why can't I go online and wager on the Celts this weekend, or Tiger on Sunday, is just beyond me. Oh well.
I think a few people at the Fours in Boston this afternoon weren't too worried about the legality of filling out their brackets - when Western Kentucky nailed a 3 pointer to close out the game and upset Drake, there were a few hoots and shouts of astonishment. Also, random note - where did the huge building come from accross the street from the Fours?? Weird.
And what are the chances that when W. Kentucky won that game, as a 12 seed, their first thought was immediately, maybe we'll be favored in the next game - UConn versus San Diego (a 13 seed). Well, now that SD has won in overtime, that'll happen on Sunday. I'll take "Throwing my Bracket in the Trash" for $500 Alex.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Daylight Slaving
Every day keeps getting shorter
As my sleeves start getting longer
My love for autumn is well known (and if I was better about posting, it'd probably be well "published" too), and the lyrics to Daylight Slaving remind me of fall, but I was singing them a bit again today; as I walked out of the office, a few lasting rays of light were spilling around the Pru and stretching up Stuart Street. Chilled, I zipped up and ran over to the train station.
This would have seemed all very normal had it not been 6:30 pm.
It didn't look like a late winter night, it looked, and felt, like a late autumn afternoon.
We can play with the clocks all we like, but there are a few things we can't change. We can't change the number of hours the sun hangs above us, nor its peak position, only the slow orbital churn will accomplish this; we can't change having to get up in the morning, or going to bed to greet the next day; what we can do is "change the time", a human contraption that makes us think something good is happening.
Well, it may "seem" good, but that doesn't mean it is, and it doesn't mean it isn't cold.
As my sleeves start getting longer
My love for autumn is well known (and if I was better about posting, it'd probably be well "published" too), and the lyrics to Daylight Slaving remind me of fall, but I was singing them a bit again today; as I walked out of the office, a few lasting rays of light were spilling around the Pru and stretching up Stuart Street. Chilled, I zipped up and ran over to the train station.
This would have seemed all very normal had it not been 6:30 pm.
It didn't look like a late winter night, it looked, and felt, like a late autumn afternoon.
We can play with the clocks all we like, but there are a few things we can't change. We can't change the number of hours the sun hangs above us, nor its peak position, only the slow orbital churn will accomplish this; we can't change having to get up in the morning, or going to bed to greet the next day; what we can do is "change the time", a human contraption that makes us think something good is happening.
Well, it may "seem" good, but that doesn't mean it is, and it doesn't mean it isn't cold.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Superdelegates Are For Idiots
Stupid people believe in a lot of things, mainly because smart people tell them these things to make everyone else's life a lot easier. How else can you explain creationism, reality TV, and Area 51? Smart people know the truth, and stupid people are comfortable with the lies that they are told. (I hope this makes sense to you... if it doesn't, we're probably going to have to sit down soon and have a little talk about why I write these crazy things - you see, Ryan Seacrest makes me do it).
Anyway, one of my favorite smart-people creations for stupid-people is the idea of a "Superdelegate". This is hilarious to me; people are now up in arms because they feel the whole system of primaries and caucuses may be overthrown by a group of ne'er-do-wells that would subject us to 4 years of Hillary when what we really said we wanted (as voters for not-so-super-delegates) Utop-Obam-ian reign.
Here's the thing; these superdelegates aren't designed to ruin your life, they're there to make it easier. Let's make it easier for the stupid people by pulling it out of the political realm.
Pretend for a moment that there are two classes of shareholders in a company; the "A" class shareholders (powerful and wealthy executives and and the like who already control the company), and a more populous group of "B" class shareholders, essentially holders of common stock. In this company, the "A" class shareholders give power to the "B" class shareholders to make decisions about leadership, so long as they can reach some form of agreement as to who should be chosen. Meanwhile, the "A" class shareholders retain the rights to make all of the pertainent business decisions.
The "A" class shareholders basically just hope to do a good enough job that the "B" class folks don't make them shuffle their seats around too much. The problem comes in when the "B" class can't make up their mind as to who should be running the show - that's when the "A" class exercises their final right - to add their vote to that of the "B" class to decide the leadership.
The "B" class is fully aware of the situation. They understand the consequences going in. And if they don't decide, they may or may not be overridden in their deadlock.
So the next time I hear that the nation is going to alienate the youth movement that's been happening at the polls this year by having the "superdelegates" override the popular vote, I'm going to breath, count to ten, and then not get too upset. Because if any of the nations "youth" is interested in moving out of stupid-people status, (and maybe get an "A" share vote one day), they'll accept the system the way it is. It may not be a comfortable truth, but its the one that smart people understand.
(And if you still don't get any of that, sit down and close your eyes. I have a piece of candy for you hear in my pocket, and Survivor: Zimbabwe will be on soon.)
Anyway, one of my favorite smart-people creations for stupid-people is the idea of a "Superdelegate". This is hilarious to me; people are now up in arms because they feel the whole system of primaries and caucuses may be overthrown by a group of ne'er-do-wells that would subject us to 4 years of Hillary when what we really said we wanted (as voters for not-so-super-delegates) Utop-Obam-ian reign.
Here's the thing; these superdelegates aren't designed to ruin your life, they're there to make it easier. Let's make it easier for the stupid people by pulling it out of the political realm.
Pretend for a moment that there are two classes of shareholders in a company; the "A" class shareholders (powerful and wealthy executives and and the like who already control the company), and a more populous group of "B" class shareholders, essentially holders of common stock. In this company, the "A" class shareholders give power to the "B" class shareholders to make decisions about leadership, so long as they can reach some form of agreement as to who should be chosen. Meanwhile, the "A" class shareholders retain the rights to make all of the pertainent business decisions.
The "A" class shareholders basically just hope to do a good enough job that the "B" class folks don't make them shuffle their seats around too much. The problem comes in when the "B" class can't make up their mind as to who should be running the show - that's when the "A" class exercises their final right - to add their vote to that of the "B" class to decide the leadership.
The "B" class is fully aware of the situation. They understand the consequences going in. And if they don't decide, they may or may not be overridden in their deadlock.
So the next time I hear that the nation is going to alienate the youth movement that's been happening at the polls this year by having the "superdelegates" override the popular vote, I'm going to breath, count to ten, and then not get too upset. Because if any of the nations "youth" is interested in moving out of stupid-people status, (and maybe get an "A" share vote one day), they'll accept the system the way it is. It may not be a comfortable truth, but its the one that smart people understand.
(And if you still don't get any of that, sit down and close your eyes. I have a piece of candy for you hear in my pocket, and Survivor: Zimbabwe will be on soon.)
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Lou Dobbs, Wolf Blitzer, and Larry King. What's Not To Love. (Unless you're not into old dudes)
I've only watched CNN election coverage this time around, mainly because its the only one in HD, and what I really need when I watch election results is a TV that is just FULL of statistics. It almost makes me forget that Lou, Wolf, and the rest are giving me brain damage.
Case in point:
Lou Dobbs to second-tier-desk-middle-seat co-co-co-host. "Clinton currently holds a 50,000 vote lead in Texas, but that is by no means safe, now is it?"
Wow. What a statement. Let's not forget that all of the votes are cast, so it doesn't really matter what order they are counted in here. Because if we did that, we couldn't make a statement quite like that!
As for the battles:
Good for McCain. He finally got Huck out of the way. I think its best for all of us that we got rid of that guy - and that's the beautiful thing, pretty soon, no one will remember him. Well, we may not forget him entirely, but when I ask 8 years from now who took McCain to the 6th round in a fight between a bulldozer and a Nissan Versa, its going to take you a minute to remember. And then you'll just think to youtube, or google, or wikipedia, or zingbang it. (Don't you wish you knew what a zingbang was now? Too bad, you have to wait)
John King versus the creepy "Magic TV Screen". Oh, John is the master of this thing. He can zoom in on a county in Texas faster than I can type Mississippi. Or even Missouri. I wonder if they let him take it home with him to practice on the off-nights. Or maybe they just tell him to play with an IPhone.
Clinton versus Momentum, Barack versus Rhetoric. Oh, he just kills me. The pundits were proud of him for making more policy statements than usual. I'm pretty sure on the other hand that he's still making the same speech that he did in the summer of 2004 - yup, we get it Obama, you'd be swell. And I have to say, after listening to Hillary for a little while, she makes some sense once she takes it down a notch - her painfully shrill excited voice is just unbearable; her new campaign strategy should be to keep an excitement level just between keeping a pulse and Joe Buck calling a football game...
Well, Meghan said I was a fair-weather fan when it came to this campaign, that I didn't care now that the bigger races were over. I hope that I've been able to prove her wrong by putting her to sleep with this diatribe. So it goes. I'm off to get my Larry King on. Uhm, nevermind. Eww.
Case in point:
Lou Dobbs to second-tier-desk-middle-seat co-co-co-host. "Clinton currently holds a 50,000 vote lead in Texas, but that is by no means safe, now is it?"
Wow. What a statement. Let's not forget that all of the votes are cast, so it doesn't really matter what order they are counted in here. Because if we did that, we couldn't make a statement quite like that!
As for the battles:
Good for McCain. He finally got Huck out of the way. I think its best for all of us that we got rid of that guy - and that's the beautiful thing, pretty soon, no one will remember him. Well, we may not forget him entirely, but when I ask 8 years from now who took McCain to the 6th round in a fight between a bulldozer and a Nissan Versa, its going to take you a minute to remember. And then you'll just think to youtube, or google, or wikipedia, or zingbang it. (Don't you wish you knew what a zingbang was now? Too bad, you have to wait)
John King versus the creepy "Magic TV Screen". Oh, John is the master of this thing. He can zoom in on a county in Texas faster than I can type Mississippi. Or even Missouri. I wonder if they let him take it home with him to practice on the off-nights. Or maybe they just tell him to play with an IPhone.
Clinton versus Momentum, Barack versus Rhetoric. Oh, he just kills me. The pundits were proud of him for making more policy statements than usual. I'm pretty sure on the other hand that he's still making the same speech that he did in the summer of 2004 - yup, we get it Obama, you'd be swell. And I have to say, after listening to Hillary for a little while, she makes some sense once she takes it down a notch - her painfully shrill excited voice is just unbearable; her new campaign strategy should be to keep an excitement level just between keeping a pulse and Joe Buck calling a football game...
Well, Meghan said I was a fair-weather fan when it came to this campaign, that I didn't care now that the bigger races were over. I hope that I've been able to prove her wrong by putting her to sleep with this diatribe. So it goes. I'm off to get my Larry King on. Uhm, nevermind. Eww.
Monday, March 3, 2008
A Bit More About Meghan's Brunch
So if you read ADITLOM (aka mdl.b.c) on a regluar basis, you'll know by now that we went to Sunday Brunch yesterday at the Cheesecake Factory. There is some dispute (read: Meghan thought this was brilliant while I thought I was asleep. She apparently was right, as she woke me up for this) as to whether this would be a good idea, but in the end it was; I had some really good Eggs Benedict (obviously as a Good St. A's boy I stayed away from the Eggs Franciscan), and Meghan had the best fusion of Mexican and Breakfast that I've ever seen.
And while I do love overpriced, overhyped brunch, my heart lies with breakfast. Real, honest to goodness breakfast. Like, breakfast diner type breakfast.
Growing up I loved going to Timoleons in Keene - I went there (or alternatively to one of the two Friendly's that Keene has) every Saturday morning with my dad, and I would always order French Toast with a side of Bacon. You may not be aware of this, but its pretty much the best food ever. You should try it sometime. Especially at Timoleons.
Nowadays, I love going down to the Cape on the weekends, and I love going to Betsy's Diner for breakfast. Its definately what you expect when you hear the name, with old school styling (mainly because it was decorated, you know, during the old school... or something), and the sort of angry at the world wait staff that just makes you want another cup of coffee.
While thinking about this, I was reminded of something that Matt had mentioned to me recently (though at the time I think we were talking about rap artists and Andrew Laney, so I don't know how my mind wandered here) - but I ended up at the blog that he had mentioned - Stuff White People Like. Once I read #36, I just about broke down in tears. Yup, its funny 'cause its true.
Anyway, to steal one of Meghan's tricks, I'm going to link it. For now. So long as they promise in turn to add Stuff White People Like to the list of Stuff White People Like.
And while I do love overpriced, overhyped brunch, my heart lies with breakfast. Real, honest to goodness breakfast. Like, breakfast diner type breakfast.
Growing up I loved going to Timoleons in Keene - I went there (or alternatively to one of the two Friendly's that Keene has) every Saturday morning with my dad, and I would always order French Toast with a side of Bacon. You may not be aware of this, but its pretty much the best food ever. You should try it sometime. Especially at Timoleons.
Nowadays, I love going down to the Cape on the weekends, and I love going to Betsy's Diner for breakfast. Its definately what you expect when you hear the name, with old school styling (mainly because it was decorated, you know, during the old school... or something), and the sort of angry at the world wait staff that just makes you want another cup of coffee.
While thinking about this, I was reminded of something that Matt had mentioned to me recently (though at the time I think we were talking about rap artists and Andrew Laney, so I don't know how my mind wandered here) - but I ended up at the blog that he had mentioned - Stuff White People Like. Once I read #36, I just about broke down in tears. Yup, its funny 'cause its true.
Anyway, to steal one of Meghan's tricks, I'm going to link it. For now. So long as they promise in turn to add Stuff White People Like to the list of Stuff White People Like.
A Sight for Sore Eyes
I am SO glad to see this, and I'm quite sure you might be too. After too many headlines about loss and scandal, its good to see a happy Pats headline. Let's hope its the first of many over the next 12 months.
Here's to hoping we see 24 touchdown receptions.
Here's to hoping we see 24 touchdown receptions.
An Open Letter to the TV Boston Bruins
Dear TV Boston Bruins:
I don't often watch you, as you have become a shadow of what I used to enjoy about you. I have heard, through written reports, that you have once again been performing at a level that is considered mildly acceptable, and tonight I decided to watch.
You managed to completely destroy any hope that I had in you by giving up FIVE GOALS IN LESS THAN TWENTY MINUTES.
Please do not do this again. Just to be safe, I'm going to once again stop watching. I'd appreciate it if you, in turn, once again stopped sucking.
Sincerely,
Andrew
I don't often watch you, as you have become a shadow of what I used to enjoy about you. I have heard, through written reports, that you have once again been performing at a level that is considered mildly acceptable, and tonight I decided to watch.
You managed to completely destroy any hope that I had in you by giving up FIVE GOALS IN LESS THAN TWENTY MINUTES.
Please do not do this again. Just to be safe, I'm going to once again stop watching. I'd appreciate it if you, in turn, once again stopped sucking.
Sincerely,
Andrew
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Where Andrew Happens
Don't complain that I've been gone a while (that means you Matt) - I should be applauded, I posted 9 times last month. I almost got carpel tunnel. So give me a break.
But as I have relatively little to say, as relatively little has happened to me recently, I'll share a few of my favorite recent clips.
Because I've been watching a little more NBA this year than, well, ever, I must remind everyone that it hasn't always been good for the association:
And just to make sure that I show my true colors (as a recovering NHL fan), I have to give you the classic PJ Stock video as well:
Meghan's been throwing it back to the day recently, which has gotten me playing a few old games. We've come a long way, that's all i have to say. But I was certainly never able to do this back in the day:
But as I have relatively little to say, as relatively little has happened to me recently, I'll share a few of my favorite recent clips.
Because I've been watching a little more NBA this year than, well, ever, I must remind everyone that it hasn't always been good for the association:
And just to make sure that I show my true colors (as a recovering NHL fan), I have to give you the classic PJ Stock video as well:
Meghan's been throwing it back to the day recently, which has gotten me playing a few old games. We've come a long way, that's all i have to say. But I was certainly never able to do this back in the day:
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