Ah, there’s nothing like that warm, fuzzy feeling you get at this time of year. No, it’s not the joyful, amorous feelings you inevitably get during the Christmas season, nor is it the fun-filled, dreidel-spinning eight days of Hanukah. I’m talkin’ the superfluous countdowns of the year’s most ridiculous news stories, celebrity tweets, crimes committed, and must-have gadgets.
So grab some egg nog, have a seat by the fireplace, and enjoy to your heart’s content! (Props to time.com for knowing what readers want)
Top 10 Crime Stories of 2009
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1945379_1943832,00.html
Top 10 Pictures of 2009
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1945379_1943832,00.html
Top 10 Weird News Stories of 2009
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1945379_1944626,00.html
Top 10 T.V. Shows of 2009
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1945379_1944142,00.html
Top 10 Celebrity Tweets of 2009
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1945379_1945632,00.html
Top 10 Gadgets of 2009
http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1945379_1944278,00.html
For more Top 10s of 2009, go here: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/0,28757,1945379,00.html
Happy Countdowning!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
Preteen Angst - Attack of the 12-year-olds
Something's gotten into their milk and cookies.
12-year-old boy arrested for killing friend
Boy, 12, arrested on sex assault charges
Boy, 12, charged with pushing Asian angler
Detroit boy, 12, allegedly kills woman
Police charge boy, 12, after police cruisers rammed by stolen car
Boy, 12, arrested for setting fire to home using paper bag, gasoline
12-year-old boy arrested for killing friend
Boy, 12, arrested on sex assault charges
Boy, 12, charged with pushing Asian angler
Detroit boy, 12, allegedly kills woman
Police charge boy, 12, after police cruisers rammed by stolen car
Boy, 12, tried to set his friend on fire twice, police say
Boy, 12, arrested for setting fire to home using paper bag, gasoline
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Friggin' Facebook
This CNN article totally sums up how I feel about Facebookers.
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/08/20/annoying.facebook.updaters/index.html?iref=mpstoryviewHide all
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/08/20/annoying.facebook.updaters/index.html?iref=mpstoryviewHide all
Thursday, May 7, 2009
How serving prepared me for a corporate job
Since the age of 13, I have been part of the workplace. My occupations have varied from newspaper delivery girl, to restaurant hostess, to memberships sales at the Y.
Three weeks ago, I began my first “real” job in public relations as a communications officer for the municipal government. I was immediately thrown into a frenzy of tight deadlines, needy clients, angry graphic designers, and 15 brand new projects, all for me. I now understand why adults have told me in the past, “Nikki, stay in school as long as you can.”
It was not until I was ranting to a friend/fellow waitress the other night that it hit me – I know this feeling… why don’t I feel more overwhelmed? Ah yes, because I’ve been a waitress at the Metropolitain Brasserie.
Think about it – your clients are the restaurant patrons; the graphic designers, web specialists, and other people on your team that help you get what the client wants are your chefs, busboys, and hostesses; the product the clients needs is the food and drinks your customers order; and of course, your communications expertise is your table service.
Getting thrown into all these projects is just like patio service on a beautiful summer day. My customers would sit at a table and order something. My communications service would be akin to recommending which wine would go best with the coq au vin. They would order complex dinner items that are not listed on the menu and in return I would go to the kitchen and try not to piss off the chef while asking if it was possible – this is just like the 823,562,982,118 changes a client wants made after every new draft a patient graphic designer makes for them. That table of 10 on a Friday night needs to be out in one hour – that’s the impossible printing deadline for the 30,000 brochures your client needs.
Most of all, trying to manage 15 different projects all at once is like serving 15 tables all at once. You work your ass off while getting the client what they want while helping them make better decisions. You try not to piss your team mates off by constant modifications. You need to constantly be maintaining your priorities and meeting deadlines.
From the day I started serving, I have stuck by the fact that the experience of serving in a restaurant teaches you all sorts of life skills – patience, time management, communication, organization, detail orientation, and even persuasion. This just proves my point even more.
Some people choose serving as a career, and it is very well a great choice for many. I can easily say that after working part-time in a busy downtown restaurant for four years, I am more than ready to take on this so-called “real” job. So for all you corporate managers out there, next time you’re looking at a résumé for a communications position on your team, consider the applicant with a few years of restaurant experience. They won’t let you down. If they were a good server, they wouldn’t know how to.
Three weeks ago, I began my first “real” job in public relations as a communications officer for the municipal government. I was immediately thrown into a frenzy of tight deadlines, needy clients, angry graphic designers, and 15 brand new projects, all for me. I now understand why adults have told me in the past, “Nikki, stay in school as long as you can.”
It was not until I was ranting to a friend/fellow waitress the other night that it hit me – I know this feeling… why don’t I feel more overwhelmed? Ah yes, because I’ve been a waitress at the Metropolitain Brasserie.
Think about it – your clients are the restaurant patrons; the graphic designers, web specialists, and other people on your team that help you get what the client wants are your chefs, busboys, and hostesses; the product the clients needs is the food and drinks your customers order; and of course, your communications expertise is your table service.
Getting thrown into all these projects is just like patio service on a beautiful summer day. My customers would sit at a table and order something. My communications service would be akin to recommending which wine would go best with the coq au vin. They would order complex dinner items that are not listed on the menu and in return I would go to the kitchen and try not to piss off the chef while asking if it was possible – this is just like the 823,562,982,118 changes a client wants made after every new draft a patient graphic designer makes for them. That table of 10 on a Friday night needs to be out in one hour – that’s the impossible printing deadline for the 30,000 brochures your client needs.
Most of all, trying to manage 15 different projects all at once is like serving 15 tables all at once. You work your ass off while getting the client what they want while helping them make better decisions. You try not to piss your team mates off by constant modifications. You need to constantly be maintaining your priorities and meeting deadlines.
From the day I started serving, I have stuck by the fact that the experience of serving in a restaurant teaches you all sorts of life skills – patience, time management, communication, organization, detail orientation, and even persuasion. This just proves my point even more.
Some people choose serving as a career, and it is very well a great choice for many. I can easily say that after working part-time in a busy downtown restaurant for four years, I am more than ready to take on this so-called “real” job. So for all you corporate managers out there, next time you’re looking at a résumé for a communications position on your team, consider the applicant with a few years of restaurant experience. They won’t let you down. If they were a good server, they wouldn’t know how to.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Don’t forget to turn off the lights!
Tonight at 8:30, people around the world will turn off their lights for one hour – Earth Hour – to take action on climate change. Switching off your lights is just one simple step you can take to help make a difference and send a message that you care about the planet.
The countdown is on for more than 2,100 cities across 82 countries who are committed to this global effort. Help make Earth Hour a successful and powerful event. Participating shows that you want to be a part of the solution:
Sign up for Earth Hour at http://www.worldwildlife.org/
Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to participate.
Download Earth Hour materials, such as web banners, toolkits, logos and posters to help spread the word in your community.
Make every hour Earth Hour. Consider what else can be done within your home and workplace to change behaviour and practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
On Saturday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m. turn off your lights for one hour.
Here are a few links to some neat pictures from last year’s Earth Hour:
http://blog.enterpriseitplanet.com/green/blog/2008/04/canberra-takes-earth-hour-crown.html http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/04/02/global-citizens-love-the-earth-for-an-hour/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colosseum_Earth_Hour.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Earth_Hour_Sky_Tower_Auckland.jpg http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/03/photogalleries/earth-hour-before-after/index.html
Tonight at 8:30, people around the world will turn off their lights for one hour – Earth Hour – to take action on climate change. Switching off your lights is just one simple step you can take to help make a difference and send a message that you care about the planet.
The countdown is on for more than 2,100 cities across 82 countries who are committed to this global effort. Help make Earth Hour a successful and powerful event. Participating shows that you want to be a part of the solution:
Sign up for Earth Hour at http://www.worldwildlife.org/
Encourage your friends, family, and colleagues to participate.
Download Earth Hour materials, such as web banners, toolkits, logos and posters to help spread the word in your community.
Make every hour Earth Hour. Consider what else can be done within your home and workplace to change behaviour and practices to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
On Saturday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m. turn off your lights for one hour.
Here are a few links to some neat pictures from last year’s Earth Hour:
http://blog.enterpriseitplanet.com/green/blog/2008/04/canberra-takes-earth-hour-crown.html http://www.wikinomics.com/blog/index.php/2008/04/02/global-citizens-love-the-earth-for-an-hour/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Colosseum_Earth_Hour.jpg http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Earth_Hour_Sky_Tower_Auckland.jpg http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/03/photogalleries/earth-hour-before-after/index.html
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
If you don’t like cheese, don’t read this
It’s good to be angry, stressed, or upset sometimes. But then there are those moments when something crosses your mind and you can’t help but smile to yourself. For me, these things that do just that:
· Accidentally hearing someone say something nice about you
· Remembering the last time you laughed really hard and laughing at it all over again
· Having someone play with your hair
· Eskimo kisses
· Hugs from little kids
· Remembering Matt screaming on the rollercoaster in Vegas
· Thinking you did horribly on an assignment only to find out you got an A
· Summer thunderstorms at the lake
· Fast boat rides
· Laser cats
· Childhood vacations
· Discovering your latest favourite song
· Hot seatbelts in the summer
· Seeing kids at recess
· Having people laugh at your jokes (genuinely)
· Coming up with a really good idea (for anything)
· Finding a $20 in a jacket you haven’t worn since last spring
· Spring
· Hearing a song you love and haven’t heard since you were a kid (Thanks Matt!)
· A new outfit (and being able to afford it)
· Swings
· Frisbee
· Seeing one stranger being kind to another stranger
· Seeing a butterfly
· Original compliments (someone recently told me “Thank you for being you.”)
· Unexpectedly bumping into your boyfriend on the street
· This
· Accidentally hearing someone say something nice about you
· Remembering the last time you laughed really hard and laughing at it all over again
· Having someone play with your hair
· Eskimo kisses
· Hugs from little kids
· Remembering Matt screaming on the rollercoaster in Vegas
· Thinking you did horribly on an assignment only to find out you got an A
· Summer thunderstorms at the lake
· Fast boat rides
· Laser cats
· Childhood vacations
· Discovering your latest favourite song
· Hot seatbelts in the summer
· Seeing kids at recess
· Having people laugh at your jokes (genuinely)
· Coming up with a really good idea (for anything)
· Finding a $20 in a jacket you haven’t worn since last spring
· Spring
· Hearing a song you love and haven’t heard since you were a kid (Thanks Matt!)
· A new outfit (and being able to afford it)
· Swings
· Frisbee
· Seeing one stranger being kind to another stranger
· Seeing a butterfly
· Original compliments (someone recently told me “Thank you for being you.”)
· Unexpectedly bumping into your boyfriend on the street
· This
The Big Move...Again
We finally got approved!
Matt and I have been looking for an apartment for ages now. I’ll spare you the monotonous details about what it took to get this place, but let’s just say by the end of it our new landlady already hates us.
Whenever I tell people I’m moving in with my boyfriend, they get all excited and let out their “Oooooooh!”s and the “Oh my God that’s such a huge step!”s and “Are you sure you’ve thought this through?”s. But honestly, it’s really not a big deal. Of course I love the guy and want to take this next step, but really, I’d love to be anywhere but where I’ve been for the last five years.
In 2004, it was my first year in university and luckily my 83 per cent average in high school landed me a room in residence. “Dry rez”, since I was only 17, but I was just glad to be there. I made some good friends that year – some lasting friendships for sure – but I hated my roommate. The first few months were all right, but after we all came back from Christmas break, things went way downhill. She had her boyfriend over every night (keep in mind the rooms are about 13” by 14”…aka a shoe box) and were not shy to express their love while I was sleeping 5 feet away. Let’s just say I hate Kraft Dinner now. She stole my clothes and my food. She kept me up all night, knowing I had class early the next morning. I tried to spend as little time in my room as possible, so when April finally came around I was relieved.
The next year, I lived with three girlfriends. While this was probably the best year of the five, one friendship was destroyed. Moving in with friends can be an invitation for disaster. It started even before we moved in together – “J” demanded one of the bigger rooms merely because she thought she had the most stuff (bullshit). I spent the majority of the first month cleaning, painting, and buying house supplies all by myself (and mom). Did I get a thanks? Hahaha, riiiiight. All three of them were smokers. So, when winter came around, who was stuck getting ganged up on when I insisted they smoke outside? Sorry girls, but you know you did that. Someone’s mayonnaise went missing and for some reason it was blamed on me. It was that petty argument that convinced me that if we all stayed living together, we would end up hating each other. So while they all went home for the summer, I moved in with….wait for it…. My dad. Oops.
I love you, Dad, but living with you again SUCKED. He didn’t do anything specific, but kids, it’s exactly what you would think being free for almost three years then moving back in with a parent would be like. Yes I came home late last night. No I didn’t clean my room. Yes I had a bagel. I’m sorry, I forgot to clean my bowl. Yes I got off work early – would it kill you and Kim to keep the loving to the bedroom when your daughter could be home any minute???
So when my friend Stew told me there was a free room available in his place, I jumped at the chance. In January of 2007 I moved to where I’m living now. Stew left last May and I was stuck with my weird, creepy roommate and two strangers. This is by far the worst of them all. Take the last three years and combine them. I painted the place from a disgusting royal blue and puke yellow to “Distant Mountain” and “Misty Morning”. Not one thank you. I spent hours cleaning it every week, only to have it all messed up two days later from one of their frequent parties. I was up all night whenever “K”’s boyfriend was over. Thin walls, people! This is a co-op! Food and milk went missing. Passive aggressive notes went up. Once the weird roommate even walked right into my room when I had the door shut, saw me, and said, “Oh – you’re home…” and just backed out of the room and shut the door. WTF??? I can go on and on but this post is getting a little long.
Every time I’ve moved I’ve been so excited to go to the next place, only to have it be , well, not so exciting. This time, though, I’ll be vigilant. I’ve spent enough time with Matt to have an idea what he’ll be like as a roommate, and I’m not scared to tell him to smarten up if necessary. You can always change a man, right?
Matt and I have been looking for an apartment for ages now. I’ll spare you the monotonous details about what it took to get this place, but let’s just say by the end of it our new landlady already hates us.
Whenever I tell people I’m moving in with my boyfriend, they get all excited and let out their “Oooooooh!”s and the “Oh my God that’s such a huge step!”s and “Are you sure you’ve thought this through?”s. But honestly, it’s really not a big deal. Of course I love the guy and want to take this next step, but really, I’d love to be anywhere but where I’ve been for the last five years.
In 2004, it was my first year in university and luckily my 83 per cent average in high school landed me a room in residence. “Dry rez”, since I was only 17, but I was just glad to be there. I made some good friends that year – some lasting friendships for sure – but I hated my roommate. The first few months were all right, but after we all came back from Christmas break, things went way downhill. She had her boyfriend over every night (keep in mind the rooms are about 13” by 14”…aka a shoe box) and were not shy to express their love while I was sleeping 5 feet away. Let’s just say I hate Kraft Dinner now. She stole my clothes and my food. She kept me up all night, knowing I had class early the next morning. I tried to spend as little time in my room as possible, so when April finally came around I was relieved.
The next year, I lived with three girlfriends. While this was probably the best year of the five, one friendship was destroyed. Moving in with friends can be an invitation for disaster. It started even before we moved in together – “J” demanded one of the bigger rooms merely because she thought she had the most stuff (bullshit). I spent the majority of the first month cleaning, painting, and buying house supplies all by myself (and mom). Did I get a thanks? Hahaha, riiiiight. All three of them were smokers. So, when winter came around, who was stuck getting ganged up on when I insisted they smoke outside? Sorry girls, but you know you did that. Someone’s mayonnaise went missing and for some reason it was blamed on me. It was that petty argument that convinced me that if we all stayed living together, we would end up hating each other. So while they all went home for the summer, I moved in with….wait for it…. My dad. Oops.
I love you, Dad, but living with you again SUCKED. He didn’t do anything specific, but kids, it’s exactly what you would think being free for almost three years then moving back in with a parent would be like. Yes I came home late last night. No I didn’t clean my room. Yes I had a bagel. I’m sorry, I forgot to clean my bowl. Yes I got off work early – would it kill you and Kim to keep the loving to the bedroom when your daughter could be home any minute???
So when my friend Stew told me there was a free room available in his place, I jumped at the chance. In January of 2007 I moved to where I’m living now. Stew left last May and I was stuck with my weird, creepy roommate and two strangers. This is by far the worst of them all. Take the last three years and combine them. I painted the place from a disgusting royal blue and puke yellow to “Distant Mountain” and “Misty Morning”. Not one thank you. I spent hours cleaning it every week, only to have it all messed up two days later from one of their frequent parties. I was up all night whenever “K”’s boyfriend was over. Thin walls, people! This is a co-op! Food and milk went missing. Passive aggressive notes went up. Once the weird roommate even walked right into my room when I had the door shut, saw me, and said, “Oh – you’re home…” and just backed out of the room and shut the door. WTF??? I can go on and on but this post is getting a little long.
Every time I’ve moved I’ve been so excited to go to the next place, only to have it be , well, not so exciting. This time, though, I’ll be vigilant. I’ve spent enough time with Matt to have an idea what he’ll be like as a roommate, and I’m not scared to tell him to smarten up if necessary. You can always change a man, right?
Such skeptics!
If you have time, listen to this.
It’s somewhat interesting, but come on! It’s rants like this that makes assumptions about all PR practitioners.
Not all of us are spinners, buddy!
P.S. They need to lose the guy with the Southern “accent” (about 1/3 through)
It’s somewhat interesting, but come on! It’s rants like this that makes assumptions about all PR practitioners.
Not all of us are spinners, buddy!
P.S. They need to lose the guy with the Southern “accent” (about 1/3 through)
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Not another blog about how to save money...
…but in these economic times, you can never have too many. I was thinking the other day about ways to save my pocketbook a little abuse, and a few things came to mind that one might not normally think of (one thing you can count on me for). Here are some of them, along with the no-brainers mentioned all the time in articles and books on how to save money (but does anyone ever take heed to them?):
Don’t argue that you don’t have time. If you’ve got a coffee machine, use it. It probably takes less time to make a pot of coffee or boil a kettle than to stand in line and wait to order something.
If you absolutely have to grab a beverage from your favourite coffee shop, go for flavoured coffee or tea instead of cappuccinos, lattes, etc. It’s cheaper, and your craving for hot, frothy beverages should go away with coffee or tea.
Bake for the Office
Instead of buying a bagel or muffin to go with your coffee every day, why not agree with your coworkers to take turns baking muffins or bringing in bagels, toast, etc. for the office. Bulk is always cheaper. Come on – it costs about $6 to make 24 muffins, yet you’re paying $1.50 every day for one? Get that apron on!
Pick up the shift
Work a part-time job? Pick up any shift a colleague asks you to take. Ask your boss for more hours. Work overtime if you can. Deal with it: those student loans aren’t going to pay themselves.
Save your empties
Make sure you’re keeping your empty bottles and not throwing them away. It may seem like a dime-a-bottle isn’t enough to pay the rent, but it really does add up. A 24-pack of empties is enough to buy you breakfast!
The Tim Horton's Experiment
This is for you true penny-pinchers – If you’re aching for a muffin, coffee, bagel – anything you can find at your local Timmy’s or store of the same sort, go in when they’re about to close and order something that you know will be unavailable (like soup or a sandwich). When they tell you they’re sorry but they’re out, act disappointed and scold yourself for not realizing they were closing. Order a coffee or beverage, and just wait…they’re likely to offer you something for free because they’d have to throw it out anyway! (Note: I discovered this the other day when I walked into Tim’s and ordered chilli but was told they were closing. I got a free muffin out of the deal without asking, and it tasted just fine). Just make sure you don’t go into the same store every time.
Do work for your parents on the side
For you younger folks who aren’t afraid to go to mom or dad for a few bucks, why not offer your services to them in exchange for your adult allowance instead? Clean the garage, do some weeding, organize the basement, etc. That way you won’t feel so bad asking for money, and they won’t think of you as their freeloading child.
Get the card
Some places offer discount or points cards if you buy a certain amount of items over time. Take advantage of this if you already go to the place often enough. I got a Subway card a few months ago and have already gotten eight free lunches out of the deal (so far!). Just don’t commit to buying anything you normally wouldn’t, and if you have to pay a one-time fee for the card, only do it if the math works in the long run.
Volunteer at the gym
If you fancy working out at the gym but can’t afford a membership, look into their volunteer opportunities. Some gyms give volunteers free memberships. Some YMCAs, for example, require only a couple hours a week of cleaning gym equipment, making retention calls, and other simple things and offer a free membership in return.
Bring your own lunch
Here’s a no-brainer! You’ve probably heard this about a zillion times, so I’m going to make it a zillion and one. I can’t stress enough how much money I’ve spent by going out for lunch every day. No time? Really? It takes less than five minutes to make a sandwich, and less to throw in a couple pieces of fruit, or some sealed soup. Even better: ever hear of a thing called leftovers? And if you like to get out of the office during your lunch break, a little walk won’t kill you. Eat outside. Want to meet friends? Bring your own lunch and eat it before, then if you still have room, order something light at lunch like soup or a salad.
A little bruise never really hurt anybody
Why not opt for that dented can, discounted no-name brand, or bruised peach? The grocery store wouldn’t try to sell it if it was harmful to your health and/or not edible. This also goes for clothes: I got a 10% discount on a pair of shoes the other day (without even asking) because they had a little dust on them. If you can sew, buy the designer shirt with the missing button or barely-noticeable tear.
Read on
Broke bookworm? Dig out your library card, or borrow the book you’ve been dying to read from a friend. Buy it when it’s on sale.
Turn down the heat
If heat/hydro is another bill you’re trying to consolidate for every month, turn stuff off! If you’re not going to be home all day, you’re computer doesn’t need to be on. Turn down the heat or AC. Cold? Put on the newly sewn sweater you just bought. And don’t forget the lights!
Call your credit card company
My wonderful mother recently informed me that if you call your credit card company, you might be able to cut down your interest fees just by asking. If you’re credit is decent, you’re likely to get at least 5% cut off. The company doesn’t advertise this little-known fact for obvious reasons, so you need to make the move.
Carpool
Been meaning to get to know your work colleagues but never find the time during your busy work day? Try carpooling with them instead of driving in alone. You’ll save money, contribute to the environment, and maybe even make a friend. Shy? Look on the Internet for carpooling services. Some people are actually looking for just a carpool and nothing more. No small talk necessary!
Winners - you really should go
Need to add a little more to your wardrobe? If you’ve got time to hunt, shop in discount stores that sell designer clothes like Winners or
Had enough? Me neither. There’s more to come as I continue to pinch my pennies and make new money-saving discoveries. Stay tuned!
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Bus etiquette is nothing new, folks
The city I live in just got out of a drawn-out public transportation strike after a whopping 51 days.
Don't worry, I won't get into the details about it. For those who care, you already know; for those who don't care...well, you don't care.
On that note, if you're like me and rely on public transportation (aka the bus, or, "loser cruiser" as some have been calling it) to get around, a review of the common sense rules is apparently in order.
So gather round, class! The following is an exerpt from an article I wrote a couple weeks before the strike - tips many of you need to be reminded of.
1) Priority seating. Let’s start with the obvious: it is common sense by now that unless you are pregnant, have small children with you, are elderly, or disabled, you need to move on back. One passenger recalls:
“I saw these two young girls taking up three of the priority seats – two for them, one for their bags – while an elderly woman with a cane stood patiently right next to them,” says Matthew, a user of public transit. “I eventually told them to move.”
2) Be patient when getting on. Sometimes it takes people a few seconds to get to the door, so wait for passengers to get off the bus before blocking the doorway while you board. (Note: Just the other day I was trying to get off at a busy stop and no less than five people swarmed the doors the second they opened - I almost missed my stop. But I gotta say, it wasn't as bad as this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7cYoGOdvTc)
3) Turn down your music. The little old lady next to you might not be in the mood for AC/DC.
“There was this one guy whose music was so loud, the driver had to yell at him to turn it down,” says Stephanie, another transit user. “It was driving everyone crazy.”
4) Keep your voice down. This means when you’re speaking to another passenger or when on your cell phone. The rest of the passengers on the bus don’t need to hear about your day, and they probably don’t care.
5) Hold onto your bag(s). No matter how expensive your purse was or how important that laptop bag is, it does not deserve priority seating over a human being. If there’s no one on the bus, by all means – go ahead and place it next to you. But when the bus compares to the likes of a sardine can, you better move it.
6) Don’t clog the doorway. On busier and more crowded routes, people are constantly getting off and on the bus. If you know you’re not getting off for a while, don’t stand near the doors.
7) Don’t shove. Some people will disregard the previous rule. Don’t panic: you will get off the bus in time.
“I was nearly trampled over when two people pushed their way through to get off at their stop,” says another transit user. “The driver knows to wait for people [to get off] but they shove and yell anyway.”
These are just the first set of rules on a seemingly never-ending list of unofficial rules of conduct. Put them to good use and we can all make the ride a little bit more tolerable for everyone
Don't worry, I won't get into the details about it. For those who care, you already know; for those who don't care...well, you don't care.
On that note, if you're like me and rely on public transportation (aka the bus, or, "loser cruiser" as some have been calling it) to get around, a review of the common sense rules is apparently in order.
So gather round, class! The following is an exerpt from an article I wrote a couple weeks before the strike - tips many of you need to be reminded of.
1) Priority seating. Let’s start with the obvious: it is common sense by now that unless you are pregnant, have small children with you, are elderly, or disabled, you need to move on back. One passenger recalls:
“I saw these two young girls taking up three of the priority seats – two for them, one for their bags – while an elderly woman with a cane stood patiently right next to them,” says Matthew, a user of public transit. “I eventually told them to move.”
2) Be patient when getting on. Sometimes it takes people a few seconds to get to the door, so wait for passengers to get off the bus before blocking the doorway while you board. (Note: Just the other day I was trying to get off at a busy stop and no less than five people swarmed the doors the second they opened - I almost missed my stop. But I gotta say, it wasn't as bad as this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7cYoGOdvTc)
3) Turn down your music. The little old lady next to you might not be in the mood for AC/DC.
“There was this one guy whose music was so loud, the driver had to yell at him to turn it down,” says Stephanie, another transit user. “It was driving everyone crazy.”
4) Keep your voice down. This means when you’re speaking to another passenger or when on your cell phone. The rest of the passengers on the bus don’t need to hear about your day, and they probably don’t care.
5) Hold onto your bag(s). No matter how expensive your purse was or how important that laptop bag is, it does not deserve priority seating over a human being. If there’s no one on the bus, by all means – go ahead and place it next to you. But when the bus compares to the likes of a sardine can, you better move it.
6) Don’t clog the doorway. On busier and more crowded routes, people are constantly getting off and on the bus. If you know you’re not getting off for a while, don’t stand near the doors.
7) Don’t shove. Some people will disregard the previous rule. Don’t panic: you will get off the bus in time.
“I was nearly trampled over when two people pushed their way through to get off at their stop,” says another transit user. “The driver knows to wait for people [to get off] but they shove and yell anyway.”
These are just the first set of rules on a seemingly never-ending list of unofficial rules of conduct. Put them to good use and we can all make the ride a little bit more tolerable for everyone
Friday, February 13, 2009
Taking Notes
Uh oh, she's at it again.
This will be my third attempt at maintaining a blog for the world to view at their leisure. It hasn't quite worked for me in the past as the only things I seemed to be writing about at the time were my boy troubles and how my mom grounded me AGAIN!
Notwithstanding my growing up, boy troubles still arise and mom issues are all but gone... I like to think I have a bit more to write about now that I'm about to get a nice taste of the real world as a public relations student who is almost not a student anymore.
I'll take advantage of this space to write about whatever I want... professional, rants, raves... so read on, or don't.
I have to practice my writing skills anyway.
<3
This will be my third attempt at maintaining a blog for the world to view at their leisure. It hasn't quite worked for me in the past as the only things I seemed to be writing about at the time were my boy troubles and how my mom grounded me AGAIN!
Notwithstanding my growing up, boy troubles still arise and mom issues are all but gone... I like to think I have a bit more to write about now that I'm about to get a nice taste of the real world as a public relations student who is almost not a student anymore.
I'll take advantage of this space to write about whatever I want... professional, rants, raves... so read on, or don't.
I have to practice my writing skills anyway.
<3
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