mlbright's shared items

M-L's occasional ramblings.

Wednesday, December 21, 2005

2 cases of neglect




More subway stories.... Sorry, I can't think of anything better right now. Also I just wanted to try out a new internet browser software derived from Mozilla Firefox called "Flock" (www.flock.com). So far it seems neat because blogging is built into the default features of the application.

Anyway, I was coming back home today when out of the corner of my eye I see 10 year old emaciated south asian looking kid get into the subway alone at Eglinton station. We're in the front car, and he immediately runs to the front to watch giddily as the subway leaves the station and down the tunnel. Nothing out of the ordinary here.

Then, as if possessed by demons, he proceeds to act like a chipmunk in the most earnest and outrageous way possible, completely oblivious to his surroundings. He was very, very loud, chirping and jesticulating wildly, while continuing to stare out the window and down the tunnel. The rest of the passengers didn't seem to notice or were embarassed or didn't know what to do because it was obvious that Stewart Little was possibly mentally retarded or had something akin to Tourette's syndrome or was hallucinating that he was a species of rodent. Whatever he was on, hamster boy stared at me with sad eyes as I got out of the train at Sheppard.

Who lets a kid with mental problems onto the subway alone? Who gives a 10 year old hallucinogens?

Less concerning, but also sad, was the golden retriever I noticed attached to a railing in front of the revolving doors of the Sheppard Centre (the picture in this post). The owner was nowhere in sight and the poor dog was desperately sniffing everyone that came within 5 feet of him.

What do you think about this, peeps? I think both these incidents are examples of neglect.

Wednesday, December 14, 2005

subway grooming

I haven't posted much in the last little while... I'm either becoming boring or less full of myself. However, I do have to mention something that bugged me today, and I'm hereby warning you that I may sound slightly embittered. I'm not sure if I'm more sensitive to the behaviour of the general public than before, but I got really pissed when someone started to cut their nails on the subway.

Tonight I was staring at advertising when to my left I heard the click, click, click of someone cutting their nails with a nail cutter. It was a middle-aged middle-class lady, and after cutting she started filing. Her sense of style was difficult to describe but she looked like she could have eagerly shopped at the "Rainbows 'n' Things" store inside Yonge-Sheppard subway station, which mostly sells "Cheap Handbags 'n' Shit".

What is wrong with people? I was thinking I should start plucking my nosehairs on the subway. Or shaving. That's appropriate!

Also, apparently the new fad is to slow down to a snail's pace and plant yourself in the subway door threshold when there's a million people trying to get on behind you. WTF? People: move your fat Galapagos turtle asses out of the way so others whose heads aren't in the clouds can pass you. No one else cares if you've had an epiphany reading the subway map.

Tuesday, December 06, 2005

"Anthropologie"


"Anthropologie"
Originally uploaded by martyloo.
I took a trip to California in 2003 and I finally dug up the pics. Here's one of the more banal shots but...what a name for a retail chain.

Ooohh it's French, it must be must be sophisticated. And cultured. It has to be, right? By definition. Are the sales people leathery hominid beatniks who try to upsell the latest mammoth hair loincloths and fossils? (Will they kill me with blow darts if they find out I've taken this picture, thereby stealing their souls?)

I have an idea! I'll call my café "Scatologie", and it'll be hip, swank and earthy.