Train in vain

It's rare for me to find public transportation, let alone use it, but that all changed during his trip to Boston. Witness this exchange:

A wino picks up a half used bottle of juice on the floor.

"Aw man, you gonna drink that?"
Uuuugh, I'm thirsty.
"My god, you're disgusting. That thing got all germs."
But the person drinkin' it didn't.
"You don't know what's in there."
Uuugh, but they wouldn't do something bad to their drink.
"That's so gross. Oh my god."

This conversation went on, but I unfortunately had to change trains. To think, for 4 years, I usually had a portable music player with me at all times. The conversations I missed! The society, the people, the color of Boston.

It's a shame really. Too many conversations simply didn't last that long as I was on the go. Oh sure, there were gems here and there, and I never had to start a conversation:

Spoken to at Wendy's
Creepy guy: "I usually like to sit at the counter and look out at the girls on the street. But they took away the stools."

Spoken to on the plane
Old Lady: "Oh, you work in TV? Let me ask you, what's the name of the guy...the one, oh...who does the news in the morning on CNN?"

Spoken to in a convenience store
Wino: $1.50. You gimme...I get a dollar and...haha, shit.

In a cafe
Waitress: The tea is really good...a blend of green tea, some Chamomile, and we add some spices to make it really cozy!

On the plane home
Stewardess: For you sir, the pasta? It's a pasta...with CHEESE. A CHEESE pasta. Another drink, sir, or do you want to wait for the CHEESE pasta.

On it goes. And tonight, I meet a visiting sister, who's fear of the English language should yield more fun.

Here we go, again

What's happening in Hollywood isn't that much different than downtown Las Vegas. Swank leaving for the stupid. What do I mean? Well, look at the intersection developments that have showed up this decade. Hollywood & Highland is useless except for the Oscars. Sunset & Vine is nothing but the same old storefronts, but with tougher parking. And now, Hollywood & Vine:

From the LA Times
"Los Angeles officials cleared the way for a luxury hotel developer to seize buildings housing about 30 small businesses through eminent domain so a $400-million project with a W Hotel, condominium and apartment units, and glitzy shops and restaurants can be built on the southeast corner."

I am not sure I understand a new luxury hotel where, beyond the Pantages theater, there's not that much to do. What are these fucking ritzy people doing in Hollywood, anyway? This article accents the local business that gets the shaft, but it really is true. I lived in Hollywood for 4 years, and I saw new developments serve absolutely NO ONE. No drug stores, grocery, hardware, you know, things we NEED within walking distance. Could a new property, oh, I don't know, SERVE THE COMMUNITY?! Of course not. Just keep spending the public's money for the private gain. Meanwhile, the American Eagle becomes a Gap which becomes a Tommy Hillfiger, and they stand confused wondering why the fucking 99 Cent store gets more business. HMMM - LOOK AROUND.

If your name was Johnny Swank (which it is) and you were all about deals (which you are) would you stay on Hollywood Blvd. so you could dine at Burger King? Or would you stay at the Chateau Marmont on the Strip? Hunter and Belushi walk those halls. So does Morrison.

I bet there's folks in MN who say the same thing about stadiums. Why spend my hard earned money when I can't fit in the seats? I could spend that much for a dinner at Ponderosa, and we could hit Dairy Queen on the way home. Difference is the Metrodome sucks. Met Stadium was the shit. I don't make the rules.

Alas, instead of trying to make the best of it, I shall dodge the dumb and continue gold mining. After all, that's what making deals is all about.