Friends,

I apologize for the lack of posts lately. Work has been blog prohibitive. However, worth breaking the silence is this excellent new book that came to my attention when the author emailed me saying he is a time-to-time reader of the website.

The book, called “ON THE METRO: got me thinking [vol. 1]” is depicted below.

I asked the author, John “Major” Nelson if he could send a chapter that I could post here. He was kind enough to send me a copy of the book. I have already read through two chapters, and they’ve both been great — you can read the first chapter via amazon (click the book above).

Here’s the description:

Every day we see the mundane, the same old same old. But, if you look closely enough there is a lot going on. A lot of good things. If we stop for a moment, and think, we will see that the world is not so gray and hopeless. It is not routine. It isn’t even boring. If we stop and think of the wonders around us, there is something there. Something that “Got me thinking”.
I began writing the 420 character (or less) thoughts on Facebook statuses so that I could pass some time as I moved from point A to point B, and perhaps back again. But somewhere along the line, people began to respond to the thoughts. Folks grew passionate about getting up, having coffee, and reading the “metro musings”. It became something to pass on through Facebook, or email.
The purpose was to simply write down some positive thoughts while in the most negative, barren part of my day. It was a way to find beauty in a gray world, seemingly filled with hatred, death, famine and any other horrid things that come to your mind. This book, for the lack of a better term, is just thoughts that you or I could have while riding on a train.
It is just something, anything, nothing, which, for the lack of a better term, got me thinking.

Will report back when I am finished. I expect it will be a great read.

I’d like to keep the site going. If you’d like to be a poster, please email mail (at) metroclosesdoors [dot] com.

The much awaited video. I start commuting on WMATA daily again tomorrow. More to come.

I applied to be on the WMATA Riders Advisory Council. This will be good. Let’s see if I get on.

H/T to Shane for the link. Remy did the Arlington Rap, if he looks familiar.

WaPo recently did a story on the new mosquito device at Chinatown.

Can you hear it? Try it out.

12 KHz – Should be audible 55 years old and under

13 KHz – Should be audible 50 years old and under

14 KHz – Should be audible 45 years old and under

15 KHz – Should be audible 40 years old and under

16 KHz – Should be audible 35 years old and under

17 KHz – Should be audible 30 years old and under

18 KHz – Should be audible 25 years old and under

Peak of the Peak? What does that mean? If you have an immovable schedule and are the poorest among us and can’t rotate times you take metro, the government takes more from you!

Have a great Monday, riders.

The folks at WeLoveDC posted an article about the new changes to SmartTrip.

Here are the key parts:

• New SmartTrip Cards are $2.50, not $5.
• Your SmartTrip will soon no longer be able to go negative.
• Stations will soon have ways to top up SmartTrip for exit fare, but only accept cash.

A loyal reader brought a Metro Opens Doors t-shirt to our attention. While our blog has been inactive for a while, that will change. We couldn’t have a Metro Opens Doors shirt without a Metro Closes Doors shirt.

Click on the logo below to go to the shop!