March 2008 Archives

A RedEye colleague told me last week his mother had asked him if he had joined "Bookface." "You mean Facebook?," he asked.

As far as I know, my mom is neither on Facebook or MySpace. But she does text me regularly. She signs each text message "Love, Mom."

Other moms don't go Emily Postal in their messages. Some try to incorporate e-dioms instead. The mother of Diablo Cody, the Oscar-winning writer of "Juno," told her daughter in an e-mail that she thought her "blob," err, blog, was funny and clever, according to bestweekever.

The e-mail between Diablo and her mom was sent to Postcards from Yo Momma, a new site that posts anonymous messages from well, your mom.

Some highlights from Diablo-mom e-mail:

>> "Hope all is going well and you are not to stressed! Please take care and don’t let all the traveling get to you. And Awards!! like OMG"

>> "I read the blog today and loved the article from the New Yorker, your blob is very funny and clever you have so much fun with it no wonder everyone Love’s it."

Has your mother committed any technological faux pause?

Btw, if you're on Bookface, come join my group.

Posted March 31 3:40 p.m

Posted by Guest Blogger: Tracy Swartz, Word-Lord from another RedEye blog at redeyechicago.com/wordonthestreet

After a somewhat-stressful weekend of bridesmaid duties in Florida, I was feeling euphoric when my plane landed early at O'Hare Saturday.

I was on a mission: Get downtown before 6 p.m. to pick up my packet for the Shamrock Shuffle. So I was feeling good when I got on a train at about 3:50. Plenty of time, I thought.

Wrong. Before getting off the plane, I didn't even think to check if the Blue Line was undergoing reconstruction. No surprise -- sections of the Blue Line were being made over. Lucky me.

I travelled two stops on the Blue Line to Cumberland before I was forced to detrain and take the Blue Line shuttle. The shuttle ride was free, CTA workers proclaimed, as I made my way on the crowded bus, luggage and celery-colored dress in hand.

Posted March 31 3:33 p.m

So I descended gingerly into the Grand/State Red Line station today when it hit me like a ton of bricks: How hideous is that stop right now? Perhaps I'm prejudiced because I had the misfortune of going through it on a day that was rainy and nasty to start with. It doesn't help the cause that the stairs are practically mini-mud puddles.

CDOT is working on a renovation, which you can get  more details about on the City Department of Transportation Web site, but I still have to say it: it's outrageously ugly right now.

I felt sort of depressed looking at the drab, stripped walls; wooden planks on the platforms; and abject darkness. While waiting for a northbound train, I looked across and saw a movie poster for "The Ruins." It occurred to me that the movie title was an apt description of the dungeon that is Grand right now.

Does Grand make you feel not so grand? If you could, what additions would you make to this station?

Don't count on SwartzCenter to give you the highlights of March Madness. My fantasy college basketball brackets aren't so hot this year, thanks to chokels Georgetown, Duke and UConn.

I'm fourth out of 10 in RedEye's penniless pool. Though I picked three out of the four teams in the Final Four, my chances of winning the pool, and all the Pringles I can eat in one night, are slim to none.

So right now I'm enduring March Sadness, the time of the year when you realize you won't win the office pool and you have no one to truly root for because your team got eliminated or wasn't asked to the dance.

Florida is rocking the NIT right now, a far cry from last year, when the team went on to win its second consecutive tournament championship.

I picked my team to win in office pools two years in a row. I won the first year, and placed in the top three the second year. This year I'll be lucky to place so high.

Who ruined your brackets? Who are you forced to cheer on now?

Posted March 28 2:58 p.m

I'm getting a lot of great feedback on smoking on the CTA and thanks for sending me more of the CTA Sins. Keep 'em coming.  But while we're cross-training on those topics, I have another, a mystery in fact.  Greg Simmons sent me a great e-mail suggesting that GPS may not solve bus-bunching.  Guess we'll be able to check it out when the system expands on April 7.  Mark it in your calendars.

But more interesting is Greg's conundrum on the mysterious message you get when reloading your fare card.  Check out his mystery, which I will dig into, and then give me more things that make you say "say what?" on the CTA.

"Kyra, The CTA thinks GPS units will solve bus bunching. I'm not so sure. The only way to prevent/solve bunching is to speed up the lead bus, or slow the trailer. Either option is sure to inconvenience someone. If the trail bus has so few passengers to pick up that it catches the preceding one, maybe the trailing run should be canceled? On another matter, when my fare card has less than enough for a ride (say $1.00) and I'm at a rail station to recharge it, why does the machine display the ridiculous instruction to add 5 cents minimum? Adding a nickel is not going to get me anywhere. The only reason I'm there is to ride now or fill up for a later trip. (No one goes a bunch of stations adding a nickel each time.) Why can't the machine tell me to add the amount necessary to pay for at least one ride?"

Good one, Greg. Riders, what are you wondering about?

Posted March 28 12:49 p.m

What's up, public transit peepz?  How are you feeling on this sunny, but frigid Friday.  Let's get right onto our CTA business of the day:

Okay, we hear a lot about bus bunching and complain quite a bit about the CTA's on-time performance, but are we really being fair?  That's the question posed by a semi-CTA newbie, who e-mailed me, and I feel had some valid points. Check out what she said and then weigh in.

"I've only lived in Chicago for three years. My prior experience with public transit was New York. Brooklyn, actually. I couldn't get on the F train during rush hour, so I had to start taking trains that came at the end of the rush rather than during. There might have been a bus that went into Manhattan, where I worked, but I never saw it. In fact, buses and trains in New York are in two different universes, and they aren't related to each other at all. So when I came here I was pleasantly surprised to find the city's CTA is completely integrated between buses and trains. No mass transit system ever really runs "on time." It surprises me that anyone would expect it to. Perhaps I'm jaded?

But it can't because of unknown factors: traffic (for buses) or unrealistic scheduling or lackadaisical drivers. I can see some of the reasons for busing problems: For instance, when the 147 Outer Drive Express hits that tunnel at the end of Michigan, heading up to the Drive, I often feel as if I'm going to toss my cookies. This isn't the CTA's fault, it's the City of Chicago's. The roads in this city are shameful. Clearly they destroy shock absorbers on buses (as well as cars). I'm not just talking about this winter's crop of potholes. What I mean is the overall neglect of the condition of the roads that knows no season. I stopped riding the Red Line whenever possible because it's so slow. The bus can often make it to the Loop faster than the train. But the ride can lurch and tremble from the conditions of the roads and/or the drivers who like to speed between stops. It's a toss-up sometimes.

I really just don't like going down under the ground. The other thing I've noticed about city traffic is the bad planning at intersections with lights. The six-way intersections are perhaps the absolute worst. No left turn only signals, no nothing. Things like this, along with the fact that the city hasn't set aside lanes on the wide streets like Michigan Ave. for buses only (no cars: cars would get ticketed), end up slowing buses and thus making for bus bunching and arrivals that bear little resemblance to the "schedule." So I think the problem is at least three-pronged: Inconsistent scheduling and very bad roads and traffic management. Until the second two of these three are addressed, the CTA is limited in what it can attain I'm afraid."

I'm not saying we should hand out free passes for bad bus behavior, but heck, we've all been stuck in traffic on a bus, bike or car.

What's up with Ben and Ronnie on "Make Me a Supermodel?"

That was the question posed in Thursday's reunion episode of the freshman Bravo series.

Ben DiChiara and Ronnie Kroell, two of the remaining four model trainees, sat on a loveseat during the reunion and watched clips of themselves displaying affection for each other.

"I love you Ben," said Ronnie, a 25-year-old gay Chicago student.

"It's good to be open-minded," said Ben, a 22-year-old Nashville prison guard who has a wife.

The models are so close that Bravo has dubbed the pair "Bronnie."

So what do you call this relationship, a bond between a gay and a straight man?

My colleague Curt Wagner, who writes the "Show Patrol" blog, calls it a bromance.

I disagree. I wrote a story a few months ago about bromances, which I defined as the affectionate bond that two heterosexual men share. Think Joey and Chandler in "Friends" and Owen and Vince in "Wedding Crashers."

So I call the Ben-Ronnie relationship a bro-momance, an affectionate bond shared between a gay and a straight man.

But Bronnie isn't the only gay-straight relationship on TV right now.

Ev Smith from "Road Rules Fresh Meat" and Brooke LaBarbera from "Real World Denver" also played kissy-face on the "Real World/Road Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet III" this year.

Ev is gay and Brooke is straight, though Brooke seems sexually confused. I call this relationship a bra-momance. If both girls were straight and they constantly declared their affection for each other and always seemed on the verge of hooking up, that relationship would be a bra-mance.

Can you name any other pop culture examples of these type of relationships? Do you have better words for them?

Posted March 27 1:01 p.m

Since the City of Chicago has pretty much stomped out ciggies all over the public way and in restaurants, I find it funny that I still see -- and get reports -- of people holding smoke-outs on the CTA. I've even heard this about transit employees.

Why on earth would you think it's cool to smoke in an enclosed space, such as the train or bus, and inflict your habits on others? Even the most diehard smokers would have to realize how ridiculous that is.

That said, here's the latest report of CTA smoking from a rider who signed off "Just Want to Breathe":

Hello: I was on the Train once and this old man was smoking on the train. I buzzed the button to let the operator know after I had left that train and went to the next train. Why in the world did the operator stop the train and come to the car that the call came from and ask did someone call about someone smoking on the train. I told her the man was on the other train smoking, she had to smell it and see him she walked right through the same train that I walked through the doors and got off of so that I could breath. I want be letting them know anything else, not when they want to let everyone know that I am a trick and that my call was delaying everyone for work. I'll simply just go to another car so I can breathe. Also, why don't CTA enforce their laws about people smoking on their property at the 95Th street Red Line. They have a little police station there. They have cameras and can see everything. They have an blind eye when it comes to people selling and smoking cigarettes around the perimeter of the station where we are trying to get on the busses. I've had to turn around and tell someone don't blow that smoke on me, I just washed my hair and I want to breathe. I dare you to come to 95Th and stand on the side where the #34 and #119 is at, that spot is the worst when it comes to smoking.

To "Going Public," the second worst part of this story is how the operator allegedly handled it. Is this person trying to encourage a CTA version of the ignorant "Stop Snitching" campaign? Sound off peepz, do you see a lot of smoking on the CTA? Is that security office at 95th Street a waste of space?

What do you propose we do about this?

Posted March 26- 2:40 p.m

So, if you're just tuning into my blog, which I hope you aren't, I am trying to get to the bottom of a car on the Red Line this morning that lost its lighting and proceeded into the tunnel for a pitch-black experience for riders. 

A dutiful rider reported this "ride on the dark side" this morning, and we're digging into what the heck happened.  Still waiting for the CTA to get back to me, but in the interim, I hit up my peepz at the union that represents CTA rail operators and mechanics.

The union's president, Rick Harris, said the dark-car phenomenon seems to happen most on the 2600 Series of railcars, and are typically caused by the following factors:

(1) Train leaving the third rail

(2) Batteries low, similar to with your own personal car

(3) Motor alternator problem

Typically, only one car will be affected. In cases of a total blackout, it is because the CTA has shut off power to the track in event of an emergency, Harris said.

Hmmm...interesting. Well, stay tuned for more of this CTA saga.

Posted March 26- 12:32p.m

Apparently, a Red Line rider took a trip to the dark side today.

Leigh Parker asked "Going Public" to get to the bottom of why it was "lights out" on her train early this morning, and I've put in a call to the CTA to get the skinny. Here's the note from Parker:

"This morning, the Southbound Red Line Train (stopped at 7:45am at the Bryn Mawr location) had no lights on its cars. This was not a problem on the elevated tracks as today was a sunny day, however, once we descended into the subway, this lack of lighting caused a safety concern. Nothing was done about it and nothing was announced. The train was exceptionally dark when passing the closed Washington station and several passengers, including myself, got noticably uncomfortable. This type of equipment failure is unacceptable and it leaves us to wonder what's being done about it, if anything? I found it a bit ironic when the "safety" announcement was played. If our safety is such a concern, I am curious as to why we were all riding in the dark this morning where anything could have happened."

Was anyone else aboard the light-less "L" train this morning? I'm going to call my rail operation contacts on this one too, so we can figure out what the heck happened. I'll also update you when/if I get an answer from the CTA.

Tell me about your weirdest commute. Did you get stuck in a station with no lights? Were you ever trapped on a train car? Spill, I'm listening.

Though I don't understand many of the dishes and the only thing I know how to make is a reservation, "Top Chef" is my favorite show on Wednesday nights, especially since this season was filmed in Chicago.

But I loathe cheftestant, the word Bravo uses to describe the chefs competing for the grand prize.

A few months ago, I came across a blog entry on afterelton.com written by Steven Frank, who called the Season 3 contestants the cheffersons.

Wrote Frank: "And who knew that when I coined the term 'cheffersons,' they would indeed move on up to a deluxe apartment in the sky? Yes, having finally managed to escape from New Jersey, our five remaining cheffersons have hit New York, New York."

I prefer chefferson to cheftestant, and cheffer seems too mean. I'll call the bubbly contestants, like Betty Fraser from Season 2, cheffervescent.

Personality aside, hair seems to play a major factor in determining the "Top Chef" winner. The faux hawk, a lite version of the mohawk, occurs when the sides of the head are shaved and the hair on the top of the head is fashioned with gel into a mohawk. Many top-tier cheffersons sport this 'do.

The folks over at bestweekever.tv have found a more appopriate name for this style: the foie hawk. The name is a combination of faux hawk and foie gras, a staple in any top chef's menu (except in Chicago where the delicacy is outlawed).

But Chicago chef Dale Levitski of Season 3 has redeemed our fair city. He placed first in bestweekever's countdown of "The 10 Greatest Faux-Hawks in Top Chef history." Levitski exacted his revenge on Hung Huynh, who beat Dale for the title of "Top Chef" but only came in second in the faux-hawk list. The greater prize?

"American Idol" is back! Hooray!

Actually, I haven't watched much of the singing competition this season, but judging from the battle cries in the newsroom, the competition is fierce this year.

So for today's word of the day, Idolatry, I turned to resident "Idol" expert Brian Moore, who run's "Vital Idol," RedEye's "American Idol" blog.

Brian embodies Idolatry, utter fascination with "American Idol." Here are some other words for those with Idol minds.

>> idull: Singers who have boring personalities or make uninteresting song choices.
Brian says: David Archuleta is stuck in a rut of dreary ballads.

>> idle: Singers who fail to improve week to week.
Brian says: Kristy Lee Cook has been consistently bad.

>> idoll: Attractive female contestants.
Brian says: Ramiele Malubay and Syesha Mercado.

>> guydol: Attractive male contestants.
Brian says: Michael Johns has the rugged Jim Morrison look. David Archuleta is the teen heartthrob.

>> m-idol: Singers with bad attitudes.
Brian says: Carly Smithson always butts in during the judges' critiques.

>> Billy Idol: Singers who love hard rock or bleached blond locks.
Brian says: David Cook is this year's resident rocker.

Do you agree with these choices? Who would you like to see win "American Idol?"

Posted March 25- 12:23 p.m

Apparently "Going Public" isn't the only one who believes manners are key on public transit.  In fact, one agency thinks they should be enforced. Eagle-eyed reader Stephanie sent me this intriguing link to a BBC story about manners police in Japan.  Thanks, Stephanie!  Here's an excerpt from that piece:

"Newly appointed "etiquette police" will be asking travellers to turn down their headphones and give up their seats for their elders and betters.

The move comes amid growing concern that etiquette is losing its hallowed place in Japanese society.

A recent poll found nearly nine out of 10 respondents felt standards of public behaviour had declined."

So what do you think? Should we have manners police telling people to turn down iPods and stop seat-blocking or is that a waste of time and resources?

Posted March 25- 11:15 a.m

Today's "Going Public" explored the 7 CTA Sins, immutable rules that must not be broken on the rails and routes. If they are, I offer to don my black robes and get all Judge GP on CTA scofflaws. Here are the four sins in summary.

Thou shalt not litter.

Thou shalt not door-block.

Thou shalt not sit in priority seating.

Thou shalt not exhibit unwarranted attitude -- this goes for snarky CTA employees and rude riders alike.

Riders are adding even more via goingpublic@tribune.com. Thank you kindly! Here are some of the best suggestions:

Thou shalt not pratice your new rap routine on the CTA.-- John S., Chicago

Thou shall not tell me something to allay my anxiety over an incovenience CTA just created because of inefficency on its part. In other words don't announce that there is a train just behind when that one is going express also. This practice along with announced apologies do not help.-- B. Troyer, Lakeview

Thou shalt not play thy iPod loud. -- James Catalano

And thou shalt not block thee isle with thy stroller. -- James Catalano

Now come on, everyone else, post yours too. I'm also accepting cases to "rule on" if you feel you've been on the business end of CTA sins on the trains and buses. 

In a family of giants, I've always felt small. My mother is 5-foot-11 while my brother is about 6-foot-3. I'm a paltry 5-foot-7.

I was one of the shortest on the junior varsity basketball squad. I'd like to think it was my height, not my playing ability, that prevented me from moving up to varsity in high school.

Call me vertically challenged, not extremely short in stature, but just short enough to interfere with your goals.

That's why I was intrigued to read a college essay by Rebecca Thomas as published in the New York Times.

Thomas, who is 6-foot-4, describes her life as a tall girl. It's tough to find clothes and shoes that fit her frame, and she feels people are constantly gawking at her.

I know I've been guilty of gaping at taller people. When I interviewed Bulls players a few weeks ago, forward Jo Noah came up behind me. I was so startled to feel his 6-foot-11 presence, I momentarily stopped what I was doing. (It could also be that I'm a huge Florida fan and Noah played for Florida, but his height definitely threw me off.)

I call myself vertically challenged because I'm not as tall as I would like to be. I'm not a fan of the terms tallboy or tall drink of water, but are there any fun terms tall people use to describe themselves? How about shorter people like me?

The New York Post reported this morning that Lindsay Lohan's 67-year-old grandmother survived a car accident.

Marilyn Lohan drove her car into a tree and a pole on Long Island Sunday afternoon, the Post reports.

"Jesus kept her out of the grave today," said her son, Michael Lohan, who called the survival an "Easter Miracle."

The LoClan always seem to be in the news, whether it's for reality show talks, divorce proceedings, bad driving, jail time or rehab.

There's Lindsay Lohan, or LiLo, who recently made the list of Hollywood's Biggest Fashion Offenders.

There's Dina Lohan, or DiLo, who is working on her new E! reality series, "Living Lohan," according to the New York Daily News.

There's Michael Lohan, or SlyLo, who told "Access Hollywood" he is working on a project called "The Christian Values Network," which he said "gives back to churches and charities and will be the next Home Shopping Network online."

Then there's Ali Lohan, or AliLo, who told the April issue of Teen Vogue that she "grew up watching Lindsay, and it made me want to do what she does."

Are the Lohans too overexposed? Do you wish they would LieLo? Which Lohan would you like to see more or less news about?

Posted March 24- 3:48 p.m

So I was still on CTA Cloud 9 after finding out today that next-bus tracker will be in place on 14 routes -- including the No.20-Madison pilot -- beginning April 7.  Then, I fell back to earth after receiving an e-mail account of an operator gone wild on the No. 148-Clarendon/Michigan Express. 

No doubt, riders will rejoice about being able to find out exactly when their bus is coming courtesy of next-bus tracker, but hopefully the GPS associated with that technology will stop operators from acting up.  Check out this horror story from a rider named Angela who was too through after her morning commute complete with several unwarranted stops.

We don't want to be relentless with operators, since we don't want our bosses turning us into virtual drones who can't sneeze without written permission, but this account is pretty outrageous:

"I was waiting at 8 a.m. this morning for the #148, at Clarendon and Sunnyside (south bound, since that's the only direction this bus runs in the morning) when I saw the #148 turn onto Clarendon off of Wilson, coming from the west.  I hope that someone addresses the issue of the drivers doing personal business when they should be driving their buses.

The driver proceeded to park the bus at the stop right before me, at approximately 8:04am.  How do I know this, because I was timing the occurrences of the other bus on this street.  The driver then sat there for a minute and then she got off the bus, talking on a phone.  She got back on the bus and a couple minutes later, got off the bus, walked her way down to the mailbox and deposited some mail. 

Then she stood outside the bus talking on her phone some more.  When she finally ended her call, she got back on the bus, took her sweet time getting adjusted in the seat before she finally pulled away to "start" her morning.  At 8:12am, I finally got on the bus.  That's right, she spent 8 minutes yacking on the phone and doing her personal business while on CTA time.  And you people wonder why us riders get so upset?! 

What would you have done for me if I was late to work because of her dilly-dallying?  Nothing.  And yes, I have to clock in at my job, account for every minute of my day.  If I want to make personal phone calls or send out some mail, I have to do that on my lunch hour, MY TIME, not the company's time.  Your drivers and the rest of your personnel need to learn to respect the job and the paying customers or you'll continue to be the laughing stock of the city of Chicago."

So riders, what do you think?  Is this an overreaction or are you fed up with operators going AWOL?  Operators, do you feel it's unfair that riders complain about your pit stops?

RedEye had a story today about the prevalence of female geeks. Think Chloe O'Brian, the technology whiz on "24."

A few months ago, I wrote a story about the difference between geeks, nerds and dorks.

>> geek: Known for their technology prowess. Michael Bolton of "Office Space," the stereotypical software company techie helped create a computer virus that bilked the company of hundreds of thousands of dollars. His love of rap music would make him a geeksta.

>> dork: Has a quirky personality but lacks some social skills. Andy Stitzer of "The 40-year-old Virgin" built his life around his collection of action figures and comic books. Before meeting his wife, the adorkable virgin's social life consisted of playing video games and watching "Survivor" with his elderly neighbors.

>> nerd: Book smart. Steve Urkel of "Family Matters" achieved nerdoriety around his high school for his thick glasses, suspenders and flood pants. He was especially smart in science, which helped him invent an intelligent robot and a cloning machine.

Do you see a difference between the three categories? Do you have your own definitions for geek, nerd and dork?

Would you consider these females geeks? Or would you consider them dorks or nerds or neither of the three?

I'm not familiar with all the characters in the photo gallery but I did spy a few dorks and nerds mixed in with the geeks.

Michelle Flaherty in "American Pie": I would consider her a dork because of her problems socializing, particularly with Jason Biggs' character. In the series, I don't think she was portrayed as overly book-smart, but she does have a quirky personality.

Cady Heron in "Mean Girls": I don't think she is a geek because she doesn't have vast technology knowledge. She falls somewhere in between dork and nerd because she's a mathlete and she had trouble fitting in at high school. How about Tina Fey? Would you consider her a geek?

Lisa Simpson in "The Simpsons": Definitely a nerd. A member of the Springfield Mensa club, the 2nd grader can speak Italian, Spanish and Swedish. She became upset when a teacher's strike prevented her from attending school, but used the free time to create a perpetual motion device.

What do you think? Any other characters from these shows/movies that fit the "geek" description?

Posted March 24- 11:03 a.m

Top of the morning! For anyone who cares, and that should be everyone, the CTA made an announcement regarding the launch of next-bus tracker this morning at 10 a.m., according to the Trib. The system, as well as a route management tool for the CTA, will allow John and Jane Q. Public to look at their Internet enabled-device (handheld or computer) to see when their next bus is scheduled to arrive. UPDATED: The technology should be rolling out to the following 13 routes on April 7, according to our Tribster tipsters.

Here's the full story.

The rest of the routes should be onboard by the spring of '09.

Here are the buses that will be included in the expanded rollout for April 7: No. 35-35th; No. 39-Pershing ;No. 43-43rd; No. 49-Western; No.X49-Western Express; No. 54B-South Cicero; No. 55A-55th/Austin; No. 55N-55th/Narrangansett; No. 62-Archer; No. 62H-Archer/Harlem; No. 63W-West 63rd; No. 94-South California; No. 165-West 65th

Are you on the list? The CTA has had this technology for some time, and currently leverages it on the No.20-Madison route. Take a look at how the pilot's interface works if you haven't seen it before. 

What was the hold up on expanding it? The agency feared riders would not only be tracking buses, but tracking bus bunching. Imagine the transit head honchos' embarrassment as customers glanced at their BlackBerries and saw a posse of buses lurching their way.

"Going Public," however, says "who cares?" Personally, I'd rather just know when the bus is coming to save me a sprint down the street or a half-hour sitting on a scummy bus bench. Fix the bus bunching, but don't slow our technological advantage because of it. Give it to every route, I say.

What do you think, riders? How do you think bus tracker will affect your commute? How desperate are you for it to reach your route?

Say tuned for more tracker updates and commentary later today on this blog.

Posted March 21- 4:04 p.m

When I saw this ridiculous snow, some call it "snizzle," falling from the sky today, I was sad for many reasons. First, it is supposed to be spring. I've lived in Chicago most of my life, but believe me, it's in spite of, not because, of the weather. Second, precipitation will only encourage CTA sludge.

This is that nasty stuff that clouds bus windows, sometimes making people (okay, me) miss their stop because they can't see out.

CTA sludge also drips from the "L" tracks down onto unsuspecting riders below, (OK, me again). I cannot wait for warmer, drier weather because it will help me better tolerate bus and train waits, plus stamp out that ooey, gooey sludge.

Give me your sludge report? Where and when have you been dripped on? Got a picture of an icky spot? Let me know.

I've gotten a lot of response to my story this week about eating disorders and orthorexia.

Orthorexia, as defined by several nutritionists, is the unhealthy obsession with eating healthy. But where do you draw the line between picky and fanatic?

The Huffington Post recently wrote about the phenomenon in a post about Sen. Hillary Clinton's diet. The author of the post, Charlotte Hilton Andersen, suggested: "Everyone is doing it. They might call it different things: veganism, macrobiotics, the raw food diet, Scientology, but in the end it is all about rejecting 'bad' food and imposing a strict scaffolding of dietary rules to protect your fragile body."

Other new eating disorder buzz words:

>> drunkorexia: A non-medical term used to characterize calorie counters who starve themselves or purge their food but still drink alcohol. Think Spring Breakers who engage in anorexia or bulimia to fit into their bikinis but still party with alcohol with their friends.

>> diabulimia: The phenomenon that describes when diabetics refuse to take their insulin as prescribed because of a fear of weight gain or as an active attempt to lower or control their weight.

>> manorexia: The male version of anorexia. It's about men who are obsessed with achieving the male ideal -- very little body fat, buff or highly toned muscles. It does not necessarily manifest in wanting to be ultra thin.

Have you heard of any other new eating disorder buzz words? What do you think, health concern or hype?

Posted March 21 - 12:08 p.m

I like to consider myself a patron of the public transit arts, so please feel free to share your CTA-related songs, photos, poems, music and other artistic expressions. I know it can be hard out there, but as long as you keep it clean, I'll post it.

Let's start with this public transit prose from Bill Montgomery in Lincoln Park, who catalogued what he called "One Hour in Hell," copyright: July, 2007. Here's wishing him a better CTA summer.

July >>7:50am. The alarm is ringing, drilling through my hangover. I wake to a bright, hot July morning. In my drunken stupor, I forgot to turn on the air-conditioning and I wake up dehydrated, sweaty and miserable. The air is thick; it's 90 degrees already.

>>8:36am. After 15 minutes of waiting for a cab in the direct sunlight, I'm on the verge of passing out. I see a 22 bus crawling down the street. It looks air-conditioned. I get on the bus and sit down; unaware of the hell I'm about to go through.

>>8:45am.The bus stops and a multitude of people board. It's standing room only now because half the people sitting are fat and take up two seats. I look up to see a cute girl standing next to me. With a smile I get up and offer my seat. Without looking at me or saying "thank you," she sits down in a huff, pulls out a book and starts reading; I guess the pleasure was all mine.

>>8:55am.The next stop brings more people to the standing room only bus. The angry bus driver commands everyone to move back as far as possible so the next herd of people can get on. I'm wondering how this is permissible by law. The bus is so crowded that four different people are literally touching me with either their elbows, shoulders, or of course, their stomachs. The smell of everyone's breath coupled with my hangover is creating a gag reflex so strong my eyes are watering.

>>8:56am. I'm trying to shift my way into a position so no one is touching me. Everyone looks angry. Every time someone says, "excuse me," it sounds sharp and impatient, followed closely by a dirty look. Standing next to me is a heavyset black woman. While eating a Mc Donald's sandwich her cell phone rings. "It's on the stairs," spraying crumbs. "It's in the plastic bag on the stairs, no I got to call you back!" As she exits, I'm imagining how glorious the cigarette is going to taste the instant I'm off the bus.

>>9:03am. As more people file in, I see an obese woman plow through the irritated people, sending the unsuspected reeling like bowling pins. Wondering where she's going, I look back and see her target is an empty seat no one wants because it's next to a sleeping bum with a puddle at his feet. The bus pass she's wearing around her neck by a shoestring indicates she's a seasoned CTA rider.

>>9:06am. I look at the time, amazed I've been on the bus for almost 40 minutes. I'm praying for this ride to be over when I hear someone sneezing. Holding my breath, I turn and look, already feeling sick as I imagine the exotic germs penetrating my body. I see an older man sneeze again into his hand, wipe his nose, and then with the same hand, resume holding the standing-pole. I then made the decision that I'd rather fall through the window then touch the standing-pole.

>>9:16am. Clark and Lake. The majority of the riders exit at this stop. A seat opens up and I wearily sit down. At the next stop a lady on her way out knocks me on the back of the head, dragging her purse across my face. No apology. If I had a gun, I'd be re-loading now; I can't wait to get to work so I can scream at everyone.

>>9:21. Clark and Jackson. I made it. Like a Phoenix, I leap off the bus, pissed off and gasping for fresh air, thinking I'd rather walk to work on my knees then go through that again.

Posted March 20 - 5:32 p.m

Okay, it's time for the Reader Letter of the Day. And today's comes from a non-fan of the No.65-Grand, the route where I experienced a loudmouth rider just the other day.

But poor Kyle, who hails from Uptown, went all Popeye on public transit.

I finish work at 8am and take the 65 EB Grand bus to the Red Line (Grand/State). Every morning between 1-3 #33 Magnificent Mile Express buses pass with (usually) fewer than 10 people on them. Never once have I seen a #33 bus with every seat filled. So I wait and I wait, and finally when a #65 bus comes it is so full that I either have to stand in the doorway (and get off at every subsequent stop to let people out), can't safely get on (and have to wait for the next bus), or the bus doesn't even stop because they are at capacity.

In short, why do so many (relatively) empty #33 buses pass when those buses would very obviously be better utilized as #65 buses?

Thank you for listening, Kyle Turner-Uptown

You bet, I'm listening, Kyle. Riders, what bus route makes you want to eat your spinach and go all sailor-style on the CTA?

Posted March 20 - 2:15 p.m

Okay, let me start by saying that I do not believe all bus operators are evil and to subscribe to that is to insult hardworking men and women who take a lot of grief -- and even a punch or two -- on the job. That said, there is no excuse for what a RedEye colleague witnessed last night while waiting for a bus in Wrigleyville.

To summarize, a bus operator refused to move a bus up a few feet in order to allow a wheelchair-bound rider to get onboard, this after passing her up at the bus shelter and almost penning her in. The rider -- who refused assistance from my colleague -- then had to get out of her wheelchair and slowly push the chair up to where the bus stopped.  Thankfully, this incident -- and the operator-- was reported to ctahelp@transitchicago.com.

But that still doesn't address the issue: Why on earth would anyone be so cruel, or at best, clueless? I've spoken to the CTA in the past about the plight of physically disabled riders and believe me, rudeness is not confined to operators, though this is the second such story of operator outrageousness that I've heard about in the last month.

Let's turn the topic to riders who need a clue. I''ve been on a bus where riders refused to get out of the priority area in order to let someone in a wheelchair onboard. It is within your riders' rights, according to the CTA, which can only suggest -- not order-- consideration for the physically disabled.

I know we all value our CTA space, but come on? Are people really this heartless? Have you seen bus/rail operators or other public transit patrons disrespecting or ignoring the needs of the so-called "priority" riders?  Maybe they need a ticket, like the blockheads who park in designated handicapped spaces.

Posted March 20 - 11:36 a.m

Not as much griping going on about the Brown Line, particularly with the CTA moving to re-open the Southport station on March 30.  But one rider isn't so happy with pacing of this capacity expansion project. 

Mary, 35, from Lincoln Square said she wanted to know what's the deal with Damen. For anyone who wants to keep in step, here's a link to the CTA's Brown Line construction phase chart.  Mary even took some photos of the currently shuttered stop.  Here's one she shared with me:

Brown Liners, are you getting impatient with the $530 million-project?  Tell me what you think about the progress?

Posted March 19 - 2:29 p.m

A rider named Rick wrote to me to unload about the unsanitary nature of trains and buses, but this time around, it wasn't a rant against the CTA's janitorial efforts. Rick wrote:

"It disgusts me to witness pigs riding the El, and spitting sunflower seeds, eating food and throwing wrappers on the floor, writing on doors and walls. It's bad enough that the things smell like urine already. Is it too much to ask that people pick up after themselves? I think that perhaps a good solution would be to have one "pig pen" car on each train so decent people can ride without being subjected to these kinds of disgusting slobs. And the pigs would be able to ride in the company of other disgusting pigs, and the CTA could concentrate their efforts on cleaning the pig pens. A win win."

So what's up, CTA citizens? Is there any way to stop the CTA from being a pig pen? Would you like to see more enforcement of anti-eating ordinances on the system? You know, just in case the agency balks at establishing a formal "pig pen" car.

Posted March 19 - 1:10 p.m

Posted March 18 - 6:16 p.m

Following up on today's "Going Public" column about claimed positive changes in bus garages, a rider came up with something she'd like to see on the system.  Here's an e-mail from Debra Berry, who referenced the 74th Street garage I featured.

"A supervisor or someone needs to watch the way bus drivers that turn into the 74th Street garage passing up passengers on Green Line El stop. Two buses approaching 63rd street at 7:05 pm, the first bus picked up passengers on 63rd, the bus behind this one had a sign that read X9 Ashland Express; before this driver (bus #6048) pulled off the sign was changed to NOT IN SERVICE. That is a bunch of BULL. It is unfair to the driver in front of this bus to pick up all these passengers after waiting for 20-25 minutes. Get some team work."

Got that, garage folks?  Riders, are your bus beefs?

Posted March 18 - 2:54 p.m

Hiya! I just wanted to cordially invite you to my little slice of CTA heaven on FaceBook.  That's right, we're going worldwide.  I've got a "Going Public" group all set up for ya.  So, please don't stand, waiting for signals ahead, just click on:  http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=9455422489. 

Posted March 18 - 12:30 p.m

Posted March 18 - 12:11 a.m

Today's "Going Public" focuses on the general manager of the 74th Street bus garage, Jeanette Martin, who outlined a view of a brave new (and accountable) CTA.  But we couldn't get my entire diary into the column, so here's some more CTA scoop courtesy of Martin, who lives in the Beverly/Morgan Park 'hood. She's pictured on this page working on a bus, a task she said she undertook when she took over the garage about two years ago.  "I wanted to learn as much as I could," Martin told me of her mass transit mechanic act.

Worst part of the j-o-b: The hours are long, rider calls can be curt, and kudos are few and far between.  Martin said riders gave it to her good when the No.8-Halsted bus, which she now says is performing better, bunched like nobody's business. "Whew, girl," Martin said, fanning herself as if she were in the hot sun.  "They did not let UP."

Best part of the j-o-b: The new attitude Martin said she sees at the CTA. Martin said that prior to its new leadership, the agency got stuck in a time warp. "People were doing things not because they worked, but because that was the way we traditionally did it," Martin said, explaining that her garage recently piloted a more frequent, deeper-cleaning program that will be rolled out systemwide, as part of this new regime. "I'm glad with new leadership, we are open to trying new things."

A fun fact: Martin said that when she began at the garage about two years ago, she really wanted to know what she was doing. So, the bus garage general manager actually took some tools and worked on CTA buses alongside mechanics. "How can I tell someone what they need to do if I can't do it myself," Martin asked, as she proudly showed off her mass transit mechanic photos.

A sad fact: Absenteeism, or operators who don't show up and can throw off the schedule, continues to be a problem.  One, Martin said, she hopes to solve soon.  "When we see a pattern, we call them in for a chat," Martin said, adding that they must conduct this procedure to the letter due to union rules.  "We are not nasty, or talk to them any old kind of way.  But we want people to be proud of their jobs, and to do them right. They've got to show up." 

Tell me: Got any more questions about bus garages?  Want me to get more answers out of Jeanette Martin? Ask or comment away, and let's get to the bottom of bus service.

Posted March 17 - 4:47 p.m

So, come April 27, the 54th Cermak branch of the Blue Line is no more. The CTA claims that low ridership, plus rider love of the pretty in Pink Line, did it in.

For more details on this service stoppage, check out my earlier blog entry called "Passion of the Pink."

But CTA, say what you will, rider Linda Annicks is not buying. That's why her impassioned e-mail is the "reader letter of the day."  Drum roll, please:

I would like to make a comment on the story that was printed today about the CTA “trimming the Blue Line." Let me say, that ever since this "great new line" started running, nothing has been running smoothly. The Pink line is constantly bogged with problems.

At least once a month it's down due to track failure and the inbound trains have to be rerouted to the blue line tracks then we have to transfer onto the Forest Park Line. Outbound is just as bad, once you're in the Loop you can't go anywhere because the Loop tracks are down and you get 4 Orange Line trains before you see 1 Pink Line train. How frustrating.

The CTA says that rider ship is low on the Blue Line, well sure it's going to look that way. How silly, it’s almost comical that the CTA spokeswoman, Noelle Gaffney, says that the Blue Line carries about 10 riders per car as opposed to an average of 30 riders on the Pink line per car. They keep 8 rail cars on the Blue Line- Why? They rarely keep to the posted schedule. People can never figure out what time the Blue Line will get to their station.

The CTA wants the Blue Line to fail, they want people to stop using it, they encourage us to NOT use it by bombarding the Blue Line with issues. On the Pink line they try to cram “the world” into 4 rail cars that they force us to use, during the peak rush hours. What sense does that make? Don't you think it would have been logical to reduce the number of cars on the Blue line and to increase the number of cars on the Pink line?

I see all these "official" CTA people standing on the Polk station with their clip boards trying to count the number of people in the rail cars. What a joke. Even if you want to wait for a Blue line train it could take 40 minutes before you ever see one. In the meantime you get all paranoid about being late so you have to jump on the Pink line because you just let 3 Pink Line trains go by you and still no Blue line so you figure it's Pink or nothing. I drop my kids off at school on 19th & Ashland & walk to the 18th street station on days when they have classes. When I don't have to drive the kids to school, I use the California stop. I work on Clark & Monroe. On the Blue Line it would take me 10 minutes to get from the 18th street station or 20 minutes from the California stop to get to the Monroe stop, where I walk one block to get to work.

Fantastic - I love that! On the Pink line it takes me 10 minutes to get to Clark & Lake from 18th Street and 20 minutes from the California stop to Clark & Lake. I then have to walk from Clark & Lake to Monroe Street. If I continue on the train to the Quincy stop which leaves me 1 block from my building I have to stay on the train another 10 minutes. In theory, it shouldn't take that long but people always have issues getting on or off quickly or we're waiting for signals. Again, why they think that the Pink line is so great is beyond me. Instead of coming to their own conclusions they should ask the people who RIDE the train what they want.

Any more thoughts on the Pink, peeps? I'm here for you, so give it to me straight.

Posted March 17 - 3:17 p.m

Are you bursting with desire to be a bus operator? Good news for you.  The CTA is looking for part-time CTA bus operators. The wording in the official release is unintentional comedic genius that I'm sure some riders will get a kick out of based on their experiences with the system.

Disclaimer: I know there are great operators out there and I commend them.   I tried to operate a bus simulator once, and it was no picnic.  I couldn't imagine if the simulation had contained bus fights, rude riders and a cell yeller who didn't have his fare ready when I pulled up to the virtual curb.

But for the operators who are outrageously rude and inept, it amuses me that the CTA so carefully spells out what they are looking for. Hard to believe the bad apples get by such a stringent set of qualifications.  I offer up my own more "truthier" versions of some of these requirements to let these part-timers know what they are getting themselves into.  It might save us all some "Going Public" grief.

The Chicago Transit Authority is seeking applicants interested in joining the agency as part-time bus operators. CTA is planning to fill more than 400 part-time bus operator positions this year.

Translation: We've got a lot of buses and few people who bother to come to work to drive them because they are glared at, complained about, beaten up, and sometimes sent pink slips that are later rescinded. But have at it. It's a down economy, people, so snap up this job if you can handle it.

Eligible applicants should have strong customer service skills, the ability to speak in a clear and concise manner, and possess the math and comprehension skills needed to accurately read and interpret bus schedules.

Translation: If you can speak the King's English, count to 100, and promise not to call anyone a string of profanities at least for the firs tyear, come on in. It's a plus if you can say -- with sincerity -- that you have no clue where other bus routes are going, even if you know full well where other routes are going.

Starting pay for this position is $17.46 per hour with the potential to increase to $26.86 per hour.

Translation: You will earn every penny of this money with your soul, and then some.

Operators, riders, feel free to add your own comments. And if you are seriously interested in this job, and I salute you if you can handle it, the rest of the description will be posted on transitchicago.com under "press releases." It isn't up yet as of the time of this post.

Posted March 17 - 12:02 p.m

"Going Public" was on the receiving end of an inbox full of moral outrage after G-Rod mandated that seniors get a free ride as part of the doomsday fix.  Students, in particular, wrote in arguing that they too deserve that kind of big break. Hey, they're eating Ramen out of Dixie cups, folks!

So, I'm curious: Today was the first day of senior-ride-free fun, so was the system indeed overrun with older folks exerting their newfound powers? If so, did you non-seniors try to take up the priority seating in protest or were you gracious about the new world order?

Be honest, I won't tell your grandparents what you did.

Posted March 14 - 5:28 p.m

Sorry, I haven't been as blog-tastic today, but I was out all day with a CTA employee in preparation for an extra special "Going Public" column for Tuesday. Make sure you grab the RedEye out of your neighborhood or CTA-bound boxes, heck, even out of someone else's hands. I plan to offer up some exciting details and insights into the black hole that is sometimes the CTA, so get ready.

In other news, whilst commuting on an eastbound No.65-Grand -- which oddly, seemed to be running like clockwork around 5 p.m. today-- I ran into one of the rudest riders ever. This person was not so much talking on his cell phone, as he was SCA-REAMING, threatening to shatter the bus's exoskeleton by his sheer volume.

I am not ashamed to reveal what he was babbling about, especially since he showed no shame. But I will refrain from such an outing. Instead, I will tell you that new CTA buses need to be outfitted with an ejector seat and/or trap door for such occasions.

So loud was this gentleman (the term gentleman being used loosely) that I and another rider locked eyes, forming a single-serve friendship through our joint outrage. Finally, this loudspeaker stepped off at State. Hopefully, his cell phone lost its signal on the stairs, or some poor train riders were in for a similar treat.

What is wrong with people? Don't you loudspeakers see the glances of disapproval you're getting? Do you really want everyone to know the details of your latest doctor's appointment, probation officer visit, or break-up?

Riders, what are we to do with these surround-sounders?

Posted March 13 - 3:48 p.m

Drum roll, please. It's time for the "Going Public" letter of the day. This letter, translated from some angry-looking ALL-CAPS, apparently comes from a CTA employee fed up with the griping and grousing of riders. As I've met a number of nice bus and rail operators, not to mention customer assistants, I get why they may feel picked on because of the bad apples. We all know there are jerks in our own lines of work.

Here's an excerpt of what this employee has to say. Brace yourself, more sensitive CTA patrons, though what she says is no worse than what riders write about transit workers:

"Enough already about CTA. The public kills me. I watch people everyday get on the bus, don't speak, and have attitudes with the driver just because. Have you ever sat back and thought 'What about the driver?' We have a big problem with the CTA too. We are getting the same treatment that the customers are getting. We have not had a raise. We have the sorry union. W eneed to explore CTA on how they treat their employees, the money CTA cries about goes to who really truly knows? But it is not the workers that is out there dealing with our safety, traffic, crazy people, the shootings on the bus. We are people too. When things happen like fares going up or the bus is late or anything that the driver has no control over, I do understand."

Some of our workers are not all people-friendly, but we do have some good people that [are] doing what every other human is doing: that's trying to make a living and trying to make it safe to their family as well....I do see sometimes what the customers feel like traveling in public transportation [is] nothing easy. But before you judge as a whole, think about where you work and are you satisfied with your company, and what you do while at work...We are underpaid and haven't had a contract in over 5 years. We are working on old contracts, but the company keeps getting new buses, rail cars, and cameras...

So riders what's up? What do you have to say? Please keep it clean.

Posted March 13 - 1:45 p.m

All points bulletin for a "black purse, trapezoidal in shape," according to a worried mom asking for help on behalf of her daughter, a student, who lost said purse on the Brown Line near downtown around 3:45 or 4 p.m. on March 12.  She was transferring from the Brown to the Orange Line when the purse got lost, according to her mom, who said it contained a driver's license [Minnesota], keys, a credit card, a mini IPod and a check.

I did advise the family to contact the CTA's lost-and-found as well, which the mother confirmed she did before reaching out to me, but any and all help would be great.

Let's help this student reconnect with her rightful belongings. Please post any info you've got.

Posted March 13 - 11:51 p.m

Ummm, did I miss something here? Ever since the Pink Line -- with its hideous Pepto Bismol inspiration -- emerged in the summer of 2006, riders have ridden it...and I don't mean in the literal sense. I mean they've insulted it, complained about it, and begged for the return of the 54th/Cermak service which was relegated to rush hour only. The CTA conducted its own research that showed support for the Pink Line, but personally, "Going Public" thought that some of the alternative outcry might influence the CTA to rethink the Pink.

Check the calendar: It must be Opposite Day because the CTA board has shuttered 54th and Cermak service, as of April 27.  Feast your eyes on this excerpt of a CTA press release below:

"On April 27, service will be added to the Forest Park and O’Hare branches of the Blue Line. But Blue Line service on the 54th/Cermak branch, which operates during rush hour only, will be eliminated due to low ridership. It serves the fewest customers per rail car of any line. Since the introduction of the Pink Line, which operates on the same branch, customers have demonstrated a consistent preference for Pink Line service. Key destinations along the 54th/Cermak branch such as the UIC campus will still be served by the Pink Line, Forest Park Blue Line, #7 Harrison and #38 Ogden/Taylor."

So what's up, Blue Line riders? Have you developed a new passion for Pink?

Posted March 12 - 5:22 p.m

Yesterday, "Going Public" posted the pondering of a rider who -- like several other Green Liners-- were upset that the assistant at their 63rd Street station appeared to be on the chopping block, at least in terms of working at that stop. I checked in with the CTA to get their take on this transit mystery. A beloved customer assistant is almost an anomaly based on most rider feedback...So why move her?

Here's the official answer, as provided by CTA spokeswoman Wanda Taylor when asked if the assistant was being moved:

"Yes, but it is important to note the customer assistant has not lost her job at CTA and will be able to choose another work location. Customer assistants choose their work locations at CTA rail stations based upon the many factors that go into developing the available work schedule, including ridership. CTA’s agreement with the union allows the agency to use a security guard at stations with less than 60 passenger boardings within ½ hour for a period of three hours. The number of boardings at the 63rd King Drive station is such that CTA is choosing to assign a security guard instead of a customer assistant. The customer assistants currently working at the 63rd King Drive station will be able to choose another location based upon their seniority and available work selections during the next selection period."

So South Side Green Line riders, what do you think? Do you think you need the help of an assistant at that stop, and is boarding really as bleak as the CTA has portrayed it at the 63rd stop?

Posted March 12 - 12:13 p.m

An eagle-eyed rider, Nick Romanas of Logan Square, dug up a gem of an article from Wired magazine that outlines how major cities can get their bus service to move faster. Among the highlights from that piece by Alexander Lew, which ran in the Autopia section, were ideas such as reducing time at stopped stations by having riders have their fares better prepared; skipping the schedules and keeping the riders informed by leveraging GPS technology and instituting transit-priority signals as leveraged in L.A., according to Wired. Check out the full list at: Five Steps for Faster Buses (Without Taking Away an Auto Lane)

Well, the CTA appears to be moving toward GPS in lieu of those silly schedules, per their plans to widen next-bus tracker beyond the pilot stage by the end of this month. They are also pushing riders toward the smart cards and Go Lanes for faster bus boarding, though some riders have griped the Chicago Card Plus in particular is flimsy and sometimes subject to go haywire with loaded funds.

But it would be great if the agency could work with the City of Chicago to push for those transit-priority signals, which apparently can switch a traffic light from red to green when buses arrive. Riders, what ideas do you have for making buses move faster?

Posted March 11 - 6:32 p.m

"Going Public" blog action is getting ready to go dark until tomorrow morning, but before I do that, I had to share this amusing e-mail from a freshly signed-up mystery shopper, Freida Murray of Forest Park.  Just check out how she goes through denial, anger and finally acceptance of her CTA-shopping task.  It's almost like the five stages of grief.

"This morning when I was approached about this Mystery Shopper - I said: "Wow, the CTA is really going too far now," but what enraged me more was that your article indicated that employees of the CTA have been part of this "shopper" process for a year. Is that why the stations are still dirty and smelly, trains not on time (what exactly is the schedule), of course it is posted, but...After calming down I realized that if indeed these remarks do NOT go into a "black hole" (RedEye comment), that I can at least say, "I registered, gave an opinion and still nothing has changed," will be a legitimate statement, and not just a rider whining. I await the analytical results (smile)."

Thanks for weighing in Freida, and for all my public transit patrons out there, have a safe trip home.

Posted March 11 - 1:50 p.m

Hullo again.  If you're just joining us, it's the first day of the full-out "Going Public" blog, and I'm jumping from subject to subject like a "Family Guy" episode.  This is a place you can talk about anything CTA-related, so, try and keep up with me, folks! This is just the beginning. Anyhoo:

From time to time, the CTA takes actions that some riders believe belong better in the "Twilight Zone." In all fairness, we don't always know what's going on behind the CTA scenes, but it never hurts to ask. So here's introducing the online cousin of "Going Public's" CTA Mysteries series.

First up: Here's a mystery going on at the Green Line station at 63rd. Several South Side riders wrote in upset because they believe a beloved customer assistant who works the morning shift is being replaced with a guard by the CTA.

Here's an excerpt of one of those e-mails:

"For some reason the CTA wants to take away our CTA personnel in the a.m. and replace her with a "guard". This person really cares about the riders, rain sleet or snow. She's not stuck in the booth, but actually giving out information, mints and passing out late slips when needed. She's making the riders a little happier before going to work or school. Isn't that what CTA wants? She's been with us for years, why change now?" Thanks, Marilyn

"Going Public" has a question out to the CTA on this, and it may take a few days to get an answer, so stay tuned. In between-time, share your mass transit mysteries below.

Posted March 11 - 12:01 p.m

Today's letter of the day is from a Bronzeville rider fed up with goofed up Green Line service.  Kenya Franklin's e-mail embodies the saying that a picture is worth a thousand words, but her points about public transit priorities are pretty damn good, too.  Check it out:

"The first thing the CTA needs to focus on is their service, the buses are fine [and] no one expects luxury from public transportation, but we do expect it to be punctual. I ride the Green Line, I get on at the King Drive stop which is only the second stop of the morning. It has been consistently 10 to 15 minutes late for over a month. Myself and the other riders have complained constantly with no results. I have sent emails and I have made several calls and the trains are still being late. I don’t understand why they were so desperate for funds they want to spend them on superficial things like better-looking buses. More people ride the trains and bused than ever before due to higher gas prices, it would be nice if we knew we could get to work on time for our money."

And here's the photo Kenya attached to punctuate the punctuality problem:

Niiiice, Kenya.

Think you can hang? Send an e-mail to goingpublic@tribune.com and tell me about the good, the bad, the ugly, or just get poetic about public transit. You just might be the (drums, please) "reader letter of the day."

Posted March 11 - 11:32 a.m

Ladies, and some fellas who rock the "guy-liner," you know what it feels like to lose your fave make-up bag. I can still remember the near-panic attack I had earlier this winter when I left a full bag of new MAC makeup in a taxicab. (Shudder)

Ugly memories aside: Can we get a little help for Rebecca Langan of Evanston? Here's her plea about a Purple-Line loss:

"On [March 6] at 9:20 a.m. while riding the Purple Line into the loop, I left a velvet brown cosmetic bag behind. It contains several items (Benefit Brand) and I would love to retrieve it."

If you've seen this brown bag, please post a line or two, so we can figure out how to get it back to Rebecca.

Posted March 10 - 11:18 p.m

You'll see it on buttons worn by employees. You'll see it on train and bus placards. The call: "Be a Mystery Shopper."

The CTA, like Uncle Sam, wants YOU to join its nearly year-old program to surreptitiously evaluate the agency's service from cleanliness to timeliness and fill out surveys for review by top management.

The first 1,000 to sign up even get a freebie in the form of a $2 transit card, as I reported in today's "Going Public," where the CTA exclusively spilled their secret-shopping secrets.

Want in on the action? Visit the CTA's Mystery Shopper micro site if you want to sign up, but do you even want to? Will you join the program in an effort to improve CTA service or do you suspect this info will simply go into a black hole?

Posted by Tracy Swartz- 12:10 p.m., March 3

Finally! CTA officials answered my mental anguish yesterday by announcing they will be installing 60 fare-card vending machines that will accept credit cards or debit cards.

I hate carrying cash almost as much as I despise fumbling through my purse for change at a CTA vending machine. The system seems like a stubborn grandfather unwilling to embrace plastic but happy to carry nickels. I wonder how good a CTA vending machine would look in a Cosby sweater.

If you've got a CTA gripe, tomorrow is your chance to sound off. The Citizens Advisory Board of the CTA is meeting Wednesday at 1 p.m. at 567 W. Lake St. on the second floor. The board, which will allow brief public comments, meets four times a year.

What are some difficulties you wish the CTA would address immediately? What's lower on your CTA wishlist?

Posted by Leonor Vivanco - 3:22 p.m., Monday, March 3

I decided I wouldn't gripe about the CTA system today but instead I'm going to complain about my fellow passengers.

I must ask: where are your manners?

With the rumbling of a Blue Line train possibly approaching the Clark and Lake subway stop, I was nearly knocked down the stairs last week by someone rushing to catch the train, not knowing if it was his or not. A simple, polite "excuse me" would have been nice.

When the crowded train approached a stop, some riders said "out please" and those closest to the door hardly moved. At least, step outside the train to let people get off. Doubt the train will leave you behind.

I eyed a window seat that became available until the rider sitting next to the aisle put her bag in the seat and stretched out her legs. I just rolled my eyes at the thought of asking her to move her stuff and climbing over her legs just to sit for a little while until my stop. Not worth it. And not very considerate of that rider.

Tell us whether you've had similar experiences. What other types of passengers need an etiquette 101 class?