Thoughts on a Subway

Being a fast walker is almost a burden in New York City. I'll be walking along, and my thoughts will be interrupted because there's a person in front of me that just isn't moving. Then I have to awkwardly walk around them.... It's kind of neat how crowds sometimes work themselves out. For example, on the escalator, there's a spontaneous convention that people who want to walk up the elevator go on the left, and people who want to stand go on the right. Does this come from fast lanes on the highway? I love walking next to the trains as they rush by. I have already helped several people with directions on the subway. Mostly I can do it because I've just figured everything out, so the difficulties are fresh on my mind. In one of the stations, to distinguish the letters, the announcer (who is so good that she sounds like a recording) says "A as in apple", "C as in Charlie", and "D as in delta". The subway service is okay. Sometimes it's impossible to determine which train to get on, and you just have to try your luck. Also the trains and station are fairly dirty. Often times a train will be delayed. I'm pretty sure the free market could do better. But it definitely gets me around well enough. One day there were so many white people in the subway station that I concluded that they must be in a group. And they were. It was interesting that their style of interaction rang familiar, probably only noticeable because I haven't seen it in so long. I'm definitely a minority here. And they just seemed... happier.

I'm still being surprised at how late and early things open and close. I was up at 8 and didn't think I needed to check if the library would be open. I also learned that free nights at the museums are popular. I got to the Museum of Modern Art .5 hours after free night started, and there was a line halfway down the block. They had barriers specifically for the free-night line.

More thoughts on the subway:
If the American economy is going to collapse, most production is futile. Some production which is not futile:
1) Spreading the correct philosophy as much as possible. This writing or influence on minds cannot be lost as easily, and is extremely valuable.
2) Scientific research. In this great age of information, I do not believe important research will be lost, even in an economic collapse. At least I would know it, and would be able to spread it then.

-Alex Powell