Public transportation is humbling, by which I don’t mean there’s anything lesser about it, but that it reminds you in the best possible way that you’re not the main character of the universe. Even in a world class public transportation system you’re occasionally going to encounter people begging, crying babies, people talking loudly or emoting, people wearing outfits you may consider weird, body odor, delays and inconveniences. I’m not saying you need to put up with straight up harassment or anything like that, but you need to accept that the world exists outside of you. If your entire world is your workplace, your car and your nuclear family, that is going to impact your politics and your perspective. It’s no wonder so much of the US is designed to this exact end, and how so many suburban Americans who value comfort and convenience over all else are losing their damn minds. The US is an international embarrassment when it comes to transit, but even in sophisticated networks you still have to share a space with other human beings and you need to act like an adult about it.
MS World Discoverer was a German expedition cruise ship. It hit an uncharted reef in the Sandfly Passage 29. April 2000. The hole was too big to get it repaired on the spot, so all the guests were taken ashore. A few hours later the captain ran the ship full speed on ground in Rodrick bay. (via sv_manjana)
