ypsi~dixit

I like the bell. I noticed it yesterday. It's kind of nostalgic--sounds like the mechanical one of my youth. I'm so glad they've mostly done away with those yellow push strips and buttons to signal. Especially on The LINK, the lag time always caused me to push the button, like, four times before it registered. Pulling the cord is just more satisfying somehow.

I hate the bus voice, tho -- she sounds so petulant: "Stap reQUESTed!" And why does the scrolling marquee only say "stop request" and not "stop requested?" The inconsistency bugs me.

It's so weird to have feelings about stuff like this.

Must say that I really do not like the "bell." I feel like I'm in a Rice a Roni commercial every time I hear it.

Ypsidixit has considered all sides of the Bell Question and has mixed feelings.

On the one hand, it evokes the Ypsi-Ann Arbor streetcars of my youth.

On the other hand, it's tinny enough to remind you that it's NOT a real bell. The dingy kind. The real metal kind. It's just another recording, yet another example of simulacra in our lives instead of the real thing. That's mildly depressing.

On yet another hand, it's ever so more easy on the ear than the ear-splitting "BING.......BONG." Boy, was that irritating. They still have the Bing-Bong for the other announcements, though--although it seems to have been turned down a tad, at least on this morning's #4.

Bus Lady *does* sound petulant. The bus is a strange zone of concocted formality. You can't eat. Get shushed for nasty talk. Adjectives migrate behind words.

I have to laugh at Katy's "Rice a Roni" comment (snort!) Does sound like that.

And why does the scrolling marquee only say "stop request" and not "stop requested?" The inconsistency bugs me.

Why, indeed? You're right. They changed the marquee; it used to say "stop requested"--seems like they haven't changed the recording yet.

And I still wanna know how the BusPhone works. Can't we use that technology somehow for low-cost local phone networks?

Not a huge fan.

It seems to be on some of the #4s and not on others. I'm not a huge fan, either. Too gimmicky. The bing bong was fine...if about 200 decibels too strident.