Ba da ba bop be dop bop ba da

[venta]

I remember, I remember, back in the day, when laptops were things to be marvelled at. Anyone on a train with a laptop computer would find people looking, pointing, maybe trying to sneak a glimpse at the wondrous machine.

It's still occasionally noticeable today. The first people on the tube with PSPs, the first people out in public with iPhones, they each drew their share of admiring, interested, or envious glances. They were commentworthy.

Yesterday, for the first time ever, I noticed it happening to me. Passengers on the train cast furtive glances when they thought I wasn't looking. Someone drew a friend's attention. Another traveller peered over my shoulder for a better look.

I was reading a hand-written letter.

Comments

[stegzy.livejournal.com]

Very retro. I'm sure it will catch on ;-)

[d-floorlandmine.livejournal.com]

"$5 to look at the literate freak!"

[venta.livejournal.com]

Heh. Maybe I'll get that on a t-shirt :)

[d-floorlandmine.livejournal.com]

Excellent!

[rosenkavalier.livejournal.com]

I get very odd looks if I sew on the train.

[venta.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I'm curious whether that's down to your not being female, or whether anyone sewing while on a train would get odd looks.

Do we have any other data points?

[rosenkavalier.livejournal.com]

I'd wondered the same. It certainly seems to get more attention than people (mostly women) who are knitting, but I don't know if this is simply because knitting in public spaces seems to be rather more common than sewing.

[ylla.livejournal.com]

The last time I was sewing on a train I did, but I was taking up the hem of a very full skirted long white dress, so I think it was just a bit incongruous.

[phlebas.livejournal.com]

Were you wearing it at the time?

[ylla.livejournal.com]

No. But I think the odd looks may have been more for the amount of white dress and net spread all over the place than for the act of sewing :)

W1A 1AA

[addedentry.livejournal.com]

On Radio 2 this morning (not my fault), Chris Evans (not my fault either) commented on the novelty, or rather oldelty, of having received a letter addressed to the studio. He was moved to give out the BBC's postal address rather than his email address, just like Blue Peter.

Re: W1A 1AA

[d-floorlandmine.livejournal.com]

That's because the fans he's inherited don't necessarily hold with these modern ideas. Like the end of Empire, and suchlike ...

[deeteeuk.livejournal.com]

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2009/3/9/

[d-floorlandmine.livejournal.com]

Brilliant!