Maytag Repairman, Meet The Apple Security Guard

On Saturday night I was returning to my hotel room after the Camac St. block party, part of my softball weekend. I was staying at the Sheraton at 17th and Race. Walking along Walnut St. towards 17th, I passed by the Apple store that opened up a few months ago. I couldn't help but notice it was rather bright inside the store. For a moment I thought it was open. Then I saw that it wasn't, obviously, and I noticed the one person who was inside -- the security guard. Playing around with an iPad. Now that's a job for me...if you can guarantee no one would ever try to break in and shoot me in a robbery attempt, that is.

It was a pretty fun weekend, although our team lost 4 out of 5 games -- we went 1-2 in the round-robin portion on Saturday, then lost twice more (once Saturday, once Sunday morning).

A few more odd pictures. Well, the first two pictures aren't odd, but the reason I took them is.

This is, as you can see, Suburban Station. All SEPTA Regional Rail trains pass through here (the train platforms themselves are actually underground). So you'd think it's quite a busy place.

Busy enough, in fact, that you'd think the doors would be open for anyone trying to catch a train.

You'd be wrong. At least on Sunday.

Shirtless Thugs?

On Friday afternoon, with the 69-degree temperature tying the record high for the date, I decided to get some fresh air and sunshine, and went downtown. I decided to head towards Boathouse Row (via the Schuylkill River Trails), because there are plenty of people there jogging, riding bikes or, like me, strolling. And I figured a few guys might not be wearing shirts. Sure enough, there were a few very nice sights. However, I also found a weird message spray-painted on this wall.

These pictures were taken on a rather steep path that leads up from the Schuylkill River Trail towards the pavilion and gazebo that both sit on the cliff at the back end of the Art Museum.

I find myself wondering about the meaning of the message. Was there a recent crime spree in the area and the crooks were bare-chested? Or is this a comment on the many joggers and bike riders on the trails along the river? Perhaps some of them have bad attitudes and yell at slower-moving pedestrians or parents pushing strollers? I know I had to be aware at times of someone coming up behind me quickly. If I had made a sudden move they might have run right into me.

Anyway, after the jump you'll find a few more pictures I took. (None are of shirtless men, thugs or otherwise.)