Amen to Amenities

Welcome back to Concourse H everyone. I have been busy enjoying my summer with some beach trips and overall laziness....

Recently I have been thinking about the various things in my life that I love - those actions that I go through where I say to myself "Oh, my gosh, I love that this is in my life". It may be something technological, it may be something super basic, but it still has got me thinking. I really love certain amenities and I would be sad if they were never invented. And of course, what types of amenities do I need invented to make my life easier....

Here are some of the amenities that I just absolutely love:

1. The individual TVs in the back of the seats on airplanes. A particular nod goes to the Air Canada system that is on their newer planes. When I fly from Toronto to Washington National, I just think that this is the best thing in the world. Touch screen - Watch the office - watch a movie - watch an educational program, etc. Rumor is the new Virgin America system is quite nice as well.
   
   
2. The online reservation system and catalog at the public library. (and as a backup for this one, the print option from Borders kiosks) I love this because I can get lost in Borders sometimes and easily want to buy a billion books, but I usually just print out the book and go back and search the library for it. Exceptions involve aviation related books, Harry Potter and my favorite authors - those books get bought...Thumbs down however on the library only really having hardback books - not easy for the metro commute.
   
   
3. My Bose Ipod speaker - I have a full stereo that takes up much less room. Thumbs down on the Bose speaker remote however which for some reason you need to do a full rhythmic gymastics routine or press so hard you get an aneurism to get it to work. And yes, I have checked the batteries.
   
   
4. New Balance workout shorts - Available at all sports related retailers. I love to run on the treadmill and for some reasons these shorts are the best out there. I won't go into all of the details but these don't make you feel like you are pulling your shorts back into place every two minutes. Enough said.
   


5. The 15 second button on my remote control - For those moments when you think you didn't hear something correctly on your favorite show or in the case of the Sopranos -the screen goes blank. This button is awesome.
   


6. My new sink which has a extendable handle and the ability to change from single stream to shower coverage. I love it - one day I was trying to mandhandle the Brita into the sink when I realized I could leave it on the counter and alas, the sink would come to me. I was so excited I think I actually cheered out loud...simple pleasures.

So on to the amenities that I would like to see invented in the not-to-distant future:

1. A full fledged system in movie theatres where patrons can easily press a button and people who are talking on their cell phones, or are bringing 2 year old babies into an R rated thriller or people who are slurping their sodas and munching on their popcorn in front of me (or candy, ugh!) are immediately forced out of a movie. I actually heard a rumor that this was being tested in some theatre chains. Where is it and how can I participate? Those of you who watched me suffer during a very bad Rumor Has It experience understand my plight.
   


2. As a side note to #1 above, some sort of concert democracy controlled system could be introduced where if you are in the part of the concert venue with seats and everyone is sitting down during a slow song and two idiots feel like its time to introduce their drug induced interpretive dance to everyone - the masses would be able to all get a text and announce a time where everyone in unison would say "Sit the H*ll down now!"
   


3. In homage to my wife, I know she would like to see a mandatory system at metro farecard checks where if you don't get your card out in time, or you show clear signs of not understanding the system, you are levitated upwards and moved to the back of the line where the ExitFare machines are. Perhaps Karyn could lead the R&D on this one.
   


4. The "Weather-on-the-watch" system where if the skies are turning grey and I really need to just get to the metro or walk the quick distance home from the metro - I could look at my watch and it would say "2 minutes to precipitation - book it Mister!" Or "Drizzle only, walk at leisurely pace" or "Grab a newspaper now because you need something to cover your head - we are about to blow!"

So there they are. I have to say amenities are awesome. They add that special level of satisfaction in my daily routine. Without them, I would definitely be sad...

And yes, I did leave out my DVR and iPod, but don't think for a minute that they aren't cherished as well.