I would like to create either a podcast or a program that sends the user text messages of "muni stories". I have not yet decided whether it would be visual (by reading through text messages) or vocal (by hearing through the podcast), depending on the type of research that I collect and how I choose to present the collected data. On every Muni bus, there are several slots that say "please take one" where I assume Muni information used to be supplied. However, I plan to fill each slot, on various lines of buses throughout the city, with flyers that encourage the reader to send their stories and adventures from the Muni to an email address which I will create specifically for this project. The idea is to create a connection within the user's fellow passengers through the idea of memories, whether they be funny conversations that were once overheard or a bum fight that was witnessed, encouraging a conceptual rather than emotional connection between passengers.

11/6 updated powerpoint: http://inyourpocket.pbwiki.com/f/karly.ppt

11/28: i have collected about 6 voicemails now, and about 3 text messages. my goal is to have around 10 messages in total, roughly 2 minutes each. the voicemails i plan to record on garageband podcast maker (and have my phone on speaker phone), and those that i receive in writing (by email or text message) i plan to read outloud, or have friends read (in order to have an array of different voices)

i also plan to make a craigslist posting (which i will post the link to when it is created) for additional voices/stories from the city.

the tour will be conducted by a map that will be handed out to the participants, in which they will visit different bus stops where i have posted the stickers around the school.

---------- CRAIGSLIST POSTING: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/com/241313195.html ----------

hopefully this posting will open up new doors as far as responses go..

---edit: sticker that was posted:

edit: i talked to a lot of my friends (who all have wacky stories to share), thus i have them to fall back on if i am not satisfied with the ones i collect through voicemail/text/email.

edit: craigslist has once again proved itself-- i have surprisingly already recieved a number of responses. some are downright hilarious, and others have this undertone of immense depression, but none-the-less it was great to see how in-detail the responses are-- i even got a response in form of a poem!-- it's also nice to find out i'm not the only one hiding behind a book and ipod that secretly is taking note of the bizarre happenings around me.. also, some of them come from the bus lines i ride on every day (the Geary 38 and the Van Ness 47, which are always pretty crowded), so i almost wish the responses weren't anonymous (although from now on i will be more aware of my fellow observors)

i don't want to spoil anything, but here's one example i'll definitely be using, from a 25 year-old volunteer worker:

"Recently, I witnessed an exchange last week on the 5 Fulton, headed downtown. We all know that the first seats are reserved for the elderly and the handicapped. We also all know that able-bodied youngins, by law, have to give up their seats for aforementioned elderly and handicapped folk. Most people I have encountered do this willingly. But on this particularily crowded 5, where no available seats remained, an old man got on the bus and began shouting at the lady sitting in the first seat. The rather hilarious but exceedingly sad exchange:

"Give me your seat! I need your seat!"

"But I'm handicapped!" (She did indeed have a cane.)

"I'm handicapped, too! I'm 84 years old! Give me your seat!!" 

"I'm handicapped! I have to sit here!"

"I'm handicapped, too! I'm 84 years old! That's a handicap!! Give me your seat!!"

At this point, more than a few people jumped up and offered the man their seats (yours truly not included--i was already standing) but the man wouldn't give up. 

"I want her seat! I want this seat right there and I am 84 years old! I deserve this seat! I am handicapped!" 

In the end, the driver made this irate and "handicapped" 84-year-old sit in the seat behind him, and told him to put a lid on it. This is why I love MUNI drivers. They don't take crap from people. They are like the hall monitors of my commuting life...."

... the others go as far as a homeless man hijacking the bus while the drivers were switching.. smoking drugs on the bus.. a rather smelly man who overdosed (that one happened to me!), etc

dec 4- have been having trouble with recording, etc. but things will come together before class

dec 6- link to final FINAL page: http://inyourpocket.pbwiki.com/the-muni-chronicles