The Big Deuce

Mike decompresses aboard the 2 bus in Columbus, Ohio, during the after-work rush.

Good evening, everyone! It’s Mike George, live from the 2 bus, affectionately known as "The Big Deuce," during the rush-hour evening commute. It is Thursday, 9 January 2025, at precisely 5:00 pm EST, here in Columbus, Ohio, USA.

If you’re just joining us for the new year, welcome to 2025 AD in one of the many non-Oprah universes out there!

This bus is absolutely packed tonight. It’s full of the God-fearing young professional folks and/or college students and/or general daytime hustlers returning home after a beautiful day. Because it’s so crowded, I don't have my usual windowsill spot to lay down WANDA, so I have to keep it wedged right here between my legs.

It was cold out this morning, but I like to think the cold, brisk air helps flush away the stink from the recent New Year’s shenanigans — whatever stink can survive in this type of weather, I suppose.

I don’t often broadcast live from aboard a moving COTA bus. Given my lack of ability to multitask and stay on topic during this wandering show, I figured I would just give myself one less opportunity to mess up by getting on the bus ahead of time and just letting the magical world of COTA guide me along the magic carpet ride of "The Big Deuce.”

We are presently in the Short North area, and while gazing out at all this new construction, I’m starting to finally see the necessary culture change in the attitudes of the downtown folks regarding transit and car dependency.

We live in a beautiful city. Even these new high-rise concoctions, these "Ikea buildings" that are going up, they actually put in some effort to make them not completely hideous. I really appreciate the nice contrast against the brick when they tastefully match the old traditional architecture with the modern minimalist styles chosen in today’s era.

We just passed over Interstate 670, wonderfully masked beneath the bougie restaurants here.

But I have to reflect on good old Union Station. It's not the way it used to be. They did the dishonor of taking away the "station" moniker, referencing the train station that no longer exists here in Columbus, which effectively makes us the largest city in the United States without rail service in the year 2025. That's the future, everybody.

Now, I didn't really come on here with anything specific to talk about. I mean, the big highlight this week was defeating Parking Garage Karen a couple of broadcasts ago and discovering her secret identity…

But come on, guys, I need some audience participation! Let this not be just another cliche monologue of mine, spitballing from one of my many soapboxes. Since you've been so quiet, I guess I'll do all the talking. Today is just another day on the COTA bus, and given the uncertain nature of the world, we can be thankful for this relatively mundane ride home.

I’m going to get the hell off here so I can enjoy the rest of my commute home without y’all bugging me. This is Mike George, coming at you live from Columbus, Ohio, on this Thursday afternoon, 9 January 2025. Take care of yourselves, and take care of somebody else.