HEAVY BASS IN MOUNT BAKER
You were at the Mount Baker Transit Center apparently waiting for the 7 bus, which, as always, was late. Ten or so other people were standing around doing the usual things (Facebook, Instagram, texting), but you were doing something totally new. From the green military-style belt that barely held up your sagging baggy pants there swung a charcoal-black UE Megaboom speaker. A carabiner, like rock climbers use, attached this speaker to your belt, and the wireless technology of Bluetooth connected the speaker to the music on your smartphone. You were blasting a very bass-heavy rap track. Usually, playing music out loud is nothing but a public nuisance—it’s just common decency to use earphones—but the sight of the thick, circular speaker dangling near your crotch was such a new thing that we were more fascinated than irritated. Finally our bus arrived (actually, two 7s arrived at the same time), and you somehow disappeared. Where did you go with your sick belt of beats?…