definitions: WIN and FAIL

For the layperson who still might not have noticed the lingual-drift that’s caused these two words to mean so much more than we ever learned growing up, here’s are some helpful current real-world examples.

1. This is made of WIN

For the month of September, Ben & Jerry’s is changing the name of their longstanding flavor Chubby Hubby to Hubby Hubby to celebrate Vermont’s recognition of marriage equality.

In partnership with Freedom to Marry, Ben & Jerry’s aims to raise awareness of the importance of marriage equality and, to show its support, will serve “Hubby Hubby” sundaes in Vermont Scoop Shops throughout the month of September.

I don’t know if the flavor will make it into stores, the event-related or location-specific ones rarely make it out of the target area, but it’s still pretty cool. So… who’s planning the road trip to a VT scoop shop? 🙂

2. This would be considered Metro FAIL

From 9:30pm 9/4 through closing on 9/7, WMATA/Metro is closing down three stations along the Yellow & Blue lines in Virginia.

Metrorail riders in Virginia who are planning to ride the Blue or Yellow lines will need to transfer to a free shuttle bus if they want to pass through Pentagon City, Crystal City or the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport Metrorail stations from 9:30 p.m., Friday, Sept. 4, through closing (midnight), Monday, Sept. 7.

Way, way down at the bottom of the press release, it’s mentioned that Metro’s Trip Planner will not reflect these station closings, but so few people seem to get good results from that site anyway. Still, for those that do, it would be nice to know in advance that both the airport and major shopping mall stations won’t be running except by shuttle. From the Washington Post:

Shuttle bus service will be provided around the closed stations, but passengers should add 30 to 45 minutes of travel time to and from the airport “or they should consider using alternate transportation to the airport,” said Metro spokesman Steven Taubenkibel.

I’ve only experienced metro’s shuttle buses late at night when they’re packed to the gills with–often drunk–suburbanites trying to get into DC for more partying, and that’s only been to skip a single closed station. With the potential travel and shopping crush this weekend, I don’t know if I want to be anywhere near that area. I’m sure the retail around Pentagon City isn’t pleased, but I’ll bet DCA cabdrivers are very happy! 😛

Gonna be a heck of a holiday weekend, that’s for sure. My friend Bill suspects that someone at Metro is a bit like the Vogon captain from The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy:

…we are about to jump into hyperspace for the journey to Barnard Star. On arrival we will stay in dock for a seventy-two hour refit and no one’s to leave the ship during that time! I repeat, all planet leave is canceled! I’ve just had an unhappy love affair. So I don’t see why anyone else should have a good time.