»A few words on the subway

While riding the rush-hour subway northwards a few evenings ago, I overheard a few medical students talking about how they would rather be in a car, or on the shuttle, but the subway was faster. As we progressed northerly, more and more people crowded in to the carriage, and the medicos pressed together, joking about how tight the space was becoming. One asked another about a syndrome in which people derive physical pleasure from pressing up against others in crowded area, and pronounced it "frawternize", somewhat along the lines of "fraternize" but distinctly different in its first syllable. I could not find references to the word online, and wonder if the M.D. wasn't joking for the sake of eavesdroppers, but am curious.

The MTA announced its trip planner, which looks a sight nicer than HopStop, and is speedy.