How Technology Has Made Living in New York City So Much Easier (Or Has It?)

You know, it used to be that living in New York City required a certain ruggedness, a kind of fortitude that could only be developed after surviving a few seasons of “Cagney & Lacey” or “Law and Order” reruns and maybe a brief but memorable encounter with a pigeon who knew exactly how to ruin your lunch. But today? Oh, today, technology has come to our rescue, making the torturous, soul-crushing experience of urban existence just a little bit more bearable. Or at least that’s what they tell me.

1. The Subway — From Hell to… Slightly Less Hell

Let’s start with the subway, the lifeblood of New York. I don’t know if you’ve ever been trapped in a train car that stops in a tunnel for 20 minutes, but I assure you, that’s the kind of experience that makes you believe in both the absurdity of existence and the necessity of daily therapy. But now, thanks to technology, things are looking up!

Take the MTA’s app — it’s like a divine intervention. With real-time tracking, you can finally see the trains you’ve been waiting for. It’s like knowing exactly when the torturer will strike, but at least there’s some comfort in knowing that the subway delays have been scientifically quantified. “Oh, the N train is late? That’s fine. It’s just a 13-minute…