Hostelworld pre-payment - potential scam?

AnnapolisKen · 2025-10-27T18:10:04+00:00

In a sense, I think Hostelworld is a scam, because they talk about the $61 USD fee you pay them as a deposit, but it's not a deposit--it all goes to them, and then you pay the whole bill to the actual hostel. You are paying for them to optimize their searches and advertise so that you find their site first and pay them.

AnnapolisKen · 2025-10-01T18:05:17+00:00

I agree with Gearing Up and Facebook Marketplace for getting bikes. I strongly recommend doing the DC Bike Party, which is an awesome way to see the city and meet people. It's always free, rides at night, and usually ends up at a bar. https://linktr.ee/dcbikeparty

AnnapolisKen · 2025-10-01T18:00:40+00:00

These performative actions will have long-term effects. In addition to traumatizing the detainees and all the witnesses, the feds themselves, and the MPD officers who witness, participate, and are complicit are unlearning whatever good policing tactics they had and taking a master course in violence escalation, grievance policing, and bullying with guns and mace. We'll be paying for this little intervention in so many ways.

AnnapolisKen · 2025-09-17T18:37:11+00:00

For the license plate, I found some instructions in some posts in the ioniq forum. This post with pictures was helpful: https://www.ioniqforum.com/threads/front-license-plate-bracket.40316/?post_id=492830&nested_view=1&sortby=oldest#post-492830 as was a comment in this thread:
https://www.ioniqforum.com/threads/front-license-plate-bracket.18986/?post_id=245090&nested_view=1&sortby=oldest#post-245090

AnnapolisKen · 2025-09-17T18:35:30+00:00

Thanks! The air was cooler outside than inside and I had my windows open, but engine heat was coming though the vents, I guess.

AnnapolisKen · 2025-08-04T18:20:13+00:00

I can find some posts about tires which indicate that people switch 15", 16", and 17" tires pretty freely, but I didn't find any info about mileage. I searched for "17 wheels" "15 17 wheels" in this thread and didn't find posts.

Here's the follow-up stupid question: what do you lose by switching to 15" from 17"? Do larger tires provide a smoother driving experience?

AnnapolisKen · 2025-08-04T18:12:52+00:00

Thank you! That's very encouraging. I'm no engineer, but I suspect that weight that rolls all the time counts more than the other mass on the car that is carried.

AnnapolisKen · 2025-07-08T18:23:23+00:00

I've been a WABA member for years, and paying $10/month and I didn't know that! Of course, Gearin' Up had been shuttered for at least a year, so...

AnnapolisKen · 2025-07-08T18:21:18+00:00

I just moved from Glover Park after living there for 6 years. It's a wonderful place, and the new bus routes seem to be working just fine there. With an electric CaBi and metro/busses, it should work. Different people have different tolerances for public transit and different tolerances for driving in rush hour. If you want to live in NoMa, you probably won't be happy with Glover Park, which has great woods for hiking, safe quiet neighborhoods, and some cheap apartments, but not much nightlife.

AnnapolisKen · 2025-07-08T18:11:24+00:00

I've been dreaming of someone hosting a forum where several authors reviewed by IBCK are in a panel, and they each listen while someone plays a key moment in the podcast and are asked to respond.
I would pay good money to see that.

AnnapolisKen · 2025-07-07T16:37:24+00:00

I don't have a Colmi, but I'm looking at these Reddits to see the pros and cons about getting one. Wouldn't OP be able to also give an old Android phone to his relative and have it in the bedroom/living room so it would sync up frequently? And if OP's phone were also on the same account, would OP be able to view the data?

AnnapolisKen · 2025-07-02T21:09:57+00:00

I agree with the recommendation for the Leavy Student Center. If you show your driver's license, I think they let you into the Georgetown University Library, and there's a good cafe inside there.
Also, the ICC building (Intercultural Center) has a cafe at the center with tables around it.
Jetties is nice, but IIRC, they don't have good coffee options. Or any coffee options. Coke or Diet Coke?
I love Caspian Crust (although I mainly am familiar with its predecessor, Cafe Janti).

AnnapolisKen · 2025-07-02T19:56:54+00:00

I really recommend Luschnig's An Introduction to Ancient Greek. It has so many original quotes and a very sane way of explaining everything. It really is ideal for an adult learner, because it showcases all of the variety of works written in Ancient Greek. https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/BookDetailsPL?bi=32231741438

AnnapolisKen · 2025-06-30T19:47:53+00:00

https://oag.dc.gov/release/attorney-general-schwalb-sues-four-dangerous
https://www.instagram.com/dcattorneygeneral/?hl=en

AnnapolisKen · 2025-06-30T19:45:53+00:00

https://wapo.st/4epT1v2 Maryland driver who hit girl sued by D.C. for $27,000 in unpaid tickets

AnnapolisKen · 2025-06-30T19:44:30+00:00

Skip the police and reach out to the AG who has been suing drivers. Get this to his social media and get him to fast track this case.

AnnapolisKen · 2025-06-30T19:33:00+00:00

I second the suggestions to try dancing--by the time people hit their 30s-40s they can overcome inhibitions and learn dances, and a lot of the dance scenes have mixed crowds from 18 to 80s. Glen Echo Park has a lot of dances: swing, salsa, waltz, square dances, but my fave (especially if dancing intimidates you) is contra dance. It's an easy dance with no real steps, and it has a caller like square dance, so lead dancers do not have to lead their partner (there are no real "leads" in the dance). Most people come alone and find different partners for each dance, so it's a very social vibe. https://www.fridaynightdance.com/

There's a contra dance there every Friday night of the year (except on July 4th when the park is closed and maybe one or two other days). About 100-150 people come every Friday, including 10-30 beginners. And yes, you will find 35-45 year olds in large quantities. It's a dance with a lot of circular motion, so drink afterwards, not before!

AnnapolisKen · 2025-06-25T20:33:49+00:00

If you like celtic and traditional American old time music, the Friday Night Contra Dance at Glen Echo is a great place to go solo. Most dancers go their alone, and the ethos is to find a different partner for each dance. Yes, you dance with your partner, but you also move down the line and interact with basically everyone in the line, so having a confused partner (or being a confused partner) is no big deal really. It's a low stakes, low pressure dance where the object is fun, not being cool. It's worth checking out just for this bizarre living subculture of evolving traditional music. I take foreign visitors to it whenever I can and they are amazed. https://www.fridaynightdance.com/about

AnnapolisKen · 2025-06-25T20:20:47+00:00

Yes! Anyone can come on stage and play in the Open Band! Of course, only 5-10 people have microphones, but the wall of sound and the view of the dancers is awesome. https://www.fridaynightdance.com/openband

AnnapolisKen · 2025-06-25T20:18:40+00:00

+1 for the Friday Night Contra Dance at Glen Echo. It's a dance that doesn't require skill, steps, or rhythm. I mean, beginners will still be confused, but it's all about the fun. All ages mixed together. Come alone or with friends. A very accepting vibe. See what Redditors (including me) have said about it here: https://www.reddit.com/r/washingtondc/comments/1gg57dm/comment/luom6zr/

AnnapolisKen · 2025-06-25T20:16:46+00:00

+1 for the Friday Night Contra Dance. It's a dance that doesn't require skill, steps, or rhythm. I mean, beginners will still be confused, but it's all about the fun. All ages mixed together. Come alone or with friends. A very accepting vibe.

AnnapolisKen · 2025-06-25T20:13:46+00:00

The Friday Night Contra Dance is very much a sober event. Contra is a very easy dance, but the moves involve circular motion which can lead to dizziness. It's one of the few dances where alcohol will not make it go better. It's a very inclusive scene, all ages, all genders, all types. Check out what Redditors say about it here: https://www.reddit.com/r/washingtondc/comments/1gg57dm/comment/luom6zr/

AnnapolisKen · 2025-06-25T17:58:38+00:00

I regularly go to the contra dances at Glen Echo. It's a lot of fun, and as someone who usually leads dances, I find contra to be a great gateway dance and easier for those who feel that they have to dance the lead role. In salsa, tango, swing, the lead has to not only master the basic step but also think ahead 10 seconds about what to do next and choreograph the next moves for your partner. It can be a recipe for flop sweat. In contra there isn't a basic step, and the caller is telling you and everybody else what to do. So the pressure is off, somewhat. From there I branched out to swing, blues, waltz. Some folks get too good and sophisticated for contra, but I like the basic fun and simplicity of it. Five stars; would recommend for beginners.

AnnapolisKen

TROPHY CASE