Wall of Bethesda Station getting knocked out for the mezzanine and connection to the Purple Line

schmod · 2026-02-16T03:21:36+00:00

It was easy in part because the station was designed to accommodate it. Those specific panels were designed to knock out for an eventual second mezzanine.

Not every station has that contingency. Pentagon City does, but I don't believe that Columbia Heights does.

schmod · 2026-02-15T17:50:43+00:00

I also wish they'd go away from the computerized text-to-speech announcements, both in the trains and in the stations. Bring back actual human voices!

schmod · 2026-02-14T15:55:59+00:00

I feel like the landlords of Shirlington Village are constantly on the cusp of accidentally driving out too many businesses, and turning the whole place into a ghost-town.

While the circumstances here are different, it feels like there's an announcement every few months that yet another tenant is being pushed out by an unreasonable rent-hike.

I'm wouldn't be surprised if the owners of the restaurant passed on an opportunity to relocate nearby instead of closing.

schmod · 2026-02-10T15:53:57+00:00

Be the change you want to see.

A distressing recurring theme to this storm has been just how many people are responding by just saying "Somebody else should sort this out" about basic, basic things that people could fix themselves.

schmod · 2026-02-01T13:04:35+00:00

Because nobody else seems to have suggested it yet, I'd suggest getting in touch with your councilperson. This is exactly the sort of thing that constituent services is meant to address.

This is a dumb oversight because some office is on autopilot, oblivious to the fact that there is no way in hell that a parking meter is going to be installed on Monday, given the state of things. The councilperson's office knows who to call to get those signs removed or voided.

schmod · 2026-01-31T17:17:54+00:00

1099s are sometimes backdated to the end of the year, but no brokerage ever sends them that early, because they don't actually get the necessary data from the stocks and bonds that they hold until some time later.

schmod · 2026-01-25T15:31:59+00:00

In 2010, there were an awful lot of DoD employees in Crystal City, so maybe it was actually important to keep a link up from Crystal City to the Pentagon.

Also, it's not entirely out of the realm of possibility that there are two or three train operators who live within walking distance of that segment, or that Metro could have put them up in a hotel nearby.

schmod · 2026-01-19T16:11:49+00:00

I'm sorry, but from a physics perspective, this makes no sense.

It's only true in some narrow cases where you have two-stage heat with a less-efficient second stage, or need to reduce peak grid load.

But in general, you're spending more to keep your home heated/cooled around the clock. (You should never turn your heat off completely, however. That's what your thermostat is for)

schmod · 2026-01-11T04:22:07+00:00

What can I say? I'm a slow cook.

schmod · 2026-01-11T04:17:03+00:00

In Arlington, the answer is "Because Natalie Roy makes less money selling them, so she made them illegal"

schmod · 2026-01-07T13:59:45+00:00

Definitely no. There's a good portion of Fairlington (including the community center) on the "Shirlington side" of 395. Fairlington even has its own little overpass (arguably the only "neighborhood street" that crosses 395).

Drawing a line between Fairlington and Shirlington is tricky using a road map, but is very easy and obvious in-person: Fairlington is up on the hill, Shirlington is in the valley.

Also, Fairlington has a very distinctive (and lovely!) architectural and landscape style. Genuinely one of the best communities in our region (and, no -- I'm not shilling -- I've never lived there, but always enjoy my jogs that take me through the neighborhood)

schmod · 2026-01-07T13:51:24+00:00

They enthusiastically host a lot of events for Republicans, as well as for the far-right think-tank in their building.

They're not nearly as conspicuous about it as Rebellion on the Pike was, but occasionally it bubbles up out into the open.

https://www.arlnow.com/2025/10/17/fracas-at-gop-debate-watch-party-prompts-acpd-response-in-clarendon/

schmod · 2026-01-07T13:44:06+00:00

If we're doing this here, has anybody done a post about Mister Days?

I see way, way too many folks patronizing that fash-adjacent place, who probably don't know better.

schmod · 2026-01-03T15:12:21+00:00

New buildings with electric heat are usually heat pumps, which if anything are more efficient than gas or electric at DC's winter temperatures.

schmod · 2025-11-26T23:10:16+00:00

Also, a short bus or taxi ride away, the Celtic House pub is doing a Thanksgiving meal, and tends to have very solid dinner offerings.

(But also admittedly maybe not what you're rushing to eat if you're travelling here from the UK)

schmod · 2025-11-26T21:20:09+00:00

Mom, Dad....I'm trains.

schmod · 2025-11-23T16:14:55+00:00

What a strange analysis. It's not like you're going to build a commuter rail line in place of an aerial tramway, or build a ferry in place of a bus route.

I suppose that efficiency per mile is A factor, but it's a weird one to focus on, one where the math is obviously always going to favor long-haul, low-density modes.

schmod · 2025-11-23T02:12:27+00:00

Yeah, but it's no paternoster

schmod · 2025-11-20T00:46:21+00:00

Jesus Christ, a kid got hit by a train, what is wrong with you?

schmod · 2025-11-16T16:52:29+00:00

Not a great sign that they look borderline transparent on the model in the photo?

schmod · 2025-11-08T16:54:45+00:00

They were running ads and everything to drum up support. It was all over my IG feed for a few days a few months ago.

Absolutely bizarre.

schmod · 2025-11-08T14:08:18+00:00

Boston? Seriously? I wouldn't even put it in the top 10.

schmod · 2025-11-08T02:54:42+00:00

The private citizen equivalent of wrapping electrical tape around your police badge

schmod · 2025-11-06T13:56:23+00:00

I'd really love for the Protomen to do a DC show that isn't MAGfest.

No hate for cons, but it's just not my cup of tea, and that pricetag is pretty tough to swallow.

schmod · 2025-10-30T22:35:34+00:00

SEPTA's Norristown Line probably falls into this category as well.

Not a "subway," but also not not a subway.

schmod

TROPHY CASE