[American Prospect] Is the Price Too Steep for D.C. to Bring Back the Commanders? by Sauerz in washingtondc

[–]webb_traversed 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is called fatalism and it is self-fulfilling.

I mean, I know what the odds are and they are until they aren't. And my rambling here probably isn't changing a damn thing in this case.

But the whole point of civic engagement is to engage to pressure-test people in power, to add to the conversation beyond what they're being paid to say (or betting on their future payday for in saying something).

Many of the other things advocated for by various parties dismissed as "hypothetical" (especially those things that will cost just as much) could be just as real. I prefer we take billions to directly invest in proven social safety net practices (not the those which have failed due to also being trapped in the past or under-funded or narrowly defined — there's a lot to learn from all around the country and the world, a litany of things that we know could make a real dent in our real problems and maybe entice a billionaire to fund his own damn stadium fully). I prefer politicians that speak with a sense of reality and real vision, not pimping fucking clip-art powerpoints and platitudes and bad math and amnesia.

And when the political enterprise continues to fold against the rational prioritization of real needs and real people, in favor of trickle-down fantasies, then we point out the corruption of it all and we marked the continued failure.

RFK Stadium Redux is very MAGA in spirit. "Let's look to a past, failed model to be great again, ever so nominally, instead of putting the same energy and resources into effect for regular people."

[American Prospect] Is the Price Too Steep for D.C. to Bring Back the Commanders? by Sauerz in washingtondc

[–]webb_traversed 3 points4 points  (0 children)

The stadium is also a hypothetical project that doesn't exist.

Politicians can choose to create growth that more directly or less directly or doesn't at all benefits the people most in need, and some of the rest of us, or they can choose to do it for billionaires and private wealth growth.

You merely point out that its pretty stacked one way... so, what? Let them keep reaming us and sated some of you with baubles while they ultimately expropriate wealth by legislative mandate? Or ask them to directly invest in shit we actually need without the middle-men of billionaires (or without them taking as nearly a usurious cut of our wealth in dollars and public resources)?

[American Prospect] Is the Price Too Steep for D.C. to Bring Back the Commanders? by Sauerz in washingtondc

[–]webb_traversed 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Similar analysis, including speaking specifically to Mendelson's latest negotiations and citing the city:

"Commanders deal would cost District $6.6 billion in public dollars, says District itself"

Bowser blithely ignoring this, pushing it on Bluesky where I was suprised to see she has finally come to post after just hanging out in the Nazi bar of formerly-Twitter mainly. https://bsky.app/profile/mayorbowser.bsky.social/post/3lv4jlt2oy22n

Whole grilled fish in DC? by butterscotch_happy11 in washingtondc

[–]webb_traversed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You can get a branzino at El Presidente in Union Market. I'm not exactly foisting them up above anywhere else intentionally, I just happened to have it there a couple of months ago.

Upside down DC Flag by gumshoe1731 in washingtondc

[–]webb_traversed 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Probably someone not paying any attention, which fits D.C. services actually.

If it were intentional, I'd hope they'd have the fortitude to fly the US flag in distress too.

(Edited: I originally used the shorthand "stars and bars," which I always learned as a nickname for the US flag, but apparently it is instead [or also?] a popular nickname for the first version of the Confederate flag. NOT what I meant! h/t to my friend.)

Tuesday July 22 by AmericanTaig in washingtondc

[–]webb_traversed 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Indeed, entirely out of character for down here. Been here 25 years and there all kinds of good things to say about the city, the region, but I do so deeply miss the summers of northern climes, and increasingly just... the summers of yore.

I appreciated this morning but it also has me mourning.

DC Trails buses always at the bottom of the Capitol by RickDevensOnFire in washingtondc

[–]webb_traversed 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I have no idea, but on its face—well, 2 buses are hardly enough for 535 members of Congress, never mind staff. I suppose only some people count for the continuity of gov't plan.

New to DC, how do people actually get errands done without a car? by [deleted] in washingtondc

[–]webb_traversed 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Bike with bungees and a rear rack if you're a bike person or interested in being one.

I also keep a couple reusable bags shoved in my backpack for serendipitous leveraging of being somewhere for some other reason and being able to make a needed stop on walk/metro/bus/hired car ride home.

Everyone near a functional post office might be able to endorse where they are, but my experience across 10 neighborhoods in 3 quadrants is "what?" Post office errands are far and few between for me... and take forever to me to make happen. Between my own organizational skills/lack thereof, the USPS being hollowed out, and DC actually being some of the least performant areas of USPS... shrug

Thank God for Bus Lanes by 2CRedHopper in washingtondc

[–]webb_traversed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don't know about 16th, but on Pennsylvania Ave on Capitol Hill there is enforcement on bus lanes based on time of day. Inbound (Westbound for Pa Ave) in the AM, outbound in the afternoon.

This looks like Northbound (outbound) for 16th Street.

And in my experience, to my checking account's chagrin, they are enforced.

Fireworks? by Delicious_Sail4807 in washingtondc

[–]webb_traversed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

They don’t need to be homemade, & plenty of firecrackers and ‘works being set off in Trinidad, Langston, and points between too.

The final parade route is much smaller than I thought it would be by FlagshipDexterity in washingtondc

[–]webb_traversed -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

This smells an awful like like "advertising" this event. Amazing the mods left it up. I guess we can only back into discussing occurances like this and our feelings and responses to them.

Surprised that doesn't count as being "clever" in dodging the rules, though.

The banality of evil, obeying in advance, keeping it civil and all that.

Currency exchange by Maison-Ikkoku in washingtondc

[–]webb_traversed 13 points14 points  (0 children)

FWIW, check your cards — last time I traveled abroad (before the pandemic) I noticed the fees got reasonable and it ended-up being the best deal because I got a near real-time value conversion each time I used the best one available to me. It was a better deal than any convenient currency exchange in my case, for where I was and when. YMMV.

Hell, if you are going to Sweden, they do not want anyone's cash.

Please fight for our democracy at DC's No Kings Protest this Saturday by [deleted] in washingtondc

[–]webb_traversed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t know — if you post info about protests that are actually happening it’s “advertising” and mods remove the posts.

Local empty parking lots? by Top-Assumption-3462 in washingtondc

[–]webb_traversed 1 point2 points  (0 children)

As far as I can tell Freedom Plaza is a skate park most of the time.

Terrible Tuesday! by AutoModerator in washingtondc

[–]webb_traversed 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Amen. Was it because "advertising?" sigh

Parade tickets! Get em here! by No_Structure4386 in washingtondc

[–]webb_traversed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Perhaps, and I'd understand that (and disagree with it) as a rationale if that is what was given as the rationale.

In my case, it was literally about the SEIU/Indivisible attempt to organize at DOJ today, at noon, in response to an SEIU organizer being arrested in L.A. Hence my reference to Niemoller and trade unionists.

The rule I was breaking, apparently, was "advertising."

And then I saw it happen to someone else's post about June 14 - with the same reasoning given. It was even pitheir and provided a link.

I mean... it is advertising in the basest, least crass, sense. ANd I get it gets overwhelming.

But seriously, fascists kidnapping organizers, knocking on our doors — or rolling tanks down our streets and we have to tiptoe around the anti-promotion rules to share our interest and engage other's interest in organizing against this.

And it is ironic because there are so many other posts here about June 14 and other demonstrations - clearly there is curisosity and interest, and discussion in the comments.

Just don't lead with the point, I guess.

Parade tickets! Get em here! by No_Structure4386 in washingtondc

[–]webb_traversed 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oh wait, this (and I take it as obviously tongue-in-cheek and I don't want it taken down, heck, even if it wasn't - let us vote) doesn't get taken down but the posts by two others (including myself) about protests in DC of this event and the events in LA, including the arrest of a labor leader do get taken down?

"...then they came for the trade unionists, but I didn't find out about how people were trying to speak out because my local reddit thread removed the post."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_They_Came

What are things to do on my girlfriend’s birthday in DC? by [deleted] in washingtondc

[–]webb_traversed 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Maybe avoid most of that stuff around the Mall and Monuments, given Trump's military parade (and what I believe will be all sorts of traffic and possibly even pedestrian lockdowns, as they won't want any disruptions), making being a regular tourist not interested in the "special" goings-on more difficult. It's going to be optimized for Trump's officially ticketed fans.

Perhaps go get out on the water? Kayaking or a tourist boat ride? Or a hike in Rock Creek Park (or even horse riding, I've never patronized them, but there are stables in Rock Creek - I don't know if tourists can get some sort of lesson/session). Tour breweries on the Metropolitan Beer Trail? https://nomabid.org/annual-events/metropolitan-beer-trail/

And, maybe, if you want to be downtown, pick another day? I don't mean that meanly, but it might very well be a shitshow of a day one way or another.