Potomac Confidential fills the midday lull with discussion of the latest news and a rigorous slicing and dicing of the issues that define who we are and where we live.
In his weekly show, Washington Post Metro columnist Marc Fisher veers wildly from serious probing to silly prattle, and is open to topics local, national, personal and more.
Marc Fisher
(The Washington Post)
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The transcript follows.
Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.
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Marc Fisher: Welcome aboard, folks.
Let's start out with the Yay and Nay of the Day:
Yay: To John Muhammad's defense lawyers, for doing what's necessary and right to ensure their client a fair trial, without insulting the jury's intelligence by yammering on forever in service of the impossible. The Muhammad defense had precious little to say, and that's just about right -- a welcome relief from the overkill seen in all too many defense cases lately.
Nay: To John Kerry, Joe Lieberman, John Edwards, Dick Gephardt and Wesley Clark, the Democratic presidential candidates who pulled out of the DC primary. These profiles in cowardice have bent to the will of the party bosses, who are adamant that DC have no say in the primary process. And truth be told, these candidates are also on the run because Howard Dean has organized well in the District, and these guys smelled a defeat. Shame on them; the DC Council must move now to put them back on the ballot, whether they like it or not.
This week's columns offered the story of the Penny Lady, the Reston woman who insisted on protesting a Fairfax courts processing fee by paying in pennies; the sad tale of Stephen Glass, the New Republic fabricator; and today's piece on the continuing con game of John Hinckley Jr. Your turn starts now:
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Arlington, Va:
Is it possible, given the fact that Hinckley may still be a danger, for hospital staff to accompany Hinckley to his parents' house and keep an eye on him during the visit?
And what is his official diagnosis, do we know?
Thanks
Marc Fisher: Schizophrenic and narcissistic personality disorders -- that's what the docs call it. And reading the medical reports over the years, it's clear that he's still pretty well detached from reality.
You raise a good question -- Just how closely do hospital staff supervise him on these trips, and is it worth the risk? I'd say No.
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Trenton, NJ:
I watched with sadness the hysteria involved when Ballou High closed because of the mercury contamination.
Come on, now, admit it. It's hysteria because of Ballou's racial and socioeconomic demographics.
If this had happened in McLean or Severna Park, you might have had a few administrators and science teachers involved instead of the jackbooted thugs commandeering Metro buses, entering homes, and confiscating clothing.
Mercury is a heavy metal, for certain, and exposure over a long period of time is not healthy. But it's Not Anthrax.
This was an overreaction, pure and simple. Makes you wonder who is more out of control at the school -- the adults or the students?
Marc Fisher: It was certainly a wild overreaction, but I don't see why you'd ascribe it to race or class. I took it as another example of a city health department that can't get its act together. What does that have to do with socioeconomic status?
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Washington, D.C.:
Hi.
When reading articles about John Hinckley Jr., I never hear anything about Jodie Foster's opinion of his release. Does she have a say as the target of his obsession?
Thanks.
Marc Fisher: I know she has been repeatedly approached over the years by reporters seeking comment on the Hinckley case, but as I understand it, she has sought -- probably quite wisely -- to distance herself from the situation. Still, it must be a nagging, gnawing presence in her mind to know that this guy and his lawyers are constantly scratching at the door.
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Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.:
What are your medical credentials that qualify you to determine if John Hinckley has recovered from his mental illness enough to be harmless?
Marc Fisher: I don't quite recall the medical school part of my youth, but maybe I was there and didn't realize it. No, I based my opinion on my reading of nearly 20 years of medical reports and legal briefs on Hinckley's case -- as well as the common sense view that someone who shoots the president of the United States ought not be out on the streets, period. Just because a jury was bamboozled into letting him off on the insanity plea doesn't mean that the courts should be dumb enough to buy into that nonsense.
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Chantilly, va:
Hey Marc - With winds gusting to 50 mph today, is Metro shutting down again?
Marc Fisher: Don't start giving them any ideas.
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Alexandria, Va.:
Marc --
This is regarding your hysterical (not funny) rant on deer.
The deer did NOT attack your family. It ran across the road and was hit by your car. If you want to go down the silly "it's us against them" road, any sane jury would find that your car/family attacked the deer.
But let's not go down that road.
Yes, there are too many deer (and Canada Geese and Mute Swans) and the numbers of all of them should be drastically reduced, but these animals don't attack cars or people. They're just trying to live their lives and avoid getting paved over by the next new subdivision or strip mall.
Calm down and get a clue.
Marc Fisher: Well, no. The deer hit our car, not the other way around. Had we hit the animal front on, I'd be agreeing with you. But who hit whom is not entirely the point. The real question is what to do about deer. And you're right -- in the outer suburbs, it is indeed our greed and eagerness to continue with sprawl that conspire to intrude on the deer and other animals' habitats. But in the cities and close-in suburbs, where the density of development many decades ago eliminated any reasonable habitat for deer, it is the responsibility of government to thin the herd and reduce the danger.
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Helena, Mont.:
Marc, I thought you might like to know that Blackie Wetzel, the man who claimed credit for getting the Redskins to use an Indian portrait he submitted as their logo, died this week. You interviewed him not long ago about his involvement and our local paper mentioned this in an article they did on him recently (before his death). I was a very minor part in this as I was the one who told you about him and his Redskins connection last year and you asked me how to get in touch with him.
Jim Nolan
Marc Fisher: I'm very sorry to hear that. Blackie Wetzel, who drew the portrait of an Indian that was the model for the football team's symbol, was a lovely and good man, and a reminder that the Redskins' name and logos are intended to honor the American Indian, not to slur them.
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Derwood, Md.:
Mr. Glass wasted his talents.
He should have gone into corporate management ... where he could have fabricated profit and loss statements, pumped his stock options up, and then sold out (Profit!) before his gig was up.
Instead, he wasted his skills in a low-paying journalism job. What a dumb_ _ _.
Glass's Actions Shout Volumes, Words Whisper (Post, Nov. 11)
Marc Fisher: Yes, perhaps. Though I'd like to think that go-go companies like Enron would not have had much patience for Glass' simpering, woe-is-me, love-me-do manner, which apparently had them swooning at The New Republic.
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Washington, D.C.:
Hey Marc,
Just as a caring fan ... can you update your picture ... you're looking too bright.
Please explain:
I was coming from a Safeway ... carrying too many bags ... and there was this group of people standing in the middle of the block having conversation and would not acknowledge me coming nor did they move out of the way ... so I had to walk around them into the street.
This happened in N.Y. as well on Canal street.
What is that about? "Me Generation" maybe?
But, next time i'm considering saying something ... strong.
Thanks
Marc Fisher: Oh no, not more Rogaine recommendations.
Time for another visit with Mr. Street Manners Man:
Dear Caring Fan:
If you find yourself utterly ignored by chattering sidewalk hogs, a firm "Excuse me, please" is in order. If they still do not cede you some space, Mr. Street Manners Man recommends a gentle shoulder through the middle of the pack of loiterers, along with a firmer "Excuse me."
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Alexandria, Va.:
Marc:
I just moved to the D.C. area a week ago. As I was being dropped off by my wife along 18th street in downtown D.C. this morning, the car behind us laid on the horn for about 15 seconds. It took me all of 5 seconds to exit the car and there was a bus stopped in front of us anyway. As I was walking away from this lunatic he rolled down his window and said he would 'rip my f---ing head off', continued honking his horn and screaming at my wife and me. He then threw something at me -- I think it was a piece of trash. All of this was stopping our car for five seconds in the right lane after moving well past the intersection. I didn't say a word to him the whole time. What a pleasant welcome to the city. Should I expect more of this?
Marc Fisher: And while Mr Street Manners Man is with us, let's pay his outrageous consulting fee once more ...
Yes, you will have to expect more such abuse for halting mid-block. Anyone who has dealt with 18th Street in morning rush (let alone the dreaded 19th Street) must realize that any action that in any way impinges on the movement of traffic will result in verbal abuse and possible bodily harm.
Mr. Street Manners Man recommends that you have your wife drop you off whilst still in motion. You will gain valuable exercise in coordination, and quite possibly applause from the neighboring motorists.
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Reston, Va.:
So what's your response been to the penny lady
column? I say good for her! That enormous fee on
top of the actual fine is ridiculous. Do you think
she'll really lose her license?
Marc Fisher: My bet is that if she gets before a judge, she'll have the whole thing dismissed. But she's planning instead one more attempt to pay in pennies, today, with a witness on hand. Will the Fairfax clerks have wised up in the interim? Don't bet your penny jar on it.
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Arlington, Va.:
Jean Butler needs to stop whining. She's dumping extra work on the Fairfax County administrators, and by extension Fairfax taxpayers. The political point is paying in pennies; she shouldn't make the employees themselves suffer when they have enough respect for our traffic problems to stay out of the way of the buses.
Marc Fisher: Yes, the problem with Butler's protest is that it is the rank and file clerks who bear the brunt of her stunt. But that's often true of protests -- and that shouldn't stop the aggrieved from coming up with creative ways to make their points. The clerks are right to have a policy that minimizes their exposure to this sort of thing--making Butler sit and wait while they count the pennies makes sense. And if this form of protest got too popular, the traffic clerks could do as the tax office has already done -- buy an automated coin counter (I guess a lot of folks have taken to paying their taxes in coin.)
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Cleveland Park, Washington, D.C.:
Marc -
With almost all of the Democratic candidates bowing out of the primary, should we be thinking of writing in a "favorite son" candidate, whose hopefully large vote total will demonstrate to the candidates and the DNC the depths of our disgust with them?
Marc Fisher: I don't see the need for a favorite son candidate, since a handful of actual candidates remain on the ballot, and there remains a good chance that the DC Council will put the reluctant candidates back on the ballot -- whether they like it or not. Also, the District has so few votes at the convention that a favorite son would be a fairly meaningless gesture, no?
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Penny question:
So Marc, let me get this straight. If I get a ticket in the state of Virginia, no matter how much the ticket is for, I have to an additional $55 processing fee? I was a bit unclear about that in your column. Is this on all tickets or is it because she paid by check?
Marc Fisher: Yes, all traffic tickets are subject to the $55 processing fee. Fairfax says it is merely passing along state-mandated fees, but other counties around the state have no such processing fee. So obviously those counties have figured out other ways of collecting those monies.
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Silver Spring, Md.:
No Rogaine, Marc! And no comb-overs or long hair in the back to compensate. Cut it short and shine on, baby!
Marc Fisher: Go totally clean, huh? All the way? That's a tough one.
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Rockville, Md.:
Well, now we see Pepco practicing offense, not defense. With the "powerful" windstorms here throughout the day, the news says Pepco crews are ready for the eventual and probable power outages that will certainly occur. I realize wind is unpredictable, but when are they going to fix the system so every ill wind that blows through doesn't mean loss of power?
Marc Fisher: That was quite the wind last night. Between the rattling window panes and the wild dog down the street, there was little sleep to be had.
But it's reasonable to expect some spotty outages when tree parts are flying through the streets. The question is whether the utilities get the fixes done promptly.
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Oakton, Va:
Has any progress been made in ensuring the risk of power outages (Hurricane Isabel) are minimized? Just wondering if this has been forgotten, which would be disappointing.
Marc Fisher: Too soon to expect any progress, but let's keep the pressure on local regulators to press Pepco and other companies to restore some of the repair crew cuts they'd made in recent years.
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Tenleytown, Washington, D.C.:
Marc: I thought you laid out a quite damning case against the Hinckley release today, especially using his own words -- except, the article opposite yours says that the prosecutors' own examining psychiatrists found that he has improved and recommended the visits. Did this include reports from the same shrinks who analyzed him the last time around? Did you have access to those reports? The government in high profile cases like this generally are quite proficient in finding experts who conform to their own views.
Marc Fisher: You hit it on the head: Both sides find the experts they need to say what they want said. So in the face of dueling shrinks, it seems to me that the 20-year record of deception on Hinckley's part should be the governing evidence.
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Adams Morgan, Washington, D.C.:
Marc,
About today's article. I can see your point of view about Hinkley's deception and why he should be kept from the public, although I don't agree with it. But your last paragraph undermines the whole piece.
"The Hinckley family must know that what it's doing is wrong: Why else would it have sought to sneak this through the courts, asking the judge to keep its request under wraps?"
Obviously from the negative press it receives (including the obligatory evil-looking picture of Hinkley), why would any good lawyer not try to keep this as quiet as possible? There is no correlation between that type of legal action and the threat that Hinkley does or does not possess. If someone can actually be cured of mental disease, and if that is the case with Hinckley, he should be released for visits with his family at the very least.
Marc Fisher: Well, sure, lawyers should be expected to do whatever sneaky stuff they can think of to get their way. But let's remember the promise that Hinckley's parents made to the American public, that they would not use the fact that he got off on an insanity plea to loose their son on the streets. Hinckley already has permission to visit his family; what he seeks is the opportunity to do so without supervision, without any assurance to the public that he is being prevented from going off and trying to kill Foster, the president or anyone else. That seems a quite minimal requirement given that he really ought to be in prison for life.
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Arlington, Va.:
Besides Jodie Foster, what about the Reagans? If I remember correctly, soon after the shooting Mrs. Reagan issued a gracious statement expressing sympathy for the Hinckley's situation. I wonder how she feels about them now?
Marc Fisher: As I've heard it, Mrs. Reagan has been a strong supporter of the Secret Service's position, which is that Hinckley is a dangerous character who needs to be watched at all times.
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Union Station Food Court:
Marc:
What is up with all the young, white and beautiful people with the "NYLC" badges? I think NYLC stands for New Youth Leadership Council, and they are the best and brightest, but they are all so uniformly ultrawhite and midwest/suburban pretty, it kinda has a Stepford Wives/clone type of feel to it. Do you know anything about NYLC, other than what's on their Web site? And what they actually do here in D.C. (learn policy firsthand, is my guess)?
Marc Fisher: New to me. Anyone?
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Arlington, Va.:
"a reminder that the Redskins' name and logos are intended to honor the American Indian, not to slur them."
Oh, you stepped in it now. Prepare for the onslaught!
Marc Fisher: Oh yeah! And here it comes....
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Washington, D.C.:
Mark, you wrote:
"a reminder that the Redskins' name and logos are intended to honor the American Indian, not to slur them. "
Oh please.
I generally don't harp on this -- but you brought it up ... The history of word "redskin" is akin to this history of the word "nigger", "kike" or any other racial slur you choose.
To use such a term as part of a sports team name is ridiculous and a crazy anachronism. To defend its use as an "honor" is just plain wrong. I'm sure those in the past made an honest mistake when they chose the name -- however those today who support its use don't have that excuse.
And I'm not some raving PC maniac who thinks the Cleveland Indians need to change their name, or the Braves or any of the other teams. The fact is that "redskins" is an offensive racial slur. End of story.
Use it, don't use it -- but please don't describe it as an "honor" to Native Americans.
Marc Fisher: Well, we could go around and around on this, but let's just say that I have two big stacks o' mail in the office, one from Indians who say Redskins is a slur and one from Indians who say it's perfectly fine with them.
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Stopped between Metro stops -- again:
Have you ever noticed that if a Metro train stops between one stop, it seems to stop between EVERY stop? Why can't the train just stop once for a longer period, then proceed as usual?
Marc Fisher: My guess is it has something to do with preventing all the trains behind from getting gummed up into one big pack of trains. It's like those time-spaced traffic lights at the entrance ramps along the Dulles Toll Road -- it actually eases congestion to have the vehicles spaced out.
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Maryland:
Re: your picture
I second that "no Rogaine" motion. I do not understand men's obsession with baldness. So what -- most men either recede, thin, or get a bald spot? Attempts to hide it or grow it back come off as pathetic. Let it shine -- it is a sexy look! If you need proof on that: Patrick Stewart. Make it so!
Marc Fisher: We live in the national capital of comb-overs. Shoot me if I go there.
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Springfield, Va.:
Whatever happened with the Mychelle Brickner voting machine scandal? Did they "fix" the machines and send them to South Florida for their next election?
Marc Fisher: Good question -- I've not heard an update on that. But her loss was by a large enough margin that she graciously conceded and I doubt we'll hear much in the way of further whining about the machines.
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Arlington, Va.:
I know it seems like ages since the local elections of Nov 4, but I wanted to get in my two cents about the results of the Fairfax County Supervisor race. I think there was a classic case of attempted negative advertising backfiring.
I have in mind the Brickner ad in which the narrator sniffs that as transportation gridlock worsens, the Democrats have responded by building twenty-five miles of dog tracks, filed by a brief shot of a beautiful golden retriever.
To me, this is an admirable achievement, and if I lived in Fairfax County, that ad alone would have been enough to get me out and vote for every Democrat I could.
Marc Fisher: It was a silly ad and the voters properly ignored it. The Repos have a reasonably strong base even in Democratic Fairfax, so you'd think they'd offer up more moderate candidates like Tom Davis than fringe characters like Brickner.
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washingtonpost.com: Congressional Youth Leadership Council
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Lexington Park, Md.:
Alexandria sounds like a "I know it says no stopping anytime, but it was only for five seconds" kind of person. Heck, why don't we write that into all our laws? Blocking a fire lane, hey only for five seconds. Blocking a ambulance, only for five seconds.
Marc Fisher: This could get rough real fast. Yes, you're right -- if everyone did it, what a mess we'd be in. On the other hand, a person should be able to drop someone off downtown. It's best done at a red light or a dead stop in traffic, or at least at a corner. But even if someone stops in mid-block, I don't see how we can condone hurling trash at the poor fella.
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washingtonpost.com: National Youth Leadership Council
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Chantilly, Va.:
Hey Marc: did you see the quote from one of the victorious Republicans in Loudoun County: "Loudoun is open for business again."
If the past four years is a good representation of "slow growth," I can't even begin to imagine what "faster growth" will look like.
Marc Fisher: The Loudoun vote in favor of pouring gas on the flames of sprawl was quite self-destructive, but hey, we're talking about a state that put itself into major financial trouble by panting after Gov. Gilmore's promise of no car tax. What's interesting is to see the switcheroo between Loudoun and Prince William, the latter of which is hitting the brakes on development just as Loudoun reverses course.
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Washington, D.C.:
Hey Marc
I was an NYLC'er ... it's a foundation that you need to be nominated for, when you're in high school. Once nominated, you have the option of paying to spend a certain amount of time in D.C. (something like 2 weeks). If I remember correctly, the cost was high -- something like $1600 for the 2 weeks, and this was in the early 1990's.
We met members of Congress, listened to speeches by people like the Presidential Press Sec'y, sat in the Senate seats, had lunch at the National Press Club, had a night tour of the city, etc. etc. etc.
Hands-on policy stuff. It was interesting but expensive and elitist -- which lends itself to white suburbia.
Marc Fisher: Good to have the info. Thanks!
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Annapolis, Md.:
The 'Penny Lady' comes across as self-righteous and pompous. What did the clerks at the office have to do with the fine? She's the one who started if all anyway. I agree that the additional fee was absurd, but how about writing letters or contacting someone like you or Bob Levey. This woman just used it as an excuse to passive-aggressively crap on people who did nothing to her. And to take time away from the other important things in her life to be so petty makes me wonder about her ... There are better ways to make a peaceful, but solid point.
Marc Fisher: Ok, it's not the perfect form of protest, and of course it would be easier just to take her case to the judge. But if she wants to make a larger public point than she might make in a single court appearance, this seems like a reasonable way to go.
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Washington, D.C.:
Arlington County has a similar fee for traffic tickets. It ain't just Fairfax.
Marc Fisher: Right, but I heard from a number of folks in counties in central and southern Virginia who say they have no such fees there.
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Washington, D.C.:
So why is it news that Jackie Kennedy was hit hard by her husband's untimely death? Wouldn't any of us be?
It was her "PRIVATE" pain. She chose to be strong and brave for the nation's sake -- let her be remembered as such. Leave her grief private -- I don't need to know about it.
Marc Fisher: Didn't much interest me either. But as you know, there's a big audience for virtually anything Kennedy related. Our royals, you know.
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Ballston, Va.:
The Post has been running stories noting the low turnout in Virginia's recent elections. Personally, I think voting would be more popular if it was more like giving blood. Lots more people would vote if the state handed out orange juice and cookies afterward.
Marc Fisher: No, I think they should give out cash. Really. Thanks for voting, here's a 10-spot, go get a nice lunch. And now that Bush and Dean are abandoning the public financing of campaigns, there's plenty of money sitting there that could be used to reward voters for their time.
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Non-American:
I was told you don't say "Indian" anymore, but "Native American", in reference to your having a stack of mail from "Indian" who both agree and disagree to the use of the name "Redskins".
Marc Fisher: To the contrary, Native American was a PC construct developed by white folk who love to wallow in guilt. Most Indian organizations I've seen commenting on the issue prefer Indian.
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Olney, Md.:
NYLC is part of the The Congressional Youth Leadership Council:
"Though it may be true that people 18 years of age and younger make up only 25 percent of our population, they are 100 percent of our future. This statement is certainly recognized by many of our leaders in the nation's capital as they play a variety of roles in the success of this program and also in the success of each individual who participates in the National Young Leaders Conference (NYLC).
This program offers talented young people the most authentic leadership laboratory in education today -- testing their abilities, boosting their confidence, and charging their skills in a dynamic, hands-on atmosphere of challenge and fun."
National Young Leaders Conference
(No connection, I will just use any excuse to do a Google search.)
-HCHS '88
Marc Fisher: Thanks -- and that's Hunter College High School in his tag line, in case you're wondering.
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Washington, D.C.:
I hate the name Redskins. Also Wizards.
I prefer when a team name in some way relates to the geographical area they are in.
Baltimore got it. The Orioles (state bird) and Ravens (Poe, of course).
Just my useless opinion.
Marc Fisher: We do have some of the worst team names in sports around these parts. The only really good one is the Caps. And the Senators, who will never die, and will one day return.
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Washington, D.C. (again):
So Marc, by that logic, if a couple hundred blacks wrote you saying using the N-word was fine with them, the Post would start using it?
Maybe some Native Americans don't mind it, but it's still a racial slur. Just look in any dictionary (for a real answer, you need the OED) -- even the ever-bland Websters says "usually offensive: American Indian".
A slur is a slur is a slur.
Marc Fisher: I don't think you'd find a lot of defenders of the n word or any other hardcore slur. And goodness knows, there are many ugly slurs that have been aimed at Indians. But Braves and Tribe and Indians and Redskins are not necessarily slurs, and indeed are often meant and accepted as tributes.
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To Rogaine or Not to Rogaine:
When my then future husband asked, "So you love me even though I'm bald?", it was only then that I noticed he was bald!
Marc Fisher: I am hoping for similar vision difficulty on the part of my loved ones.
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Rockville, Md.:
Hey Marc,
Something in district government that works.
Last Friday, I come out of my office at about 4:30 to discover that my car had been booted. I make no excuses, I had 4 unpaid parking tickets of various sort that I'd just neglected to pay.
I was really concerned that my car would be stuck on the street all weekend and I'd have no way to get home. But I called the number on that big sign they left on my windshield and after navigating the "if you want help for 'x', press 0 now" -- how I HATE those systems -- I discovered that the DMV office I needed to go to was open late. Cab ride down there, stand in 2 lines -- one to get my record (I guess) and one to pay -- I'm outta there in 25 minutes. Still didn't miss happy hour w/my buddies and the Wizards stomping of the Toronto Raptors.
Car was de-booted, apparently, within an hour of my payment.
That ain't bad.
I'm not gonna get mad at the DMV, the District, or whoever on the issue because I own the consequences of my actions in not paying the tickets.
I'm just glad that a guy can emerge at 4:30 p.m. on a Friday to discover his car's booted and still be able to take care of business so that the car isn't stuck all weekend.
Marc Fisher: A heartwarming tale of bureaucratic efficiency and forthright acceptance of consequences on the part of an honest citizen!
Man, we are cooking with gas today.
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Burke, Va.:
Orange juice and cookies doesn't seem to fill up the blood donor chairs, either, sadly.
Left some red blood cells and platelets at INOVA on Veterans Day, and was saddened by how desperate their pleas for help have gotten. Come on, people, it's a needlestick and ten minutes, to trade for someone else's life. You can do it.
Marc Fisher: And to add insult to injury, the level of confidence in the blood supply is so low that many docs now routinely advise patients to have their families give blood before any planned procedure.
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Washington, D.C.:
Is it just me or does the actor who
portrays Stephen Glass make him look
like Jared from those Subway
advertisements on television??
Marc Fisher: Beats me -- anyone?
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La Plata, Md.:
Marc, I have an officer friend who said the reason there are fees and such on tickets is because of the people that fight them. The tickets used to be higher with no fees, but people fought the ticket and won and payed nothing. Usually they were let off because an overworked cop couldn't be there to defend the ticket. So law breakers were getting away scot-free. Now, with the fees, even if you win, you still pay. Hurts the truly innocent, but stops the lawbreakers from getting away with it.
Marc Fisher: That may be true in Maryland, but the Fairfax processing fee is dedicated to a number of state-mandated programs that assist victims of crime and other such stuff.
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Washington, D.C.:
Can you please tell me I'm not crazy? I thought I saw a display in D.C. near Capitol Hill of newspaper front pages of the day. I'd like to go back and really look at it, maybe take a photograph or two. But I forgot where it was, and everyone I ask about it has no idea what I'm talking about. Do you or any of your chatters know where this is? Thanks.
Marc Fisher: That's the terrific display that the Newseum has on Pennsylvania Ave NW immediately across from the National Gallery, next door to the Canadian Embassy. It's updated daily and is a neat way to spend 15 minutes looking at the different definitions of news across the country and world.
That's the future site of the now-shuttered Newseum, by the way.
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Washington, D.C.:
To the person with the sidewalk/shopping bag situation: Why didn't YOU say excuse me in the first place? I am so sick and tired of people who are too rude to say excuse me and act like it is beneath them to do so. If you're stupid enough not to say excuse me, then I say you deserve to walk in the street.
Marc Fisher: I had assumed that he did make his presence known in a polite manner, but maybe I'm wrong.
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Please take this question!:
Hi, Marc -
If half your letters are from Native Americans who DON'T like the Redskins name, and half from those who do, why doesn't it make sense simply to change the name?
The reality of the situation is this: Changing the name will be a hassle for the team, for about a year. Some "traditionalists" will be disappointed. But then the whole thing will be forgotten within a few years.
Why the heck not just do this? The "Redskins" debate has been going on for 20 years now -- it could have just been a distant memory by now ...
Marc Fisher: No, because it is not the obligation of any company to gear its actions toward avoiding offense to any and all. The Wizards foolishly changed their name from the Bullets, and best I can tell, half the town still calls them the Bullets. And Bullets is a lot more offensive than Redskins. But still, names are names and should be left alone. Of course, I still call the gasoline company Esso.
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Lose the hair:
Marc, lose the hair. Short hair makes receding hairlines less noticeable. I know it sounds like a wacky thing to do, but believe me, it makes all the difference. Give it a whirl and post a pic.
Marc Fisher: I should note that the pic is several years old. There's even less hair there now.
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Re: Alexandria, Va.:
The car-honking trash-throwing are just another outlet for the ME mentality here. I have lived in other big cities and D.C. is by far the worst in terms of horns. I have been honked at for not moving the second the light turned red. A couple seconds is not going to make a difference.
Marc Fisher: Yes, this is a good point. As much as we all whine and moan about surly, impolite wretches on our streets and highways, this is still a remarkably polite region for driving when compared to many other cities. I get a regular stream of email and letters from newcomers who marvel at how many folks will cede a lane, open up space for a merge, and so on.
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Wrong on Pennies:
Technically speaking, pennies are 'not' legal tender.
Can't remember the legal citation, but a judge somewhere made that ruling. Nickels may not be either, I'm not sure. But the ruling was made to circumvent that type of "protest."
So technically, Fairfax County could insist on bigger coins.
Marc Fisher: 'Fraid not. Several Helpful Readers sent me the text from Section 5103 of the federal code, saying that ALL U.S. coins are "legal tender for all debts, public charges, taxes and dues."
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Rockville, Md.:
On paying with pennies, stunts like this probably don't help getting rid of processing fees.
Also, for better or worse, our cars are the only natural predators deer have left.
Marc Fisher: Except in places where state-sponsored hunts help prevent road collisions with the animals.
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Deer City:
You wrote,
"But in the cities and close-in suburbs, where the density of development many decades ago eliminated any reasonable habitat for deer"
You've got it wrong Marc. Development is creating habitat for the deer. Deer are not forest creatures but live on the edge of the forrest. Development creates more edge and more favorable habitat for the deer. The lack of predators contributes also. There are more deer here now than when Europeans first arrived.
Marc Fisher: But the edge of development is in the outer suburbs, and that's where the deer have a reasonable case to make. There hasn't been an edge of development in the big cities for a century or so.
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Washington, D.C.:
Does anyone truly believe the Kennedys are "our Royalty"? The very notion makes me gag.
Marc Fisher: The standard ain't too high. Ask Prince Charles.
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Herndon, Va.:
Not a question, just an observation.
Many people, myself included, are now prohibited from donating blood because we've visited/lived in countries that have documented cases of mad cow disease.
Marc Fisher: Yet some commercial blood banks are still often accused of buying from homeless folks without rigorous checks on what they're carrying.
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Marc Fisher: We're over time, folks, so thanks for coming along. Back next week for more. And in the paper again on Tuesday. Thanks!
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