Potomac Confidential fills the midday lull with discussion by Metro columnist Marc Fisher, who looks at the latest news with a rigorous slicing and dicing of the issues that define who we are and where we live.

Fisher was online Thursday, May 1, at Noon ET to look at the Dulles Metro flip-flop, Washington's new downtown tennis stadium, and whether elected officials should serve jury duty.

Today's Column: Near-Adults Don't Belong in Ninth Grade ( Post, April 24)

From Catholic Schools to Charters: What's Left? ( Raw Fisher, April 2)

Fisher was online Thursday, April 24, at Noon ET to look at Prince William's clash between budget woes and the crackdown on illegal violence, the politics of playing tag at local elementary schools and violence at D.C.'s Wilson High School.

Check out Marc's blog, Raw Fisher.

In his weekly show, Fisher veers wildly from serious probing to silly prattle, and is open to topics local, national, personal and more.

Archives: Discussion Transcripts

A transcript follows.

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Marc Fisher: Welcome aboard, folks, on the first morning of the new D.C. taxi meter system and the second day after the feds reversed course and approved, tentatively at least, extending Metro rail to Dulles airport and beyond.

And there's plenty of non-transportation stuff to mull over as well--the seventh graders caught drinking hard liquor at a Montgomery County middle school, today's column about a new kind of tour guides on the Mall, Sunday's column about Maryland's slots campaign, my piece on Washington in 2025 that appeared in Sunday's Post Magazine, and the news that the District will contribute about $200,000 toward the construction of a $1.3 million temporary tennis stadium on the old convention center site downtown. This is for Washington's entry in a team tennis league that will begin play here this July; Washington Kastles owner Mark Ein will pay for the bulk of the stadium's cost. The team will include Serena Williams and Anna Kournikova. Good use of the space and money? Sounds like it would easily fill the 2,000-seat stadium being built.

On the radio this morning, Tony Kornheiser and I debated whether Mayor Adrian Fenty should have had to serve D.C. jury duty, as he did this week. Mr Tony says that important people such as the mayor (and Mr. Tony, of course) shouldn't have to lower themselves to mingling with the people because they might have to leave to attend to essential business, you know, like a press conference or a ribbon cutting. I argued that Fenty is a citizen and taxpayer like any other and it would do him good to sit in the jury room and watch the clock for a few hours, listening to what his constituents are talking about and seeing the system in (in)action. Where do you come down on this?

On to your many comments and questions, but first, the Yay and Nay of the Day:

Yay to Gov. Tim Kaine and Sen. John Warner and other Virginia officials and business leaders who fought to get the feds to reverse themselves and approve the next phase of planning for rail to Dulles. This is by no means the final green light, and Virginia and Metro will have to struggle both to contain costs on the massive project and to find a source of money for the many capital projects that have to get done on the existing lines before the feds let Metro create a new line. But this is a good start.

Nay to the Prince William County supervisors' half-hearted attempt to fix the damage done by their anti-illegal immigrant policy. Now police will only be able to check immigration status if they have arrested someone--a step in the right direction, perhaps, but not one that's likely to improve public trust or ease tensions created by the county's crackdown.

As the hour progresses, let's hear some reports from the field about today's taxi changes: Anybody ride a D.C. cab this morning and find a meter installed and operating? Anybody look for a metered cab without success?

Your turn starts right now....

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Arlington, Va.: As the area's biggest, and perhaps only, defender of the D.C. cab zone system why don't you talk your employer into hiring secret riders to test it out a la Metro. Ten people of various shapes, sizes, modes of dress (at least two tourists) riding from the same Point A to the same Point B at about the same time of day: then compare how much each was charged.

Marc Fisher: Good idea, though it's too late for that now. You can check the Fare Estimator right here on the big web site to see the differences between zone and meter fares.

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SW D.C.: (one of the areas that will most be helped by the switch from zones to meters)

Wasn't the taxi suit always a long shot, given the fact that Congress practically ordered Fenty to require meters? I, for one, will be very happy to see them. I view them as more fair for both drivers and riders; the only fares that will go up are for those sitting in rush hour traffic, as is only fair, and Members of Congress going from Capitol Hill to the State Dept., which is currently a two-zone ride.

I've lived all over the world, and the fact that D.C. is the only place on earth that continues to use zones should tell you something. I like old things as much as the next person, in fact I'm an old thing myself (78), but being old is not in and of itself a good thing. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised by how it all works out. I know that I for one will likely take more cabs as a result.

Marc Fisher: I hope enough cabs are around in a few years to allow you to increase your taxi-taking habit. Most likely, the shift to meters will result in a drastic reduction in the number of cabs on D.C. streets. Yes, this was an anomoly of a system, and yes, it was obviously a very unpopular system, especially among those of you who gather here each week. But one benefit of the system was that it produced far more cabs on the streets than the size of this city would otherwise merit.

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Tenleytown, D.C.: Marc, let me get this straight: taxi fares are going up, but taxi drivers' income will go down. How is this possible? Other than the fee to install the meters, is there some other element of the equation that I'm missing?

Marc Fisher: Check our Fare Estimator and you'll see how that can be. Some trips will be cheaper with meters and many will be more expensive. Short hauls, the meat and potatos of the cab business--the downtown hops that most business travelers use cabs for--will be much more money during rush hour because you'll be paying for time as well as distance now. And long distance trips will be pricier too. The savings will come on the very short, non-rush hour trips downtown, where fares could drop by half.

Cabbies almost universally expect a drop of 20 to 50 percent in income. They're probably exaggerating, but we shall see soon enough.

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Olney, Md.: How do you arrange a tour with the tip only guys?

washingtonpost.com: Today's Column: Tour Guides Test Limits of a Truly Free Market ( Post, May 1)

Marc Fisher: You can just show up at 15th and Constitution NW, on the northeast corner. The tours are free and start there every day at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m.

More info at dcbyfoot.com

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washingtonpost.com: Taxi Fare Estimator

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Streetlights in D.C.: I was really struck by this article today. It reminded me of a few years ago when our neighbor had to take out a beautiful old shade tree between our homes. Suddenly we realized how much that tree shaded our window from the streetlight at night, and the sun in the morning. I had a hard time sleeping so I invested about $10 in a good sleep mask. It worked wonders. I know it wouldn't solve all the problems that folks are dealing with, but for me, a good night's sleep was definitely worth it, they should consider it (cheaper than new blinds too!).

washingtonpost.com: Brightness Outside, Darkened Moods Inside ( Post, May 1)

Marc Fisher: Good suggestion, but why should people have to wear masks to get a decent night's sleep in their own home? The District, rather predictably, is once again putting aesthetics ahead of practicality, choosing globe streetlamps for their historic character rather than the streetlights that direct light down to the pavement and away from people's homes and the skies. Light pollution is a silent evil, a diminution of the quality of life that we hardly notice unless a light is shining into our own bedrooms at midnight. But it is nonetheless pernicious--and totally unnecessary.

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washingtonpost.com: DC By Foot

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Arlington, Va.: I wonder if you get discouraged when you have a column or blog piece on the sad state of education in this country and the response is minimal -- at least measured in number of responses. Contrast this with any story that has the words "illegal" and "immigrant" and the slurs are sure to be flying two seconds after you hit submit.

Marc Fisher: Thanks for asking, but no, doesn't bother me. There's almost no correlation between the number of comments on a given story and the number of readers. If it were all about comments, we'd just write about race, celebrities, crime, sex and hate. I like to write blog items that generate good discussions--that sometimes means just a few comments and sometimes a great many comments. But I also like to toss out issues that historically don't draw a lot of comments. And the readership numbers show that that's a worthy thing to do, because folks who would never comment are still out there reading and thinking.

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Washington, D.C.: Marc,

So I saw the annual Forbes report on the most congested cities and D.C. is finally #1! We live in the most congested city in the country! So the question is, do we wear this as a badge of honor now, since we can finally say we have the worst traffic in the country? I say yes, because if traffic is going to be among the worst, we might as well be the worst to get recognized for it!

Marc Fisher: I am always very skeptical of those studies and rankings. Do you genuinely believe the traffic here is the worst in the land? I don't think it's even close, not even in the top 10. Of course, it's all a matter of definition and measurement. We may score very well on overall congestion even though some other cities have much more densely trafficked trouble spots.

But even generally, our traffic doesn't hold a candle to that in the L.A., Miami, New York, Chicago and Boston areas, to name just a few. And our traffic is almost entirely restricted to the (very long) rush hour periods. Almost all of our roads are quite clear by 8:30 each evening--in L.A. or New York, you can be in an hours-long jam at almost any hour, around the clock.

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Autopsy question: A mayor should never serve on jury duty. He's part of the executive branch, one of the cops. Let his people locate the alleged, let the citizens decided if they're bad guys or not.

Marc Fisher: Interesting point, but you wouldn't disqualify the many thousands of city workers in that executive branch from serving on a jury, so why disqualify their boss? It's one thing if he has personal knowledge of the case or people involved in it, but if not, then he should serve like anyone else.

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Olney, Md.: I think the Mayor agreeing to serve in a jury pool when his name is chosen is a great idea. Rudy Giuliani did it when he was Mayor of New York and actually served on a jury for a trial. I assume Mayor Fenty isn't complaining; it puts him only in a more positive light. Now he may never get on an actual jury, but that won't be his fault. Unfortunately, Mr. Tony often thinks there are regular people and there are celebrities; or maybe he was just playing Devil's Advocate.

And for what it's worth: a GPS-based zone system for taxis would have been great. But I think taxi drivers are unhappy because unrecorded cash payments will no longer be viable. When a cab driver complained in the newspaper that he only earns $400 per week, I thought "That can't be right; he could do better standing in front of H and M putting a hat out."

Marc Fisher: What? Mr. Tony play Devil's Advocate? You can't be serious!

Yes, Fenty was surely happy to be seen in the jury room--it's exactly his kind of event, the sort of thing his schedulers love to have him do as often as possible. And you're probably right, most lawyers would want to strike him from the pool as fast as possible. But I still think there's great symbolic value in him showing up to serve like the rest of us.

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Marc on the Radio: I just wanted to say I heard you filling in on the Kojo Nambdi show Friday and this morning being interviewed on TK's morning show. Not to be a kissa_ _ but nice job on both shows. Especially with Jeanetta and the mayor that is a tough hour. Did you have a radio career or is this more of a hobby?

Marc Fisher: Thanks very much--Guest-hosting for Kojo Nnamdi last week was a lot of fun and I hope to be back on occasion. Radio is a longtime interest and passion of mine--I wrote my last book on it (Something in the Air) and I've dabbled in it over the years. It's a great subject for a writer because the action on the radio takes place inside the listener's mind and requires the audience to imagine the visuals.

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Juror Fenty: Besides, he's going to have an easy time getting sprung from any major case jury, since he will have gone to the crime scene immediately to talk to the police and then comment upon it.

Marc Fisher: There is that, with this mayor at least.

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Cleveland Park, Washington, D.C.: Marc --

How about a Nay for anybody thinking of putting a college football bowl game in Nationals Park?

First of all, it's a baseball park. It was built specifically for baseball. Don't screw it up by playing football on it. Second, there are way too many bowl games as it is. The last thing the world of sports needs is another one.

Marc Fisher: This is about an announcement yesterday that a new college football bowl game will be played in the District starting this December, probably at RFK, though maybe at Nationals Park (can they really squeeze a football field in there?)

The game would put Navy against an ACC team.

This is what you would call a Bad Idea. Why would anyone want to play a bowl game in Washington in December? And why would Navy or its opponent want to commit to this game rather than try to get into an important bowl game?

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16th and L: Marc, I'm asking you because I don't know who else to ask, and because the post office is about a block from where I live so you may be affected as much as I am.

Lately, of an evening, helicopters come swooping down overhead. Repeatedly. The first time I noticed it, it was right after the State of the Union or something similar, and I told myself it was Bush going back home from the Capitol. But it's gotten to be an everyday -- literally -- occurrence lately, and it's usually not just one helicopter passing by once, but what sounds like separate helicopters making repeated passes, like they're ferrying someone or something. It starts more or less around evening rush hour, though sometimes it's later, and sometimes it's both during rush hour AND into the evening.

Any idea what this is? It kind of gives me the creeps. I don't remember this kind of thing before 9/11, and I thought the increased airspace restrictions after 9/11 meant I'd never hear aircraft overhead except for very unusual circumstances.

Marc Fisher: First I've heard of this--where exactly is this happening? Anyone else seeing this?

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Autopsy question: I would go further and say that a mayor shouldn't even sit in on a trial. Would you like it if you were on trial and the mayor came to watch? Your jurors would be subtly pressured to vote the way the mayor wants (or else ...). The only way to have a fair system is to separate the judicial and the executive as much as possible.

Marc Fisher: Whoa, now you're really out there. Anyone should be allowed to sit in on a public proceeding. Even the folks who are normally excluded from courtrooms--those who may testify later or who have some other involvement with the case. Open should mean open, period. If what you're afraid of is the Godfather scenario in which the witness's dear old grandfather is ushered into the visitor's gallery to send a scary message to the witness that he'd better shut up, then that's a matter for the authorities to handle--they can prosecute the maker of the threat. But a mayor, like anyone else, should be able to watch the system at work.

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Crofton, Md.: Kornheiser is overreacting. I've listened to him two days going on about this, and, although I'm not familiar with D.C. juries, most juries have alternates. If, God forbid, something terrible happened in D.C., and if it happened at the EXACT same time that the mayor was sitting on a jury, I would guess that any reasonable judge would excuse the mayor and seat an alternate in his place. Either that, or as you suggested this morning, if it was such a disaster that required immediate attention, the courthouse would probably shut down anyway.

Marc Fisher: Yes, I think given those outs that a judge would have in case of an emergency, the only reason Tony is riding this is that he believes in his heart of hearts that Great And Important People ought not have the same public responsibilities as Littles. Then again, would you really want to be on a jury with Mr Tony? I mean, you would eventually have to get back to work, no?

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Silver Spring, Md.: Marc,

I hate to do it, but I'm going to agree with you on the taxi meter issue. Fenty thinks D.C. is NYC, it is not. Meters in taxis will hurt just about everyone I can think of from the drivers to riders. In fact, the only group who I think will benefit are tourists since they will ride a cab when they visit and that's it. Fenty should have used the leadership that everyone likes to talk about him having and compromised: meters for the zone system that print out a receipt. Win win for everyone. Instead, now we're stuck with timed meters that will cause the costs of rides to sky rocket during any traffic (which by the way, in case anyone is wondering, is horrible in D.C.). Fenty will come to regret this decision.

Marc Fisher: Thanks--I think you're right, you won't be surprised to learn. The GPS meters would have put the District at the cutting edge of taxi technology and would have taken care of all the complaints about the zone system, providing certainty of measurement, a paper record of each trip, clear fares, and reasonable prices.

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Washington, D.C.: Marc,

I don't think that continuing to plug the inevitably decreased number of metered cabs on the streets is going to win people over to the side of the zone system. Almost universally, DC residents and commuters have commented that during the cabbie strikes (or whatever you want to call them), traffic flowed much better and it was easier to get around. In some ways, the strikes may have swayed people into believing that if the meters are going to reduce the volume of cabs on the streets and the traffic they create, it's probably a good thing.

Marc Fisher: Follow your logic. If you have fewer cabs, those folks are still going to have to get where they're going. Yes, some will take the down escalator and use Metro, but a lot will bring their cars into the city, creating even worse traffic. Taxis overall reduce the number of cars brought into any central business district, and that, whether you drive, Metro or walk, is a good thing. Fewer cabs means more cars in the city.

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Arlington, Va.: Marc,

I'm one of the people who agrees with you on the zone vs. meters. However, I have to say that the taxi coalition or whatever went about this all the wrong way. Why didn't they organize and lobby Fenty to compromise with a meter that calculated the zone fare instead of scrapping the zone system altogether? All I saw were the taxi side complaining about the cost of meters. They should have used a different strategy. I ride a cab at least 3 times a week and most drivers said their problem wasn't the meter, but scrapping the zone. It will be bad for everyone, riders and drivers. Shame they didn't organize in a smart way.

Marc Fisher: Good point--the cabbies by and large support GPS zone meters, but they came to that position belatedly, only after they realized that pining for the old zone system was a loser position. Had they pushed hard for the zone meters--and educated the public about the advantages of that system--from the start, they might have won Fenty over. The mayor seems exasperated with this whole issue (as some of you are, too, and we'll get off it in a few minutes) and just wants it to go away. But I think it's fair to say that it won't go away--he's created a sort of death watch that will go on for years, as we all try to figure out the impact of this switch.

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McLean, Va.: Do you realize you're competing against Grand Theft Auto? The discussion, that is.

Marc Fisher: Story of my life.

I bet they get comments like there's no tomorrow.

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Alexandria, Va.: Almost all bowl game slots are predetermined -- ACC#2 versus SEC #4 or whatever. Navy and the ACC can't hope for a better ball game.

Marc Fisher: Yes, but this game would therefore become from the start something like the NIT tournament in basketball, a consolation prize for the ACC teams that don't get into the better bowls.

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Dept of Redundancy Dept:"Kornheiser is overreacting."

Marc Fisher: Would you have it any other way? I'd like to hear an hour of the Tony Took A Mild Pill show--it might not even last the hour.

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Do you genuinely believe the traffic here is the worst in the land?: How can anything be worse than L.A.?

Whenever I go anywhere in D.C. during non-rush hour, I'm astounded at how quick the trip is. During rush it takes me 1 1/2 hours to get from downtown to my folks house in Annandale. Non-rush takes about 20 minutes.

Marc Fisher: So if we agree on that, then how is Washington scoring so impressively on these congestion rankings? Is it just the admittedly crushing density of the traffic at the height of the afternoon commute?

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Reston, Va.: The extension of Metrorail out the Dulles Corridor is long overdue. The approval to enter final design is a significant next step. Based on the planning underway in Reston, Herndon and Tysons Corner, ridership will far exceed the current conservative projections that are being used to meet the FTA cost effectiveness criterion.

With rail, we will be able to transform Tysons and the office parks along the corridor into vibrant mixed use communities.

High quality rail service will enable us to get many more people out of their cars, we

Rail transit willl help us meet air quality and energy targets.

President

Dulles Corridor Rail Association

Marc Fisher: The big question, if the extension does get built, will be how Metro can handle its success--if the system is already struggling to manage ridership at current levels, how can it possibly serve significantly more passengers? It's not just a matter of buying more cars--the central bottleneck is the Potomac River crossing. Is there really the will and money to sink another tunnel across the river?

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Adams Morgan, Washington, D.C.: Will taxis still be allowed to pick up additional passengers if I am already in the cab? That is my least favorite aspect of our taxi system, especially after being berated by an additional passenger a couple weeks ago and the driver did nothing about it.

Marc Fisher: As I understand it, the new system kills entirely what I consider one of the best aspects of the zone system--that ability to pick up an extra passenger who's going in the same direction. Yes, it can be frustrating to have to stop and pick up someone else, but there are times when there are few cabs around when it's a real lifesaver to be able to add a person or two to a cab ride. This is another change that cabbies are steamed about, though it's probably good for their business, as this will create more rides.

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Just another taxi comment: I'm not for or against the meters -- I really don't care. But maybe now people will talk 7 or 8 blocks and get just a little exercise instead of taking a taxi for a quick ride. Nothing wrong with stretching the legs, getting a chance to say "hello" to somebody else passing by (though most D..C people seem to say hello without breaking pace and avoid eye contact...)

Marc Fisher: More walking is good. But the new system works both ways--it definitely encourages more walking during rush hours, but in the slack of the day, for a short hop, a cab becomes much more affordable.

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Rosslyn, Va.: For crying out loud Marc...your stubborn insistence on hinting that there will be fewer cabs and people will be lucky to get one in the near future every chance you get is annoying at best.

Come to Arlington sometime -- you have my favorite, Red Top, but you also have Blue Top, Yellow Cab, Crown Cab, Friendly Cab, EnviroCab, and a couple others I think I'm forgetting. I have never had to wait more than a couple of minutes to hail one in populated areas, nor more than a few minutes for a pickup anywhere in the 5 years I've been here. Why would D.C. have to be any different just because there are meters now? I think your suggestion that the streets are going to be deserted of taxis in a few years is preposterous, and if you're that bent on using a mostly unregulated taxi system, then maybe you should see if there are places in D.C. where you can get a jitney driver.

Marc Fisher: I hope you're right. I don't think you are, and neither do the folks who own those suburban cab companies you praise so highly. I've spoken to owners of several of those companies and they believe, as I do, that the meters will result in a dramatic decline in the number of cabbies in the city. Of course, we differ on whether that's a good thing or not--the cab company executives think it's an excellent thing because it will force fares up.

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Bethesda, Md.:"why should people have to wear masks to get a decent night's sleep in their own home?"

That's a great question. I live near NIH, which, in its neverending quest to screw up the surrounding neighborhoods, put up big parking garages that stay brightly lit all night, bathing all the nearby houses in permanent light. (Then they put ultra-noisy HVAC units on a new building, so never mind sleeping with your windows open or enjoying your porch or deck.) Wherever you live, it's always something.

Marc Fisher: That spooky new security station outside NIH is one of the most awful-looking, unnecessary and grandiose examples of the security mania that has swept through many federal agencies. Even your most insane terrorists would have to think twice before choosing a medical facility as a target--not the best of publicity, and those guys are the ultimate pub hounds.

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Helicopters: I noticed this in Columbia Heights on Tuesday. They were circling over and over and over again.

Marc Fisher: Anyone have a clue?

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Traffic?: The thing about Southern California that I noticed when I visited there (and is also true of other places like Houston) is that the distances are much longer -- the whole area is much more sprawling. I'd guess that the calculations that put us on top take into consideration not just the time in traffic, but the distances traveled. If it takes 1.5 hours to travel 11 miles, that's "worse" than 2.5 hours to travel 30 miles, even if it doesn't feel like it behind the wheel.

Marc Fisher: Very good--sounds like you're onto something.

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Washington, D.C.: What if the mayor had been called for GRAND jury duty? D.C. has several grand juries with varying terms of service, but at least one (the one for which I was called) calls for full-day service for five weeks, five days a week. And they go out of their way to tell the pool of grand jurors that job responsibilities and schedules are NOT sufficient to be excused.

(D.C. needs to reform this system, perhaps by adopting something like the Montgomery County grand jury system. The grand jury there sits for only one day a week but for a longer term.)

Marc Fisher: Another excellent question--but no one expects busy working people to commit to the extraordinary length of time that a grand jury sits. Yes, they officially claim that it's the same responsibility as regular jury service, but in fact, it's a lot easier to get out of grand jury service than it is to get out of regular jury service, and that's because there are many people who would either lose their jobs or would otherwise be badly hurt if they vanished from work for many weeks on end. So a mayor could quite easily claim hardship if called for grand jury duty.

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Dulles rail turnaround: I asked this question on another forum, and I think the answer I got was a joke. If it's not a joke, then it's a perfect example of how things work in Washington.

Who got stuck in traffic and suddenly decided that rail to Dulles was worth funding? The answer I got was, Senator Coburn from Oklahoma, who was happy to block funding last week.

I figure some VIP must've gotten stuck in traffic and missed something vitally important (like a sale at Wal-Mart). That's the only way things ever get moving in this area - when it personally affects a VIP just once. Never mind that it affects us little people every single day of our lives.

Marc Fisher: Nothing quite that fun or simple. No, this was an example of another classic aspect of life in Washington--good old lobbying. And bipartisan lobbying at that--an important point to remember in these polarized times. Tim Kaine, John Warner, Tom Davis and a slew of other business and political types from both parties leaned hard on the feds and made the difference. Maybe it helped that money that had been set aside for New York City's congestion pricing proposal was freed up after that idea blew up, but basically, this was a matter of hard political pushing by some players who knew that their careers and reputations were on the line on this .

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Washington, D.C.: Marc, surely you aren't serious about the street lights. You are aware that rapists exist and street lights are a security feature. If the District makes one single move toward eliminating street lights, you'll see protests in the streets!

Marc Fisher: No one is proposing to eliminate street lamps. The debate is over what those lamps should look like and where they should be pointed. For both safety and comfort reasons, the lights should point down directly onto the street, not sideways and up in an omnidirectional manner.

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Annandale, Va.: Marc, made my first trip to Nats Park Saturday and was very impressed. However, the concession lines made me glad I visited an Eastern Market pub for dinner before hand. Most lines looked like a 20-30 minute wait, at least. How hard can it be to serve up a dog and a beer? First couple of games I can understand, but come on, Lerner Family, let's get this down, please?

Marc Fisher: It is odd that the queues remain a problem a month into the operation. I'll be there tonight for the first time in a few weeks, so I'll check to see how it's improved, if it has. But the reader reports I'm getting are that things are somewhat better in some places, but still difficult at many stands.

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How to complain to Nationals Park?: My hubby and I went to the game on Sunday and Senators Sausages in Section 140 was out of rolls 1/2 hour before the game, and in the 7th inning, we couldn't get hot chocolate from Mayorga Coffee by Section 236 or so as they were "out of hot water." This is NUTS! You'd think if people are actually willing to pay the prices, they'd be able to take money!

Marc Fisher: So you'd think--you should let them know about your experiences. They really want to get this fixed.

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Jury Duty: If I'm ever called I plan on using the Larry David excuse from "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

Marc Fisher: Care to share with the class?

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Rockville, Md.: I took two taxis yesterday. The first one had a meter installed and he ran the meter but charged me by zone -- it was about the same price. The second taxi dropped off my colleague in the same zone where we started and then took me about a mile, into a second zone and then charged me $18 for the whole thing and wouldn't back down. He also told me that the zone system would be in effect until June (I guess because it's not being "enforced" til then?). He had a meter in the car. But it is drivers like him that make meters a good thing.

Marc Fisher: He was right to charge you by zone yesterday--today is the first day the meters are supposed to be in effect.

And he's right that the meter system won't be enforced until June, but he's wrong about using the zones today--if he has a meter installed, he must use it starting today.

And you may have been ripped off, but only slightly. If you have a second passenger who is getting off separately, then under the zone system, he counts as a separate fare, so the total for your trip if you were paying for both your friend and yourself would indeed be near that price.

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Alexandria, Va.: This might just be a guess but the traffic ratings might have something to do with traffic patterns in suburbia. If you take Fairfax, Falls Church, Montgomery Cty, Prince George's County, you have a road network that is unable to deal with the body of cars driving on them. It's probably a per capita matrix that considers DC's roads to be the most congested.

Quick question about the tennis? Do you think this has the potential to create a buzz in the area, with both Kournikova and Serena slated to play?

Marc Fisher: There hasn't been much buzz about tennis of late, but these are real name players in a city where the sport is quite popular and where the summer events at Carter-Barron have historically done well. And the downtown stadium has a great location going for it. I'd be optimistic, though an outdoor sport in the heart of the summer always has weather issues, especially if they're planning day matches. I hope it's an evening event.

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Larry David excuse from "Curb Your Enthusiasm: Well, I'm African American so I can't use it but in the show Larry got out of it by saying that he wouldn't be impartial because the defendant was black. So whatever color the defendant is, become a bigot...

I'm joking of course, wouldn't really do it.

Marc Fisher: Yikes. Long way to go to avoid doing your public duty (and the great thing about jury duty is that almost no matter how it goes, you get a great story out of it. Entertain your friends and family....)

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Springfield, Va.: Marc, speaking of radio -- what is your take on the Mike O'Meara show now that Don has departed the pattern? I personally miss Don, but really like the new show as well.

Marc Fisher: Ditto. Don Geronimo is an extraordinary talent, a great improvisational actor, a funny guy, and a hell of a showman. O'Meara does terrific voices and has a friendly manner and quick wit, but the show does feel gentler--more amusing than clever. Don's bite gave the show that what-are-they-gonna-do-next feeling that kept me tuning in. I still listen, and I want to give them time to develop, but I do miss Don.

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Yawn-ville: ENOUGH about the cab issue. It's done. Do we have to have another hour dedicated to analyzing this issue?

Marc Fisher: You're the last word on cabs today, ok?

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Bowl Game, Team Tennis, Etc.: Marc,

This country needs another college bowl game like it needs about another 15 -20 games added to both the NBA and MLB regular seasons. Geesh. There are so many meaningless and insignificant bowl games, it just becomes a joke. And I'd be surprised if the Lerners want it played at Nats Stadium. RFK is already configured for soccer so the conversion to a football field would be easier.

Concerning Team Tennis. Should be interesting to see how popular it is. But I guess if D.C. can find $611M for Nats Stadium, a few hundred K for this sport seems reasonable.

Marc Fisher: Yes, RFK makes a lot more sense. Much larger seating capacity too. And the seats actually face the field for football, whereas at Nats Park, the fit would be awkward at best.

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Woodbridge, Va.: If the PWC cops can check the immigration status of anyone they arrest, can they also check to see if they owe any back child support? Income taxes? HIV status? Ticks? Where does it end?

Marc Fisher: Roving tick checks. That could change the whole political calculus on this thing.

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Birmingham, Ala.: I love the idea of the tips only tour guides! I was in San Francisco a couple of month ago, and they have volunteers who offer walking tours of various sections of the city, and the ones I took were wonderful. You get a completely different experience from a walking tour vs. a riding tour (and I took one of those in San Fran as well). This is clearly a service that would be appreciated in DC.

Marc Fisher: I've heard today from quite a few tour guides in town, and it was nice to see that many of them don't mind these upstarts and actually wish them the best. (But quite a few really wish the kids would go away and leave this work to the supposed professionals.)

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Washington, D.C.: Marc --

Nice try to spin the fact that cabbies can pick up multiple passengers heading in the "same direction."

Here's a story. Leaving Adams Morgan with a friend at the end of the night, heading up Connecticut Ave. Cabbie literally crawls along, shouting out the window that we were heading that way, barely letting the engine idle us forward. We asked him please to go faster, it was 3 a.m., we were ready to go home. He continued to do so, but also would not stop the car to let us out. All the way over the bridge to Conn Ave, through Woodley Park, refusing to speed up, trying to solicit other fares. We continued to push at him to just go -- and the guy turned around, started yelling at my friend (a female) and I, calling both of us every name in the book -- racial/sexual orientation slurs, included.

It is absolutely ridiculous that you would claim this is an advantage. None of these people were looking for cabs. Our cabbie was trying to make a quick buck. Keep in mind, this is a money-making scheme for them -- they charge full fare to each person they pick up, and they don't have to return to the original neighborhood to get those additional fares.

I'm so sick of the cabbies in this city. They lie, they cheat, they are rude to customers, and there is no regulation. I know so many people who hvae run into situations like this with cabbies and the multiple fares thing. It's another reason zones need to go.

But I don't think you'll post this, because it counters the argument you've been pushing for years.

Marc Fisher: Ok, sorry to the poster I promised would be last on this topic, but I felt a need to post this one, if only because the writer says I won't. (Cheap way onto the board, yes, but there it is.) Anyway, you're right: Neither zones nor meters are a remotely effective way of dealing with rude, dumb or crooked cabbies. You can have a lousy experience under any fare system.

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Arlington, Va.: What's wrong with a bowl game in D.C. in December? Aren't you forgetting about global warming? I played tennis in shorts this past Christmas.

Marc Fisher: They could call it the Global Warming Bowl and sell sponsorships to oil companies and the like.

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Silver Spring, Md.: If WMATA and our various localities did get up the resolve to dig a second tunnel under the Potomac, Metro could finally open a station in Georgetown, which would take plenty of university and shopping traffic off the road. I would have to imagine that at least a few of those pricey stores along M Street would be happy to contribute to the cost of a station...

Marc Fisher: Yes, good idea, but it won't happen. The geography of crossing into Georgetown is too difficult and the expense would be off the charts.

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Yay of the Day: I think you should take some credit for DOT's re-think of their support for Metro to Dulles.

It's obvious that the reversed their previous decision just to spike one of your 2025 predictions.

Marc Fisher: Ha!

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Arlington, Va.:"And why would Navy or its opponent want to commit to this game rather than try to get into an important bowl game?"

Ummm -- Navy has had a winning record for the past several years, including a victory over ND for the first time in about 40 years, and they were invited to the Holiday Bowl. College football ain't basketball! What important bowl game do you think will invite a small east coast school that's not in one of the big conferences? Still, San Diego was nicer than D.C. was in late December. GO NAVY -- BEAT ARMY!

Marc Fisher: And what happens to the bowl game if Navy has a stinker of a season and loses 9 games?

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Baltimore, Md.: Do you think the federal approval of the Silver Line to Dulles will speed up the extension of the Green Line to BWI?

Marc Fisher: No, because Maryland has other priorities. I think you'd be far more likely to see the Purple Line going east-west before you'd see any further extensions to the north.

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McLean, Va.: If local governments had any guts (If a frog had wings....) they would plan a second Potomac crossing via a Metro spur that runs through Georgetown, then crosses the river near Key Bridge.

Georgetown Citizens Association be damned!

Marc Fisher: A larger or second span at the Key Bridge seems more plausible than a tunnel into Georgetown, but just think how the preservationists and river lovers would howl at the idea of marring the beauty of the Key Bridge views. They'd be right, of course, but if Metro is to expand, it will eventually have to figure out another passage across the river.

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NATS Land: Hi, Marc. Yesterday, I rode my bike to the Nats game for the first time, from my office at Dupont Circle and then to my home on Capitol Hill after the game (I am a bike commuter, just hadn't been to the stadium yet). I was taking my life in my hands, and I ride every day, so I'm no beginner or wimp. Now, riding in DC is no picnic at any time, but on So Cap street, it was downright frightening. Why doesn't DC have a better bike plan? Bike routes begin and end with no warning and just plain don't exist where they should. How do we go about affecting change in the bike routes? With all the people moving into these new condos it seems like a good opportunity to get people out of their cars and onto their bikes. Secondarily, I love the idea of a bike valet, but I couldn't find it!

Marc Fisher: That's not good--I've heard good things about the valet. Try riding in on New Jersey Avenue instead--there's far less traffic and it should be less harrowing.

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Alexandria, Va.: Please help me out here -- did I possibly have a Marc Fisher spotting at the Nats/Cubs game last Friday? You (if my memory serves): black shirt, khakis, darkish-framed glasses, walking near Section 127 (and not coincidentally, not far from the Dippin' Dots)? It looked a LOT like your column picture. If it was you, you are almost cute enough to make up for your dog hate.

Marc Fisher: Fraid it was not me. An imposter. But I'll take the compliment anyway--thanks!

About to sign off here, but we have some breaking news--please stand by.....

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Rockville, Md.:"Good suggestion, but why should people have to wear masks to get a decent night's sleep in their own home?"

If they won't buy blinds/shades, it's the best option. It is NOT the government's responsibility/job to make sure lights don't come in you uncovered windows. Seesh!!

Marc Fisher: But why isn't it the government's responsibility to manage its street lighting in a responsible fashion, so that it does the job it's supposed to do and doesn't waste money and energy by lighting up people's bedrooms?

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Laurel, Md.: Marc, is no news good news about Metro operation following Nats games? My family and I are planning to head down there tonight for the first time since Opening Night (don't ask). We're planning to park at the Greenbelt Metro station and take the Green Line down to the park. We're willing to take a good book and wait for the crowds to thin out as long as this happens before, say, 2 or 3 in the morning. Thanks!

Marc Fisher: It's been going quite smoothly by all reports. Go for it.

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Marc Fisher: Just in: Fox News is reporting that Tarpon Springs, Florida, police have found the body of the D.C. madam, Deborah Jeane Palfrey, an apparent suicide at her mother's home in a trailer park in the Tampa area.

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Marc Fisher: That wraps it up for today from here. More on the D.C. Madam story as the day progresses here on the big web site.

Thanks for coming along. The column is back Sunday, as is The Listener in Style & Arts. And Raw Fisher Radio returns next Tuesday with a debate over Dulles rail.

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