Washingtonpost.com: Live Online

"Levey Live: Speaking Freely," hosted by Washington Post columnist Bob Levey, appears every Friday. It is a live, open-agenda discussion offering washingtonpost.com users around the world the opportunity to ask questions and discuss topics of their choice with Bob.

Fearless Bob takes your questions about virtually everything, from sports and politics (there's a difference?) to world events, Metro area traffic and issues raised in Bob's columns.

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.

Bob Levey: Top of the afternoon to you, boys and girls. Man, do I have soccer on the brain! (yes, I own one of those).
The U.S. World Cup team came closer than it may have seemed to beating Germany. Meanwhile, my son's defending national championship team heads north to Niagara Falls in a few days to the Eastern Regionals, in an effort to repeat. Formerly Fat Bob will be on hand, of course, to wield the credit card and the car keys at the appropriate moments (thus playeth out fatherhood).
As always, we're happy to field questions for the next hour about anything at all--including recent columns about gays at high school proms, Crisfield's restaurant, bigger no-eating signs in Metro, Send a Kid to Camp and many more. Let's git goin'.....

Gays Everywhere: Robert,

A multitude of thanks for your insightful and enlightened view on gays at proms last week. Being in a minority where one is reared to be in the majority, it's extremely hard to find reassurance and support from wise sages such as yourself. I'm glad you use your influence in such a positive, responsible and proactive manner.

Cheers.

Bob Levey: Many thanks, G.E. As you read in that column, what was once a very big deal is rapidly becoming a much smaller deal, mostly because the kids are so tolerant.

Ballston, Va.: Hi, Bob -

I am nearly -sick- over the Amtrak situation. I find it mind-boggling that the US may become the largest industrialized nation without passenger train service!

Think about the federal subsidies that airports and highway systems receive, yet Amtrak is expected to be profitable on its own. Not right.

Bob Levey: My nose says this is not the emergency that it may seem to be. After all, all it would take would be for Sugar Daddy Congress to spoon out $200 million, and Amtrak would be safe for at least a while.
The structural issues would remain, however. Obviously, The Big A is going to have to spin off the Northeast Corridor service, and have the guts to kill trains that aren't profitable (even if they happen to stop in key congressional districts).

Washington, D.C.: Hi Bob! Thanks for putting out the word on Levey's list. Any chance that maybe sometime we'll be able to request a copy of the list with an e-mail instead of with a phonecall?

Bob Levey: We're working on this. But it would take more person-power than you might think.

Silver Spring, Md.: Bob --

I didn't know if you were kidding last week about the high cost of pants, but if you go to www.landsend.com to the "Overstock" tab, you will find a large selection of sale priced men's pants and trousers.

Hemming and cuffing no extra charge.

And no, I don't work for Lands End; I just shop there a lot.

Bob Levey: Wouldn't it be cheaper just to punch a couple of new holes in my belt?
I'm going to have to do it soon. I'm on the skimpiest setting now, and (weren't you dying to know this?) MY PANTS WANT TO SLIDE RIGHT OFF MY NEWLY-SLENDER HIPS!!!!!!!!!!

Washington, D.C.: I think you, Marc Fisher, Desson Howe, and Tony Kornheiser should get together for a free-for-all discussion about the World Cup!

Bob Levey: We'd probably have to rent pillows for all the snoozing we'd induce. Marc would put down the game. Desson would talk up the game. Tony would keep pointing out that it ain't football, so it doesn't deserve a Bandwagon. And Levey would keep talking about his son's team!

Washington, D.C.: Bob,

Do you think there's really that much dislike around the world for the U.S. soccer team? Or is it just some "homerism" from the writers?

Bob Levey: Clearly, the U.S. team ran into some jealousy from the world soccer press, which pointed out (correctly) that the Yanks were very, very lucky to advance as far as they did. There's also a sense that the U.S. public doesn't love soccer the way the other publics do. True today. Very false tomorrow, I suspect.

Washington, D.C.: Hi Bob! Happy Friday! Love the chats!

I've ridden Metro long enough that I thought I had seen it all--Door Barnacles, Pole Leaners, Makeup Artists, Headphones-Make-No-Differencers, Bible Shouters--everything. But the other night I saw a woman change her baby's diaper on two of the seats. I wanted your opinion. Am I just being irrational that I thought that was rude? Is it because I don't have kids that I thought this was inappropriate? Should I just have glued my eyes to my book and not thought anything of it? Just curious what your reaction would be. Thanks!

Bob Levey: I've written about this several times, always around the idea that Metro (which properly bans eating and drinking) somehow refuses to ban diaper-changing, too. The official take from on high: eating and drinking are discretionary, but changing a diaper isn't. Besides, it doesn't happen all that often.
True as far as it goes. But the measure of Metro is how well it serves everybody (not just an infant with a wet bottom). No way in the world you should have to look at this during your commute.

Arlington, Va.: Bob, in your Tuesday chat, you mentioned William Spong of Virginia being listed as the dumbest Senator and even having a press conference about it. It was William Scott, also a Senator from Virginia, who the anecdote was about. I don't remember much about Spong who was a one-term Senator and later a university president. I rememebr less about Scott.

Bob Levey: It was indeed Scott, which proves two things:
1) It's very hard to remember every last detail when you're typing at a million miles an hour.
2) I'm getting old!
Thanks for the correction.

Washington, D.C.: Bob,

I'm 37, male and gay. And about to come out to my family and friends. I don't think it'll be a cakewalk as I come from a VERY "redneckish" blue collar family. How would you deal with it if one of Your kids happened to be gay? I don't think anyone in the family has a clue about my orientation and am terrified of how they might react (I've always had "girlfriends"). Thank you.

Bob Levey: Nothing I can say will make this seamless or simple. But I've been walking the surface of the planet for a very long time, and I can offer this:
Telling the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, as early as possible, is ALWAYS the best way to go (in the long run). Don't assume that someone with a red neck lacks ears, or a heart. The whole key is: Do they love you unconditionally, and are they willing to continue doing so? If the answers are yes, why does it matter what kind of sex you choose to have?
As for my own children....
If they ever made an out-of-the-closet announcement, I would tell them I adore them (I do, of course), I would tell them that their sexuality would never get in the way of that and I would say that it's their lives, not mine. Just be safe, I would say. Don't hurt anyone else. Dont' BE hurt by anyone else.

12th Floor Metro Center: This is an odd question, but is it illegal to feed a baby on the Metro? I'm talking baby bottle here, not feeding a 2 year old a handful of crackers.

Bob Levey: Yes, it is, although the Metro cops have built a double standard here. If the baby eats a cracker, they look the other way. If the baby's parent nibbles a cracker from that same box, wham, bang, $25 fine!

Rockville, Md.: Hi Bob!

Congrats on the loose pants! How much have you lost so far? Have your healthy actions become habit, or do you still have to sort of force yourself to do it?

Bob Levey: Minus 20 pounds!
Amazing!
I don't pine for food every second. I continue to find ways to lift myself mentally past the point where I feel the urges. For instance, if I feel hunger pangs, I just get busy (or busier). Ten minutes later, I barely remember that I was hungry a short time ago.
What's become habit (and very comfortable habit) is ducking junk calories. I haven't had salad dressing for 10 weeks. Or alcohol. Or a bottled lemonade. Or dessert. However, I eat three squares, and I haven't been ravenous even once. The trick is to be vigilant about second helpings, to avoid calories that you don't BRUN to have (bad pun!) and to eat balanced meals. So far, so good.

Bowie: Oohh...

That soccer discussion suggests and idea. Maybe Live OnLine could have some joint discussions presenting opposing viewpoints.

You and Desson could discuss movies, for instance.

Bob Levey: No chance. I don't do movies. It would be a very short discussion

Washington, D.C.: Hi Bob. I am horrified at the notion of a double fence, metal detectors, and entry checkpoints around the Mall on July 4. I feel those things would go against the very thing we are supposed to be celebrating on July 4 -- namely the idea of freedom.

Your thoughts?

Bob Levey: It pains me, too. But prudence says there's no choice.
What pains me even worse is that some demagogic TV network (in Iraq? In Pakistan?) is going to shoot footage of these fences and argue that we don't really mean it about freedom. Same way the Russians used to shoot footage of southern sheriffs hosing civil rights demonstrators and toss it back in the faces of the land of the free.

Omaha, Neb.: Hi Bob. I know you are not a travel agent, but since you are the high-priest of Metro I thought I would ask you and your readers for some advice. I'm hoping to do a weekend trip to the district in late July or early August. I would like to see as much as can reasonably done in a weekend, totally relying on Metro. I'm most likely staying at hotel next to the Crystal City station. This is my first trip to the area and I would like to get a good feel for the whole, without spending too much time in lines for admittance to the hard to access areas. What are the must see items? Also, where would be a good public park that a couple can relax on the lawn with a brown-bag lunch, before resuming their sight-seeing? Thank you very much!

Bob Levey: I am SO glad to help you, and even gladder to be able to report that doing it all via Metro is not just possible, but preferable.
Bob's Must List:
Any and All Smithsonians (better figure at least one full day for these).
Vietnam Veterans Memorial (I prefer to "do" it at dusk).
Lincoln, Jefferson, Kennedy grave.
Kennedy Center (book early).
And the Holocaust Museum (a smack in the jaw, but in ultimately a good way).
Please note that tours of the Capitol and the White House are very difficult to arrange now, because of security concerns. Even if you start now, you'll have trouble booking on weekends.
Enjoy!

Washington, D.C.: Consider yourself lucky. As a small frame, short woman, with "only" five pounds to lose, my caloric intake has to drop below 1200 calories a day (it can go as high as 1300 on days that I work out). That doesn't make close to three squares a day.

Sigh.

Bob Levey: This is yet another way in which it's a man's world. I am six feet tall and had, shall we say, FAR more than five pounds to lose. Old saw: If you've got it to lose, you can lose it. Man, ain't it the truth! The first minus-20 for Bob Levey has really not been that difficult. The next 20 (yes, that's the new goal) are going to be much harder. But it's only to be expected.

Washington, D.C.: I am deeply concerned about our lack of security for the Capitol Hill office buildings. As a lobbyist, I go in and out of those buildings frequently. I have NEVER seen a guard stop someone to inspect their bag - it seems only half the time do they even look at the x-ray monitor. Disconcerting when I realized that I'd been walking in and out of the buildings for several days with a three inch, all metal paring knife (forgot it was in my bag). ummmm.... hello? I'm no security freak, but that's just ridiculous (both the knife and the fact that I've never seen a bag searched)

Bob Levey: Terry Gainer (who just took over the U.S. Capitol Police) is aware of this, I'm sure. If not, we just made him aware

Arlington, Va: Senator Scott, voted the most stupid Senator in l980, said once that he visited the Khyber Pass in Afghanistan because he'd never been there before.

Bob Levey: I believe he took stupid lessons from Spiro Agnew or Jim Traficant

Laurel, Md.: No doubt that soccer is a fun sport to watch and play, even though it has its detractors. But what do you say to those "soccer snobs" who like to bash every other sport? Is it possible to like baseball and American football while enjoying soccer too?

Bob Levey: Excellent point. Of course it's possible to like many sports in many ways. I agree that pitchers are sometimes fat, and that baseball often stops for a full minute so the batter can adjust his, um, lower midsection. But that doesn't mean that a close play at home is a bore. Or that a clutch free throw is. Or that a goal-line stand is.

Castle Shannon, Pa.: Bob, if you had anything to do with Paul Fahri starting his bi-weekly chat on radio/tv, thank you!

Bob Levey: I didn't. But I agree. It's a fascinating world, and Paul is a very bright (and very well-versed) guy

Vienna, Va.: Twenty pounds is my target weight loss. I'm losing a little here and there.

When I read that you are eating three satisfying meals a day I wonder if you could tell me what you eat for breakfast. For me the biggest problem is going from breakfast to lunch with soda and snacks. But haven't found a breakfast that will carry me thru.

Bob Levey: My daily dose:
One cup of Fiber One cereal (it only hurts for a while). Cover it with about half a cup of skim milk.
One banana.
One glass of orange juice (about 12 ounces).
Two pieces of plain rye toast.
Black coffee.
Total calories: 540.
Carry-you value: About five hours.

Herndon, Va.: As a native Nebraskan, I feel my home state "owns" the best quote about its senators. In the late 40s/early 50s when Ken Wherry (who owned a funeral parlor) was the GOP whip, the other Nebraska senator was Hugh Butler - a tall, emaciated-looking individual. Seeing the pair together, someone remarked, "Nebraska is the only state in the union represented by an undertaker and a corpse."

Bob Levey: Wasn't it Sen. Roman Hruska (also of Nebraska) who said, during the confirmation battle over one of Nixon's Supreme Court nominations, that mediocrity deserves to be represented on the Court, too?

Bowie, Md.: Bob:

Did your son's team used to be Potomac, and is now Bethesda? If so, why the switch? And how will they do without Freddy Adu, or is he playing? A friend of mine coaches the rival Bowie team - what position is your son? I tried to figure it out last time they played.

As a fellow U of C alum, and soccer nut, I'm a big fan.

Bob Levey: My son's team was indeed the Potomac Cougars when they won it all a year ago. It's now the Bethesda Internationals. We switched because of political reasons so complicated that Robert Caro would have to write a book about them. Suffice it to say: Bethesda was a more welcoming club, in many ways.
Freddy Adu is indeed playing for the Internationals. He is an amazing player--a 13-year-old who is already the best player on the United States under-17 national team. It has all been said about Freddy, and it's all true. So is this: He's a great kid. Not a stuck-up jerk in any way. And he REALLY wants to repeat as national champs. With him on the field, that's no pipe dream.
My son has played many positions for this team, but this season, he has generally played right marking back. He's number 2, for those of you keeping score.
Thanks for asking. By the way, the U of C is beginning to develop in the world of soccer, n'est-ce pas?

Arlington, Va.: Bob, you were a police reporter. In reference to the Chandra Levy family's private detective, is it normal for the police to ask someone like that to take a lie detector test? These tests used to be what the late Sam Ervin called "modern witchcraft." Why are they suddenly a cure-all for everything, both here and in Utah?

Bob Levey: Lie detector tests and DNA tests are now as common as drawing a breath

Nani, Texas: Kids are naturally tolerant, enjoy and appreciate the differences in each other until adults teach them intolerance, hate and fear. Thanks for your lovely column on gay couples and prom.

Bob Levey: You know the great, great song in "South Pacific" called "You've Got to be Taught?" Go get a CD of it and listen. Says the same thing. And the melody is haunting! Thanks for a great point.

Washington, D.C.: Bob,

Do you always wait on your one movie a year until the end of the year? Ever cheat and see more than one?

And does that count movies on TV/rented from Blockbuster as well?

Bob Levey: Yes, I'm a one-a-year man regardless of whether we're talking a theater or a rental (and usually, we're talking a rental--why spend ten bucks so some kid can jabber throughout the movie, and start a chocolate-covered peanut fight with another kid across the theater).
I see my one-a-year whenever my handlers (otherwise known as my kids) decide that THIS IS THE ONE. So far in 2002, they haven't said that. I can't tell you how deeply it will disappoint me if they never do.

Eastern Market: The Post story in yesterday's paper about the armed robbery on Metro was frightening. I read it as passengers were chasing the 2 robbers; what was the kiosk attendant doing? The crossword puzzle or clipping his nails?

Bob Levey: Every kiosk attendant has an instant connection to the cops. You ask a very good question. He/she should/could have done much more, from the sound of it.
Most of the kiosk attendants I see are handicapping the horse races. Or chatting up some girl.

Every town, USA: I would ride Amtrak -everywhere- they go if they weren't so expensive. 100% of the time I can get a cheaper flight than a train ticket -- and get there in far less time.

In Europe it costs pennies on the dollar to train around. So what if it takes longer than flying if it only costs 1/10 the price? Not so in the USA - why would I ever pay MORE money to take the slow train? For example: To get from New Orleans to DC takes several DAYS and costs a -bundle- but I can take a 4 hour flight any day of the week for about $160.

Doesn't Amtrak realize that this is a huge problem for them? I'd be willing to bet their trains would be packed with passengers if their prices were more in line with what you get for your money.

Bob Levey: Of course, the reason it's so expensive is that Amtrak has such huge costs to cover. Ity wouldn't if it had molted into three railroads a long time ago: One for the Northeast Corridor, one between pairs of major cities and one for the San Diego-San Francisco corridor.

Laurel, Md.: I've been waiting 25 years for the alledged elevation of soccer to major sport because so many played it as teenagers, and I simply don't buy it.

If that was the case, where's the spectator sport interest in women's field hockey or serious wrestling (not WWF-style), both of which are popular participant sports in schools.

Bob Levey: The day field hockey and serious wrestling BEGIN to rival hoops and football (or even lacrosse) at most high schools, I'll agree with you. Not even close to being the case today

To Nebraska: Hiya!

Hope you enjoy your stay in our pleasant little village. My favorite quiet outdoor place to go is on the Tidal Basin, between the FDR Memorial and the bridge to the paddle boats. It's the quietest part of that loop around the basin, and you can just sit on the benches, gazing across at the Jefferson memorial, under the branches of the cherry trees. And, every once in a while, US Gov helicopters swoop overhead, and the awe of DC is pretty overwhelming.

Have a safe trip!

Bob Levey: Nice take! Of course, I "intuited" that the Nebraskas wanted to DO things while here, and not just wander about. You still aboard the chat, Nebraskas? If so, do you want Bob's Suggestions For Beautiful Vistas and Nice Places to Walk?

Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.: Oh, most esteemed and knowledgable citizen of the District, could you help me with some embarrassingly basic voting questions?

A few months ago I moved about seven blocks (different zip code). Do I need to re-register to vote? Where would I go to do that? Are there any online options?

Also (and here's the really stupid part), what are we voting for? I know Tony and Eleanor will be on the ballot, but what about the other low-profile elections? Does/will The Post have profiles of the lower profile candidates? WETA or WAMU had those last election, and it was an incredible help for me on stuff like the school board where I am woefully uninformed.

Thanks for indulging me, Mr. Levey!

Bob Levey: Yes, you must re-register. You can do it via the D.C. Board of Elections. Not sure if you can do it on-line, but it wouldn't surprise me.
In addition to Tony and Ellie, a few council seats are up, including Mendelson's at-large seat (the one that Marion Barry toyed with running for, remember?).

World Cup: Why can't it happen every two years? Do we really have to wait four years before the US can once again prove itself to the skeptical soccer/football commmunity ?

Bob Levey: Every-two would cheapen it, int he same way that every-two would cheapen the Olympics.
The every-four U.S. presidency is already cheapened, however! Thanks, Bill.

Arlington, Va.: I wanted to pass along a touching scene I witnessed this morning.

As you are probably aware, the US Soccer Federation has been frustrated by the level of support showing up for the Latin American teams whenever they face the US national team at RFK stadium. Well this morning as I was heading off to work, late, of course, after watching the US-Germany game, I drove past three young boys -- given the demographics of my neighborhood, Salvadoran -- all with their faces painted red, white, and blue. Two were trying to console the third, who was sobbing uncontrollably.

Bob Levey: Nice report! Here's mine:
I was doing my every-year physical this morning. My doc's office is on 19th Street, between L and M. He finished taking down my latest whines and moans and beckoned me to the window. The US-Germany game had about 10 minutes left in it, and they were PACKED outside the windows of Rumors, a club on 19th.
Did someone say that soccer wasn't a good TV sport?

Somewhere, USA: Boy, do I have an unusual question for you. Maybe it's better suited to Hax, but I'm going to ask you anyway, Bob, because I trust your opinion. Got married, January 2001. Almost 18 months ago. Recently discovered that about 30 (out of like 300) thank you notes were still in my drawer. They're written and addressed, but somehow never got sent. Yikes. So, do I just send them on? Do I rewrite them and apologize, and if so, do I add an explanation, or do I just leave it at "I'm a jerk, sorry"? Help me out here, fellow chatters.

Bob Levey: Send them all, with a note on top of each that says:
"Now I know what they mean about marriage being a full-time job! So sorry to be so late with this!" Anyone with a drop of compassion in his/her veins will forgive you, big time.

Metro Media Relations: We have to take exception to your "wham, bang, $25 fine" statement for an adult or parent eating a cracker. Far more often than not, we give verbal warnings, especially to first time offenders (tourists) or persons in special situations (parents feeding children, or feeding themselves!). We then have the option of writing a warning, or an actual citation. In the scenario you mentioned, the offending cracker-consumer would likely get off with a polite but firm warning.

Bob Levey: I know this, and it doesn't delight me. Tough, firm enforcement of the laws would bring a SHOWER of cheers from the body politic. Letting people eat on trains and then letting them off with a slap on the wrist isn't any better, really, than not enforcing the laws at all.

Sterling, Va.: A mystery: Last Saturday after the Bocelli concert at MCI center, I witnessed an accident or "incident" waiting for the orange line at Metro center. A person apparently stepped off the platform in front of the on-coming train.

Orange Line was shut down (this was Saturday June 15 at about 10:30 p.m.); had to take a taxi to an outlying station to get home. We were standing only about five feet from the individual when this happened and we watched as a Metro employee told to the person under the now-stopped train to "roll over under the ledge." Am very curious why there has been no story in the Post or on TV or anywhere about this incident. Was the person injured?

Bob Levey: Injured but not killed

Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.: Bob,

Why, given the huge number of streets closed Wednesday due to the bomb scare near the Federal Reserve, were there no police out directing traffic?

There's gridlock all over downtown, and no police anywhere.

Even if they couldn't have solved the problems, they could have at least helped out, right?

Bob Levey: I saw zillions of cops all around McPherson Square, and along K Street toward K and Eye

Norman, Okla.: Good morning.

OK, now I'm starting to get worried. On the Padilla case, there's NO question he's NOT a saint, but a terrorist? (I don't know of many former gangsters that go on to become terrorists.) The government says that their evidence is he was a former gangster and looked at an AQ website and a bomb-making website. They also say he met with AQ though they have no evidence. Yet, even as an AMERICAN citizen, he is being held indefinitely WITHOUT charges and without lawyer contact as an "enemy combatant", though he NEVER fired a single shot.

I get worried when American citizens start getting jailed for crime they MIGHT commit. I'm all for locking up the bad guys and preventing terrorism but NOT this way. There's got to be a better way.

Bob Levey: This guy is about as much of a terrorist as my left foot is. he's a street thug. But even street thugs who are U.S. citizens deserve equal protection under the law (a provision of the constitution--I invite the Bush administration to look it up).

Washington, D.C.: Dear Mr. Levey:

Hello, there! Thank you for providing this fun forum about all things Washington. I look forward to it every Friday. I understand that Washington will be holding a city-wide book club where all residents will be encouraged to read the same book and then discuss it. I thought that it was going to take place this summer. Can you please tell me what you know about this and how to become involved? Thank you.

Bob Levey: This idea was floated and then abandoned, from what I hear. Not only had Chicago and New York already done this, but it was very hard for Washington to agree on a single book.

Arlington, Va.: Bob, if you want to mention old-time politicians, there was Francis Case of South Dakota who stood up on the floor of the Senate and noted that someone tried to bribe him and, therefore, he was voting against what the briber wanted even though he would normally favor it. I think it was about something called Dixon-Yates. We now have a small bridge on the parkway leading out of DC toward the 14th Street Bridge named after Senator Case. Is this the only monument we have to an honest man?

Bob Levey: Never heard about the Good Mr. Case. Thank you for furthering my education.
I believe he has also been memorialized as the guy whose name is on every collection of 24 beers.
Yes, I DID have to.......

Washington, D.C.: Can you post this for the Metroids to see?

My complaint is perhaps minor, but bothersome nonetheless. It concerns the signs in the Gallery Place-Chinatown station on the lower level (Green/Yellow level). The big signs on the walls, that passengers waiting for trains see on the far wall, are absolutely filthy with dust, dirt, grime, etc. They are so dirty that the red dot signifying the Red Line is almost invisible. I know they clean the stations on a regular basis, why can't they clean off those signs? I see those signs every day, and I refuse to believe that they clean those signs nightly and they get re-dirtied that badly by 9:00 am.

Rant over. Thanks Bob. I really hope this helps.

Bob Levey: For the eyes of the Metroids.... Thanks

20781: Bob, I think it would be a good idea for a building or company in downtown D.C. to adopt a statue. This is the same idea of adopt a road in the local jurisdictions, except that the recently vandalized democrat and republican statues could be looked after by the building/company closest to the statue. This would mean that the statues have someone reporting any vandalization or even cleaning them when scuffed, spilled on, etc. Why not extend it to the other smaller statues in D.C.?

Bob Levey: Nice idea. Should I get behind this in Bob Levey's Washington? I just may. Thanks

Fairfax, Va.: As for the diapering an infant on the metro. Sometimes there is no other option. It isn't like there is somewhere to change them at the metro stations (you can throw away your drinks and food...). In many cases, my child included, they will scream and cry until they are changed. Would you rather have 3 minutes of diaper changing (and wrapping up of any smelly diapers, so you don't have to smell it), or listen to a screaming baby for 20 minutes?

Bob Levey: I'd rather you change the child, pre-emptively, BEFORE you board the train.

Chevy Chase, Md: Bob,

Whatever happened to Warren Brown's chats? I really enjoyed them and still enjoy his car pages column. Please tell us his health is OK.

Thanks,
Concerned

washingtonpost.com: Warren's on book leave, but will be back in business with us some time this summer. Stay tuned. -- The Management.

Bob Levey: Happy to be a medium (a HAPPY medium!) between you clicksters and the brass at washingtonpost.com

Voting again: Hi, Bob! Thanks for all the info, but I've got one more. Will it be okay for me to vote if my ID (driver's license) still has the old address?

I know, I know. These questions are really lame. Thank goodness for ananymous forums.

Bob Levey: They SHOULD accept your vote even if your driver's license doesn't show your new address. But don't be amazed if there's a hassle. What they usually do if there's a dispute is to seal your ballot separately and rule on it that night, as the rest of the ballots are being counted.

Arlington, Va.: I think the proof of the fact that the U.S. is not yet there as a soccer nation can be seen in our polite, "aw shucks" (at least initially) response to our loss to Germany, after getting ROBBED of a goal (or at least a penalty kick), in comparison with the sense of tragedy that Italy seems to have undergone the past few days.

Bob Levey: I'm happy to see our guys (and our fans) underdo things, if the alternative is burning cars and trashing phone booths. or would you rather see a scene like the one in College Park after Maryland's basketball victory? And remember, that was a VICTORY! Would they have burned down all of PG County if the Terps had lost?

Weekend plans: Do you know of anything interesting happening this weekend around town? What are your plans?

Bob Levey: I'm on all-soccer-all-the-time duty. Our guys have a tune-up two-day tournament in Hagerstown, before heading north to Niagara next Friday. I still have this much social usefulness left: I can drive, and my son can't (yet). So I'll be plying I-70 for most of the weekend, and screaming "Keep your shape!" from the sidelines.

Arlington, Va.: Hey Bob, I saw you on NewsChannel 8 the other afternoon around 4ish (you're up against Oprah, so now I know why you despise her!). Anyway, I'm an unemployed loner so I have lots of free time on my hands. I just wanted to say that YOU LOOK GREAT! Your face is noticably thinner. (It was just a head shot, so I couldn't tell about the rest of you.) Kyle Osbourne looks thinner too. Is he on the Levey plan?

Bob Levey: You're a sweetie! FYI, the ratings for our NewsChannel8 show are now ahead of the ratings for CNN during the 4-5 p.n. hour! Oprah, you're next!
By the way, I agree that Kyle looks skinnier, although he denies doing anything as rash as I've been doing. Incidentally, Kyle is a VERY talented performer. If you haven't watched him, rectify that horrid oversight as soon as you can. He's still a very young man, and one of these days, he's going to be a very big star. I'll even interrupt my shuffleboard game to watch him.

Laurel, Md.: Levey's List question: your column seemed to imply that only large items such as furniture qualified to be on the List. How about old computers? I have had this DX-486 computer, 20 mb disk space, Windows 3.1, sitting around for quite awhile. Would this qualify as something to submit to the List? Too old a computer?

Bob Levey: Old computers certainly do qualify AS LONG AS THEY WORK. Please, no computers that "just need a couple of parts." That doesn't help anyone, least of all a poor person without any money.
Incidentally, basic rules for Levey's List are that we'll take any "large" item. "Large" means too large and/or heavy for one person to lift. Chairs, TV sets, cars, refirgertors are OK. Art, rugs, clothes and sports equipment are not

Rockville, Md.: Does it not alarm anyone that our government is holding military prisoners (including citizens) with no rights when Congress has not declared war. As I recall they are the only body that can do so, realizing that a president can act if seeking a declaration of war -- I have not seen any effort that way. When is somebody going to point out the rules, after all isn't that what we are fighting to maintain -- OUR rights as fought for by many before us?

Bob Levey: I've been wondering for months where the heck Congress is in this debate. Mighty silent, eh? If I were one of the 435 in the House, I'd be SCREAMING about this.

Stuck in research world...: What was the name of the woman whistleblower in the Enron case? I am drawing a blank.

Help!

The Uber Levey Fan

Ps. Very touching column today.

Bob Levey: Sherron Watkins.
Thanks for the kind words about today's.

Diapers on metrorail: Bob,
Say I am taking my infant on a 30 minute metro ride...are you saying that she should have to sit in it for that time? Then the other riders would complain about the screaming kid.

It is not pretty to change a diaper...but that is what happens when there are babies..

Clearly, the complainer would have a different perspective if they had children.

Bob Levey: See previous answer about pre-emptive changing./
However, I agree that the world divides pretty neatly into Those With Kids and Those Without. Even in non-smelly, non-health-threatening situations involving kids on the subway, I feel a sharp tug of compassion toward the parent on duty. If a kid is wriggling with boredom, or crying, I just want to march over and say: "Hey, kid! My name is Bob and I make about the GREATEST dumb faces you've ever seen!" Just to give the Mom or Dad a little cover.

Re: voting in DC: I moved 6 years ago and my voter registration is still at my old address. I changed my address, but they screwed it up twice so I never fixed it. Never once have I had to show ID. I just tell them my name and go on my merry way. Kinda scary, isn't it?

Bob Levey: Very.

Falls Church, Va.: Bob,

Old computers (i.e., 486, Win 3.1) are really useless to anyone, rich or poor. You can't get any new software for it, and finding a web browser or modem software or any of the nowadays-necessary soft or hard parts for it is impractical.

Best to pass on the old clunkers.

Bob Levey: But if you're, say, a penniless grad student who just wants it to be a word-processor, and old 486 is perfect

Arlington, Va.: Do you know anything about an interesting entourage waiting for someone at National Airport on Sunday evening? There were about 30 black men in suits and hats from various eras waiting in and around baggage claim, along with a LOT of cops, from Arlington as well as Capitol Hill.

Bob Levey: No idea. However, I'd guess a diplomat or a Supreme Court justice

Arlington, Va.: Bob, I've been going to the 4th of July festivities on the Mall since the '60s. But though I've served in the military and am now in a law-enforcement job, I don't understand the security proposals for this year, particularly the double fence. What, exactly, are they trying to protect? Like it or not, Americans live in a "target rich" environment, e.g., a suicide bomber can attack almost any sporting event, carnival, or subway stop on any given day. It seems to me that the 4th of July crowd is more threatened by that fence if something DOES occur; can you imagine the stampede for the exits if there's an incident?

I'd much rather that the fireworks were displayed with their usual openness and let us decide whether to go (I would, without hesitation). I realize that times have changed, but the irony of celebrating our Independence Day with metal detectors and fencing appalls me.

Bob Levey: I believe the double fence is designed to make it tough for someone to drive a truck (laden with bombs) right up to the front

Falls Church, Va.: Diapers: C'mon Bob! You should know how unpredictable babies are, elimination-wise. I changed my son "preemptively" and he delivered a major event two minutes before his baptism! Sometimes it just isn't possible to time these things correctly!

Bob Levey: Sure. Sometimes. But other times, it's very possible.
It's also very possible to get off the train if your kid "lets loose," change his diaper on one of the granite benches, and reboard the next train

Rockville, Md.: Observed on the Metro during a rush hour morning: Woman had her four kids seated. Another woman gets on the train and asks two of the kids to share a seat or sit on each other's lap so the newcomer could have a seat. When it was pointed out to the newcomer that there was another empty seat, newcomer utters, "Can you believe that, bringing kids on the metro during rush hour."

Bob, is there some new rule that kids aren't allowed on metro during rush hour? What happened to first come, first seated?

Bob Levey: Some people were never kids, I guess. Wow!

Bob Levey: That'll have to do, chers amis. See you next friday, at the same time of day--from beautiful Niagara Falls!

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