Bob Levey (Barbara Tyroler)

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Levey Live: Speaking Freely
Washington Post Columnist
Friday, Nov. 22, 2002; 1 p.m. ET

"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.

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: Good afternoon, Nanooks and other residents of the frozen north. If you haven't been outside lately, bundle up. It got wintry all of a sudden.
Of course, this weekly chat never makes the blood run cold, and we hereby invite your heated comments about whatever you like: recent Levey columns, the news, anything that floats your boat. As always, we'll run for the next 60 minutes or so.
Ready? Set? ..........

Washington, D.C. Bob-

Just wanted to give a thumbs-up to the Metro announcer who was on board the Blue Line to Addison Road that arrived at Foggy Bottom around 7:28am this morning. Instead of the usual garbled or boring announcement of the next station stop, this man(in a great radio announcer voice) wished everyone a good morning, and gave helpful advice about Metro(including the lost and found phone number). He also embellished the standard announcements, my favorite was "we are now departing the lovely commonwealth of Virginia, we should be arriving in the nation's capitol shortly"! There were quite a few chuckles from the otherwise silent and glum passengers and it made for a great start to an otherwise gray and foggy morning. If the Metro people are lurking, please give this man kudos for a job well done.

Bob Levey: Kudos electornically forwarded. Thanks for weighing in, and thanks for paying tribute. I don't like it when Metro drivers are too showbizzy, but it sound as if this person had the proportions just right.

Kingstowne, Va.: What are Levey's plans for Thanksgiving? Hitting the road or celebrating at home? Will you be live next Friday?

Bob Levey: Chowing down with mucho family at the Levey's minor mansion on Thursday. Then right back here to the old type-type machine on Friday morning. Hey, SOMEBODY's got to work that day.
By the way, there will be NO "Levey Live: Speaking Freely" next Friday (the 29th). This entire Web site will be dark that day (as it often is just before or after major national holidays).

Chantilly, Va.: Mr. Levey --

Long time reader, first time poster.

I've gotten used to the "look how well we covered the snow/rain/wind storm" that's typically prevalent after these storms. However, shortly after the snipers were arrested, I saw the same type of ads coming from local stations and was appalled. Yes, there was an inordinate amount of coverage (which was important given the regional crisis we were in); however, I find this type of back-patting a little much given the type of crisis.

What're your thoughts on these?

Bob Levey: Please forgive me cynicism, but November is sweeps month. That means the ratings count in a big way. That means that anything a station can do to call attention to itself will be done--and done--and done.

Alexandria, Va.: Bob, can you believe The Post did a story on Amazon's decision to sell the Segway? Why is this news? Who in their right mind would pay $5,000 for a scooter when they can walk? Do we really need another gadget to encourage us to exercise LESS? No wonder this country is so fat.

Bob Levey: Exactly why it was a story. America will pay any price, bear any burden, to be a) trendy and b) unfit. This is only the most recent evidence.

Denver, Colo.: Hi Bob:
Wondering if you can help explain the "news hook" underlying all the Al Gore coverage? If it's his book, then sign me up to write one-a those, too, provided I get the same amount of press coverage. If he's "testing the waters" for 2004 then why are so many reputable news organizations buying into the PR blitz? The last week or so stikes me as being a patent example of how many reputable parts of the media are manipulated by aggressive PR.

Bob Levey: If Gore hadn't been observing radio silence for the last 18 months, I don't think you'df be seeing the Total Barbara Wa-Wa Treatment. But the guy is news--even more so since no one knows what he'll do in 2004. To get a shot at him is to hope that he'll "commit news" by saying something he hasn't said a zillion times. So far, that hasn't come close to happening. But (see earlier post) it's also sweeps month, and the guy did win the majority of the 2000 popular vote. So (the suits figure) even if he doesn't say a thing of note, he migth fun some fannies in the seats.

Alexandria, Va.: I recently encountered a problem with the National Airport 30-minute rule that I thought you might want to add to your ever growing list of reasons why the rule should go. It has to do with harassment, Bob. I am a 20-something woman who travels often. On a recent flight out of National, the seat next to my window seat was empty until moments before we began to taxi, when an older man took it. I did not notice immediately, but he had evidently spent a good amount of time in an airport bar. Long story short, I tried to hide behind my book as this guy made all kinds of loud obnoxious comments about all sorts of things. Then he turned his attention to me, making lewd comments and guestures and even touching me. The flight attendants were aware of the problem (so was the whole plane). I pressed the call button and asked a flight attendant if I could be moved to another seat, but she said there was nothing she could do because of the 30-minute rule. For 30 minutes I was trapped between this drunk harasser and the airplane window. I have never been so frightened, humiliated and angry in my life. Until the rule goes, I'm flying from Dulles or BWI (and sitting in an aisle seat).

Bob Levey: This is absolutely ridiculous. The airline is lucky if you don't sue.
The technical definition of assault is what happened to you. This guy committed a crime by touching you, and the stupidity of the 30-minute rule meant that the flight crew couldn't do anything about it. Excuse me? How does that make any sense, or make anyone safer in the air?
Say it again with me:
The 30-minute rule's gotta go.

Washington, D.C.: Can the Metroids get their train drivers to set a standard volume on the intercom? Not too loud and not too low. There are trains where the volume is very loud and then there are cars where you can't here a thing the person says.

It's bad enough that you can't here the stations as they are being anounced but, I would hate to have an emergency occur and the passengers not be able to hear what is taking place.

Bob Levey: The volume never varies. It's a question of how close to the microphone the driver wants to get. I've seen/heard the same phenomenon, and I can't see why it's so hard. Get right up close to the blessed thing, you guys (and girls), and you'll have a train full of satisfied customers.

Washington, D.C.: The best headline I have ever seen over was an article about high school basketball -- a Catholic school team, I assume --in the New York Times sports section: "Christ the King Aims for Revenge."

Do assume that these headline writers often know exactly what they're doing, and this is how they get their kicks?

Bob Levey: Great head! Thanks
You'll never meet a larger collections of wags than you'll find on a newspaper copy desk. But writing a head as an inside joke is a very good way to be a former copy editor.

Arlington, Va.: I know that picking at local television news is like shooting fish in a barrel, but I was still stunned this week by the number of stories I saw (or, rather, saw the same story repeated) on the Victoria's Secret television special -- talk about overexposure! -- and the assault of the prostitute by the three teenagers from Potomac.

The former had absolutely no business taking up time in a local news broadcast, and the later, as shocking as the alleged crime may be, was clearly repeated so often due to the titillation factor.

Bob Levey: Let's say it one more time:
During sweeps month, you're lucky you didn't see these two stories once every ten minutes.
Sex sells.
You heard it here first.
By the way, the dopiest idea I ever heard was 18 years ago, when I was working as a commentator at WJLA-TV. It was sweeps month, and the news director convened a meeting. The core audience of JLA was a little bit older than the audience of other stations. What could be done about it?
Some junior desk guy suggested a series. It actually ran. The promos were "voiced" by a man with a basso profundo. He said:
"AIDS and the elderly. Film at 11."
PS: almost no elderly people have AIDS, or ever have. It was sheer titillation, aimed at "holding" the segment this station already had.

Ballston, Va.: Hi Bob! I know you're a big proponent of the Metro system, and I ride it everyday, but I have a problem I hope you can help me to understand. I get on at Ballston and I don't have to be at work until 9 or later. So when I get there after 8:45 I have to wait forever for a train.

Why are there so many outbound trains (to Vienna) (sometimes three come by before one inbound train arrives) with no passengers, and it's not even 9 -- so I'm still paying rush hour? After 8:45 the trains come very slowly -- and at almost 9 they come at least six minutes apart, when they should be coming three minutes apart.

Why can't Metro get their timing right? So many people don't have to be into work until a little after 9, so there are many people on my crowded, infrequent trains. Yet, there are empty and frequent trains going out to Vienna? Thanks!

Bob Levey: I'm guessing here, but I think that what you're seeing are trains deadheading out to Vienna so they can return along the downtown-bound route. You might also be seeing a "clumping" of Vienna-bound service, caused by delays, mechanical problems, or both.
Remember that life ain't perfect in Metro-land. The system is very short on cars, so it has a very hard time regularizing rush hour service. As today's Post made clear, all it will take will be $12 billion, and you'll never have another thing to worry about!

12th Floor Metro Center: Bob, I thought I'd seen it all on Metro, but apparently I was wrong. A couple of days ago, I witnessed two women in wheelchairs on an elevator. When the doors opened, the one woman banged into the other woman with her chair so she could exit first and make the train that was at the station. Turns out she was in such a hurry she left her bag in the elevator so she missed the train anyways.

Bob Levey: Serves her right.
But just be glad TV didn't get wind of this during sweeps month.
Basso profundo:
"Daredevils play wheelchair bump-and-run in Metro! Film at 11!"

Tysons Corner, Va.: Bob,

May I please rant for a moment via your wonderful forum.

Why, on a thick pea-soup kind of morning like today, do people not turn on their headlights? I must have flashed my lights at several dozen cars this morning (and yesterday), and only ONE person turned his car's lights on in response. I would be willing to bet a sizable chunk of cash that, in the majority of the accidents this morning, at least one of the parties involved was driving with lights off.

A public service announcment: I believe that cars with daytime running lights do not automatically turn on the rear lights. This obviously makes cars hard to see from behind. Please, turn on the headlights manually so that the rear lights will turn on as well.

PEOPLE: YOU ARE NOT VISIBLE IN THE FOG IF YOUR CAR'S LIGHTS ARE NOT ON!

Sheesh. Thank you, Bob. I feel much better.

Bob Levey: Thanks for the kind words, and the sound arguments. By the way, the law requires motorists to use their lights whenever they use their wipers.

Md.:: Hi, Bob and Posters -- Happy TGIF!

I loved your list of headlines today. I grew up in Howard County, which has a local newspaper (The Times) and a small town named Savage. I recall a couple headlines concerning activities in that town. Two come to mind -- "Savage Firemen Hold Annual Carnival" and "Savage Scouts Return from Camp." I wish I had clipped and saved those.

Bob Levey: There's a town in Pennsylvania named "Intercourse." Can you imagine what some squirrel must have in his attic up thattaway, in the way of hilarious headlines?

Arlington, Va.: I have to share some of my favorite headlines: "Panda Lectures at Zoo" (from the Washington Post!); "Horse Kicks off Reading" (from an Arlington paper); and "Big Ugly Child Found" (from a West Virginia paper about a town called Big Ugly and one of its missing residents). Ain't ambiguity great!

Bob Levey: That "Big Ugly" head is terrific! Tell em more about that town, if you know. Who in his right mind would give that name to a town? Or maybe that's it: whoever did it was likkered up a bit?

Wheaton, Md.: Bob, I think you are right on target with your assessment of people who "adopt" a Southern drawl as some sort of aw-shucks affectation. But you are way off-base with your criticism of people who say "Warshington." That is simply a true Maryland accent, endemic to those of us who actually grew up in the state. It's a derivative of the type responsible for "Bawlmer." Please show a little respect, OK Hon.?

Bob Levey: No disrespect intended, Hon.

Centreville, Va.: My wife and I are looking for a single family home in the Centreville, Sterling or South Riding area. Your thoughts on a brand new home as opposed to a home say 8-10 years old.

I'm not Bob Vila, so we are leaning toward a brand new home.

Bob Levey: Having never bought a home that was LESS than 40 years old, you know where I'm coming from on this.
New homes always feel a little like motels to me. A little too bright, a little too pastel-ish, a little too cookie-cutterish. I love dark wood walls, and rooms that can accurately be called hideaways. Maybe I was meant to live in a castle in the midlands of England. Unlucky. I never will. But that doesn't mean I have to love a place whose front door is made out of fiberglass, not oak.
As for durability, I find that the cliche is true: They don't make 'em the way they used to. Our current home (built in 1928) is as solid as a rock. Sure, things break. But I never hear wind whistle through walls.

Prince George's County, Md.: Bob, I was glad to see your column on illegal tree-trimming. I have a related question. I would like to plant a tree in front of my house, but my front yard is not very big. I actually want to plant it in the area between the sidewalk and the street. (There are other trees planted in that strip -- just not near my house.)

Do you think I will get in trouble?

Bob Levey: Not much, if any. Just realize that if you plant the tree in that strip, you will no longer own it, or be legally able to trim it. It's as if you'll be donating a tree to Prince George's County.

Laurel. Md.: About news during sweeps month, one of the only Post political cartoons I've ever cut and saved showed six panels of an anchor at a news desk:

6:00 - Are socks the hidden menace in your house?
7:00 - Do socks hold a secret?
8:00 - Are your socks actually against you?
9:00 - Socks, are they up to no good?
10:00 - Are there things you don't know about your socks?
11:00 - No.

Bob Levey: These days, the 11 o'clock panel would read : "Kinky, Bisexual Socks on the Internet. Don't go away!"

Alexandria, Va.: Bob,

I'm wondering if you feel as slighted as I do about this issue:

My husband and I own a VCR. We don't own a DVD player. Buying a DVD player would mean that we would have to convert our current library of VHS movies to DVD (expensive!) and use our DVD player to play things and use our VCR to record things (redundant, inconvenient, inefficient) or buy a recordable DVD player (expensive!).

Normally, I'm not much of a Luddite. I embrace technology where it makes sense -- not technology for technology's sake. And, until recently, I was wondering when we were going to get around to purchasing a DVD player.

But, now I'm mad.

Whenever I go into my favorite movie-buying stores (Target, Blockbuster, etc.) I keep seeing their VHS inventory shrinking or disappearing altogether. I'm told that the manufacturers of DVD players have been leaning on retailers to stop carrying VHS tapes. This is what upsets me. Most folks I know still have only a VCR.

Is this to be our fate when it comes to digital TV, too? Do the cogs of commerce get to decide that, all of a sudden, the $1,000 worth of TVs in my house will be obsolete and I'll be forced to buy a new, very expensive, digital TV?

Can't we stop big business from running our lives?

Bob Levey: They played us for suckers when they figured we'd recreate our entire library of LPs and tapes so we could have CDs. They were right. Can you blame them for figuring the same re DVDs?
Stand firm, Alexandria. There'll surely be a "back market" for VCR cassettes--although you might have to search, and you might have to wait.

Washington, D.C.: Bob:

I read the chat a few weeks ago regarding asking/calling phone numbers. A week later, I met an attractive woman at a bar, we talked and seemed to hit it off. I gave her my card, she gave me her phone number. I called two days later (I was going to be at a basketball game on the third day). She blew me off. I even tried a second call a week later.

Bob, I'm not asking for advice (I'm in the wrong chat for that), but just relating a recent experience. Guys do call. Just sometimes, things don't match up for a number of reasons -- most of which have nothing to do with the rejectee.

Bob Levey: You're right--and you're also deserving of a pat on the back for taking this "blow off" as smoothly as you seem to be taking it. The lady just wasn't interested. That doesn't mean you need reconstructive surgery, or a hairpiece. It just means: Try, try again.

Re: Moto Photo: The story you had about Moto Photo in your Monday article was bad, but I have one that’s worse. This is about the Moto Photo at Picket Road shopping center in Fairfax.

Quite a few years ago, my family received an ad for Moto Photo in the mail. It had a family picture on it -- and we recognized the family. They went to our church. My mother commented to the family about it in church the next week -- and they had no idea they’d even been on the ad. My mother promptly went into Moto Photo, told them she thought it was awful that they would use someone’s picture without their permission, and explicitly requested that they never do that with any of our pictures.

Years after that (about four years ago now), I was talking to one of my friends, who said “Oh, I saw a picture of you and your brothers at Moto Photo!” Needless to say, I was pretty upset. I went into the store with my mother, and sure enough, they had a computer on the front counter cycling through several pictures, one of which was our Christmas card from the previous year (to make it even worse, it was a picture that I’d always hated!). My mother complained, and they didn’t even apologize right away -- just kept trying to defend themselves. We’ve been boycotting Moto Photo ever since, but it’s hard to find good alternatives. We have some horror stories about Ritz Camera as well -- the “best” being the time when we complained that our pictures weren’t ready when they said they’d be and asked for a discount, and the person working there said “Well, it all evens out -- we don’t charge you rent for the space your pictures take up when you don’t pick them up on time”!

Bob Levey: I still think my reader, Nancy Bowen, was right. It isn't Moto Photo's property. It's hers.

RE: AIDS and the elderly: Bob,

I respectfully disagree with your statement that almost no elderly people have AIDS (or HIV). In fact, senior citizens are a growing population of people who are contracting the HIV virus. Unfortunately, many people mistakenly believe that the elderly don't have sex and so they don't aim prevention efforts at them. And many elderly people who are divorced or widowed and now find themselves back in the dating pool don't use condoms during sex because 1. the woman has gone through menopause so there's no risk of pregnancy, 2. they mistakenly believe that "the elderly don't get HIV", 3. they were not brought up in the "safe sex" era and so have not gotten the same messages as the younger generations.

Bob Levey: I don't have the stats right in front of me, but I believe 95 percent of new AIDS cases in the U.S. last year were among people under 45. The greatest increases are among bisexual males (many of them Hispanic or black) and married middle-aged heterosexual women (generally because they were infected by a husband or lover who was an intravekous drug user, or who is bisexual).

Arlington, Va.: Can you clarify/correct? When there is a red arrow and a sign that says "No Turns on Red" it means stop your car and wait for the light to turn green. Last night as I waited for the light to turn at N. Capital & Louisiana so I could make a right turn, four (yes four) cars ran the red light (since it was an arrow and you've said that doesn't mean no turns). If there had been any pedestrian the ambulance would have taken them directly to the morgue.

Also, when merging onto a busy highway, a 'yield' sign means YOU merge into traffic, not ram your car into the lane and expect everyone to get out of your way. This is a constant problem on Route 50 between the TR bridge and the courthouse exit... the people from the GW parkway don't know how to yield, and neither do the drivers who enter 50 from Rosslyn.

Of course, after perusing the online version of the driving manuals for DC, Virginia, and Maryland I understand why people native to this area do not know how to drive.

Bob Levey: A red arrow is just as red as a red light. You were right. They were wrong.

Washington, D.C.: I read a today's Post article that mentioned about a woman who was imprisoned for 17 years for killing her husband, who physically and sexually abused her in front of their child. I thought it was unfair that she got imprisoned. If I were justice I would let her go. What do you think, Bob?

Bob Levey: Wouldn't she be getting away with murder if you let her go? Sorry, but she had many, many alternatives, including divorce and calling the cops. Murder (even if provoked) is still murder

Washington, D.C.: Bob,

Did you see that Dick Armey is considering taking a job at the ACLU? What's going on in this town?

Bob Levey: I missed that. You sure it wasn't a joke? Armey and Rush Limbaugh have been blasting the ACLU for so long that I can't imagien this.

Moto Photo: Two words: digital camera.

Bob Levey: Two more words:
Thank you

Bob Levey: Right about fog, unless it's patchy. If fog is hugging the road, and you try to use your lights, you will be very surprised at how ineffective this is.

Somewhere, USA: I heard your PSA for donating vehicles to Children's Hospital. I've always been curious -- do many people do this? I just can't see a lot of folks donating, for example, boats. I've always been curious.
thanks.

Bob Levey: Dozens and dozens of people do it--more each week. We're having great success with the latest round of ads. Not only are we "scooping" more cars, but they're averaging about $1,000 apiece on the auction block. That's about 2 1/2 times what giveaway cars for charity usually fetch.

DVD Guy: To the VCR owner - relax. There's no big plot to force you into anything. Video stores are changing over because customers like me, who have DVD players, want to rent DVDs. It's just the market at work.

VCRs will be around for a long time. I have a VCR and a DVD. I record shows with the VCR and watch movies that aren't out on DVD yet (there are plenty).

If you love movies - and it sounds like you do - you should consider a DVD. I held out for a long time but the increase in sound & picture quality is just amazing, and the extra features on the disks are sometimes really wonderful.

By the way - you can actually convert your tapes to Video CD, which most DVDs will now play. It just requires the right cables and some software (and of course a CD burner). It's a lot easier if you have a Mac but not impossible with a PC.

Plus, when you buy movies on DVD now, you don't have to worry about the tapes wearing out - it is an inherently sturdier technology.

Bob Levey: Well said about the convertibility. Thanks

Washington, D.C.: Bob,

Every Sunday, a group of young people sweeps and picks up garbage off 18th Street NW between Columbia and Kalorama Rd here in Adams Morgan.

Who are these people? I never see the city clean the streets like these kids do.

Bob Levey: No idea. Clicksters?

Arlington, Va.: I have an alternative theory to yours about drawls. America is comprised of a multitude of folks from different parts of the globe. A great many of them were not English speaking. As they wove themselves into the great fabric of the U.S., they and their children also contributed to the whole that is America. Besides food and culture, this also included languages and accents in English as they learned a new language. Many of these "drawls" can be potentially explained as the unique combination of languages that came together in a particular region. The Boston may find its roots in the Irish immigrant population mixed with the other cultures that made up Beantown. Louisiana has its Creole culture influenced by the French. So perhaps the reason is not as deliberate as you theorize (i.e., its intended to sound "folksy"). Perhaps the real reason is a combination of factors, including influences from the homeland of our ancestors.

Bob Levey: Maybe, but I think you're working too hard.
Being casual and friendly--or trying to appear so--is as old as America itself. We hate pretense in this country (perhaps because we saw so much of it among the British royalty we fought against). We try to seem casual so we'll seem less imperious, less imperial.
One reader claims that drawls are most frequently found in the U.S. military. He said every officer in every branch of the service drawls in a very similar regular-guy fashion. It's kind of our lingua franca. Very interesting--and I think very accurate.

Washington, D.C.: Bob,
Wondering if you can answer a question about The Post for me. There's a gentleman that stands at the end of the Key Bridge, on the Georgetown side, every morning selling The Post. He's wearing a blue and yellow jersey that says "The Washington Post" on it, which makes him look as if he's officially sanctioned by The Post to be there. However, this is a very dangerous place to be, and every morning I fear that he's going to get hit (by me, or likely by someone else that doesn't know he's there). It's really very dangerous, and he apparently has "regulars" that he stops and chats with who then don't move when the light turns green.

Is this something The Post sanctions? If not, can his Jersey be taken away so that he doesn't look so official? It's an accident waiting to happen.

Bob Levey: We sanction it, and don't worry about that guy. He knows how to two-step to avoid sudden death. The very fact that he has been at his post for all these years tells you something, doesn't it?

Rockville, Md.: Bob -
Women who are in an abusive situation often do not have the resources to file for divorce since they are under complete control financially and emotionally by their husbands. A call to the cops could result in a beating or worse. I'm not condoning murder, but it's a lot easier to sit on the outside and judge.

Since we're on the subject, a PSA for anyone out there who might need it: The number for the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233.

Bob Levey: Very useful. Thanks very much

Arlington, Va.: Bob, I grew up in a small town in NW PA, and many people there have drawls. And it's certainly not to be cool. That's just how they grew up talking. Maybe down here, where 85% of the people are pretentious and overbearing you'll have people faking accents, but certaintly not in small town America. What's the point, after all? Everyone in town has known you since you were born, so they'd notice, and comment on, any new accent.

And as for it being cool, I've spent the last 12 years since I came to Washington, D.C. trying NOT to sound like a hick. Hasn't always worked, but I'm still trying.

Bob Levey: Eighty-five percent of the people here are pretentious and overbearing? You'd better start hanging out in different necks of the woods. I'd put the number at about five percent. Even U.S. Senators sound like regular folks these days. They didn't in the days of Everett McKinley Dirksen and Sam Ervin.

Vienna, Va.: Bob..I can symphathize with the young woman who was trapped by the 30-minute rule, but I have to disagree with you that the airline could be sued for this. This is a Federal Air Security rule and will stand no matter what. Congress, who passed this law, cannot be sued, and neither can the airlines for enforcing it. In fact, if they did NOT enforce it, they would soon be shut down.

Bob Levey: I'm no lawyer, but are you telling me she couldn't sue the airline for negligence in failing to protect her against assault? I doubt that hugely.

Philadelphia, Pa.: Happy holidays Bob...any update on the book?

Bob Levey: Made all the corrections yesterday and Fed Ex'ed it off to the agent this morning.
Fingers crossed.
Confidence high.

Marcie: Bob, last week, I was on the green line and the driver announced that there was a delay because of a deer in the tunnel. No, I wasn't drinking. Does this happen often? I mean, they can't very well swerve out of the way. My heart would stop if I were a driver and suddenly saw a deer in front of me.

Bob Levey: Your heart wouldn't stop because it wouldn't have a chance to stop. You'd be on top of that deer so fast that there wouldn't be anything you could do.
I've never heard of a deer in the tunnel before. It has happened with dogs, however.

Washington, D.C.: Follow up to the guy selling The Post on Key Bridge:

I'm actually very surprised that he's sanctioned by The Post. This is very dangerous to have him darting between cars, and I can't believe that the Post supports this. How is this any different than the firemen or the other charities that walk amongst cars at a stoplight that people, including people at The Post, rail against because of the danger.

I'm actually thinking now of cancelling my subscription of The Post over this. It is highly irresponsible.

Bob Levey: What law is he breaking?

Gaithersburg, Md.: Person must have been sleeping in driver's ed. They were told not to use their high beams in fog, NOT to not use them at all. Head lights are not just for you to see but for others to see you. If you don't have your lights on in the fog, no one can see you until it may be too late. PLEASE TURN ON YOUR HEAD LIGHTS WHEN IT'S DARK, RAINY OR FOGGY so I can see you!

Bob Levey: No question it's about being seen as well as seeing. Thanks much.

For Alexandria VHS owner: Unfortunately, even if you try to replace your tapes with DVDs, you probably won't find all of the movies you already own.

You will find that DVDs don't break, and they take up much less room. Most of our friends as well as my family just have both a DVD and a VHS player. Use either one as needed.

Bob Levey: "Much less room?" I've never noticed a VHS cassette that's eight feet by 11 feet.

2 comments: 1. I, too, have nearly died several times at North Cap and Louisiana. That area is crawling with cops, I wish they'd do something about it.

2. At the Moto Photo at 7th and D St. they have a sign that has all kinds of consumer-friendly disclaimers about how they won't use customer photos for any reason, how they don't save copies or negatives, don't make any extra copies other than what you order, etc. Are Moto-Photo shops independently owned and operated, and that's how they get away with it?

Bob Levey: 1) I passed this intersection just yesterday and noticed a lot of red-light ignoring (as well as a lot of jaywalking). Clicksters beware.
2) Not clear that Moto Phots are franchises. But isn't it possible that the sign you saw was the result of my column? It's the same sign they agreed to post at the Dupont Circle Moto Photo where all the trouble started.

Washington, D.C.: My Fridays are ruined when I can't read Hax's chats! Where is she?

By the way, I usually watch your chat while at lunch and then I print hers out later and read it on the metro as I ride home. Sometimes I'm howling out loud she's so funny!

Bob Levey: She's really excellent, no question.
No idea where CH is today. Might be taking the day off. I believe she's getting married this weekend.

Somewhere, USA: At the very least, the young woman who was harassed ought to call and complain. I imagine that if the airline has any sense at all they'll refund what she paid for her flight.

Bob Levey: One would certainly hope. Of course, in an era when airlines continue to charge walkup fares of $2,000--and can't figure out why no one wants to pay so much--you have to wonder whether anyone in that industry has a brain. Or ears.

Key Bridge: Did I say that he was breaking a law? No.

I said that I think it's irresponsible of the Post to sanction someone to walk through traffic, at a dangerous corner no less (I come off of the Whitehurst freeway) hawking newspapers.

Bob Levey: These are independent contractors who are sold the Posts at a discount, and who then sell them for the "cover price." The Post doesn't instruct this guy to stand in the middle of traffic. He does whatever he thinks he eneds to do to make a living. I still don't see what's so awful about this. No harm, no foul, right?

New York, N.Y.: I'm interested in your take on the recent guilty verdict of the Manassas father who left his toddler (1 of his 13 children) in the family van during the day where she, of course, died. I'm shocked at the amount of support this man is getting--do people really believe that this is just an accident that could've happened to anyone? The man had -13- children. There were several prior incidents where he'd left children behind or forgotten about them, and he seems to be trying to blame one of his older sons, saying he'd been in charge of the baby. In addition, his wife had wabnted to stop having children and he refused to consider it. Why do people assume they should be able to have any number of children they want and then when a logical and terrible consequence like this happens, not want to connect the dots and accept responsibility?

Bob Levey: I'm not going to stand in judgment of how many children this man and his wife decided to have. But I certainly think that, if our laws mean anything, this man deserves to go to jail for a very long time. He was unbelievably negligent--criminally so.

Drawlistan, USA: Why is it all televangelists have a certain Southern-ish accent? They can't all come from the deep South, can they? Do they figure people won't trust them otherwise? And, do you think it's possible for a country singer to sing in, say, an Eastern seaboard accent? Imagine: "Havre de Grace, it's my kind of place..."

Bob Levey: All the best-known televangelists are from WELL south of Havre de Grace.

Helena, Mont.: Speaking of drawls, doesn't President Bush's sound awfully affected? No one else in his family speaks that way and I can't believe his classmates at his prep schools did either.

Bob Levey: Don't forget that George 43 spent his entire adult life in Texas (except for his rampagingly successful years at Yale and Harvard). He talks the way Texans talk. If there's an affectation in that family, it's his father's. George 41 grew up in Connecticut, and never set foot in Texas until he was an adult. Did he buy his drawl at Neiman-Marcus?

Castle Shannon, Pa.: Bob, this is an actual new invention. What, oh what, are we coming to?

Tired of having to wear a cell phone on your belt wherever you go? In the future, you may not have to. Two British researchers have developed a prototype "phone tooth" that can be embedded in a molar and receive cell-phone calls. The signals are translated into vibrations that travel from the tooth to your skull to your inner ear—where only you can hear them. Great for giving instructions to spies and NFL quarterbacks. Not so great for the rest of us, because while our teeth may talk to us, we canąt talk back to them.

Bob Levey: It will sure make my subway rides more bearable. Last night, I heard the following cell phone covnersation (at the top of a woman's lungs): "Hi.... yes.... I'm in the subway.... I'm in the subway... Bye." If only that deeply important conversation could have been closeted inside that woman's tooth

Manassas, Va.: Good Friday afternoon to you Bob:

First: In response to Washington, DC's question on Carolyn Hax: According to the Reliable Source, she is getting married this weekend and apparently is expecting twin boys early next spring.

Second: How was the soccer tourney last weekend? How'd your boy do?

Bob Levey: 1) I just mentioned the marriage a few inches ago. Her twins are expected in March.
2) Our guys tied one and won one in Raleigh. But then the tournament was washed out by an EPIC amount of rain. My son did very well. Thanks for asking

Re: Manassas father: I really respect that you're not standing in judgement, but not being a journalist, I want to say something politically incorrect: there are subsets of people in certain religions who, quite apart from the more mainstream abortion/birth control debate, seem to think they're doing God's will by having as many kids as they possibly can. Russell Yates was one of these. I think it's weird and damaging. And I'm not generally trashing on big families or people who want them.

Bob Levey: "Weird and damaging?" Perhaps, but I'd be very careful of suggesting that weirdness and damagingness are found only in large families--or only because of them. Don't you know only children who are total messes? I sure do.

Photo copyrights: Whoever owns the negative owns the copyright. A paid photogropher at a wedding generally retains the copyright to the photos they take of YOU. Same with Sears, Olan Mills, etc. Motophoto appears to be copying people negatives and keeping a copy to use. This is just not right!

Bob Levey: Amen. Which is why that countertop sign might lead to a resolution. It seems to say (as you do) that the OWNERSHIP of the film is not in dispute. It belongs to you, the customer.

Airplane pigs: I feel for the 20-something young lady who had to sit next to the drunk boor, but really. Maybe this is just my way of reacting, but if it was me and I couldn't get up (yes stupid rule), I would in a loud and clear voice tell the guy to lay off and not to try it again and maybe push back if he kept trying to feel me up. There's no excuse for putting up with boorish behavior. Fight back, ladies.

Bob Levey: I agree with you 1000 percent. But I'm telling you that, in this climate, if she had started a fracas of any kind with this guy, she might have been arrested--either by a sky marshal or by an FBI agent whom the pilot might very well have called. Aboard planes these days, there is absolutely NO room for anything out of the ordinary, even if it's justified.

Servers Presenting Checks:: I know this column was a while ago, but I haven't had a chance to comment until now.

A few years ago, I was a server in a well known DC restaurant. We were told to present the bill 5 minutes after the entree was delievered - at lunchtime only (not Dinnertime). Some people are on a time constraint to get back to work in an hour. But I'd always say "here's your check, sir/madam - I'd be happy to add on dessert or coffee if you'd desire"

Do you think this is an exception or was I being rude?

Bob Levey: Most places don't do it this way. And if I had been your customer, I would have felt as if you were trying to push me out. Weren't you?

Phone tooth: The next step: cell phones embedded in the skin, hooked directly into the nervous system? That way, people can talk on the phone without everyone on Metro overhearing the conversation.

Bob Levey: Soon! Please!

Washington, D.C. Hope you can answer this question I've been pondering while travelling on the red line. Just beyond Rhode Island Avenue Station -- heading towards Union Station -- you can see a large red sculpture in a deserted lot to the right of the tracks.

What a horrid place for this piece of art.

Who's the intended audience for this piece of modern art? Metro riders? Drivers passing over the railroad tracks? The birds?

Bob Levey: Metro riders. The "art" was created many years ago by student artists who thought that it would be a kick. Forgive me if I disagree.

Metro Seats: Bob, I know you don't work for Metro, but as a rider of mass transit, perhaps you can address this. Metro has just spent oodles amounts of money to buy new cars. Great. They are also apparently now going to get rid of the poles and wind breaks around the door. Even better. But riddle me this. Why, oh why do they insist on getting the two-by-two seats? Bench seating, like many other systems throughout the world have, would allow more people, more comfortablly to ride Metro?

Bob Levey: I was on the NYC subway last month, and I'm totally in love with bench seats. They are vastly easier to get into and out of. And they allow standees to move around the car much more easily. Metro's position has been that two-by-two seats are more appropriate in Washington because so many of us ride such long distances, and we want to think we're on a "commuter railroad." I've never seen numbers on this, but I have to wonder. I doubt very seriously if more than a fourth of all Metro riders are aboard a train for more than 15 minutes.

Hax getting married???: What?!?!?!?!?!?

Didn't she just get divorced a year ago? What's going on Bob? She hasn't said a thing about it in the column. Did you just spill the beans?

Bob Levey: Grove spilled them, earlier this week.
Yes, she just got divorced.
Yes, the new hubby (and father of the twins) is someone she has known since grade school.
More than that I know not....

Washington, D.C. Restaurant checks: At lunch? Not rude. Considerate for those in a hurry to get back to the office. At dinner? Unspeakably rude.

Bob Levey: I see no difference. A restaurant meal should be a pleasure at any time of day--and I define "pleasure" by defining the pace. The worst feeling in the world is to be hustled by a waitress, or a bottom-line-mad maitre d.

History Lesson: Just to clarify a point you made about Al Gore. In the 2000 election, Al Gore received the plurality of votes. Not the majority. His vote total represented less than 50% of the cumulative vote (which is the definition of a majority).

The important point to keep in mind is that he lost the only vote that matters -- the Electoral College. Very few presidential losers get as much attention as Mr. Gore received over the past 3 days. I just wish I could have read the memo that Terry McAullife sent to the media to drum up such coverage!

Bob Levey: See, Al? You'll always be Mr. Asterisk.
Thanks for the neat hour, all.

washingtonpost.com:

That wraps up today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the discussion.

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