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Levey Live: Speaking Freely
Bob Levey
Washington Post Columnist
Friday, June 13, 2003; 1:00 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.
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.
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Bob Levey: Good afternoon, gang, and thanks for joining us today. Without further ado......
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Burke, Va.:
Bob,
I know you're a big Metro fan, but when are they going to get buses that don't rain on the inside? On my ride home yesterday three or four of us with window seats rode home IN OUR RAINCOATS! One gent had a steady stream the diameter of a pencil pour down on him for easily 20-30 minutes! This has been happening for years, but last night was the worst I've ever seen it!
Bob Levey: Not sure I understand entirely. Are you saying the window had been left open and you vouldn't close them? Are you saying that the windows, even when closed, leaked? Please illuminate!
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Red Line, Grosvenor, Washington, D.C.:
Umbrellas! Please tell people to NOT carry umbrellas sideways on the Metro. I have gotten nearly impaled many many times!
Bob Levey: I feel your pain (and have, literally). But the far more immediate issue is those wheelable suitcases. When one of them babies whacks you in the shin, you will know it.
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Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, Sallie Mae:
Do you find it creepy that huge financial firms adopt homey-sounding names?
Bob Levey: These all were inner-office cutesiness that seeped into the world, and got adopted. I'm sure headline writers had a lot to do with it. No, I don't find it creepy. What I would find creepy is being forced to memorize what Fannie and Sallie and Freddie actually stand for.
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McLean, Va.:
Bob, rumor has it that Paul Berry is on vacation yet again. Will you be covering the timeslot again?
Bob Levey: Today.
From 4-7 p.m.
On WTNT-AM (570 on your dial).
Be there or be rectangular.
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Alexandria, Va.:
Which is faster in the afternoon on the Beltway -- clockwise or counterclockwise?
Bob Levey: That's like asking whether a turtle or a salamander is faster.
Can I vote for "None of the above?"
Seriously, it depends entirely on which stretch of the Beltway you're talking about, and whether construction is underway there. Also, of course, on whether there's an event at Fed Ex Field, whether it's raining, whether some genius has just caused a 15-car pileup, etc.
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Silver Spring, Md.:
Bob --
Thrice in the last month I have seen the kiosk attendant at the Farragut North station sitting in the kiosk with eyes shut (apparently doing a little on-the-job napping), including the same woman on two separate occasions. What should one do when one sees such an egregious act by a Metro employee? Given that these attendants are (in theory) supposed to be another line of defense against all things bad in our system (bombs, food, etc.), and given that it's a waste of our tax money, is there somewhere we can report this? I think next time I'll at least go tap on the glass and say "hi!"
Bob Levey: Just report him to 202-962-1051 (Metro public affairs). It really is up to us, the riding (and paying) public.
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12th Floor Metro Center:
Happy Friday, Bob. I'm an avid baseball fan, yet confused about Wednesday night's no-hitter Houston pitched over the Yankees. How did they decide who to give the win to? I know that a starting pitcher has to pitch ficw innings I believe to get credit for a win, but none of the six pitchers pitched longer than 2 1/3 innings. The second guy pitched two innings and the Astros were ahead when he left the game, so shouldn't he have been credited with the win? It was, I believe, given to the fourth pitcher. Not an earth shattering question, but this has been bugging me.
Bob Levey: You're sorely testing my legendary grasp of totally irrelevant facts, but as I recall it.......
No pitcher who appears before the start of the sixth inning can be the winning pitcher, because the game isn't official until then. I believe that accounts for the Astro situation of the other night.
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Oxon Hill, Md.:
Mr. Levey, could you please refrain from calling cyber chatters "gang?" As an African-American, I find the term racially charged. Though I am sure you imply nothing negative when you use it, I would appreciate it -- as I suspect others would as well -- if you stopped using it. Thanks.
Bob Levey: Gosh, that never occurred to me. I'm sorry if I offended you. I will stop using the term. But I have to say you're reaching awfully hard. Since when is a gang racially-charged? Gabby Hayes had one in the old cowboy movies, and none of them were black. You're also off-base in modern day real America. Hispanics and Asians have gangs, too. So do whites.
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Bethesda, Md.:
I don't know Bob. Last year drought. This year flood. What's next? A plague of locust? Sheeesh
Bob Levey: Next year, snow in September.
You heard it here first.
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Hoboken, N.J.:
Whatever happened to that by-line strike by Posties a while ago?
Bob Levey: It was undertaken in the context of union negotiations. The idea was to put some pressure on management. It worked reasonably well. Management improved its offer within a couple of days of each of the byline strikes.
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Castle Shannon, Pa.:
Boy do I feel old. Prince William turns 21 years old next week. I still clearly remember watching Charles and Di walk down the aisle back when I was in college, and to tell you the truth, college doesn't seem all that long ago.
Bob Levey: How do you think I, the co-producer of another 21-year-old person, feel?
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Wrong Number:
I got a laugh out of your column regarding the frequent wrong calls. Growing up, our number was close to that of a local bar. We got a lot of 2 a.m. calls wondering when Harry would be home. And in Virginia, I had a 212 prefix. I got a lot of calls from local people who forgot to dial a "1" before trying to call New York!
Bob Levey: I'm hatching a follow-up to that column, consisting of stories such as yours. Wait till you hear the one about the family whose number was one digit off a brothel!
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Washington, D.C.:
Bob,
I don't know who else to complain to. That new ad that washingtonpost.com is running -- the one from Ebay that will popup in a new screen a SCREECH out horribly loud music at you is beyond annoying and offensive.
I understand that ya'll need to make money, and that I should be happy your site is free, but could you at least ask the powers that be to keep their ads silent? Don't they realize that all the noisemaking ads do is annoy the hell out of people?
Bob Levey: I will post this in the spirit of education and dialogue. I will also post the following:
Dear Bosses:
Washington is right.
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A Surprising Praise for the Metro:
Bob,
As someone who follows Metro issues
and is known to attract Metro lurkers like a
magnet, I want to share with you a really
great thing I saw done by Metro today.
I was waiting for the train at Rosslyn
during lunch. There was a crowd of about
seven teenage boys standing together,
bouncing a basketball, and loudly using
racial slurs and discussing the bodies of
women on the platform. I know this
because I was one of their subjects. I
always ignore that stuff anyway, but this
was a time when you ask yourself,
"where's a cop when you need one?"
Then a Metro police officer came by and
told them to be quiet, stop talking like that,
and save their basketball for elsewhere.
I know the officer was just doing his job,
but I really liked the way he handled it.
Bob, is there a way to let Metro or the
police know that stuff like that is
appreciated?
Bob Levey: See above.
202-962-1051.
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Frederick, Md.:
Bob,
Metro's proposed elimination of bus-to-rail transfers seems off-the-mark to me. I understand that they are trying to generate more revenue ... but if we are ever going to find a way through the gridlock that plagues the Metro area, more people are going to have to going to have to ride public transportation. It seems to me that making their commute harder -- by making them pay TWICE and hiking fees -- will have exactly the opposite effect. Any thoughts?
Bob Levey: I'm with you all the way. Hard core public transit users should be rewarded, not made to feel as if they're doing Metro a favor.
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Myersville, Md.:
Submitting early because I will be in a meeting later.
It seems Chief Moose has been awfully quiet lately. What ever happened to his appeal? I'm not sure I remember reading/hearing anything.
Thanks.
Bob Levey: His appeal is still inching along. No resolution yet.
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Huh?:
So was Spanky & Our Gang just a bunch of thugs?
Bob Levey: By the lights of some (highly sensitive) people
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Washington, D.C.:
Hello Bob!
Hope you have an answer for this:
I am VERY ticklish. Yet, I am unable to tickle myself? Any clue as to why a person cannot tickle themselves?
Bob Levey: Because once your fingers begin to close in on the target, you're expecting it. So your Tickle Response Center shuts down.
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Traffic Cameras:
Bob, do you support the judges decision regarding traffic/speeding cameras? And is it true that motorists can ignore the fines since there is no legal penalty backing the fines?
washingtonpost.com:
DC Judge Rejects Suit on Traffic Cameras, (Post, June 13)
Bob Levey: I'm very much in favor of merciless penalties against red light runners. I tolerate the cameras because they are efficient and legal--as long as the driver and the owner have a day in court. Under the current system, both do (or at least can). This is why it makes no sense for a car owner to say, "Hey, Uncle Billy was driving, so I'm innocent." He can still answer the summons and lodge a plea of innocent. This may be inconvenient, but at least his rights are preserved.
I'd have big trouble with this if there were no such thing as due process--if the District of Columbia mailed you a summons and said, "Pay without a hearing."
As for ignoring the fines, I wouldn't recommend it. Even the hopeless District of Columbia bureaucracy will find you sooner or later.
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Washington, D.C.:
To the 'gang' person: lighten up! Look it up ion the dictionary and you'll see that it is not a racial word. That's like say 'hi guys' when there are women in the group.
Bob Levey: Amen and thanks
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Washington, D.C.:
This may be an Amy question but its one Ill throw out there. I need three recommendations for graduate schools, I really do not have three to count on. I know this is really bad but I haven't been with any job long enough to ask, and probably burnt bridges when leaving. I went to a large school in the area and hardly knew any of my professors. Who else should I think about asking?
Bob Levey: Pastors.
Family friends.
Co-workers with at least a couple of stripes on their arms.
Anyone but immediate family.
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Metro to Rail?:
Bob, I believe the clickster from Frederick is mistaken. I've never seen bus to rail transfer, but have used rail to bus plenty. Have I been losing money?
Bob Levey: Did I misread?
You're right.
Bus to rail doesn't exist.
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SOL -- Save Our Language:
According to Merriam-Webster:
Gang (noun) 2 : a group of persons having informal and usually close social relations
I am so tired of having words coopted and banned based on perceived insult where none exists! Niggardly comes to mind (which dates from 1571 and has NOTHING to do with the infamous N-word). There is wrong with using 'gang' in the context that you use it, Bob! People need to know the history and real meaning of words before jumping all over them.
I have just ordered "The Language Police" by Diane Ravitch, based on the Review by your own Jonathan Yardley. Looks like a compelling and informative read.
Bob Levey: Thanks so much.
By the way, I "did" Ravitch on the radio a couple of weeks ago. She was wonderful. Her book is, too.
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Burke, Va.:
Bob,
Elaborating on my earlier post. The windows on Metro's newer buses leak like the proverbial sieve when closed! And since the really heavy rain began just as we pulled away from the Pentagon, the streams inside the bus began within minutes!
Bob Levey: Thanks for the elaboration.
Your move, Metro.
I understand caulking works very nicely.
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Ballston, Va.:
Bob,
Back in the late 1990s I lived in St. Louis and my phone number was one digit off from the St. Louis free clinic. I had my elderly mother living with me for a while, so you can imagine how she reacted to some of those calls! I actually heard her lecturing some poor sap about his sexual habits!
Bob Levey: Dish!
What did she say?
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Silver Spring, Md.:
The Bush administration has never revealed how much the war cost to win and our daily costs while we still "inhabit" Iraq. This topic is always brushed aside. The news media, as the public's repesentative, needs to get some answers? Will we ever be informed??
Thanks!
Bob Levey: Today's USA Today tackles this question in its lead story on page one.
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Orono, Maine:
Maybe you can enlighten me, Bob, because I am obviously misssing soemthing. I read a story in The Washington Post the other day about the efforts of House Whip Roy Blunt to insert language favorable to Philip Morris, one of his largest campaign contributors, into the bill that established the Department of Homeland Security.
Can you explain to me how this behavior -- all too common among our elected officials these days -- differs significantly from bribery? I mean ... the Congressman is being given something of value, money in hs campaign coffer, in exchange for favorable treatement. Isn't that the definition of bribery?
Bob Levey: You'd have to prove intent to defraud in a court of law, which would be a very tall order re Rep. Blunt. But yoyur point is noted--and it isn't very far off base, if at all.
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DC:
RE: "Tickling"
You tickle ME, Bob. You cutey-patooty!!!
Bob Levey: You make me blush!
Thanks
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The Language Police:
I missed your radio show with the author. She would make a great guest of yours here at Live Online.
Bob Levey: Terrific idea!
Calling Samantha, World's Greatest Producer.....
You see that pad next to you on the desk?
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Washington, D.C.:
For the person looking for reccomendations. Read what the school is asking. I'm looking at going to an MBA program and some don't ask the relationship that person is to you. If so, I'm sure your best friend or Mother will give you a good recommendation!
Happy Father's Day, Bob!
Bob Levey: Thanks on all fronts.
But one note about Father's Day.
I don't (and won't) celebrate it.
Too Hallmark-y.
Besides, I'm a father 365.
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Alexandria, Va.:
Bob, Bob, you've got it all wrong on the no-hitter scoring. The starting pitcher must complete five innings to get the win. After that, it is technically the pitcher who is pitching when the team takes the lead, then never relinquishes it.
In a situation like Wednesday, who gets the win is at the discretion of the scorer. But a pitcher entering before six can definitely get the win.
Bob Levey: If so, the pitcher who was in the game when the Astros scored first should get the win. And he didn't.
Methinks you're wrong.
Any other fan care to weigh in?
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Hyattsville, Md.:
Dear Bob,
That was a great article this week on wrong numbers. My least favorite is when they call me again with the wrong number like they don't believe thay could have possibly dialed incorrectly the first time. If the phone rings the third time I pick it up and say: "County Morgue, you kill 'em, we chill 'em." They don't usually call back after that.
Bob Levey: Great!
Thanks
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Baltimore, Md.:
Bob:
It's allright for you to use the term "gang" when referring to your collectve group of chatterers. Really, it is. There is no negative racial stereotype associated with the term, which is why you were suprised by the poster's comments. A gang is defined as "a number of persons asssociated together in some way." Really, don't give in to the silly thought police wannabe; it's all in his hypersensitive head!!!
Bob Levey: I'll try to avoid using the term in a way that could be seen as stereotypical. Otherwise, I'm with you. If it's polite, and it's in the dictionary, it should be fair game
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Silver Spring, Md.:
If anything, the Metro fare increase is too small. There isn't a transit system in the country that makes back 50 cents on every dollar of operating costs, and our own Metro is arguable the SAFEST and CLEANEST. People who don't use Metro -- e.g., poor folks who cannot afford to live near it -- shouldn't have to subsidize fancy transportation for the affluent. Don't you agree, Bob?
Bob Levey: Absolutely. Here the basic fare is about to go up ten cents. Ten cents! And affluent people are whining--the same people who spend $11 on pizza without batting an eye.
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Chantilly, Va.:
Bob: you gave a partial answer to the guy asking about the guy credited with the win in the Astros' no-hitter.
While it is true that a starter who goes fewer than five innings cannot get the win under any circumstances, that does not answer the question of why Brad Lidge DID get the win.
The answer is that when the starter does not qualify for the win, the official scorer gives it to the pitcher deemed most deserving. It's purely a judgement call.
In this case, of the five relievers, Lidge was determined to have done the best job: two innings, three strikeouts, no walks.
Happy to help.
Bob Levey: So there's no minimum-number-of-innings requirement?
And no in-there-when-the-lead-run-was-scored requirement?
As my daddy used to say, you learn something every day
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"Gang":
Bob, as an Af-Am, I feel that the use of the word gang for us clicksters is not racially charged. I see the word as slang for a group of people with the same interests. Please, clickster, get a grip!
Bob Levey: Thank you, sir/ma'am.
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Red Light Cameras:
I have no problem with them either, and I'm one of the unlucky that have been caught. So why don't they extend their use even further by using them to ticket those jerks who block the box during rush hour downtown? Technically, they are also running the red light, even though they're going nowhere.
Bob Levey: Coming soon, to an intersection near you, I'm sure. And if they could take "pitchers" of the iditos who eat/sip/do their nails while driving, I'd be for that, too
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Tickel Response Center:
That's great! Of course, I'm going to use it medically and just call it the "TRC."
Bob Levey: In all humility, I have to admit that this stroke of genius is a bit of a lift.
Remember some ridiculous TV ad from about 20 years ago?
It was for cough medicine.
It referred to the body's "cough control center."
I'd always throw a shoe at the screen and shout, "Yeah, it's called THE BRAIN, you dumb $#^$%@."
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Father's Day Non-Celebrants Unite!:
Yay for you, Bob! We don't participate in ANY of those commercially conceived days to promote sales, either. What bugs me most is having guys at work wish me "Happy Mother's Day." Guess what, I AM NOT YOUR MOTHER!
Besides, as my mom said, "Everyday is Mother's day."
Bob Levey: Here's a related one to mull:
I just bought a carryout lunch, about an hour ago.
The woman at the cash register wished me a happy Father's Day.
How did she know I'm a father?
Did she just assume that a guy in his 50s with gray hair MUST be one?
As the lady said, things get curiouser and curiouser
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TJ:
Thanks for your mention of TJ this week. The neighborhood near TJ is one of the most vibrant, diverse areas in the entire region and is an example of what makes Arlington a great place to live. The state legislative district near TJ is not just the first in the state to be neither majority white or black (the largest group is Latinos) but also the first in the commonwealth to elect an openly gay man to the legislature.
Bob Levey: Big amens and big thanks. I just adore TJ (for those who've never had the pleasure, it's the Thomas Jefferson Community Cnter in Arlington).
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Baseball Knowledge:
Bob,
When the starting pitcher does not complete five innings and there is no change of lead, then the winning pitcher is simply the pitcher, who in the opinion of the official scorer, most contributed to the win (other than the starter).
Bob Levey: OK, I bow to the obviously superior knowledge of these clicksters. But, gosh, why does baseball (the most statistically precise and geeky of all sports) allow judgment to enter into this question in any way?
You'd think some nerd would have decreed centuries ago that to be declared a winning pitcher, you must meet some minimum statistical standard. Otherwise, a pitcher might meet his threshhold for a wins bonus simply because some official scorer likes the way he parts his hair.
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Father's Day:
I'm guessing she knew you were a father because:
A. She knows you're Bob Levey
B. You talk about your family in the column often enough
She was probably being nice. No need to pick her apart. Why is it that people can't just accept courtesy without looking for motives?
Bob Levey: I'm sure you're right.
It just surprised me, that's all.
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Brain as Cough Center:
You may too young to remember the old Anacin or Excedrin commercials that showed a cartoon of a peron's head with maybe three different boxes in it, one with a hammer coming down, one with an electrical charge and something else, to graphically show headaches. I also remember an old (i.e. like 30 years old) song called "Split Level Head."
Bob Levey: "Young" is not a charge I answer to any more. I do remember those ads. Totally absurd, weren't they?
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Commuting:
Bob, about two months ago I started walking from my Adams Morgan condo to my office near Union Station ... it's long, but I love it! Now when I'm forced to ride Metro because of time or weather, it drives me crazy and I used to "love" Metro. Funny how quickly you adjust to something new ... wish more drivers would realize this and walk or take Metro.
As for the red light cameras, the one drawback to the walking is the complete lack of respect drivers have for pedestrians who are legally crossing streets ... I say the more red light cameras, the better!
Bob Levey: Of course, walking wouldn't work for (or appeal to) everyone. But I tip my cap to you for two reasons:
1) You must have lost 15 pounds.
2) You are connecting very directly with this wodnerful city.
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Connecticut:
Hey, Bob -- Thanks for your
always-compelling columns and chats. I
know you try to speak for the underdog,
and I appreciate it. But one of your
columns earlier this week irked me -- it
was about a cashier who got annoyed
when customers dropped their payment
on the counter instead of handing it him.
While I can understand why he sees this
as rude, I just wanted to point out that in
some religions/cultures (Orthodox
Judaism, for example), men and women
are not allowed to exhange money directly
-- it must be laid down on a "neutral"
surface between them (this is due to
Jewish cleanliness laws -- somewhat
involved to explain).
I know this is probably not the case in the
young cashier's situation (the customers
probably ARE just rude), but before you
vilify people across the board, I just
wanted to remind you that there are times
when -- like so much in life -- there is
more than meets the eye. No one should
be so quick to judge the motivation or
behavior of another.
Thanks for hearing me, Bob.
Bob Levey: This is an excellent point, and it would apply to lots of cultures, according to many of my readers. Many thanks
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Arlington, Va.:
For the record, I would have found the "Jzhwan-Jzhueen" conversation on the subway infinitely more annoying than hearing some guy call his wife on a cell phone to alert her as to when she should pick him up.
Bob Levey: I wouldn't have been eager to hear either
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Arlington, Va.:
Bob, yesterday we lost a giant in broadcast journalism, David Brinkley. A while back he penned "Washington Goes to War," his recollections of the capital during WWII. Do you see any parallels between then and now in life in DC, when we're once again at war -- fighting terrorism -- with similar challenges?
Tom
Bob Levey: It's a little early to say for sure, but, yes, I do see some parallels. As Brinkley noted in that book, Washington took on physical changes when security issues suddenly landed in its lap. The Jersey barriers of today were the roof-mounted anti-aircraft guns of yesteryear.
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Was This Approriate?:
I'm on a relatively empty red line train around 2 p.m. Some suits get on the train and proceed to stand in the door. At the next stop, one backs away from the door (YAY!) and the second just stands there while the doors open and a couple of folks get off. So I look at him and extend my hand, giving him the universal sign for "go ahead of me" and he says "Oh, I'm not getting off at this stop." My response was "I'm sorry, usually people who aren't getting off back away from the door so folks can get on and off."
FYI, this exchange did not keep anyone who wanted to get on or off from doing so, as it was mid-day. But I hope I got my point across to someone.
Bob Levey: I'm sure he got the message. What I sometimes do is to say, as agreeably as I can, "You know, it would be very helpful if you'd get off and get back on. I promise the train won't leave you behind."
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Cough Control Center:
Actually Bob,
There is a place in the brain referred to as the CTZ (cortico tropic zone -- maybe wrong spelling)that does control coughing. That's why they sometimes give narcotic cough suppressants becuase it also suppresses this area. Okay, you can throw your shoe at me for being such a geek now.
Bob Levey: No shoe for you, because you knew (and used) the anatomically correct term. What got my goat (and stisll does) is that the writers of the ad felt that they had to moron-ify a scientific concept so that Joe and Jill Sixpack would understand it.
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SmarTrip Rules!:
Bus to rail doesn't exist ... YET!
Won't Metro cut a deal for us bus-and-rail riders who use SmarTrip -- at least, when SmarTrip is on the Bus!
Bob Levey: No chance re a SmarTrip deal. This from the highest levels of Metro
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Springfield, Va.:
Lots in The Post recently about the reported looting of the museum in Iraq involving only 33 items, not the 100,000 plus we read about ealier. I read about this in Kurtz's column in Style and on the op-ed pages, but have yet to see a front page correction in The Post. When any news source is this wrong, shouldn't they play up the truth as big as the original mistake?
Bob Levey: Equal play isn't always possible or necessary. But in this case, the error was of such a magnitude that I'd be for it. Thank you for the nudge.
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Arlington, Va.:
I think that I have the answer to your story about RSVP, and it is quite simple. People don’t know what it means any longer.
I don’t know how many times I’ve gotten a formal or informal invitation with the directive “RSVP only,” and the word “only” struck me as superfluous. The one time I asked I was informed that RSVP means to report that you are coming –- I guess the “P” is for “positive.” So anyway, I wasn’t surprised to read that there are a lot of supposedly well-educated people in this town who don’t feel obligated to respond when the invitation says RSVP.
Bob Levey: I've never seen "RSVP only."
Don't you mean, "Regrets only?"
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Arlington, Va.:
One interesting thing about Metro's so-called improvements is that the system works to make them not as successful as hoped. One example is that the new cars have electronic signs at each end that tell the next stop and also in what direction the door will open. Very good! Then they add bars about eight feet off the floor which, besides being too high for most to grasp, effectively block the electronic signs for all but those who are sitting real close.
Bob Levey: Metro giveth, and Metro taketh away.
My big beef re Metro improvements is with the one set of mustard yellow seats that Metro retained in the new burgundy and blue cars. They did this in honor of Cleatus Barnett, who just resigned after 32 years on the Metro board. Barnett was the father of the mustard seats. Obviously, it's gracious to pay tribute to a hard-working public servant. But the only thing worse than those mustard seats is..... those mustard seats alongside the burgundy and blue seats. Awful!
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Chevy Chase, Md.:
Of course, my favorite commercials are the ones where people are doing housework (laundry, cleaning kitchen floors, etc) with these huge smiles on their faces as if the product made these chores a pleasure.
What a load of rubbish.
Bob Levey: One believes ANYTHING on TV at one's peril
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Chevy Chase, Md.:
What is "Jzhwan-Jzhueen"?
What are "Jersey Barriers"?
Bob Levey: ZHWANNH-ZHWEEN was the subject of yesterday's column. Two riders were arguing about the correct way to pronounce "juin," the name of this month in French. ZHWANNH is the answer, but the ZHWEEN guy just wouldn't buy it.
Jersey barriers are those molded concrete blocks that sit in front of buildings that are vulnerable to truck bombs.
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RSVP:
Here's what Webster's gives me for RSVP: répondez s'il vous plaît
I didn't study French, but doesn't that just say respond please? No mention of positive.
Bob Levey: Right, right, right.
Merci
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Commercials::
I love the pharmaceutical commercials where people are happily flying a kite and some woman in a perky voice says "Side effects may include cramping, loss of bowel control, sudden seizures, etc"
Cheery.
Bob Levey: Topped only by the raptures that supposedly overcome Little Miss Housewife when she uses one of those sickening fake-pine sprays in her bathroom.
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Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.:
Bob, my great mom turns 84 today. She loves your column and I print out this chat for her every Friday. Can you please say Happy Birthday, Martha? It will make her day.
Bob Levey: Happy Birthday, Martha, and many, many more.
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Father's Day:
You know, it is possible to celebrate Father's/Mother's Day without having to buy anything. In my family we don't buy presents, instead it is a family day. We have some type of BBQ with our extended family and enjoy the day together. As busy as everyone's lives are these days, we all know that these holidays are a time to get together and enjoy the great company.
Bob Levey: Your attitude is perfect. How does a father feel like more of a father because you give him a tool kit? It's always about family.
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Big Smiles:
Carol Channing has a wonderful bit on "Free to be You and Me" about this very subject...
"Now sometimes it's a lady you see
As you're sitting there, quietly, watching TV
And the lady you see smiles as she
Cheerfully scours a skillet or two
Or she washes the floors 'til they gleam like new"...
Bob Levey: Cool memory! Thanks
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Woodley Park, Washington, D.C.:
When is the right time to say good bye to a car, appliance, TV/Stereo if it needs repairs? Is half the cost of a brand new model a sensible measuring stick?
Bob Levey: Not a bad yardstick, although you have to consider not just the repair that's in front of your nose, but the next one, too.
No, I can't predict when that'll hit any more than you can. But in general, I'd view this issue not just in terms of replacement cost, but in terms of useful life.
Any machine that has been operating for more than ten years is probably on the back side of the mountain, whether or not it has worked well for the last six months or six years.
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Washington, D.C.:
So if you're on the radio at 4 p.m. today, do you run out of The Post right after this chat to get to the radio station on time? Do you take Metro? And thanks for the heads up, I'll be tuning in!
Bob Levey: I'll run out at about 2:30 or so. No Metro today (although I usually do use it) because I have to get to a "must" family dinner within minutes of my getting off the air. Thanks for tuning in!
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Alexandria, Va.:
Alexandria congressman James Moran always brags about what a leader he thinks he is and how much money he thinks he brings to Alexandria.
Wouldn't Fairfax County Chairperson Kate Hanley have a smaller ego, less of a big mouth, and get along better with her peers and constituents?
Wouldn't Kate Hanley get more federal money for the District by virtue of being less obnoxious than Moran is?
Bob Levey: Good team players always work well, in any field of endeavor. But I'd point out that power and status on the Hill do not depend on personality or ego (or the absence of it). They depend on which party is in power and how seniority a person has. Freshman representative Kate Hanley would be far less effective than multi-termer Jim Moran, even if she's far nicer.
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Inappropriate!:
Bob, me and my buddies who, yes, wear suits, like the view from the doors better. What if a good-looking young lady gets on and I'm sitting down in the back of the train? I'm single, Bob, and NOT GETTING ANY YOUNGER! Sorry if I offended the clickster, cripes!
Bob Levey: If you're sitting in the back of the train, you can still spot all the lovelies, Mr. Lovelorn.
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Washington, D.C.:
Re Grad School Recommendations:
I think your advice re character references (pastors, family friends and such) for grad school was off-base. Those are great ideas for undergrad, but grad schools want evaluations of your academic or professional potential. One recommendation from an employer in the field of study is fine, but family, friends and other associates can't really help you unless the reviewer knows their credentials. And the reputation of the recommendation-writer can help the applicant greatly. Your questioner needs to put more thought into this and perhaps ask an old professor or two with copies of her/his grades and copies of work submitted for the professor's class.
Bob Levey: This is very sound advice. Thanks, Washington.
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Washington, D.C.:
One pet peeve -- the signs that say "Metro Improvement Zone" when what they mean is "Spending Months Fixing the Escalators So That They'll Work For a Week and Then Break Again." "Improvement" means some level of quality above the basic expected level of WORKING service.
I hate the thought of fare hikes when I know that they wouldn't be necessary if they'd bought DECENT equipment in the first place, thus negating the need to spend oodles of money on constant repairs.
Bob Levey: I do think "Metro Improvement Zone" reeks of cutesiness, quite apart from the issue of whether it will actually improve anything. Thansk for a very good point
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Arlington, Va.:
About the metro fare increase: I agree that an increase is justified (though, like the earlier poster, I am miffed about the elimination of the rail-to-bus transfer). But wouldn't it make more sense to make the basic fare $1.25 rather than $1.20? Seems to me people more often have a quarter than two dimes and will probably end up using the quarter anyways.
Bob Levey: I suspect that most bus riders WILL pay $1.25, because it's more likely that they'll have a quarter than the exact combination of coins needed to produce 20 cents.
And I suspect Metro is counting on this.
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Proud Member of the Gang:
Bob,
Please don't bow to ignorant political correctness regarding the use of the word "gang." I wouldn't be surprised if that was a practical-joker who is laughing at the fact that you printed his comment and are taking it seriously.
Bob Levey: Let's hope it was indeed a joke.
Hoping.
Hoping.
Hoping.
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Bob Levey: Good stuff, folks (not gang). We'll do it again one week from today. Same time.
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