For those of us who trek out to Wegman’s every now and again via the Dulles Toll Road, you can now use that EZ Pass that you got for going up 495 without having to stop every six feet to pay a new toll, instead of having to stock up on quarters.

Of course, there are all manner of rumors that exist around EZ Pass, that they monitor you using GPS, that they check your speed via GPS, that they have to turn the data over to the Highway Patrol…

But it sure is better than waiting in line to pay a toll, only to find out you have no change.

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Did you know that DC has a glass school? With classes? I sure didn’t.

But now I think I might want to take one. :D

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As anyone who’s ridden Metro in the last weeks can attest, it seems like half the elevators and escalators on the system are plagued by out of service notices, shuttle services that don’t work, and buses with bad lifts. It’s no surprise that Metro is one of the worst in the country in this regard, but no one seems to care. I’m betting dollars to donuts, no one at Metro will even read the damning Post article on it. 2 1/2 hours to go from Reston to Union Station? Ridiculous.

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The fall foliage is about to peak at high elevations, everybody! So get in your car and head out to Skyline Drive or someplace to look.

Or, you can be like me and just admire the leaves along the George Washington Parkway every morning on the way to work.

But while you’re out, be sure to keep an eye out. It’s deer mating season, and horny deer are out doing stupid, hormone-addled things, like running out in front of cars to check out that cute doe on the other side of the highway.

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For my friend Mike’s birthday, we were all invited for Laser Tag. I didn’t realize that, well, Laser Tag places still exists, that they were so expensive, and they were so gosh darned fun! As sports go, it’s no racquetball or squash, no ultimate frisbee or kickball, but it sure makes for a bit of a workout, shooting with no bullets, firing away at phantom lights scampering through blacklight.

Heckuva good time, it was. Worth a shot.

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Frequently, I travel for business by airplane, which leads to the ever-present airport dilemma. DC’s got three decent sized airports that serve it: IAD (Dulles), DCA (Reagan National) and BWI. I hate driving to Baltimore (contrary to what Tony Kornheiser thinks, I might as WELL be going to Nepal.) and parking at National is sparse, not to mention flights from there cost an arm and a leg, so it’s off to Dulles for me.

Usually, I’m a pretty mellow traveler, I get my ticket at the kiosk, I check a bag, I hit the security line, take out my laptop, put all of my techie bits through the X-ray, and away I go without a slight delay. Why? Because I wear sandals when I fly. It’s just what I do. I don’t care if it’s October and it’s only 40 degrees at 6am, it’s just easier than wearing real shoes, untying them, shoving them through an X-ray machine and then re-dressing myself when all is said and done. Except this morning I was told I could not wear my sandals through the metal detector.

“What?!?”

Yes. You heard me. I was made to take off my fucking sandals at a TSA Gestapopoint, er, Checkpoint. Here we are, making a fuss about my sandals, when we won’t X-ray the cargo hold of an aircraft, or check containers at the ports.

Grudgingly I told the TSA bozo what I thought of his policy (it’s likely I’m on a watch-list now.) and removed and X-rayed my sandals.

Sandals, people. Sandals. WTF.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Via DC Foodies, which I just discovered today, comes the revelation that Galileo’s chef conducts cooking classes.

I’m so there…

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Tom and I noticed on the Metro today on our way to the Book Festival, that DC’s Emergency Management Agency will now send text alerts to your phone or email address in case of an emergency.

While I certainly applaud the embracing of new communications technologies, I have to wonder what this will mean…

“D00d! Terrists r teh sux0r!!1!”

“Evacu8. CU L8R.”

“2 L8 4 U! LOLOL!1”

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The National Book Festival is on the Mall this Saturday, featuring a diverse set of authors from all genres, including my personal favorite, Neal Stephenson. He’s speaking from 10:45 to 11:25 and signing books from 12 to 1. I’ll be there, camera in hand! Is Your Favorite Author Coming?

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Okay guys, this year’s Fray Day has been scheduled for DC!

Wednesday, November 17th, 7:00 PM. Love Cafe on U St. Yeah, Love Cafe as in Cakelove.

Come share cake and stories with us! And don’t forget to keep checking the official Fray Day 8: DC page for details.

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So, it turns out, not everyone is happy with the idea of building a stadium in Southeast. Some folks are really quite pissed off, and some are kinda really mad.

Now, I can understand wanting to house the homeless, and get them out of McPherson square, but I really think a ballpark would be GOOD for Southeast, bringing up business opportunities, raising revenues for the district, and helping fund other development in the area.

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Much love to Jason DeFillippo for our Movable Type Migration! We look all spifftacular now, thanks Jason and Sean!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs