Maturity
Dear Mature Correspondents:
It's my birthday. I don't think about aging much, largely because
physically I don't feel any different from when I was seventeen.
(Admittedly, I was out of shape when I was seventeen, too.) Sometimes,
however, I do think about maturing. Not all of us mature as we age, but
there are those who are lucky enough to mature. For the past few years,
I've been reading a number of blogs, and I've noticed that several
bloggers write with a combination of immaturity and arrogance for which
I've finally settled on the perfect word: callow. Callow bloggers can be
as crude as Atrios, as facile as Matthew Yglesias, or as sophisticated
as several members of the Crooked Timber group blog, but they are all
smug and condescending when they attack their intellectual betters, and
smugness and condescension are important elements of being callow.
I don't think that age has any particular advantage over youth. I
don't believe that people get smarter or more sophisticated as they get
older, or that they develop better judgment, or even that they become
more knowledgeable. People in their high school or college years are
likely to know more facts about a broader range of things than people in
their thirties or forties and beyond. If you don't believe that, try
doing some quadratic equations, or write what you remember of the table
of elements. The problem with callow youth is not that they aren't
educated, and not that they aren't smart, but that they have little
experience. Most of all, they have little experience with being wrong,
of having failed. They lack modesty, an understanding of the limits of
their knowledge and the limits of intelligence itself, and they lack the
sense that other people may well be right sometimes. If we become wise
as we age, if there is a wisdom of maturity, it is the admission to
ourselves that we're not nearly as wise as we would like to be.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
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Another Stadium Scheme, Same Secrecy
Ed Delaney, profeddel@yahoo.com
DC United official Kevin Payne tells the Post (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A34439-2004Mar29.html)
that “the club hopes to have a 25,000-seat stadium of its own built in
the next few years,” and that “the team is primarily focused on two
potential sites: next to RFK Stadium and one that would be part of the
District government's Anacostia Waterfront Initiative. ‘It's a site
we're very excited about,’ he said. The city and a private developer
[presumably Herb Miller, given his self-involvement in the AWI-dependent
baseball stadium scheme at Banneker Overlook] are doing a lot of
homework behind the scenes [where else?] and we expect to reconvene with
them sometime in the next couple weeks, and then the process will
probably become more public.” Interestingly, the Post dropped
the telling part of Payne’s comments that “the process will probably
become more public” between Monday night and Tuesday morning, but the
main theme of closed door deals with the public utterly left out of a
process that they will have to fund and live with endures. This is a
second stadium scheme that will have an impact on at least one District
community and likely more, yet DC officials purposely leave the public
out in the cold in the formative stages of their plans in favor of
private interests, yet expect the public to foot the bill and bear the
brunt of these schemes that they are excluded from completely. This is
unacceptable, and we need to act to be included in the process from the
front end, especially if these stadium plans turn out to be bad deals
for the citizenry that should be revised or abandoned.
Furthermore, “At the club's annual charity lunch yesterday in
Arlington, Payne elaborated on plans to build a 25,000-seat stadium next
to RFK Stadium or elsewhere along the Anacostia River in the next few
years. He said the complex would also include United's training
facility, grounds for the US national teams and fields for youth teams.
The stadium would also host about a dozen (or more) concerts each year.
Payne said he plans to meet with city leaders and developers again
soon” (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A37543-2004Mar30.html).
Here are comments from some attendees from BigSoccer.com’s DC United
message board: “Kevin gave more info on the stadium and he hopes to be
able to make some public announcements shortly. There were numerous mock
ups of the stadium around. It will be a combo stadium/performance
amphitheater.” With the indication of Banneker Overlook and the AWI's
consideration for DC stadium plans, I'm sure people living by the
waterfront will love to hear [not from DC officials beforehand but after
DC United, Fred Malek, Herb Miller, and other private interests have had
their say] that such a structure could be heading their way!
“The stadium drawings look like LA’s new Home Depot Center with
DC United’s logo on the front. They weren't too detailed.”
“[Someone] was mentioning something about the head of the DSEC or
whatever it is called will be welcoming fans before the game. He said
the level of cooperation between the two groups has never been better.
He seemed to be real upbeat about a new stadium.” At the game
Saturday, with plenty of reporters covering the game, might therefore be
a good place to voice concerns about the stadium, since no dissent —
let alone public input — is allowed into the backroom discussion!
And here’s some comment from the mayor on the issue, with my
comments in brackets, from http://www.majorleaguesoccer.net/news/offseason.html:
“Q: Many D.C. fans are worried that if Baseball comes to Washington,
it may displace D.C. United, at least temporarily, from RFK. We all
understand that sacrifices must be made, but are there any contingency
plans in place to help protect the quality of venue for United; for
instance sharing RFK with baseball, or extracting promises to build a
soccer specific stadium on or near RFK grounds? Mayor Williams: DC
United will always be a priority at RFK . . . which is probably the
nation's premier [large] soccer venue. We hope to have a problem of
scheduling with a baseball team in the near future . . . whatever
happens though, United will not get lost in the shuffle . . . the team
and its fans have been loyal to the District and I will not forget that.
Q: Speaking of that Soccer Specific Stadium, are there any juicy tidbits
of information you can give up about that? Is it still 'on the table’
so to speak? Mayor Williams: Well, I can't give up any juicy tidbits
about the soccer specific stadium [lest the public have a clue about it
until we're ready to strike] except that we want to do all we can to
continue the DC United tradition in the District of Columbia. There are
a lot issues to be sorted out. I will say that I was in Los Angeles last
year [during one of my many out-of-DC jaunts] and saw the Galaxy's new
stadium and was very impressed. . . . I think what they've done working
with Home Depot in a partnership is always the best way to go.”
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Mayor Williams has made a great offer: let him take over the school
system and he will make the system work better. If he fails to do this
he will “consider” resigning from office. I say put in writing what
you will improve, Mr. Mayor, and when those improvements will take
place. Then sign at the bottom that you will resign if those goals are
not met. Such a deal. I'd support it. It would be nice to see someone in
this city put their money in a place where they normally put their foot.
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The recent news article about the Mayor proposing increases for car
registration, etc., came days after I received my car registration
renewal. I was shocked to see it is going to cost me ninety-seven
dollars for the next year, or -- let's get real -- a hundred bucks! (Yet
my car inspection is now every two years, hmmmm. Where's the savings
there?)
I recall years ago (in the 90s) when the registration renewal was
raised substantially and billed as an "emergency act" or
something. Now the government calls it “revenue enhancement.” We've
got proposed fee increases for parking meters and real, expensive car
registration for residents. Let's not forget the non-discriminative
speed cameras and red-light cameras to make our streets safer. I, for
one, believe this is the case. And yes, it is a money maker for the
District, that's no lie. And so are it's residents, tourists and
commuters. Instead of a commuter tax, maybe we should just set up a toll
booth at the borders and get rid of these pesky, incessant, nickel 'n
dime payments to the DC government.
I like living DC too much to move to the 'burbs, but it's getting
awfully expensive with little return. Except for the occasional
justified tirade. P.S. Those cherry blossoms are unreal this year!
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It’s the People, Stupid
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aoldotcom
Or maybe it's just the stupid people. Blame on turnover is being
named as the cause for the lack of success in adapting the PeopleSoft
software to DC's school system. This same software has been successfully
implemented and employed in hundreds of school systems across the
country over the last ten years (including my own university). Why
doesn't it work in DC's schools? It's because no one bothers to train
properly those who must make the system work. PeopleSoft and DC should
enter into an arrangement whereby PeopleSoft will establish a formal
ongoing training program at UDC to produce users capable of employing a
viable software program accurately to run the school system. To abandon
the PeopleSoft software programs and begin all over would be pure folly.
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I am curious as to why we should be surprised that WASA is increasing
rates, especially in light of the problems as of late. In my
neighborhood I am already seeing streets torn up as water supply lines
are replaced, and as we know the cost of this project across the city is
in the billions of dollars. Who would we expect to pay for this other
than us, the consumers, WASA's only source of revenue?
Also related to our water rates, I have to say that the class action
lawsuit being brought against WASA and the DC Government on behalf of
anyone exposed to high lead levels is very troubling as well. Doesn't
this amount to suing yourself? I am sure that the lawyers will be glad
to relieve DC taxpayers of a nice chunk of change for this service, the
cost which will be passed directly back to the plaintiffs in this case
in the form of higher water rates and higher taxes.
We need to demanding accountability from WASA, and individuals
responsible for these terrible actions need to be dealt with. But in our
zeal to solve this problem let us not forget that we are not dealing
with some big profit-making entity whose products we can choose not to
use. We're stuck with WASA and the DC government and, whatever they pay,
we pay.
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None of Their Damn Business
Mary Boland, fotdfa@hotmail.com
Nope. I agree with the first writer [Paul Penniman, themail, March
24] regarding the registration-requirement questions asked by the Washington
Post in order to access most of their articles. It isn’t the sex,
age, and zip code information that I don’t want to give; it’s the
E-mail address. I don’t need any more junk messages clogging up my
E-mail, and if the Post is requiring my address, I figure they
want it to use it. Other newspapers do not need such information, and if
the Post does, then I’ll get my news from other sources.
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CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS
DC Public Library Events, April 1, 6
Debra Truhart, debra.truhart@dc.gov
Thursday, April 1, 12:00 p.m., Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial
Library, 901 G Street, NW, Room A-5, 2004 Brown Bag Recital Series:
April Foolishness! In the spirit of April Fool’s Day, a concert of
cute and quirky, “not-so-serious” music featuring pianist Ralitza
Patcheva, cellist Vasily Popov. Music Division staff and guest artists
will also perform. Bring your lunch! Public contact: 727-1248.
Tuesday, April 6, 7:00 p.m., Mount Pleasant Neighborhood Library.
Inspired by the book The Erotic as Power by Andre Lourde, Punto
Vivo: Eros Into Spring explores love, sexuality and the power of the
erotic through men and women’s eyes. Public contact: 671-0200.
Tuesday, April 6, 7:30 p.m., Takoma Park Neighborhood Library, 416
Cedar Street, NW. Readings by local poets Yvonne Patrick, Roseanne
Singer and Rosemary Winslow. Public contact: 576-7252.
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League of Women Voters Election Workshop,
April 3
Sheila Willet, lwvdc@aol.com
Individuals and organizations in the District are invited to attend a
free election workshop on Saturday, April 3, from 10 a.m. to noon at 441
4th Street, NW (Red Line Judiciary Square Metro Stop). Workshop topics
include voter registration and application of the Help America Vote Act,
how to follow the money; the importance of voter turnout; and a
get-out-the-vote discussion. Sponsored by DC League of Women Voters. For
information call 347-3020.
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First Night Passover Seder, April 5
Michael Karlan, events@dcyoungpro.com
Over 500 people attend our First Night Passover Seder every year!
D.C. Society of Young Professionals offers a truly unique and special
first night Passover Seder. Best of all, this Seder is just $45, and
includes a full traditional Kosher-for-Passover all-you-can-eat dinner,
including matzo ball soup, gefilte fish, sliced turkey, grilled
vegetables, assorted kugels, and dessert of macaroons and Passover
cookies. This Seder is both interactive and participatory, yet it is
also fast and fun. No prior Passover knowledge is required, as the
cantor will explain each step as he goes along. All tickets must be
purchased in advance. To purchase tickets, for more details about this
event, or to learn about all the DCSYP events, please visit http://www.dcyoungpro.com,
E-mail us at events@dcyoungpro.com,
or call us at 686-6085.
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Washington Storytellers Theater in association with The Arts Club of
Washington proudly presents Meliss Bunce, in Happily Ever After, the
first presentation in WST's new storytelling series, Flying Solo. In
Happily Ever After: Tales of Love, Marriage, and Other Serious
Entanglements, Meliss Bunce ponders the irresistible attractions,
inevitable distractions and soulful satisfactions of committed
relationships. She wonders, "Just what does it take to be the
perfect partner? What should you do for the sake of love? Does any
couple truly live happily ever after?" These questions are answered
in hilarious and poignant stories drawn from her award-winning book,
Happily Ever After: Folktales that Illuminate Marriage and Commitment.
The Arts Club of Washington, 2017 I Street, NW, Friday, April 9. Book
signing and reception at 7:00 p.m., performance at 8:00 p.m.; tickets,
$12 ($9 WST and Arts Club members, seniors, and students). Purchase at
the door or in advance by calling 301-891-1129.
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Festival of Origami Architecture, April 10
Brie Hensold, bhensold@nbm.org
As part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, the National
Building Museum will present a free family festival celebrating the
Japanese art of origami (paper folding) and the art of designing
buildings (architecture). The Museum's fourth Festival of Origami
Architecture, the only program of its kind in the United States, will be
held on Saturday, April 10 from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Festival
participants of all ages will enjoy hands-on opportunities to make
origami buildings, learn techniques of origami, and watch the amazing
origami architecture master Takaaki Kihara, from Japan, demonstrate the
creation of large-scale, three-dimensional origami architectural
structures. To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Commodore Matthew
Perry's landing in Japan that marks the start of the relationship
between the United States and Japan, Kihara will design and present a
new, large origami architecture piece named “Bridge.” A small
display of his work — including the world's largest work of origami
architecture (a reproduction of the National Building Museum's historic
home) as well as small reproductions of the Sydney Opera House, Tokyo
Tower, and the White House — will also be on view.
Another special feature of the festival will be demonstrations by the
paper artist Kazukiyo Kurosu, whose work has never been seen in the
United States. He transforms a single piece of paper into
three-dimensional structures, figures, and other objects by cutting it
in such a way that the sculptural object remains attached to the base
paper. No additional paper is used to make the object. A small exhibit
of his work -- including the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Arc de Triomphe, a
statue of Buddha, and traditional Japanese objects -- will be on
display. At the festival, families will have an opportunity to make
simple versions of his unusual work. Mr. Kihara and Mr. Kurosu's
intricate art work will be on view through Sunday, April 25, 2004.
During the day families can participate in many different hands-on
activities, including creating an origami city by making origami
skyscrapers, obelisks, and box houses; making pop-up cards of pyramids,
houses and other structures; constructing origami cups, animals, and
other objects; and joining advanced origami workshops. Admission to the
Festival of Origami Architecture is free. No reservations are required,
but scouts or other large groups should call 272-2448 or E-mail scout@nbm.org.
For more information about the Festival, visit the Museum's web site at http://www.nbm.org.
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A panel discussion on “Title 34 — DC's Human Rights Law,” will
be held on Thursday, April 15, at 6:30 p.m., at Sumner School, 17th and
M Streets, NW. The Rainbow History Project presents a discussion by Eva
Freund and Craig Howell of the 1973 passage and subsequent
implementation of Title 34, which provided protection to gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgendered individuals. Event is free and open to
public. For further information: info@rainbowhistory.org
or 907- 9007
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Certified Emergency Management Training, April
through July
Darrell Duane, d@duane.com
The George Washington University Medical Center will deliver the CERT
program to 620 residents in the eight wards of Washington, DC, as
designed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency with the following
course objectives: to present citizens with factual information about
what to expect in the event of a major disaster and about what immediate
services will be needed, to train them in the necessary life saving and
decision making skills in order to decrease injury and mortality while
maintaining the safety of the rescuer, to organize teams of citizens to
offer immediate help to the victims of a disaster until professional
life support services arrive, and to enable citizens to collect disaster
intelligence for use by professional responders
The CERT program will be composed of eight courses (twenty hours
total) in the following topic areas: Session I, disaster preparedness;
Session II, disaster fire suppression; Session III, disaster medical
operations, Part I; Session IV, disaster medical operations, Part II;
Session V, light search and rescue operations; Session VI, disaster
psychology and team organization; Session VII, terrorism; Session VII,
course review and disaster simulation.
There are seven more classes scheduled April through July. Go to http://gwcert.org
for more information and to register. These classes are free and open to
DC residents. You will be provided with a disaster response backpack
after completing all of the courses. If you have more questions, E-mail
me, d@duane.com.
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CLASSIFIEDS — RECOMMENDATIONS
I am buying a used car and would like any advice anyone has regarding
registration. I will need temporary tags to pick up the car, right? The
current owner will not let me drive away with his tags. How long is the
duration for the temp tags? I will need to get it inspected. Where are
the best (and worst) places the DC government has to inspect the car?
And then I'll need to get permanent DC tags. How long does that take and
where do I get them? I've never done this before, so any advice anyone
can give me off the list will be most appreciated, as I want to start
this process in the next few days. Please E-mail me off list with any
help you can give me.
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I need someone to repair my two computers. Please contact me at streetstories@juno.com.
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