12.30.2019

Random Monday Morning Thoughts



  • It's continued vacation slide show posting because I have no idea what's going on in the real world. I'll get back to regular programming in a couple of days. 
  • Early on Friday morning, I found myself alone in the Jefferson Memorial. And I mean completely alone. Even for a cynic like me, it was a very moving experience.
  • The FDR Memorial is a little out of the way. It's not just this but a series of panels and statues that review his presidency.
    There's even a good boy

    Obviously a reference to those who didn't try hard enought, right?
  • The Vietnam War Memorial is moving. The Korean War Memorial is moving. The WWII Memorial is impressive but not moving. And it's breaking. 

  • I think this is cool. It's the Jefferson Pier just a few feet from the Washington Memorial. It was positioned to form a right angle in middle of the mall with the the White House directly behind my back and the Capitol Building directly to my left. (See map below.) In front of me, perfectly positioned, it the Jefferson Memorial.  (It's being repaired.) But notice you can see Jefferson's statue inside of it despite it being a long way away.The Washington Monument, which is just feet away, was to be built there but the ground was too marshy. 
  • I told you the National Christmas tree was spare. They just shove a tree inside an outline of lights.
  • I hate to say it, but the Trump Hotel inside the old Post Office building is beautiful.
  • For $3 you can see inside Ford's Theater and its museum.  I knew to look for some incredibly famous pieces of history (John Wilkes Booth's compass that he had on him when shot, and the boot he was wearing when treated by Dr. Mudd). And it's a good thing I knew to look for it: I promise you 80% of the tour didn't even see them and other cool "artifacts."

  • Ford's Theater was orignally gutted, but they've recreated it. 
  • The subway is very cool. Especially early in the morning. 
  • This picture is just an example of one of the many, many houses on "Embassy Row" off Dupont Circle.  It goes on for well over a mile. You name a country, and it has a nice "home" on that street or a side street. And that land is expensive. 
  • I had read that Jeff Bezos had bought two homes on a side street that were connected like townhomes (if townhomes were the size of mansions.) Once I located it by seeing evidence of renovation, I went back to take a pic. Security had shown up. His new place begins with the building in the background right behind the yellow light. 
  • Hey, you dolts! Look who got a little culture at the National Art Gallery. 

  • Let me tell you something, the guided tour of the actual Capitol Building leaves a lot to be desired. Did you know you can spend your life spending tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxes and they won't even let you see the Senate or the House chambers?  Other than the Rotunda (which is admittedly cool), this is the only other thing that got my attention. 
    Nancy. 
  • Same thing about the Library of Congress. You get to see the majestic foyer and other parts of it, but you can't actually get to the reading room or the books. (Which I guess, kind of makes sense.) 
  • I had to stroll by this building. The impeachment hearings have all been conducted inside of it. 
  • Going back to the Capitol, everything is a fortress -- even if a half arsed one. This is back of it facing the mall.  When a president gets sworn in, he walks through the darkened arch and out to that first level.  (I don't know if it was security or construction that caused the temporary fencing with the equipment behind it, but there were armed guard behind it that aren't pictured.)
  • Talk about sad looking, here is the now closed off front entrance of the Justice Department. That door faces the mall.  Note all the planters for protection (with dead plants) and no flags on the poles. It has a nice William Barr feel to it.
  • I found this on the side of the Justice Department. I presume "our race" doesn't really mean "our race."
  • Ok, that's it. I see things are normal back home.