Joshua Bates

@eat_dc Bold choice to count the employees only Dunkin at Smithsonian

29 of 98 Metro stations (12 of 27 Red Line stations) have a Dunkin' within two blocks:

We’re rolling into the future with new Gilig buses coming soon. Get an in-depth look at what's on the way.

@SandyofCthulhu The other nice thing about swords is they tend to be lethal against unarmored peasants, but leave armored lords alive for ransoming.

So why didn't everyone use spears in olden days? The answer is that pretty much everyone DID. Sure there were plenty of swords around too - you needed a sword as your back-up weapon in case you lost your spear imbedded in an enemy, or dropped. Swords were the weapon you wore in town or traveling, because you could keep it handy at your hip. It became a fashion accessory. Before bayonets, soldiers who used ranged weapons like bows or guns carried a sword, which is why the famous "musketeers" are depicted dueling with swords. And of course why samurai famously had swords - theoretically their main weapon was the bow. And yes in a one-on-one combat, a spear could usually beat a sword - but not always. A sword would almost always beat a pike one-on-one - the pike's length was just too unwieldy. So you could knock aside the tip and close in. Of course, in reality what would happen historically then is the pike-user would drop his pike and draw his own sword, so he's not actually at a disadvantage, except inasmuch as he won't have a shield (and you might). 2/3

What's the best melee weapon? The answer is unambiguously the spear, which is also one of the cheapest and oldest weapons. Neanderthals used spears. The answer to the question posed in the image below is that in one-on-one combat, the sharp pole will usually win, but in disciplined mass combat, the long sharp pole can be used to form a pike mass, and then it can beat almost anything. Even the fabled Roman legions lost when facing trained pikemen unless they could break up the pike line, flank them, or otherwise do some kind of workaround. Lindybeige on YouTube has several videos in which he gets re-enactors to fight with swords against spears. He goes through lots of variations - spears with shields, without shields, swords allowed to flank, or not allowed to flank (trying to simulate an unflankable line), and so forth. Even though his spear-using Brits are usually unfamiliar with their weapon, and his sword-users fairly experienced, the spears win almost all the time. 1/3

@AydanFox @GrandPOOBear My immediate reaction

You are old

@AaronBergman18 Roomette on long distance and first class Acela are really good, especially on sale. The only difference between business class NER and coach is assigned seat and free soda, so really only worth if you're trying to sit somewhere specific and don't want to chance open seating.

should I bid? Substantively it doesn't sound much nicer, but also I've never travelled non-economy before so kinda tempting to do once

It's so funny that Amtrak has post-purchase bidding on train ticket upgrades Gov't-adjacent entities don't generally do clever, cutting-edge market design

@WMATASoldier Yeah it's always annoyed me how ad hoc White House security looks, especially compared to how the capitol looks most of the time

WH wants to replace White House screening system in place since 2005, which utilizes temporary sheds, with a subterranean security facility under Sherman Park. Screened visitors would egress near the location of the presently-used sheds.

@djzeidi @AndrewSolender @Ruth_Mensch Cell transmitters in the tunnels. Metro, AT&T, T-Mobile & Verizon announce wireless service in rail tunnels systemwide | WMATA share.google/Yi0dkQdKznF1aX…

@AndrewSolender @Ruth_Mensch How did they do it in dc? Genuinely curious

don’t get me wrong new york is the greatest city in the world but coming back it never fails to jar me that there is no cell service on the subway. tragic example of washington, dc superiority i fear

@aaiqbal @DannyInTransit Have I got a transit project for you! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penn_Stat…

@DannyInTransit Has anyone looked into MNR trains going to Moynihan? Amtrak trains to Vermont already go through Croton-Harmon; MNR trains could do the same thing without having to build any new massive underground caverns

"Long walks eat up most East Side Access travel time savings" "Burying a new train station so far below ground it takes several minutes to even get to the surface washes away a lot of the benefits of a project."

@Amtrak @kabloo99 Could you clarify what "late equipment turn-off" is?

Hello. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience of these delays. We understand how frustrating delays can be. Train 133 is delayed due to late equipment turn-off. Our crews are doing everything they can to get you all to your destinations as safely and as timely as possible. We appreciate your patience and understanding during this time.

SO Y'ALL ARENT GONNA TELL ME WHY 133 IS DELAYED NOW???? @Amtrak @AmtrakAlerts @AmtrakNECAlerts

@thegameawards Lots of great answers on here, but I think Curiosity is highly overlooked. Check it out. youtube.com/playlist?list=…

Which games would you like to see nominated for Best Score & Music at The Game Awards in December?

@milesintransit1 I just finished it, I thought it was top tier!

Man, 10 out of 10, huh? Total bottom of the barrel? I could've just filmed another zero-effort uncut video and had better results? Haven't had views go against expectations SO hard in a while...I was proud of this one! Oh well, fickle nature of the algorithm, I guess!

@notliamanders0n Have to shout out Gods of Debauchery by Seven Spires youtu.be/_O7LUgm9JKw?si…

what's your favorite metal album? I'll start: Sumac's May You Be Held

@DCNewsLive @2fiftybbq It's so good

One of the best Texas BBQ’s I’ve spotted at around here 🔥 2Fifty Texas BBQ (@2fiftybbq) in the town of Riverdale Park, around the corner from College Park, MD

@JrWarwick @ChronoKatie Nier Automata if you get true ending

@ChronoKatie Whats the bottom left game O3O

What are some moments that you believe exemplify video games as an art form?

@gfy_ag @Barchart @therealgerlach @corn_porkNbeans @apasztor82 @Qconnealy19 @courtfarms @cb_catt That's one way to get ready for the WASDE report

We got a #posse @Barchart @therealgerlach @corn_porkNbeans @apasztor82 @Qconnealy19 @courtfarms @cb_catt #Snarkafterdark incoming! Someone get the bail money ready! #onemoarandweallgohome

@the_transit_guy Bigger issue to me is running at grade in the same traffic it's trying to avoid. How long until some pedestrian gets pasted? How bad is the on time performance going to be with the street running sections?

What we ordered for land use around the Purple Line vs. what we got:

@USA_Polling @gutknot here's another one!

Kansas R +5 Ohio R +3 Iowa D +3

@zillowgonewild @wtyppod

🚨💰 ANOTHER FORMER BANK FOR SALE. This one, formerly known as the Tacony Saving Fund Safe Deposit & Title Company was built in 1893 has 9,300 sq ft for only 1.1 million in Philly????

Mark your calendar for 1 pm ET, Friday, Nov. 8! Join host Lance Honig, Agricultural Statistics Board (ASB) Chair, for a live chat about the Crop Production report. Post questions ahead of time using #StatChat.

Mark your calendars! @usda_nass will hold its biannual data users’ meeting Oct. 15-16 virtually via Zoom. This meeting is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Learn more: bit.ly/3Yhcp7d