Defend Democracy Bridge Brigade Reston VA

...The night of the homicide, Cedillos-Campos left work early, upset that Puch "sent screenshots of their affair" to Cedillos-Campos' girlfriend, according to the criminal complaint. A witness told police the suspect said he was going to kill Puch.

Rivera said the next step is securing an airline, something he said the airport is “very close” to doing. His hope is that the first flights begin in November 2027.

The airport’s journey into commercial service will eventually include building a 32,000-square-foot terminal that will have Transportation Security Administration screening checkpoints, gates, baggage claim facilities and concessions. There’s also a plan to add parking, with at least 2,000 parking spaces for airline passengers.

I’m in a townhouse right now looking to buy a single family home. In NOVA, that’s a million dollar decision. But one thing I’ve learnt is that it goes way beyond just affordability. You could have 20% down saved up, and the income to support the monthly mortgage payments, but your skin has got to be thick enough to deal with all the other bullshit that’s been going on right now.

1. Agents: these people do very little work and expect to be paid 5% of the sale. On a $1.5M home, each agent can expect to be paid $30-40k. And their incentives are totally misaligned with the buyers. I want to buy a home at the lowest price possible. But their comp is tied to the price so they constantly try to beef up the sale price. They tend to have zero sense of value, and any home I’ve ever been interested in, no matter how long they’ve been sitting, the agents always push you to offer at asking price or better. So if you’re trying to negotiate and get the best value, you have to do that homework yourself.

2. The lenders: mortgage rates are absolutely brutal right now. You’re looking at 6.5%+ with perfect FICOs. ARM or even interest only rates aren’t much better either. Now one thing you need to know is that the agents all work with local lenders because obviously they share commissions. I bring clients to you - I screw them once, then you screw them on the rate. And we screw them together and share the commission. They will badmouth any lender that can beat their offers (typically the big banks, the Zillow/rockets). And all lenders will seem super friendly and timely at first but when origination is done and you’re working with underwriting, that’s when you become their bitch. Meetings and followups are on their schedule. You play the waiting game. And they all collude on the rate as well - “I’ll match the lowest rate”. But if everyone’s saying that then there is no lowest rate anymore is there? And then they do the whole “I’m disappointed you didn’t choose my high rates and points buydown even though I wrote a letter for you so I’m not going to work with you again” emotional blackmail.

3. The sellers - these motherfuckers think it’s still 2021. They haven’t put any money into their homes, and they expect top dollar when they list their homes. The kitchens are old. Bathrooms are old. Windows need replacing. HVAC unit is on its final Odyssey. You haven’t even bothered to pay some guy $200 to power wash the patio on a $1.5m listing. The zestimate is $1.4m btw. And thankfully the market is slowing down. They’re finally realising this and inventory is starting to pile up, some sitting for 2+ months and have already gotten 2-3 price reductions.

On top of this, you’re also dealing with inspection people, appraisal people, contractors, and getting clapped left and right along the way.

So after six months of dealing with all the bullshit, as Michael Corleone once said: here’s my offer. Nothing.

https://bluevirginia.us/2026/09/after-16-year-old-student-hit-by-car-near-south-lakes-hs-in-fairfax-three-former-current-school-board-members-urge-the-board-of-supervisors-to-reconsider-the-defunding-of-high-school-crossing-guard/

According to social media posts from multiple witnesses, the force of the collision sent the youth into the air before he landed. Scanner traffic indicates his foot may have been injured.

“Preliminarily, the driver of a vehicle struck a 16-year-old student who was walking to school,” the Fairfax County Police Department told FFXnow. “The teen was transported to an area hospital with minor injuries. The driver remained on scene.”

The driver has been charged with failing to stop before entering a highway, a citation that carries a $97 fine.

“Officers continue to investigate this incident,” the police department said.

According to the FCPD, the student was not in a crosswalk at the time of the collision, and the crash reportedly took place near the entrance from South Lakes Drive near doors three and four — not a spot where a crossing guard had been previously stationed.

A long, but good read on the current state of our electricity grid and why electricity bills keep rising. I also read a separate analysis today that suggested the models used to price electricity in our region are riddled with errors and as a result, consumers are paying more than they actually should.

https://thenewenergycrisis.com/series/part-1

...Her return marked a rapid reversal at South Lakes after Fairfax County eliminated crossing guards at high schools as part of budget reductions. It was not immediately clear Tuesday afternoon whether guards had been returned to other Fairfax County high schools.

I just want a cotton candy milkshake. I live in a tiny ass studio apartment and I don’t own a blender. DON’T TELL ME TO MAKE ME OWN. Every time I google cotton candy milkshake in NOVA I am presented with nothing but lies. All of the previews claim to have it, but lo and behold on the actual website, nothing is ever there! Please drop locations where I can get one. Bonus points if it has any mix-ins for a bit of texture, I love a loaded milkshake. I am desperate.

edit: I love you all for all of the suggestions. Except for the person who told me to make it myself. You doing the one thing I asked people not to do was heinous. I hope your pillow is warm for the next eight days.

edit 2: Contrary to popular belief I am not pregnant LOL. I am on a medication well known for causing increased appetite and just upped my dosage several days ago. The violent cravings will subside once I’m used to the higher dosage 😅

With JBG Smith’s authorization, a subsidiary of the home builder Toll Brothers submitted a rezoning application to Fairfax County yesterday (Monday) that proposes replacing the hotel and its parking garage with townhouses and duplexes.

“The proposed community will include up to 114 dwelling units, comprised of a mix of single-family attached and bi-plex dwelling units,” land use attorney Robert Brant wrote in an Aug. 28 statement to the county’s zoning division. “The proposed mix of units will contribute to the diversification of housing types in Tysons West and Tysons at-large, and will add to the supply of workforce housing.”

This jerk blew through a red light this morning in McLean and almost hit me and my dog in the crosswalk.
Apparently the reason he couldn’t slow down or stop was because he needed to get to 7 Eleven 3.5 seconds early.
Of course he is a Maryland driver….

I’ve been to this theater three times now and somehow the experience has gotten worse each time.
The first time I went to see naked gun and the screen was so dim that I honestly felt like I would’ve had a better experience watching it on my phone.
The second time the screen was still dim and the sound quality was terrible too.
Today I went to see Terminator 2 3d. Instead of seeing 3d, I was just seeing double and they even left a light on inside the theater. Turns out the screen doesn’t support 3d at all. Thankfully I was able to get a refund.
The only reason I gave this place another chance after the first visit is because it’s five minutes away from me. It’s frustrating because they have such a great location but the theater is run so poorly. After three bad experiences I don’t think I’ll be giving it another chance.

Not sure if they hit but heard a sound. In case that person needs this.

(copied from their email)

This weekend we are celebrating STAR TREK's 60th anniversary!!

Here's the scoop:

STAR TREK films I, II, III, and IV will be shown this weekend. The fun thing is they are paired with the TV episode that inspired each film, and these are the directors' cuts. Fantastic, right?

STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE (1979) is rated G and will play 3:45pm and 7:10pm on Friday (with Season 2, Episode 3: "The Changeling");

STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982) is Saturday at the same showtimes (with Season 1, Episode 22: "Space Seed");

STAR TREK III: THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK (1984) is Sunday at the same times (with Season 2, Episode 1: "Amok Time");

STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME (1986) is Monday, also at the same showtimes (with Season 1, Episode 28: "The City on the Edge of Forever").

On Tuesday, they will all play in order at 10am, 1pm, 4pm, and 7:10pm, with no TV episodes included.

Tickets are $15 for all showings.

Figured I’d try here because…why not.

My date fell through for show Tuesday next week, Sept 8. So, I have an extra ticket.

The show is at Songbyrd in DC (a great little local venue by Union Market, if you’ve never been). At 7pm with an opener.

The headliner is a fantastic indie “country rock” band called Brown Horse. Check them out: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=mKxMFlRj6xw&list=RDmKxMFlRj6xw&start_radio=1&t=540s&pp=ygUQYnJvd24gaG9yc2UgbGl2ZaAHAQ%3D%3D&ra=m

So, if you’re a single lady interested in some good live music, hit me up. The ticket is yours. Maybe we can grab a drink beforehand.

As mentioned, I’m 38. Honestly, pretty exceedingly normal. I enjoy being outside, primarily kayaking. And live music.

This will be a low pressure, non committal thing. If all we do is enjoy each other’s company and some live music…that’s cool!

For my birthday this year, I'm really hoping to spend it in the mountains. I know of the Omni Homestead Resort and The Salamander. My husband was also looking at Graves Mountain Farm & Lodges! Looks really nice. Would appreciate any recommendations or advice.

Parents visiting from FL and are requesting some amazing BBQ. Any gems? Thanks!

Has anyone here tried a preschool co-op school or considered one for their kids? Is it worth it? And does it feel like an actual school, or is it basically just a glorified daycare?

So I was a burnt out public teacher in 2021-2023. I had started in the arts as a itinerant teacher at the height of Covid in 2020. I left my district to work in alternative teaching situations like after-school and weekend specialty art classes where I got bonuses, summer camps, and at a SACC program as a Site Director and even as an in-home care giver in Maryland PT for an elderly gentleman while I got my masters online . It wasn’t exactly paying the bills either. Especially when I didn’t know how to put money aside for taxes. But at the time I had a partner helping me out with the bills.

In the past year, I went back to teaching, but I moved to a more urban area to teach three days a week in my field and not feel overwhelmed. I’ve taken on roommates for the first time in my life (I’m over 40 and divorced) as it’s the only way to afford the area. However, I find myself coming in on my days off to “support” at almost half my normal rate as a desperately needed sub. This is my second year where I find myself stuck in this position. Don’t get me wrong, It is less stress, and I do love my school and the kids are adorable (I’m now in pre-K.) our school is very small so it feels like a large family and people actually do care here (though of course every workplace has its egos and difficulties). However, whenever I do go to another school to try out a different position - as I’m certified in more than my specialization - my administration makes me feel a bit guilty. I want to get back into teaching ESL again and those days that I Sub EL are my only way of doing it right now. I did teach EFL abroad and then online and passed the Praxis for certification. I did apply for a 0.4 position with my district and didn’t even get it. Maybe the schedules conflicted. Perhaps since admin was in flux during the summer… My application just fell through the cracks….

All I know is I need to do something different soon because my credit card bills are getting higher and I’m taking free food that is usually meant for the immigrant families that I serve ( free food mailbox on campus and shelf in my building) because I just can’t afford to live here either. I rent two rooms and a private bathroom with a walk-in closet… don’t really use the kitchen. It’s a bit uncomfortable tbh. On top of that my roommates are selling in December so I’m going to need to find another place. And I honestly don’t think I can find as good as a deal as I have now.

Sorry for the rant I just don’t know how I got here or what to do next. If I go back to full-time teaching, I might crash out again as during that time I did have the police called to my door…. I had said something sarcastically that seemed like self harm to someone in an email that I did didn’t really mean. I was stressed out over a lot of the understaffing and behavioral issues that are common placed today especially with high-need underfunded high-immigrant populated schools. Teachers with last experience come straight from graduating. Colleges are dropping like flies. I don’t know how this is supposed to continue this way. I just know it makes me want to move to the middle of nowhere where there are hardly any children just so class sizes would be smaller.