What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0253

12601.  The soups on Viking cruises are great . . . and I’m not a (big) soup person;

12602.  There are McDonalds, Burger Kings, Starbucks and Subways in Vienna(, Austria);

12603.  There are a lot of hot dog/sausage stands in Vienna;

12604.  “Wien” is “Vienna” in German;

12605.  Austrians speak German;

12606.  “The Sound of Music” is not popular in Austria;

12607.  Austria is made of 9 provinces with Vienna as the capital;

12608.  Austria has a population of 9 million people;

12609.  The Spanish Riding School in Vienna is the home of the Lipizzaner stallions;

12610.  Lipizzaner stallions are born dark and turn white with age;

12611.  There are 74 (Lipizzaner) stallions in Vienna.  The stallions spend 3 weeks in the countryside and then 3 weeks in the city;

12612.  Lipizzaner stallions get 8 weeks of rest/vacation a year;

12613.  The Austrian National Library in the Hofburg Palace complex in Vienna is the largest library in Austria with more than 12 million items;

12614.  There are 9 public and 5 private universities in Vienna;

12615.  Vienna is big into café culture.  There are over 1,200 cafés in the city;

12616.  The Austrians seem to like their sweets;

12617.  At the Swarovski flagship store in Vienna (at Kärntner Straße 24, 1010 Wien, Austria), there’s complementary (Moët & Chandon) champagne, coffee and water on the top floor.  And the restrooms (in the basement) are free too;

12618.  Swarovski makes more than (just) jewelry and watches, they make tableware, glasses, decorative accessories, picture frames, ornaments and figurines too;

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0252

12551.  Jalen Brunson’s (i.e., point guard for the New York Knicks) father, Rick Brunson, was the director of basketball operations from 2007-2009 for the University of Virginia’s men’s basketball team under (former) coach Dave Leitao;

12552.  Martin Garrix has a lot of songs;

12553.  The (Peruvian-style) rotisserie chicken at “Edy’s Chicken & Steak” in Falls Church, Virginia, is tasty;

12554.  Apparently, rats won’t eat veggie dogs;

12555.  Apparently, droughts and heatwaves can make the Danube too shallow for some (river) cruise ships;

12556.  The countryside outside of Munich is rather picturesque.  There are a lot of very well-maintained farms;

12557.  The Autobahn/highways outside of Munich are very well maintained.  There’s very little garbage/trash, no potholes, no debris in the shoulders and no grass, plants and weeds growing in cracks;

12558.  The chocolate in Germany tastes different.  It’s not as sweet and (probably) made with different dairy;

12559.  A lot of the houses in Bavaria have solar panels( on them);

12560.  The Autobahn/highways around Munich is/are only 1-2 lanes going either way;

12561.  They grow a lot of corn in Bavaria. . . . They also grow wheat and soybeans;

12562.  The river cruise ships/Viking longships for Viking (specifically the Viking Tor) are (really) nice;

12563.  It’s TK Maxx not TJ Maxx in Germany;

12564.  There are no open container laws in Germany;

12565.  There are McDonalds, Burger Kings, Starbucks and Subways in Germany;

12566.  (I can say) I’ve been to Austria;

12567.  A lot of corn is grown in Austria;

12568.  Harvard professor Arthur Brooks argues that imagining your own death is one of the most reliable paths to living better.  Research in Personality and Social Psychology Review found that when reminded of death, people make healthier choices, use their time more wisely and show increased empathy toward others.  The Stoics called it memento mori – remember you will die.  Turns out the best way to appreciate the road is to know it ends;

12569.  If you like wine, cocktails and/or spirits, it’s worth getting the “Silver Spirts Beverage Package” (i.e., $27.00 per person per day) on Viking cruises.  They’ve got good wine and scotch/whiskey selections;

12570.  In Germany, you can’t name your child “Hitler.” . . . “Adolf” isn’t explicitly banned;

12571.  In Germany, you can’t deny the Holocaust.  If you do, you could be fined or jailed( up to 5 years);

12572.  Regensburg(, Germany) was founded in 179;

12573.  Oskar Schindler briefly lived in Regensburg after World War II;

12574.  (Johann Wolfgang von) Goethe stayed at the Gasthaus WeiBes Lamm/White Lamb Inn in Regensburg on September 4^th, 1786;

12575.  In the 1300s, salt was called “white gold;”

12576.  In the 1300s, people wanted to be paid in salt.  That’s where the word, salary, comes from.  It’s where the phrase, “not worth its weight in salt,” comes from too;

12577.  Salt came from Salzburg (i.e., German for “salt city/fortress”);

12578.  It took almost 600 years (from 1273 to 1872) to complete St. Peter’s Cathedral in Regensburg;

12579.  Tobacco shops in Regensburg have bottle openers;

12580.  Allegedly, the best (and most famous) sausage in Regensburg is at the “Historische Wurstkuchl” (i.e., “Historic Sausage Kitchen”) (Wurstkuchl.de).  It’s located right next to the Stone Bridge and it’s the world’s oldest, continuous, sausage roasting kitchen( operating for over 500 years);

12581.  On a cruise ship (on the Danube) . . . check (kind of);

12582.  Passau(, Germany) was founded in 700 BC;

12583.  Passau is a walled city;

12584.  “Artist’s Alley” in Passau is on Hollgasse (i.e., “Hell’s alley”);

12585.  The Danube is the second longest river in Europe.  The Volga is the longest;

12586.  Apparently, there are a lot of power plants on the Inn( River);

12587.  There are no locks on the Inn( River);

12588.  The Danube, Inn and Ilz rivers confluence/merge in Passau;

12589.  There’s a Saint Stephen’s Cathedral in Passau(, Germany) and Vienna(, Austria) and a Saint Stephen’s Basilica in Budapest(, Hungary);

12590.  Saint Stephen’s Cathedral in Passau is home to the largest organ in Europe( with 17,974 pipes and 233 registers);

12591.  Apparently, Passau is known as “Bavarian Venice.”  After devastating fires in the 1600s, Italian architects were hired and the city was rebuilt in the then-fashionable Italian Baroque style;

12592.  In Germany, most stores (including grocery stores) are not open on Sundays;

12593.  In Germany, “bio” means “organic;”

12594.  Pretzels in Germany are tasty.  They’re softer and less chewy (i.e., more bready) than the ones in the United States;

12595.  “Tor” is “Thor” in Swedish;

12596.  “Das Oberhaus Feichtinger” (DasOberhaus.com) next to Veste Oberhaus has a great view of Passau;

12597.  Viking (cruises) serve(s) (complementary) high tea in the afternoons;

12598.  Getting a blowjob on a cruise ship (in Krems, Austria) . . . check . . . blowing your load in her mouth . . . (double) check . . . swallowed . . . (triple) check;

12599.  Dinner and cocktails on Viking cruises are excellent;

12600.  Apparently, the chefs on the Viking Tor are Swiss trained;

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0251

12501.  Tom Morello (of “Rage Against the Machine” and “Audioslave”) can (really) play the guitar( too);

12502.  We don’t believe what we see; we see what we believe;

12503.  2 beliefs that are the (silent) killers of success with women: 1.  Pedestalization of women; and 2.  Devaluing yourself;

12504.  When you’ve seen enough messy apartments, awful conversations, zero senses of humor, poor taste, no hobbies, hidden blemishes and imperfections, past trauma, sadness, self-hatred, destructive habits, bad attitudes and issues, you learn that women are human just like you.  They have their own set of challenges that they struggle with.  Look past the cute face and perky body.  You need to find out her greatness before you over value her in your mind.  A man who gets it, knows this.  And that is the type of man women are attracted to not a guy who’s sold before she even opens her mouth;

12505.  If you looked at women realistically and knew your true value, how would you go about dating?  You wouldn’t be afraid to approach and talk to women.  You wouldn’t have any desperation and chase women; they’d chase you.  You wouldn’t care what women think so much about you.  You could get to know them as human beings not trying to “get” anything from them.  You would give value and good energy freely and not “need” anything back.  You would be the buyer not the seller.  This is the place you want to be at;

12506.  3 steps to get there: 1.  You have to know what you value; 2.  You have to build yourself into the man that has those values; and 3.  You have to value yourself;

12507.  There are a lot of murals in Downtown Houston;

12508.  Nopales are prickly pear cactus pads;

12509.  If you’re a “(The )Simpsons” fan, check out “Neil’s Bahr” (NeilsBahr.com) in Houston, Texas;

12510.  If you’re going to see several attractions in Houston, consider buying a CityPASS (CityPASS.com);

12511.  There are (Texas) longhorn cattle at Space Center Houston (SpaceCenter.org);

12512.  The Saturn V (rocket) was the first launch vehicle to carry humans beyond low Earth orbit;

12513.  The first stage of the Saturn V (rocket) used kerosene and liquid oxygen as fuel;

12514.  NASA assembled the Saturn V (rocket) on a mobile platform including a launch tower with 8 (swing) arms and a crew access arm.  The Crawler Transporter moved the entire assembly to the launch pad.  The Crawler Transporter moved about 3 ½ miles (i.e., 5.6 km) to the launch pad in a 6-hour trip at about 1 mph (i.e., 1.6 kph);

12515.  The second and third stages of the Saturn V (rocket) used liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as fuel;

12516.  (I can say) I’ve been in a (replica) space shuttle;

12517.  You can go inside an actual NASA 905 shuttle carrier aircraft and a replica space shuttle (i.e., Independence) at Space Center Houston;

12518.  Almost a ton (i.e., 1,710 lbs/775 kgs) of pig iron was secured to the floor forward of the first row of seats of the shuttle carrier aircraft to balance its center of gravity.  An additional 3 ½ tons (i.e., 7,000 lbs/3,175 kgs) of pea gravel went in the cargo hold during shuttle ferry flights;

12519.  If you can, reserve tickets in advance for the “Astronaut Training Facility” and the “NASA Campus” tours at Space Center Houston.  They fill up fast;

12520.  For an additional cost, you can see (the Christopher C. Kraft) Mission Control on the “Historic Mission Control” tour.  Apparently, availability is extremely limited, so it is recommended you get your tickets 2 weeks in advance;

12521.  The barbeque sauce for the chopped, brisket sandwich at Buc-ee’s (Buc-ees.com) is a little (too) sweet;

12522.  The chicken burrito at Buc-ee’s is tasty;

12523.  Buc-ee’s sells original artwork (i.e., paintings & photographs) in their bathrooms;

12524.  “Angel Share” (AngelShareHTX.com) in Downtown Houston reminds me of Platform 9 ¾ in “Harry Potter;”

12525.  “Angel Share” in Downtown Houston has Happy Hour daily from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.  They have $5.00 off wines by the glass and select cocktails as well as $5.00 rail/well drinks and drafts;

12526.  Houston’s METRORail accepts credit cards, contactless cards and mobile wallets;

12527.  The “Memorial Hermann Hospital/Houston Zoo” station (on the Red Line) is the closet METRORail station to the Houston Zoo;

12528.  Apparently, adult male, Asian elephants typically live alone;

12529.  You can feed the (Masai) giraffes at the Houston Zoo (HoustonZoo.org);

12530.  Red pandas are cute;

12531.  The supreme pizza (with pepperoni, hamburger, sausage, green peppers, tomatoes, black olives, mushrooms & onions) at Frank’s Pizza (FranksPizza.com) in Houston, Texas, is tasty;

12532.  The “Main Street Square” station (on the Red Line) is the closet METRORail station to the SpringHill Suites Houston;

12533.  The “Preston” station (on the Red Line) is the closet METRORail station to the Downtown Aquarium in Houston, Texas;

12534.  There are (Bengal and Sumatran) tigers at the Downtown Aquarium (DowntownAquariumHouston.com) in Houston, Texas;

12535.  (I can say) I’ve petted/touched (cownose and southern) stingrays;

12536.  You can see a largetooth sawfish at the Downtown Aquarium in Houston, Texas;

12537.  I enjoyed/liked the Downtown Aqarium( in Houston, Texas), but everything is an upsell;

12538.  There are crab and crawfish cakes;

12539.  The crab and crawfish cake (with house slaw, roasted cherry tomatoes & white wine, lemon, cream sauce) at “The Moonshiners Southern Table + Bar” (TheMoonshinersHouston.com) in Houston, Texas, is tasty;

12540.  If you want to have a drink surrounded by taxidermy( and other strange/unusual objects), go to notsuoH (notsuoH.com) in Downtown Houston;

12541.  If you’re looking for a dive bar in Houston, “Warren’s Inn” is recognized as the oldest, continuously operating bar in Downtown Houston.  It was established in 1953 and it’s known for its stiff pours;

12542.  Coffee significantly reduces the absorption of iron.  It’s recommended to take iron supplements 60-90 minutes apart from coffee and pair them with vitamin C to enhance uptake;

12543.  Calcium, magnesium and zinc absorption can be hindered by coffee’s polyphenols; spacing intake by at least an hour is advised;

12544.  High caffeine intake may slightly reduce absorption or increase excretion of vitamins B and D, so pairing them with food and water is beneficial;

12545.  Life hack: If you want to crisp up your soggy (hotel, breakfast) waffle, put it in the toaster;

12546.  The sausage kolache at Shipley Donuts (ShipleyDonuts.com) is tasty. . . . It’s like a big “pig in a blanket;”

12547.  The chicken tikka naan pizza at Bowl’d Masala (BowldMasala.com) is tasty;

12548.  POST Market (POSTHTX.com) in Downtown Houston is what I’d imagine a food hall in “Blade Runner” looks like;

12549.  (I can say) I’ve flown first class.  It’s nice; more legroom, complementary alcohol, more and better snacks and a meal;

12550.  The Whataburger Jr. is like a better McDonald’s hamburger;

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0250

12451.  There’s an outlying island of Hong Kong named “Cheung Chau.”  The name translates to “long island;”

12452.  Apparently, “Cheung” in Cantonese translates to “to open up,” “to spread,” “to grow” and/or “to flourish;”

12453.  “Cheung” is a widespread last name/surname in Hong Kong and Guangdong;

12454.  The Library of Congress (LOC.gov/events/?fa=subject:special%20events) has extended hours from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM every Thursday.  They have Happy Hour drinks and food (available) for purchase (from Founding Farmers).  It’s free, but you have to get/reserve tickets in advance;

12455.  The jerk chicken at the Reggae Café/Beach Grill at Breezes Bahamas (Breezes.com) is tasty;

12456.  There are feral/wild cats in the Bahamas;

12457.  Apparently, (some) dogs will dig in beach sand for crabs;

12458.  Breezes Bahamas (Breezes.com) in Nassau is a little dated.  The resort needs a refreshing, but the food at the all-inclusive is good.  Think good hotel food.  The drinks are free flowing.  The staff are the nice.  And the price point is (way) better than the other all-inclusive resorts in Nassau;

12459.  The Bahamian dollar is pegged to the U.S. dollar on a one-to-one basis;

12460.  Merchants take USD in the Bahamas;

12461.  It’s $1.50 USD to ride the bus in Nassau/New Providence.  The buses are privately owned and regulated by the government.  They run from 6:00 AM until about 6:30 PM daily with limited Sunday service;

12462.  Kalik Radler Lychee is (really) tasty. . . . It tastes (just) like the juice/syrup from canned lychee;

12463.  Sands Pink Radler is tasty;

12464.  Kalik is like any other light beer (i.e., Bud Light, Coors Light, Miller Lite, etc.);

12465.  There are feral/wild dogs in the Bahamas;

12466.  Apparently, the only (commercially produced) rum cakes actually made in the Bahamas are from the Bahamas Rum Cake Factory (TheBahamasRumCakeFactory.com) in Nassau;

12467.  The (rum) cakes are cheaper (i.e., $7.00 v. $10.00+) if you buy them at the Bahamas Rum Cake Factory (TheBahamasRumCakeFactory.com) in Nassau.  There are also discounts if you buy multiple cakes;

12468.  If you buy 4 (rum) cakes from the Bahamas Rum Cake Factory, you get a free shot of (Ricardo) rum at the bar next door;

12469.  (Bahamian) conch salad is like chewy ceviche;

12470.  The lobster bites/cracked lobster at “Linda’s Place” (Facebook.com/people/Lindas-Place/100057400542268) in Nassau, Bahamas, are (really) tasty;

12471.  The lobster roti at “Linda’s Place” is lobster curry wrapped in flatbread;

12472.  In the Bahamas . . . check;

12473.  Nassau is the capital and the largest city in the Bahamas;

12474.  Nassau is on the island of New Providence;

12475.  There are approximately 700 islands in the Bahamas with only 30 of them inhabited by people;

12476.  (I can say) I’ve ridden in a clear bottom (motor) boat;

12477.  (I can say) I’ve swum with a sea turtle( in the Bahamas);

12478.  (I can say) I’ve swum with (Bahamian) pigs;

12479.  Apparently, (Bahamian) pigs eat cantaloupe;

12480.  When swimming with pigs, watch out for the (pig) poop;

12481.  Baby pigs are cute;

12482.  Pigs have coarse hair;

12483.  Jet skis are fun;

12484.  Kalik Radler Mango is tasty;

12485.  Apparently, some people find it disgusting if you rinse the sand out of your water shoes in the pool;

12486.  The Baha Mar resort (BahaMar.com) reminds me of a (Las) Vegas casino;

12487.  Apparently, they have “profite rolls,” not profiteroles (i.e., cream puffs) in the Bahamas;

12488.  (I can say) I’ve been snorkeling in the Bahamas;

12489.  Apparently, (Bahamian) pigs eat apples;

12490.  Apparently, (Bahamian) pigs like (chicken) hot dogs;

12491.  Not all (Bahamian) pig swimming excursions are created equally.  Some are (way) better than others;

12492.  Baby manta rays are (rather) cute;

12493.  Apparently, (the) locals eat at the “Fish Fry” in Arawak Cay in Nassau;

12494.  I think part of the appeal of being tan is that it evens out your skin tone so that any discoloration is harder to notice/see;

12495.  The sous vide roasted chicken (i.e., half chicken with 3 potato, garlic, mashed potatoes & asparagus) at Chart House (Chart-House.com) in (Old Town) Alexandria is (really) tasty.  I didn’t think I’d say that about a chicken dish at a seafood and steak restaurant;

12496.  Dating is terrible if you date terrible people.  Dating is great if you only spend time with people who are great;

12497.  Apparently, Bruce Springsteen and Tom Morello (of “Rage Against the Machine” and “Audioslave”) are friends. . . . At (the very) least, they tour together;

12498.  (Bruce) Springsteen still got “it” at 76;

12499.  Nils Lofgren (of the “E Street Band) can (really) play the guitar;

12500.  Bruce Springsteen really doesn’t like (Donald) Trump;

What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0249

12401.  Adding black sesame seeds to Rice Krispies treats gives them a nice Asian flavor/twist;

12402.  “Boys Noize” (i.e., Alexander Ridha) is German and Iraqi;

12403.  “Boys Noize” co-wrote Lady Gaga’s hit, “Rain on Me;”

12404.  Trent Reznor (of “Nine Inch Nails”) is 60. . . . He was born on May 17, 1965;

12405.  Nine Inch Nails is (essentially) EDM rock;

12406.  Trent Reznor says he doesn’t like talking in front of a lot of people/public speaking;

12407.  Trent Reznor has 6 children/kids;

12408.  Apparently, Schmidt likes to eat roses;

12409.  Roses are not poisonous to cats;

12410.  Bad news always gets worse with time;

12411.  George Washington was a surveyor.  He completed over 200 surveys in his lifetime including (surveying) Alexandria, Virginia;

12412.  Alexandria, Virginia, had an earlier name of Belhaven;

12413.  The moment in front of you is not bothering you, you’re bothering yourself about the moment in front of you;

12414.  I have my (own) back.  Even if I suck, I love myself anyways;

12415.  It’s not failure; it’s feedback;

12416.  Forgiving means letting go of the protective armor of blame and/or hatred that encases your heart;

12417.  Forgiving means never putting anyone, including yourself, out of your heart;

12418.  Forgiveness is the compassion that arises when we’ve brought full presence to the suffering of hurt and wounds;

12419.  Forgiveness is a process that unfolds over time;

12419.  Forgiveness is giving up all hope of a better past.  We cannot move forward if we’re still holding onto the pain of that past and wishing it was something else;

12420.  Forgiving does not mean we should deny or suppress our anger, fear, hurt or grief;

12421.  Forgiving is not condoning harmful behavior nor does it mean passivity or inaction;

12422.  When we forgive, we are in no way saying what you did is okay or that we’ll allow the behavior to continue;

12423.  While the energy of anger may catalyze us, it can’t sustain us in the long run.  We need forgiveness to go hand in hand with a deep dedication to social activism;

12424.  Forgiveness does not have to be done on our own;

12425.  Forgiving is rarely a one-shot or quick process;

12426.  Healing happens in stages;

12427.  For many people, blame and resentment are strongest in our closest, most significant relationships.  This means that we’re apt to be continually retriggered;

12428.  Self judgement or shame makes forgiveness more difficult;

12429.  You can’t will forgiveness, but you can be willing;

12430.  For your heart to be free, it needs to be inclusive not blaming.  From this place, you understand that you can’t truly be happy or feel loving if you’re holding onto anger and blame;

12431.  Our incapacity to forgive is directly related to our inability to feel joy in our life;

12432.  You’re allowed to bring one empty, plastic, water bottle into Capital One Arena . . . metal bottles are not allowed;

12433.  I can say I’ve seen 2 shorthanded goals scored on the same powerplay;

12434.  Samuel Beckett wrote the (tragicomedy) play, “Waiting of Godot;”

12435.  Crabbie’s (original alcoholic) ginger beer is tasty;

12436.  A “Crabbie Irishman” (i.e., Bushmills Irish whiskey, Crabbie’s ginger beer & lime) is tasty;

12437.  Allegedly, Khalil Herbert (the running back/return specialist for the New York Jets) lives in Vienna, Virginia;

12438.  Delia’s (DeliasBrickOvenPizza.com) in Alexandria has Happy Hour daily from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.  They have bottled and canned beer for $5.00, draft beers for $6.00, wine for $6.00 to $7.00, red and white sangria for $8.00, rail drinks (i.e., bourbon, brandy, gin, rum, tequila & vodka) for $6.00, margaritas for $9.00, craft cocktails (i.e., American sour & limoncello martini) for $11.00 and food specials from $4.00 to $10.00 (i.e., beef slider, Brooklyn flatbread, Brussels sprouts, calamari, lamb slider, Maxwell flatbread, mini falafel, mini knuckles, mini spicy lamb gyro & truffled fries);

12439.  Geno Auriemma was an assistant coach, under Debbie Ryan, for the University of Virginia’s women’s basketball team from 1981-1985 before he became head coach of the University of Connecticut’s women’s basketball team;

12440.  Never having had a child, I imagine raising a puppy is (a lot) like raising a child.  The puppy/child can give you a lot of joy, but, at the same time, the puppy/child can be very tiring and draining because the puppy/child always wants your time and (needs your) attention;

12441.  (Founded in February 2011 by Bill and Karen Butcher,) Port City Brewing Company (PortCityBrewing.com) in Alexandria, Virginia, is the first packaging brewery located in the Washington, D.C. area after Prohibition;

12442.  The tinga chicken tacos (i.e., a soft tortilla with shredded chicken in chipotle, garlic sauce, topped with cilantro & onions) at La Tingeria are tasty;

12443.  Pig cheeks (from a pig roast) are very tender;

12444.  I can say I’ve led a Conga line at O’Shaughnessy’s Sports Bar in (Old Town) Alexandria;

12445.  The (fresh) bourbon salmon at “The Fresh Market” (TheFreshMarket.com) is tasty. . . . It’s not as sweet as the “original bourbon marinated salmon” at Publix;

12446.  I can say I’ve led a Conga line at O’Shaughnessy’s Sports Bar in (Old Town) Alexandria;

12447.  The “Bang Bang shrimp” at Gin Ramen & Asian Tapas (GinRamenAlexandria.com) in Alexandria, Virginia, is tasty. . . . It’s comparable to Bonefish Grill’s “Bang Bang shrimp;”

12448.  (I can say) I’ve eaten/had (Japan Meat Grading Association certified) genuine Japanese black wagyu beef at Nasime (NasimeRestaurant.com) in (Old Town) Alexandria;

12449.  (I can say) I’ve eaten/had cuttlefish;

12450.  Sablefish is also known as black cod and butterfish;