What I've learned since moving to D.C. (some of which should be obvious): 0241

12001.  The (pork) soup dumplings at Kungfu Kitchen (KungfuKitchenVA.com) in Alexandria, Virginia, are tasty;

12002.  The chicken sando/sandwich at Hangry Joe’s Hot Chicken & Wings (HangryJoes.com) is (pretty) tasty;

12003.  The position of patent examiner was created by the Patent Act of 1836 signed on July 4^th.  The law introduced a new patent numbering system, required the examination of patents before granting them and established a corps of professional patent examiners to do so;

12004.  Others are often too preoccupied with themselves to notice the things you feel insecure about;

12005.  Perfect is unattainable in any facet of life.  Be kind to yourself;

12006.  The Cuban sandwich at Colada Shop (ColadaShop.com) is tasty;

12007.  Landon Barker is looking/ready to party;

12008.  Landon Barker is Travis Barker’s son (the drummer for “Blink-182”);

12009.  “The Strike” sounds like an 80’s yacht rock band;

12010.  Joe King (the cofounder and guitarist for “The Fray”) said they wrote “The Fray’s” debut album, “How to Save a Life,” in their parents’ houses in 2005;

12011.  Apparently, Isaac Slade left “The Fray” on March 12^th, 2022 after a series of onstage panic attacks.  He was the lead singer, main songwriter and cofounder of the band;

12012.  Astro Beer Hall in Shirlington has a great late night special.  Every day from 9:00 PM until last call, you can get an Apollo smashburger (i.e., 2 Pat Lafrieda beef burgers, American cheese, sauteed onions, pickles & special sauce on a toasted Brioche bun) or an Asteroid chicken sandwich (i.e., spicy fried chicken breast, bib lettuce, pickles, jalapeno coleslaw & Astro sauce on a toasted Brioche bun) with French fries, tater tots or a side salad for $5.00;

12013.  The (pork) Shanghai soup dumplings at Tiger Dumplings (Tiger-Dumplings.com) in Clarendon are tasty;

12014.  From 1841 until 1876, the Declaration of Independence was on display at the first Patent Office (now the National Portrait Gallery) along with other historical artifacts from the United States’s founding;

12015.  David Besonen via Instagram sent Ben Rector a saxophone cover of one of his songs.  Ben thought it was good, replied “Cool” and thought that that was the end of it.  When Ben was putting a tour together, he realized he needed a saxophone player and asked David via Instagram if he wanted to go on tour with him.  David replied “Yes.”  At the time, David hadn’t finished his (college) degree in computer science yet and asked Ben if that was a problem.  Ben replied “No.”  While on tour, David took classes and submitted his work online and finished his degree while on the bus;

12016.  There is no going forward without a death of some kind: a death of who we thought we were and were supposed to be; a death of a map of the world we thought worthy of our trust and investment; a death of expectations that by choosing rightly we could avoid suffering;

12017.  Making an espresso martini with Stoli(chnaya) vodka (actually) does make a difference.  It’s smoother and harder to notice the alcohol;

12018.  Art(hur) Fry received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Minnesota;

12019.  Art(hur) Fry worked for 40 years at 3M (originally Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company);

12020.  Art(hur) Fry coinvented Post-it Notes in 1974;

12021.  There are 600 or so Post-it Notes products sold in over a 100 countries;

12022.  In “Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion,” the title characters, Romy and Michele, claim to have invented Post-it Notes;

12023.  Art(hur) Fry (kind of) looks like a wizard;

12024.  In 1974, Art(hur) Fry was singing in the church choir.  During one sermon that wasn’t particularly interesting, he became frustrated with his bookmark falling out and thought to himself he needed a bookmark that would stick to paper, but wouldn’t tear it apart;

12025.  The adhesive for Post-it Notes is a layer of sticky microspheres;

12026.  The first test markets for Post-it Notes were Tampa, Florida, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Richmond, Virginia, and Denver, Colorado;

12027.  It took 5 years from the invention of Post-it Notes to its commercialization;

12028.  Post-it Notes were never patented, but kept as a trade secret.  Only the adhesive was (ever) patented;

12029.  Art(hur) Fry celebrated his 94^th birthday on Tuesday, August 19, 2025;

12030.  There is such a thing as white Bordeaux. . . . Apparently, it’s primarily a mix of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon;

12031.  When you make a fist and your thumb is wrapped inside of your fingers, you’ll (most likely) break your thumb if you punch someone/something;

12032.  When you punch someone/something, you’ll (most likely) break your fingers and/or your knuckles;

12033.  When you strike someone/something, use the heel of your palm.  You can deliver forceful blows with less potential for hand injury( compared to other hand strikes);

12034.  In an active shooter situation, do not go to your office’s rally point.  Most active shooters are fellow employees and will know the emergency procedures;

12035.  In an active shooter situation, duck down and run away in an irregular, zigzag pattern;

12036.  In an active shooter situation, do not use the elevator.  You do not want to be trapped in a confined space;

12037.  In an active shooter situation, once you flee the building, call 911/the police.  Don’t assume someone else has.  Also the police want updates on the situation like where the shooter(s) is/are;

12038.  In an active shooter situation, once you flee the building, follow the building’s walls and keep moving away.  A shooter can still hit you 60 yards away;

12039.  There’s a difference between cover and hiding.  Cover means you’re protected from bullets/fire.  Hiding only means they can’t see you;

12040.  In an active shooter situation, lock yourself in a room and hide behind solid core doors.  If the shooter breaks in, use the (solid core) door as a weapon and slam into him/her.  You might be able to injure and/or disarm the shooter;

12041.  Don’t buy over-the-counter medication and vitamins from CVS.  Even with a 40% off coupon and/or B(uy )O(ne )G(et )O(ne) free promotions, CVS is still more expensive than Amazon, Target and Walmart;

12042.  Between what is said and not meant and what is meant and not said, most of love is lost;

12043.  Life hack: If you want a quick and easy way to vacuum your car, open your car’s doors and use a(n) battery-powered/electric leaf blower;

12044.  At Trader Joe’s, you can buy a single can of their drinks( including alcoholic drinks).  You’re even allowed to open packaging to get a can.  At the (cash) register, the cashier will charge you a proportional amount of the (entire) price for the can;

12045.  Christina’s favorite dessert is pumpkin caramel Danish Kringle;

12046.  The Hollensbury Spite House(, located at 523 Queen Street in (Old Town) Alexandria, Virginia,) is only 7’ 6” wide.  It’s often called the skinniest house in the United States;

12047.  “Cat” in French is “chat(te).” . . . “Cat” in Turkish is “kedi;”

12048.  (Shocker,) pumpkin butter is like apple butter, but made with pumpkin;

12049.  The “C(entral )I(ntelligence )A(gency) Patents Board” is an internal(, agency) board (consisting) of 6 voting members that determines the rights of individuals and the agency to inventions made by (agency) employees and contractors;

12050.  The Bold Rock “Paradise Orchard” (seasonal,) hard cider tastes like a nectarine;