Natasha Tracy’s blogs and articles

Just stumbled on Natasha Tracy. Great resource and really down to earth writing style. There is a definite “brand” to her site and some light pitches to books and speaking engagements, but the blogs and article style pieces are really good.

Centreville homes still off limits after natural gas explosion | FFXnow

From experience (regretfully more than once): Always call in the smell of gas, and get out if it’s in your own house. The fire department is super fast responding to these and can make things safe quickly.

Trump should return Arlington County to DC over slavery history

I hate that I’m posting a Fox News link, but this needs more visibility. here is the playbook: present a few actual facts, then mix in absolutely ridiculous statements and theories (and publish on a site where this is welcome). The timeline is correct, as are the redistrictin

VA Subcommittee punts on measure to shift infrastructure costs to data centers

A Virginia House subcommittee punted on a bill that would’ve stopped data centers from dumping their massive energy costs on homeowners, stalling a decision until 2027 while residents face potential bill increases. Virginia has more than 500 data centers that handle 70% of the wo

Crystal Crystal City metro station closures over the next 10 weekends

Starting this weekend, Metro will close the Crystal City station for ten weekends to build a new $146 million entrance. Free shuttle buses will be available for travelers. The closures are necessary for safety and to minimize disruption, with additional closures planned for Reagan National Airport and Potomac Yard stations for track work. The Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority is warning passengers in advance to avoid traffic jams.

6 Northern Virginia Bakeries and Stores Selling King Cakes

This article from Northern Virginia Magazine lists six bakeries and stores in Northern Virginia where you can order a traditional king cake to celebrate Mardi Gras. Each bakery offers a unique twist on the classic cake, with options ranging from cream cheese filling to fruit and nut toppings. Prices vary, with cakes serving between four to 20 people.

I have yet to encounter anyone who actually wants this

The Virginia Senate has advanced a bill that could bring a casino to Fairfax County. Senate Bill 756 requires the casino to be within a quarter mile of a Metro Silver Line station, part of a mixed-use project of at least 1.5 million square feet, within two miles of a regional enclosed mall, and outside the I-495 Beltway. Potential sites include Tysons Corner Center and Reston. The Virginia General Assembly must still pass the bill, and Gov. Abigail Spanberger would need to sign it.

Potomac Wastewater Spill Now Largest in U.S. History

Fairfax supervisors back DCA flight-path changes to ease noise over neighborhoods | FFXnow

It seems like we make changes every few years to airplane and helicopter rules, then somehow end up worse a few years after that. DCA is wildly busy, great for convenience, but absolutely wild considering population density around here.

GMU cheers on fellow student Ilia Malinin during Olympics watch parties | FFXnow

G-M-U what?!

Bailey’s Crossroads (as in Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus)

So much interesting history in Nova that the more obscure stuff often goes unnoticed. Bailey’s Crossroads is named after Hachaliah Bailey, who established the area as a winter headquarters for his traveling circus in 1837. Bailey, who previously brought one of America’s first

Measles exposures reported at Reagan National Airport and on Yellow Line train

You know this coming outbreak is bad when even Dr. Oz is telling people to get vaccinated.

Buddhist Monks continuing their 'Walk for Peace' | wusa9.com

Monks in Old Town Alx right now, heading north to Arlington. Live map: https://dhammacetiya.com/walk-for-peace/live-map/

Super Bowl LX in Arlington: 11 places to eat, drink and watch the game | ARLnow.com

Also: https://northernvirginiamag.com/food-and-drink/2026/02/03/head-to-these-nova-sports-bars-and-restaurants-on-super-bowl-sunday/ https://www.pcrehomes.com/blog/super-bowl-sunday-local-watch-guide-tysons-mclean-alexandria-2026/ https://washingtonian.com/2026/02/05/whe

U.S. Seeks to Expedite Deportation of 5-Year-Old Liam Conejo Ramos

Gift article Just days after being released from an immigration detention center in Texas, Liam Conejo Ramos, the 5-year-old boy in a bunny hat whose image rocketed around the world, is facing an escalating effort to deport him and his father. The federal government wants t

Trump wanted Dulles renamed for him in order to release funding for massive rail projects

It never stops. I mean, naming the airport after someone else but JFD would be great, but seriously?

(Bipolar adjacent) Kennedy still illogically attacking mental health disorders

Ok, this NYT (gift) article does not specifically mention bipolar, but Kennedy has a history of unfounded statements about mental health, so I figured it was worth a share. For example, in the past he’s poked around the edges, saying that antipsychotics and mood stabilizers cause

More possible evidence of physical/genetic ties for bipolar

Essentially, people with bipolar disorder show different patterns of tiny genetic signals compared with healthy people. These molecular differences are linked to changes in the brain’s white matter, which helps different brain regions communicate. Together, the results suggest th

The Washington Post guts coverage of D.C. area in mass layoffs | ARLnow.com

Huge shift in coverage, with the biggest impacts being in local, sports, and international. They have already been losing ground to outlets like ARL / FFX / ALX Now, but this will still be a big hit.

Schools starting to reopen

There really haven’t been any improvements in conditions, I guess they finally concluded that they can’t stay closed forever. God help us all if they rack up too many snow days and have to try virtual learning again…

Navigating and Understanding Hypomania

Once this community gets off the ground, I do envision having good discussion and perspective on people’s individual experiences with mania, hypomania, and depression. I’m BP-II, so the hypomania-depression cycle is my burden. Navigating these is one thing, but dealing with the r

Old pics and history of Parkington (now Ballston Quarter)

Parkington, originally known as the largest shopping center on the East Coast, was a pioneering mall in the Washington D.C. area, opening in 1951 and featuring innovative shopping amenities. It was later renamed Ballston Common Mall after a major renovation in the 1980s, but eventually transformed into the Ballston Quarter in the 2010s.

Bipolar comics

Don’t know the right protocol for reposting comics, so just linking here. These bipolar comics are from artbyMoga.com She is probably the best artist I’ve found at capturing the pain, frustration, and ridiculousness of living with bipolar. This insta link takes you to a a bunch