Adam Bailey says: Much like a swamp, 20th and L Streets, NW totally smells like ass



Thousands of D.C. workaday-types walk past Sewer Square every day, but people have yet to raise a stink about it. A quick survey of my office confirms that I'm not the only one holding his breath as he darts across the street, either. Drastic defense measures aside, we're guessing that it's probably just a low point in D.C.'s ancient combined sewer system that carries away both storm water and sewer discharge. Though the Peace Corps is probably a building full of people rejoicing to have indoor plumbing once again, we doubt they have the capacity to cause such a problem.

Adam Bailey says: Much like a swamp, 20th and L Streets, NW totally smells like ass

The Sludge Report

I'll Bust A Sewer Cap in Your Ass

In case you had any doubts that Washington is little more than a swamp with marble buildings, venture outside for a quick check on your surroundings. In fact, head to the intersection of 20th and L Streets, NW for a prime example. Much like a swamp, it totally smells like ass. Literal ass. You know that buttered popcorn smell they blow all over theme parks and movie theatres? Imagine that, but with raw sewage; it's like WASA has set up exhaust fans under the street. We don't even want to think about what it looks like under there: complete horror show.

Who's to blame for the malodorous commute downtown? The very public habits of the folks over at Media Matters would be a good candidate, but they're all the way over by Scott Circle. On the four corners of the intersection are two banks, an optician, and the Peace Corps. Though the Peace Corps is probably a building full of people rejoicing to have indoor plumbing once again, we doubt they have the capacity to cause such a problem. There are several offices right there, though. Ketchum Public Relations? The FCC's Universal Service Fund? The American Prospect? Maybe young Mr. Yglesias has the answer. Hmmm?

Thousands of D.C. workaday-types walk past Sewer Square every day, but people have yet to raise a stink about it. A quick survey of my office confirms that I'm not the only one holding his breath as he darts across the street, either. Drastic defense measures aside, we're guessing that it's probably just a low point in D.C.'s ancient combined sewer system that carries away both storm water and sewer discharge. So on hot, dry days with no rain to flush the system, the poor folk around 20th and L can look forward to holding their noses when they're unlucky enough to get a "don't walk" signal. It figures though, New York gets a mysterious maple syrup smell and D.C. gets poo.

Posted by Adam Bailey in Observing DC |

When this story was posted in June 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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The RPCV who wrote about Ben Hogan Probably no RPCV has done more to further the Third Goal of the Peace Corps than John Coyne with the Peace Corps Writers web site and newsletter that he and Marian Haley Beil have produced since 1989. Now John returns to writing about his first love - golf in "The Caddie who knew Ben Hogan." Read an excerpt from his novel, an interview with the author and a schedule of his book readings in Maryland and DC this week.

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The Peace Corps Library The Peace Corps Library is now available online with over 40,000 index entries in 500 categories. Looking for a Returned Volunteer? Check our RPCV Directory. New: Sign up to receive PCOL Magazine, our free Monthly Magazine by email. Like to keep up with Peace Corps news as it happens? Sign up to recieve a daily summary of Peace Corps stories from around the world.

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Vasquez testifies before Senate Committee Director Vasquez testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on his nomination as the new Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture replacing Tony Hall. He has been the third longest serving Peace Corps Director after Loret Ruppe Miller and Sargent Shriver. PCOL Comment: Read our thanks to Director Vasquez for his service to the Peace Corps.

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PCOL readership increases 100% Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

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History of the Peace Corps PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.

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RPCV admits to abuse while in Peace Corps Timothy Ronald Obert has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in Costa Rica while serving there as a Peace Corps volunteer. "The Peace Corps has a zero tolerance policy for misconduct that violates the law or standards of conduct established by the Peace Corps," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. Could inadequate screening have been partly to blame? Mr. Obert's resume, which he had submitted to the Peace Corps in support of his application to become a Peace Corps Volunteer, showed that he had repeatedly sought and obtained positions working with underprivileged children. Read what RPCVs have to say about this case.

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