How I Got Debanked

 It's an amusing story, and I'd rather call it  deinstitutionalized.

For a number of years, I was a member  of stock 'unit' (to buy/sell stock).  It's a big-name unit and I'd rather not say their name.  I'd probably been a member for at least seven years.

One day....as I tried to log in.....it refused to allow me access.  I called the support line. They couldn't figure out why (almost 90 minutes were wasted on this).  I eventually got led to a IT guy, who discovered about 30 seconds into the call....I was on a non-American list (I worked in Germany, for the Air Force, and had a APO-box).  

The IT guy read off the note....there had been some kind of rule handed down (fed  level), that if you met  x-conditions.....even as an American, you were going to be treated as a non-American.  So I was given limited access...told to sell off my stock, and 'leave'.

I spent several hours reviewing options and found a Texas bank dealing with banking and stock.  It took 15 minutes to open an account, and I transferred my situation to them. No problem.

It's been around 12 years since then....I hardly think about  it.  But oddly....once a year, from this institution (the non-American group).....I get an email about my status.  Yeah, I'm still listed there.....still an open account....with around 16-cents left in the account.  For some reason, they goofed-up and left the account open. 

How many folks got screwed this way?  I would imagine out of Germany....probably over 100.  If you were in the military.....you had status.  If you were a civilian  working for the military....you didn't have status (from what I could figure). 

Big Balls Story

 About ten days ago....in DC....'Big Ballz' (the DOGE associate of Elon Musk) came to the rescue off a gal who was being roughed-up/robbed.

The basic story?  Edward Coristine (aka "Big Balls,") came under assault at the Logan Circle area....near Swann Street and 14th Street Northwest, during an attempted carjacking around 3 a.m. on Sunday, August 3rd.  I'll just say from the pictures of the guy after the attack....he was  roughed-up pretty good.

As for location?  If you leave Layfette Park (next to the White House)....straight walk of 10 minutes....you reach Logan Circle.  On my 'safe-index'....between Logan Circle and Dupont Circle (about 700 ft away to the West)....I'd give the neighborhood a '8' for day-time walking.  However, if you were discussing partying (as the young lady was) to  3AM?  NO, on my safe-index....it's a '3' at best.

I'd also tell you after 10 PM....generally avoid walking, traveling, or riding the subway.   

Faked-up?  No.  Around 2010, when I was in Arlington, you could probably count  on twenty cars hijacked in DC,  Montgomery County (Maryland) and Prince Georges County (Maryland) on a weekend.  It's usually 2 to 4 young males....ages 14 to 18.  Even if they are busted (unlikely)....the judge will put them on some program....release, and within a month or two....back to juvenile bad-boy behavior.

Giving B-B a status?  Yeah, in a dozen years....I suspect he'll run for office somewhere and this is listed on his sheet as a remainder of how far he might go.

But this also got Trump's attention, and I would imagine it's a added weight to taking the capital  back to federal status.....possibly even splitting off  two chunks of the district to give back to Maryland.

As for partying in a unsafe area?  It's up to you, but I'd generally say if you are in DC, NYC, Miami, Atlanta, LA, or Portland at 3AM....you probably earned the robbery or assault.  We aren't living in the 1970s/1980s any longer.