ACX DC - January Events

Happy New Year! 

We have an event this weekend, and are planning another later this month:

• Sunday, January 7th - Board Game Day in Crystal City, VA

• Dedicated Discussion Meetup on the Jones Act - Likely Sunday 1/21 or Saturday 1/27.

If you're reading this Tuesday 1/2, the LessWrong Community Census closes later this evening. While primarily aimed at the LessWrong community, if you go to Astral Codex Ten meetups you're rationalist adjacent enough to count. It's fairly long, but the later questions are more optional; feel free to hit "submit" whenever you get bored. See details at: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/JHeTrWha5PxiPEwBt/2023-unofficial-lesswrong-census-survey

ACX DC Board Games in Crystal City

Join us for an afternoon of casual board games! We'll be in "The Landing" in Crystal City, starting at Noon.

Drop-ins are welcome and part of the group will be there at least a few hours. We usually have 2-3 games going at any one time, and the crowd typically breaks up a bit after 4pm. RSVP if you're in so that I can get an idea of the headcount.

If you'd like, bring a game you enjoy and would like to teach. To get the party started, I'll be bringing several games, including Wavelength, Splendor, Azul, Concordia, and Ticket To Ride (Europe). Todd usually brings Dominion. Paul is brining Apiary, Coup: Reformation, Clank! In! Space!, Farlight, Planetarium, and “his handsome self”. We’ll also have snacks (beyond Paul) and soda.

The Landing is a food court and unofficial board-game hangout. We won't be taking over the place, but there's plenty of room and games to join until the bridge biddies arrive. It's in the mall connected to the Crystal City Metro Station, and parking is free in the underground garages on weekends. Most food options in the mall area are closed weekends, but there are several options now on Crystal Drive, including an Amazon Fresh store. A Whole Foods is three blocks away on 12th St.

Hosted by John Bennett, Todd DuBois, and Paul Brinkley. Facebook event for feedback and RSVPs (optional): https://www.facebook.com/events/3019455188190272

ACX DC Discussion Meetup - Jones Act Delenda Est

This one is still in the planning stages, but we’re putting together a Discussion Meetup on the Jones Act later this month. We’re looking at January 21st or 27th; if you have a strong preference between those two dates, please reach out.

Zvi Mowshowitz’s Balsa Research has re-emerged from stealth mode with a focus on repealing the Jones Act. This is an unusually broad law that forbids shipping goods between US ports on any ship that isn’t built in the United States. This is analogous to forbidding American Airlines from using Airbuses, or private trucking companies from using Toyotas. As you might expect, this often makes over-ocean shipping within the US substantially more expensive than shipping from Asia and is why advertised prices usually exclude Alaska and Hawaii.

On priors, this effort is likely doomed, but trying hard things anyway is right and proper. Also pretty fun. Come conspire with us!