I know it's hard to believe that the government shutdown is still going on. But the government is still very much shut down — and the extended break is having some surprising and encouraging results.
Like this 👇
Via NPR:
Nearly one month into the government shutdown, hundreds of thousands of federal workers remain on furlough.
Isaac Stein is one of them. Normally, he's a lawyer for the IRS who writes tax regulations. But on a sunny Sunday afternoon on a corner in his Washington, D.C., neighborhood, he's wearing a suit and tie, working his hot dog stand, 'Shysters Dogs.' Its motto: 'the only honest ripoff in DC.'
'I am having a grand old time slinging hot dogs,' Stein said.
That's right: A government IRS lawyer is out of work and has turned to his long-held dream of selling hot dogs.
Not sure I can remember a more wholesome, inspiring story out of D.C.
Apparently the stand is "a realization of a childhood dream for Stein," who in high school reportedly abjured sports in favor of "manning the concession stand."
He had lined up the necessary permits for the dog stand earlier this year in the hopes of making it a side hustle, but the government shutdown has let him realize the ambition full-time.
Here he is on Instagram:
And apparently he's dead serious about what a "correct" hot dog really is, and he's letting his customers know it:
'I'm trying to incentivize people to do what I think a correct hot dog is, which is mustard and sauerkraut,' Stein said. 'If someone wants other things, that's totally, totally fine. No judgment. But I do reserve the right to assess an additional dollar as a penalty.'
You know it when you see it, folks:
Mustard and sauerkraut does sound like a good hot dog, of course. But whatever you get on your dog, it's nice to know that Mr. Stein will serve it dressed to the nines:
It will cost you a good bit, though:
A hot dog and a drink runs $10 or $17, with a bag of chips tossed in if you buy two dogs.
Just a few more weeks of this government shutdown and those prices will hopefully go down 😉
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