This week we begin a new feature highlighting our favorite comments of the week. DCist is nothing without our readers, whose thoughtful and often entertaining contributions help make this a vibrant community. Whether you disagree with us, share tips or just have a unique take on life in Washington, keep those comments coming. We couldn't do it without ya.

This week, fuzzy recollections of the Eighties, perils of D.C. residency, mainstream media critiques and more.

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>> This shot of Buddhist monks creating a sand mandala brought back some memories for monkeyrotica:

Boy, that picture takes me back: blowing colored rail mandalas off some Mongolian hooker's ass on top of a pool table. I miss the '80s.

Photo by Flickr user Emamd.

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In response to the happy news of Butterstick's two-year reprieve from deportation to China, Peggy, a few blocks from the Zoo notes:

The parents, Mei Xiang and Tian Tian, themselves are here under a "guest worker" agreement. Or it's perhaps something along the lines of a specialized employment program (the H-1 visa?) that allows us to bring over those who can fill a role that would otherwise remain vacant. In this case, the unique role is unbeatable cuddliness.

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Readers expressed a spectrum of opinions on WJLA's decision to stop showing the video sent to NBC News by Virginia Tech shooter Cho Seung Hui. CDTrave said:

These kinds of decisions are always conveniently made after the initial sensationalist mileage has been gotten from the material. A real stand would have been to not broadcast them to begin with. Making this decision now is an attempt at pandering to the audience's good sensibilities and desire to move on.

If a media outlet has something that it feels will bring the ratings, they will display it. The materials that it "censors" are withdrawn under the premise of their being decent and responsible, but in reality it is because the material is so toxic that it runs the risk of alienating viewers and hurting the bottom line.

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Mike Licht had a unique take on Texas/D.C. Rep. Louie Gohmert's proposal that the District be retroceded to Maryland.

I'm sure Maryland would be thrilled to provide services for DC's non-tax-payers: embassies, think tanks, churches, and The Creature That Ate Foggy Bottom, GWU. But why Maryland? Can't DC be part of, say, Texas? The lovely Piney Woods of the First District, maybe. Why not? When it comes to the District of Columbia, Congress can do whatever it wants.

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Commenters had a variety of reactions to Ryan's look at D.C. housing prices. Reid opines:

We don't have an affordable housing crisis. The housing is there. What we have is a quality of life crisis. The crime and poor public schools make the neighborhoods that have plenty of affordable housing undesirable. Rather than use public money to cram in more apartments with token affordable housing into desirable neighborhoods, we should redouble our efforts to improve the quality of life for those in the undesirable neighborhoods.