Here’s an interesting article about Joe Rosenthal, the photographer whose photo was the inspiration behind our statue in Arlington.

“Out of the corner of my eye, I had seen the men start the flag up. I swung my camera and shot the scene. That is how the picture was taken, and when you take a picture like that, you don’t come away saying you got a great shot. You don’t know.”

As luck would have it, this shot won him the Pulitzer Prize.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

When it comes to local photographers, Ohad ranks among the best of them. I’ve been following his work for quite a while now and have been impressed with the diversity of his shots. From sports photos, shots of the local neighborhoods, to long exposures like this one, he’s always showing his audience a new take on some every day things and exercising the abilities of his DSLR (go Canon!). The only way you’re going to get good at photography is to get out there and shoot as many subjects as you can, and he’s done just that.

Be sure to check out his photo blog and photo archives at www.ohadonline.com. I’m sure I’ll be featuring more of his shots in the weeks to come.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

This is how you should be spending these perfect August days, double fisting martinis at Fox and Hounds.

Who knows who this guy is, I know I was way to drunk to care, but he’s having a great time with the Fox’s amazing drinks specials. That would be real drinks, not top shelf served as rail.

Easily the best deal in town, the $4 glass of Absolute with tonic as a side chaser will wipe out your liver but not your wallet. It wiped out this guy’s mind.

Now wipe the grin off your face and get out of the house. Cheap drinks call – listen to them & obey.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

You may have heard that Tony Kornheiser from the Post Sports section and from ESPN’s PTI has signed on to join Monday Night Football as one of the color commentators. You may even have seen his supposedly lackluster performance, or perhaps read Paul Farhi’s column describing said lackluster behavior. You perhaps heard Kornheiser strike back on Dan Patrick’s Radio Show, or read his attack column response on Wednesday.

Today, it’s Deborah Howell’s turn to get involved. She’s the Post’s ombudswoman, the mediator between the public and press and she got several letter about Kornheiser’s invective against Farhi. Her advice? Buck up and take it like a man.

Well said, Deborah. Kornheiser ought to have known he wouldn’t just be glad-handed by his own newspaper and be treated like any other commentator and should’ve expected some harsh words. Calling Farhi a putz seems to be a bit of a wankerish activity, but it certainly fits Kornheiser’s crotchety nature. Here’s hoping his next games are better and he doesn’t give the Post stuff to bitch about. C’mon, Tony, buck up.

Meanwhile? The Redskins are 0-2 in Pre-Season play and can’t seem to get their shit together. It could be a long season, Skins fans. See, everyone? His name is Joe Gibbs, not Jesus.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Are you looking for DC Statehood? Do you think you might find it if you went to all 50 states and asked folks where it might be? Think that a bit daunting though?

How about cycling all 50 states in the District? You know, each street named after a state? Then join the Washington Area Bicyclist Association’s 50 States Tour.

Next Saturday August 26, starting at WABA’s new offices at the southwest corner of Florida and Connecticut Avenues NW, they will be handing out maps to show you just how to cover the nation inside the District.

Don’t feel like sweating and swearing for 60+ miles? Then downgrade to the shorter 15 mile 13 Original Colonies Tour of each of the 13 original US states.

The only drawback? The ride is unsupported, which means after WABA hands you a map, you’re on your own. So, be safe, and be aware.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

Ya gotta love DC, you really do. Every time I walk down Irving Street NW just past 14th Street NW, I see this fun display of urban independence.

Despite the large, obvious, leering “No Parking” signs, everyone parks. Double parks even. And not for a moment either.

People park here every day, all the time as it’s convenient and when the construction didn’t close off the far lane, unobtrusive.

Cops? Tickets? None that I’ve ever scene. It’s a parking free for all, that really is free for all. If you go by, stop, park and check it out. Everyone else is.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

He is NOT the enemy

In a beautiful example of sensationalizing something from not much, the WashPost has a great alarmist article on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail and how:

speeding cyclists, in-line skaters, walkers, joggers and others fight for a narrow slice of pavement, with increasingly dangerous results.

To support her tabloid take that cyclists are a dangerous menace to everyone on area trails, Candace Rondeaux cites such amazing statistics like:

• The W&OD Trail has had just five fatalities since its inception in 1974 and yet is used by more than 2 million people a year
• The Chesapeake & Ohio Canal Towpath had only 34 accidents with 3 million visitors a year, without a fatality since 1961

And then tries to cover her self-admitted “anecdotal evidence” of bike crash victims with out-of-context statistics like:

• In 1990, about 6,600 people regularly biked to work in the Washington area, a decade later, its only increased to 7,500.
• Nationwide, there are 700 bike-related fatalities.

“What about vehicle-related fatalities?” you ask? Over 41,000 per year. Um, thanks for the hype Candace. As a regular cyclist and runner on area trails, I’ve logged more miles and have a better understanding of the dangers, and the dangerous, than your article portrays you to know.

The only decent paragraph in the article is this one:

On the increasingly hectic W&OD, everyone seems to be jockeying for pole position. Racers on expensive tour bikes blow by soccer moms pushing high-tech three-wheel strollers. Buff skaters with iPods strapped to their arms plunge through packs of not-so-buff pedestrians. Early-morning traffic is especially heavy with day laborers and white-collar commuters riding to work.

And if you join me after the jump, I’ll explain why, and who is the real danger on the Washington & Old Dominion Trail. Hint: It ain’t “racers on expensive tour bikes.”

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs Continue reading →

Photo by DC Metroblogger

I am here to witness Jesus! I am preaching loud. I am bringing the Word to downtown.

People in the park, this is your saving with your salad. People in cars this is your deliverance while you’re driving.

God is here for you cuz he is sure here for me!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

This Sunday former DC Metblog author Robert Walton is having a release event for his self-published book, twelve dreams: a transcription which contains some short stories and dream transcriptions.

Robert was on his way out when I was on my way in so we’ve never had the chance to meet, but I’ve been getting his sporadic email updates on his artistic progress, including his Mount Pleasant Project. It’s something a number of you might be very interested in, given the amount of heat generated by a recent post on Mount Pleasant getting a Ruby Tuesday’s.

I don’t love all his work – the soft-focus of ‘morning bridge‘ grates on me, probably as a result of my own history as a photographer who was often criticized by my cohorts for images that seemed “so commercial.” But I love many of the shots in the Mount Pleasant project, particularly “Hanging out at the 7-Eleven” and this shot from inside the Raven. I’m hopeful that he’ll put prints from ‘red chair‘ up for sale so I can get one…

Sunday, Aug. 20
D.C. Arts Center (aka, DCAC)
2438 18th St. NW
Adams Morgan
5 p.m.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Every once in a blue moon, I see an idea that’s so beautifully derivative, you wonder why it’s never been done before. Today, I bring you Zombie Prom. It’s up in Baltimore, but the basic idea behind it is getting dressed up in a cheap tux/dress and making yourself out to be zombies. It’s put on but a bunch of indie filmmakers who are having a great time with the whole thing, as they make Roller Derby Zombies. Tickets are $12, and make sure to read the dress code section of the page, as Gardel’s Supper Club has a dress code.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

This is my cousin, Jose Manuel, or as I call him, “the Hottest man in Juarez” after we went bar hopping South of the Border a while back.

Now he’s no longer bar hopping, he’s couch-surfing with me. Arriving Monday for the start of his first year at GW Law he’s looking to find shared accommodation convenient to the law school at 21st and H Streets.

Before he goes from cool cousin to pain in my ass, I need to get him from couch-surfing cousin to rent paying housemate. From my apartment-hunting days, I’ve sent him to Craigslist, the excellent Housing Maps (a Craigslist/Google mash-up) and the Washington City Paper classifieds.

Anywhere else he should look for a room to rent?

Also, do us both a favor, ask around. I know you know someone who needs a housemate. A respectful, clean, serious housemate who needs to get off my couch asap. I need not lose my supermodels to my younger cousin!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Check out the email I received from the Marie Johns for Mayor, Deputy Field Director, Michael Crawford:

I am emailing you as some of the key bloggers in the District to see if you would be interested in attending a meeting between members of the blogging community and Marie Johns.

This will be a great chance for you to hear personally from Mrs. Johns and to ask questions about the issues that are important to you. A date and time have not yet been chosen for a meeting. I assessing interest in the idea to see if it will be something that you are interested in.

Might he be calling me a “key blogger in the District” because of my amazing post volume about DC or is the Marie Johns for Mayor campaign that desperate to claw its way out of the bottom tier of mayoral candidates?

If they’re thinking to include District bloggers into the mayoral race, the Johns camping may be in for a rude surprise. As a group, we rely on high-speed internet more than the usual voter and we are highly educated about the differences in pricing and services from the different cable operators and Verizon, which Mrs. Johns lead as President of Verizon, DC.

We may back Verzion in it’s defense against the RIAA’s subpoenas but we all have Verizon horror stories and would sue for deceptive practices if we could.

Don’t even get us started on John Thorne’s tiered pricing dreams that would make us pay for Internet service twice or thrice. We would only assume you’d charge us for police presence and fire protection on a per use, as well as income tax basis.

Its only too bad that Fenty’s campaign has gone all arrogant and not replied to my query about their own blog-centric campaigning. Still no word if they have a blogger meeting or care to make a real blog.

The corruption of blogging personified by the Adrian Fenty Blog, an endless pro-Fenty profusion without the ability to comment, is more useless propaganda than participatory democracy.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Hi DC. It’s Tom. Nice to see you again.

Sorry I had to call you in on such notice, but I think it’s time we had a talk. See, you seem to think that the stuff you get from Starbucks and Caribou is the best coffee in town. Starbucks isn’t a coffeshop. Coffeeshops have culture and community. When I go into a starbucks, it’s because I want one specific thing and then I want to get the fuck out of there before the nature of the place devours my soul.

When I want a real cup of coffee, made by artisan baristas, with real patrons that know each other and use the space as a space between home and office to get work done, then I’m not going to fucking Starbucks, mmkay? Alton Brown said it best when he talked about food recently: “Don’t trust food to people who don’t love you.”

Starbucks doesn’t love you. Murky loves you. Greenberry’s loves you. Misha’s loves you. Starbucks doesn’t.

Mmkay? Glad we had this little chat. Don’t fuck it up again.

By the way, you might want to take a peek at what Going Out Gurus chose. Sure, it’s not 100% what I’d have chosen, but it’s better than some of the crap you chose.

Thanks.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Well, the weird often happens in August in DC, and this latest news certainly fits that category. The Nats have placed Soriano on waivers today, making it likely that he could be involved in a waiver-wire trade. The whole thing is a perfect example about how the Major League Baseball trading system is one of the most bizarre and complex systems known to humankind, and certainly makes for late summer drama in the cities involved.

Chris Needham at Capitol Punishment suggests that this might be part of a bigger deal with potentially Armas and Astacio involved as well:

Rosenthal buries the lede, though. Soriano gets the flashy name in lights, but it’s the idea that Bowden threw Astacio and Armas (or anyone else) on waivers at the same time. Claiming teams would have a choice. They realistically can’t claim all three because of the damage it could do to their active roster if the Nats just gave the players up. This could allow Bowden to slip those guys through, allowing Bowden to pull off a trade with another team with no strings attached.

Either way, the Nats are in rough shape, still well below .500 and not likely to make it to even keel this season. It’d be nice to see the Nats pull of a nice trade late in the season for heavy prospects, or perhaps get Soriano signed for another year of his contract. Time will tell, but something’s brewing.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Well now, why would Amazon be telling me that rather than purchase that book I could go to one of the Loudoun library branches and check it out instead? If you’re at all nerd-tastic you might recognize the name of the program “greasemonkey,” a Firefox extension that allows little locally-installed scripts to massage the way things are presented in your web browser. Loudoun has posted a link right on their main page directing you to instructions on how to install greasemonkey and the script itself on your copy of Firefox. Once you do it’ll automagically check to see if the item you’re browsing is available to be checked out (or reserved, in the case of the book I was looking at above) rather than purchased.

If you’re a total cheapskate frugal like myself it’s a great thing to have installed. It both checks the viability of checking the item out of the library rather than purchasing it and serves as a reminder that I should be doing that rather than buying it anyway…

Aside: as a programmer m’self I have to say I think it would have been nice if they gave some sort of credit to Carrick Mundell, the original author of the script. He doesn’t require it – didn’t even put any comments or copyright in his script, which he originally posted for free here – but it seems like the right thing to do.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Fox 5 reports (shut up, the news was on after House) that there are high levels of nitrate in the water in Northeast, near Catholic University. It’s affecting large portions of the campus and surrounding homes around 8th and Varnum. So if you’re there, stock up on bottled water.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

A change in perspective is always a good thing, especially when it comes to photography. Sometimes all it takes to go from “the same old thing” to something spectacular is to shoot from a viewpoint that people aren’t used to seeing. Of course a wicked sky and a little bit of post processing never hurts anything either, as you can see in this photo by Flickr user dogbert8u:

As a tall person (6’4″), I have a tendancy to always look down on things. I have to force myself to remember this while I’m shooting because some of the most interesting shots come from simply looking up. Look up!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

Do you spend hours looking for a parking space in DC neighborhoods? Say when you are driving home late at night and do not want the long, lonely walk back to your place?

Or when you are late for a date, and know she’s looking at her watch dismissively, counting every second of you tardiness?

Do you ever see moving boxes like these taking up valuable parking space? Are they there for days too? This set was on Mt Pleasant Avenue for a week straight.

If you were looking for a parking space late, did you ever think about torching these boxes? Or at least ramming them with your car?

I wanna know who is obnoxious enough to ask for these shipping boxes to be left on the street. How self-important do you have to be to take up this much parking space for a week? Do pray tell!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Let me see if I’ve got this right. The TSA is going to make everyone who flies in the US take their shoes off and have them X-rayed. Except, that it seems that the TSA knows the X-Rays won’t do a goddamn thing to detect explosives. So, the lines at National and BWI and Dulles all just got longer in the name of “safety,” but really it’s only safety theatre?

Gee, thanks TSA. I’m so very glad you’re around to “protect” me from all those mean terrorists by making me take off my shoes so that you can pretend to check them for explosives. That’s really awesome. Now, can we just find someone to weave explosives into cloth so we all have to fly naked, handcuffed and under gunpoint? Because that would really rock.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I’m always impressed at the confidence people show when they drive these classic cars around in regular traffic. Not in themselves – everyone thinks they’re a pretty good driver, even (particularly?) when they’re not. I mean confidence in the rest of you clowns. Personally I always expect my fellow drivers to do something stupid and I’m not often let down: weaving back and forth so they can get to the red light a whole 3 seconds before me, changing lanes without signaling, and, my personal favorite, honking at anyone who doesn’t turn right on red agressively enough to suit them.

I always enjoy the sight of these brave folk gambling their expensive – and safety-feature light – classic vehicles out on the open road. It’s nice to see that they enjoy using these vintage machines, not just peering at them in a garage, immobile, like some giant metal and rubber butterfly in a case. I know I enjoy seeing them.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs