We live in an area that is so easy to photograph, yet so difficult at the same time. Sure, anyone can point their camera at the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, or at the Capitol and come up with a decent shot, but it takes a good eye, good timing, and the right equipment to come up with that “postcard” shot.

My hope in contributing to Metroblogging DC is to highlight some of our local photographers who have what I feel it takes to come up with unique shots that make you see our town in a different light. I hope to share with you not only photos of our main attractions, but also of scenes that are off the beaten path.

For now my main photo source will be Flickr, so I encourage all of you to post your best shots to our pool for all of us to see. The shots I choose won’t necessarily be current either, I’ll be digging through the archives to see what I can turn up. Also, if you have your own photo site, I’d love to see it!

So without further ado, I’d like to start things off with this photo by Andertho:

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

Some months ago we posted a few entries about the controversy at Gallaudet over the selection of the new school President. Yesterday on WAMU’s Kojo Nnamdi show both incoming President Jane Fernandes and outgoing President I. King Jordan took questions from Kojo and callers.

The show was transcribed live and the full transcript appears here or you can listen to the show here. It’s long on atta girls for Dr. Fernandes and surprisingly free of critics, whether that’s a result of deliberate choice by Kojo and the screeners or a calming attitude at Gallaudet is hard to know but the show is interesting never the less.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Well, you knew it was coming. The public debate in the mayoral race had been nothing but sweetness and light compared to today’s accusations from Linda Cropp regarding a client of Adrian Fenty’s: “You can judge the character of a person by how they treat our most vulnerable.” The comment is in regards to a 2005 informal admonition by the DC Bar against Fenty for mishandling of the finances of an elderly man that Fenty was the court-appointed ward for. Details are fairly sparse, but apparently the audience didn’t think highly of Cropp’s personal attack:

Audience members did not seem to like what they viewed as a personal attack by Cropp, with some initially hissing. Then, when the moderator reminded participants to avoid personal attacks, audience members clapped enthusiastically. After the forum, Cropp said she was merely stating the facts.

Well, generally we like friendly races, and this is twice in a week that Cropp has gone negative against Fenty, perhaps she’s desperate now that she’s behind in the polls?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

More than planes hitting buildings, this is my office worker nightmare: trapped in an elevator alone, thinking its going to drop to the basement at body-killing speed any second.

Today this very fear happened to someone who works on my floor but for another company – she was trapped in the elevator for ten minutes at lunch hour. Apparently the elevator was acting up all morning but had just passed inspection by the Otis repairwoman when it trapped the office worker.

Luckily, the Otis people were still onsite and were quick in unlocking the doors and freeing the trapped passenger, but not before the shaken woman went through at least one round of queasy stomach “I’m gonna die!” panic attacks in her confinement.

As I left for lunch, I took the stairs.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Well, we’ll see how long Wayan’s beloved trash cans last now. In response to today’s arrests over the pond, our security overlords have leaped into action, making all flyers safe from the threats posed by shampoo and contact lens solution. In the words of my friend Mick, “Hey, the TSA has now banned drinks on planes. I feel much safer. If they just ban people on planes, we should cover all our bases.” If you’re flying out of our area airports, get there early. Say, about an hour earlier than you would need to leave if you were driving to your destination. In Europe.

If you’re on the metro and want to use the bathroom, tough – they’re “closed to the public until further notice” according to the above article. I’d meant to use the above photo, taken at one of the venues from the Fringe Festival, to point out how some areas have found more economical alternatives to automatic flushing toilets, but I decided to use it here since for you metro riders this might be the last one you get to see for a while….

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I’ve written about the Grooming Lounge before, their shave is exquisite. Their new blog, though, is something else:

When I walk around the streets of D.C. (where the Grooming Lounge is based), I often get approached by random guys asking random grooming questions. These interactions usually start off something like… “Hey… you’re that grooming guy with that place over on 18th Street. I saw you on XXX and always wanted to ask you about YYY.”

Seriously, can you picture yourself on a DC street corner and seeing some random grooming person and saying “Hey! What can I do about my bald spot?” Ah well, here’s hoping it gets better. Me, I’m off to the lounge for a haircut today, we’ll see how they fare.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Baltimore Police Surveillance Cameras

Originally uploaded by johm.

The first four Orwellian Camera Units are being deployed in the District today, part of a set of 48 cameras to be deployed citywide as part of the DC Crime Emergency. So far, the most amusing of the comments about these new eyes in the sky comes from the Post:

Had the cameras been up, investigators could have checked whether the killing was recorded. Cameras will roll 24 hours a day but will not be monitored live.

Great. So, they’re designed to catch the guy later, but not prevent active crime from happening. Cold comfort for those whose loved ones are killed or maimed. Thanks Linda Cropp, I’m so glad you actually care about crime prevention. So, criminals, if you’d like to avoid these new cameras, they’re going to be placed at 14th & Girard, NW, the 400 block of O St. NW, the 1500-1700 Blocks of Benning Road NE, and the 1200 block of Valley Avenue, SE. Try to keep your drug deals and murders away from these places.

Five more camera units go live next Monday. When we have those locations, we’ll map them for you so you know where to avoid committing crimes.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

The Metro system is going to increase their own security in response to the arrests in London as well, acting not on a tip from intelligence, but on general speculation. Look for more officers on trains and in stations today, and they’re saying the new bomb-proof trash cans will get emptied a bit more often, and don’t bother asking to use the restroom, they’re closed for the time being.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

If you travel internationally, expect some static in DC today, as a major terrorist plot was disrupted that planned multiple bomb attacks on US-UK flights. WTOP reports that the security lines at Dulles are incredibly long today as a result of the elevation of the security level at airports in response to this threat.

The TSA has also issued a Threat Level Change that prohibits liquids or gels of any kind in carryon luggage. Forget taking your soda on the plane with you. Forget packing your own shampoo. Forget carrying hand lotion. Hell, forget even toothpaste because it might target you for an extra special cavity search.

Yes, thanks to terrorists, flying is going to suck for quite a bit longer now. Thanks, assholes.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

When attempting to sell your house in a rapidly softening market one of the best ways to unsure it contributes to the trend of homes staying on the market longer and longer is to stop mowing the lawn. I drive past this house most days on my way home and the number of FOR SALE signs continues to rise…. as does their lawn. Nobody wants to come look at a house that seems run-down from the curb, folks.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

When attempting to promote your brand of vehicle by parking one for a few months at the outdoor mall, it might behoove you to not send the impression that it can’t be trusted not to leak oil all over the pavement. Which, in case you’re unclear, is what you do when you plant an oil pan permanently under the engine.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Wayan brought the current blood shortage situation to our attention earlier and in following the links I observed that maybe the situation could be partly explained by the Red Cross’ failue to update their blood drive information past mid-July. Inova Blood Donor Services doesn’t seem to have that problem, however – their locations are up-to-date and listed here and their fixed locations and hours are here.

If you’re among the large number of us who work in the Reston/Herndon area you’re sure to find hours you can make. Although blood donation apparently is required by federal law to have whack-o hours the Inova folk have slots as early as 6am some days and as late as 8pm on other.

One other observation – aren’t there any donation locations in Arlington? Neither Inova or the Red Cross list any.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Oh the Majewski drama.

Let’s catch everyone up slowly. The Nats had this relieve with an awesome proto-mullet named Gary Majewski. He had some decent stuff out of the bullpen, but generally, he was prone to mental errors and in those situations, he’d often give up a three run bomb late in the game to cement the Nationals’ place in the cellar of the AL East. Yeah, he blew sometimes, so we traded him with a few other guys for Austin Kearns, Felipe Lopez and another player who didn’t suck.

Apparently, no one bothered to fill in the Reds general manager that Majewski wasn’t exactly an arm upon which you could base your win/loss record. Chris Needham says, “Um, Duuuuuhh!” and Federal Baseball says “No Really, DUUUUUUHHH!” in regards to the claims of Wayne Krivsky that the Nats knew that Majewski wasn’t in the best of health. As a result, we have Jim Bowden and Wayne Krivsky locked in a public war of words that I’d personally like to see turn into a war of fists and knives as part of a pay per view event. Winner gets to die quickly, loser gets to bleed out.

Either way, we’re due to see this get uglier in the public sphere in the not too distant future. As this will be the only thing resembling news from the Nationals’ tailspin into oblivion this season, I fully expect to see this whole thing drag out until next Spring.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Check out these two events going on in our fair city, as listed by Upcoming.org. Clearly the Friedlander people know how to advertise an event better than the Cafe Saint-Ex folk, or at least they pick more interesting tags…

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

The International Career Employment Weekly is a great source of international NGO job dreams, most of them right here in Washington DC. If you subscribe, you’ll also get their irregular email alerts for high-need jobs.

Usually, its for jobs or places I have no care about, but the title of this one hit a chord:

Peace Corps: Country Directors

Now I could day dream about being a Peace Corps director for an entire slow August day. Think about it. Tropical little island in the Pacific, somewhere loved by phlebotomists, and populated with exotic supermodels.

Yes, I know, there would be wave after wave to do-gooding young whippier-snappers, but that’s what outlying atolls are for. Me, I’d be surfing every morning, sipping margaritas every evening.

What would be your slow day in August dream job? If, like me, it’s a Peace Corps Country Director, then Michael Mikolaitis, Overseas Executive Selection and Support down at Peace Corps HQ at L and 20th Street, NW is your man.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

A suspicious package at the Brentwood Metro Rail Yard has interrupted the Redline between Judiciary Square and Rhode Island Ave in Northeast DC. Chances are, this is fucking things up but good on the Red Line through downtown with significant delays.

It’s funny how one little box of napkins or powdered sugar gets left by a train yard and the world just ends in DC. You can re-route today either by using the Green Line to take the long way round, or by taking a bus between the two stations. Either way, it’s going to take you a lot longer to get anywhere in Northeast DC today via mass transit.

[Update] The grey plastic box that was on the tracks has been deemed to be no longer suspicious and rail traffic is again flowing into Union Station and the Rhode Island Ave and Brookland Metro stations again. Is anyone surprised?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Adrian Fenty and Marie Johns are planning to line up in opposing quadrants of the city this weekend and shout at each other. Apparently, there’s a scheduled debate between them this Saturday, but Fenty will be in Southeast, while Johns is in Northwest. More disturbing, though, is the quote from the Johns camp that insinuates that Southeast is “unreachable by the media.”

Why is that, Liz Rose? Why did you say: “Since he agreed to debate us, and he selected the time and the date as 9 a.m. on a Saturday, we would like to do this debate at a place where the media can get there.”

Did you mean to insinuate that Southeast isn’t a place that people can go freely? Or without danger to their very lives? Because that’s exactly what you just said in the subtext. Are the Johns campaign afraid of the 7th and 8th Wards?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I was out last night at that most DC-ish of all social events… the networking happy hour.

It was a Capital Cabal event, which was sponsored by my employer and held at Gua Rapo in Courthouse. (The Cabal is run by some very nice people, and you should check it out sometime, btw.)

I have sort of a love-hate relationship with these things. On one hand, I am a passionate believer in the value of building strong, genuine relationships before you need something, being free and generous with your expertise and assistance in that network, and then having it already available if you find that you need something- even if it’s just a recommendation for a good dentist. On the other hand, most people really suck at that, and think of networking as a competition to see who can collect the most business cards, and who think networking is only something done at an event organized for that purpose. These people are tiresome to deal with.

Also, there’s just the whole event itself. I’m five feet tall, so I’m trying to make my way through a packed room full of people who are looking right over the top of my head. You tall people don’t understand how claustrophobic it is to walk around in a crowded room when you’re chest-level to everyone else. People hold their drinks in the hands they’re supposed to be shaking with. When the food served is greasy, it’s a law of the universe that there are insufficient napkins provided. And for some reason, the music is often turned up loud enough that you have to shout in order to be heard. What the hell? Is not the point of this thing that people get to know each other?

But even if I weren’t such a relationship evangelist, it’s still an expectation of my job that I attend several of these events per month. So come out to some- eventually you’ll run into me, most likely.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Hear that sigh of relief? That’s Capitol police feeling a little less physically threatened. CNN’s reporting that crackpot egomanaic my favorite politician Cynthia McKinney has lost her primary challenge. I wonder if this is her communication director’s fault too. Hope you can find that pin now, Cyn – they’ll probably want it back.

The same story mentions that Joe Lieberman also failed to win his Democratic primary and says he’s going to run as an Independent, demonstrating his continued devotion to insuring his seat doesn’t end up with a Democrat in it.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs