With tonight’s temps falling into the teens and a daytime high in the 30s that felt a lot colder with the wind, last week’s midday 70s seems like a distant memory. So here’s a picture of the pentagon row skaters in their t’s and shorts last Saturday to taunt you. Capitol Weather says we may see highs near 60 on Saturday but there may be gloom and rain to go with it.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

City Desk’s E-List Roundup has this lovely Takoma piece on couching reports of crime and disturbance in positive-leaning terms, so as to continue encouraging gentrification.

We suggest that all muggings must now be referred to as “culture exchanges,” that all smash-and-grabs be described as “car-stereo recycling,” and that all missing-cat postings be labeled as “Free-Range Kitten Policy In Effect.”

Capital idea! Myself, I look forward to stimulating my neighborhood economy by passing along some spare change to the Nomadic Local Hospitality Agents!

Why don’t you check reports from your area and translate them to what they “really” say?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Last night at the 2007 Washington Post Blogger Summit (aka “Blogging Unplugged”.. where was Eric Clapton and his guitar?), the minds behind Washingtonpost.com and their advertising arm (WPNI) revealed their “skunkworks” project of a “Local Blog Directory”. As of all the sections of the get-together, this one generated the most lively discussion among attendees and the WaPo.com staff.

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

Okay, I know – the answer to that is “a lot” but I was more specifically wondering about this plate. ITSUX. Okay… is that “it sucks” as in the big overpriced Mercedes SUV?That’s some serious buyer’s remorse if so. Is it “IT sucks” as in information technology? I do not necessarily disagree. “It sucks” as in breast cancer, since that’s a breast cancer plate? I don’t disagree there either, though I wonder how many sufferers would describe being diagnosed with breast cancer as “sucks.”

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Councilmembers Mary Cheh and David Catania yesterday introduced a bill before the City Council to require the HPV Vaccine for all school-going female teens. HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) is thought to be responsible for a large proportion of cervical cancer cases. The real problem here is that the vaccine itself costs $360. While Federal support is available for those on Medicaid, where does that put the rest of the students who aren’t on Medicaid? $360 just to go back to school? It’s not like Measles or Rubella or the Mumps which are commonly contagious, HPV is only spread through genital to genital contact, so I’m thinking this ought to be a parental choice, not a state mandate.

The intent, for certain, is well-intentioned, but is trying out a new vaccine on DC schoolgirls, at their expense in many cases, really the best way to promote good health practices? Perhaps the city would do well to instead offer further assistance and information regarding the vaccine instead of trying to mandate something that’s been around only a short time and whose side effects in the long term aren’t yet known.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

If you are headed cross town this morning, specificly eastbound on Irving Street NW, good luck.

Thanks to DC USA construction and school buses, its a single lane parking lot.

As the mess is not new and will be here for a while, what are your tips for those headed east?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

(Or it would be “liveblogging” if we had actually been provided with a wireless connection. Here’s the final third of the summit, which is when I opened my computer. I was there for the whole panel thing, but I walked around a bit before finding an empty chair, and it turned out to be Mike Panetta’s. Sorry, Mike. Anyway, Wayan gets first dibs on actually posting from the event. More after the jump.)

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

Photo by DC Metroblogger

Ah yeah! See Don now? That is the after glow of the Washington Post Blogger Summit.

We got serious love in the form a new Washington Post local blogging portal page. Check back later for a photo and review David.

Now its time to celebrate at the After Party and we be partying with Posties too!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

Can you see that big smile on Don’s face? That is the grin that comes when your hobby is now a national trend.

He, I, and a Metblogs crew are here representing at the Washington Post Blogger Summit.

While we are feeling all special now with our Post love, you can put us back into our place at the Post Pub After Party.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Your chance to choose the 2007-2008 Arlington County Tax Decal is coming to an end. Arlington residents have until January 19th to decide what the new design will be. Two of the four options have the Iwo Jima memorial, one of them having the clump of men erecting the flag stand in for the “A” in Arlington. I don’t care for this one, partly because it looks like it was done by a fourth grader and seems to take away from the solemnity I associate with that monument. The bubble letters don’t help matters either.

The other choices are a photograph of the same memorial, one of the Air Force Memorial and one of some flowers. What kind of flowers? I know I have seen them before but it’s been a long time since I got the forestry merit badge. Probably cherry, apple or some other relative of those.

At any rate, hustle on over to the voting site and cast your ballots. This type of contest sure does make paying taxes fun, doesn’t it?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

United won tentative approval today to fly direct to Beijing from Washington Dulles. I’m not exactly sure why it’s a competition that only one airline can win a direct route to Beijing from Dulles, but there were a couple of other airlines who apparently didn’t bribe enough government officials as part of the process.

My heart goes out to them, today, as it appears they got totally boned on a route that’s only going to make United a shitpile of money over the next few years.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

From the Arlington County DHS:

The Arlington County Health Department is offering flu shots to the general public for a limited time.

Who/When? For adults 18 and older, special clinics for flu shots ONLY:
Every Tuesday in January (begins Jan. 9)
9 a.m. – 11 a.m.

For children (and adults), please see attend one of our regular weekly Open Immunization Clinics.

*Please be advised these clinics service all immunization needs for children and adults *

Where? 3033 Wilson Blvd. 2nd Floor Clinic

Cost? $25. The clinic accepts cash and checks; we cannot accept credit/debit cards. We also cannot process insurance claims.

For more information: Please contact our Immunization Outreach Coordinator: 703-228-1280, or the Immunization Clinical Services Coordinator: 703-228-1621.

I haven’t gotten a flu shot in years and rarely get sick so I don’t go for these. I get my innoculation by working with children, who are like walking Petri dishes, and serve to exppose me to low doses of everything that is going around.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Is this your fridge?

While it may be billed as “DC’s fine wine boutique” I have to say that De Vinos, at the corner of 18th and U Streets NW, should be know for its well stocked beer selection.

Take a look at this photo. Have you even heard of, much less consumed all the beers there?

I haven’t and yet I do my fair share of fermentation consumption, worldwide.

So the next time you and the housemate are fighting over the last Blue Moon in the fridge, get a grip. On that beer, I mean, and send the roomie out for more at De Vinos.

Better yet, ask Eddie, the manager, to recommend something exotic.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Our heartfelt condolences to our friends at theWashington Business Journal, whose editor John McCalla died suddenly over the weekend.

McCalla took over when the Business Journal’s longtime editor Beth Hunt was promoted to another position within the company, and was well liked. The paper’s January 12-18 issue will prominently feature McCalla and his work.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

How fast do you think DC city tow trucks operate?

From spotting a rush hour blocking car to rolling away with the No Parking violator swinging behind the tow truck?

I timed this car jack at just under 3 minutes. Or quicker than the S bus made two stops.

Think about that the next time you plan on a quick stop at rush hour: can you do your thing faster than the city’s tow trucks do theirs.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

14th Street is closed between F and G Streets due to a pedestrian vs. truck accident.

Bystanders say the pedestrian was killed but no one knows who was at fault.

Right about now DC drivers will start to blame the person crossing the street.

Car free DC would like to remind you that cars must yield the right of way to pedestrians in the District.

Also, condolences to all parties involved. Its no way to start a week.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

There’s just a little over 24 hours left until the biggest DC blogger get-together on a Tuesday in January 2007, the Washington Post Bloggers Summit After Party!

You know you wanna go, be you a DC blogger or want to meet one. Us bloggers will all be high from the Washington Post digital love-in, sporting our super-cool cryptic invites on our foreheads:

“You have been confirmed for washingtonpost.com’s DC-Area Blog Summit.”

And we’ll be headed to The Post Pub as soon as the gig is up @ 9pm.

Be there and be blogged.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

With yesterday’s Green line train derailment fresh in the minds of all transit riders in DC, the Post’s Get There blog may have brought into the public eye again the potential cause for these derailments: the new Series 5000 cars that Metro started using in 2004:

The cars has [sic] troubles all through the construction process, plus there were many mechanical and electronic problems once they entered service. They were involved in four derailments in less than 18 months. There was a debate within Metro over whether the design of the cars was a contributing factor, but they remained in service.

Those derailments followed a pattern: They occurred in places where the track was worn, while the train was operating at low speed and rounding a sharp bend. These were not tracks used in regular passenger service.

The Sunday derailment occurred while the train was making a low-speed crossover from one track to another, Metro said. Potentially interesting parallels there.

If the Series 5000 cars are the commonality in these derailments, it strikes me that WMATA ought to be demanding some attention from CAF engineers, as well as a potential fix for the derailment issues.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Pfeiffer’s Hardware

Have you been in Mt Pleasant when you needed a key made or maybe a wing nut? Then you know what a lifesaver, what a destination Pfeiffer’s Hardware is.

With a great selection and better service, it’s the cornerstone of D.I.Y in my neighbourhood. And now that’s about to change.

Todd Pfeiffer, the owner of Pfeiffer’s Hardware, has put the hardware business up for sale:

Our best-case dream scenario is that we sell our business to someone (or someones) in the community who cares as deeply about the area as we do.

Maybe a cooperative of interested buyers, maybe a consortium of friends or relatives, maybe just the right individual. Who knows? But if anywhere on earth there is the drive, acumen, talent, and vision to structure a unique deal, it’s gotta’ be within this one square mile.

So…this is an open call for proposals. We are open to any ideas. Be creative. Ever flirt with the idea of running your own business? This may be opportunity knocking. A hardware store is a vital part of a vital community. We are looking to sell to someone who truly understands that.

So whatcha say DC wanna-be hardware store owner? You ready to pick up where Todd is leaving off? Just be forewarned: Todd was one of the most friendly and well organized shopkeepers in the District. You’ll have mighty big shoes to fill.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

After coming back from a week in the tropics, I arrive only to find DC in the “depths of winter” sporting the same temperatures. Being a hearty “ski bum” myself, I was wondering when those folks who actually ENJOY the winter months would start bemoaning the lack of cold temps and the white stuff. Granted, this would be a time to get your wish list together of equipment you expect to see at the local “fire sales” at local retailers of winter gear.

I know, from reading older posts, that most DC Metblog authors are summer loving residents of this fine city, how are you, the readers who like the supposedly ‘cold’ months, coping with this lack of frigidity? Have you turned to thoughts of baseball, golf, or other spring-time pastimes, or have you run indoors and turned the thermostat down REALLY low to go into “winter simulation mode”?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs