On the streets of DC we have a new protector of the US mail: R2D2.

No longer need you worry about Tusken Raiders intercepting your Christmas Cards or accessing the Cloud City mainframes while under Storm Trooper fire. R2 will protect & deliver for you. He is the USPS Jedi Master.

He does have limitations though. As much as I tried, I didn’t get a Princess Leia Organa projection, and mail delivery to Alderaan has been suspended.

Even droids have their limits.

(More R2-D2 Photos here)

Update: I went back & took more photos of the R2D2 Mailbox and check out the security bolts they are using to lock these droids down. You know they’re thinking these will be theft magnets for pesky jawas.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

patriotic-elephant

Originally uploaded by brunahildm.

Today at 12:30, a parade of elephants will mark the return of the Ringling Brothers Barnum & Bailey Circus to DC. Beginning at 2nd & D St. NW and finishing at the Verizon Center, the parade will likely tie up traffic in Chinatown in the early afternoon. I fully expect PETA to be out in force and fairly upset about the whole thing, and I expect a bunch of people to be surprised by the general spectacle.

The Circus is at the Verizon Center Thursday through Sunday and tickets are available online via Ticketbastard.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

The Post has an article today on the expenses that are being covered by the government for Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence Small, including $48,000 that he spent on two chairs, a conference table, and some upholstery. While I generally may cut the Smithsonian some slack for being a fine outfit that does lots of good for the DC area, $31k on Berkeley Stripe upholstery is a getting a bit insane. Not to mention that was just part of $160k that he spent on redecoration of his offices. It just strikes me as odd how executive compensation works in this case.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I’m the type of guy who scours the Craigslist “Free” section for all sorts of things I can put to good use. Let’s face it – sometimes the best treasures are not the ones you spend a fortune on but the ones you stumble upon by accident.

While browsing the ads for free stuff, I often see people trying to get rid of bamboo, which grows so well in this climate. Folks sometimes open their yards to anyone with an axe or machete to come take the godforsaken tall grass away. Sure it looked pretty at first and the idea of a meditation garden in the back yard sounded great at the time, but the reality of wild grass you can’t mow or kill loses its magic pretty darned fast when it encroaches on the rest of the yard.

It occurred to me recently that we have a partial solution to this problem of bamboo right here in the Capital District. If those giant pandas at the National Zoo are simply living off our tax money, draining the public coffers of much-needed funds for wars, secret prisons, congressional pay increases and other such necessities, doesn’t it make sense that they start earning their keep?

We could easily rent these cute guys out for yard-clearing purposes. They are currently being fed over 50 pounds of bamboo per day, according to the Zoo’s web site. Most of that bamboo is purchased from a farm in Maryland. Just imagine if that food came from our neighbors’ backyards.

All that money saved plus the revenue from the work done could help keep the pandas in the bling and comfort they have come to expect. How much could we charge to parade our pandas to a yard and have them feast until they are filled? Market forces will determine this price, but anyone who has tried to clear a bamboo field will tell you that it is not easy or quick work. The added bonus and social capital from hiring pandas could sweeten the pot for those with enough money.

If this catches on, I can see a wonderful business going to offset the costs these animals incur. The one problem I foresee is whether or not the District will start a guest worker program that will enable the older one to be employed.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

It’s always a sobering experience to witness a fire in the city. It reminds you just how quickly something like a small kitchen fire can escalate – how rapidly flames can spread through rows of townhouses, old timber crackling like paper. Today marked the third fire I’ve witnessed on my neighborhood in the six years I’ve lived in my house. The first was our own house – our back porch went up in smoke in what ranks as one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. The second fire, which started around the corner in a house that backs into our alley, affected some five or seven houses as an early morning fire went undetected until it was too late to save at least two of the houses from ruin.

Today, screaming sirens and that unmistakable acrid smell sent my heart racing. I ran outside to see that the house on the corner was burning, just two doors down from us. Scores of firetrucks came to the rescue, with firemen on the roof bashing through the second floor windows as shattered glass and clouds of black smoke escaped.

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

No plans for Sunday? Drop by the grand opening festivities at the new Shirlington public library. The new library is at 2800 Stafford Street in Arlington and will have a whole host of events tomorrow, including:

• Origami storytelling and hands-on demonstration
• Traditional Japanese music and dance
• Talks by the buildings architect and the mosaic artist who created the plaza fountain

The festivities kick off at noon with a ribbon cutting ceremony in front of the building and the library opens to the public at 1:00. Come celebrate reading and education at this new 15,000 square-foot facility.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

St Patrick’s Day festivites have ended early for this youthful party boy.

Note that he has a DC MPD escort and he is not headed to the ambulance.

As the duo passed, the arrested one meekly asked: Sir, is anyone else being charged?

The arresting officer’s answer: Worry about bail, not your buddies.

Perfect St. Patrick’s Day perp walk advice.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

Did you, like I, take off Wednesday to enjoy the beautiful day?

I bet not.

So that means that right about now you are cursing the weatherman, and God, for the sleet and snow covering the city and its cars.

Winter has not yet released its grip on our fair Washington DC, no matter what groundhogs might say.

This would be yet one more weekend to spend snuggled up with a supermodel or three.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

While Wayan may “doubt that any of the claimants will get even in sight of the military’s shrine to bureaucracy,” there will be street closings to allow for it. Here’s the Arlington county announcement.

The Arlington County Police Department will close part of Washington Boulevard on Saturday, March 17, for a protest march to the Pentagon. The march will begin in Washington, D.C. at approximately 12:30 p.m. Participants will cross Memorial Bridge into Arlington and walk to the Pentagon North parking lot for a rally.

Washington Boulevard (Route 27) will be shut down in both directions between Memorial Circle and I-395, from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. During that time, there will be no access to Washington Boulevard from I-395, the George Washington Parkway, Route 110 or Columbia Pike.

From 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. on March 17, Arlington National Cemetery may only be accessed by way of northbound Route 110.

Plan accordingly. I’m handling the issue by being in Ocean City.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Protest Un-preparedness

See these three sad-looking kids from Chicago. They are the next generation of carpet-bagging protesters, coming to DC to speak their youthful minds. They are all geared up for the March on the Pentagon this weekend that proposes to have a protest at the Pentagon.

While I doubt that any of the claimants will get even in sight of the military’s shrine to bureaucracy, no matter ther claims illuminated in the WashPost today, I do know that these three are feeling quite sad and wet after last night’s rain. They didn’t read the protest transportation plan and instead hitched rides with “friends” to DC.

It’s only too bad that said “friends” then disappeared and these solid middle class kids are now begging on DC streets. Begging because they are too scared to call Mom and Dad to say “Hi Mom, yes, I know you said I couldn’t go, but I went anyway. Now that we’re here and broke, with only $10 between the three of us, can you send money and tickets home?”

If you feel pity for the threesome and can take their other two friends who are also a-begging, please let me know in comments. I’ll connect you with the homeless crew.

Oh and Jess’s Mom, Jess is okay and she’s definitely learned her lessons for the day: don’t trust “friends” for a thousand mile ride home and never leave town without cash or credit.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

One of the things that DC loves to snark about is our lack of representation in the hallowed halls of Congress. While some sarcastically claim that every rep is their rep, that may be coming to an end. A Bill to give DC a voting seat in the House of Representatives (along with another seat for Utah) made it past the House Judiciary Committee this afternoon. Though, it still has a long way to go, including a vote of the whole House of Reps, the Senate, the likely veto by President Bush and the votes again to overturn the Veto, not to mention numerous legal challenges related to the Constitutionality of the Law, but it’s at least a small step to making Eleanor Holmes Norton into more than just a delegate. DCist’s Martin Austermuhle has been following the hearings and has a great summary of today’s action.

I think I’d like to see the District get a seat in the House, a full vote on matters legislatural, but the thought of “Senator Marion Barry” is enough to keep me from getting behind the effort full steam.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

http://www.starbucks.com/ourcoffees/coffee_break.asp?cookie%5Ftest=1” title=”original image”>

photo courtesy of Starbucks

It’s almost Noon, and while Jenn won’t be interested you’ve still got about 20 minutes to wait in a long-assed line for a mediocre cup of free coffee. Anyone have some pictures to share of what I am sure was a resulting zoo?

I always wonder if it’s worth alienating your regular customers with the resultant crowd. Free Cone Day may not be a big deal for a much more sporadic clientèle at Ben & Jerrys but Starbucks presumably has daily customers who are being inconvenienced.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Encouraging Green to be the new Red, White and Blue, the 15th annual DC Environmental Film Festival kicks off today and runs through next weekend, featuring some of the best environmental films of the year, including Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth (showing Saturday at GW, and Tuesday at National Geographic) as well as what I consider to be the real highlight of the Film Festival, the premiere of Hurricane on the Bayou in IMAX at the Natural History Museum, on Monday night the 19th. Get out and see something different this week and next!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Tuesday night, after a long dinner outside at the Boulevard Woodgrill, I headed across the street into Iota Club & Cafe for Justin Trawick and the release show for his new CD “How to Build a Life with a Lemonade Stand.” I walked in just as he was setting into the first songs of the night, some hard-played acoustic guitar backed up by an upright bass, a piano, some drums and the occasional cello. What makes Justin shine is the aural texture of his band, they provide the velvet texture necessary for his sandpapery voice. The deep bass and low melodic sound of the cello and piano provide the perfect counterpoint for Trawick’s Jason Mraz-esque patter lyrics, something that Mraz’s songs often lacked, and make it a real experience. Better still, hope that Trawick is performing with Malik from one of DC’s finest hip-hop outfits, as together they provide lightning fast lyrical mastery in front of one of the best instrumental combos I’ve seen around lately.

Check out Trawick tonight at 10:30 at The Tombs, or tomorrow night at the Loft in Frederickburg, VA. Make sure to pick up his CD and support a local artist, besides, it’s absolutely gorgeous cover art.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

Here is a occupation that I would not mind having on a beautiful day: Park Service Worker.

The guy on the left is feeling spring like I am. We both are glad to be alive on a morning where birds sing and the sun is warm.

Enjoy this weather while you can. Lunch in the park today is a must. Beer garden in the evening an option.

If you miss this chance, you will be sad. There are rumors of snow for the weekend.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

What might ex-Mayor Anthony Williams be up to now that he is no longer His High-Flying Honor?

Have you followed his post-office activites? Would you know why he was standing outside Cosi yesterday?

No matter his business, he is still looking fit to travel. With all his new free time, think he’s globe trotting more than when mayor?

He should have enough frequet flyer miles to last him through 2007 at least.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Metrorail is currently experiencing a service disruption at Rockville station, say the service alerts. Apparently a “suspicious package” is messing up Red Line rush hour; anyone have firsthand experience with the delays? And any bets as to what the “suspicious package” is?

Update: All clear has been given.

Authorities have given the “all clear” to reopen the Rockville Metro and Amtrak stations, but not before hundreds of rush-hour commuters were stranded and delayed for hours. Montgomery County Fire and Rescue spokesman Pete Piringer said that several suspicious packages that were not accompanying a passenger have been cleared by the bomb squad and the owner was identified. The packages were on Amtrak train 29 on its way from Union Station in Washington to Chicago. Piringer said the owner was not on the train and didn’t know why.

Sounds like someone might have left bags on the train?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

How much do you think this guy makes each day? Maybe a $100 or $200 or $1,000?

I often wonder street vendor income, as I don’t see that many people buying from them, but they are still out there every day.

Do you buy from them? If so, when and what do you get? Do you have a preferred vendor? A standard staple?

And do you think street vendors make a decent living from your largess?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

It was a lovely day to walk home along the Mall yesterday, and I saw this camp en route. Just by 3rd St NW on the Mall, west of the Capitol Reflecting Pool, a cluster of tents has gone up, with banners in English, Spanish, and Arabic, calling to “Cut Off War Funding” and “Bring Home the Troops Now,” while music and antiwar slogans blare from loudspeakers. This is Encampment to Stop the War, some kind of nonviolent tent camp resistance action, there from March 12-19. Here’s their schedule.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

photo courtesy of VA Dept of Health

Derranged minds think alike, I guess – I started writing something about the Virginia Department of Health’s fotonovilla on older-man-younger-women relationships[pdf] earlier this morning and got distracted. Now I see Tom has already mentioned it in passing. In fairness to the VADOH, however, it’s named “Thanks Papi” because the protagonist’s dad steps up to the plate when he finds out about his daughter being propositioned by the not-so-young man. He gives him a talking to, then provides some loving advice for his daughter. It closes with her saying to him “It’s going to be hard finding a man who loves me as much as you do.”

Which, I acknowledge, the more obnoxious among us (guilty!) will find snicker-worthy in and of itself. I predict it’ll take no longer than Friday before we see an incest-themed joke retooling of the book, probably from the folks who brought us this gem and making some requisite West Virginia jokes.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs