There are no words. The tragedy is too great, the deaths too many. 33 dead, many more shot and injured. The incredible loss.

The first names are coming out. Planet Blacksburg is reporting that Ryan Clark is the male in the first shooting. There were two Ryan Clarks in the directory at Virginia Tech, one listed as residing in West Ambler Johnston. Ryan C. Clark is a Psychology Major, according to the Directory. He is, apparently, the RA for the 4th floor of WAJ.

There will be another press conference tonight at 7:30pm. Look for updates here.

Update, 7:46p MSNBC: They have recovered two weapons from the scene, but will not identify them, they’re comparing ballistics between the first and second shootings. They have a preliminary identification of the shooter, but are not yet prepared to release it yet unti they know more. They will not break down the student/faculty ratio at this time.

Update, 10:03p, NBC: The shooter, still unidentified despite several internet rumors to the contrary, used two weapons, a .22 caliber pistol and a 9mm pistol. He was wearing a bulletproof vest and was carrying a significant amount of ammunition. The identities of the victim, except for Ryan Clark, are unknown. I have been unable to confirm that Jamie Bishop was killed on site.

Update, 9:26am, CNN: Via the University, as well, “The individual has been identified as Cho Seung-Hui, 23. Cho was enrolled as an undergraduate student in his senior year as an English major at Virginia Tech. Cho, a South Korean native, was in the U.S. as a resident alien with a residence established in Centerville, Va.” Classes are cancelled through the end of the week, but the University will reopen on Wednesday. There was only one shooter. One of the guns was used in both shootings. While the Police were investigating the first shooting, the second took place.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

With everything that’s happened today, I’m opening up this thread for all discussion of the VT Shootings. I’m still trying to dig up more news, so far the best updating source is College Media dot com which has a chronological update starting first thing this morning and moving forward to the present.

I’ve tried calling down to Blacksburg to a couple of the folks I know in the STS department down there, with no luck whatsoever. All calls are routing right to voicemail, and sparse email contact has been made with the main campus. Feel free to use this space to talk about the shooting, connect with folks you know in Blacksburg.

Update, 2:17pm, via College Media: “As of now, 32 people are confirmed dead. One person from West Ambler Johnston Hall and at least 20 people from Norris Hall have been killed. The shooter as well has been killed, but it is uncertain as to whether it is a student or not. ”

Update, 2:38pm, via Fox News: “deadliest school shooting in US History.” I have now heard two reports that the shooter was an Asian man, but I have not seen that confirmed yet. Details are getting sketchier again. I’ve also had my first email returned from the main campus. Several of the faculty who serve as EMTs are reporting that the police coming out of the scene are very shaken and are undergoing some counseling onsite.

Update, 2:46pm, via 8Asians: Shooter Reportedly of Asian Descent, and walked into the building wearing a vest with an “ungodly” amount of ammunition, firing at will with a bulletproof vest and a large amount of ammunition. We’re still short some details on the American networks at this point. This is now the single deadliest shooting incident in US History.

Update, 3:06pm, via VT’s National Capitol Region office: All classes at DC Area Virginia Tech campuses have been cancelled for today.

Update, 3:32pm, via a Hokie Message Board: Shooter may have been a scorned lover. Rumors are, of course, only rumors. This one reads plausibly. There’s an open VT message board going on. Email service is still sporadic at best, and the facilities in the DC area have been locked down as a precaution. No word on when email access will be restored.

Update, 3:50p, via BBC News: First Person Account from a student inside Norris Hall when the shootings occured. Apparently between 80-100 rounds were fired. Jesus. Please note well that VT is a Gun Free Zone. Also, near as I can tell, there was a brief lockdown after the first shooting, but that lockdown was opened back up before there was anyone in custody, leading to the senseless deaths of at least 30 students and numerous more serious injuries.

Update, 4:10p, via Pajamas Media: Cellphone Video from Norris Hall and VT Campus. This is absolutely horrific.

Update, 4:40p, via Planet Blacksburg: The shooter was found in the basement of Norris Hall. This suggests the shooter took his own life at the end of the killing spree, not that he was killed by police.

Update, 4:45p, via CNN Newsfeed: Virginia is now in a State of Emergency, as ordered by Governor Kaine, who is on his way home from Tokyo. 33 dead. 15 more critically injured. A list of dead may be released as soon as tomorrow. The shooter in Norris Hall had no identification on his person, and has yet to be identified. “Why didn’t you shut down the campus at the first shooting?” “We concluded the first shooting was a domestic shooting, and we had reason to believe the shooter was leaving the state.” Police at this time have not connected the first shooting to the second.

Are the bomb threats from Friday related to this incident? “We’re looking into it… it’s a possibility we’re looking into.”

They are confirming the Norris Hall shooter took his own life.

Incident 1 in WAJ is considered potentially a domestic incident. There is no breakdown of faculty/staff deaths yet. There were chains on the door, but they’re not clear yet how many were chained. There were multiple locations inside Norris Hall with fatalities, they’re considering it one giant crime scene.

Update: 5:10pm, CNN: Still watching the coverage at Blacksburg, the questions are starting to repeat themselves, and VT’s President and Chief of Police are basically out of new ways to say, “We don’t know yet.” and “We’re not sure when we’ll know more yet.”

Update, 5:15pm, Kotaku: Jack Thompson is blaming videogames. Pardon my french, but STFU, Jack. Not even 12 hours have past and you’re spewing your self-interested line on Fox News? Jesus.

Update, 5:38pm, Planet Blacksburg: Eyewitness accounts are now coming in. The Post is also watching blogs for first person accounts.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

It’s with incredible sorrow that I typed that headline just now. 20 students were killed this morning in a horrific tragedy the likes of which has never struck a university. Details are still coming out this afternoon as to how this happened. Currently the VT site reads:

Two shootings on campus today have left 22 confirmed dead, including students.

Families wishing to reunite with students are suggested to meet at the Inn at Virginia Tech. The university is planning a convocation for tomorrow at noon at Cassell Coliseum for the university community to come together to begin to deal with the tragedy.

Counseling is available in the Bowman Room in the Merriman Center (part of the athletic complex) for employees who seek assistance following today’s events.

All faculty and staff have been released and asked to go home effective immediately.

The university will open tomorrow at 8 a.m. but classes are cancelled.

My heart goes out to all those in Blacksburg today. I’ve been unable to reach via electronic means anyone down at the main campus, and I suspect that with the volume of response and the size of the campus, their main server is overloaded.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Come learn about Firefly Children’s Network, an organization that “gives governments, community leaders and international non-profits the tools and best practices to get kids out of orphanages and keep kids out of orphanages.”

Having worked with at-risk youth myself, I can attest that this is one heck of a good cause. According to Firefly, “for every month children spend in an orphanage, they will cognitively, socially and emotionally fall behind their peers by three months.” Tell me of a better cause than this.

What: Happy Hour
When: Tuesday, April 17th 6-9 p.m.
Where: Eyebar, 1716 I St NW Washington, D.C.

Half price cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. That’s French for appetizers, I think. Need I say more? Just point me to the cocktail weenies, give me a boilermaker and I will be set.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Take a good long look at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) sign. Does that look familiar to you?

Now take a look at the NATO sign. Isn’t MWAA copying the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?

Could MWAA also be safeguarding the freedom and security of its member countries by political and military means? Might that be the real role of the TSA?

Or did someone get lazy with symbol design in 1987?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Just in time for tax day, don’t forget to stop by the nearest Ben & Jerry’s for Free Cone Day tomorrow. Because nothing makes it all better like free ice cream.

Do I really need to say anything else about this? FREE ICE CREAM, people!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Hat tip to DC Shadow Representative Mike Panetta for reminding me this morning that today is the DC Voting Rights March. Beginning at 2:30pm today at Freedom Plaza, and ending at the steps to the Capitol, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty, DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and others will be demonstrating today to demand a voting seat in the House of Representatives for the otherwise disenfranchised District citizens. If you want to have any idea of how big the event is, take a look at the sponsorship list at the bottom. Anytime you see that many organizations is a good sign there’s a groundswell of people behind them.

Let’s go out and tell those folks on Capitol Hill that DC ought to have a federal representative, and no, we don’t mean the guy who claims to represent us, we mean a vote for a real, honest-to-God elected Representative.

Get out and march. Show your support for the District’s nascent franchise.

Graphic shamelessly borrowed from the Voting Rights March folks. Thanks guys!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Friday night we entered the Thai New Year. So it was fitting that we ended up having dinner at Simply Home, the “eat drink shop” spot on U Street. The Thai options in the Shaw/U Street/Logan radius of my house include Sala Thai, Thai Tanic, and Rice, all with very different vibes, but after last night Simply Home has rocketed to the top of my craving list.

After a hellishly stressful two-week stretch, I had a strong desire for a tranquil dinner. So I breathed a sigh of relief and instant happiness upon exiting the bustle of U Street madness to a zen cocoon of white walls washed with low light, accented by dark wood and cute little seating cubes. It was the exact mood I needed – very contemporary without that cold feeling modernism can sometimes impart. “Check out the popcorn packing chandeliers,” my friend said admiringly. We settled in, ready to inbibe.

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What do you think about the new Asia Trails section of the National Zoo, the $53 million renovation of nearly six acres that doubles the zoo’s three panda’s exhibits?

Have you had a chance to see panda cub Tai Shan? Or what about the Red Pandas or Fishing Cats? Better yet, the elusive clouded leopards?

I’ve checked out the Asia Trail developments on my weekly runs through the Zoo and recently, one angle caught my eye. Look at this photo for a moment. What seems odd to you?

Might it be a little weird to see such security for a Zoo animal? Might the pandas be a little distractive or at least superstar status with such fencing, security cameras, and overall inaccessibility. It’s not like the prairie dogs or Bengal tigers have such a human contact barrier.

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This evening, Dr. Fiona McClure, a veterinarian at Cherrydale Veterinary Clinic, will be giving a lecture on inflammatory bowel disease at the PetMAC Marketplace in Arlington from 5-6 p.m. Please visit www.petmac.org or call 703/908-7387 to get more information or to RSVP.

Nothing says “date night” like a pre-dinner discussion of IBD.

From the PetMAC web site:

Dr. McClure has been an internal medicine specialist for 8 years and during that time she has had a special focus on gastrointestinal disease and endoscopic techniques. She will cover the range of symptoms, potential causes, diagnostic options and treatment options for IBD, which is a very common disorder found in dogs and cats.

Oh, yeah – a $10 donation to Homeward Trails Animal Rescue is required for this event. So not only is it educational but it also helps our little animal friends in their time of need.

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We solute you, crazy wig-wearing, perma-tan, bringing berrets back into fashion, anti-nuke lady.

What ever it is you do, keep on doing it, because some day we could all live in a world free of nuclear, genocidal weapons. No more cold wars, no more super powers, and no more crazy dictators threatening nuclear war if they don’t get some r-e-s-p-e-c-t.

You’re an inspiration to all of us knowing that we can all follow our dreams, even if it means living in a tent pitched right smack in front of the White House. All you need is a big laminated sign, a tent, and a screw or two loose. Come to think of it, is there room for another tent next to yours? My dog and I would like to move in with our big sign and protest people who take the elevator up or down one floor. It has GOT to stop.

In all seriousness, kudos to guenno for this detailed shot of one of our city’s institutions. Show me another country where someone can live in a tent within a stone’s throw of the president.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

It’s that time of year again – kids coming to DC on school trips, their first ventures into a real city without Mom and Dad. The parent chaperones who drew the black spot when it was time to find volunteers started out hopeful but have become weary through the trip and now just want to find a liquor store.

Imagine being 13, dragging your half-asleep ass off the tour bus and seeing me as the first life form in DC since you left Schenectady this morning. Or Allentown. Whatever. Your parents signed you up for an educational experience and Mr. Rodarte, that nerdy kid’s father, has been yelling at everyone to settle down and be quiet for the past seven hours. He especially wants to know which child keeps making “that noise” everyone except him keeps laughing at.

I was waiting at Judiciary Square for my lovely wife and got overrun by two busloads of slack-jawed middle school kids. No doubt, they took me as a bum, since I sported all the things they were familiar with from after school specials about homelessness – an old torn coat, old beat to hell work boots and black trousers – all the better to hide dirt, even though I knew they were a little past due for the laundry.

In reality, I was ready to go down in the tunnels of the Metro system to take part in their rail safety Citizen Corps program, but these young people today don’t know Citizen Corps from mashed potatoes. Each one of the kids made eye contact with me and quickly looked away upon meeting my steely gaze. I was dressed like that so as not to booger up my regular work clothes, which are not really that much nicer but are good enough that I did not want to take them into the sooty tunnel.

So to those kids who are new arrivals here, visitors to our fine city for some school-related educational trip, I welcome you. If I could, I would personally greet every single one of you at every tour bus stop around town with the same gaze I gave my young friends the other day.

We love the tourists here in DC. Even the wide-eyed impressionable ones who claim that everything sucks and that Mr. Rodarte is being unfair. Welcome, kid. I hope you like our city. Have some fun, spend some money and don’t worry about your chaperones. Once you enter the work world you will find that almost every job has a Mr. Rodarte who uses public humiliation and threats to control you. (See this recent example from my own life.)The upside? Even as an adult you can make those noises that piss him off.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

When I wrote about my Opening Day Baseball Fiasco last week, I felt I was spitting into the wind a bit. But, I also took the time to send Stan Kasten, President of the Nationals, a letter about my experience at the game. I made the right decision, apparently. He responded personally to my email, apologized for the snafu at concessions, and asked that I contact his office later in the week when he was back from his trip. When I called and spoke with Cheryl, his assistant, she was very contrite, and apologized on behalf of the team with a not-insignificant amount of Aramark Gift Certificates.

The biggest surprise, though, came last Friday night when Mr. Kasten himself came by our seats to apologize in person. That’s the big deal here. It’s not often you see the President of the team in the upper deck visiting people who’ve written him, and that gives me an awful lot of hope for the franchise in the long run, even if this year’s 2-7 start doesn’t.

Thank you, Mr. Kasten, for your attention, your apology and your visit. I am much obliged.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

This was submitted to us by Ben Stanfield, and, given all the discussion a few weeks back on the Elephant parade, it’s very apropos:

Last night was opening night of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey’s Circus at the DC Armory. Attempting to relive some of high points of childhood and hoping to get a few good pictures, I made the trek from Rockville to Southeast DC. I’m not sure when it happened, but sometime between my last circus visit (about 13 years ago) and last night’s show at the armory, they’ve managed to sanitize it. To suck the circus essence right out of the circus.

Sure, it had some of the hallmarks of a circus: elephants, clowns, acrobats, even white tigers. But there were elements missing, too. It was a packaged and plasticy affair. There was no seediness, nothing to add that slight twinge of sadness combined with wonder. No one looked like a carnie. Instead of having 3-rings and a ringmaster with a booming voice describing every death-defying moment, circus-goers were greeted with a Disney-esque narrative about how great it is to have an imagination that was so syruppy and fake it grated on every last nerve.

There was hardly any explanation of any of the acts at all, much less any talk of any of them being dangerous, suicidal, or death-defying. Even those performing high in the air without a net were accompanied not with Karl King circus marches and gasps, oohs, and ahhs from the audience, but cheesy lip syncing from a not-very-talented woman singing about dreams and imaginations. Blech.

Though it wasn’t, by any means, the greatest show on earth, kids will still love the elephants and be terrified by the clowns. (Who, by the way, were unable to get the audience to laugh at anything they did. Not that surprising since apparently their idea of a good clown gag is a fake food fight.) If you get there early, you’ll see the best part — a chance to wander around the show floor and see the clowns, acrobats, dancers, and elephants up close, without the sacharine narrative and cheesy music. The not-so-greatest show on earth runs through Sunday at the DC Armory.

Tickets in the cheap seats are $14, cheaper than the plastic light-up toys and cotton candy. Incidentally, plastic and sugar are the only things you should expect from the show overall.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I got an email from a fellow environment lover about a really cool thing going on in Arlington this weekend, billed as the Conservation Celebration:

Get supplies and information on green cleaning, native plants, rain barrels, and compost bins. Check out a real biodiesel car and tour Arlington County government’s only geothermal building – Taylor Elementary. Hear Arlington County Board Chairman Paul Ferguson or plant a tree with State Delegate Bob Brink. Drop off any of the following (clean) material for local organizations to reuse and recycle: bubble wrap, packaging peanuts, Styrofoam blocks, batteries (all but car batteries), yogurt cups and tubs (#5), cell phones, ink jet printer cartridges, lids and bottle caps of any kind, yarn, and fabric.

Location – Taylor Elementary, 2600 N. Stuart St., Arlington, VA 22207
Time: Saturday, April 14, 9:00 a.m. to noon
For more information click here and dig the pdf document!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

When a cow orker today sent me this link to the reader’s poll about the peep dioramas it took me all of three seconds to be certain which would win: The Rosslyn Station peeps, of course. Everyone loves hearing about themselves, and it doesn’t even have to be positive attention – when Jonathan Coulton appeared at Jammin Java and played “I hate LA” he commented that he got more requests for that song in California than anywhere else, and the most applause and excitement for it in – you guessed it – LA.

Well, turns out we’re not quite as big a bunch of self-absorbed bunch of media whores as LA. By 0.4%

Nope, we’re bigger pervs. The peeping peep is our big winner. The WaPo’s actual winner, it’s worth nothing, is 8th. Out of 22. And I’m at least a little bit right – the number 3 place is a full 8% behind the Rosslyn creation

Now, this is an ongoing poll so I suppose the final vote could change, but I’m assuming by now we’ve settled into our averages. Personally, I voted for the Reservoir Dogs diorama, but I’m still on a Tarontino-Grindhouse high.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Or, rather, it could be said that it pays to be unionized and insist on overtime. Today’s Examiner has all the details concering Overtime Pay and the Metro, which doled out over $100k to train and bus drivers who worked overtime. Moreover, the way that Metro’s overtime system works, it adds to the employee’s pension benefits for their overtime:

Metro Board of Directors member Ray Bricuso said the rich overtime system “needs to stop. An employee who makes $65,000 can work a lot of overtime their final years on the job and make $100,000 a year. That would increase their annual pension to about $80,000 for what is really a $65,000 job.”

Boy wouldn’t that be nice.

What I really want to know is: If those guys are making $65k/yr to drive the train, should the stops be a little smoother? Shouldn’t the voices coming from the speakers be a little more audible and understandable? If the human factor is what makes Metro great, and I would agree that the strength in the system is its people, then shouldn’t we also see an increase in the skills of our system’s employees? Too many trains I’ve been on stop in a herky-jerky way, throwing passengers willy nilly, occasionally resulting in accidental contact. But, for $100k? I would expect perfect stops and perfect starts.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

As I exited from the Teddy Roosevelt Bridge, bound for Constitution, I had the most glorious view over the massed cars waiting for the light. The stark black tree trunks and branches against the seafoam green baby leaves is the most beautiful thing I’ve seen in a long time. The return of real Spring, and with it the sunshine that my body just craves, is the most relieving thing to a sufferer of seasonal depression. So, despite being late, tired, stuck in traffic and sneezing like it’s my job, the return of high-contrast Spring to the DC area is most definitely welcome.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

An anonymous tipster to our Suggest a Link database writes in that Reston Limousine has launched the Make It Better blog by CEO Kristina Bouweiri.

She is focusing on how regional transportation can “become better and more enjoyable” with an understandable focus on vehicular traffic.

Now how driving can be either “better” or “more enjoyable” without either nuking slow right turners, fixing deadly winter potholes, or quicker NoVA snow removal is beyond me, but give Ms. Bouweiri credit for trying.

Trying to both stimulate debate about Washington transportation issues and by doing so with this crazy blogging thing. Kudos Ms. Bouweiri & welcome to the Internet!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs