So remember that All Hands on Deck weekend that was supposed to help deter crime around the DC area?

Yeah. Not so much.

From the Washington Post:

Most available officers were working the streets Friday to Sunday, making 481 arrests, many for minor offenses. Yet the city recorded two homicides, three sexual abuse cases, 31 robberies and 26 assaults over the three days — a total of 62 violent crimes, compared with 34 for the same three-day stretch last year.

…

Of the 481 arrests, made between 12:01 a.m. Friday and 7 a.m. Sunday — the time period for the “All Hands on Deck” effort — 119 arrests involved drug offenses, 101 were for traffic violations, 58 for disorderly conduct and 43 for prostitution. There was one arrest after a homicide, four in connection with robberies or carjackings, and 15 involving assaults.

Glad to see DC’s Finest out there protecting us from traffic violators. Makes the streets much safer to try to get away from all the murderers, rapists, and armed muggers.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I can’t really afford to go out for lunch here in Bethesda because I don’t make nearly as much money as almost anyone else in town. Instead, I eat at my desk while working and reserve my actual lunch break for doing errands. Yesterday was no different. My first stop was to Michael’s Barber Shop on St. Elmo Ave., where I got my mop chopped to an appropriate length. The barbers there are very nice folks, always happy to chat or allow customers to be quiet, taking their cues appropriately and thus guaranteeing a good tip. Haircut: $14, including a $2 tip.

Next I got a cup of coffee at the convenience store at the corner of Norfolk and Woodmont. You know the place, where the construction workers from nearby building projects spend their lunch hours betting on horses and playing the numbers. The cute Philippine lady at the counter always gives me a nice smile and wishes me a nice day. So much better than Starbucks next door, where all you are likely to get is fed through the cattle chute and spit out a door to again mix with society. 20 ounce coffee: $1.40.

My last stop on the lunch break express was to the CVS to pick up some unlubricated rubbers. Not for any sort of traditional use, mind you, but to use as airlocks for the hard cider I am making. I don’t have a fancy recipe like Derek Terrell probably does but will share it with you anyway. You take a jug of apple cider from the store (no preservatives, mind you – just straight juice), sprinkle in a teaspoon of bread yeast and attach a jimmy hat to keep bacteria-laden air from coming in. After the woody wrap is unrolled and affixed, simply wait until it stops inflating. Then you have some good, old-fashioned hard cider. Rubbers: $4.19

Total cost of my lunch break: $19.59

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Local illustrator Steve Conley has started a project that will run to the next election day. It’s called Socks and Barney and features the adventures of the Clintons’ cat Socks and George W. Bush’s dog Barney, and in the inaugural edition, Rudy Giuliani’s pet rat. So much of politics these days is vitriol, sarcasm and rancor, and it’s nice to see a bit of a change in pace in a local comic strip. The strip will run from today until next election day. Put it on your list and give it a read!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Normally this is where I’d encourage you to go make your voice heard and head to the polls, but jeez, why bother? In the Arlington area where I live, at least, the ballot is almost 50% uncontested seats. The only sections up for grabs are Sheriff and County Board, two slots I don’t have any strong opinion about. I’m not sure I’m even comfortable with the fact that Sheriff is an elected position – enforcing the law should be non-denominational, in my opinion.

If you’re in my area and strongly partisan, I’d advise you to print out the ballot from the above link. The evil electronic vote-eating machine we Arlingtonites use doesn’t identify party affiliation for County Board or Clerk.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

My first thought was a big sandwich board signs erected on the mall but it occurs to me this might be a good use for those lighted signs over 66. Not like they ever put useful traffic information on the goddamned things.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

The only person on the planet who can possibly kick more ass than Jack Bauer is Chuck Norris, but unlike Chuck, Jack is smart enough to never venture into Texas. He prefers to use brains over brawn but isn’t afraid to bust out his glock if one of his hot girlfriends is being kidnapped by terrorists, if his dumb, hot daughter has gotten herself into trouble, or if POTUS asks for him by name in desperate time of need. Jack Bauer is perhaps the most dedicated US citizen to ever serve this great country, and it’s been rumored that he is walking amongst us.

In an effort to add some legitimacy to the show, the producers of “24” have decided to actually film some scenes in DC. After all, the show is centered around the President (who for some reason seems to spend a lot of time in L.A.), so it makes sense to start integrating some DC scenes into the show. I only hope that they don’t try to pull some TV trickery by having Jack run into the Georgetown Metro stop and somehow pop up inside of the White House. DC is watching you, “24”. Let’s try to make this season better than the last or you may be losing your viewership to “Heroes”.

Photo by kmf164.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

8:30 AM this morning — rush hour. Red Line trains are running full and slow, with that jerky stop-start motion that throws people off balance and into each other. Finally, at Gallery Place, the train simply stops, and the dreaded announcement sounds: “This train will hold at Gallery Place due to a sick customer at Dupont Circle. Trains are currently single-tracking at Dupont Circle. We will be moving momentarily.”

And we all know how often “momentarily” on Metro actually means “in a moment.”

The Not-a-Good-Day on the Red Line never ended — the track problems and speed restrictions are not only still there, but are now compounded by similar track issues between Judiciary Square and Gallery Place. Since then there’s been something almost every day: deer yesterday, sick customer today.

As it has for years, Metro continues to show signs of age and chronic illness. A sick transport system means a not-so-great commute. The way the Metro’s going these days, it would be wise to leave for work fifteen minutes earlier every morning. Hopefully you’re all waking up an hour earlier now that Daylight Saving Time is over for the year.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

You might have seen on the news today that President Musharraf of Pakistan has declared martial law and suspended the Constitution of 1973. Our sister blogs in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad are providing coverage of these world-changing events. They will have news and reports during the crisis that likely will be unique and different than your average CNN report, and worth checking out.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

photo of AFI theatre by Flickr user Buschap

I have long accepted that films that I actually want to see will only appear at a couple of movie theatres in the area, appear later than in other cities, and play shorter runs.

That said, I am uncommonly disappointed as I plan a movie-going excursion to find out that the movie I have been eagerly awaiting the local debut of, Anton Corbijn’s Control, is only going to be on at E Street, and even there, only for one week.

(Well, technically there was also a screening at the AFI Silver Theatre. One. On Thursday night.)

This movie has been the talk of the internet! There is buzz! Oh, the buzz! Sigh.

Does anybody else feel this way? Are you schlepping out to Silver Spring or Shirlington every time you want to catch a movie? Still mourning the loss of Visions?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

photo: whitehouse.gov

With the beginning of November comes the inevitable start of the Festive Winter Holiday Season onslaught. In today’s commercialized world, so many of us cynically mark it with the dangling of twinkle-lights dangling from the ceiling at Whole Foods and arrival of Santa Claus dog costumes in the shops.

Perhaps, however, this is the year to greet Festive Time in a more wholesome, ceremonial way: By waiting in a line staffed by government bureaucrats to get tickets so that, a month later, you can huddle with the masses trying to get a glimpse of the various VIP’s on hand to flip a switch and turn on thousands of tiny lights on a generally underwhelming Christmas tree. (Seriously, why is the National Christmas Tree always so small and unimpressive? It is the National Tree. Why is it not remotely as good as the NBC/General Electric Rockefeller Center Holiday Treeâ„¢?) Also, country music will be performed.

Tickets for the tree lighting become available Saturday November 3, at 8:00 am. Allegedly, one will need to arrive well in advance to hope of getting tickets, but having never done it I cannot say it is not just hype. They are distributed from the White House Visitors Center at 15th and E. All the information is available from The National Park Service.

Personally, I file the National Tree Lighting Ceremony under “things my parents did with me as a child that everybody should probably do once” rather than “traditions that I look forward to each year,” but that may just be me…

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

If you’re much of a radio listener you’ve probably heard some talk these last few days about the most recent numbers on foreclosures, a measure of just how FUBAR the housing market – and potentially therefor, the economy – is. Well there’s some hard numbers on RealtyTrac over here. With 331 new filings in the 3rd quarter the District is up 903% from the three previous months and 1339% from the 3rd quarter last year, though that number might be inflated as RealyTrac’s data gathering has improved from last year.

Those of us living in the neighboring areas can’t fall back on that though. Marylanders are up 66.7% for the quarter and 549% from last year, Virginia is not quite as bad with 55.7% and 488.7%. No little * to indicate we can’t trust those numbers – there’s 5 times as many people potentially losing their houses this year as last. RealtyTrac ranks the states by changes from quarter to quarter, putting us 16th and 21st in position in increase from Q2, if you’re feeling competitive.

Personally I think the real ugly is in the year change though. That 549 and 488.7 puts us at #1 and #2 for nosedives from last year, exceeded only by New Hampshire, whose whopping and unbelievable 2785.1has the * indicating that their numbers are questionable. I’d take some solace from the fact that there’s a lot of ground in those states beyond our immediate area if they weren’t so close in number – that makes me inclined to think the action is largely here, where the big runups in price were.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Every day when I walk through Bethesda and enjoy such things as the Bling Bus, the broke-ass expensive parking meters and even the fishy minivan, I can’t help but like the town. Sure, it has marketing problems, such as this slogan, but at least it is a good-looking place that always seems to try to better its image.

The “UP” part of this slogan refers to Bethesda United Partnerships, which does the landscaping, much of the aesthetic maintenance and management of large events. There’s a lot going on here other than a string of chain restaurants. Thankfully I don’t work in that part of town, so my image of Bethesda is one of independent businesses, interesting people and an aspect of commerce that is thriving there while disappearing in many other places.

Go to the Bethesda.org site and see some of the cool things going on there. Art walks, farmer’s market, flea markets… Bethesda really has it going on.

The one drawback to Bethesda is that there is no Taco Bell. So when Don posts about free tacos and other such delights, I have to settle for Chipotle and a burrito the size of a cow’s head. Sin manteca, of course.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Every time I hear that our saucy Police Chief Cathy Lanier is calling for an “all hands on deck” weekend, she loses a little more credit in my book. Does she really think that forcing our officers to work on weekends is going to somehow prevent heinous crimes from occurring? If anything, she’s going to piss her police force off (“Damn, she wants us to work another weekend? So much for that Redskins game.”). It seems that Lanier thinks that throwing bodies at a problem will prevent bodies from piling up.

According to an article from the Examiner, of the 14 homicides since October 21, only one of them occurred on a Friday or Saturday. So basically these all hands weekends are just causing thugs and criminals to readjust their schedules so that they shoot people during the week rather than on the weekend. I guess in that sense, their weekends are just like ours – time off!

Come on Ms. Lanier. Let’s shake things up in this town and come up with a real plan to take a bite out of crime. I suggest you read The Tipping Point and take a lesson from Rudy Giuliani on how to fight crime by getting at the root of its cause. In the meantime I think I’ll thank every officer I see this weekend for being a team player, whether it’s effective or not.

Photo by yasmin.david.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

It’s 7:25pm, and in just a few more minutes, DC United will take on the Chicago Fire with their season on the line. After a rough first outing against the Fire, United’s coming home to Barra Brava and the home record that won them the Supporters’ Shield. Here’s hoping it’s enough to get past the very physical play of the Fire.

Go United!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

$4 to start, $0.25 per sixth of a mile traveled.

Some sample fares to give examples. I’ve used Google Maps to get the route taken, recognizing that perhaps other mapping utilities may use different routes, and that DC cabbies may well get you lost and not know where the heck they’re going. Old Fare is calculated using the dc.gov website’s Taxi Fare Calculator, recognizing that DC Cabbies may lie to you about how many zones you actually traversed.

Union Station to Georgetown: 5.3 Miles

View Larger Map

New Fare: $11.75
Old Fare: $8.80 or 11.00 depending on whether or not they count the line as inside the zone or across it.

Metro Center to Adams Morgan: 2.2 Miles

View Larger Map

New Fare: $7.25
Old Fare: $8.80

National Zoo to New DC Stadium: 5.6 Miles

View Larger Map

New Fare: $12.25
Old Fare: $11

Branch & Pennsylvania to Catholic Univ.: 7.7mi

View Larger Map

New Fare: $15.25
Old Fare: $14.00

I dunno what the heck the cabbies are all pissed about, this looks like a raise to me…

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

There’s nothing quite like strolling into your office, logging in to your computer, and discovering an email from the facilities manager that the cafe on the ground floor of your building has been closed for a week due to flagrant violations of the health code:

Cafe Express
1100 15th St. NW

Closed Oct. 23 for failure to minimize the presence of vermin and operating without a license, in circumstances that may endanger public health, in gross unsanitary conditions, including using toxic or poisonous materials, and with incorrect holding temperatures for potentially hazardous foods. Reopened last Thursday.

Awesome. What a way to start the day. Makes me glad I’ve never bought anything there but bottles of soda- it always smells funny and I’ve never wanted to eat anything made there.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs