‘worldcup USA – Panini WM 1998 – Sticker’
courtesy of ‘Thomas Duchnicki :: Location Scout’

We’re watching the US v. Slovenia game, like good Americans.

Photo by the author

DC Water’s George Hawkins is an interesting man. He took over the District’s water and sewer authority last year, with no previous experience managing a utility. Previously he had worked for the District’s Department of the Environment, and before that spent some time with the EPA. He’s an idea guy, and that’s what came across last night at a blogger roundtable at DC Water’s Bryant Street Pumping Station.

Hawkins has bet his career on transforming the city’s water agency, which has been plagued with bad public relations for nearly a decade. Earlier this month, the agency unveiled their new trade name and slogan, DC Water: Water is Life. The agency’s new logo was created from contest entries.

For nearly two hours, Hawkins discussed the challenges of running the city’s water infrastructure. The system is aging, with some significant parts dating back to the Civil War. Nearly 20% of the system is over 100 years old. It’s the story of infrastructure everywhere in the 21st century. Rate increases are needed, as well as more capital funding for quicker upgrades. Continue reading →

‘Belgian Waffle with Fruit Compote’
courtesy of ‘phi’

R. Donahue Peebles has been not-running for office for the last few months as he was trying to decide whether or not to make a run at the Mayor’s office. He’s been notoriously doing campaign-like-things, and going on Kojo to talk about various issues, and so today, when he was on Jonetta Rose Barras’s show on WPFW, it was time to talk turkey.

Jonetta asked him point blank several times if he was running or not running and no clear answer emerged. It wasn’t a non-denial denial, but it was a non-committal commitment not to run, due to the health of his mother-in-law, whose cancer has gotten worse.

Look for more mealy-mouthed replies from Peebles in weeks to come about not running for not mayor.

‘The Spirit of Justice’
courtesy of ‘kimberlyfaye’

Judge Lynn Leibovitz ruled on the defense motion to dismiss in the obstruction trial today, dropping the evidence tampering charges against Dylan Ward and Victor Zaborsky.

At the start of the trial, Ward, Zaborsky, and Joe Price, residents of the Swann St. NW house where Robert Wone was found murdered in August 2006, were each charged with conspiracy, evidence tampering, and obstruction of justice for their actions immediately following the discovery of Wone’s body. Leibovitz found that the prosecution had not sufficiently made its case on tampering specifically against Ward and Zaborsky. As a result of today’s ruling, Ward and Zaborsky are now only on trial for conspiracy and obstruction, while Price remains accused of all three charges. No murder charges have been filed against any of the three.

WhoMurderedRobertWone.com is reporting daily from the trial, for those who wish to follow the developments more closely.

‘so smart.’
courtesy of ‘m hoek’

Earlier this month, the District Department of Transportation unveiled Capital Bikeshare, a new bicycle sharing program that will be rolled out in the District and Arlington County. Now, DDOT is turning to the Internet to figure out the best locations for the bicycle sharing stations. Anyone can participate in the survey, which was created by OCTO Labs.

If you’re interested at all in seeing bicycle sharing expand and (hopefully be successful), spend a few moments filling out the questionnaire. It’s great to see DDOT continue to embrace the use of the web, not only with this survey but with their new blog and an active and responsive  Twitter account.

Previously, DDOT used the web to select the name for the program. Capital Bikeshare was the winner, with “George” as the runner-up. There was some consternation about the plainness of the name, which DDOT director John Lisle acknowledged. As we saw earlier this week with DC WASA’s name change, letting the public choose your brand isn’t always the wisest choice.

From 5 to 7:30pm tonight, a dozen galleries along H Street Northeast are throwing open their doors as part of an Art Walk. Think of it like a pub crawl, but for your creative brain, instead of your decrepit liver. Each of the places will be handing out passports, and for each place you visit, you increase your discount at a number of H Street Restaurants and Bars, with a max of 10%. That’s right, your decrepit liver will also benefit, as well as your creative brain.

The galleries for tonight include, Bryant K. Adams, Studio H, City Gallery, Jorge Velazquez, Atlas Performing Arts Center, Gallery O/H, Sova, H Street Playhouse, G Fine Art, Conner Contemporary Art, Industry Gallery and Evolve Urban Arts Project.

The restaurants providing discounts are: Ethiopic, Toyland, Liberty Tree, Sticky Rice, The Pug, H Street Country Club, Dangerously Delicious Pies and Argonaut.

‘Banana Slug’
courtesy of ‘Dan..’

Actually, it’s not the slug that will get the ticket, it’s the drivers who stop for them, according to WTOP. The slug pickup areas on 14th Street downtown are informal areas where southbound commuters gather to help other drivers reach the HOV-3 limit for 395 South. Where they’re stopping, though, are No Stopping Zones that muddle up the traffic, much like the tourbuses yesterday.

Slugging is a great method of informal carpooling that significantly lowers the amount of cars on the road. Perhaps a “slug zone” on 14th street would help alleviate that? Either way, careful how you do it this week, you might get stuck with a $100 ticket. Sure, that’s cheaper than the HOV Violation in Virginia, but still, no fun for anyone.

NBC Washington was out at Mini Camp today, and got reaction from several people, both players and coaches, about Albert Haynesworth’s decision to seek a trade. Coach Shanahan was pretty clear that after they’d asked Haynesworth to make up his mind by April 1st (when he was due a $21M check) on what he was going to do for the season, and he’d accepted the check, he was expected to show up today. His teammates were quite disappointed in his no-show today.

Just despicable.