Those of you who ride Metro from Foggy Bottom Station, does this scene look familiar?
By brownpau
Category Archives: The Daily Feed
By brownpau
By courtney
The End of an Era: UMD President Dan Mote to Retire
‘Too much to bear.’
courtesy of ‘faultlesspajama’
After 12 years at the University of Maryland, President C.D. “Dan” Mote has announced his plan to retire on August 31st of this year. The 73-year-old President wrote a letter to the campus Monday stating that “it has been a joy to work with so many talented students, faculty, and staff.”
When Mote was named President in 1998, he hit the ground running. Funding for research has grown by 150% to $500 million, and U.S. News and World Report ranked UMD as 18th among the top national public universities.
As the university’s fourth-longest serving President, Mote has plans to take a leave of absence and get right back to work. The university says that he will return as an engineering professor. With over 30 years of education experience at the University of California, Berkeley, Mote is truly a veteran.
By Tom Bridge
Nats Grab Wang
‘Chien-Ming Wang’
courtesy of ‘myhsu’
It’s official, Chien-Ming Wang is now a Washington National. He’ll join the staff for Spring Training when pitchers and catchers report later this week. Wang is coming off two straight injury years where he had limited playing time, first in 2008 he missed half a season with a foot injury, and in 2009, he had arthroscopic surgery causing him to miss the Yankees’ World Series Run.
If you go further back in his career, though, he was 38-13 in 2006-7 with a 3.67 ERA. The Nats are taking a flyer on Wang here, whose post-injury career has been sketchier than a freshman art student’s notebook. They’re trusting that the Nats improved defense will back up a now-fully-recovered Wang.
The terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but are guessed to be between $2M and 3M. Wang’s Lifetime record is 55-26 with a 4.16 ERA. If he’s close to that sort of statistic in DC, he’ll do just fine.
By Don
The gun issue that isn’t
‘Bang!’
courtesy of ‘Samer Farha’
Another year, another bunch of badly written stories and even worse headlines about Virginia legislators monkeying with the concealed weapons law. There’s some valid issues here to discuss but you’d never know it from the reporting that happens every time this is revisited.
Case in point: Washington Post’s Virginia Politics blog headlines a story “Va. Senate votes to allow guns in restaurants” and opens with “The Democratically-controlled Virginia Senate has voted to allow concealed weapons permit holders to carry guns in restaurants that serve alcohol, as long as the person carrying the weapon does not drink.”
Problem is, guns are already allowed in restaurants and concealed weapons permit holders can already carry them in… openly.
By Cathy
Next Tuesday: Let’s Grab a Drink at Wisdom
Don’t forget to get your ticket! WeLoveDC is hosting its first event of the year at Wisdom Cocktail Parlour. The party goes down next Tuesday, February 23 from 6-8 p.m.
We didn’t want to just have a happy hour. We’re not just about having fun (wink wink). So we kicked this one up a notch, providing what we know you really want: to walk away a little wiser.
Come have a drink with your favorite WeLoveDC authors while learning what craft cocktail guru Erik Holzherr, owner of Wisdom, suggests you might enjoy in one and mixes one up for you on the spot.
Get your ticket and come hang with us. Tickets, which include your first craft cocktail, are $15 ahead of time or $20 at the door (space permitting). Food and happy hour specials will also be available.
And don’t forget, to sweeten the deal:
By Snowstorm Impacts DC Trash Pickup.
‘Saluting the Hardest Working Men in DC’
courtesy of ‘Wayan Vota’
The alleys behind the houses in many DC neighborhoods are too narrow for snowplows to get through, which means trash collectors haven’t been able to get in to pick up residents’ trash for a week and a half now. Most households follow a once-a-week trash collection schedule. Use our Trash and Recycling Collection Day App to find your collection day(s) when rubbish collection dublin will go by.
Please Note: If a resident living in a building with more than 3 residential units enters their address, clicking the button will return a trash day, but that does not supercede the City policy for residential trash collection. Those living in apartment buildings with more than 3 units do not receive trash collection services from the City.
Most households use the 96-gallon plastic rolling cart, or Supercan, for their trash. Homes in neighborhoods with narrow streets and alleys receive twice-weekly trash collection and use the smaller 32-gallon plastic rolling carts (mini-Supercan), or Clean City trash cans.
But DPW still wants to come get your trash! So they’re recommending that you put your trash in dark trashbags (instead of say, white ones that blend in with the snow) and then place them on the curb instead of in the usual receptacles back in the alley.
Also note that since Monday was a holiday, the trash pickup schedule is the regular holiday schedule (so as not to cause even further confusion by creating a Snowpocalypse/Holiday hybrid).
So get your dark trash bags and haul your garbage to the curb. Look on the bright side: at least it’s too cold for it to have smelled all that much.
By Tom Bridge
Marion Barry Benefitted from City Contract with Mistress, Report Says
‘Wilson-Sulzer “Tammany Hall” Campaign Ribbon, ca. 1912’
courtesy of ‘Cornell University Library’
In a report delivered before the City Council, Marion Barry was implicated in personally benefitting from the city contract made with his then-mistress Donna Watts-Brighthaupt, the Post reported today. (see, WaPo, we don’t see the problem in linking to you, perhaps you could repay the favor when you cite us, but don’t name us?)
The audit released to the council today by special counsel Bob Bennett suggests that Hizzoner received direct financial benefit from the contract with Watts-Brighthaupt, and that it was just a part of $47M that was given to non-profits, both above board and below, during the last year. It’s been suggested that Barry face criminal prosecution for his actions, and the AG’s office US Attorney’s office has been contacted regarding prosecution.
As always, Marion Barry flaunts DC laws and DC rules to award funds to his cronies, all with the support of his constituency. Way to go, Ward 8. Way to go.
By Rebecca
Pimp Your Peeps: 2010 Peeps Contest
‘sugar overload’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’
Unless you paid special attention to this weekend’s Washington Post magazine, you probably missed the opening of the 2010 Peeps Diorama Contest. This will be the contest’s 4th year, and I can’t wait to see all of this year’s entries.
If you’re interested in entering, the first step is to brainstorm ideas and come up with a historic, current, or future occurrence and/or a pop culture related concept. You know an idea that is comprehensible by more than just you and your tight knit group of friends.
Then construct your diorama, keeping to the shoebox sized regulations, snap two high-resolution JPEG photos and send them to peeps@washpost.com by Monday, March 1, at 11:59 p.m. Continue reading
By shannon
Taking Matters Into Your Own Hands
‘Shoveling out The Blizzard’
courtesy of ‘Photos by Chip Py’
If you’ve got some extra time this week, grab a shovel and head outside– area governments need help in clearing snow from bus stops and sidewalks. The folks over at Greater Greater Washington organized shovel brigades over the weekend to clear the way for people who walk or take transit (since snow plows often push snow into sidewalks while they’re clearing the roads). The District is encouraging neighborhoods to organize shoveling teams, especially on routes used by school children, and in Alexandria neighborhoods banded together to clear the way to schools.
While DDOT continues to focus on clearing the roads, it looks like it’s up to us residents to clear sidewalks, bus stops, and bike lanes for everyone else. And don’t forget to dig out fire hydrants!
By Don
Pączki it on
image from the wikimedia commons
One of our twitter followers, @DrNorthwest, asked about where one might find Pączki for this Fat Tuesday. While it’s not on our must-eat list (we’re more beignet lovers here) we do thankfully have a little information on the matter, thanks in no small part to Ask Metafilter. This time last year someone else asked looking for a source and the upshot was this:
- Giant stores was advertising in their circulars they would have them last year. No sign of them in the 2/12 circular for my area, however.
- Woodmoor Pastry Shop in Silver Spring was listed as a source.
- So was the Kielbasa Factory in Rockville.
Spotted any anywhere else? Sing out in the comments.
Update @ 10:30 – thanks Sean & Nanther who both report spottings in Giant (Van Ness and West Falls Church). Sounds like you’ve got a good chance of getting them at your local Giant if all else fails.
By Tom Bridge
The Continued Snow Operations
‘Snow pile’
courtesy of ‘vpickering’
Chances are, anywhere you went in DC today, you saw some of these. Large, awful piles of gritty brown/black ice litter the streets in DC, making many traffic lanes (including a full lane of Constitution Ave this morning, Mr. Mayor… so much for curb-to-curb clearing?) impassable and traffic-inducing. DDOT will likely be hauling away snow well into March, I would imagine, but for now, it would be good to get a better picture as to DDOT’s priorities. We’re seeing all kinds of reports of streets that haven’t yet been plowed, or trees that shed limbs blocking some parts of the road.
If you haven’t been plowed yet, or there’s still a tree down in your neighborhood in DC, call up 311 and give the DDOT an earful. This is starting to get ridiculous. I understand that this is an historic storm, in an historic winter, but things are out of control. DDOT Director Klein, and Mayor Fenty, you guys have a week to get things right before your continued employment will be a lot less likely. I don’t care if no one else has declared, we’ll draft someone if you can’t get things under control this week.
By Tom Bridge
How Was Your Commute?
‘Monumental Traffic Jam’
courtesy of ‘hohandy (Everywhere I Go Every Smile I See)’
Last night on the news, they were saying to plan for an epic commute, one for the ages and one to be avoided if at all possible. Even with the Feds on a 2-hour delay this morning, it was dicey out there at 8am, taking about 50 minutes to go from South Arlington to Chinatown by way of the Mall. Not too awful, certainly not legendary, but I know there are reports out there of ridiculous times to go from US 50 to Wilson Boulevard in Arlington.
How’d you fare this morning?
By Tom Bridge
How to Report a Cabbie
‘District Cab No. 270’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’
There’s been some discussion in our comments regarding the recent behavior of DC Cabbies, who’ve used the snow situation to jack up their fares in violation of the law. Here’s how to handle the situation. You must write a letter to the Taxicab Commission, and submit it by USPS to:
Taxicab Commission
2041 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave SE
Room 204
Washington DC 20020
You can also fax your letter to 202.889.3604, or email dctc3 at dc dot gov. Here’s what you must include:
First, you have to give them all the details of the ride, basically your side of the story. Then, you must give them all the details of the driver and cab, including name, vehicle license plate and time and date of the incident. Click through for a sample: Continue reading
By Katie
Warm Up Week
‘Cotton Candy Mojito’
courtesy of ‘needlessspaces’
Cabin Fever not out of your system yet? I haven’t been able to shake it, even though my entire weekend was insane. Lucky for me, and for you, Jose Andres’ restaurants are stepping up to the task of entertaining us for cheap, as Cafe Atlantico, Jaleo, Zaytinya and Oyamel elongate their happy hours all night this week, for their “Warm Up Week” event. Here are the specials: Continue reading
By Rebecca
Key Bridge Snow Removal
‘M Street from Roof’
courtesy of ‘Julie Fraker’
If you’re wondering why there’s a ridiculous amount of traffic along M Street, it’s because the DCPD and DDOT are bulldozing the snow build up on Key Bridge. When I passed about 10 minutes ago, the removal was only affecting the traffic heading towards Virginia, but I’m assuming they’ll tackle the east bound side later. No westbound traffic was being allowed to cross the bridge and all traffic was being directed towards Canal Road.
If you have an alternative route, I suggest you take it because the traffic looked horrendous.
<a href=’http://www.flickr.com/photos/83269676@N00/3914904786′ title=’M Street from Roof’><img src=’http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2621/3914904786_51bb736102_m.jpg’ alt=’Photo courtesy of ‘Julie Fraker’/></a><br/><small><a href=’http://www.flickr.com/photos/83269676@N00/3914904786′>’M Street from Roof'</a></small><br/><small>courtesy of <a href=’http://www.flickr.com/people/83269676@N00/’>’Julie Fraker'</a></small>
By Carl Weaver
Yes, I want a $250 ticket
Parking in the snow route
Originally uploaded by carlweaver
Okay, people. It says “snow route” on the sign and the radio stations are warning people that there’s a snow emergency in the District. Even our very own lovable Tom Bridge warned us that parking here could lead to some heavy fines. Is $250 worth the cost of a parking space? It is Georgetown and parking is pricey, but for $250 I could park for a month here.
The good news is that these cars do not yet have tickets on them. The bad news is that soon they will. Go move you cars if one of them is yours. With all that saved money, you could buy about ten lunches at any Georgetown restaurant, or maybe about 50 of those fancy cupcakes everyone thinks are the cat’s pajamas.
Cheh Wants DC to Be Google’s Guinea Pig
‘snoopy sniffs’
courtesy of ‘Eljay’
Google is planning to try out a new, ultra high speed, fiber-optic broadband internet service in a small number of communities around the US, and is looking for towns and cities to sign up. DC Council Member Mary Cheh (Ward 3) wants faster Internet access for DC residents. It’s a match made in heaven!
It’s probably best to provide feedback directly to Google if you have an opinion about what they should do with their fiber, but if you lack the technical knowledge to answer their questionnaire, you can also sign Council Member Cheh’s online petition (which is hosted on Google Docs! Flattery will get you everywhere!)
More Snow Fun – Snowman Protest!
‘IMG_3746’
courtesy of ‘christophersmith29’
In my continuing efforts to turn this crazy-making snow (my neighborhood is still only half-plowed!) into something entertaining, I ran across a Flickr set of snowmen protesting across from the White House. Like most protests, the snowmen didn’t all stay on-message, but it’s a far more entertaining protest than we usually see. So view the whole set, or view a few favorites I’ve selected behind the jump. Continue reading
By Two DC Short Film Festivals Collaborate On Humanitarian Film Screening
‘popcorn and movie’
courtesy of ‘ScypaxPictures’
The DC Shorts Film Festival and the Washington Jewish Film Festival have teamed up to present a collection of short films celebrating life and the stories that make it a “human experience”. You can catch this melding of two of the top names in DC film festivals Tuesday, Feb. 23 at the Washington DCJCC and Thursday, Feb. 25 and the U.S. Navy Memorial. Both screenings start at 7 p.m. and last two hours.
The event is free and open to the general public. Please note: Reservations are highly recommended, according to the DC Shorts folks.
You can make reservations for the Tuesday and Thursday screenings online.
By Tom Bridge
“Help Us Dig Out” Say Area Schools
‘Starting to shovel’
courtesy of ‘chickenofeathers’
My Facebook News Feed has been full of parents decrying the continued closure of schools, and evidence is starting to suggest that the whole city has a bit of cabin fever right about now. We’re looking for a bit of normalcy in all this crazy mess. So, if you want to help the schools return to session a bit more quickly, give ’em a hand and help ’em dig out all the sidewalks, parking lots, bus stops and fire hydrants that are currently still snowbound.
If you’re off today, do the community a solid and go help dig one of these out. You’ll feel better for it.