‘Self-portrait #214’
courtesy of ‘andertho’

Here at We Love DC, we post about 100 photos per week on our site. Some are press-kit images, some are taken by the authors specifically for their articles, but the vast majority of them are contributed by local photographers. We’ve been asked a few times by our readers how one might go about getting their photos on We Love DC. One word: Bribery. (Kidding!) It seems to me that explaining a bit about how our photos get chosen helps everyone, so here are some tips. Continue reading →

‘Ukin puukko’
courtesy of ‘hagge’

D.C.’s homicide numbers, in a trend that mirrors the rest of the nation, are on track to hit a 45 year low, the Washington Times reports. It’s certainly a surprising thing to hear after a year of news about small children shot through a door, but we’ve only logged 132 homicides compared to last year’s 184. So even if an ugly few days pushes it even farther from 1964’s 132 it still represents a notable improvement.

As the article mentions ever so briefly, this is a nationwide trend of decreasing violent crime that, despite what you hear in the media, has been going on a long time. I heard an interesting interview on the Kojo show the other day with Paul Butler, a professor of law at George Washington University. Butler was hawking his book, Let’s Get Free: A Hip-Hop Theory of Justice, but he made an interesting assertion near the end of the interview – that the decline in violent crime was tied directly to decreases of lead in our environment.

Given the difficulty DC’s water authority has had over the years with lead in the water this is a particularly relevant assertion for us.

‘CatSit Sasha Snuggles’
courtesy of ‘dreamponderCreate’

…at least, that’s what immediately occurred to me when I saw the headline: “Metrorail stations to receive extra care and attention” on WMATA’s website.

Turns out, it’s just Metro’s announcement about this year’s phase of their 4-year cleaning and refurbishment cycle, which cleans masonry, repaints surfaces, and just generally tries to keep everything shiny and clean. Not nearly as interesting as what I was thinking, BUT one of the things I think Metro does well, as opposed to a lot of other subway systems, is the whole cleaning-and-station-maintenance thing. You know, aside from the escalators.

The work is done during off-hours when the stations are closed, so you shouldn’t see too much disruption at your Metro station of choice, but check out the list to see if yours is scheduled for “extra care and attention.”

image from the 44 Diaries

I’m no War on Christmas soldier – on either side – but I think a heartfelt wish for joy and peace with one’s fellow (hu)man is a kind and loving sentiment. Similarly, whether you’re christian or not, past xmas observances at the White House are pretty and interesting. The 44 Diaries has a post up titled “The History of Christmas at the White House 1789-2009.” Skip the cheesy youtube video and click the links to the various periods of time. Neat stuff!

When the second President of the United States, John Adams, moved into what would come to be known as the White House, the residence was cold, damp, and drafty. Sitting at the edge of a dreary swamp, the First Family had to keep 13 fireplaces lit in an effort to stay comfortable. It is in this setting that the cantankerous president held the first ever White House Christmas party in honor of his granddaughter, Susanna. It could be said that the invitations sent for this party were the very first White House Christmas cards, though in those early days, the building was referred to as the President’s Palace, Presidential Mansion, or President’s House.

Hope you’re having a merry christmas or a pleasant day off of work. Or both!

‘George Michael’
courtesy of ‘The SABR Office’

You can’t swing a cat on the DC-focused internet today without hitting mention of George Michael’s passing. It’s unsurprising – you don’t host a recurring news feature for just shy of thirty years without making an impression. I’m sure WaPo will have a good obit up eventually, but for the moment I think the most interesting insight into his life is the community-posted remembrances on the WaPo website. Some more interesting insight into Michael can be had here – a story about his dj career at WABC in the late 70s, complete with some recordings of the man in action.

Rest in Peace, George.

I was reading an article in Slate today about how Sherlock Holmes has been portrayed in film throughout the 20th century, and ran across this gem. It’s from Sherlock Holmes in Washington, a ridiculous adventure in which Holmes tracks down a captured British agent bringing vital microfilm to US intelligence. This clip is of Holmes riding around the Mall. Look Holmes, it’s the Washington Monument (which you can see from pretty much angle he would have been at in the clip, so not sure why it was exclaimed right at that moment, but whatever).