By Wayan
When upgrading the XO Laptop software while drinking heavily, be warned. The results may be shocking.
Expecting a new Sugar interface, we got Windows XO instead. Not what this FOSS crew was looking for at the Looking Glass Lounge.
Our lesson learned: be carefull of random Microsoft USB keys.
By Carl Weaver
I went to the supermarket at the Eden Center this past weekend to buy some delicious, fresh, cheap produce. That place is the negative reciprocal of Whole Paycheck Foods. Great food at a great price – just my speed.
One of the joys I have going to such places is seeing all the stuff you don’t get in the pretentious expensive places like Whole Foods or the Teeter. For example, this can of bamboo caterpillars in brine would never grace the shelves of most mainstream markets, so it’s almost a treat to see such diversity just down the road from my home.
The one thing I didn’t see there that I was expecting to see were White Rabbit candies, which were recently recalled due to their melamine content. I was glad to see that the news had gotten to them and that they, along with other products I used to see there that turned out to have similar issues were now gone.
Thanks for your social responsibility, Eden Market. You will see me there again and again, but very likely not to buy three ounces of drained briny wormy goodness.
Where do you like to buy your produce?
By brownpau
Washington Post reports that an unidentified male has fallen on to the Metro tracks at Friendship Heights Station. WJLA says he is “unresponsive” with “minor injuries,” and that he has been removed from the rails. WMATA Service Disruption alerts still have delays on the Red Line in both directions due to the incident, as well as an earlier switch malfunction problem. WTOP says Metro has turned off power to the third rail at the station and are single-tracking trains between Cleveland Park and Bethesda.
By Wayan
Evidence of a quick stop
For all those that are speeding along New Hampshire Avenue NW, caution as you pass Georgia Avenue NW, headed north. Ahead is Grant Circle, and if you are going too fast, you’ll see it up close.
About once a month, someone winds up in Grant Circle, with skid marks showing their lack of foresight. This morning its just hubcaps and dead grass. Tomorrow, let it not be you.
By Katie
Stella and Erin
Originally uploaded by philliefan99
Saturday should be a lovely day to throw a few back at Rustico in Alexandria. “The Big Block Party “/Oktoberfest kicks off this Saturday at noon and goes all night. With 20 beers on tap, 5 bands and plenty of food, it’s bound to be a good time.
I adore Rustico, their beer selection is perfection. (Ha! I rhymed.) Sit me down on their patio with a Raspberry Lambic and I’m a happy happy girl.
The Rustico Web site says, “The majority of net proceeds from this event will be donated to the Capital Area Food Bank to help combat childhood hunger.”
And who doesn’t like to drink for a good cause?
Visit Rustico on the Web at www.rusticorestaurant.com. They’re located off the GW Parkway at 827 Slaters Lane in Alexandria.
Breaux Vineyards
Originally uploaded by maxedaperture
Max Cook, curator of our Featured Photo series, is a modest sort and doesn’t like to use this space to pimp his own work.
So I’ll do it for him.
I’ve been going back to this photo over and over for a couple of days now- it’s gorgeous, and it makes me think of many peaceful Sunday afternoons hanging out at the vineyard owned by our CSA farm. When I look at this photo, I can almost feel the Adirondack chair I wish I was observing this scene from.
You can see more of Max’s photos in the We Love DC Flickr Group.
By Ben H. Rome
Teddy eclipse
Originally uploaded by philliefan99
According to the Capital Weather Gang, today may well be the last day of summer-like weather. Prep for a high in the lower 80s today and get ready; a cold front is expected to visit later this evening and send temps down into the 60s tomorrow after an overnight low near the mid 50s.
I saw an abundance of leafy colors this morning; the trees outside my office have decided to turn, which means a photo trip to the Shenandoah is coming up really soon.
Enjoy it while you can today!
By Tom Bridge
Good morning, Washington
Originally uploaded by Pianoman75
Well. Okay, not never. Just sometimes. Okay, a lot of the time. Today’s classic example is this parking scam at Eastern High in DC. A couple people would buy off the guards and then charge people to park in the High School’s lot. The two guards, hoping for $1500 over two months, are instead going to spend 2-3 years in prison. FAIL!
By Wayan
A toast for the 8.2.0 Upgrade
Do you own an XO laptop? Want to upgrade it to the new Release 8.2.0 – the new software build that will roll out with G1G1 2008? Then you need to join us for an adult XO mesh:
OLPC News 8.2.0 Update Happy Hour
Thursday, Oct 16 @ 6pm
Looking Glass Lounge
3634 Georgia Ave NW (map)
Release 8.2.0 is a funky fresh update to the XO that makes it so much more usable and interesting for children and adults – a must for any OLPC supporter.
By Don
foggy-metro, courtesy of frozenchipmunk
Maybe the better question should be, who’s not selling any metro ads?
For the umpteenth time today my westbound train on the orange line took me past the Dunn Loring stop and an ad for Hancock, opening July 2nd. What was a movie ad that was far past its expiration date has now aged so much that it just needs a small sticker to turn it into an early DVD release promotion.
Aside from the trauma caused by an early-morning exposure to an unshaven Will Smith in a grubby hat and bug-eye sunglasses, I am bothered by this question: there’s really not someone else willing to pay a few bucks for this spot? I suppose it’s possible the studio – in a fit of optimism – bought the space for a full 3 months past the movie’s release date, but it seems unlikely to me.
WMATA’s ads are sold primarily by CBS Outdoor, though a special marketing company handles the in-tunnel ads. The take from advertising across the system is what most of us would consider a pretty notable sum – $33,000,000 in 2007. However that comprises only 2% of WMATA’s total revenues, compared to passenger revenue of 36% and subsidies of 39%.
The question is, I think – could it be higher? I’d try to get some more information on WMATA’s advertising arrangements and dig a little to see if they’re really maximizing their return but it seems they’re unlikely to accomidate me.
XM Satellite Radio Headquarters
Originally uploaded by Mr. T in DC
Marc Fisher reports this morning that XM Satellite Radio employees based in DC got an unpleasant surprise upon logging into the company’s payroll system this morning- they found that their last day of employment was listed as today.
So, how about that crack HR staff at Sirius XM, eh?
Aside from this being one of the worst possible times for someone to lose their job, and aside from the blow to the NoMa redevelopment efforts that Fisher mentions, the gutting of the DC XM operation is a damn shame for local XM listeners. One of my favorite things about XM is the way it’s been like a collection of really good local stations for Washington subscribers- the Ethel DJs talk about the show they caught last night at the 9:30 club, artists often stop by to do their XM Live sets on the same tour stop as their DC concert dates, and XM Comedy frequently collaborates with the DC Improv on shows, meaning that you can stumble across a lot of great local comics as you’re scanning through your XM presets. A sudden cut in XM’s DC crew puts a lot of that coverage in jeopardy.
Poor form, Mel Karmazin.
By Katie
Image courtesy of www.politickeraz.com
In case you live under a rock, the last of the presidential debates airs tonight at 9 p.m. EDT on all major networks. Tune in to watch the change-mavericks hack it out over domestic policy.
In preparation, I’d suggest that you head on over to the Web site Palin as President and try and find all the hidden “easter eggs” in Palin’s oval office. The site is updated daily until November 4th.
If you’re like me and already did early voting, you have permission to tune into the REAL face-off happening tonight between Korto, Kenley and Leanne. The Project Runway finale airs tonight on Bravo at 9 p.m.
May the best fashonista… ahem… politico, win!
By Wayan
I am at the District Chophouse and I have found my limit. I like basement bars but I do not like basement bathrooms.
Here you have to take an elevator down a floor to relieve yourself. That 3 minute wait matters when you are dancing on one foot.
Can there be a more inconvenient toilet placement?
Modern bathroom design fir disabled people, especially those confined to wheelchairs, is not simple. Comfort and safety are the main elements of handicapped friendly bathroom design. Selecting modern bathroom furniture and accessories, bathtub, shower with a glass shower enclosures a better and safer space, also a toilet that are comfortable and look modern, creates clever bathroom design for disabled people.
Modern bathroom design that blends attractive look, clever solutions, safe building materials and easy access are great for disabled people. The comfortable and functional layout enhance modern bathroom design for people with disabilities and the right healthcare hygiene services for the area.
Modern bathroom design ideas that are handicapped friendly require thoughtful approach and good planning. Functional, simple and elegant bathroom design should be safe and comfortable enough to use. Angles and objects or functions which could cause difficulties or even harm handicapped people should be avoided.
The entrance and exit should be simple, quick and easy. 32 to 36 inches wide entrance are comfortable for a wheelchair user. Folding and sliding doors, heavy curtains and traditional wide doors that can be easily locks and unlocks from the outside are ideal for functional, safe and modern bathroom design for handicapped people.
By Tom Bridge
Parking Holiday on Penn
Originally uploaded by tbridge
It’s apparently still Columbus Day on Pennsylvania Avenue today, as both times I’ve tried to buy parking today, I’ve been told it’s not necessary. I figure it’s only a matter of time before I get nailed by an overzealous parking enforcer, but, if I can’t pay for parking (and even the coin slot is blocked) then I can’t really get a ticket, can I?
By Wayan
Are they still buying houses in this market?
I always thought these folks were kinda fly-by-night, the “We Buy Houses” crowd. Now I wonder if they are still buying houses or if they’ve flown out in this harsh new light.
As they leave, I only hope they take their ugly signs with them. The worst are the “We Buy Ugly Houses” signs. Can someone please spank those visual polluters with a credit default swap?
By Tom Bridge
I hate reading stories like these about out local agencies. It just pisses me off when arms of public entities, like Metro & WMATA, clam up in the face of blogger requests. Here’s the details:
“But WMATA’s lawyers think blogs definitely aren’t news media, even blogs like Greater Greater Washington. Why? Because they claim we don’t “publish or broadcast news to the public.” To WMATA’s lawyers, “publish” means “disseminate the information, not merely make it available,” citing Judicial Watch, Inc. v. United States Department of Justice, 185 F.Supp. 2d 54, 59 (D.D.C. 2002), and “disseminate” requires more than simply posting information on a Web site where many people go to read about newsworthy information.”
Essentially, bloggers from Greater Greater Washington sent over PARP requests (think FOIA Request, but for Metro), and Metro told them to get bent because they’re not “media.”
Metro should open doors, not shut them. It only looks worse when you turn people away.
Ravaged pumpkin
Originally uploaded by tiffany bridge
We brought home a big, round, beautiful pumpkin from our CSA farm a few weeks ago. It was still covered in dirt from the field, so we left it outside, figuring that our neighbors, who adopted the tree pumpkin, were successful at preserving theirs that way.
Yeah, not so much. Apparently the neighborhood wildlife is anxious for Halloween, and decided to get a jump on the jack o’lantern carving. We returned from a weekend away to discover our pumpkin, ravaged by the local fauna.
Guess I need to send my cat, the Widowmaker, back outside to take care of the problem.
By Wayan
If you are picking up a loved one at National Airport, say a hot pregnant wife for example, you will be sent on a circuitous route to the Cell Phone Waiting Area. An annoying drive yes, but not the stupid distant cell phone lot at IAD that is closer to Leesburg than the airport.
The DCA parking lot is packed with occupied yet idle cars on a Sunday night, reminding me of a red light district or gay cruising zone. We all stay in our vehicles till we get the private notice that its time to move on.
And I now have mine. Time to roll…
By Wayan
I am dog-sitting for a friend over by Washington Hospital Center and I’m amazed at the number of MedStar flights.
Every hour at least, there is a medevac flight coming or going from WHC. Yes, its a primary trauma center for DC, but I never expected so many trauma patients are flown in. Ambulances would be the assumed transport of choice.
As I write this, another flight is coming in. Good luck to them – the patients and the pilots.
By Wayan
Walking home tonight, I saw another DC kiss in action – this time someone backed into another car, and post-crunch, sped off. That makes me wonder:
What do you do if your the DC Kisser?
Do you flee the scene as this scofflaw did, or do you stick around and say your sorry, or at least leave a note? The deviant in me says haul ass, but as a “kissed” car owner I am so glad my neighbour owned up quick.
What’s your plan of action?
By 
