What might you be doing at 7am this morning?

Maybe a DC Tri Club Practice Triathlon? That is what we crazy folks are up to around Haines Point.

I know, I would rather be sleeping in too!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

“See Dave, I told ya. This is DC. No matter if a concerned citizen called the Mayor’s Service Request Center and asked for the ‘P. Tel Co’ manhole to be filled in, it wouldn’t be fixed.”

“Now hold off, Bob, at least they put two cones in the hole. You’re so cold you took the one we left.”

“So?”

“They might fix it, I tell ya. They just might.”

“Yeah, and pigs will fly”

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

While I congratulate the DC Circulating Joke on its increased ridership, I must still question why it even exists.

Why is the D.C. Department of Transportation subsidizing a direct competitor to WMATA’s Metrobus? Don’t we spend billions on a comprehensive Metro system designed to cover all areas. One where crowded lines downtown subsidize emptier ones in other areas? We’ve even upgraded buses, with new ones coming on line every day.

Oh wait, we need to give tourists a cheap ride to the monuments:

The biggest ridership increased occurred when a loop circling the National Mall opened in March. Ridership jumped from 122,152 in February to 171,229 in March.

Those tourists too cheap for a sidewalk SUV anyway.

And just to add insult to injury, look what we have here, an ad for the Circulator on a Metrobus. Nice.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

On the way to meet some friends for dessert:

“The Cheesecake Factory always looks like a mosque to me. Only, a mosque out of Willy Wonka or something. Sort of an Oompa-Loompa faith community.”

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I’m overall hesitant to highlight discussion of WaPo articles these days, what with their automagic listing of blogs that comment on an article in the sidebar, but this touches on a local business – XM – as well as a reporting style – overwrought – in our local paper, so I made an exception.

Concurring Opinions is a recent discover of mine and yesterday they wrote about an article from that day’s WaPo about the RIAA-XM lawsuit. it’s a good discussion of the issues and a very on-target indictment of writing about copyright issues in general. With many of us holding a poor opinion of RIAA and the music industry in general it’s easy to get worked up when talking about it, but as Boyden points out it’s not very productive. It’s an interesting read and an analysis of a lawsuit that could have a big impact on a big-name local business.

Plus, he makes a Groundhog Day reference. How do I pass that up?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

In flipping through the offerings at the Fringe Festival I came across HELP WANTED: A Personal Search for Meaningful Employment at the Start of the 21st Century “An actor fresh out of college and working as a parking lot attendant discovers a powerful inspiration. Spalding Gray’s compelling and deeply personal monologues influence him so greatly that he embarks on a quest — by way of Washington DC — to meet his hero.” and had two reactions

#1: “Ooooh! Wanna go!” which is a result of my love of anything Spalding Gray.
#2: “Um…”This Washington DC premiere”? “Quest by way of Washington DC to meet his hero”? Gray lived in NYC and has been dead for over two years now… how’s that gonna work?”

A little googling turns up some reviews (positive) and explanation, as well as some more tantalizing details. I’ll be at one of these performances for sure.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I fell sorry for those looking for George Washington University Hospital while on GW’s campus. From incoming freshmen to the injured or sick walking in, good luck if they’ll find it using the George Washington University’s on-campus maps.

Look closely at this one. Note anything odd? Like maybe it showing the old hospital, now a debris-strewn field but not the new one, gleaming a block away.

I can accept it takes time to change maps, funding, new layouts, name updates, etc, but the switch happened in 2002, four years ago!

Come on, GW, keep up with your own facilities.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

It is muggy hot this morning, clothes sticking to your back on the short walk from the Metro to your office, and what do you decide you need right then?

A piping hot Starbucks coffee.

Might the consumption of hot coffee on a hot day, when you are already trying not to sweat stain your suit, be a sign? A sign that you have an addiction.

To get rid of this addiction first alternate between decaf and regular, then slowly change to more decaf and taper off regular coffee. Gradually reducing your caffeine consumption over a period of two to three weeks will help you successfully change your habit without causing withdrawal symptoms.

In general, the more caffeine you are used to consuming, the more severe the withdrawal symptoms are likely to be, click to see more. Symptoms of withdrawal begin 12 to 24 hours after the last caffeine intake and can last two to nine days.

Caffeine can be a useful tool for an adult who needs help waking up and concentrating. But, it can also cause problems if you’re not careful with it. Don’t use caffeine too much or you could become dependent or have insomnia or headaches. Otherwise, enjoy that coffee or chocolate!

That you need to admit that you are powerless over caffeine – that your life has become unmanageable. That you may need to quit this monkey, if only to save you the embarrassment of perspiration in your profession, not to mention the $5 you spend each morning on your fix.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Starting Thursday night, if you’re under 18 and out on the street after 10pm, you could be subject to arrest. It’s part of an omnibus Crime Emergency! Bill that seeks to curb some of the violence that’s been sparked in DC over the last month or so. Mayor Williams wants to extend the bill’s provisions past the 90 day limit in the text of the bill, which would also include giving local police immediate access to juvenile records and put surveillance cameras in residential neighborhoods.

Folks, is it really necessary that we become a police state to curb the crime? Will cameras and “citizen oversight” in our neighborhoods make us any safer, or just give the Police the power to selectively enforce the laws? Why do we have to give in to the ubiquitous cameras and surveillance devices? Do we really need more Big Brother in our lives?

For those of you keeping score at home, Adrian Fenty voted against this bill, citing disagreements with whether or not this will actually make things better, and Linda Cropp voted for this bill, believing that it will be the solution to our woes. Let’s see if I can distill this for you: Fenty, for liberty. Cropp, for police state.

Gotcha.

Results are mixed on the actual cameras themselves: This article claims that the cameras are effective in stopping crime, this one says “Studies have found that, when there is some reduction in crime rates in areas with CCTV, the crime is actually displaced rather than prevented.”

Are we willing to trade essential liberty in exchange for temporary security?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Don’t forget that the Capital Fringe Festival starts tomorrow!

You can review the basics I detailed last week when tickets went on sale. Jane Horwitz at the Post has some key picks lined up if you are completely baffled by choice. And Washington City Paper’s Trey Graham will be blogging daily at Fringe & Purge to keep you up to speed on the madness.

Remember, at a truly wild Fringe, everyone is a participator. So if the mood strikes you to don costume and declaim through the city’s streets, have at it. Break down the barriers! (ok, but I accept no responsibility for what may happen, people. None whatsoever. We’ll see how uptight this town really is…)

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

It’s a egg-frying hot Wednesday and you get an email from Skewers that says:

“Our Pomegranate Martini is bursting with the richness of fresh pomegranate and the tang of lemons. And for something more daring, we have a Citrus and Rose-Water concoction that is sure to please and tantalize with its erotic perfume.”

You think to yourself, “I could enjoy erotic perfume today, everyone will be sweat-stinky on the bus home.” You make plans to meet your friends at Skewers before the all-too-early 7pm end to $5 happy hour martinis.

They get excited over the expected tang of lemons. All of you descend on Skewers at 17th and P, hoping for something more daring, like a citrus and rose-water concoction.

You will be in luck, Skewers can please, the pomegranate martinis were close to my fav, strong Cosmopolitans, and it will tantalize, our food order took long enough.

I would suggest you look else where for the erotic. Citrus + rose water tasted too much like grapefruit juice + rail vodka for my delicate palate.

Still, if you can get one of the three outdoor tables, the $5 price and gorgeous gay boy viewing more than make up for it. Just don’t get too drunk before the food comes, we were offered the wrong meal twice.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

My dear DC mopedists, being the vocal group that you are, always in quick defense of scooters city-wide, I have a question for you:

Why is this moped without a license plate?

It is a motor vehicle, right? You are required to have a driver’s license to operate it, correct? Then where is the license plate to uniquely identify it and record its proper registration with the organs of Government?

Has DC DMV reached a new dysfunctional low and not produced plates for wanna-be motorcycles? Or does the DC Council not care to require tags for this petroleum-powered human transporter? Inquiring minds wanna know

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

While the US Embassy in Lebanon still hasn’t figured how to get US Citizens out of the chaos that country has become, they have made clear one thing: if you’re not part of the US Embassy, you will have to pay for your ride to Cyprus, and once there, you’ll be on your own.

So unlike most other countries, who are giving free trips back to their homeland, inclusive of a taxi back to your house in some cases, US Nationals will be maxing out credit cards for a now-scarce Cyprus-USA flight.

Why might we in DC care? Beside the impact it might have on our work – my company has an office there – what happens if we have a massive evacuation in Washington DC?

Would we be like Katrina’s victims, sent packing with a wave and a shove & blamed if we’re car-free DC? Would we be like Americans in Lebanon, forced to sign promissory notes before we’re allowed on helicopter or ship out? Or are we so smug in our new McMansions that we don’t care?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Say it ain’t so. Except, well, today’s email from Dr. Dremo’s in Arlington suggests that “It’s true! You gotta experience it to believe it. Beat the summer heat @ Dr. Dremo’s”

AC at Dremo? Holy crap, that might make it worth saving! Have you been since the new unit was installed? How is it?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

So how was it? How was last night’s baking hot Screen on the Green? Did you bring a case of ice and a bottle of wine, sitting in the ice cooler to keep from boiling?

Could you see the movie, The Day the Earth Stood Still, through the sweat dripping into your eyes? Was it as good as prior years, a real party scene Screen on the Green?

Will you be there next week, when it might be oh, only in the 90’s? For July 24 we have The Band Wagon, and then, what I’m waiting for, July 31’s showing of the classic Bullitt.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

You can now add high winds and hail to the madness of July according to Alert DC’s Weather Watch. Hitting inboxes right about now is this despressing missive

National Weather Reports – Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 10:00pm for the District of Columbia. The storm is expected to bring winds between 40 and 50 mph.

Nickel size hail is also expected, along with an inch to an inch and a half [of rain]. Surrounding regions are also under the severe thunderstorm watch.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

My little lost Garmin 201, where are you from? You came into my life Saturday morning, right there on Ohio Drive SW. You were just laying there on the road while I rode by on my bike. Lying there calling my name.

As much as I love you, you are not mine. You are someone else’s love. Who, I do not know. Who, you might. Yes, you my faithful reader. Might you know who lost this lovely Garmin 201?

If you did, or know who did, drop an email & tell me when, and better yet, when you last ran with it, the Garmin 201 is lonely, it needs you back.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Last night, when you walked into your apartment, was it sticky hot for yesterday’s +100F heat? Did you leave your windows open because you didn’t want to run your air conditioner all day, or worse, not have one to run?

Might you be wishing for a quieter, more efficient, and best yet, programmable home cooling machine? One so cold you no longer need ice in your beer and your supermodels beg for sleepovers?

Then you should be writing for Metroblogging DC. If you did, you would be courted by joe-cool companies such as Amcor, who send you a new Amcor PLM14000 portable air conditioner, hoping you’ll give it a glowing review.

And I know what your thinking right about now, “Portable? Does that mean I can walk down K Street with it cooling my person?” Well not exactly. Portable means you can roll it from one room to the next using its wheels and a flexible window vent to stash it in different room’s corners.

You’re also thinking, “Air conditioners? That’s the swag he gets? No free booze, broads, or body shot binges?” Well when the Heat Index is 107F, DC is under Code Red, and the National Weather Service says,

“IT WILL BE EVEN MORE HUMID THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING COMPARED TO MONDAY…AND JUST AS HOT. WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM THE UPPER 90S TO AROUND 100 THIS AFTERNOON,”

an air conditioner that is free from the need to be in a window or mounted on a wall, and can be hid behind a couch, masking the air conditioner’s sight and sounds, is the ultimate in swag swankness.

Gone is the obnoxiously loud sounds of my old apartment window a/c, gone are the crazy high electricity bills from its use. Now I literarily chill in my massive ballet studio living room, cooled by modern technology delivered free to my doorstep.

Envious yet? If not, wait till tonight’s supermodel strip-tease starts with the mink coat contest! Once you are, email a writing sample and biography, and we’ll get to talking about you writing for us and the swag will start rolling in.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

It’s hot outside. But if you’ve even walked across the street you know that already.

And if you’re like the rest of us, you’re dreading the end of the day. Inside your office you should be cool, chilled by The Man’s air conditioning.

Home is another story. There you may have a creaky old A/C like me, and worse, have to pay for the electric bill.

How can you, potentially perspiring reader, escape this Heat Advisory day? We here at DC Metroblogging offer a few creative solutions:

Places to Go

• Head to underground bars like Atomic/Bedrock/Buffalo Billiards or Kokopooli. But be warned, if you’re thinking one of the more popular venues, it will be crowded. Underground bars are not a novel idea.
• Visit the Cathedral Catacombs or the National Aquarium. While not as inebriating as an underground bar, these places will be naturally cool and you might just learn something too.
• Go swimming! This year all 18 outdoor DC public pools are free and odds are there is one in your neighbourhood opening right when you get off work.

If you can’t get it together to go somewhere else, and you just have to sweat it out at home, do not fear DC Metroblogging has ideas, right here:

Things to Do:

• Eat Ice Cream! I’m sure you can agree, there is no better time to eat the cold goodness than on a hot day and there might be a Ben & Jerry’s special at Safeway.
• If you have a yard and hose, you can always get old skol and go Slip-n-Slide, cooling off while you revert to grade school.
• Do what all the cool Philippians Filipinas do, pour yourself a tall glass of beer + lime + ice or get Sri Lankan and make it beer + lime + ice in ice buckets

Now last but not least, if none of these ideas call to you, you could invoke the option of very last resort; you could stay at work longer, surfing the web reading up on work-related subjects until the heat fades.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

This is the scene this morning at Columbia Road and 16th Street – random Fenty supporters waving signs at passing cars.

Now this begs the question: Does waving signs change minds and/or motivate voters? Would you change your vote or even decide to vote based on seeing folks waving signs at you on your morning commute?

A better idea: Fenty supporters making sure fools are not blocking the box.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs