Much like mail carriers, recruiters don’t get much of a break when the weather is crappy and has screwed up transportation around town. We’re expected to report as normal. After all, someone has to be at the office to make phone calls like these:

“Hi, this is Tiffany from [major international staffing firm]. We’ve got a talent scheduled to be out there with you today in your creative department… Yeah, Joe will be a little late this morning. He lives in a basement apartment… yep, it flooded last night. So as soon as he’s done moving all his stuff up off the floor, he’ll be in. Thanks!”

Hope you’re all staying dry and getting your power back.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

In the last six years living in DC, I’ve seen some epic storms, but none was like last night. Not even Hurricane Isabel was so bad as the storm last night. We finally lost power around 10pm. Several attempts were made by Dominion to get it back within a few minutes, but power wasn’t restored until around 4am this morning. With the Beltway closed in both directions due to a mudslide in Alexandria, DC’s going to be hurting today, especially with closures at the Federal Triangle metro in the middle of the Orange-Blue lines and Archives metro in the middle of the Yellow-Green lines, 20 minute delays on the Green-Yellow and Blue-Orange lines today may mean that today might just end up being a lost cause, commute-wise.

Personally? If you’ve got a PTO day or Personal day to spare, today’s the day to take it. OPM’s honoring Unscheduled Leave today, so don’t worry about that if you’re working for the Feds. If you are determined to go to work today, please be sure to take an umbrella, since it appears that this type of storm system maybe be in our future through Wednesday. According to Capital Weather, we might see another 3-5″ of rain by Wednesday, on top of the 5″ of rain that’s already fallen on DC this weekend… Get out the bailing buckets.

It’s not all bad news, though:

In the District, fire Capt. John Sollers reported flooding in some buildings in the 12th Street NW corridor between Pennsylvania and Constitution avenues. He said the basement of the Internal Revenue Service Building was inundated with about five feet of water.

Take heart, DC. And tell us your storm stories in the comments!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Well, it’s all over, the second “Battle of the Beltway” series is finished and the Nats narrowly avoided a sweep with their victory today. Friday, it was a battle of the wills that we lost. Saturday, late inning heroics by the Orioles and what could only be called a complete bullpen collapse by the Nats, the O’s held court in Camden. Sunday was a different story, Livan was good for six plus, the Nats could capitalize on the walks issued by Orioles pitching, and the bullpen held the lead, securing a win.

The series had lots to offer in the way of close baseball and that was certainly outstanding. However, if you were forced to watch the games on TV instead of seeing it live, or hearing it on the radio, you were forced to listen to the absolutely braindead rantings of Bob Carpenter and Tom Paciorek during the game. I’ve had the pleasure of listening to some really good announcers on television, Joe Morgan and Jon Miller, Ray Fosse and Ken Korach, Hank Greenberg and his cohorts in SF all come to mind. There’s an art to play by play and color commentary, it’s not just explaining the game, it’s bringing light to all manner of things associated with the game that aren’t obvious. Sadly, most of the time, Carpenter and Paciorek end up sounding more like fans than commentators, and that’s really unfortunate. There were several times during Saturday’s game when the assembled group watching spent more time talking about the utter crap that they were spewing than about the Nationals failure to capitalize on scoring situations.

So, Mr. Kasten, please, before you do anything else this season, buy out the contracts of these two clowns and give us some real TV announcers. The radio guys are great, please, for the love of God, give us someone decent on TV.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Miss Mardi Gras? Who cares? We have our very own Carnival right here in DC – the DC Caribbean Carnival, that is!

Starting with a raucous parade this Saturday, with some 20 bands, crazy costumes, and a huge crowd of partyers, this weekend is billed as “2 Big Days of Bacchanal” and should be a hell of a lot of fun, no matter how hot it is or how many thunderstorms we survive. The carnival has been a DC institution since 1993, modeled after Trinidad and Tobago’s famed celebrations. The parade kicks off at 11am at Georgia and Missouri Avenues and ends with a concert in Banneker Field. Both days feature “De Savannah” at Banneker with tons of vendors from 2pm to 7pm.

Why not spend your weekend partying and pretending you’re in Trinidad and Tobago? Maybe you’ll see a mirage of white sands and blue waters while dancing to steel drums… ah, if only…

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

As WFY so cannily noted, the Nats and O’s face off in a weekend series, this time up in Baltimore at Camden Yards. And while no fan of Peter Angelos, I think you should go up to Charm City this weekend and catch a game. Here’s why.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs Continue reading →

DC Lightning

Originally uploaded by Grundlepuck.

The news was on when it started. It was one of those storms that you heard roll in, like something out of the Midwest, heard before seen, the rumbling sussurus permeating the heavy damp air. When the storm arrived, the drops were large and huddled together for comfort, falling out of the sky slowly at first, and then pounding the sidewalk and the trees. The rumbling grew louder and louder, shaking my windowpanes between the loud thwacks of the drops. The storm was truly upon us when the lightning started to interrupt the darkness.

The clouds would light up like a pinball machine on tilt, bolts heading everywhich way, cloud to cloud, intracloud, cloud to ground. I unplugged all the computers in the house. A storm like this I had not seen in DC before, it looked like something out of a Wyoming high plain, not this swampy coastal area. Capital Weather says we’re in for a long weekend of storms and rain. Of course, this does make the possibility of Dave Matthews getting struck by lightning during his weekend performance at Nissan all the more plausible…

Thanks much to flickr user Grundlepuck for this awesome photo.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I’m reminded every once in awhile that humanity really can be good at its core when I read things like Steven Frank’s deeds yesterday. See, he and all his friends bought brand new Nintendo DS Lites this past week when they hit the market. Why? Because they’re cool. But, that left behind their prior handheld gaming units, like the DS and PSP. But, these are still perfectly awesome gaming systems, so why not be like Child’s Play and donate the systems to a local children’s hospital?

So, if you just bought a brand spanking new gaming system, and think that your older handheld could use a new home where it might benefit a child, why not drop it off at Children’s Hospital? Or, if you’re feeling a little more donate-y today than usual, check DC Children’s Hospital’s Amazon Wishlist and pick something out that they might need. It sucks being in the hospital, but it only sucks worse when it’s a kid who should be out playing instead. Help kids play, even when they’re hurting, and it does the world some good.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

After watching some idiot plow into another idiot this morning at an intersection, I just have to ask…

You guys do know that when a traffic light is out (say, because of the storms we’re getting), you have to treat it like a four way stop?

I stopped at the light this morning and the truck to my left proceeded across the intersection, as was his right. The sedan that came up on my right didn’t stop and barrelled through the intersection as the truck was crossing. The driver of the truck was of course trying to turn into the far lane instead of the near lane like he should have, and pretty much t-boned the sedan. Good one.

And while I’m on the topic- I had some guy show up to my office a couple of days ago, 45 minutes late for an interview, and have the nerve to bitch that no one had told him that we were Metro accessible. He could have saved so much time and money! Hey asshole, we’re Downtown. EVERYTHING is metro accessible.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I swore for the longest time that I wouldn’t get one. Didn’t want to be that accessible. Didn’t want to be “that guy” at the poker table. Didn’t want to have to answer email in traffic. I had myriad reasons not to get one of these little things.

Yet, here I sit, tapping away on the wee little keycaps, holding the little thing in my hands, looking like a devout high priest of technology. Sigh.

I can just hear the cackling of some of my friends, likely holding their own little oracles over their heads, shouting maniacally, “ONE OF US! ONE OF US!” while dancing around the fire. This town is run by them, their little cult of availability, and I feel that I’ll just have to play along a little more.

* This post sent from my CrackBerry wireless handheld *

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

That’s right, it’s an epic battle of foes, on skates. Who knew that DC had their own Rollergirls?

I know I didn’t, not before today anyway. Thanks to our friends in the know, though, check out these skatin’ ladies!

We’re hoping that the Rollergirls will return our email, because damn if hot chicks on skates smashing the crap out of other women on skates from other cities isn’t something we could absolutely get behind.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan is bowing out of the Governor’s Race, citing chronic depression that’s been recently diagnosed. The matchup for the fall will be Bob Ehrlich, fresh off his acting role in the new “Leave Early, Stay Late, Get an EZ-Pass, goddammit” ad campaign from the Eastern Shore, versus Baltimore Mayor “No, really, I’m NOT committing adultery” Martin O’Malley.

This promises to be a heated race with national consequences. We promise to cover all the prurient bits. Or something.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

It’s that time of the week again, when the Post’s Barry Svrluga (said sver-loo-ga) takes questions from the masses. These chats often make for some funny moments, and today’s chat was no disappointment. Today’s Highlight? Priceless…

Washington, D.C.: What a great time to be a Nationals fan! Zimmerman making a run at rookie of the year, Vidro rebounding nicely, Cordero, Patterson, some of the other young pitchers and a new park in a few years!

But of course, the big question is whether to trade Soriano. I was wondering what people involved in baseball think. Any chance you will be bringing in someone who knows the game so we can ask their opinion?

Thanks.

Barry Svrluga: I am trying not to take this as an insult.

Still trying. Not working.

Nope, not going to work. Okay. Moving on.

Nice, Barry.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

A while back, I hailed Jon Stewart a hero for berating Tucker Carlson and Paul Begala live on CNN, which ended with Crossfire being cancelled. Today, I hail Ze Frank.

Normally, I have a dislike for podcasting and vlogging, simply because you’re suddenly on the author’s timetable for material, their speech pattern, their interpolated graphics, all the trappings that put you on anything other than your own reading pace. However, Ze Frank seems to capture brilliantly the zeitgeist of the good podcast with his “The Show”. Yesterday’s episode marks a new high for the League of Awesomeness, especially when it comes to hitting the nail on the head when it comes to American Politics.

DC is the capital of American Politics, and so we’re often the focal point of every stupid bullshit posturing vote, every lame attempt at an amendment to a bill, every move and counter move that shows just how mean-spirited and evil your opponents are, and every pandering attempt to “send a message to your base that you’re fighting for them!” This morass that we’ve found ourselves in is boundless, it appears.

Today, Ze’s got the goods on the whole thing, and he’s unafraid to call it what it is: a clusterfuck.

Thank you Ze for getting that out there. Remember, support your local clusterfuckers this Fall!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

It’s not really any consolation that I’m not the only one under water, or that this hell is one of my own making. The real pain, however, is that while I’m up in Philly shilling my wares at the Manayunk Art Festival one of my favorite events of the year will be going on here at home: The Old Dominion Beerfest.

If you don’t care for beer, you may as well skip it. If you like the bubbly stuff in any or all of its incarnations, this is a great event. The non-beer vendors are usually fun – I have a nice fisherman’s hat with a logo that says simply “beer” that I treasure – and the food is excellent. At $1 per 6oz sample it’s very affordable to try an array of beers you might not normally have access to – the array of drafts you’ll be able to try far outstrips what you can find even at RFD. If you don’t live out in the wilds of Herndon/Reston/Sterling as I do it’s a bit of a drive but I think it’s well worth it.

And if you’re the designated driver you get free Old Dominion Root Beer and Ginger Ale free!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Ever since my darling wife taught me to take Memorial Bridge into DC instead of 395, I have been grateful. Aside from some backups getting onto Route 50 itself, the whole thing is fairly painless, and I’ll definitely take one long zipper merge to the godawful hell that is 395 during morning rush.

Well, most of the time.

Meet 19th St. NW and Constitution Avenue NW.

Where you see that fancy green arrow is right about where some asshat decided that he could fit his tiny escort into the turning radius of the Maryland Commuter Bus. This, of course, blocked the right three lanes of Constitution Ave. During Morning Rush. All traffic inbound on I-66 and Route 50 ends up on Constitution.

Am I the only one who thinks that in this situation, the asshole whose fault it was belong either up on charges or on the sharp end of a pointy fine?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

What is it with people in the elevator in my building? First there was the guy who made a crack about the jewelry store bag I was carrying, and when I explained that it held our wedding rings, said that June 11th is a great day to get married- his father died on that date. WTF?

This morning, a guy held the elevator door for me, and after I entered and thanked him for the courtesy, he tilted his head, looked at me, and said, “4’11”?”

I raised my eyebrow but said nothing other than, “5’0″.”

“No you’re not.”

What the hell? Should I have given him the same look and said, “Two inches?”

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

There are few things quite as peculiar about working downtown than the giant inflatable rat that a few of the unions use to protest places of employment in DC. You can’t miss it, it’s at least two stories tall, is shaped like a rat, and has been in front of a few buildings this spring/summer already.

Of course, one has to wonder, giant rats? Really? For serious?

Also, what’s up with union workers not being part of the protests themselves?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

“Whatever happened to Jenn,” you muse, perusing these pages in vain, “One minute she was slurping down mussels preparing for a Parisian adventure, the next she’s MIA, some 29 days since. What gives?”

Well, dear readers, contrary to desire, I did not get whisked away by some Gallic patron to a Loire chateau. No, I returned to DC to be sucked in to that dreaded vortex known as the Ultimate Circle of Hell, or the Gauntlet of Doom. I mean of course, the DC convention.

For those of us who work in DC for national associations, this means frantic weeks of progressively stressful organization, mired in impossible logistics, in fearful preparation for the week when your loving members descend on you from all corners of the USA, to burrow down in the depths of a soulless downtown hotel, to be force-fed endless rounds of policy, politics, and cheese. Lots and lots of cheese.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs Continue reading →

Generally I try not to shamlessly recycle DailyCandy’s content, but this one is too good to pass up:

Through Knitting for Our Neighbors — the new weekly knitting classes run by Food & Friends, which donates every sock, scarf, and sweater made to those living with HIV/AIDS and other grave illnesses — that’s how.

The lessons cost nothing (save a $5 materials fee, unless you bring your own) and instruction is for beginners as well as advanced students. You learn a little something new and those in need get lovingly made necessities.

There’s no mention of it on the Food and Friends site, but classes are Tuesday nights at 6:30, and you can sign up by calling 202-269-2277.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

With power prices starting to rise, isn’t it nice to think that maybe the power companies

aren’t entirely soul-sucking profiteers? Today Pepco announced a new program that will put “smart meters” into over 2,000 DC homes, and about half of those folks will get a brand new smart thermostat that will display the power rates for cooling to specific temperature. More intriguing, though, would be the new pricing option for customers. The new Hourly power rates will change throughout the day, making power cheaper at night when demand is low, and more expensive during the day, when demand is high. Better yet, these new prices will be displayed live on the new advanced thermostat.

No word on how widely this will be deployed after the test, though, but I dig it simply because it sounds cool, and could help a lot of people save on their bills.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs