The Washington Post today wrote about all the online outpourings of sorrow, however they haven’t really provided links to the postings of which they speak. College Candy has aggregated the (primarily Facebook) tribute pages and groups they know about and promised to keep adding to the list as they become aware of more.

Less personal but no less touching, WaPo’s gallery of the fallen and their profiles is here.

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Why should the regular buses have all the fun? I don’t know if the driver was ‘altered’ in some way or if the bus lost brake power, but on its way to hitting this Georgetown U satellite building the Circ supposedly took out a parking meter and hit a parked van.

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Are you, like me, moving across town this spring? Did you want to submit a change of address form to the Post Office, online?

Yes, I too want to avoid the hassle of a post office visit to forward my mail, but guess what happens if you aim for convenience for both the post office and you: USPS charges you $1.00 for the time-save of a website transaction.

Don’t believe the “need to verify” bulls**t, plenty of companies verify without charging, or charge $0.03. This is just a way for the USPS, a cash-crunched company, to charge me to save them time and money. I find that more than a little egregious. Kinda like an ATM “convenience fee”.

I just hope this is the last move I make in a long while. That buck smarts and I already refuse to send those paper letter things anymore.

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As I drove into town this morning to start my workday, I had the “pleasure” of listening to Tony Kornheiser froth at the mouth over gun control and how we needed a lot more of it. His anger was a palpable thing, you could feel it streaming out of the speakers, a hate-filled haze that made it hard to see straight. His rage sparked my own. I was not alone in my frustration; our culture of rage has overtaken us. I could feel Tony’s haze affecting my own mental state and I reached up and pushed shut the dial and opened the windows to let the fresh air in.

We’ve gone past the disbelief of Monday’s intense tragedy. We’ve settled firmly into the rage that our media-driven culture engages in us. Our media does not inform as a primary purpose, nor does it seek to enlighten, but rather to polarize and stigmatize, to make us feel that same rage that talk radio does. Everyone want’s someone’s head today.

Stop it.

Stop the recriminations.

Stop the anger and the need for fire. Instead, grieve the victims. Grieve for Reema Samaha, who grew up in Chantilly. Grieve for Mary Read, who grew up in Annandale. Grieve for Leslie Sherman, who grew up in Springfield. They are the tragedy here. Do not focus on the gunman, or the weapons he used, or who he bought them from. Do not press blame where blame does not lay. Grieve.

For all of us.

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Some folks say I’m a blackberry addict. They might well be right, actually, as the damn thing has saved my ass a few times when I really needed to answer and send email in places I couldn’t normally do that. Anyhow, imagine my surprise to see that the North American Blackberry Network is down this morning, and no email is flowing to handheld devices all over town.

Woohoo!

This is like a vacation! Or something. I’m sure that all of Capitol Hill doesn’t see it that way, nor likely does most of the Crackberry-holding DC Business Community. How are you coping with your Blackberry’s temporary silence? Do you miss its little buzzing in its holster?

Update: Service has been restored for “most users” , according to RIM No word yet on the cause of the outage. Enjoy your crackberry hits this morning, I’m sure they’ll be sweet.

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The Nationals tonight are sporting Virginia Tech maroon and burnt orange hats with the VT logo. Seriously, seriously classy tribute on behalf of the Nationals. Nicely done, guys. They’re interviewing the guy from the Sports Authority who brought the hats, they nearly didn’t get there, as the traffic today was apparently horrendous.

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I started hearing the grumblings yesterday, but today the Monday morning quarterbacking is in full force, and covered here in this WaPo article. Putting aside the question of how we can expect to thoroughly examine a response this close to it, I’m not sure how I see I would have done anything differently if I’d made decisions for the U. Two people in a building are shot and there’s no indication of who did it or why. Lock down the building? Cancel classes? Evacuate the campus? Or just go on with life and assume it was an isolated violent incident – what I think I’d have opted for.

VT’s 26,000 students and a sizable number of employees makes them about 5% of the total population of Washington DC, spread out over 2,300 acres – about 6% of the District’s 39,040, meaning about the same overall density. We don’t typically make announcements and empty apartment buildings – much less several city blocks – when there’s a shooting like the initial one. I’m not sure why most people think it being a campus makes such a difference.

Perhaps my friend Jason is right. When I mentioned this reaction to him he said it seems too soon to know what the right action would have been, and added “I think too much of the reaction is ‘oh crap, this could’ve happened to me.'” Sudden random violence is scary stuff, and nobody wants to think they might face “death at any minute of the day.” If it could have been averted if someone else had just done something differently then that possible nutbag at the next table is a little less scary.

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Hold your horses folks. Take a deep breath and have a seat. This news is just amazing.

The Nats won last night. No really. They did. They beat the Braves 5-1 and rookie Matt Chico picked up his first victory. The really shocking part? It’s two in a row. I’ve heard a number of sportscasters and newspeople claim that this is a streak, but unless they can repeat the feat tonight, it’s not a streak. We all know streaks begin at 3. But Smoltz is on the mound for the Braves, and the Nats did get to him late in the game in his last start. So, it’s conceivable that they might end up with a real streak…

Game time is 7:05pm tonight, and the game will be on MASN.

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Hello there crumpled panties, stripes of sexiness tossed aside. I see you here, discarded from the night before, and I wonder:

How did you find your way to a sidewalk downtown? 17th, just of K Street.

Was the night that good? That fun? That fast? And why are you still here, well past the dawn’s early light?

Are you now unloved, discarded like a Blackberry sled? Or are you just jealous of the love others had, without you?

Might a Hilton, a Simpson, or a Spears be looking for you now? A woman, commando.

Will you stay here long, situational sculpture on concrete? Who will disturb your rest? I sure will not.

A woman’s panties, striped or not, are not in my street scene.

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Yesterday, while many of us were observing the aftermath of an atrocity, thousands of supporters of the DC vote marched on the Capitol despite lousy weather. It won’t be an easy fight, though. While the current bill is likely to pass the House with a significant majority, the Senate is a wholly separate matter. There’s also significant opposition from the White House, who sees the bill as unconstitutional. Minority Leader John Boehner’s spokesman said:

“House Republicans are not opposed to giving D.C. residents representation in Congress. But they are opposed to running roughshod over the Constitution.”

Which is fairly odd to see, especially when I have seen no attempt from House Republicans to make an alternate method of franchise for the District’s elected representatives. Funny how they can hide behind the Constitution for this measure, while violating it with other legislation.

Photo by Flickr user Crysb and shared under CC License.

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There are no words. The tragedy is too great, the deaths too many. 33 dead, many more shot and injured. The incredible loss.

The first names are coming out. Planet Blacksburg is reporting that Ryan Clark is the male in the first shooting. There were two Ryan Clarks in the directory at Virginia Tech, one listed as residing in West Ambler Johnston. Ryan C. Clark is a Psychology Major, according to the Directory. He is, apparently, the RA for the 4th floor of WAJ.

There will be another press conference tonight at 7:30pm. Look for updates here.

Update, 7:46p MSNBC: They have recovered two weapons from the scene, but will not identify them, they’re comparing ballistics between the first and second shootings. They have a preliminary identification of the shooter, but are not yet prepared to release it yet unti they know more. They will not break down the student/faculty ratio at this time.

Update, 10:03p, NBC: The shooter, still unidentified despite several internet rumors to the contrary, used two weapons, a .22 caliber pistol and a 9mm pistol. He was wearing a bulletproof vest and was carrying a significant amount of ammunition. The identities of the victim, except for Ryan Clark, are unknown. I have been unable to confirm that Jamie Bishop was killed on site.

Update, 9:26am, CNN: Via the University, as well, “The individual has been identified as Cho Seung-Hui, 23. Cho was enrolled as an undergraduate student in his senior year as an English major at Virginia Tech. Cho, a South Korean native, was in the U.S. as a resident alien with a residence established in Centerville, Va.” Classes are cancelled through the end of the week, but the University will reopen on Wednesday. There was only one shooter. One of the guns was used in both shootings. While the Police were investigating the first shooting, the second took place.

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With everything that’s happened today, I’m opening up this thread for all discussion of the VT Shootings. I’m still trying to dig up more news, so far the best updating source is College Media dot com which has a chronological update starting first thing this morning and moving forward to the present.

I’ve tried calling down to Blacksburg to a couple of the folks I know in the STS department down there, with no luck whatsoever. All calls are routing right to voicemail, and sparse email contact has been made with the main campus. Feel free to use this space to talk about the shooting, connect with folks you know in Blacksburg.

Update, 2:17pm, via College Media: “As of now, 32 people are confirmed dead. One person from West Ambler Johnston Hall and at least 20 people from Norris Hall have been killed. The shooter as well has been killed, but it is uncertain as to whether it is a student or not. ”

Update, 2:38pm, via Fox News: “deadliest school shooting in US History.” I have now heard two reports that the shooter was an Asian man, but I have not seen that confirmed yet. Details are getting sketchier again. I’ve also had my first email returned from the main campus. Several of the faculty who serve as EMTs are reporting that the police coming out of the scene are very shaken and are undergoing some counseling onsite.

Update, 2:46pm, via 8Asians: Shooter Reportedly of Asian Descent, and walked into the building wearing a vest with an “ungodly” amount of ammunition, firing at will with a bulletproof vest and a large amount of ammunition. We’re still short some details on the American networks at this point. This is now the single deadliest shooting incident in US History.

Update, 3:06pm, via VT’s National Capitol Region office: All classes at DC Area Virginia Tech campuses have been cancelled for today.

Update, 3:32pm, via a Hokie Message Board: Shooter may have been a scorned lover. Rumors are, of course, only rumors. This one reads plausibly. There’s an open VT message board going on. Email service is still sporadic at best, and the facilities in the DC area have been locked down as a precaution. No word on when email access will be restored.

Update, 3:50p, via BBC News: First Person Account from a student inside Norris Hall when the shootings occured. Apparently between 80-100 rounds were fired. Jesus. Please note well that VT is a Gun Free Zone. Also, near as I can tell, there was a brief lockdown after the first shooting, but that lockdown was opened back up before there was anyone in custody, leading to the senseless deaths of at least 30 students and numerous more serious injuries.

Update, 4:10p, via Pajamas Media: Cellphone Video from Norris Hall and VT Campus. This is absolutely horrific.

Update, 4:40p, via Planet Blacksburg: The shooter was found in the basement of Norris Hall. This suggests the shooter took his own life at the end of the killing spree, not that he was killed by police.

Update, 4:45p, via CNN Newsfeed: Virginia is now in a State of Emergency, as ordered by Governor Kaine, who is on his way home from Tokyo. 33 dead. 15 more critically injured. A list of dead may be released as soon as tomorrow. The shooter in Norris Hall had no identification on his person, and has yet to be identified. “Why didn’t you shut down the campus at the first shooting?” “We concluded the first shooting was a domestic shooting, and we had reason to believe the shooter was leaving the state.” Police at this time have not connected the first shooting to the second.

Are the bomb threats from Friday related to this incident? “We’re looking into it… it’s a possibility we’re looking into.”

They are confirming the Norris Hall shooter took his own life.

Incident 1 in WAJ is considered potentially a domestic incident. There is no breakdown of faculty/staff deaths yet. There were chains on the door, but they’re not clear yet how many were chained. There were multiple locations inside Norris Hall with fatalities, they’re considering it one giant crime scene.

Update: 5:10pm, CNN: Still watching the coverage at Blacksburg, the questions are starting to repeat themselves, and VT’s President and Chief of Police are basically out of new ways to say, “We don’t know yet.” and “We’re not sure when we’ll know more yet.”

Update, 5:15pm, Kotaku: Jack Thompson is blaming videogames. Pardon my french, but STFU, Jack. Not even 12 hours have past and you’re spewing your self-interested line on Fox News? Jesus.

Update, 5:38pm, Planet Blacksburg: Eyewitness accounts are now coming in. The Post is also watching blogs for first person accounts.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

It’s with incredible sorrow that I typed that headline just now. 20 students were killed this morning in a horrific tragedy the likes of which has never struck a university. Details are still coming out this afternoon as to how this happened. Currently the VT site reads:

Two shootings on campus today have left 22 confirmed dead, including students.

Families wishing to reunite with students are suggested to meet at the Inn at Virginia Tech. The university is planning a convocation for tomorrow at noon at Cassell Coliseum for the university community to come together to begin to deal with the tragedy.

Counseling is available in the Bowman Room in the Merriman Center (part of the athletic complex) for employees who seek assistance following today’s events.

All faculty and staff have been released and asked to go home effective immediately.

The university will open tomorrow at 8 a.m. but classes are cancelled.

My heart goes out to all those in Blacksburg today. I’ve been unable to reach via electronic means anyone down at the main campus, and I suspect that with the volume of response and the size of the campus, their main server is overloaded.

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Come learn about Firefly Children’s Network, an organization that “gives governments, community leaders and international non-profits the tools and best practices to get kids out of orphanages and keep kids out of orphanages.”

Having worked with at-risk youth myself, I can attest that this is one heck of a good cause. According to Firefly, “for every month children spend in an orphanage, they will cognitively, socially and emotionally fall behind their peers by three months.” Tell me of a better cause than this.

What: Happy Hour
When: Tuesday, April 17th 6-9 p.m.
Where: Eyebar, 1716 I St NW Washington, D.C.

Half price cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. That’s French for appetizers, I think. Need I say more? Just point me to the cocktail weenies, give me a boilermaker and I will be set.

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Take a good long look at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) sign. Does that look familiar to you?

Now take a look at the NATO sign. Isn’t MWAA copying the North Atlantic Treaty Organization?

Could MWAA also be safeguarding the freedom and security of its member countries by political and military means? Might that be the real role of the TSA?

Or did someone get lazy with symbol design in 1987?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Just in time for tax day, don’t forget to stop by the nearest Ben & Jerry’s for Free Cone Day tomorrow. Because nothing makes it all better like free ice cream.

Do I really need to say anything else about this? FREE ICE CREAM, people!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Hat tip to DC Shadow Representative Mike Panetta for reminding me this morning that today is the DC Voting Rights March. Beginning at 2:30pm today at Freedom Plaza, and ending at the steps to the Capitol, DC Mayor Adrian Fenty, DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton and others will be demonstrating today to demand a voting seat in the House of Representatives for the otherwise disenfranchised District citizens. If you want to have any idea of how big the event is, take a look at the sponsorship list at the bottom. Anytime you see that many organizations is a good sign there’s a groundswell of people behind them.

Let’s go out and tell those folks on Capitol Hill that DC ought to have a federal representative, and no, we don’t mean the guy who claims to represent us, we mean a vote for a real, honest-to-God elected Representative.

Get out and march. Show your support for the District’s nascent franchise.

Graphic shamelessly borrowed from the Voting Rights March folks. Thanks guys!

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Friday night we entered the Thai New Year. So it was fitting that we ended up having dinner at Simply Home, the “eat drink shop” spot on U Street. The Thai options in the Shaw/U Street/Logan radius of my house include Sala Thai, Thai Tanic, and Rice, all with very different vibes, but after last night Simply Home has rocketed to the top of my craving list.

After a hellishly stressful two-week stretch, I had a strong desire for a tranquil dinner. So I breathed a sigh of relief and instant happiness upon exiting the bustle of U Street madness to a zen cocoon of white walls washed with low light, accented by dark wood and cute little seating cubes. It was the exact mood I needed – very contemporary without that cold feeling modernism can sometimes impart. “Check out the popcorn packing chandeliers,” my friend said admiringly. We settled in, ready to inbibe.

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What do you think about the new Asia Trails section of the National Zoo, the $53 million renovation of nearly six acres that doubles the zoo’s three panda’s exhibits?

Have you had a chance to see panda cub Tai Shan? Or what about the Red Pandas or Fishing Cats? Better yet, the elusive clouded leopards?

I’ve checked out the Asia Trail developments on my weekly runs through the Zoo and recently, one angle caught my eye. Look at this photo for a moment. What seems odd to you?

Might it be a little weird to see such security for a Zoo animal? Might the pandas be a little distractive or at least superstar status with such fencing, security cameras, and overall inaccessibility. It’s not like the prairie dogs or Bengal tigers have such a human contact barrier.

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