It looks like Arlington County is getting a wireless network that is supposed to cover the whole county, offering Wi-Fi access to all the citizens, workers and businesses in the county. From the Arlington County website:

The Wi-Fi mesh network will provide the approximately 26 square-mile Arlington County a broadband alternative for residents and visitors to the County. It will also enable County employees to work in the field without having to return to an office and a traditional landline to complete their tasks. EarthLink will also enable Internet access for to-be-determined nonprofit partners of Arlington County, as well as create wireless hotspots at a number of Arlington parks, community centers and libraries.

Now wait a second here – don’t think that you can just roam around the county using free Wi-Fi wherever you happen to be. Nope, you will still have to go to Murky Coffee or Caribou Coffee (home of the best damned hot chocolate ever) for that. What this offers is an “affordable” Wi-Fi service.

What’s affordable? Who’s to say? Well, if you are an Arlington resident, you can go to the public meeting on the issue this Tuesday evening at 7:30 in room 311 of Courthouse Plaza, 2100 Clarendon Boulevard and give them your two cents on the issue.

I suspect, having seen this sort of thing promised in other cities, that Earthlink will want to charge something slightly less than Starbuck’s does for Wi-Fi access and that the mesh will not really be built except in the more prosperous areas and places like Courthouse, where the county offices are. This is all just speculation on my part, not based on anything I have seen here in Arlington, which seems surprisingly free from the very extensive graft I witnessed in the last place I lived.

This is a great idea and I hope it gets made into a reality soon. My question is whether it will draw the revenue Earthlink will require to make it all feasible and whether it will be expandable to handle more traffic, should it become very popular. Alas, I can’t make it to the meeting because I have to teach that night, but I hope someone can go and report back what is discussed. Any volunteers?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Does the water taste just a hint like bleach? Don’t worry – that’s a completely normal byproduct of weakening the biofilm. From April 7th to May 7th the Washington Aqueduct Division of the Army Corps of Engineers, Arlington County’s water supplier, is using free chlorine to give the water pipes a once-yearly flush to eliminate bacterial build-up and regrowth.

From the county’s FAQ page on the process:

Temporarily converting from chloramines to free chlorine is done to help control bacterial regrowth within the water distribution system. The County will be coordinating an annual hydrant flushing program to coincide with the disinfectant switch to further control water quality.

A biological film known as “biofilm” is found in all water pipes. Over time, biofilm becomes resistant to the chloramines it encounters regularly and as a result can cause water quality problems if it is not properly managed.

Switching to free chlorine for a short period of time shocks and weakens the biofilm, rendering it safe. The system-wide process of flushing the water mains through fire hydrants combined with the disinfectant change is proven to be effective at controlling biofilm.

So if the biofilm is weakening and thus likely sloughing off into the public water supply, I certainly hope it is being treated to the point that no harm comes from it. As much as I love staying hydrated, the thought of drinking a tall glass of biofilm is not nearly as appetizing as these engineers might think.

All I can say is thank goodness for happy hour, where thoughts of water consumption are washed from our cortexes by large volumes of beer, which, like chlorine, is a wonderful sanitizing and purifying substance. At least I can pretend it is.

So what to do about water consumption? Flavor it, of course. That slight chlorine taste is harmless, after all, but not too pleasant. Go get yourself a bunch of Kool-Aid and enjoy such flavors as red, purple and orange, the last of which happens to also be the name of a fruit. Just don’t get all Peoples Temple on us in the process.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

And I suggest you celebrate the right way, with a super-cute Easter bunny cake from Hellers Bakery in Mt. Pleasant.

I am going to miss Hellers, and its sweet treats, when I move to Petworth. I have yet to discover a similar Sunday morning croissant salvation in my new hood.

But that is next week. This week its time to get me some Holly Cross buns for my coffee too!

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Joshua Bell is probably one of the top five, if not top three, living violinists in the entire world. So, what would happen if he set up a busking spot at the top of L’Enfant Plaza Metro? The answer lies in Sunday’s Post article, which details the experience of Bell at the top of the metro.

The results are pretty well astonishing, especially for a player of his calibre. Gene Weingarten’s piece absolutely captures the results of the event, and of the amazing talent of Bell. Check it out, if only for the incredible video.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

If you’re on Twitter, there are now friendable sportsbots for the DC area, including the Nationals, the Caps, the Wizards and the Redskins (sorry, sports fan The DC United isn’t yet on their list.)

So, while you’re out there on Twitter, go ahead and check out Metblogs, and add us to your friends list too. Check it out, it’s cool stuff.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Keith “I’ll Kill Ya” Washington

I cannot believe this! Keith A. Washington, the guy who shot two Marlo Furniture movers, killing Brandon D. Clark, did it again. He whipped out his police issued pistol and threatened a innocent home appraiser who knocked on his door last week.

Can we get a big “WTF!”? Why does this man still have a gun? A PG Country police issued gun no less!

Why does he have any gun on his person after the Marlo movers shooting? The guy is a crazed lunatic, a real a-hole and shouldn’t be in possession of a police issued anything, except a prison jumpsuit.

And yet here he is getting charged with first-degree assault, second-degree assault and use of a handgun during a violent crime with said government gun. Oh wait, not the first gun but a second gun. From the WashPost article:

Investigators confiscated Washington’s service weapon when he was placed on administrative leave after the January shooting. At some point, under standard police practices, he was issued another weapon. A source, who requested anonymity because the case is ongoing, said investigators think the gun involved Thursday was the newly issued service weapon.

Giving a guy under investigation for a double shooting & one death with a gun, a second gun, is “standard police practice” in PG Country? Will Police Chief Melvin C. High yet again give Washington his gun and badge back even after he took them and Washington’s police powers because of this second action?

Keith A. Washington is nuts & should be allowed a water pistol, much less an actual lethal weapon. I don’t even live near PG Country and I totally agree with the still shocked appraiser:

“Considering what happened to the guys from Marlo Furniture, I felt both terrified and grateful that I wasn’t killed,” King said.

Damn straight, Mr. King. And if you’re wondering just how f**ked up the scene was for Keith A. Washington to pull a gun, check out the account published in the Post after the jump.

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

Photo by DC Metroblogger

You know you want this. You know you need this. You know that sticky, sugary, damn tasty straight-to-you-heart-and-kill-you goodness of a Carvel cinnamon bun calls to you this morning.

Do no resist. Do not think healthy, granola-infused thoughts. Its Saturday morning. Coffee calls.

Rise from your warm bed and get a cuppa Joe and this high-calorie, high-cholesterol, perfection at the new Carvel’s at Tivoli Theater.

I already have. Two in fact. The best start to a weekend of high-impact sports, aerobics, and cycling to shape up for swimsuit season.

Yeah, right after I sleep off my sugar coma.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Given that the rapture did not happen after all the other day, I suppose I should reconsider my plans for the weekend. All the looting and booty-shaking I was going to do is probably unwise at this point, especially since it is not a foregone conclusion that my soul is damned and that I am destined to walk aimlessly through a hellish world for all of eternity. Not yet, at least.

Back in North Carolina, where I grew up, we had Easter Monday to look forward to and the traditional N.C. State–Wake Forest game to help us digest the candied ham from the day before, which we were still belching up on Monday. In Massachusetts, the land of high taxes from which I recently escaped, we had Patriots Day on the day after Easter. It was dressed up to look like a commemoration of the battles in Lexington and Concord, but really it was an excuse to drink beer and not go to work.

What’s to do down here this weekend? Anything going on other than church and slow driving?

Barring the real rapture happening or the possibility that apes become our masters before the long weekend, what do you have planned?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

Hello DC, I am a Blackberry carry case, or “sled” and as you can see, I am a little lonely.

I know my overworked lawyer owner is missing me already, at a loss without my incessant vibrations in her life. I am missing her too.

No one curses me out quite like she does when I vibrate late at night. No one throws me with such vigor when I interrupt her curly action. And yet no one obsesses over me quite like she does.

Might you be her?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Here is an interesting aspect of the US Postal Service mailboxes. When they are not getting all Jedi Master on your ass, they are using damn cool technology to make sure your 39 41 cent postage gets your mail delivered.

The US Postal Service workers in DC use PDA’s on their routes, identifying every mailbox they open with a swipe of the box’s barcode. USPS managers then know exactly when a mailbox was emptied.

While that doesn’t mean you letter is safe from human collection errors or other delivery issues, it does give some assurance that each mailbox in Washington DC is emptied at some time near when it should be.

Now doesn’t that make you a wee bit happier when someone says, “Yeah, the check is in the mailbox”?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

I finally got back on Google Earth bandwagon this week after a long absence, and check out all the sweet DC-centric stuff on there! Look at all those wikipedia spots, and panoramix.com pictures that are just tied directly into Google Earth. Very sweet. Add in the Metro stations and other transit options that were already there and you’ve got one helluva service. Oh, and it’s free.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Only heathens need respond.

It was eerily quiet along Lee Highway this morning as I was driving my lovely wife to work. The only thing I could figure was that the rapture had come overnight and that I was not among the elect. I guess I had it coming. All the way through Rosslyn and even along the Roosevelt Bridge traffic was sparse enough for me to change lanes without slowing down. Not once did I feel compelled to do any single-fingered turn signaling.

I only hit stop-and-go traffic when I got into the District, trying to merge onto E Street, but that’s to be expected, as even an act of God could not make all those camels fit through the eye of a needle at the same time. Plus, I figure it makes sense that those who are not swept up to Heaven by the swift and merciful hand of God might as well seek refuge in an urban center such as DC.

So if you made it to Heaven, I am sure DC Metblogs would love to get a report so we can find the local angle up there. Please report as soon as you can.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Well, while it’s always sad to see the Pentagon Row skating rink go, at least there was a joyful sight nearby – beautiful green metal cases, full of the hope and promise of frivolity, snark, and sarcasm right around the corner. Rejoice, DC, for today we join the civilized world – the Onion has come to town.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

Check out the new ordering placards and line signs at the 15th and K Street Cosi. Cool, eh? If they only worked as good as they look.

Today’s foray to Cosi, day four after their install last week, revealed the result: total chaos.

I almost kneecapped a kid who I thought was cutting line the salad line after a 10 minute wait. He only wanted soup.

Good luck if you’re headed to Cosi soon, lines are out the door, even on rainy Tuesdays.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Aside from the head shaking “I thought we got over this crap 30 years ago” reaction, the real money quote in this article is this:

The probable cause to arrest the protesters as they retrieved food from their parked van? They were wearing black — a color choice the FBI and police associated with anarchists, according to the police records.

Yeah, anarchists. Quite the DC scourge, them. I’d like to see some commentary from Cathy Lanier on this matter, particularly since she describes herself as proactive and says “Our information-gathering will be constant.”

Is this the kind of information gathering we can expect, Ms Lanier? Does that specialized unit still exist? How much more money does MPD plan to squander on lawsuits in the coming year?

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Photo by DC Metroblogger

Check out the big wheels these Bahrain big wigs roll with. No sedate Lincoln Town Cars or cheap-ass taxis here. This crew slaps cash in hand and makes drivers smile. All the guys waxing these cars mid-day did so with hot money grins.

The drivers I talked to said that they were getting serious green to drive around DC, and drive fast and loose too. Apparently the Bahraini dignitaries liked a good gas pedal stomp at every green light and tire-squealing turns. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

If I had more money than god too, I’d be one nut-case driver. I’d even honk at Don, just for fun.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Yesterday, the DC City Council passed Mayor Fenty’s school takeover plan by a vote of 9-2. There’s a prolbem here that I’ll get to in a second, but it has to do with the past year’s election cycle. The plan can be read in its legal entirety [PDF] via the dc.gov website, but for all intents and purposes, the school system will be held under the Mayor’s perview. In specific, a new Chancellor of Schools position will be created, and they will manage all the schools’ needs and responsibilities, from school standards to collective bargaining. The new Deputy Mayor for Education will directly oversee the new Department of Education, and the Chancellor of Schools.

The power grab here is fairly well monumental. Now, I understand the Mayor’s public motives for doing this: he wants further accountability in the schools, and that’s going to require the usurpation of authority out from under the school board and the DC Superintendent of Schools. But my real concern here has to do with that issue I mentioned in the first paragraph:

For something this important, shouldn’t the council wait until the new councilmembers from Wards 4 and 7 are seated before bringing up such an important issue? I realize that the margin of victory for the mayor (9 to 2, Schwartz and Mendelson dissenting) would not be altered with two new members voting against the measure, but it strikes me as unfortunate that the Mayor would be unwilling to let all Wards of the city be part of the process.

The second vote before the council will occur before the end of April, still well before the election to seat two new councilmembers, at which point it will be sent to Congress for ratification.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Are you, like me, awake at 5:01 am? Might it be because your sound sleep was shattered by big-ass bolts of lightening arching through the night sky? Or was it the pounding rain soaking your dreams with visions of drowning?

Either way, stop trying to fight nature, and just enjoy her. Get up, look out your window and behold Mother Nature’s first good thunderstorm of spring:

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

photo courtesy of Jamba Juice

Or would that be their dairy non-dairy?

This may end up being more a national story, but since it’s been made brutally clear that we have a few strident vegan readers here I thought it was worth mentioning. If you go to one of the DC area’s four Jamba Juice locations and ask for their non-dairy blend thinking you’re not consuming cow’s milk…. you’re mistaken. Like the Consumerist writer, I don’t know if this process addresses the problems of people who have lactose consumption issues but if you’re abstaining for moral reasons this for sure doesn’t make the grade – it’s got dried milk in the ingredients and I’m pretty sure the only way you get that is by milking a mammal.

This post appeared in its original form at DC Metblogs

Every year spring rolls around in DC and photographers from across the land inevitably flock to the Tidal Basin to see what they can come up with. I guess if it’s your first time shooting down there you’re kind of working from a blank slate (as I was last year), but as the years go by you realize that it’s extremely difficult to get a “wow” shot of the cherry blossoms. Every shot seems to have been done already.

There’s the “frame the Jefferson Memorial with some cherry blossoms” shot. Then there’s the “frame the Washington Monument with some cherry blossoms” shot. There’s also the “show some people on a paddle boat with the blossoms and the Jefferson Memorial in the background” shot. And if you’re a tourist with a camera phone, there’s the famous “point your phone up at a tree and push the button” shot. Those are always spectacular.

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