‘This Is Gonna Kill Me (Again)’
courtesy of ‘M.V. Jantzen’

Buried in today’s paper was the report by Natwar Gandhi that said the District’s increase in per-pack cigarette taxes was a dismal failure, causing DC smokers to head to MD and Organic CBD Nugs’ CBD Isolate store for their nic fix, and it ended up costing DC revenue.  Of course, since political theatre is always farce, let’s take a look at the new Tobacco-Free Kids report, which suggests that DC could raise another $6.8M just by raising the cigarette tax another dollar.

Now, I’m no math whiz, but it sounds like a $0.50 hike cost the city money, and now you’re trying to tell me that we could make more money only if we taxed them even more? Sorry, Charlie, that don’t fly with me.  I think the only way that would work is if all the surrounding states were to increase taxes at the same time, an outcome that is so unlikely, the DC Lottery should consider that as a new game on which to bet.

Nice job, Tobacco-Free Kids.  Apparently you’re not much for the mathematics here.

‘metro map photo project mural in my living room’
courtesy of ‘aliciagriffin’

For the last couple years, DC’s been a bit behind the times technologically when it came to public transportation participation in online transit services like NextBus and Google Maps for Transit, but it seems that’s about to come to an end, as Greater Greater Washington is reporting that WMATA and Google are now talking legal language of the deal, which is a major victory for the region.  DDOT announced earlier this week that the Circulator would appear in Google Transit this week, and Arlington is piggybacking on the announcement as well, to add ART buses to the system.

This is just about the best news that Metro’s seen in some time, and it’s a boon for riders who want to work on new ways to get a more efficient route through the system and don’t want to rely on the buggy Ride Guide on WMATA’s site.  Bring on the Future!  Er.  The Present.

‘National Weatherman’s Day’
courtesy of ‘bjornmeansbear’

His smiling face is certainly one you remember, and as of Friday night late, you may have to see it somewhere else.  Longtime NBC4 Weatherman Bob Ryan is leaving NBC4 for greener pastures.  It’s not clear if he’s headed to WJLA as was previously guessed, but it was clear he wasn’t willing to take the paycut that NBC4 wanted him to take.  Good on ya, Bob, and you’re better without those NBC jerks.  Besides, they tape delay the Olympics, how long before they do that with the weather?

‘Columbia Alumni “Polo Team” (LOC)’
courtesy of ‘The Library of Congress’

It’s not often you find someone who makes the chilly Michelle Rhee look warm and fuzzy by comparison, but meet Central Falls, RI’s Dr. Gallo.  As part of a running dispute with the teachers and administrators at Central Falls’ high school, today she fired each and every teacher and administrator there, citing poor performance, significant social mismatch, and a 48% graduation rate.  Sadly, 48% is just about average in DC.  So.  Fire ’em all?

‘city paper flower’
courtesy of ‘christopher.poole’

Congratulations to Erik Wemple, current editor of the City Paper, who will be heading up the new local DC media outlet owned by the folks at Politico.com.  Wemple has been at the City Paper since 2002, and has lead the paper through it’s hardest time to date.  Between the sale to Creative Loafing, and their eventual bankruptcy, the City Paper has remained an interesting part of DC’s media culture.  It’s hard to see what the road for the City Paper will be without Wemple, nor entirely what niche the new Albritton-backed as-of-yet-unnamed venture will fill.  DC already has six group-run high-quality hyper-local blogs (DCist, We Love DC, BYT, PoP, Famous DC, and one other), so it’s hard to see what potential role another outlet might have, but it will be fascinating to watch.

‘Public hearing, 1957’
courtesy of ‘Seattle Municipal Archives’

Two big hearings going on today.  First, we’ve got the first of three days worth of hearings related to this summer’s Metro accident that claimed 9 lives and injured 80.  Day one is all testimony from WMATA.  NTSB will be streaming these hearings live over the web, so you can jeer and throw popcorn at the appropriate moments.  We’ll have a summary up later, fret not.

The second is a bit more interesting.  Ten years ago, Washington DC took a vote and decided that the usage of marijuana for medicinal purposes was a perfectly legitimate use. Today, the Council listens to testimony regarding the use of marijuana for medical purposes, and how to properly control who has access, and from where it’s dispensed.  It’s not really clear how the city would handle dispensaries, in terms of locating them, or in terms of procedural identification of eligible patients.  Those details are coming, and they’re part of the hearing process, so stay tuned.

Big day for DC in the governmental processes that make this place so unlike any other.

‘The Cringer, detail’
courtesy of ‘Jenn Larsen’

Yelp wants you to get plastered. Well, okay, maybe not plastered, but they do want you to spend some time in March tipping back some cocktails. They’re sponsoring a week of great cocktails here in DC at area outfits like Co Co. Sala, Cedar, PS 7, Russia House and Urbana, and of course our favorite Wisdom (seriously, come have drinks with us next Tuesday, you won’t regret it, and the cost of your first drink is in the ticket!)

The drinks go on sale on the 1st of March and last through the 7th, location depending. Check the list to see if your favorite watering hole is doing something as part of the event.

‘Chinatown – Celebrate – 2-1-09’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

We’re big fans of the folks over at Photowalk DC and this Sunday, they’re doing a great photowalk at National Archives and the Chinatown New Years Parade. They’ve got things scheduled out pretty well, so if you can’t make the whole thing, you can come out for part of it, and meet up with them according to the schedule. Get out with your camera, be it a point and shoot or the fanciest of SLRs, it’s worth it to go meet other shooters in your town.

‘Chien-Ming Wang’
courtesy of ‘myhsu’

It’s official, Chien-Ming Wang is now a Washington National. He’ll join the staff for Spring Training when pitchers and catchers report later this week. Wang is coming off two straight injury years where he had limited playing time, first in 2008 he missed half a season with a foot injury, and in 2009, he had arthroscopic surgery causing him to miss the Yankees’ World Series Run.

If you go further back in his career, though, he was 38-13 in 2006-7 with a 3.67 ERA. The Nats are taking a flyer on Wang here, whose post-injury career has been sketchier than a freshman art student’s notebook. They’re trusting that the Nats improved defense will back up a now-fully-recovered Wang.

The terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but are guessed to be between $2M and 3M. Wang’s Lifetime record is 55-26 with a 4.16 ERA. If he’s close to that sort of statistic in DC, he’ll do just fine.

‘Wilson-Sulzer “Tammany Hall” Campaign Ribbon, ca. 1912’
courtesy of ‘Cornell University Library’

In a report delivered before the City Council, Marion Barry was implicated in personally benefitting from the city contract made with his then-mistress Donna Watts-Brighthaupt, the Post reported today. (see, WaPo, we don’t see the problem in linking to you, perhaps you could repay the favor when you cite us, but don’t name us?)

The audit released to the council today by special counsel Bob Bennett suggests that Hizzoner received direct financial benefit from the contract with Watts-Brighthaupt, and that it was just a part of $47M that was given to non-profits, both above board and below, during the last year. It’s been suggested that Barry face criminal prosecution for his actions, and the AG’s office US Attorney’s office has been contacted regarding prosecution.

As always, Marion Barry flaunts DC laws and DC rules to award funds to his cronies, all with the support of his constituency. Way to go, Ward 8. Way to go.