Category Archives: WTF?!

Essential DC, Life in the Capital, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Golds Gym Cuts Towel Service, Grossness Ensues

Photo courtesy of
‘GOLD’S GYM’
courtesy of ‘Leo Reynolds’

I’m a member of my friendly, local Gold’s Gym. I even say it in my “about me” authors profile. I have a gym crush on my Gold’s, and it’s the cheapest membership I can find in the locations I need my gym to be and I have the best personal trainer in all the land. But ya’ll, Golds is taking a turn for the seriously nasty, as they’re cutting their free towel service. Now, I realize we’re in a bad economy, and I realize that washing a bajillion loads of towels isn’t cost effective for their bottom line, nor is it very environmentally friendly. But the alternative? The alternative is bad.

Here is how I envision this working – I pop into the gym, and spot burly big men, sweating all over the weight machine, having nothing but paper towels to wipe it up with. You see where I’m going here? SWEAT, is nasty. Big burly man sweat? Even nastier. Paper towels? Very un-environmentally friendly, as people pull of yards of towels in one fail swoop. Here we have a sanitation, customer service, and environmentally conscious EPIC FAIL.

I get that I can go to Target and buy some wash cloths and bring them to the gym with me. I will do that, in fact. I hope EVERYONE at Gold’s will do that. But not everyone will (looking at you big burly sweaty paper towel loving man) and we’ll be stuck with a nasty problem. Also, I pay good money for my membership, and towels were included when I signed up. I also pay for my laundry, stupid coin operated apartment complex machine, and so it’s now an added expense. Sigh. What’s next? Taking out the water fountains and forcing us to bring our own or buy bottled?

The Daily Feed, WMATA, WTF?!
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Metro Train Door Opens. Halfway. On Wrong Side. On Moving Train. In Tunnel.

Orange Line train door only half-open

The photo above is not of the door in question, but the Washington Post and NBC Washington tell us “the left panel in the middle door of a middle car came open and that the door closed as soon as the operator hit the brakes” on the Orange Line at rush hour yesterday, while the train was moving between stations. Fortunately no one fell out, and Metro is “investigating.” (Hat tip to UnsuckDCMetro Twitter.)

Life in the Capital, Media, The District, WTF?!
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Editorial: Linking, Weblogs and The Health of the Newspaper Industry

Photo courtesy of
‘Film! – Canon A-1 – Headlines – 11-5-08’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

Yesterday, the Washington Post published an editorial by Ian Shapira concerning some touchy subjects for those of us who operate blogs. Mr. Shapira penned a piece for the Post last week about a Generation Y consultant, which was then the subject of a Gawker.com story by Hamilton Nolan that made frequent use of the blockquote tag. If you’d like to take a second to read the articles linked herein, that would be fine, but allow me to sum this up in just a few sentences. Continue reading →

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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XXtreme XXMarketing XXStupidity

Photo courtesy of
’10th and K Streets, NW’
courtesy of ‘NCinDC’

I really, really thought that we were done with things called “Extreme”. I mean, it’s not like anything with that label in the last few years has actually be an extreme, let alone an outlier, but it became edgy somewhere along the lines. But, since when has been being beaten-like-a-dead-horse stopped a good marketing campaign? So, imagine my surprise to see a big sign in front of 1010 Massachussetts advertising XXTreme Residences at XXMass (1010 Mass. How clever.) and suggesting that folks act quickly, as few units remained.

Surely with a town this creative, you could’ve found better marketroids, Ten Ten. Or, at least made sure that the units in question allowed for base jumping access to the roof and had rock-climbing access to the brick façade…

Crime & Punishment, The Daily Feed, WMATA, WTF?!
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What’s Next, Metro?

Photo courtesy of
‘No Tresspassing by Order of Metro Transit’
courtesy of ‘Wayan Vota’

DCist pointed out this afternoon that WMATA buried the lede in their latest press release, which states:

In the most recent incident, a Metrobus operator refused to allow a customer to exit the bus after a verbal dispute. He was arrested by Metro Transit Police on Saturday, July 25, and charged with kidnapping. The bus operator is on paid administrative leave, pending the outcome of an investigation. Metro officials will determine an appropriate level of discipline once the investigation is complete.

First it was sleeping on the job, or reading a book, or texting, and now we’ve seen WMATA employees go from light misdemeanors straight into felony charges. I was sitting here thinking just now that what we really need to see from WMATA drivers, in order to pine for reading, texting and sleeping, is something along the line of kidnapping, or assaulting an off-duty police officer or maybe even light bank robbery. Perhaps what we’re missing is an appreciation for the difficulty of light rule-breaking?

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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You Are Running Out of Time, Fruit Vendor.

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In-joke now complete, thanks to screenshot from Thottbot.com

A Bethesda Fruit Stand just off the highway was ordered to move its location or face sanction and they’ve decided to stand pat. Country Thyme sets up on River Road, which can be a fairly busy place to try to do commerce in the middle of the rush. They’re working on moving to a church lot, but haven’t yet completed the deal, which means they’re right where they always are.

Of course, that hasn’t stopped SHA officials from showing up, and crushing their apples.

We Love DC apologizes for anyone who doesn’t get the nerdy, nerdy jokes in this article. We have a problem, we’re seeking help.

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Is the flag upside down at NOAA HQ?


Is the flag upside down at NOAA HQ?
Originally uploaded by andycarvin

Andy Carvin snapped this photo this morning while riding by the NOAA headquarters. If you look at the full-size image, you can clearly see that the flag has been risen upside-down. As I recall from my Boy Scout days, that is a sign of distress. Fortunately, we now have 911 to dial when we are in distress, so I wonder what went wrong today that they somehow managed to raise the flag that way.

Anybody else catch this?

Crime & Punishment, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Alexandria Police Chief Arrested for DUI

Photo courtesy of
‘How Much is that Bottle in the Window?’
courtesy of ‘Karon’

The Post is reporting that Alexandria Chief of Police David Baker was arrested for DUI in Arlington over the weekend, with a blood-alcohol content of .19, more than twice the legal limit. He was involved in a collision with another car, with $1800 in damage to the two vehicles. Chief Baker has been placed on administrative leave while the case is investigated. He faces a minimum of 5 days in jail as his BAC was over .15.

A blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08 percent is considered legally impaired. However, alcohol can start to affect many of your senses after only one drink. No matter the circumstances, you should never drink and drive. It’s not worth the risk of putting yourself and others in danger.

A blood alcohol content (BAC) level of 0.08 percent is considered legally impaired. However, alcohol can start to affect many of your senses after only one drink. No matter the circumstances, you should never drink and drive. It’s not worth the risk of putting yourself and others in danger.

The largest group at risk for drinking and driving are those who binge drink or are struggling with an alcohol use disorder (AUD). This means they consume a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time, putting them at risk for harmful side effects and according to Leppard Law PLLC many legal problems. It takes roughly 30 minutes to two hours for alcohol to be absorbed into your bloodstream. During this time, your breathing may slow down and your cognitive skills may be delayed. Because of this, it is always dangerous to drink and drive.

The Daily Feed, WMATA, WTF?!
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Red Line Incident

Photo courtesy of
‘Metro – Vault – 12-15-08’
courtesy of ‘mosley.brian’

A man was hit and injured by a Red Line train at the Van Ness-UDC Metro station this afternoon after he put himself on the tracks intentionally, according to WMATA. DC Fire & EMS retrieved the man from under the first car of the train and transported him to an area hospital. Until the incident scene is formally documented, the Red Line will be single-tracking from Cleveland Park to Friendship Heights, resulting in (yet more) delays.

Is this Metro’s worst year? It’s look like it.

Update: Metro says that “normal” (degraded) service has returned after the accident.

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Watch as Teddy Devours Secretary Sebelius

Okay, so that’s not exactly what happens in this PSA about the Flu. But with the sound off, it sure looks like Teddy is going to raise the Secretary over his head and stuff her into his gaping, grinning maw as an after-race snack.

Or maybe I just haven’t had my coffee yet.

Seriously, though, wash your hands and stay home if you’re sick, the Flu bites.

The Daily Feed, WMATA, WTF?!
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NTSB: More Circuitry Failure

Photo courtesy of
‘tunnel’ courtesy of ‘volcanojw’

According to Dr. Gridlock today, the track circuit behind last month’s crash has apparently been failing to detect trains since a key component was replaced back in December of 2007. The NTSB also said that this component – a part of the WEE-Z bond – is the other end of the paired impedance bonds. The board had said previously it may have been the impedance bond at the other end of the circuit, the one that was replaced five days before the crash.

This new finding now begs the question of Metro: just how bad is their maintenance and trouble-shooting of the train protection system? And what, pray tell, will John “Baghdad Bob” Catoe, Jr. say next?

It’d better include the words “I’m sorry, DC.”

Talkin' Transit, The Features, WMATA, WTF?!
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Talkin’ Transit: In the Dark

Photo courtesy of
‘Where To Set One’s Eyes’ courtesy of ‘Bogotron’

It’s been a month since the fatal Red Line crash outside of Fort Totten. You’d think a deadly event like that would force some changes over at Metro at how they do things, right? More accountability, more transparency, better oversight, more concern for public safety..

Initially, I was impressed on the fact that they were at least trying. Despite some hard questions. Now, however, I’m not so sure.

Everyone by now has heard about the Post’s pretty damning report regarding Metro and the continual widespread failure of track circuits on four of the five lines. Incredibly scary stuff; those circuits are used to keep track of trains, their speed and location. The failure of such a circuit seems to be the cause of last month’s accident – though the NTSB has not officially announced the actual cause. Metro rail chief Dave Kubicek has downplayed the Post’s report, saying that none of the problems detected are anything close to the track circuit problem at the crash site. He insisted again that “the rail system is safe” and that it’s “a gross exaggeration” to suggest it’s widespread.

What is troubling isn’t just the technology failure; it’s how Metro’s handling it and other issues that have popped up lately.

Continue reading →

The Daily Feed, WMATA, WTF?!
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Metro Union: Please Don’t Watch Us So Closely

Photo courtesy of
‘don’t panic’
courtesy of ‘nevermindtheend’

WTOP had the news this morning that the union of Metrobus and Metrorail employees would really prefer it if you didn’t video them not doing their jobs. While I can understand a bit of their frustration, in that they’ve been in the news lately for napping at the controls of a train, texting while driving a metro train, and reading a book while driving a bus, instead of for their largely accident-free existence, it’s a bit tough to agree with the Union President Jackie Jeter. Jeter said, “Being watched 24/7 is a problem. I don’t think any of us would like that. And I ask (riders) to respect the operators and the jobs that they do.”

So, maybe let them off next time they catch someone asleep at the wheel, or reading while driving the bus. I mean, we’ve all done that, right?

Right?

<Crickets>

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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If Only DC had a Llama Farm


Asstastic tea cup
Originally uploaded by carlweaver

It’s one of those days, I guess. I felt as asstastic as my tea cup at work today so I went home early to sleep it off. It seemed perfectly normal when I woke from a dream this afternoon, wondering about the llamas at the DC llama farm. What? You didn’t know DC had a llama farm? Well, it doesn’t, unless you count the zoo, which turns out to have some llamas. One thing you can say about the llamas, though, is that at least they earn their keep by being used as food for larger animals at the zoo, unlike those lazy, no-good welfare pandas, who can’t even be trained to fetch me the right size bamboo for my grape trellis. Stupid pandas.

Oh, good lord. I need to get back to sleep.

News, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Shots Fired at Capitol, Constitution Blocked at Delaware Ave

Picture 3.png

We have reports coming in of gunfire near the Capitol. There has been a significant police response, and we’ve seen tweets that suggest that Constitution is closed at Delaware street headed west. Breaking News On suggests that a 35-year old male is headed to the hospital, and WUSA-TV has reported that this was a police-involved shooting.

Update 1: WJLA has the first to print story: A 35-year old male was shot by Capitol Police around 5:15pm, and the all-clear was given at 5:35pm. The person shot attempted to run the barricade at the parking area, but was unsuccessful, which is when the gunfire happened.

Update 2: Constitutition Ave is now shuttered from 1st Street NW to 1st Street NE and will probably remain that way for some time while the crime scene is processed.

Update 3: NBC Washington has Images from the Scene today.

News, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Flyers Beat Caps AGAIN

Photo courtesy of
‘Tied Up’ courtesy of ‘clydeorama’

Yes, yes, I know. There’s no actual hockey going on. But, there is.

News came down today that the NHL and NBC have announced the teams and location for the 2009-10 Winter Classic. As expected, it’s in Boston at Fenway Park. Yep, the Boston Bruins hosting. And following prior year NHL logic, the other team will also be a rising powerhouse with a top-notch superstar, right? Like, as expected, the Washington Capitals with Russian powerhouse Alex Ovechkin?

Wrong.

Nope, the League, in its continued head-scratching pathetic screwball logic, has named the hated Philadelphia Flyers as the other team. That’s right, those despicable FLYERS. Supposedly, the decision was made because Philadelphia has a bigger hockey television market than Washington.

Say what? Guess the NHL and NBC forgot about the tremendous buzz the Caps/Pens series put on. Or the continual highlight-reel goals by Ovie, or his mounting hardware from numerous awards, or the fact that the Caps are one of the top five most exciting teams to watch…

Yeah, I know. I don’t get it either. Stupid ****ing Flyers.

Foggy Bottom, The Daily Feed, WMATA, WTF?!
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Foggy Bottom Platform Escalator Fail


Foggy Bottom Platform Escalator Fail
Originally uploaded by brownpau

So you know how the Foggy Bottom Station escalators are actually a two-layered system of bottlenecks? Today the platform-to-mezzanine bottleneck was made worse by one of the two up escalators being blocked off (at rush hour with no work being done on it at the time, natch) so that hordes of work-bound Metro riders had to cram on to one single escalator. Good thing there wasn’t a fire. Thanks, Metro!

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Barack Hussein Obama Park? Not So Fast.

Photo courtesy of
‘every presidential departure is carefully choreographed’
courtesy of ‘philliefan99’

Okay, I get that DC is place with a name for everything, and that the park at 14th & Girard Streets is as of yet just named for its location, but do we really need to name it Barack Hussein Obama Park, as per the recommendation of Councilman Jim Graham?

I mean, I like the guy, but he’s been in office all of six months now, and we’re just going to go naming things after him willy-nilly? Can’t we see if he can actually pull the troops out of Iraq, or enact meaningful Climate Change legislation, or fix the healthcare system, or maybe just make it halfway through his term before we start naming things after him? Surely there are community figures important to DC that are more deserving? Perhaps an Eleanor Holmes Norton Park, instead? At least she’s been our representative for the last 18 years.

But, it may be a moot point, as DC Wire points out in their update: “No public space in the District shall be named in honor of any living person, or in honor of any person who has been deceased less than 2 years, unless the deceased person was a President or Vice President of the United States, a United States Senator or Representative, a Mayor of the District of Columbia, or a member of the Council of the District of Columbia.”

So, time to rewrite the law to exclude seated politicians? Either way, this isn’t happening right away.

All Politics is Local, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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WSJ: The Nationals Are Like The Senate GOP

Photo courtesy of
‘mccainwilsonpearce’
courtesy of ‘twinkletoez’

And, I have no idea who is worse for the comparison. But, here, the WSJ argues that like the Nationals, the Senate GOP is asking, “Why are we here?”

It’s hard not to think of a few more obvious parallels to yesterday’s hysterical McSweeney’s piece on what might happen if the 1977 Royals were in charge of the hearings. Certainly, it’s funnier to think what it might be like if the Republicans in the Senate Judiciary Committee were members of the Nationals. Perhaps Senator Hatch (R-UT) could start in place of Adam Dunn? I mean, he can’t be any worse in the field, right? I suspect Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) could stare down batters a lot more effectively than Kip Wells. What are your picks?

News, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Jack Evans’ Press Secretary Found Dead in Baltimore Harbor

Photo courtesy of
‘Baltimore Police Boat’
courtesy of ‘mkriedel’

Ward 2 Councilman Jack Evans’ Press Secretary, Desi Deschaine, was found dead this morning in Baltimore Harbor. Deschaine was reported missing yesterday when he failed to show up for work yesterday. He had been on a boating excursion in the harbor over the weekend, but debarked with the rest of the group at 10:30pm on Sunday.

It’s not clear if this is considered foul play or an accidental death at this time. Our hearts go out to Deschaine’s family and friends. Mike DeBonis from the City Paper has a remembrance of Deschaine posted to their City Desk blog. Deschaine’s commitment to the city, and his friends, will be sorely missed.