Category Archives: WTF?!

The Daily Feed, The District, The Great Outdoors, WTF?!
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Just a Reminder: Don’t Drive Through Standing Water

Photo courtesy of
‘Pipeline burst’
courtesy of ‘ECU Digital Collections’

The rain this morning has been significant so far, with a flash flood warning in place until 11:30 this morning. Several cars got stuck this morning after driving through standing water and shorting their engine. Folks, if the spark plugs can’t make the gas in the cylinders explode, your car will rapidly lose locomotion and you’re not going to be able to restart the vehicle. So, really, don’t drive through standing water. Unless you want to get stuck in the rain on Rhode Island Ave waiting for a tow truck driver who will probably laugh at you, like several folks did this morning.

National Airport’s weather station is reporting an inch and a half of rain in the last twenty-four hours, but I’ve been hearing totals as high as 2-3″ of precip, so this is a pretty soaking event, and we’re due showers all day. So, drive careful DC.

News, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Rashomon at the White House

Photo courtesy of
‘Crying baby’
courtesy of ‘_Nezemnaya_’

There’s a story going round this morning about the Evil Evil White House and the Evil Evil Steelers that ran off a kindergarten class from a White House Tour because they were 15 minutes late. Interestingly enough, all of the media mentions from one family, the Stines.

More interesting was the second half of that same story that says they weren’t just 15 minutes late, they were an hour late, and the White House told them their window would end at 30 minutes.

Folks, if you don’t plan ahead for traffic in the DC area, there’s not a whole lot you can expect in the way of sympathy. While it’s definitely a huge bummer for the kids, and they’re certainly not responsible for the lateness, they do get to pay the price because their parents, and the bus company they hired, couldn’t plan ahead. Actions have consequences. Turn this into a teachable moment about the responsibility of being on time, not an excuse for entitled whining.

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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And the Winner Is…

Photo courtesy of
‘The result of a Maryland driver’ courtesy of ‘terabithia4’

The results of the National Driver’s Test for 2009 have been released and guess what? We have proof once again that Maryland drivers are indeed worse than Virginians. But worst of all are those who live in the District.

The test measures basic knowledge of driving laws and how much we know about safe driving. And the fact is, we all suck. (Just that some states suck worse than others.) GMAC stated in their press release that they “found that 20.1 percent of licensed Americans – roughly 41 million drivers – would not pass a written driver’s exam if taken today.” Sobering thought.

The District is the 8th worst on the list, followed by Maryland at 11th and Virginia at 31st. The worst? No surprise there: New York.

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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My Eyes, My Virgin Eyes

Photo courtesy of
‘Going for a Ride’
courtesy of ‘John of Austin’

And now, for your WTF of the day: the Air Sex Championships are coming to DC. Although Rock and Roll Hotel is hosting, this is not some weirdly-named band you’ve never heard of, it’s an actual judged competition of an activity much like air guitar…but with sex. Competitors get up on stage (one at a time), fully clothed, and perform to a song of their choice. For an even more graphic representation, here’s a video from the place where it all started: Texas. Like I even need to say this, but it’s definitely NSFW. Catch all the action for yourself June 10 for $10.

News, The Daily Feed, The District, WTF?!
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Disney in Maryland?

Photo courtesy of
‘Cinderella Castle4’
courtesy of ‘Definitely Disney’

A 15-acre parcel near National Harbor will be the site of Disney’s next resort hotel. The hotel will sit on Oxon Hill Road not far from the site of the Gaylord resort. The $11-million dollar parcel seems an odd choice in this economy, but would house a 500-room luxury hotel amongst a cluster of other large hotels at National Harbor. While designs and construction timetables won’t be available for some time to come, it’s clear that National Harbor will be rivaling the downtown Convention Center for business in the years to come. This would, though, bring a number of new jobs to Prince George’s County, both as part of the length construction phase, and then to the hospitality sector.

But, will it look like a hotel? Or maybe look like Cinderella’s Castle? I’m hoping for the latter, as it would counterbalance the oddly-amusement-park-esque Mormon Temple on the northern side of the Beltway…

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Lebowskifest DC is Coming

Lebowski.png

Lebowskifest 2009 will be September 28th & 29th, so mark your calendars, Little Lebowski Urban Achievers. Tickets go on sale on Friday for the DC version of the festival, which will be a movie party on the 28th at 9:30 club, followed by a bowling excursion at Strike Bethesda on the 29th. I think I could probably rock the Walter look, but I think the brush cut wouldn’t look good on me. Who would you go as?

News, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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That’s Some Tasty & Addictive Queso You Have There

Photo courtesy of
‘Queso’
courtesy of ‘newsongNY’

Feds at Dulles Airport yesterday arrested a guy for smuggling cocaine hidden inside moist cheese dip. Now, it was only a few ounces inside the cheese, but after the Borders & Customs crowd found his little stash, they also found a brick of over a kilogram taped to his person. Looks like you’re going to have to work harder than that, mister smuggler guy.

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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14th Street Bridge Construction Coming

Photo courtesy of
’14th Street Bridge’
courtesy of ‘tbridge’

If you’re coming into the District from Virginia, life’s about to get a whole lot worse. There are those who advocate just blowing all the bridges and making everyone come in via a magically-enhanced metro, but they lost this round. A $27M rehabilitation project will start in the middle of May, with most work coming between 9:30a and 3p and overnight. The Northbound lanes will be the ones under heaviest construction, going down to 4 skinny lanes with no shoulders at all, so one accident on the span, and it’s all over but the waiting.

News, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Swine Flu Case Suspected in DC

Photo courtesy of
‘The World Bank Grou’
courtesy of ‘maxedaperture’

Bloomberg is reporting that one case of Swine Flu is now suspected at the World Bank. The employee had recently travelled to Mexico, and has fallen ill. He was in the office on 20 April and may have infected several coworkers through direct contact. All exposed to the individual have been asked to work from home until further information is available.

This would be DC’s first case of the pandemic virus that is currently causing havoc all over the globe. Except in Madagascar.

Food and Drink, The Daily Feed, The District, WTF?!
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Why Do You Hate DC, Food Network?

Photo courtesy of
‘a vegan is crying…………….’
courtesy of ‘LaTur’

When a friend sent over the Food Network’s Best Burgers in America guide, I was shocked: There was no DC entry in the contest. How the hell did this happen? I mean, I’m super pleased that Ray’s Hell Burger won for Virginia, but where’s DC’s entry?

There are so many awesome burgers in DC, from Spike Mendelsohn’s Good Stuff Eatery (oh man could I use one of their epic milkshakes!) to the delectable mini-burgers at Matchbox, Capitol Grille’s Kobé Burger, and who can leave Old Ebbitt out? If we want to include vegetarian options, I think you have to include the old veggie burger ever to make me crave another: the Veggie Burger at Science Club.

So, why did DC get such a shafting by Food Network? Our emails to the network haven’t been returned yet. Maybe we should take them a sampling? Where’s the best burger in DC?

News, Talkin' Transit, The Features, The Mall, We Green DC, WTF?!
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Talkin’ Transit: The Great Pedicab Predicament

Photo courtesy of
‘Pedicab’ courtesy of ‘afagen’

Yesterday, we received a late-day heads-up from a reader that there was an issue brewing with the pedicabs that offer rides to tourists and residents along the National Mall.

The entire issue seemed odd, as pedicabs have been operating on the Mall for a couple years now and haven’t had any issues up until yesterday, when they were told they would be arrested and their bikes impounded for soliciting and servicing customers on Madison and Jefferson streets, the two main boundary avenues of the Mall.

If the Park Police was correct, the Mall was going to lose a 100% eco-friendly form of transportation that serves hundreds of riders each week. The cabs provide jobs for the area and a friendly ‘green’ option for people to utilize. Taking away the Mall from them would kill a sizeable portion of the pedicab business.

So I set out to contact Ben Morris, the owner of National Pedicabs (and the company affected by this), and his DC operations manager, Danny Cochrane, as well as Sgt. David Schlosser, the National Park Service’s Public Information Officer, to find out just what the heck was going on.

Continue reading →

News, Talkin' Transit, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Joe Biden, Sad Panda: Amtrak, MARC Penn Temporarily Suspended

Photo courtesy of
‘Locomotive’
courtesy of ‘wfyurasko’

I have no idea how Joe Biden is going to get home tonight.

Apparently, the train tracks at BWI are flooded, which has suspended train service between DC and points north. Amtrak is reporting a water main break near the tracks at BWI which has rendered the area impassable. It’s likely there won’t be a fix until this afternoon at the very earliest, from what we’re hearing on Twitter.

The MARC Penn line is also affected.

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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New Pedicab Policy?

DSC_2432

Update: I’m getting more information now; watch for our Talkin’ Transit feature tomorrow with more details.

According to a heads-up from a reader, the Park Police are now arresting and impounding pedicabs that operate on Madison and Jefferson Streets around the National Mall. This policy goes into effect today and will most likely kill a 100% eco-friendly form of transportation in the heart of the tourist district of the city.

The reason Park Police are giving is that the pedicabs are soliciting business on the mall and advertising…but isn’t that what normal cabs and buses in the same area are doing already with sideboards and logos?

Anyone who has more info on this, share, because at a glance this isn’t looking all that kosher.

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Brashear Tagged for Six

Photo courtesy of
‘090127 brashear-1’ courtesy of ‘Dan4th’

Word from the NHL Head Office: Donald Brashear is going to be sitting out the next six games, whether they’re playoff games or regular season.

The punishment is actually for two incidents: Brashear got tagged for a one-game suspension from his pre-game shove on Colton Orr during the warmups, and a whopping five games for his “blind-side hit” on the Rangers’ Blair Betts midway through the first period. The league determined the crushing shoulder hit was delivered late and targeted Betts’ head. Betts left the game with a broken orbital bone and won’t be at Tuesday’s game at the Verizon Center.

The suspension is the latest in a bunch of issues between the two teams during a crazy Quarterfinals series; the most recent shenanigans saw Rangers coach John Tortorella suspended from Game 6 due to an altercation with a fan here in DC. Fortunately, the drama all comes to a head tomorrow night with Game 7; the winner moves on, losers go home.

The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Banner Arrest

Photo courtesy of
‘ANSWER Protest Signs’ courtesy of ‘Wayan Vota’

Just noticed on WTOP’s Twitter that DCPD have arrested seven Greenpeace activists for the traffic-inducing banner-unfurling at a construction site near the State Department this morning.

The banner, consisting of a giant image of the Earth, read “Too big to fail. Stop global warming, rescue the planet.” A Greenpeace spokeswoman said if governments can bail out big banks, “they can find the resources to bail out the Earth.”

The sign’s been taken down and the activists arrested for unlawful entry.

News, Sports Fix, The District, WTF?!
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DC Sweeps New York

Victory.jpg
‘Victory’
courtesy of ‘NCinDC’

How’s that for some sweet victory?

The Nats beat the Mets, 8-1 on the stellar pitching performance by rookie Jordan Zimmerman (now 2-0), and off the bats of Jesus Flores and Austin Kearns. The usually virile bats of the Mets were struck dumb by Zimmerman for almost 6 innings, and then kept quiet by Hinckley, Mock and Wells for the rest of the game. The Nats are still not that great at 4-13, but we’ll talk more about that tomorrow on Sports Fix.

The Caps forced game 7 against the Rangers today, which will be played on Tuesday at the Phone Booth. The Caps have won two straight against the Rangers, both routs, and they looked as good as you’d hope going into a final winner-take-all matchup. Simeon Varlamov had 29 saves, and is at 90% plus for Save Pct. Not bad for a guy who didn’t start much at all this season.

DC United edged the Red Bulls 3-2, in a real nail-biter. DC United lead 1-0 at the Half, but the Red Bulls scored two goals in the middle of the second half, and the situation looked very dire for the boys in black. It wasn’t all lost, though, as Luciano Emilio scored in the final minute of the game to tie the match at 2. I was content to think we’d pull out a tie and save the point, but Chris Pontius had other ideas, and put a right-foot shot into the upper corner of the goal with just seconds on the clock to capture the win for United.

What’s that, New York? Is that the sound of crying I hear? Perhaps gnashing of teeth for ruining your weekend? Excellent. Just what were going for.

Life in the Capital, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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Dear IMF/World Bank Protestors

Photo courtesy of
‘Old MPD Cruiser: Anyone Know What Year??’
courtesy of ‘marciadc’

Two things for the jerks who decided that breaking windows and spray-painting cars was a good idea:

1. PNC Bank isn’t the problem. Seriously guys. PNC is a medium-sized local-ish bank that avoided the risky investments that have caused the credit crunch.

2. Breaking windows and vandalizing people’s stuff is about as likely to make your message popular with the people as hitting them in the face. Seriously, nobody likes a jackass. I’m down with free speech, but that’s not a freedom to break other people’s stuff, mmkay?

Oh, and by the way, if you want to stop the delegates from leaving your hotel, that means you have to be there before they leave, okay? So maybe tomorrow don’t stop for Starbucks, and don’t sleep past 9. Or, maybe let the adults go to work, and you kids can stay home? That’d be just fine with us, too.

Comedy in DC, Night Life, Technology, The Daily Feed, WTF?!
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When Text Messages Go Bad

Photo courtesy of
‘SLVR’
courtesy of ‘Max Klingensmith’

Oh, text messaging. Sure, some people think texting is the end of society. Some others think that it’s just a gateway to ratings (Um, how many stories does Fox 5 need to do on Sexting? Is their 10pm news editor just a perv?), but really, what texting is, is comedy. Enter Texts From Last Night. Better yet, they’ve got them segregated by area code, so you can read DC’s finest hilarious texts including my favorite:

(202): And then I said “flip over. I want to show you something i learned in Afghanistan.”

Of course, there 703, 240, 301, but oddly, no 571. What, does no one text funny things from Virginia?