By Kirk
‘Salient #10’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’
A local squirrel is recovering after a narrowly escaping a hawk, this week. This normally wouldn’t be news except that the incident was captured on film by local photographer Mark Hansen. Check out the photos here and note the priceless WTF look on the hawks face, post miss. Sweet shots, Mark!
‘Washington D.C., snow – one week after the big blizzard of Feb 2010 – snow in city center parking lot’
courtesy of ‘DominusVobiscum’
We’re well into May now but the remnants of the 2010 Snowpocalypse are still haunting the area.
Washington Post staff reports that there’s still a pile of snow (albeit very black and dirty snow at that) at BWI. Crazy? Yes. Slightly awesome? Pardon me for stating the obvious here, but I believe a “duh” is in order.
You can check out a picture (taken on May 3rd) of this last-snow-standing pile here.
‘in the crosswalk’
courtesy of ‘Jonathan Thorpe’
DDOT’s taking dancing in the street to a whole new level starting next Wednesday when they debut a new pilot program at the intersection of 7th and H streets in NW DC near the Verizon Center.
A “barnes dance” style intersection is being set up by DDOT in an attempt to reduce the number of conflicts between pedestrians and cars, DDOT spokes person John Lisle told WTOP.
While the details are still a little fuzzy, the intersection will work as such:
Traffic continues to cycle through the intersection as usual, but when all vehicular traffic is halted pedestrians will then be able to cross the street in any direction they want.
Up, down, left, right, sideways, longways, diagonally – they’re all options for your next crosswalk adventure – get creative.
WTOP reports that the ‘pedestrians-only’ cycle will be 29 seconds long with 26 seconds to cross and a solid three second don’t walk for stragglers to clear the intersection.
The question to ask here is: How creative will people get and how soon will we be able to watch it on YouTube?
Get those cameras. The antics start Wednesday.
By Tom Bridge
‘8099 mushroom’
courtesy of ‘crabchick’
Last summer’s horrific crash near Fort Totten revealed a colloquial term for the emergency brake aboard all trains: the Mushroom. Named for its shape, the Mushroom engages the emergency brakes and brings the train to an immediate halt. Yesterday, Metro reported an incident involving the emergency brakes being engaged on a Red Line train at Forest Glen as it approached the Station. No one was injured, but it’s concerning to hear that so long after last summer’s crash, that perhaps the system’s train indication still isn’t working.
This was one of our questions for interim GM Sarles at the blogger roundtable that was supposed to happen late yesterday. We were told that GM Sarles had a meeting late in the day with Congress and that was why our meeting was delayed, but the timing here could be considered suspect. The questions remain: What state are the train detection circuits in on the Red Line? It certainly is not promising to hear that the emergency brake was deployed here in light of what we’ve been promised.
We’re hoping that the roundtable will be rescheduled for early next week, and we can find out ourselves.
By Tom Bridge
‘Metro Bus, Downtown Washington DC’
courtesy of ‘Photos by Chip Py’
Metro has just announced that a passenger on board a U2 Metrobus was shot early this evening near the intersection of 18th & Minnesota Ave SE. The passenger was transported by life-flight helicopter to Washington Hospital Center with significant injuries. No motive is apparent, and MPD is investigating.
By Tom Bridge
‘Herbert George Ponting and telephoto apparatus, Antarctica, January 1912’
courtesy of ‘National Library NZ on The Commons’
This afternoon, Eleanor Holmes Norton released the specifics of the McCain-Tester Bill designed to make it much easier to acquire and carry a firearm in the District. The bill’s provisions include:
Feel safer yet?
”
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’
Surprise, surprise. DC is proposing changes to its new parking meter policies because, well, they didn’t work. The DC Department of Transportation is proposing that the meter time limit be lifted after 6:30 PM. Public comments indicated that drivers weren’t offended by having to pay for parking in the evenings, but that the 2 hour time limit on meters made it difficult to engage in activities like dinner out or movies. The meters in high-demand areas would be reprogrammed to accept 4 hours’ worth of quarters after 6:30 so that users don’t have to slip out to feed them.
Council Member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) wants to repeal evening enforcement altogether. Which would be cushy, but I’d be happy with just accelerating the adoption of pay-by-phone and pay-by-credit-card meters along with the increased time limit. Four hours’ worth of quarters is still 32 freaking quarters that I have to have handy if I want to park downtown, which continues to be logistically ridiculous.
By Rebecca
‘I could use one of these right now…’
courtesy of ‘abstract duck’
After a six-month investigation, local sheriffs have made nine arrests and charged the owner of Green Therapy, a Loudon county massage parlour, with operating a “bawdy place” and allowing massages to be performed without a permit.
Two Green Therapy employees were charged with giving massages without a permit and, more seriously, a third employee was charged with willfully touching or fondling a sexual part of a person. Law enforcement additionally charged 5 male customers for frequenting a bawdy place.
By Ben H. Rome
‘Metro Emergency Button’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’
Wondering what’s next up the track for WMATA riders?
More fare hikes, for one.
WTOP’s Adam Tuss gives a solid rundown of today’s WMATA Board of Directors/Finance, Oversight and Administration Commitee meeting to suggest budget guidance; topping the list is the apparent “resignation” that riders will once again need to pony up to help Metro close its yawning $189 million budget gap for FY2011.
Fares are likely to go up across the board. Peak rail rates will go from $1.65 to $1.90, off-peak from $1.35 to $1.55, and bus rates up $.25. Also discussed was a “peak of the peak” surcharge, placed on riders who travel between 7:30 – 9:30 am and 4:30 – 6:00 pm on weekdays. The surcharge could be an additional 10- to 20-cent fare hike or a 50-cent charge to those who use the busiest stations – Union Station, Metro Center, Dupont Circle, Farragut North, Farragut West, L’Enfant Plaza, Gallery Place-Chinatown, and Pentagon City.
Metro’s trying to decide quickly what to do, as it takes approximately 60 days to program and implement fare changes.
Makes me glad I broke up with Metro when I did…
By Kirk
‘IMG_9124’
courtesy of ‘jessie.whittle’
As I exited the Verizon Center this evening, I saw a few things that spoke to what I had just witnessed. Dejected Caps fans covered their Ovechkin jerseys with jackets and pull overs. I walked past a sign showing a basset hound with its ears held out straight; “SURPRISED?” it asked. Frankly, yes. Surprised, shocked, slightly embarrassed; the Caps, the best team in the NHL, had just been defeated by a number eight seed in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. How did it happen? I’m sure there a dozen perspectives. Mine is that the Caps never quite figured out how to get inside the Canadien’s defense and play the net. Continue reading
By Kirk
‘Real Estate For Sale Signs’
courtesy of ‘Mr. T in DC’
Do you ever feel like your pad is just a bit too large? Maybe you’re the type that doesn’t really like a space of their own. Well, you’re in luck because DC’s smallest (unofficially) house is currently on the market. For just over $1000/mo, you can enjoy all that this Capitol Hill home’s 252 square feet has to offer. The house is comes complete with a kitchenette, bathroom and backyard that’s actually larger than the interior. Frankly, though, it looks a little silly in between the neighboring normal sized houses, but I suppose that’s part of the charm. So, if you’re the type of person searching for a unique little (emphasis on little) home, DC has the answer. Isn’t there a tiny house in Georgetown, too? I wonder which is smaller.
By Rebecca
‘DSCF0842’
courtesy of ‘joelogon’
Yesterday, some Hoya had a serious brain fart and decided to heat up their pizza in the common room oven without removing it from the PAPER box. Of course, as physics and common sense would have it, a fire broke out and the Harbin Hall dormitory was evacuated. DCFD were promptly on the scene and students returned to their dorms just in time for Jeopardy.
Usually, I’d chalk this mistake up to drinking, but considering the fire occurred at 7pm (prime college dinner time) I’m gonna just call a bonehead a bonehead.
By Kirk
If you happen to see a group of armed Tea Baggers in Virginia tomorrow, don’t be alarmed! It’s merely a group of patriots(tm) attempting to make some sort of statement against big government by carrying firearms, which symbolizes something. A coalition of militias and gun rights groups that are ticked about, amongst other things, health care reform and bailouts, are strapping on and gathering tomorrow at Gravelly Point on the Virginia side of the Potomac, the closest place to DC that they can openly carry. They aim to make history by holding the first armed protest in a national park, and are in no way attempting intimidate political opponents by brandishing weapons as they protest the “erosion of the Constitution.” In fact, they see bearing arms as a form of mainstream political dialogue, a right granted to them by the Constitution, along with the right to peaceably assemble. Why you’d need weapons at a peaceful protest hasn’t quite been hashed out, but supposedly the group has a rationale. But really, I’m not here to tell you about it. I just don’t want you to freak out if you see guys with guns shouting angrily in the direction of the Capitol. They’re just fighting for our rights.
By Tom Bridge
The new WFT Contract came with some sizable increases in teacher salaries, and though the contract came with some sizable outside grants from august associations like the Broad Foundation, it looks like there’s going to be some controversy over how it gets paid for.
First, you remember way back when the DCPS said they were running a $40M+ shortfall for the year? And you remember that they RIFfed a number of teachers because of that shortfall, upsetting a number of people? How about that part when Michelle Rhee said they RIFfed those teachers to get rid of a few bad apples, and that ruffled some feathers? Okay, so now we’re up to the point where it was revealed that really they miscalculated that RIF, and instead were operating with a $35M+ surplus. And Rhee said the other day that the city would use that surplus not to rehire the teachers they RIF’d, but rather to pay for part of the new WTU contract.
Okay, now you’re all caught up on the drama. Here’s where it gets good: DC CFO Natwar Gandhi says there is no surplus. The money that was saved by RIFfing those teachers will just about cover the extra expenditures by the DCPS Central Office in FY09. So. Now. How exactly will this surplus-that-isn’t cover any part of the new WTU contract? Good question. We’ll find out, I’m sure.
By Rebecca
‘busey’
courtesy of ‘spectabillis’
Thankfully, it’s not that often that Gary Busey and DC cross paths. However, the geniuses at http://barackandgary.tumblr.com/ have a lot of time on their hands and have photoshopped shots from the official White House Flickr stream with Busey’s head. My personal favorite is the photo of Busey with Clinton, Gates and Obama. Classic. Not sure what the purpose of this project is, but it was a great way to start hump day.
By Tom Bridge
‘jumbo slice’
courtesy of ‘krossbow’
Tomorrow night, the Travel Channel is pitting two DC pizza joints against each other in an episode of Food Wars. Look, I know all about Jumbo Slice, I know all about Pizza Mart, or whatever, but this is simply not a pizza town. You want a battle? Let’s talk cupcakes. There’s a bajillion of cucpake vendors in this town, and I’m sure that they would practically break out in an alley knife-fight over who was best. Let’s talk burgers. There’s a half-dozen truly top-drawer burger joints in this town, from Ray’s Hellburger, to BGR, to Good Stuff, to Palena, etc. Why not focus on something with real focus for the food community instead of some bullshit lowest common denominator thing? Also, where’s the love for 2 Amys? Or Pete’s? Or Red Rocks?
I expect better from you, Travel Channel. Or did your research assistant get drunk off their ass in Adams Morgan and never go anywhere else?
Hat tip to Marc Benton for this one
By Tom Bridge
‘The Return of the Ghost Bikes’
courtesy of ‘Daquella manera’
A National Guard truck, as part of a security convoy related to the Nuclear Summit, struck and killed a local woman yesterday at 12th & New York. Her identity remains unknown, as does the identity of the driver of the truck, and the convoy that they were part of. There is significant outrage that such a large truck was necessary to use as part of any street convoy in DC, and I must admit that I share it. I’m not sure why the National Guard felt that they had to use giant box trucks instead of the standard Suburbans/Tahoes/Denalis that they use for security here in the District.
Perhaps the next time they do this, they should hold it over at the Pentagon or Bolling AFB, as those are places that usually have such large vehicles running about?
‘Lotus #49’
courtesy of ‘Chris Rief aka Spodie Odie’
It looks like Metro’s trying to get responsible, start saving money, and create more time to do track maintenance. I’d say, “Great! Hoorah! I’m proud of you,” but I can’t do that. Why? They’d have to eliminate late night train service on weekends to do it.
Director of Operations Planning at Metro, Jim Hughes, told WAMU-FM’s David Schultz that Metro carries less and less people that later in the night it gets. Well duh, Mr. Hughes. The earlier closure time would cost close to 800,000 riders a safe way home, but would save Metro more than $6 million a year.
If Metro goes through with the proposed change, DC area businesses would run the risk of losing a decent amount revenue previously brought in during those late weekend hours. Metro hot spots such as U Street, Chinatown, Dupont Circle, and Adam’s Morgan could all be hit hard by Metro’s actions.
By Kirk
‘East Capitol Ave.’
courtesy of ‘Packherd’
The Fairfax Court of Appeals has ruled that it is legal to be naked in your own home. You may remember that a few months ago a neighbor saw Eric Williamson through a window walking around his house naked, enjoying some coffee. Said neighbor called the cops, who burst into Williamson’s Springfield home with guns drawn and arrested him. A District Court judge convicted Williamson of indecent exposure a few months back, but he appealed and won. Jurors described the proceedings as comical, stating that acquittal was an easy decision. Justice prevails!
By Tom Bridge
Photo by Max Cook, special to We Love DC
Saturday’s matchup against fierce rival New England Revolution marked the home opener for D.C. United. Unfortunately for United, Kenny Mansally decided to personally rain on the opening parade. Last Saturday’s disastrous opener in Kansas City behind them, United came out of the locker room looking like a new club. In the first half, they managed to keep ahead of the usually potent New England offense with some offensive production of their own. Unlike last Saturday, United was able to keep things moving on offense, putting together some possessions that were respectable.
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