Friday, on the way to the CSIS picnic somewhere in Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, or some other DC suburb, we saw the best stop sign alteration ever…

Then, in front of the Supreme Court on Saturday we saw the lamest protest ever. About 7 or 8 teenagers lined up at the bottom of the stairs at 5:40pm. The building’s closed, there are few tourists and absolutely no government officials anywhere in sight. I decided to photograph this girl, and she kept laughing so I started shouting at her, “stop laughing, this is serious shit!” which only made her laugh more, eventually causing the tape to come off her mouth. The girl next to her kept her nose in the bible, as if it said something new after two-thousand years.

In April of last year, I brought D.C. DJ D-Mac (say that three times fast) out to Chicago to spin at The Modernist Society. When D-Mac came back to D.C., he was quick to set up a local chapter occuring the last Thursday of each month at Saint-Ex. Well, to make a long story short (too late), now it’s my turn to guest DJ at The Modernist Society. However, “DJ” being used to describe what I do may be a bit much, I’m more of a “selector” whereas your residents D-Mac and Nevelle Chamberlain (of Crooked Beat records) actually know what they’re doing. Regardless, if you want to have a good time Thursday night, come out and hear rock, soul, reggae, funk, hip-hop, disco, go-go and all that good stuff.

p.s. while the flyer says we’re starting at 10pm, we’re secretly getting under way at 8pm to play all the new records we just bought and haven’t had time to listen to yet.

Larry Diamond

Author Larry Diamond spent 3 months in Iraq as an advisor to the American occupation authorities. His books shows how the American effort to establish democracy was hampered not only by insurgents and terrorists but also by a long chain of miscalculations, missed opportunities, and acts of ideological blindness that helped assure that the transition to independence would be neither peaceful nor entirely democratic.

June 16, 2005 6:00 PM
Location: In Store @ Borders Books

Washington, D.C. - L Street
1801 K Street NW
Washington, DC
Phone:202.466.4999

Greetings. My name is Jason Mojica and I’m your friendly neighborhood guest blogger from Chicago. Here are a few notes from my first week here.

1) Little cars don’t like mountains, and run better when they have oil.

2) Just as all Mike Muir wanted was a Pepsi, all the guy in the above photo wanted was a Big Mac. However, it was 3:30 am Saturday night, and the McDonald’s on 18th doesn’t have Big Macs on their limited, late-night menu.

3) It might be time to get rid of the carpet on the Metro, especially if it means I can bring a cup of coffee on. If the carpet and the no food or drink rule is going to stay, how about something cool, like white shag, or maybe fake fur?

4) I went to a Nationals vs. Braves game, and for a city that doesn’t have years invested in this team, you sure do like ‘em a lot.

5) As much as I was looking forward to spotting politicians and policy wonks, I was more starstruck when I spotted Guy Piccoto manning the Radio CPR booth at the Mount Pleasant fest on Sunday.

6) The fried green tomato BLT at Saint Ex is one of the best things I’ve ever had in my mouth.

7) The two institutions run by the Smithsonian that I’ve visited thus far could use a little maintainence… like light bulbs.

8) I don’t know how I never heard of Giacomo Balla, but thanks to the Hirshhorn, I have. Lovely.

9) What the HELL are those little half-circles sticking out of the roofs of Metro station entrances? To stop ice from falling on people’s heads? Pigeons? What?