In just one more day before you too can enjoy MBDC BBQ like Tom here.
Good food, great times, and gregarious bloggers will be converging on Sunday’s Metroblogging DC 3rd Anniversary BBQ, starting around 6pm.
If you’re Joe-cool enough to show, be ready to get all piñata Jedi with choice paper mache representations of your childhood heroes.
We will not be taking prisoners.
The City of Falls Church has posted a number of tips on how to avoid mosquitoes and West Nile Virus. I am discussing them in a six-part series.
Wait a second – it’s here to stay? Oh, crap. Then why are we talking about this? Are we doomed to a long life of misery and encephalitis?
We very well could be, but that’s not the point. We have so many more dangerous prospects in our future, ways to die have not even thought of, that we should not get our undies in a bunch over this. However, we should think strategically.
It’s just true that West Nile Virus is not going anywhere, but there are things that we can do to lessen our chances of getting it. These might include wearing long pants and long sleeves (I won’t), using mosquito repellent (I rarely do) and using a bug zapper. The bug zapper goes against my philosophy of not harming others, so I am zero for three.
The Falls Church web site also has a fourth suggestion: ensuring that “windows and screen doors are in good condition and free of holes” I don’t know about you, but my window screens are full of holes. That’s kind of how they were designed.
Check in tomorrow to read about Tip #5: Don’t Forget to Spray.
Andy Carvin shot this footage last night during the presidential debate, copying the style of the newly popular Dramatic Chipmunk. Correction: Andy informed me that he did not shoot the Sharpton video and that it came from PBS. That’s okay, Andy. We still think you are the shiznit. See both videos here:
I waited until I’d had a nice lunch before I joined the line here at the Clarendon Apple Store, which stretched down into the shopping center from their front door past the various outlets into the alley between South Moon Under and the Barnes and Noble. Folks got here early, and the smart ones brought chairs. Me? I’m just the guy with the extra battery and an umbrella. Conditions are currently fair, but threatening rain.
AT&T, though, can bite my shiny metal ass, as their wifi node at the Barnes and Noble oughtta be free today for all those people who’re about to spend $60/mo for two years with them, but instead it’s $4/2hours.
Bastards.
Nice folks in line, come join us. I’m around the corner in the black polo typing on my MacBook Pro.
Updated at 4:25p: The line’s probably 120 or so now, and has been relocated to the horseshoe here:
Folks are pretty low-key, and Apple’s been great about checking on everyone, up to and including bringing us all some water, which was really kind. There’s a good mix of folks getting 1 or 2 phones, and everyone’s been really great. Not shabby.
The line is gone from the store as of 8pm. All the Apple folks look a bit weary, but good.
This entry sent from my iPhone.
(Above, left) I just want to say “Thanks” and “Hugz” to the Foggy Bottom Garden Club for the awesome short-barrel garden planters on the residential sidewalks between Rock Creek Parkway and GWU. They make my walk to work every morning a bit nicer. (Above, right) And another “Thanks” and “Hugz” to whoever was having that yard sale on Eye St yesterday with the box of free stuff. As you can see, Mr. Red Ceramic Bun Bun is liking his new home on my desk with Mr. Blue Beanie Rat and the plushie Oscar Mayer wiener mobile.
Free Our Streets, a loose association of Chip Py and DC Metrobloggers has started to make a difference.
Through our efforts, Montgomery county citizens are now aware that the developers of Downtown Silver Spring feel they have bought control over basic First Amendment rights on Ellsworth Avenue for $1 a year. And MoCo voters are not happy.
The questions they’re asking has led PFA Silver Spring LLC, a development partnership including the Peterson Companies, Foulger Pratt and Argo Investment, to change their stance on photography. But that change is just a start, a first, baby step. As the Baltimore Sun explains:
Last night, the development team, PFA Silver Spring LLC, issued a new policy, allowing photography in the area. And on July 4, it plans to display a “Welcome Photographers” banner on the site.
But Py insists photography is not his sole concern. All types of free expression should be permitted, from political campaigning to handing out fliers and other literature, he said.
“They are telling us it’s OK to take pictures on the street, but we don’t have any other First Amendment rights,” he said. “They don’t want to talk about public-private rights on a street. … We are asking for some First Amendment considerations in our town.”
Free Our Streets is asking for PFA Silver Spring LC to welcome photography, videography, and other filming on Ellsworth Drive, consistent with First Amendment rights as they would apply on any other public street. Not a watered down “photography at our discretion, if we like you” policy for Ellsworth Drive.
The Downtown Silver Spring development includes $187 million in county and state funds and the once completely public property Ellsworth Drive, public investment that should come with public rights.
And so the Downtown Silver Spring Photo Walk is still on. A declaration of photographic freedom on July 4th.
The City of Falls Church has posted a number of tips on how to avoid mosquitoes and West Nile Virus. I am discussing them in a six-part series.
That’s right – in the fight against mosquitoes and West Nile Virus, you have friends in your city or county’s health department, park maintenance team and even some housing and human services agencies.
However, you are a key player in this fight. When you come across dead birds and standing water, don’t just walk by and assume someone will do something. Call it in to the health department to make sure something gets done.
If you see that pool of water or rotting bird corpse again, call again to let them know that somebody dropped the ball. And if it’s still there the next day, call again and use some colorful language like “jerkwanker” or “fucknut.” These words don’t have to have established meanings; they just have to be spoken in such a way that people understand through context what you are trying to communicate. It’s great fun!
But know that your local city and county officials are working hard and may not be able to address every concern in as timely a manner as you would like. They are on the case, but it is a team effort to get a handle on this problem.
Check in tomorrow to read about Tip #4: West Nile Is Here to Stay.
As seen on my way to work the other day… you’ll probably have to click through to make out the name on the truck…
Peed Plumbing.
I wonder if they do emergency service?
(Why yes, I AM 12 today. It’s Friday, and time for frivolity.)
Walking through Capitol Hill, I spied this occupied front stoop. If you look closely, that’s 10 water jugs.
10 five-gallon water jugs or 50 gallons of water drunk.
50 gallons would be 100 days of water at an average of two quarts/liters of water per day. Or 50 if it were two, maybe 30 if it were three or more. Regardless, they would need to be a thirsty household.
Or is this the sign of a mystery “water club” I’ve heard government workers share?
What’s your theory?
If you are active duty, reserve, or retired military personnel, or a family member, and planning on using this weekend to work on some home improvement projects Lowes wants you to buy from them – and save 10% across the board when doing it. It’s an early Independence Day sale just for our men & women of uniform and will run through the end of the business say Wednesday. Just take your military ID to one of the area’s Lowes stores.
