MediaoutletsacrosstheDistrict are getting excited about how the Senate passed a bill yesterday that would give DC a seat (yes, an actual voting seat) in the House. It looks like the bill is a bit tangled up with language that would affect the gun laws in the city so we will have to see how that all shakes out. Either way this is good news for DC and temporarily for Utah ( who would also get an additional seat until 2011 when the seat will go to whichever state is closest getting a new representative based on Census data). Joe, John – I’m looking at you on the Utah thing.
Excuse me while I geek out for a second and mention the really cool architectural detailing on the corner of this building. They just don’t do things like that anymore.
This sign on Pierce St NE (a few blocks north of Union Station) is a little depressing, but at least it’s not giving anyone a false sense of hope. Did everyone watch Obama’s speech last night? I thought the most rousing part was this:
…It is our responsibility as lawmakers and educators to make this system work. But it is the responsibility of every citizen to participate in it. And so tonight, I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. This can be community college or a four-year school; vocational training or an apprenticeship. But whatever the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma. And dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It’s not just quitting on yourself, it’s quitting on your country – and this country needs and values the talents of every American. That is why we will provide the support necessary for you to complete college and meet a new goal: by 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world.
-Barack Obama, Feb 24th, 2009
It’s not Republican or Democrat, it’s just message to people to get up and do something to better themselves, and ultimately their country.
We signed a new lease over the weekend!!! but don’t worry, we’re only moving about a mile on down the road. We’ll be closer to Dupont Circle, and have LOTS more room to spread out across our English basement apartment. We also have a backyard patio area, which hopefully means the return of the grill!! And finally, and most importantly, we are now a three minute walk to Mr. Yogato !!
That is a pretty sweet old shoe, seen through the lens of a fisheye camera of course. Feels like some sort of alternate universe, but really it’s just a Mt. Pleasant storefront. On that note, Happy Friday!!
As a resident of DC, I should probably be following this issue with more interest than I do, but to be honest, I just don’t know what to think. Here’s the deal: DC residents do not have Congressional representation like residents of the 50 states. What we do have is Eleanor Holmes Norton, a delegate to the House of Representatives, but she is not allowed to vote on the House floor since she is not a member of Congress. In the Senate, there are of course 100 members, so obviously there is no representation for DC there either. Since the district is a federal territory, it is not covered by the US Constitution, which grants Congressional representatives only to the states.
The arguments on both sides get pretty intense… We pay taxes like everyone else (except of course Marion Barry . again.) but without equal representation… SO, does the District become a new state, (and where would that 51st star fit on the flag exactly??) Does the Constitution get amended, or over-ridden? Should DC be absorbed back into the state of Maryland? and then there are all the tax issues which I don’t really care to understand.
It’s certainly not the first Marilyn photo we’ve posted, nor will it be the last, but this one is a little more subtle. The way it’s photographed, it would definitely make for a great film noir setting, right at the corner of Calvert and Connecticut… There’s a lot of lights on, yet the sidewalks look pretty empty. Hmmm.
Last year this time, we were just getting back from a weekend trip to Philly…
Last month I went down to Old Town Alexandria to attend the a lecture from the New Metropolis series at Virginia Tech’s Alexandria Campus by Margaret Wall from Resources for the Future (a local non-partisan think tank) on Parks, Open Space, and Recreation Lands: A Report on Activities of the Outdoor Resources Review Group. It was a very interesting lecture that focused on the changing recreation and outdoor park use trends in America, how it is affecting our culture and health (particularly in children), and the various challenges that urban and rural parks and park directors face in terms of funding, programming, up keep, etc and their struggle to stay relevant in the age of xbox and guitar hero.
On my very nice, though a little icy, stroll from the metro down King St. I came across this white horse sculpture that sat in the bed of an old pick-up truck with an American Flag back drop. This little installation sits in front of Hard Times Cafe, which is a rather tasty chili joint. Not sure on the connection to Hard Times but the horse/flag fit in nicely with the historic streets of Old Town Alexandria.
It’s President’s Day, and I’m at work. Hopefully you have the day off?
Either way, this photo is Juxtaexposed’s tribute to the great conservationist and 26th President, Teddy Roosevelt. The statue stands on an island named after the president, just off the George Washington Memorial Parkway, and it’s a great place to hike over to if you have never visited.
Which leads me on an important segue to someone who probably would have preferred a post about the other Roosevelt, Franklin Roosevelt , and is still awaiting my great masterpiece painting that has been titled “The New Deal” but which exists only in our minds and has never yet made it onto canvas. My friends, today we celebrate the birthday of frequent Juxtaexposed commentator and taco-lover extraordinaire, the one JJ “Wonderwall” Abraham. I thought about having the painting done for your birthday this year, JJ, but let’s be honest, that will probably be ready for you to hang on your wall when the tv entertainment stand you were going to make for the quad is complete. Please accept this picture of jager bombs in lieu of a painting. Please leave her some love and 26th birthday wisdom in the comments!!
Happy Valentine’s Day! Whether you love or loathe the “holiday” of romance, chances are that you like chocolate. This is my latest rendering, done in Maya, and a little bit of Photoshop. I need to keep playing around with Maya before my student license expires… but anyways, enjoy!
It’s Friday the 13th… are you superstitious? Would you walk under that stack of ladders without worrying about it bringing you a string of bad luck? Or, perhaps, you think like me and see that there are 6 ladders — an even number — and they obviously cancel each other out, so you wouldn’t have to worry.
I’ll admit that when it comes to my superstitions, it’s more of a numbers game than anything else. Evens, especially multiples of 10 or any number with an 8 in it being the far superior types of number. Maybe this is more of an obsessive-compulsive trait than a superstition, but something about me just feels off when there are odd numbers present. I don’t like to set my alarms for random times, example 6:37 am, that freaks me out, but 6:40 is perfectly acceptable. The television volume has to be on an even number as well, preferably 18, but 22 if the dishwasher is running. I like even-numbered addresses, like Matt’s old address at 8508 Summit Hills, but not my work address 8505.
I guess has more to do with my quirks than it does with Friday the 13th. What are your superstitions?
Happy 200th B-Day, Mr. Lincoln
February 12th, 2009
I forgot that I wanted to post this today in honor of Lincoln’s 200th birthday, so enjoy the rare double post day!! (zach, I’m lookin at you.) Apparently they are releasing 3 new pennies today in honor of the occasion… which leads to the interesting question, who uses pennies anymore anyways?? According to that link, pennies are released at a loss because they cost 1.7 cents to make. Absurd!
Awhile ago I wrote about seeing unintentional faces in everyday places. So this is part two of the posting. This one is a little different because it’s more or less created by the cropping of the photo, but I still see someone looking at me with bright eyes, a long rusty nose, and pursed lips. And in case you were wondering… this was taken in the warm-up room for the University of Maryland boxing team.
Two weekends ago we hit-up the Maine Avenue Fish Market on the SW waterfront. I hadn’t been down there in the few years it’s been since I did an architecture project for school based around that area… but it was the same as I remember it, only much colder outside this time. Despite the freezing temps, the market was still bustling with people and lines waiting for crab balls and hot soup. Matt and I shared both of those things, and stood at the little outdoor wooden bar to eat — along with about 100 birds and ducks. After we ate, we went back and picked out a large piece of swordfish to make for dinner. I was really tempted to get a large slice of homemade pie to go, but ended up passing on it.
For anyone unfamiliar with the fish market, people in DC always talk about it like it’s the hidden food-related gem of the city. It definitely takes a little 10 minute out-of-the-way walk from the metro to get there, or you have to be willing to drive. But everyone says it’s the freshest seafood in the city, and I believe it, considering that the vendors are selling right from the water. Just read some of the reviews from Yelp, and it’s easy to see that many pople list this as their favorite place to go in DC, especially if you want a look at the locals.
Unfortunately Mr. Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow today which means 6 more weeks of winter (boooooooo). You would certainly not know it by the lovely 54 degree weather we are having today. C’mon spring time!
Every 1st of the month, there is a theme day at the City Daily Photo page. This month brings us “Paths and Passages,” check this link for thumbnails of entries from other cities. Many of them are paths found in nature, so I chose to post this very man-made stairway. It looks just as lonely as any nature trail I can picture though.
