September 30, 2004
Seed Pod
![A seed pod sits in the grass after a rain. A seed pod sits in the grass after a rain.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-30-04.jpg)
A seed pod of some kind sits in the grass after a rain. I have no idea what kind of tree this fell from, but it caught my eye because of its contrasting colors. Everything is falling from the trees around here, including apricots. Yes, apricots. On my way to and from school there is a line of large apricot trees which recently dropped all their fruit. That fruit quickly was smashed by traffic, then it rotted in the sun, creating the most rank stench you can imagine. Mmm!
September 29, 2004
Sisu's View
![The view Sisu sees looking out through our front gate. The view Sisu sees looking out through our front gate.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-29-04.jpg)
The view Sisu (our dog) sees looking out through our front gate on a rainy day.
September 28, 2004
Mail Chute
![An old mail chute in a K Street office building. An old mail chute in a K Street office building.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-28-04.jpg)
An old mail chute in a K Street office building. According to the
National Postal Museum, mail chutes like this were introduced in the late 19th century. Here's a bit
more:
Cutler's company was the sole manufacturer of mail chutes and receiving boxes until 1904. During those 20 years, the company produced more than 1600 receiving boxes, and continued to produce them for several more years. This receiving box was constructed in 1920. ![](bq.gif)
This page suggests you can still buy mail chutes, but not Cutlers. So that means this mail chute is at least 84 years old? It's funny, because the exterior of the building makes it look fairly modern. I guess that's what you call a facade. Deceptive appearances in the heart of America's capital!? Shocking, isn't it?
September 27, 2004
K & Conn
![The corner of K and Connecticut in downtown D.C. The corner of K and Connecticut in downtown D.C.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-27-04.jpg)
The corner of K and Connecticut in downtown D.C., right near the Farragut North metro stop. This is just a few blocks from where I work now. I like saying “I work on K Street.” That's really the coolest part of my job.
(I understand that “K Street” carries no special significance for most people, but in D.C., among a certain set of people, it's known as the street where the political insiders work and do their dirty deals. There are lots of legal firms on K Street, as well as political consultants, ad agents, lobbyists, etc. So it's part of, if not the heart of, the oozing underbelly of American national politics. And I know almost nothing about it really, so I'm just talking about rumors and innuendo and probably the real power people would laugh at this if they read it. So it goes. Oh, but there was an HBO show last year (a very bad one) called
“K Street,” so there's at least a little evidence that I'm not completely insane.)
September 26, 2004
Sit, Sisu!
![Sisu sits in the park after playing in the creek. Sisu sits in the park after playing in the creek.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-26-04.jpg)
Sisu sits in the park after playing in the creek. I like this picture because she looks like she's listening to me, which happens rarely. ;-)
September 25, 2004
Connecticut Avenue Bridge
![Sisu beside Rock Creek Park. Sisu beside Rock Creek Park.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-25-04-2-tm.jpg)
Connecticut Avenue Bridge as seen from below in Rock Creek Park. This is a 5-10 minute walk from our apartment, and Sisu loves to go down and play in the creek (right). It's nice living so close to the park, although this far south it's pretty narrow and the recreational path running through it tracks the road very closely so the beauty of a park is sort of dulled by the cars whizzing by. And man, do they fly! We tried crossing the road the other day and it was like playing Frogger at an advanced level. I don't know what the speed limit is on Beach Drive, but I'm pretty sure most drivers exceed it—by quite a bit.
September 24, 2004
Gallery Place Options
![The list of possible destinations you can reach from the Gallery Place Metro. The list of possible destinations you can reach from the Gallery Place Metro.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-24-04.jpg)
The list of possible destinations you can reach from the Gallery Place Metro on the green and yellow lines. Few other stations on the D.C. Metro offer so many choices.
September 23, 2004
Tennis Abaci
![Tennis balls made into an abacus-like art piece at the D.C. Convention Center. Tennis balls made into an abacus-like art piece at the D.C. Convention Center.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-23-04.jpg)
Tennis balls made into an
abacus-like art piece at the
D.C. Convention Center. I believe some of the balls are also racquetballs. There were three of these on the same wall w/the balls painted in different colors and arranged in different ways. When I first saw them, I thought, “cool, interactive art! They should have put them lower so little kids could play with them easier.” But when I went to play with them, I found they weren't interactive at all; the balls don't move. Too bad.
September 22, 2004
Greg Palast
Greg Palast signs books at the
Green Festival. Palast is a reporter probably best known for his work exposing how Florida disenfranchised thousands of black Floridians in 2000, much of which he collected in
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy. We heard him speak for about 30 minutes and he gave us plenty of reason to fear that the 2004 vote is already stolen. As he put it, "You've probably already voted; they just haven't told you how yet."
What's he talking about? Off the top of my head, I recall he said that many if not all of the Floridians (most of them black) who were wrongly prohibited from voting in 2000 are still on the "banned" list in 2004, and hundreds of thousands of absentee ballots are going to be counted by hand (and possibly behind closed doors). Now the Pentagon is
trying to keep overseas Americans from voting. Do we live in a Democracy? Hmm.
September 21, 2004
No Sweat
![An view of the Green Festival from overhead. An view of the Green Festival from overhead.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-21-04-2-tm.jpg)
Chuck Taylor copies made by well-paid labor. Some of the proceeds of this particular model go to
Code Pink. These shoes are made by NoSweatApparel, and they're a sort of protest of the fact that Nike recently bought Converse, and Nike is known as a global “leader” in the use of sweatshops to make its goods. We saw them at the
Green Festival on Saturday, which was very very cool. From a cynical perspective, the festival was just proof that caring about the environment just puts you in another, more specialized (and often pricier) demographic. It was basically a mobile mall where all the stores were selling healthy and environmentally friendly products. But from a more positive perspective, it was community activism and social justice in action. Sure, just about
everyone there would have been happy to sell us something, but for the most part, any money we spent there would go to environmental protection or sustainable and socially just activity. You can't say that about a trip to many other marketplaces, can you?
Check out the
list of exhibitors—you might want to do business with some of them in the future. For example, get your:
That's just a sampling—there's lots more there. Happy shopping!
September 20, 2004
Teach Critical Thinking
![Good advice written by someone at the Adam's Morgan festival on a street banner. Good advice written by someone at the Adam's Morgan festival on a street banner.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-20-04.jpg)
Good advice written by someone at the Adam's Morgan Festival on a street banner. As I've been meaning to do since the festival, I've finally collected the rest of my pics from that day into a short
series. None of them are that great, but there are more pics of these banners if you're interested in more of what the average Adams Morgan Festival attendee thinks of Bush and the war on Iraq. (Hint: D.C. is overwhelmingly Democratic.)
September 19, 2004
On Guard!
![The square key for the OnGuard lock. The square key for the OnGuard lock.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-19-04-2-tm.jpg)
My new OnGuard bike lock to replace the
compromised Kryptonite. The OnGuard lock is supposed to be better because it uses a rectangular or square key instead of a cylindrical key like they Kryptonite locks. You can still pick it, but not with a Bic pen! This picture also shows the cable I use to lock up the front wheel of my bike, so it's all double-locked. That won't prevent it from being stolen, but it should be a deterrent, and that's really the best a person can do.
September 18, 2004
Giraffes
![A box of carved animals for sale at the Adams Morgan Festival. A box of carved animals for sale at the Adams Morgan Festival.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-18-04.jpg)
A box of carved animals for sale at the Adams Morgan Festival.
September 17, 2004
Sprinkler Alarm
![Viking sprinkler alarm on a Mt. Pleasant building. Viking sprinkler alarm on a Mt. Pleasant building.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-17-04.jpg)
Viking sprinkler alarm on a Mt. Pleasant building.
September 16, 2004
Dunk Tank
![A volunteer dunkee expresses relief after a potential dunker missed the mark and spared her a drop in the drink. A volunteer dunkee expresses relief after a potential dunker missed the mark and spared her a drop in the drink.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-16-04.jpg)
A volunteer dunkee expresses relief after a potential dunker missed the mark and spared her a drop in the drink. This dunk tank was a fundraiser at the Adams Morgan Festival last Sunday.
September 15, 2004
Where the Sidewalk Ends
![Sidewalk Ends Sign Sidewalk Ends Sign](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-15-04.jpg)
Is this what
Shel Silverstein had in mind? (This was taken on Adams Mill Rd, which borders the SE edge of the National Zoo.)
September 14, 2004
The Left Bank
![Coffee Cup at the Left Bank Coffee Cup at the Left Bank](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-14-04-2-tm.jpg)
Inside the Left Bank on 18th St. in Adams Morgan. AOL Cityguide
calls it "achingly hip" and that's probably a good description. But the herbed fries are incredibly good and they offer fresh omelets in the morning made-to-order right at your table. L. and I had brunch there a while back, then coffee w/The Scoplaw and In Limine the other day, and while the place seems a bit too precious, that doesn't have to stand in the way of it being a good place to hang out. So far it's never been too busy when we've been there so you're free to chill, listen to the great music (and they do play excellent music), and, apparently, surf the web. (According to AOL, they have WiFi access, although I don't know if it's free.) Try it the next time you find
Tryst too packed...
September 13, 2004
Sakharov
![Statue of Andre Sakharov outside the Russia House at the corner of Connecticut and Florida Ave. in Dupont Circle. Statue of Andre Sakharov outside the Russia House at the corner of Connecticut and Florida Ave. in Dupont Circle.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-13-04.jpg)
Statue of “academician”
Andre Sakharov outside the Russia House at the corner of Connecticut and Florida Ave. in Dupont Circle. Really, what could be better than a disembodied head apparently supported by hands from the absent body?
September 12, 2004
Ethiopian Feast
![Our vegetarian sampler at Meskerem. Our vegetarian sampler at Meskerem.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-12-04.jpg)
Our vegetarian sampler at Meskerem on 18th Street in D.C. I'm a little ashamed to admit this was my first experience with Ethiopian food and it was terrific. For the uninitiated, everyone in your party gets food served on the same plate, and rather than eating with utensils, you eat with your hands by scooping up food with pieces of a spongy flatbread that you tear off of folded round loaves. (In the picture above, all the food is sitting on a "loaf" of flatbread that's lining the large plate. We've already eaten a lot, so some of the bottom flatbread has been torn away. Yum!) Not only is Ethiopian food tasty, but the eating experience is fun, as well.
September 11, 2004
Humidors
![Personal humidors at a cigar bar in D.C. Personal humidors at a cigar bar in D.C.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-11-04.jpg)
Personal humidors at a cigar bar in D.C. I can't remember the name of this place, but I think it's on F Street downtown and it's an "all smoking establishment." We stopped in for a drink and were amused to see the "personal humidors" of the regular customers. Apparently you can put whatever label you want on your humidor, including company logos and strange sayings. One said "We are those men." What does that mean?
September 10, 2004
Jefferson Memorial
![The memorial viewed from peddle boats The memorial viewed from peddle boats](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-10-04-2-tm.jpg)
The Jefferson Memorial sits beneath a cloudy September sky. This pic was taken from the bridge on Constitution Ave. as we were walking around the
Tidal Basin to the
Peddle Boats. We rented a 4-person boat and sweated our way out to toward the Memorial. I thought we might cruise around the basin a bit, but it was way too hot and the peddling was far too much work to do more than get an ok view of the Memorial (right) and get off the water. As I
mentioned, I'd recommend waiting on the peddle boating until mid to late October when the weather should be nice and cool and the light much better. But I do recommend the peddle boats; when it's not miserably hot and humid, they can be a lot of fun.
September 09, 2004
Plastic Furniture
![The promo banner for AIR The promo banner for AIR](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-09-04-2-tm.jpg)
Plastic "lounge" furniture at "AIR," a downtown D.C. outdoor music thing. As the banner (right) indicates, "AIR" offers live music on the
Woodrow Wilson Plaza, every Friday from 5-9 p.m. "No Admission! No Cover!" Plus, you get to sit in funky plastic furniture with lots of little palm trees scattered about, so what more could you want?
September 08, 2004
Forget the Rent?
![Note on the chalkboard at GW Note on the chalkboard at GW](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-08-04.jpg)
A note on a public chalkboard in the 1st floor common area at GW Law School reminds students to pick up their loan checks. I thought this was hysterical since nearly every law student I know (myself included) was more or less broke for the last six weeks of summer, counting the seconds until those loan checks became available so they could rush them into their empty bank accounts. But yeah, perhaps this message is for all those kiddies who worked at firms making $30k for 14 weeks of work (yeah, that's what the highest tier of summer associate positions pay). I guess maybe they wouldn't really care about those loans...
September 07, 2004
GW Law Democrats
![GW Law Democrats info table GW Law Democrats info table](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-07-04.jpg)
The GW Law Democrats' information table made the biggest splash at the GW Law School Student Organization Fair last week, complete with stickers, yo-yos, and even a stuffed donkey. The group is planning a number of voter registration/information events for the next two months, which is a good thing. Sure, DC is a foregone conclusion for Kerry, but perhaps some GW students are going to vote in their home states where their votes will actually matter.
Isn't it great to live in a Democracy where every vote doesn't really count?
September 06, 2004
Purple Posies
![Odd purple flowers that look like they're about to bloom. Odd purple flowers that look like they're about to bloom.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-06-04.jpg)
Odd purple flowers that look like they're about to bloom. We saw these on a walk around the neighborhood yesterday and I took a picture because I'd never seen anything like this before—the whole plant is purple, while it looks like the actual flowers might be some other color. Odd, but very cool.
September 05, 2004
Woodley Park Metro
![Inside the Woodley Park Metro Station Inside the Woodley Park Metro Station](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-05-04.jpg)
Inside the Woodley Park Metro Station. The silver "columns" in the foreground are the half-circle shrouds around the payphones on the platform.
September 04, 2004
1940s Gas
![A mural painted on the side of a car wash near the DC-Maryland border. A mural painted on the side of a car wash near the DC-Maryland border.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-04-04.jpg)
A mural painted on the side of a car wash near the DC-Maryland border. I have no idea if the scene it depicts is anything like the 1940s, I just thought it was cool.
September 03, 2004
City of GW
![Map of the GW Campus Map of the GW Campus](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-03-04.jpg)
A map of the George Washington University campus in downtown D.C. The neighbors are unhappy because GW is the largest private landowner in D.C. and just keeps buying more stuff and expanding, and I think the big complaint is that, because it's a non-profit institution, it doesn't pay property taxes, or not much, and so the city is poor because GW is rich. I don't fully understand the issues, and I don't have time to track down the controversy right now, so, um, nevermind. ;-)
In other GW-related news, both the law school and undergrad classes have begun at GW and the campus is crawling with people. Now if the weather would just turn nice and cool, it would feel like fall.
September 02, 2004
Capital Haze
![The Capital Building from the corner of Pennsylvania and Constitution Ave. The Capital Building from the corner of Pennsylvania and Constitution Ave.](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-02-04.jpg)
A view of the Capital Building from the corner of Pennsylvania and Constitution Ave., showing the haze of humidity that hangs over Washington D.C. nearly every summer day. The temperature on this day was in the 80s with very high humidity, which is the standard July/August/early September weather here. Basically, you go outside, you're soaked in sweat. I am, anyway. I can't wait for winter.
September 01, 2004
Leave No Stupid Idea Behind
![09-01-04.jpg 09-01-04.jpg](http://mowabb.com/aimages/images/09-01-04.jpg)
Little red schoolhouse facades adorn the entrances to the Dept. of Education building on C St. SW in downtown D.C. For the record, there are eight of these stupid things (four sets like this). Howard Dean called the No Child Left Behind Act the "No School Board Left Standing" act because it took so much control away from local districts and it put many in a financial bind by forcing them to spend money they didn't have on things they didn't want. I guess it was more important to spend money on PR stunts like these stupid schoolhouse facades than to actually fund education in this country. Good to know we've got our priorities straight.