All Life Is Local

Washington Tweets

2012-02-13T11:42:00.001-05:00

by Bill Adler

Washington tweets. A lot. The Washington Tweets column is a collection of the most interesting, recent Washington-area tweets. These tweets reveal a candid and fascinating portrait of what is on our collective minds: Twitter gives a snapshot of what we're doing, thinking and hoping for. Washington Tweets is Washington in the raw. Spot or write a great tweet? Send it to tweets (at) fastmail (dot) net for consideration for the next Washington Tweets column. Bill Adler tweets at @billadler.

I know Pepco says that they'll eventually come by and do a real reading, but, well, I don't believe them. (@dcist_martin)

happened in my NY subway too RT @SusanPage RT @Reddy: DCMetro has broken out with "I Will Always Love You" by a dozen random people. (@amyewalter)

What an odd coincidence...everyone riding the DC metro who was wearing a bowtie just got off at the Adams Morgan station. (@Chris_Moody)

My favorite moment of #CPAC - police try to throw out a group of conservative rockers, thinking they were from the Occupy DC crowd. (@keithkoffler)

One day, Adele will sing the DC Register. #geekdream (@hgil)

Forecast: Seasonable but changeable weather early this week, not as cold http://wapo.st/w988AD (@capitalweather)

RT @cajunjen: When I say spicy, Siam House listens. Wow. (@CPUptownGirl)

Love ur lobstermobile & all ur fav food trucks? Please let DCRA & the City Council know here so we don't disappear:http://passnewregs.org (@LobstertruckDC)

Why can't DC drivers parallel park? Blame DMV as they don't test drivers when giving licenses, reports @courtneyzott http://bit.ly/zSv6RZ (@kytja)

This RT @OConnellPostbiz: DC will cap its ability to mature as a city if it continues to build almost exclusively small 1 and 2 BRs. (@sommermathis)

#Ward3DC :) RT @mstoneman: Teacher with a lot of kids in D2 bus. Group in good spirits, but totally quiet. Impressive. #gloverpark #stoddert (@marycheh)

My favorite restaurant in DC since 1994. Andouille chicken still rocks after all these years. http://4sq.com/ySGKad (@rtoddbouldin)

The decorative lights that have hung over Adams Morgan for the last decade are coming down: http://bit.ly/xIan7C (@DCist_Updates)

RT @mikemadden: So the @washingtonpost doesn't think local news is a "core journalism department?" http://bit.ly/zzGDS3 Everyone: READ @WCP. (@wcp)

Lovely of the fare card machines at Vienna not to work this morning @wmata (@veesbee)

RT @housingcomplex: @mayorvincegray talks a lot about places for people to work. What about places for them to live? bit.ly/AmtNWE (@bogrosemary)

Overheard: "You haven't lived until you've done the DC-NYC dating relationship. Everyone is doing it now." (@jarehart)

#Ward5se MT @kenyanforward5 Glad that Congresswoman Norton has had some success gaining add'l election autonomy for DC http://ow.ly/8XcZa (@bogrosemary)

I am learning the hard way that if it's (it's being a restaurant, store, theatre, etc) not near a subway, I don't know how to get there. #DC (@gobeckygo)

that cookies n cream cupcake from dc cupcakes today was the best freakin cupcake ive ever had in my life. the icing was perfection omg (@curtstomp)

Top city for finding single women - Washington DC? Men's Health says yes: http://bit.ly/yFR8sO (@nbcwashington)

Washington DC's Love Affair With Marijuana; a much bigger part of upper-middle-class life than you might think (@AlfredSpellman)

Coming Soon to DC: Sixth Engine Bar & Restaurant http://bit.ly/zteGaZ Via @delectabelle (@abpanphoto)

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The Celestron NexStar Telescope will make you feel like you're standing on Saturn's rings, http://amzn.to/yBLJkE (Adv)
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Solar Energy Meeting Monday Evening at Tenley Library

2012-02-12T00:30:00.000-05:00

Interested in learning about solar energy? The Potomac Region Solar Energy Association is putting on a free meeting to promote solar energy and teach homeowners how to start a solar energy coop. You will hear from a leader who has created solar coops from the ground up and has created a network that covers all eight wards of DC.

DC Sun: A Collection of Coop Neighborhoods

February 13, 7:00pm - 8:30pm

http://dclibrary.org/tenley

4450 Wisconsin Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20016

Cleveland Park Historical Society Facebook Links to DC House History Maps, Zoning Discussion

2012-02-11T05:00:00.000-05:00

We'd like to give a shout-out to the Cleveland Park Historical Society, which, through its lively Facebook page, has recently posted links to a couple of very worthwhile web pages:

1. The Northwest Historic House and Building History in Washington, DC, researched and maintained by Kelsey and Associates. (There are also sections covering Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest.) This is a fantastic resource for anyone interested in our city's history and architecture.

and

2. The article on the re-drafting of DC's zoning code posted on the blog Greater Greater Washington, and the discussion/comments that follow.

Thanks to CPHS for spreading the news about both (and we hope to do the same)!

Still Life With Robin: Watch This Space...and Some Others, Too

2012-02-10T07:00:00.000-05:00

Photo by Tom468, Wikimedia Commons

by Peggy Robin

I’m taking the easy way out this week. By that I mean I’m taking this occasion to pass along some time-wasting but amusing videos that others have passed along to me. (You can stop reading now if you're sure that you're in the loop for everything that goes viral on the internet these days.)

The first one is for those who missed seeing the opening skit of Saturday Night Live last week. This is an instant classic, and I'm sure it will make lots of "Best of SNL" collections in the future, but it's good to see it while the parody is politically fresh:

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/Sci-Fi-Cold-Open/1383274

Here's another one that's good to see while the buzz is still very "buzzy": It's the Chrysler commercial that ran during the Superbowl on Sunday, "Halftime in America" narrated by Clint Eastwood, praising the comeback of the American auto industry (and implicitly, the bailout): http://bit.ly/Ao67jD

Speaking of controversial commercials that ran during the Superbowl: Have you seen this political attack ad run by Republican US Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra? All week long it's been raising an outcry about its use of negatives Chinese stereotypes. First, take a look: http://bit.ly/wdYpru

Among those calling for Hoekstra to apologize for the ad are some Asian-American Republicans (according to this story on Politico.com): http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72532.html

If you missed the Superbowl on Sunday (and I'm apparently one of the few who did), you may have also missed out on the mainstreaming of the hot new sport called slacklining, which I predict right now will one day become an Olympic event. Here's a link to the performance by Andy Lewis that was part of Madonna's halftime show: http://bit.ly/w0wajT And if that just piques your curiosity and you want to learn a bit more about Andy Lewis and slacklining, I’d recommend: http://bit.ly/rVdHHB

If you’d like to be up on one of the biggest Youtube trends, then take a look at some of the "Sh*t People Say" videos. It all started with "Sh*t Girls Say" but now it seems there's one (or several) for every category. The "People from DC" version is pretty spot-on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuPwy77scvw
If you've got a little more time to waste, then try "Sh*t Nobody Says" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-x8t0JOnVw

And if you've really got extra time on your hands, then revisit that perennial Youtube favorite, the talking twin babies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-x8t0JOnVw. Some of the sequels and parodies are even better: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XFPzihuzow&feature=related (Talking Twin Babies, Translated) and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IIysKu_w5Us&feature=fvsr (Talking Twin Boys All Grown Up)

If you haven't seen "Surprised Kitty" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bmhjf0rKe8, see it, just so that you're not the last one on the planet who hasn't.

[I had to include an addendum to this column after I saw the front page story in today's New York Times about the most viewed non-commercial video in Youtube's history, "Charlie bit my finger," http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he5fpsmH_2g.Apparently, it beats out "Surprised Kitty" in popularity...though I can't really understand why. See both, and judge for yourself (provided you have sufficient time to waste, that is).

News from the Zoo

2012-02-09T10:36:00.000-05:00

If you haven't been to the Zoo lately, here's a reminder that during this mild winter, it's a great time to catch up on our furry and feathered neighbors, minus the crowds and sometimes oppressive summer heat. The Friends of the National Zoo has some updates on so you'll know some things before you go.

About the lion cubs:
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GreatCats/LionUpdates/growingup.cfm?hpout=homepage

About the giant pandas, who may be making another attempt to produce offspring:
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/GiantPandas/default.cfm?hpout=zn&xtr=#update
(Be sure to scroll down the page to find out about red pandas, too.)

About the maned wolves:
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/Amazonia/News/manedwolfpups201201.cfm?hpout=zn&xtr=
(The incredibly cute pups shown in the photos are still at the Zoo's Front Royal (Virginia) Facility, but there are two adult maned wolves in the Cheetah Conservation Station:
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals/AfricanSavanna/default.cfm

To time your visit to any particular programs, exhibits, or events: click here.

Huge Annual Book Sale at Chevy Chase Library, Feb. 8 - 11

2012-02-08T13:00:00.000-05:00

It's finally here! The Huge Annual Book Sale put on by the Friends of the Library(FOL) at the Chevy Chase DC Branch starts on Wednesday from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m. forFOL members. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up at the doorbeginning at 5 p.m. (Minimum membership: $10)

When you reach the sale (2nd floor) you will find 30,000+books, CDS, DVDs, audio books of every genre for adults as well as kids inscores of categories -- all clearly marked. Hundreds of pocket-sized sci-fi,mystery/thriller, and romance titles are just fifty cents.The vast majority of other titlesare $2, but some of the newest fiction, vintage and rarer books, classics,art, cooking, and coffee table books in FOLio (DC's best quality usedbookstore) are priced slightly higher.

You can shop the sale during regular library hours, Thursday, Friday,and Saturday (9:30 - 5:30). Watch this space for news about a special"yard sale" Saturday afternoon, and Bag Day on Monday, Feb. 13, whenyou can fill a bag that you bring -- or we can supply -- for $5.

Chevy Chase DC Friends of the Library

5625 Connecticut Avenue, NW

Members' Sale Starts Wednesday, February 8th, from 6 - 8pm

Public Sale: Thursday, Friday, Saturday (Feb. 9-11th) from 9:30am - 5:30pm

Bag Day (fill a bag for $5): Monday, Feb. 13th

Ask Kelli: Rude Friend, Distracted Mom, Nerdy Guys

2012-02-08T05:00:00.000-05:00

by Kelli Miller

Hi Kelli,

I’m about to embark on a cruise. For months I've been saving up for this and so I'm really excited about it. My close friend, however, said something really rude when I told her I had officially reached my savings goal for the trip. She said, “I wouldn’t spend my money on getting seasick!” I thought she understood that this trip means a lot to me, and that saving the money was an accomplishment; so her little comment really hurt me. Am I wrong to feel insulted?

Signed,
Friend Rocking the Boat

Dear Friend Rocking the Boat,

You have a right to feel the way you do, and there is no right or wrong when it comes to feelings.

Objectively, the comment wasn’t nice, given that you had told your friend how much you’ve been looking forward to the trip.

Could it be that your friend is jealous that you can spend so much money on a vacation? Not knowing your friend, I can only guess at what might have prompted the comment. However, it could be that she just blurted out her reaction to the idea of a cruise, which doesn't appeal to her personally. In that case, you should probably forget about it. We all have different tastes, different likes and dislikes.

Of course, she shouldn't have rained on your parade, but don't let her remark influence your enthusiasm for the trip. Focus your attention back to your excitement about the cruise. To get you back in the spirit, maybe you can review the itinerary again or look online at the ship’s layout. You’ve saved up for this and now it’s time to enjoy it!

Bon voyage,
Kelli

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Dear Kelli,

My son is now five, old enough for me to drop him off at a playdate and actually leave. Yay! My problem is that there's a little girl he really adores, but every time I see the girl’s mom, she’s on her cell phone, either texting or talking. I mean every single time! I worry that if I drop my son off at her house, the mom will not really be supervising them. How do I know for sure?

Signed,
The Mom's a Cell Phone Addict

Dear Mom's a Cell Phone Addict,

You really won’t know for sure unless you’re a fly on the wall. So my first thought is for you to try and have most playdates at your house. If your son asks to go to the girl's house, ask the girl’s mom if she wants to hang out while the kids play. This way, you won’t be depriving your son of fun time at the girl’s house and you can know for sure the kids are being watched properly.

I’d be careful about voicing your concerns directly to the mom, however. She may feel insulted, and you run the risk of ruining your son’s friendship with the little girl. So if you want your son to enjoy these playdates but also be sure that he's well supervised, I'm afraid you're going to have to have them at your house, or stay with him at the little girl's house.

All the best,
Kelli

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Dear Kelli,

I’m what people consider a nice girl. So evidently I attract the super nice but very nerdy guys. I just don’t have the heart to say no when they ask me out. The problem is, when I agree to go out with someone who's nice but not attractive to me, I feel like I’m wasting everyone’s time. What is a nice way to say no?

Signed,
Wish I Were Not Quite So Polite

Dear Wish,

Before I give you advice on how to say no, just remember that nerds make the best husbands. I say that because sometimes we get an idea stuck in our heads about what our mate should be like, when we'd be better off keeping an open mind. I actually think it’s great you’re at least going out on a first date with these guys, because you honestly never know how you might feel about a guy until you give him a chance.

Okay, now that I’ve given you my pitch for open-mindedness, I will concede that there are times when you know you are just not interested. And if you're sure that's how you feel, then there is no point in wasting anyone’s time. So a simple, “Thank you so much but I’m not interested” is a nice but direct way to turn a gentleman down. You have to keep in mind that you’re probably not the first person to turn this guy down and there is a chance you aren’t going to be the last. I know you don't want to hurt the guy's feelings, but with a relative stranger, it's fine for you to consider your own feelings first. If the gentleman persists, you can always say, “I’m sorry but I just don’t feel the chemistry.” No one can argue with that!

All the best,
Kelli

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Kelli Miller, MSW is a therapist, author, and radio personality. Miller was a featured expert for SIRIUS Satellite Radio Channel 198, the co-host for the TV show Love and Money: The Advice Show, and the advice columnist for Playboy U, and the author of Professor Kelli’s Guide to Finding a Husband. Ask Kelli is published on All Life is Local and the Cleveland Park Listserv on Wednesdays.

Sick of being single or miss the dating woes?

Watch the first season of Sex and the City

http://amzn.to/AwdHlq (Adv)

Tech Column: Adaptive Tech for Dry Skin

2012-02-07T11:53:00.000-05:00

by Bill Adler

Not all technology involves electrons and multi-syllable words. And not all technology is single-purpose. In fact, sometimes the best uses of technology are when you adapt one simple device for a completely different, and brilliant, purpose. That's the subject of this week's tech column: Taking one technology and using it for a completely different purpose. And that is:

Use a contact lens case to carry skin cream.

Unless you like overpriced sampler creams. Unless you're fond of carrying giant-sized Lubriderm pumps. Unless you can do without on days when even the squirrels are applying the oil from nuts, instead of eating the nuts.

If you're the kind of person who's become adept at opening and applying lip balm single handedly, then this tip is especially for you. Just fill the little right and left lens containers with your favorite cream and you're ready to withstand the driest of winter days. You can even carry along two different creams. I've often used this system when traveling and can say that airport security doesn't care about contact lens cases.

Pick up cases at your local drugstore, or order them online in bulk, http://amzn.to/zq4qno, and pre-position the cases and cream in every coat, bag and pants pocket you own. (As an aside, because contact lens cases are waterproof, you won't be saying bad words if you accidentally wash your pants with a case in the pocket, as you might do when a Chapstick ends up in the wash.)

This is adaptive technology at its best.

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Bill Adler is the co-publisher of the Cleveland Park Listserv, www.cleveland-park.com. He is the author of "Boys and Their Toys: Understanding Men by Understanding Their Relationship with Gadgets," http://amzn.to/rspOft. He tweets at @billadler.

Washington Tweets

2012-02-06T11:47:00.000-05:00

Washington Tweets

by Bill Adler

Washington tweets. A lot. The Washington Tweets column is a collection of the most interesting, recent Washington-area tweets. These tweets reveal a candid and fascinating portrait of what is on our collective minds: Twitter gives a snapshot of what we're doing, thinking and hoping for. Washington Tweets is Washington in the raw. Bill Adler tweets at @billadler.

Man, business in #ClevelandPark is looking good tonight! @StArnoldsDC @dinodc @dcpalena @MediumRareDC all busy & fun!

Newark Street Giant supermarket closing in March to pave way for new supermarket + development: http://t.co/9zzVxEwi #DC #clevelandpark

If you live in the DC metro area, stop by @UofMaryland to meet 3 #ISS crew members on Feb. 14. More info: http://go.nasa.gov/wHCAoD

It's not just Superbowl Sunday: Happy National Weatherperson's Day to our DC & national weather friends!

Told my videographer to meet me at the Krispy Kreme entrance of the Dupont metro station. The "Hot Doughnuts Now" sign is taunting me.

This much should be said for the Park Police: they allowed an Occupy live-streamer behind police lines all day.

At a booze tasting group in Adams Morgan. Everyone brings a bottle & shares. This is exactly what I want to do with caviar!

Holy sardine can! Fascinating photo of DC parking lot during 1974 bus strike: http://bit.ly/vQ0YC5 @in_focus h/t @thetransitfan

I love/hate how in movies set in DC never show the city having traffic.

Riders aren't imagining it: The number of cracked rails on #WMATA is growing. Last year more than doubled 2009. http://bit.ly/zb67Qn

#WMATA tweeted Sarah McLachlan lyrics to emotionally send off 3 Dupont Circle Metro escalators: tbd.ly/xMSOAK

Really enjoyed @RippleWDC in Cleveland Park. Great food and drink, plus my whole hard to please family left happy.

Art-hopping in #TrinidadDC along Florida Ave. Yay for walkable neighborhood with art galleries!

No @bikeshare in my two go-to stations downtown. Walking to and from stations is doubling my trip time.

Dorothy Brizill is truly a vital civic institution. But she always sounds angry at someone.

Well, Redskins fans, at least take comfort in the fact that we were only team to beat the NFL champs twice this season: http://ow.ly/8TyKH

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Folding Electric Bike: lithium powered, 17+ mph, 25 mile range. Get around townwithout having to worry about Metro again, http://amzn.to/yjFsAi(Adv)
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Compilation of Plumbers Recommended for Promptness and Price

2012-02-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

All Life Is Local has a companion listserv, www.cleveland-park.com, which regularly receives queries from members looking for recommendations. From time to time on All Life Is Local, we like to post a compilation of recent, helpful recommendations on a particular topic on the listserv -- in this case, plumbers (sub-categories: prompt & reasonable).

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I would like to recommend Mallick Plumbing, (301) 840-5860 in Gaithersburg. We have used them for over 5 years now and have never had any problem. They show up on time (mostly early). We had a major plumbing issue 4 years ago and they were the *only* plumber that returned our call within 10 hours (we called *every* 24 hour emergency plumber in the book). They have done the work on time and always at a fair price.

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I would recommend Benny Gartrell (Office: 301-421-9088; Cell: 301-385-0944). He is a one man show with his son and he is "old school". He does not rush, he does good work and he is reasonably priced. I have used him on repairs, one renovation and one addition and he has always been great.

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Real Plumber has always been prompt: 301.567.2001

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Kyle Habel came to my condo yesterday and snaked a bathtub drain for me. The cost was $75 and he showed up exactly when he said he would. (The plumbing business that I hired last year to do the same job charged $160) In addition, I called mid-day Wednesday and he was able to come the very next day. Kyle Habel, 240-821-2514.

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I highly recommend Carl at James A. Wheat & Sons: Very professional, very knowledgeable, shows up on time and does the job the right way (no cutting corners). 240-399-5037.

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I use RL Voight for plumbing. They are in Kensington. Stephanie is the receptionist. I usually request Greg -- one of their best. Several of us use this company and all have been pleased. 301-946-6100.

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For plumbers, try O'Neil plumbing, 703-655-0071. Shannon and his team are awesome, they show up when they say they will (or early!) and are great at what they do. Mention you found them on Yelp for a discount if you pay by check or cash.

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I strongly recommend Mark Norton, M.E. Norton HVAC & Plumbing, cell 240-401-4041, office 301-570-6589. He is very knowledgeable and thorough. He provides sound advice and is promptly
available in addressing any requests for repairs that range from plumbing to HVAC, which makes it very convenient, as you can get all the related services in one call.

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Beall Plumbers, www.beallplumbing.com, 703-266-2655. We've used Beall Plumbers for decades.

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Foley Plumbing, http://www.foleyplumbinginc.com/ I used them recently and was very satisfied with the work and price.

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Guillermo Diaz, 410-253-809. We used his services twice recently and he was very competent, friendly and very reasonable in his prices. He works *after* his normal work hours.

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Main Line Sewer and Drain (Ed, 301-422-7662) was recommended by 2 neighbors: One said: "He's very fairly priced, super nice and even came once without charging me because it was an easily resolved problem. He's done great work for us." The second said: "He is highly competent, prompt, and extremely nice. After trying a number of different (and variously indifferent or unsatisfactory plumbers or plumbing
companies where a different person comes each time), we found him and have used him for years."

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O'Neill Plumbing (703) 655-0071, www.oneillplumbingservice.com. We've used O'Neil plumbing in the past and have been very pleased with their services. They work 24/7, and the owner, Shannon, is excellent (as are all his staff).

WAMU 88.5 Is Moving to Now-Vacant Building Opposite UDC, Across from Calvert Woodley

2012-02-04T01:00:00.000-05:00

We are so used to thinking of WAMU 88.5, the DC home of NPR, as "coming to you from American University" that it's sometimes hard to remember that the station's offices are not actually on campus but are located about a mile away, at 4400 Brandywine Street NW, and have been since 1993.

Now American University has announced that the station, which it has operated since 1961, will move to 4401 Connecticut Avenue, across the street from the University of the District of Columbia. The building is largely vacant; after a redesign, occupancy is expected to take place in the first quarter of 2013, with WAMU taking up about half of the 96,102 square footageavailable . The station is currently using about 23,00 square feet in its Brandywine Street location.

Ward 3 Council Member Mary Cheh hailed the move, saying, "I'm delighted that WAMU is to fill that space and bring the station to Connecticut Avenue—a vibrant Ward 3 corridor. I trust the station will become even more involved with the community and provide opportunities to see and experience radio operations close up."

The new location allows WAMU to have a first-floor, street level visibility, as well as expand to meet its current and future needs.

Still Life With Robin: Loud Life With Helicopters

2012-02-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

Photo by Jackie via Wikimedia Creative Commons

by Peggy Robin

One day last week I woke up to the sound of a circlinghelicopter. A few nights before that I went to bed to the sound of another one.While driving around the other afternoon, twice I was distracted by the roar ofa helicopter hovering low overhead. The first one was white, with nothing on itto give away its origins (at least not to me). The other had the look of amilitary helicopter. Both were so low I thought they might brush by some of thetaller trees.

Tuesday night there were multiple helicopters hovering overChevy Chase, while the President’s motorcade was en route to a fundraisingdinner at a private home just over the District line in Maryland. Well, that was a bitunusual; it certainly added to the overall helicopter count for the week. Notthat I’ve been keeping score.

There is, however, a very irate man in Chevy Chase, DC,who’s been keeping a logbook of helicopters overhead for the past six months. (I’mnot posting his name because I read about him in an email from somone else on aclosed forum.) He started his logbook in the fall of 2009 and kept it up untilmid-spring of 2010, recording not just the time and date of each helicoptersighting, but detailed notes on the noise and physical effects (typicalcomment: “rattled windows”) and duration (not typical, but not totally out ofthe ordinary was this remark: “45 minutes of constant circling”). On a normal day he would note between one tofour flights, but on a busy day, the number would be seven or eight. And oneparticularly busy day, the record was set at twelve. He’s written letters of protest to DCcouncilmembers and Delegate Eleanor Norton, but he’s been completely frustratedby lack of political interest in the problem.

I understand why no one is taking up the cause. Who is goingto tell the police that they should cut down on use of helicopters to helppatrol cars zero in on escaping suspects? Or suggest that hospitals think twicebefore medivacking a patient? Or try to give orders to the military or any ofthe myriad agencies in our area that have some sort of interest in nationalsecurity? There are so many reasons why there are so many different types of helicoptersover our city. Even the traffic helicopters are important, if you’re the one gettingtimely advice on how to avoid being stuck in a miles-long backup.

So I doubt there’s any relief coming from the quantity ofwhirlybirds overhead. Not knowing much (or anything, really) about helicopterengineering, I doubt there’s a way to modify the helicopters to muffle or reducethe noise. I harbor a vague hope that they could be discouraged from flying solow. But in all honesty, I don’t think it’s a practical hope. I conclude (with somefrustration) that I may just have to learn to live with the noise – though ifthat is indeed the case, perhaps I should concentrate all the more on trying toreduce the sort of unnecessary ear-blasting that other communities havesuccessfully controlled: gas-powered leaf blowers! (But that is a subject for another column.)

Sat, Feb 11: One City Summit: Group Brainstorming to Improve DC

2012-02-02T07:00:00.000-05:00

We're passing along this announcement from the Mayor's staff in the hope that some genuinely fresh ideas for improving DC will come out of this event. We should add that attendees will get a free lunch.

What: One City Summit

When: Sat., Feb. 11, 9:30am - 4:00pm

Where: Washington Convention Center

801 Mount Vernon Place NW

Mayor Gray's One City Summit will take place on Saturday,February 11th at the Washington Convention Center and it is important to getthe word out to people in Ward 3 who may be interested in attending. As you may have already heard, the purpose ofthe One City Summit is to get input from citizens about what the District's prioritiesshould be and, in particular, to explore ways to make Washington, DC a morelivable, vibrant and inclusive place for everyone. It will be a rare opportunity for people fromall parts of the city to get together, learn from each other and explore waysto work towards common goals.
The Summit will engage a thousand or more Districtresidents in an innovative dialogue format where participants learn aboutissues, talk together in small groups, brainstorm about new ideas and vote onpriorities through the use of electronic keypads. In order for the Summit to truly representWashington, DC, it is important to have strong participation from people of allage groups, income levels, ethnic groups and neighborhoods. At this point, we are a low in pre-registrationfrom people in Ward Three and need your help to make sure that our neighborsand others who live in our part of the city participate.
I hope you will register to attend and also pass thisinformation about the One City Summit to anyone you think may beinterested. Please let people know thatthey can get more information and register to attend at www.onecitysummit.dc.gov. Thanks for anything you can do to help getthe word out about this important event in the life of our city.

Police to Step Up Patrols Around Windom Place in Response to Reported Crimes

2012-02-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

We noticed this dialog about crime on Windom Place on the Second District Police email forum. The citizen's part of the dialog is in red, and Police Lt. Alan Hill's response is in blue.

There has been a troubling amount of crime activity on our block [the 3700 block] of Windom Place over the past two weeks. This is to request increased police patrols.

How is the crime spree on our block being addressed by MPD ?

Last week, when a neighbor witnessed a youth stealing something from a neighbor's car, he called the police. Then, a neighbor was assaulted. Now, it's reported that teenagers armored to break into a neighbors house while she was sleeping upstairs. (They ran when she saw them.)

I wonder if the principals at Wilson and Deal know that some teenagers tried to break into that house. Can MPD check into that and let us know via this forum?

A few years back, I had to call the police because a large group of teenagers from Wilson was roaming the neighborhood; they came up our alley shouting and throwing stuff. The police said I should let the Wilson principal know about it, so I called her. She was very concerned, said she thought they were Wilson students and that she was going to follow up and address the issue. I was impressed - and pleasantly surprised - that Wilson's (then-) principal immediately assumed responsibility for her students. She also told me that students aren't "allowed" to be in neighborhoods after/during school, (unless of course, they live there or are visiting a friend). That same afternoon, a short time later, a student stabbed another student outside Tenley metro.

I'm truly concerned for our neighborhood. To many crimes have been committed/attempted over the past couple of weeks.

Re: Break-in attempt by teenagers on Windom Place

Thank you for writing and sharing your concerns. We share your concern as the corridors along Wisconsin and Reno Rd have seen increased activity of late. The Metropolitan Police Department deploys officers to both Wilson and Deal schools. At the conclusion of the school day the officers take secondary assignments called "safe passages" routes. The officers are posted in areas blocks away from the schools to assist the students in their travels back home and to help ensure the peace and tranquility of the neighborhoods that they travel through.

I too recognized the peculiar time of day that the youth tried to enter the home you speak of. Officer Michael Fisher has altered his tour of duty and is being deployed to the area at the conclusion of the school day to augment the safe passages program. You should see him on a police motorcycle or cruiser on the edges of the Tenley Circle neighborhoods.

The youth that possibly attempted to steal items out of a car was stopped and identified and the patrol units have been made aware of his activities in the area.

The Commander of the Second District has moved resources to the area in response to the crime patterns we are seeing. Patrol officers have made several stops in the area and have identified several individuals that have arrests for thefts from autos and robbery. These individuals are aware that we are aware of their presence in our community.

MPD works closely with the principle of Wilson and Deal. They are notified whenever one of their students is arrested.

Remember if you see any activity that strikes you as suspicious please dial 911 and let one of my patrol officers come out and investigate it real time. Thanks again

Lieutenant Alan E. Hill
Manager, Patrol Service Area 202
Second District
Metropolitan Police Department
3320 Idaho Ave NW
Washington, DC 20016

Ask Kelli: Talking About Tough Topics (Money & Weight)

2012-02-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

by Kelli Miller

Hi Kelli,

A while back I asked my husband if we could spend money on a party planner for an event we’re having. I gave him a ballpark price of how much she would charge, and he agreed. Well, the party planner just left my house, and the estimate is about three times what I had anticipated. It’s not her fault; I just thought it would be far fewer hours. She has already done so much of the work that I can’t back out now. I’m terrified to talk to my husband. We already have so many other more important expenses. Do I not tell him and just write her a check?

Signed,
Nervous Party-Giver

Dear Nervous Party-Giver,

While it might seem that the easiest way out of this situation is to write a check to the party planner and pray your husband doesn’t see it, it's also the sneakiest, riskiest, and most likely plan to backfire. So, no, I wouldn’t suggest trying to hide the cost from your husband. You honestly thought the party planner's bill would be much lower but you misjudged the amount of time she was spending on the job. You're an adult and you need to own up to what the price turned out to be. And that means having an honest conversation with your husband.

One of the useful tips I have learned is to show your husband you’re trying to mend the situation. That means explaining to him that you’re:

1) Trying to negotiate a better rate from the party planner from this point on. (And really try your best to do this. It can’t hurt and it could help a lot!)

2) Scaling back on any items in the party budget that you still have the chance to reduce.

3) Cutting back on other elective spending that you do (for clothing, jewelry, entertainment, whatever your vice is).

4) Making sure to be more vigilant in the future about keeping track of costs, because of this experience.

All the best,
Kelli

--

Dear Kelli,

I’m so jealous of all my girlfriends who always look so trendy and pretty. I just can’t afford to keep up with the latest fashions. I mean I can’t even afford $35 tops at Marshalls. Is there anything I can do to still look cute?

Signed,
In Need of Fashion Help on a Budget

Dear In Need,

Yes, you can take your current pieces and just snazz them up a bit. I’m thinking you could buy a few cute pieces of fun jewelry from a place like Old Navy ($10-$12) and add them to your current wardrobe. A chunky necklace can work with simple tops, and dangly earrings can make a normal outfit a bit more glamorous. Finally, a wide black belt with a big buckle can work with a variety of outfits and make you look more trendy. You can probably find one for $15 or so at Target.

All the best,
Kelli

--

Dear Kelli,

I’m extremely thin, and always have been my whole life. It’s just my body type. But I can’t tell you how many people either think I’m anorexic or “wish they could have that body.” What they don’t realize is that I don’t actually like being so thin. Clothes fall off me, and I certainly don’t feel sexy. So when people say how jealous they are of my thinness, I feel invalidated and frustrated. Do you have any suggestions for me?

Signed,
Hate Being Thin

Dear Hate Being Thin,

Being thin is certainly overvalued in our society; so I imagine when these people make comments about your body, they truly believe you have it easier because you’re thin. So why not clue them in? Let people know what it is you don't like about being underweight. (Most people are only aware of the problems of being overweight.) People can only understand how you are feeling if you tell them how you are feeling.

All the best,
Kelli

-------------------------

Kelli Miller, MSW is a therapist, author, and radio personality. Miller was a featured expert for SIRIUS Satellite Radio Channel 198, the co-host for the TV show Love and Money: The Advice Show, and the advice columnist for Playboy U, and the author of Professor Kelli’s Guide to Finding a Husband. Ask Kelli is published on All Life is Local and the Cleveland Park Listserv on Wednesdays.

Tech Column: Power to the People

2012-01-31T10:30:00.000-05:00

by Bill Adler

A little $10 wonder arrived at my home recently. It's going to save me a lot of money. What came is a simple, electrical timer that turns off an appliance after a preset period of time: 30 minutes, 3 hours, or 6 hours. The Belkin Conserve Socket, http://amzn.to/uWVuj4, will be saving me over $100 a year.

We have this wonderful towel warmer in the bathroom. It's great. I love to have a warm towel when I get out of the shower. But it's a simple plug-in device; it lacks an off switch. Sure, I could unplug it after each use -- or maybe not with wet hands. Or I could get a regular timer for it, but I don't always take a shower at the same time of day. Instead, with the Belkin Conserve Socket, all I have to do is press a button and on goes the towel warmer. Then 30 minutes later the towel warmer is no longer sapping kilowatts.

How many kilowatts was the towel warmer consuming? Well, you can do the math on any device in your home at www.citytrf.net/costs_calculator.htm. Just plug in the wattage of the device (which is printed somewhere on appliance), and the current kilowatt cost on Pepco's website, www.pepco.com/home/choice/dc/compare, and the number of hours a day you run the appliance, and you'll get an answer you may not like. My towel warmer was costing over $100 a year. Now with the Conserve Socket it's costing $3 a year in electricity.

If you have a lamp or something else that only needs to be turned on when somebody's in the room, the SensorPlug Motion Sensor Outlet, http://amzn.to/rUA6f6, can save you a lot of money. This $12 wonder turns a lamp or appliance on when you enter a room, and when it no longer detects motion after a period of a few minutes or longer (based on your needs), it powers off the appliance.

These devices require no wiring. Just plug them into the wall and plug the appliance into them.

Oh, and these two devices are good for the planet, too.

---

Bill Adler is the co-publisher of the Cleveland Park Listserv, www.cleveland-park.com. He is the author of "Boys and Their Toys: Understanding Men by Understanding Their Relationship with Gadgets," http://amzn.to/rspOft. He tweets at @billadler.

Washington Tweets

2012-01-30T10:34:00.001-05:00

by Bill Adler

Washington tweets. A lot. The Washington Tweets column is a collection of the most interesting, recent Washington-area tweets. These tweets reveal a candid and fascinating portrait of what is on our collective minds: Twitter gives a snapshot of what we're doing, thinking and hoping for. Washington Tweets is Washington in the raw. Bill Adler tweets at @billadler.

Forecast: Big midweek warmth, winter weather by the weekend? http://wapo.st/wMeEId

Hey #ClevelandPark girls, the entire basement of @StArnoldsDC Underground is filled with all guys. #focus #justsaying

Omg, Nigel just told the taxi driver to put the phone down. Rofl. Where is @Uber_DC when you need them?

I would think not being able to sleep at McPherson wouldn't make Occupy D.C. any less effective. You don't do anything while you sleep.

Where the President eats in #DC. Updating the Obama Dining Heat Map, January 2012 http://eater.cc/yRenWK via @Eater_DC

No, @wamu885news, describing Anacostia River cleanup funds as "going down the drain—literally" is not cute.

This is the tweet that @wmata has since removed from its favorites. http://twitpic.com/8cdcbs

Kojo says in past 3 DC elections most corporate contributions went to incumbents in every case. @dcpublictrust @kojoshow #DCethics

Dupont Circle Metro's south entrance to close this week, remain that way for EIGHT MONTHS http://bit.ly/Alpm9x

Post newsroom transitioning to Google Apps; so long Lotus Notes.

Compromise? Mayor and Mary Cheh agree all DC cabs should be red and white

Parade, Firecrackers, Kungfu demonstrations, all to mark the Chinese New Year down here in #DC's #chinatown

I always tell myself I need to go places like Cap City Diner, & then they close. DAMN IT!

Metro board likely to raise fares. Public will be given their say -- http://ow.ly/8IuJM

In DC restaurant waiting for my dinner companion; Valerie Jarrett came in, also Sen. John Kerry. Must be a popular spot!

Good teachers are spread fairly evenly throughout the District despite enormous achievement gaps

I can't believe nobody invited me to their Pro Bowl party this year. Or every other year before.

I think this bus has rolled 10 feet in the last 15 minutes. Gotta love #DC traffic. #ugh

Never mind we can't vote, we still love our DC flag. Some restaurant/bar logo evidence: http://bit.ly/wuF3N7

If you haven't checked out #gracesmandarin @nationalharbor, do! It not only has amazing food, it has the best views! http://exm.nr/zBLZnU

New Speed Cams in Ward 3

2012-01-29T01:00:00.000-05:00

Woodley Park Photo by AgnosticPreachersKid

Thanks to Ward 3 Council Member Mary Cheh for publicizing this list of new speed cams in Ward 3. And a word of advice to drivers: Stick to the speed limit, whether there are speed cameras or not, and you won't have to worry!

· 1900 block of Foxhall Road NW, north and south bound directions, 25 mph
· 2800 block of Calvert Street NW, east bound, 25 mph
· 2300 block of Connecticut Avenue NW, south bound, 25 mph
· 2300 block of Porter Street NW, east and west bound, 30 mph

· Canal Road NW .3 miles south of Arizona Avenue NW, north and south bound directions, 35 mph

E-Cycling/Donations Drop-off Today at GEICO/Goodwill

2012-01-28T01:00:00.000-05:00

You have a chance today between 9am and 1pm to get rid of your old electronics and donated any usable household goods at the same time. Goodwill and GEICO have put together one of the region's largest e-cycling and donation drives. Here's what you need to know:

On Saturday, January 28, GEICO will accept community donations for Goodwill at 5260 Western Avenue, Chevy Chase, MD between 9am and 1 pm. Donors can bring their electronics, clothing, housewares and furniture. A Goodwill truck will be at the site.

All computers and accessories will be recycled through the Dell Reconnect Program. Computers and parts do not need to be in working condition.

All other donations will be resold through Goodwill’s chain of retail stores. Sales help provide job
training and employment services to people with disabilities and disadvantages throughout the
Washington, DC metropolitan area. For more information click here.

Still Life With Robin: A New York Taxi Ride

2012-01-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

by Peggy Robin

The Cleveland Park Listserv had a lively discussion earlier this month about ways to improve DC taxis. We could make them all the same color; they should have devices to take credit card payments; they should all have functioning availability lights on top, they should have a GPS map to show where they're going, and so on. All of these things would make them more like New York City taxis, that is, in superficial ways.

Whatever changes or improvements are mandated for DC cabs, it takes a real New York taxicab ride to remind you how different New York taxis are from the cabs we have in this slower-paced town.

I'm talking about the way taxis ping-pong around the streets of New York, and the how the ebb and flow of traffic changes the way the drivers negotiate the traffic -- and negotiate with each other. I'm talking about what happens when the two true New York cab drivers are intending to put their cabs in the same place at the same time. I was recently the passenger in one of those cabs, and for a time it felt as if I had stepped into some comic (though harrowing) movie scene, with badly stereotyped characters as the opposing drivers. Picture this:

My cab driver is making incredible time as he zooms up the Third Avenue, a one-way street going north, in the middle of a weekday afternoon. At first he's catching all the green lights, dodging double-parked delivery vans, and whizzing around construction sites and other obstacles with wondrous agility. But then the traffic starts to become thicker, and he's got to jockey for position, competing against other cabs and car services for the next available space ahead. He jumps ahead of a few cabs, engendering some hard, honking rebukes. And then another cab driver beats him --by an agonizingly small margin of error-- to the barely available car-length in the line of cars moving forward on his left. I gasp aloud as this happens, sure as I am that he won't yield in time and that the next thing I will hear is the hard crunch of metal against metal. However, at the last possible instant, he stops his own forward motion to let the other cab slide through. But he's not happy about it, and at the same time he's hitting the brakes, he's giving the other driver the finger.

The next thing he does, as soon as he's free to move, is to step on the gas to bring his cab alongside the usurping cab at the next red light. Then he rolls down the window and lets the other driver have an earful. His vocabulary for this barrage is admirably fluent, though I gather from his accent and his displayed name that English is his second language and that he is from someplace in the Middle East. The other driver, a West African, rolls down his window to defend himself and his driving. He's equally articulate and equally angry. Each is still critiquing the other's driving when the light turns green and the cabs behind them start honking in unison. I'm just wondering if they're going to get out of the car and turn their verbal fight into a physical one, when at last, my driver hits the accelerator and races off at high speed, leaving the other guy far behind.

"There's a lot of crazy drivers in this city," he explains to me, when we reach my destination. I was thinking, that goes for both of you. And I also was thinking, while there may be a lot about DC cabs that could use improvement, the drivers (in my experience) aren't known their aggressiveness. Maybe that's one thing to be grateful for.

----------------------

"Still Life With Robin" also appears on Fridays on the Cleveland Park Listserv.

Tech Column: The Best Flashlights on the Planet

2012-01-26T00:30:00.000-05:00

Photo by Jeff Simonson

by Bill Adler

I have fond memories of summer camp in Maine. Some of my best memories revolve around nighttime activities: walking in the woods, playing games in my bunk, sitting around the campfire and then walking back to our cabin, reading under the blanket. These activities all involved a fixture of summer camps: the flashlight.

Unfortunately, the flashlight of my youth was a pathetic thing that ran on heavy D batteries and could barely illuminate a Superman comic book for more than 20 minutes.

Today's flashlights are like supernovas in comparison. They're also much smaller and lighter, use virtually indestructible LED bulbs that last just about forever, and are energized by lithium batteries that power the lights for a very long time. There's a computer chip to regulate the power to the bulb, maximizing the brightness and keeping the illumination level steady even as the battery's power fades.

What can you do with a high-tech LED flashlight that you can't do with a regular flashlight? They're great for searching for lost pets at night and for tracking down where in the parking lot you dropped your car keys. You can use them to illuminate the woods when you're camping, or to find your way home when Pepco has yet another power outage. They're water resistant or even waterproof, so you can use your flashlight outdoors when it's raining buckets. Most advanced flashlights use lithium batteries that have a shelf life of ten years, so when you want the light to work, it will work.

Advanced LED flashlights can also be used for self defense in two ways: You can momentarily blind somebody (some of these lights also have strobes which are very disorienting); they're also good, solid things to hit with. If you look at pictures in the links to each of the three flashlights described in this column, you'll see that the front of the light looks like it could be used as an effective weapon. That's because it was indeed designed that way, with what's called a "strike bezel." Here's a short video on how a flashlight can be used for self defense: http://bit.ly/AislGW.

Surefire is the Mercedes of flashlight manufacturers. I carry the Surefire E2D LED Defender just about everywhere, http://amzn.to/qEqToM. At $189, it's also priced like the Mercedes of flashlights, but this flashlight definitely falls into the category of "the last flashlight you'll ever need." Constructed of virtually indestructible metal, sealed with an o-ring and weather resistant, the E2D's 200 lumen output will light up the night. The strike bezel turns this flashlight into a self defense tool.

The Fenix PD-31 is even brighter than the E2D, and at $70, considerably less expensive: http://amzn.to/rhEl71. (I have one, too.) The PD-31, which has a maximum output of 304 lumens, also has a strobe mode, which will temporarily disorient anyone who looks at the light. Constructed of metal and waterproof, this flashlight will, like the E2D, last just about forever.

If you'd like to get the brand of LED flashlight talked about in the YouTube video, Brite Strike, click here: http://amzn.to/otA34e. I don't have any personal experience with Brite Strike, but it's a solid-looking light, also with a strike bezel. The Brite Strike, which costs $205, uses a rechargeable battery.

Buy any of these lights you'll never be afraid of the dark again.

---

Bill Adler is the co-publisher of the Cleveland Park Listserv, www.cleveland-park.com. You can follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/billadler.

Ask Kelli: Barking Dogs, Smelly Cats, Cheating Friend

2012-01-25T07:00:00.000-05:00

by Kelli Miller

Hi Kelli

My neighbors have two young dogs, both under a year, I think. The dogs are barking quite a bit, at all hours of the day and night. I have met the neighbors but we are not close. What is a reasonable time to ask for quiet? 10pm until 7am? Their barking is interrupting our sleep, not to mention our peace and quiet, and we would love to resolve this before spring comes with open window season.

Signed,
Quiet Please!

Dear Quiet Please!

I absolutely agree that it's reasonable to ask the neighbors to keep their dogs quiet between 10 pm and 7 am. I know it’s uncomfortable to ask your neighbors, especially ones you don’t know well, to quiet their pets, but it is perfectly acceptable to do so.

I’m wondering if you can approach it as a problem you can brainstorm with them to solve. You could propose something like this: “Hi Betty. My partner and I are having some problems falling asleep at night because of the noise of your dogs. Perhaps we can come up with a plan together that will keep them from barking between the hours of 10 pm and 7 am?”

That way you’re working out the problem together and the neighbor is less likely to get defensive. You will also be able to follow up if they don't stick to the plan you agreed to, or if the dogs are still barking, and a more effective approach is needed.

All the best,
Kelli

---

Dear Kelli,

My friend has six cats. Yes, six. Talk about crazy cat lady! Well, I’d go to her house more often, but the cats pee and poop everywhere, not just in the litter box. It’s disgusting. How do I tell her why I don’t come over her house more often?

Signed,
Not Crazy for Cats

Dear Not Crazy,

How do you tell her? Be honest about it: "I love being with you and I’d come over more but I'm really grossed out by the cat feces and urine in your house." It sounds like she needs a reality check to understand that these conditions are not just unpleasant but also unsanitary. Your friend may be offended, but I have a feeling you’re not the only one turning down invitations. Hopefully the truth will resonate with her and she’ll make some needed changes.

All the best,
Kelli

---

Dear Kelli,

A friend of mine has a wonderful boyfriend who is kind to her and treats her well. The problem is that she has cheated on him (he doesn’t know) and is constantly talking about other guys that she has “crushes” on. I feel horrible for her boyfriend because he’s a decent guy and deserves better. But my allegiance is to my friend. How can I help her to see how great he is? And that she is going to lose him if she doesn’t shape up?

Signed,
Keep That Man

Dear Keep that Man,

It’s very hard when you see a friend doing the wrong thing, especially to a nice guy. But the hard truth is we can only change ourselves, not anybody else. So realize you can try and talk to your friend, but she is who she is and she is going to live her own life.

With that said, you can gently tell your friend you believe her boyfriend is solid gold and she’s very lucky to have him. I’d probably leave it at that, because you don’t want your friend to get defensive or let your opinion of their relationship affect yours. On some level I’m sure she knows what she’s doing isn’t right.

But maybe it’s time to question your relationship with your friend. Are her morals and values ones that resonate with you? It doesn’t sound like it to me. So it might be a good time to take a look at your relationship and see if this is really a solid, lasting friendship.

All the best,
Kelli

--------------

Robbery on Albemarle Street

2012-01-24T09:54:00.000-05:00

This robbery alert was sent out by the 2nd District Police:

A street robbery occurred in the 4400 block of Albemarle Street NW. The offense occurred at approximately 7:42 Monday evening. The complainant was walking in the 4400 block of Albemarle Street NW when the suspect approached him from the rear. The suspect displayed a dark colored pistol and demanded the complainant's property. The suspect obtained the property and fled on foot. Two other males were standing in the area and fled with the suspect after the offense was committed.

The armed suspect had on dark colored clothing with a hood and his face was partially covered with a mask. The two other masked suspects had on dark colored clothing with hoods but did not display any weapons. All three were between 6'1" and 6'2" with an approximate weight of 190 - 200 pounds. It is unknown if a vehicle was waiting to help with the flight.

If anyone witnessed this offense please call 202-727-9099.

Washington Tweets

2012-01-23T10:30:00.000-05:00

Washington Tweets
by Bill Adler

Washington tweets. A lot. The Washington Tweets column is a collection of the most interesting, recent Washington-area tweets. These tweets reveal a candid and fascinating portrait of what is on our collective minds: Twitter gives a snapshot of what we're doing, thinking and hoping for. Washington Tweets is Washington in the raw. Bill Adler tweets at @billadler.

Awesome date place in DC: Ice Rink at the Sculpture Garden. Guys, I did it and I haven't skated in 20 years. #dc #dating

This morning's severe DC weather situation is a bunch of baloney. Downright delightful commute.

Hold up! @wmata @unsuckdcmetro so the bus driver GOT OFF, announced going to lunch and left everybody on it. X2 WHT TYPE O SH*T IS THAT?!

Despite my support for the Ravens, I would like to point out that Baltimore has just as many -- if not more and bigger - rats than DC

#WMATA at Vienna: "This train will not be next to leave." So 1/2 the passengers move to newly arrived train. Then 1st leaves.

Proposed NOAA move to Interior faces opposition from NWS union & enviro group NRDC: http://wapo.st/yFLq68

A rise in sea level of a few inches could cost DC billions: http://wapo.st/wxM0bb on http://ggwash.org/13395

Cheh brings up issue that has been forgotten: patients that need medical marijuana.

If DC residents are not unified on medical pot cultivation centers, I think it will be all the easier for DEA to come in and shut them down

Read Mary Cheh's hate mail. http://wcp.to/x8yRVw

There's a restaurant in DC called "Bilbo Baggins Restaurant and Pub"!? Why am I just now finding this out?

So what would Dulles Rail look like without a stop at Dulles? http://bit.ly/zUXNHa

DC parking victim 1 for today #gloverpark pic. twitter.com/9nP2kXyN

We need Assault of Bicyclists Prevention Act of 2011. Attempted assault w a @DCCirculator bus: http://is.gd/7iLFiG

Find out what is "wrapped in bacon, deep fried" in Cleveland Park's new bar: http://bit.ly/wgN5Un

Mendelson's gay divorce bill to get 1st vote on 2/7, is on consent agenda (likely to pass unopposed)

Trying to solve a mystery wrapped in a riddle wrapped in a fajita. Or maybe I'm just hungry.

@wmata station manager at smithstonian was rude and unprofessional to my wife. Accused her of fare jumping. I would like to speak with him.

Blog Post: Not all D.C. politicos drive luxury SUVs http://ow.ly/1gOg4u

Good list of respectable, non-fratty bars in AdMo: http://wapo.st/Ai4SZ0

D.C. appeals court says juror questionnaires in Chandra #Levytrial should be released.

@marycheh slaps down Taxi commish for busting #UberDC - way to go! goo.gl/aH5EJ #UberDCLove

Woo Your Valentine at the Zoo on Feb. 11! Tickets for Woo at the Zoo are on sale now! http://ow.ly/8wS8n http://ow.ly/i/q1iu

First Snowfall of 2012

2012-01-22T00:30:00.000-05:00

It may not be a lot of snow but it's enough to remind us it's the middle of winter!

Police Chief Cathy Lanier Meets with Citizens about Crime

2012-01-21T00:30:00.000-05:00

The DCFederation of Citizens Associations is hosting an open meeting with Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier onTuesday, January 24th. DC residents will have an opportunity to ask Chief Lanier questions about crime, violence and continuingtraffic/pedestrian issues which negatively impact DC neighborhoods. Chief Lanier may also address concerns about the police response to the Occupy DC Movement, removing police officers fromneighborhood patrols, street robberies, confrontations with panhandlers, lack of neighborhood traffic enforcement,thefts from autos, home break-ins and recent serious crimes.

Here are the meeting details:

What: DC Federation of Citizens Associations Hosting an Open Meeting with Police Chief Cathy Lanier

When: Tuesday, January 24, 6:45pm to 9:00pm

Where: All Souls Memorial Episcopalian Church, 2300 Cathedral Avenue, NW. The entrance to the meeting room is from the parking lot on Woodley Place.

Still Life With Robin: Stuck in a Formless Void

2012-01-20T08:30:00.000-05:00

by Peggy Robin

I am currently stuck in a temporal causality loop. By that Imean I did something a short while ago that cannot be undone, but now that it’sdone, the only way to move forward is to go backwards and start again, which Ican’t do because of the way I did what I did. This is all taking place in virtual reality, not quite in the physical world. At first I naively thought I might be able to restart the process, this time aroundwith paper versions of what needs to be redone, but I can’t get thephysical paper versions because the web site thinks I already have downloadedthe web version of the information…which I haven’t.

Okay, I see I am going to have to be more specific to makethe situation intelligible. Not that it’s actually intelligible to me – that’sthe main problem. The whole thing started when I got an email about a taxcredit that I can claim. I can have the tax reporting form mailed to me, theemail said, or I can print it myself from a web site right now. Why wait forsnail mail, I thought, as I flew across the internet to the designated site.

It turns out that the website is run by a third partyvendor, entirely separate from the organization that generated the data and owes me this form. First, I have to establish my identity byentering in a passcode, which has been created for me and was included in theemail I received. Now the problem starts. I put in the passcode, and I amrecognized on the site, but I can’t move on to access the form for some unknownreason. It takes me some time reading over the Q&A on the website's "help center" to discover that the errorcode I am getting is because the passcode doesn’t match what the site has inits database as my social security number. The third party vendor that runs thewebsite has allowed me to set up an account, and because of that, it thinks I have access to theform, but I don’t actually have it. Once I have exhausted all the suggestions in thehelp menu, I am finally provided with a customer service number and permittedto be put in touch with a live human being.

Two minutes worth of voicemail navigation and ten minutes ofhold-music pass by before I am actually talking to that person. But he is verynice and able to figure out where the glitch originated. The organization thatsupplied the third party vendor with my social security number is the one atfault. I should call that organization, he suggested, to get the corrected number sent over, andthen I will be able to access the form. Now that means I have to work my waythrough that organization’s voicemail maze, followed by its hold music. Here's where thefun part starts.

The customer service rep at the organization says theycannot correct or resend any information once they have turned over my data to thethird party vendor. They can correct my social security number in their recordsso that they don’t make that mistake in the future, but no one there has theability (so they say) to affect what they have already sent out about me to athird party. Okay then, I think, I’ll just call the vendor back and tell themto forget about having an account for me, and I’ll just wait to receive thephysical form in the mail.

But then I looked again at the email and saw that once someonehas registered to pick up the form from the website, that means it is no longeravailable to be mailed. Hmm…I did create a registration successfully; I justdidn’t succeed in accessing or printing the form. I tried to call back on thecustomer service line but this time the hold is much, much longer. I give up. So I stilldon’t knowfor sure if I’m stuck, or if the form will actually arrive in the mail one day(presumably sometime before March 15, to give me time to deal with it, andcorrect the two transposed digits in my social security number). After all,they do have my correct address.

On the other hand, mail delivery to my house is also a nebulous thing. So many times I’ve missed getting bills in the mail, I’ve switched to e-billing whenever I have thechance. Maybe I’m better off trying customer service again, spending more timeon hold, until I can reach someone with enough time, energy and/or authority to straighten this mess out. If thereis such a person. I’d end by saying, I’ll fill in the conclusion to this storynext week, or next month, but I think that’s might be too optimistic. Sometimesthings just trail off into nowhere, and I’m afraid this may be one of them….

Used Book Sale at Tenley Library This Saturday

2012-01-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

The Friends of Tenley-Friendship Library are having a mini used book sale on Saturday, January 21 from 10:30 to 1:30 at Tenley Library.

You will find a great deal of fiction, mystery, children's books, cookbooks, history books and more. More books are coming in every day. Only good quality used books will be sold.

Great bargains are offered, especially on art and architecture books. Science fiction and romance books are two for one on Saturday only. Most other books are $3.00 and under. Cash or checks only.

The sale is on 10:30am and 1:30pm on Saturday.

It's not too late to donate books. You can bring them to the Tenley Library during the hours when the library is open, but please, do not push them through the book return slots, which are intended for circulating library books only.

The Tenley-Friendship DC Public Library
4450 Wisconsin Avenue NW

Washington, DC 20016
202-727-1488

Ask Kelli: Secret Smoker, Disorganized Designer, Laid-off Friend

2012-01-18T08:00:00.000-05:00

by Kelli Miller

Dear Kelli,

I’ve been dating this gentleman for a few months now. When I met him he was a smoker. I’ve since convinced him to quit . . . or so I thought. I’ve noticed he still reeks of smoke on occasion, and I’ve found a lighter on the passenger seat in his car. Do I confront him?

Signed,
Just Quit It

Dear Just Quit It,

I believe you can talk to him about it but the trick is to do it delicately. If your boyfriend is smoking in secret, he’s obviously ashamed and the last thing you want to do is make him feel more shamed. On the other hand, you don’t want your boyfriend lying to you.

So I’d give him the opportunity to come clean. You can say, “I really like you, Steve, and want to support you the best I can. I noticed a lighter in your car the other day, and there have been times when I've smelled smoke on your clothes. I’m not sure if you've started smoking again and are embarrassed about it, but I want to support you and have honest communication about this. Are you still smoking?”

If he admits it, you can again emphasize that you want him to be honest with you and not feel sneak around. See if he’s ready to try quitting again and ask what you can do to help support him in that decision. If he doesn’t admit to smoking but it’s obvious he’s smoking (you’ve seen him do it with your own eyes), it might be time to call it quits. You want a boyfriend who will be honest with you.

All the best,
Kelli

---

Dear Kelli,

I’ve heard great things about an interior designer. Actually, she was recommended by two friends. My problem is that she's flaked out on me: She was supposed to email me back but never did, so I called her a week ago but haven’t heard back. Do I give up on her and look for someone else? I still think she does great work.

Signed,
Need a Designer

Dear Need a Designer,

I would suggest that you ask the two friends who recommended the designer if she was responsible when they contacted her. If the designer was responsible and they both say they had no trouble communicating with her, then perhaps something is going on in her life at the moment and she can’t get back to you. In that case, I'd say try again in another week.

If your friends agree she’s flakey, then at least you know what you’re dealing with! The question then is: Can you handle dealing with someone like that? Does her talent for design outweigh the communication frustrations?

If you think the answer to that question is yes, then you might want to work with her, despite her poor response record. In that case, you should ask your friends for their advice on the best way to stay in touch with her. Some people return phone but never check their email, while others are constant email checkers and never check their phone messages. Figure out her preferred method of communication. Second, use humor if you need to bring up her problems responding: “Hey, did you get run over by a truck? I haven’t heard back from you.” Third, set deadlines. “Sandy, I need to get this living room finished by January 30. Do you think you could have the wallpaper picked out by then?” Finally, be realistic in your expectations. If she’s slow to respond, be prepared for her to be slow to perform. If you tell her you would like your house done by January 30, have in mind a more likely finishing date of March 30 (but don't let her know that, or you could well end up with a finishing date two months after that!)

All the best,
Kelli

---

Dear Kelli,

My best friend’s husband just got laid off two weeks ago. I know this because a mutual friend of ours works at the company and told me. We’re going out to dinner on Saturday night. Usually I ask him about work. Do I not ask him? Or do I pretend I don’t know?

Signed,
Keep My Mouth Shut?

Dear Keep My Mouth Shut,

I wouldn’t say anything. A simple, “How are you, Jeff?” is open-ended enough so that he can answer if he feels comfortable or say he’s fine if he that's all he wants to say. I’d let your friend’s husband take the lead on this one and you sit back. When he is ready to share the news, he will -- or your friend will. Until then, talk about yourself!

All the best,
Kelli

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Tech Column: Inexpensive International Calling - Round 2

2012-01-17T11:15:00.001-05:00

by Bill Adler

The Cleveland Park Listserv rocks! In response to last week's tech column about inexpensive international phone calling, http://yhoo.it/zf87qh, I received several additional recommendations. While it's possible to talk with somebody in another country for free, computer-to-computer, sometimes you want or need to talk from a cell phone.

From Barbara Turnham comes a recommendation for Rebtel, www.rebtel.com. She wrote: "It is one cent/minute to the UK landline (17 cents mobile) which is the best I have found (we call UK landlines a lot both coming from there). You add money to an account and there is a system where the person abroad can call you back at the same rate." I took a look and signed up: Rebtel is easy to use and inexpensive.

Lynda Mulhauser uses net-2-phone, www.web.net2phone.com, an Internet phone company that offers a bundle of 1,000 minutes to a large number of countries for $24.95 a month. Net2phone can be very cost effective if you place a lot of international calls. Vonage, the company that spearheaded internet telephony, also offers bundled packages for international calling. You can view Vonage's rates here: www.vonage.com/international-voip-rates.

Stephen and Michael Buckman report that "You can also use a Skype App on your smartphone with minutes you buy from Skype." You can use Skype with your iPhone and chat with anyone in the world using Skype's 3G or wifi connection. For more about the Skype iPhone app, visit http://bit.ly/xFhhQw.

You may notice that many international calling services charge more to call a mobile phone than to call a land line. The reason for that price difference is that in some countries incoming calls to mobile phones are free. But nothing is truly free when it comes to cell phone companies, so the cost difference is made up by charging incoming callers more.

What international calling system is best? If you make a lot of calls, signing up for Vonage's package plan is economical. Google Voice, www.google.com/voice, which I wrote about in last week's column, is the best marriage of convenience and price for occasional international calls. Rebtel, www.rebtel.com, because it assigns you a different local phone number for each international contact you have, is super easy to use. Rebtel costs more per minute than Google Voice, but if you're making a call from a land line, Rebtel is easier to use, because it doesn't require that you initiate the call from the web, as Google Voice does.

---

Bill Adler is the co-publisher of the Cleveland Park Listserv, www.cleveland-park.com. He is the author of "Boys and Their Toys: Understanding Men by Understanding Their Relationship with Gadgets," http://amzn.to/rspOft. He tweets at @billadler.

Washington Tweets

2012-01-16T09:07:00.003-05:00

Washington Tweets
by Bill Adler

Washington tweets. A lot. The Washington Tweets column is a collection of the most interesting, recent Washington-area tweets. These tweets reveal a candid and fascinating portrait of what is on our collective minds: Twitter gives a snapshot of what we're doing, thinking and hoping for. Washington Tweets is Washington in the raw. Bill Adler tweets at @billadler.

I love watching #Uber address the taxi protection racket - modern day Untouchables

If @Uber_DC is illegal, then something is wrong with the law, not Uber: http://ggwash.org/13362

Wow, some people crazy about @Uber_DC. It's just a taxi service, you know. http://is.gd/tBeLL3 via @TBDOnFoot #UberDClove

Seems to me these drivers aren't actually charging anything, miles or hrs, @uber_dc is charging, driver is paid thru contract.

Checked out St. Arnold's "Underground" last night, could be a great space! Definitely a positive addition to Cleveland Park!

Metro riders are stuck with shorter, packed trains http://bit.ly/wN20iH

Woman overheard in Dupont Circle: "I actually need to go for a real run, not a danger run.

Visiting all the major NYC/DC tourist attractions I'm pretty sure I have cancer now if I didn't before going thru all these x-ray checkpoints.

omg!! i can not carry a stun gun in DC or Philadelphia. and this is where the most crime happen and i cannot defend myself.

so the "D.C." Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will be in...Loudoun County? eww.

A day with lox is a good day.

Apparently in Cleveland Park, instead of walking dogs, people walk strollers. #babyville

The District's Pizza Revolution Marches On: Fuel Pizza, a chain based in North Carolina, will open its first DC. http://bit.ly/yp7yKE

Developers have big plans for the Wheaton neighborhood in Silver Spring. http://fb.me/14435qcpl

Joining the 30 club. I never knew I'd be this excited about it. A friend of mine cried when she turned 30 #excited

So, when are we evicting all of 18th Street in Adams Morgan? #OccupyRats

I'm on a Masala Art delivery kick. Obsessed with their palek paneer and samosas! #ClevelandPark

Good piece by Wash. Post's @_chrisdavenport about #ebook publishers jerking around D.C. area libraries: http://wapo.st/zdW3OA

flowers in the bathroom at BWI. nice touch for a monday morning. http://pic.twitter.com/KHSBMzLm

In this week's Behind the Name, we look at Woodley Park and Cleveland Park. Fun fact: Cleveland lived in Woodley. http://bit.ly/yNs9Yv

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Livemocha language learning, far less expensive and far more fun than Rosetta Stone. Team up on-line with native speakers to learn any language, http://bit.ly/yFRsBe (Adv)
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Remember the Trash Slide and Other MLK Holiday Occurrances

2012-01-16T00:30:00.000-05:00

Monday, January 16 is the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. Here are some reminders from DPW about the holiday schedule:

Trash/recycling collections: Trash and recycling collections in once-a-week collection neighborhoods will “slide” to the next day for the remainder of the week. In neighborhoods with twice-weekly trash collections, Monday and Thursday collections will be made Tuesday and Friday, and Tuesday and Friday collections will be made Wednesday and Saturday.

The Ft. Totten Transfer Station at 4900 John F. McCormack Road, NE will be closed Monday, January 16. Residents may resume bringing bulk trash and recyclables on Tuesday, January 17, between 1 pm and 5 pm.

The next Saturday household hazardous waste/e-cycling/document shredding drop-off day is February 4, from 8am to 3pm. (These services are available the first Saturday of the month, except holidays). To accommodate residents whose religious beliefs prohibit them from using the Saturday drop-off, DPW is accepting only household hazardous waste and e-cyclables the Thursday before the first Saturday of the month (February 2, from 1 pm to 5 pm). DPW will not accept personal documents for shredding on Thursdays as there is no way to secure these items until the contractor arrives on Saturday.

Holiday Tree Collections: Residents disposing of holiday trees and other greenery should strip them of all ornaments and tinsel, and place these items where their trash and recycling are collected. The trees and greenery will be collected with the trash as truck capacity permits.

To ask questions about these services, please call 311 or go to www.dpw.dc.gov.

DC Taxicab Commission Sets Up Sting on Uber Car Service

2012-01-15T07:30:00.000-05:00

On Friday the 13th the DC Taxicab Commission fined one unlucky driver for the hybrid car-limo service, Uber, claiming that Uber operates illegally because it charges for time and distance. Only taxis are allowed to charge for distance. The driver’s Towncar, which he owns, was impounded and the driver faces over $1,000 in fines.

Rather than going after Uber itself, the sting operation targeted an individual driver, possibly in an effort to scare other drivers from working with Uber in the District of Columbia. The DC Taxicab Chairman personally participated in this sting operation.

You can read more about Uber at www.uber.com and more about this incident on DCist, http://bit.ly/AzAjqR and in the Washington Post, http://wapo.st/wglSBn .

What do you think? Should Uber, which lets you call for a car with your smartphone, be allowed to operate in the District of Columbia? Was this sting operation justified? Should the DC Taxicab Commission have gone after Uber and not an individual driver, who now faces massive fines? Should the law be changed to specifically allow services like Uber? You can comment below; you can also vote in the Cleveland Park Listserv poll on the subject (but you must be a registered Yahoo user and a listserv member to do so. Information on joining and getting access to the poll is on the listserv's FAQ page at http://bit.ly/cplistfaq.

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Results Are In For the January 3 Poll "What Bugs You About DC Taxicabs?"

The results of the Cleveland Park Listserv poll about taxis (results below) show that there's a lot of dissatisfaction with District of Columbia taxis. Of course, not everyone is dissatisfied with DC taxis, and not every taxi ride is an unpleasant or uncomfortable one.

When it comes to transportation options, more is better. Taxis work for some people sometimes, and a car service like Uber, www.uber.com, works for other people other times. While the DC Taxi Commission might like to limit the number of taxi alternatives, a little competition from a company like Uber wouldn't just provide other ways of getting around town, but it might inspire the Taxi Commission to improve the state of DC taxicabs.

It wasn't until June, 2008 that the Fenty administration finally forced DC taxis to use meters, rather than the confusing and oddball zone map system -- a welcome change in my opinion.

One of the changes proposed by Councilmember Cheh is to require that DC taxis accept credit cards. When this was proposed in New York, taxi drivers complained about the potential extra costs. But to drivers' benefit, passengers now tip more when they use credit cards than they did when the could only pay in cash.

Competition and change are often good when it comes to transportation. Uber should have a place in DC's transportation matrix, too.

--Bill Adler

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Taxi Poll Question (Poll Closed)

What bothers you most about DC taxis? When you step into a taxi (or try to hail one), what raises your stress level? What do you think needs to be changed, added, or fixed when it comes to taxis in the District of Columbia? You can vote for as many items as you want.

Results:

- No light on top indicating availability, 11.69%
- Doesn't take credit cards, 10.69%
- Dirty/smelly/beat-up taxis, 8.27%
- Drivers who don't know their way around DC, 10.48%
- I often feel like I'm getting ripped off, 7.06%
- Taxis need a uniform color, 4.03%
- Drivers who refuse to pick up passengers, 6.65%
- Too expensive, 5.24%
- Missing/broken seat belts, 4.23%
- Rude drivers, 5.65%
- Have to argue to get AC, 4.84%
- Drivers who talk or text while driving, 14.11%
- Drivers who speed & make other illegal moves, 7.06%

Looking for a Way to Serve the Community on MLK Day? Rock Creek Park Could Use Your Help!

2012-01-14T00:30:00.000-05:00

We would like to give a plug to the Rock Creek Conservatory's project for Martin Luther King's Birthday on January 16. Here's the info you need to volunteer:

Give a helping hand to Rock Creek, the naturaltreasure in our backyards, on Monday, January 16 as part of the MLK NationalDay of Service.

Rock Creek Conservancy is coordinating several trash cleanups and/or invasiveplant removal events at six locations in DC and Montgomery County, from RockCreek Parkway in Woodley Park, DC up to South Mill Creek in Derwood, MD.

Please visit our website calendar to learn more and register in advance: www.rockcreekconservancy.org

Volunteering in the woods is quiet, fun, unplugged, and rewarding for kids andadults of all ages. Hope to see you out there next Monday!

Still Life With Robin: Mystery Ticket

2012-01-13T08:30:00.000-05:00

by Peggy Robin

Earlier this week I received a mysterious mailing from theDepartment of Motor Vehicles. In large black lettering on a pink background wasthe headline “NOTICE OF UNSATISFIED PARKING TICKETS.” I was struck by severalreactions all at once, in somewhat random order:

“Unsatisfied”? Who calls an unpaid parking ticket an“unsatisfied” ticket. That’s just weird.

I know I never received this ticket on my car. And there aretwo glaringly obvious reasons for that:

1. On the date and time noted on the ticket, my car happened to be parked in my driveway in Cleveland Park, not at an expired meter near Dupont Circle; and

2. I do not own a carwith the tag number shown on the ticket.

So I'm thinking that the ticket must be due to some sort oftypo in the recording of the license plate number.

Immediately, I’m hoping that there is some simple way tonotify the DMV that the ticket is in error. A quick check of the DMV's website isreassuring: I can dispute the ticket by filling out an online web form. There’sa space for a defense of up to 4000 characters, perfectly adequate for me toexplain that I do not own a car with the ticketed tag number. But here’s themore troublesome problem: How do I prove a negative? What sort of documentation do I need to produce to prove that I do not own a car with that tag number? The DMV website provides space to upload as many as six documents to back up my case.

My first thought is to find out who does own the car with the tags in question. So I tried running that search on the DMV's database. The result: "Our recordsindicate that tag number BU9488 is either expired or not in use in any vehicleregistered with the DC DMV. Please verify your input and try again. Referencenumber # 570639” So I take a screen shotof that response and upload it as one of my defense documents.

But then I notice something odd that I had neglected to focus on earlier. That license plate number is somehow vaguely familiar. A littledigging through my old car records showsthat six years ago, that was the tag number on the old minivan we owned.But when we bought a new car in 2006, we traded in the minivan, canceling the old tags and paying a fee to have the dealer (in Northern Virginia) take care of getting the car registered in DC, with a new set of tags. So document #2in my case is the itemized receipt from the car dealership showing the VINnumber of the car we traded in and haven't seen since 2006. Just to be make clear that the VIN shown on the trade-in was the same as the one that bore that tag number, I sent in a copy of the old registration, which shows the match. I have to hope that these two documents together are sufficient toprove that we no longer own the minivan that once was registered to us with that license plate number.

So that's my case. I hit "submit" and now I wait -- I'm not sure for how long. But as soon as I get the verdict, I will let you know if having traded in a car six years ago works as a defense against a DC parking ticket. (And if it doesn't, you can be sure I'll let you know about that!)

MPD 2D Officer Comments on String of Recent Robberies in NW DC

2012-01-12T00:30:00.000-05:00

On Tuesday All Life Is Local had this report on the latest string of street robberies in Friendship Heights, Tenleytown, Cleveland Park and nearby neighborhood. Police Lt. Alan Hill has been following up on questions received from citizens with a message posted on the police listserv:

Unlike the trend we saw in the middle of the year last year where "snatch and grab" juvenile robbers were specifically directed towards iPhones, these latest robbery suspects are taking all of the personal belongings that they can obtain (except clothing).

As far as victims, there were sporadic incidents of Robbery Force and Violence type offenses with multiple assailants (3 to 4) that would approach mostly female victims from behind and assault them to make them surrender their possessions.

These latest incidents differ [from last year's series of crimes] in that one or two armed suspects approach, man, woman or group, as long as they are in quiet dimly lit, sparsely populated areas.

While there are several differences in lookouts for the suspects and the techniques they use, there are a few similarities that can be shared.

All of the recent offenses involve one or two black males, mostly described as possibly young adults, and the heights have varied between 5'7" to 6'1" In these weekend robberies one or both suspects have been reported as being armed with a pistol. They have been described as wearing ski masks or "hoodies" and dark clothing or blue jeans. In most cases they have fled from the immediate area on foot. There have been two reports of a smaller black two-door type vehicle parked up the street.

There were minor injuries involved in the Robbery Force and Violence offenses as the suspects would immediately begin to punch their victims but there have been no injuries in these latest armed robberies.

These similarities are consistent with some of the information reported in robberies that were described last week in PSA 204 around 41st and Davis Street.

We continue to urge residents to be aware of their surroundings and choose your walking routes wisely. I have reviewed two cases where the victim was approached in an alley in the late evening.

If you notice a vehicle frequenting your neighborhood with no apparent destination or persons just sitting in a vehicle, DIAL 911 and give as thorough description as possible of the vehicle and the driver without bringing attention to yourself and most importantly the tag number or color of the plate and numbers.

Alan E. Hill
Lieutenant, Second District Metropolitan Police Department
alan.hill [at] dc.gov
202-506-0662

Ask Kelli: Conveying the Right Message Under Difficult Circumstances

2012-01-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

by Kelli Miller

Dear Kelli,

I’m a college student home on winter break. Over Thanksgiving break I had unprotected sex with an older man from my neighborhood, and I think I might be pregnant. I don't know who to turn to because my parents know this man. If it turns out I am pregnant, I don't know if I should confront this man or not. What do you think I should do?

Signed,
Confused

Dear Confused,

The first thing you should do is take a blood test to confirm whether you are actually pregnant. You can do this confidentially at Planned Parenthood or another similar facility. If at all possible, enlist a good friend to go with you. You need support right now.

If you are pregnant, I’d say absolutely talk to the man with whom you’ve had relations. You shouldn’t have to go through this alone, and in all honestly, this man needs to take responsibility for his part in this situation. You can decide to keep it confidential from your parents until you’re ready.

Since you are over 18, you have to remember you don’t need your parents' permission or approval about your potential pregnancy. If you are pregnant, you can ask them to support you on your decision. In the meantime, I would highly recommend talking to a counselor at your college or someone at Planned Parenthood. That’s what they are there for!

All the best
Kelli

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Dear Kelli,

I give my babysitter simple directions like “Wake the baby up” or “Feed the baby peas,” and I come home and find that she hasn’t followed them. I don’t get why! My instructions make sense. English isn’t her first language but she always nods as if she gets what I’m saying. I like her and my baby is comfortable with her. Do I look for a new sitter?

Signed,
Not Sure She Understands

Dear Not Sure,

It’s possible your sitter might not have the fluency in English needed to get what you're saying but she is too embarrassed to ask you for clarification.

Just because your babysitter nods, that doesn’t automatically mean she understands. If you like her and feel she’s good with your baby, perhaps you could write your instructions down and translate them into her native language? You could also use gestures or put out the peas and point. I’d go with the assumption she can’t understand, rather than assume she is disregarding your instructions intentionally.

So try my translation suggestion for a few days and see if that solves the problem. If not, I’d look for someone else. You can find someone who is both good with your child and understands your requests.

All the best,
Kelli

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Dear Kelli,

I just started a 12-step program near me. It was a big meeting, maybe fifty people. Well, one lady started to share and I noticed it was my best friend’s mother! I felt so embarrassed and didn’t know if I should approach her, avoid her, or what. What do you suggest?

Signed,
12 Stepper

Dear 12 Stepper,

Yes, it’s true 12 step meetings are anonymous but not to the people in them! You may have been surprised to recognize your best friend’s mother but I’m sure she was just as surprised to see you.

I'd say you should go ahead and approach your friend's mom the next time you see her. You don’t want to feel uncomfortable or avoid the meetings because of her. You could simply say “Hi” and then remind her that you’ll keep everything confidential, including to your best friend, and you trust she will do the same.

All the best,

Kelli

---

On the lighter side, here's a reader's practical solution to the problem in last week's column of the hand-made statue given as a gift to someone who loved her friend who made it but thought the statue was too ugly to display:

Regarding the statue, you neglected the easiest remedy of all: Statues fall and get broken all the time!

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Tech Column: Calling Overseas

2012-01-10T09:00:00.000-05:00

by Bill Adler

Why do we use the phrase “calling overseas” when we mean “calling internationally?” Last I checked, there are a number of countries that are not overseas, but which fall under the international dialing cartel organized by the various land and cellular phone companies. But never mind. On to how to make inexpensive international calls.

Most of us are familiar with Skype, which can used to make free computer to computer calls anywhere in the world. (There are many other services that do this, too.) But sometimes it’s simply more convenient to use an actual phone, rather than a computer, which, among other things, can be rather inconvenient to hold against your ear while walking down Connecticut Avenue.

Jajah, http://www.jajah.com, is a handy service for making international calls from a physical phone. Prices vary depending on the country called and whether you’re calling a land line or cell phone. Using Jajah to call England, for example, costs 3.2 cents a minute if you call a land line, and 21 cents a minute to call a cell phone. What I like about Jahah is that you make your call from your regular land line or cell phone. You can see Jajah’s rate’s here: www.jajah.com/prices. With Jajajah, you enter in the phone number of the person you want to call in another country and you’re assigned a local phone number for that person. Then just dial the local number and you’re connected. Jajah has mobile apps for both the iPhone and Android phone, platform.jajah.com/mobile-app, so you can initiate a call from your cell phone.

Google Voice, www.google.com/voice, is another way to make inexpensive international calls from your regular land line or cell phone. Google Voice works a little differently from Jajah. You need to initiate the call from the web. Google Voice will call your designated phone and when you answer your land line or cell phone, it will dial the number you want to call in the other country. Google Voice will also announce the rate before making the connection. You can use the Google Voice app directly on your smart phone to call at the same rate. Google Voice calls are less expensive than Jajah: A call to the UK, for example, is 2 cents a minute to a land line and 10 cents a minute to a cell phone. Google Voice’s rate chart is here: www.google.com/voice/rates.

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Bill Adler is the co-publisher of the Cleveland Park Listserv, www.cleveland-park.com. He is the author of "Boys and Their Toys: Understanding Men by Understanding Their Relationship with Gadgets," http://amzn.to/rspOft . He tweets at @billadler.

Police Meeting on Crime, Thursday, Jan 12 at 7:30pm Friendship Heights, Cleveland Park and Petworth

2012-01-10T00:30:00.000-05:00

Ward 3 Councilmember Mary Cheh has invited Second District Police Commander Michael
Reese to Thursday's ANC 3E meeting to discuss the recent string of robberies in the Cleveland Park, Friendship Heights, Tenleytown, and American University Park neighborhoods. (Police Chief Lanier has been invited, but it's not yet known if
she will attend.)

Commander Reese and other officers will talk about how the police are responding and what neighbors can do.

The ANC's meeting will be at St. Mary Armenian Church, 4125 Fessenden Street, NW, this Thursday, January 12 at 7:30pm.

-------------

The recent robberies prompted this exchange on the Cleveland Park Listserv:

There were 3 street robberies in our neighborhood Sunday night: See http://wapo.st/zjCezy .

From the article, here are the details:

6:30PM - Warren St. @ 36th St./Reno Rd.
6:35PM - 39th St @ Jenifer St./Reno Rd.
6:40PM - 2500 block of Porter St. (East of Connecticut Ave.)

If anyone has any more details, please post them.

Which prompted this informative reply:

I am able to provide a few more details regarding the reported 6:40 PM attack. As I understand it, my roommate and a friend had just picked up a few groceries from Brookville when they headed towards his home in Mt. Pleasant. They were walking down Porter (near 2501) and were approached by two men (one of whom was armed) and were ordered to hand over all of their belongings (groceries included). They did as they were told and the two men left. The men were wearing scarves around their faces but my roommate believes they were in their late 20s. My friends called the police who responded immediately as they had
just dealt with a similar incident on Reno Road.

I remember reading about a very similar incident taking place on Porter Street not too long ago. It was still light out if I remember correctly. These events continue to serve as reminders that we should all be extremely cautious of our surroundings at all times. I also wonder about the reality and possibility of
having a patrol cop (or even a rent a cop type security person) down on detail near 2501 Porter. The frequency of these incidents is very alarming. Does anyone have any suggestions or thoughts regarding the possibility of a patrol? I have no idea how much this would cost the city.

And this follow-up about similar crimes in Petworth:

Our neighborhood is not alone. There were a rash of street robberies in Petworth over the weekend, too: http://bit.ly/xOgYkL

The same robbers, perhaps?

Washington Tweets

2012-01-09T09:13:00.000-05:00

by Bill Adler

Look Ma! No pants! 33 photos from yesterdays bewildering No Pants Metro Ride: http://ow.ly/8mIzx

@dcdistillers New Columbia Distillers DC's 1st distilleryin 100yrs to open soon in #IvyCityDC, near #TrinidadDCand #HStNE

Still not getting the sadness. Harry Thomas was not agood councilmember. This is a good thing for W5. Time for newbies to step up.

My 24-hour hunger strike began last night at midnightfor@occupyDC. Please sign the petition in support of the fifty-first state.

walked 5 blks from CP Metro before I got to a Starbucks.That is horrific! Who's the ANC Chair so I can order a recall

EPIC SUNRISE PHOTO at DC's Vietnam Memorial, best DCsunrise pic we've seen, seriously: http://wapo.st/x9TCAh

Just paid one of my last visits to Melody Music in DupontCirclebefore it closes. Picked up 5 great CDs, commisserated with staff.Bummed.

At-large city councilman Vince Orange kicks off the NewYear by parking in the bike lane

Though it's a loss to others in many ways, biking pastthe closed Georgetown B&N was amazingly, bittersweetly cathartic for metoday.

DC Council doesn't need its own RickSantorum:@WashingtonBlade: Gay marriage opponent to run for DC Council http://j.mp/zB5pZP

Shame, out of town this time! Yeah so - get gluttonous -DC Restaurant Week starts today!

Today's great DC day included: our 1st group run, smoresfrench toast @cocosala, visit to @crimemuseum, @uber_dc ride

The cameras at Metro Center are positioned to recordevery face that travels on the escalator: #dc @unsuckdcmetro http://pic.twitter.com/ZEgKfqEV

Just had one of the best meals of my life with thetasting menu at America Eats. Jose Andres, you are a wonderful human being.

it's January 7, and i wasn't wearing a jacket whilewaiting 20 minutes for the bus. ladies and gentlemen, your 2012 winter!

Umm "Prison officials declined to provide The Postaccess to Red Onion, citing state policy." http://wapo.st/ySlDeB

Photos Taken on DC Bike Rides

2012-01-08T09:00:00.000-05:00

Local photos, courtesy of Thomas S. Mann, photographer and bike rider:

Arrest Made in Felony Threats Incident on 45th Street, NW

2012-01-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

The Second District Police reported that on New Year's Day an incident occurred on the sidewalk of the 4900 block of 45th Street, NW. Lt. Alan Hill updated the report with details about the arrest made in the case, and at the same time corrected the charge in the original report:

This offense was initially dispatched as a robbery in progress. There was a language barrier as the caller had a very strong accent. He initially reported something to the affect of this guy tried to rob me! Thus the DC Alerts page was sent out as a robbery. This is preliminary, unvetted information provided for situational awareness and is subject to change as the incident is being investigated .

Officer Pryor arrived on the scene and began to interview the complainant and learned that the complainants felt the individual may have mental issues. They report that the suspect approached the driver, a pizza delivery man, and demanded a ride while gesturing that he had a gun. The driver said "No!" The suspect then walked around to the passenger side and demanded that the passenger get out so that he could ride. The suspect yelled, "No, get out of here, we have work to do!" And the suspect left.

The suspect walked back past the location a half an hour later and MPD units responded to the area and stopped the individual. A positive identification was made on the scene and the suspect was placed under arrest for "Felony Threats" under the second sighting statute. The subject was thoroughly searched and was found not to have a weapon on his person.

The arrestee is known to occasionally frequent the area. He has a prior arrest around 41st and Legation so I will be sending his information to the detectives for a comparison against other crimes in that area.

The final disposition of this crime will be one arrest for Felony Threats and the event will be re-classified as a Felony threats in the MPD data bases.

Lieutenant Alan E. Hill
Manager, Patrol Service Area 202
Second District
Metropolitan Police Department
3320 Idaho Ave NW
Washington, DC 20016

Still Life with Robin: You Know the Holidays Are Finally Over When...

2012-01-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

by Peggy Robin

The holidays are over…but I say they're not fully and finally over until at least six out of the following eight events have taken place:

* It's after Saturday, January 7th, which is Orthodox Christmas for millions of Coptic and Eastern Orthodox Christians.

* The trees left out at curbside for pickup by DPW have all been hauled away.

* The houses decorated with holiday lights, wreaths, and roping are returned to their original, pre-festivities condition. (Those who decorate their trees or bushes with tiny white or blue lights are allowed to keep them up as long as the cold weather is with us. That’s because after January 2, the lights simply morph into winter lights that make the long, cold nights seem a little less bleak.)

* The holiday cards get taken down from the mantle and from other flat surfaces around the living room.

* The credit card bills with all the holiday gifts have been paid.

* Any college students among your extended family have returned to their campuses. In the case of some colleges, that may mean that "the holiday break" lasts until the the end of the three-day weekend for Martin Luther King's birthday -- midway through January.

* We've celebrated Squirrel Appreciation Day on January 21. This is one of those obscure and wacky little holidays that you may never have heard of...and in that case, you've really been missing out. You can read more about Squirrel Appreciation Day in The Huffington Post, http://huff.to/f7IppL , or at Holiday Insights, http://bit.ly/vqpj.

* Or you could extend the season of celebration to take in the goings-on at the opposite end of the earth (from us), where it's the midsummer's holiday of Australia Day on January 26. It's also called Foundation Day or First Landing -- see http://www.australiaday.com.au/ .

So, until then, an ongoing holiday greeting to you, whatever you are celebrating!

What Bugs You About DC Taxicabs?

2012-01-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

Councilmembers Mary Cheh and Tommy Wells have introduced a bill to overhaul the District's taxis, the D.C. Taxicab Commission Service Improvement Amendment Act, http://bit.ly/uH00nE (PDF). Among the proposed changes are a uniform color for taxis, all taxis must have GPS, and taxis must accept credit cards.

What bothers you about DC taxis? What would you like to see changed or improved the most? The Cleveland Park Listserv is running a poll on this subject. You have to be a listserv member to vote, but you can join by clicking on the blue "Join This Group" button at www.cleveland-park.com. You do not have to live in Cleveland Park to become a member of the listserv.

Once you are subscribed --and have also registered your subscribed email address with Yahoo, which gives you full access to all the web features of the group-- you can vote in the poll at http://yhoo.it/saZBiB or http://groups.yahoo.com/group/cleveland-park/polls.

There's more information about how the Cleveland Park Listserv works on the FAQ page.

Ask Kelli: Wife Wants to Talk; Friend Wants to Hide Gift; Daughter-In-Law Wants Weight Comments to Stop

2012-01-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

by Kelli Miller

Dear Kelli,

It seems whenever I talk to my husband about something serious or something I’m upset about he doesn’t really respond. He always says, “Can we talk about it later?” It’s so frustrating. I'm getting the message that he doesn’t want to have serious conversations and only wants light and superficial talks. What can I do?

Signed,
Seriously Need to Talk

Dear Seriously Need to Talk,

My first piece of advice is to figure out the best time to talk to your husband. I’m guessing it’s on the weekend when stresses are at the lowest. If you’re approaching your husband immediately after work or when he’s sitting down to watch his favorite show, he is probably not going to be as receptive. So the timing is the first thing you need to figure out.

Second, hold him accountable. If you’ve chosen a good time and he’s still shutting you down, ask him when a good time would be. Get him pin down an exact time and date.

Finally, offer a fun plan or activity afterward. You can say something like, “I know it isn’t fun to talk about X but after we're done, we'll go out to that movie you've been wanting to see." It would be especially good if you agreed to do something he particularly likes that you have not been keen to do.

All the best,
Kelli

----

Dear Kelli,

My good friend gave me a statue for Christmas that she made herself. It was kind of her...but Kelli, it’s the ugliest thing I’ve ever seen! I have put it on my desk to show my appreciation (she comes over a lot) but honestly, I can’t stand to look at it. We obviously have different tastes. I’d like to take it down but I don’t want to insult her.

What do you suggest?

Signed,
Hide It?

Dear Hide It,

You’re right, it was kind of your friend to create this piece for you, and this is a delicate matter. First, remember it was given out of love. So maybe your first step is to look beyond the aesthetics of the statue and remember the idea behind it: that your friend treasures your relationship and appreciates you. But if that's not enough to get you to keep the statue in sight, you could try either of these two strategies:

First, keep the statue up for another few weeks and then switch it to an inconspicuous location.

Or: Keep the statue up for another few weeks and then take it down. But be prepared for when your friend asks you where it is. Tell her sincerely that you very much value the statue as something she created for you, and you love her for making it, but you don't think it's right for your desk. Even though you're not displaying it, tell her you'll always keep it and treasure it as you treasure your friendship -- and hope she is a good enough friend to understand that this is about differences in aesthetic tastes and nothing more.

All the best,
Kelli

---

Dear Kelli,

My mother-in-law will sometimes make comments about my weight. I’m not skinny but I’m definitely not obese. I’d probably say I’m chubby. My husband loves me the way I am. And I’m actually okay with my body. But my mother-in-law will make inappropriate comments, such as, “Should you be eating that?” or “Don’t you want to lose weight?” I usually just smile and suck it up but it's starting to get to me. I don’t want to ruin our relationship but I really can’t take these hurtful comments anymore.

Signed,
Okay with My Weight

Dear Okay with Your Weight,

You are okay with your weight and you have to remember it’s your mother-in-law who isn’t. Which translates to: She’s not happy with a part of herself. If your mother-in-law was truly secure, she wouldn’t be pointing out other people’s weight. I say this so you don’t internalize her comments.

This is a job for your husband. When dealing with mothers-in-law, I say always defer to the husband (and vice-versa for him). I’d keep yourself out of it and advise your husband to say: “Mom, I overheard you say…” rather than “Kim told me you said this…”

The important point here is that it is out of line for your mother-in-law to be making these kinds of comments. Your husband should tell her that both he and you are happy with who you are, and she needs to be as well. He should let her know that you both love your mother-in-law but her comments are hurtful and inappropriate. He should be clear that this topic is off-limits and make sure that she has gotten the message.

All the best,
Kelli

-----------------------------

Tech Column: Unlimited Wireless Phone for $19 a Month (No Kidding)

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

by Bill Adler

Republic Wireless is the cellular phone company you probably haven’t heard of, but if you’d like unlimited voice and data, this is the cellular phone company you should take a look at: www.republicwireless.com.

With Republic Wireless, unlimited means unlimited. Voice and data. Really. How does Republic do this? Should you switch to Republic Wireless?

Republic Wireless is able to accomplish this amazing feat of giving its customers unlimited voice and data by using both wifi and cellular networks.

Republic uses Sprint’s cellular network when there is no wifi. The hand-off between cellular and wifi is instantaneous and invisible; there are no special buttons to push or settings to change, once you’ve added a particular wireless network to your phone. Wifi calls are made just like regular calls -- you can’t even tell when you’re using wifi or cellular.

You may have seen smartphone apps that let you place calls over wifi. These usually require a second phone number or require that you launch that app, which makes using the internet for voice and data a bit of a pain. These apps also eat into your cellular data quota pretty fast.

You can’t use your current phone with Republic. You need to purchase a special smartphone from them, an LG Optimus S Android, for $199. If you spend too much time on the cellular side of their network, Republic will let you know. How much cellular is too much? The “cellular footprint” isn’t a fixed quantity, but Republic offers this guideline: “Even assuming 0% wifi usage, for example, you could consume 550 minutes, send 150 texts, and download 300 megabytes of data without crossing the community’s fair use threshold.”

Republic Wireless likens its phone and service to that of a hybrid car: Sometimes you’re using gas (cellular), and sometimes you’re using electrical power (wifi.)

Republic Wireless offers a 30 day total money back trial.

Is Republic Wireless, www.republicwireless, the right cell phone company for you? If cutting your monthly cell phone bill down to $19 a month (plus tax) is high on your list and you’re near wifi a fair amount, then Republic is worth trying. You’re don’t have a choice of phones, but this is an Android smartphone on which you can install apps from the Android market, www.market.android.com. So while you are limited to this one phone, the phone itself isn’t limited. Because Republic uses wifi as well as cellular, they’re able to offer features that traditional cellular companies can’t, such as the ability to make and receive calls outside of the United States -- for free. (This feature is coming mid-2012.)

---

Bill Adler is the co-publisher of the Cleveland Park Listserv, www.cleveland-park.com. He is the author of "Boys and Their Toys: Understanding Men by Understanding Their Relationship with Gadgets," http://amzn.to/rspOft. He tweets at @billadler.

Washington Tweets

2012-01-02T09:37:00.002-05:00

Washington Tweets
by Bill Adler

Washington tweets. A lot. The Washington Tweets column is a collection of the most interesting, recent Washington-area tweets. These tweets reveal a candid and fascinating portrait of what is on our collective minds: Twitter gives a snapshot of what we're doing, thinking and hoping for. Washington Tweets is Washington in the raw. Bill Adler tweets at @billadler.

Oh my lord what an insane new year's party that was.

A big change for #WMATA: preprinted signs for broken fare gates, elevators! Goodbye handwritten signs of yore. http://bit.ly/unlDCe

Who won in D.C. politics in 2011? No one. Who lost? Everyone. The Loosies, by @alansuderman: http://bit.ly/v65D48

Whenever I need a picture of a totally disgusting looking burger, I just type "five guys" into the Flickr search bar. #yesineedthemoften

@wcp has a list of the 10 most irritating food trends of http://2011.wcp.to/vjtdKQ I disagree about cupcakes but am with them on the rest.

in our blind taste test, Colt 45 beat Cobra in the finals. an evening well spent. #40off

Here's a nightmare scenario of how Metro might have renamed its stations: http://tbd.ly/u4ZehS #wmata

The D.C. police union says cops are being pulled from neighborhood patrols to monitor #OccupyDC, @aubreyjwhelan reports http://bit.ly/sQ0XlU

It's the end of an era as Dave McKenna leaves @wcp after 25 years: http://wcp.to/u1WvRE

On bright side for DC council, with 30% approval, it's 2X as popular as Congress. Can't find much good for Kwame Brown, with 23% approval

Surprised that robot-enunciation Metro announcement woman doesn't do full vowel for last syllable of "elevator" & "escalator". #wmata

Trader Joe's adopting a cheesy technique to sell Cheese and it involves @WMATA http://fb.me/UjdKlgvc

station manager sound asleep at Cleveland Park 6pm. #wmata http://pic.twitter.com/bBFrn2Q2

Cycling advocates accuse Gray of breaking bike-lane promises; DDOT head says hold your horses http://wapo.st/urT8vq

You might have already known that I like @rippleWDC but check out my most recent review of the Cleveland Park gem: http://ow.ly/8aN5C

Security guard at Mayor Grey's house told #hungerstrikers that he wasn't home and so couldn't join him for breakfast. Oh well. #occupydc

Had a wonderful, relaxing time with family, but sure did miss the heck put of my kittens, my friends, and my beloved DC.

I can't decide if I should waste the rest of my night in front of the tv or waste the rest of my night in front of the internet.

DCEvening Links: Destined for lameness?: D.C. is destined to be forever uncool, argues Matthew Ygelsias http://wapo.st/uQg2Kv

Seriously, @FastGourmet is DC's best kept secret. The food is gorgeous and cheap, and they play classic rock. And it's all in a gas station.

In case you missed it, Mayor Gray applauds council's passage of health insurance exchange legislation. http://bit.ly/vl1EvE

Happy New Year 2012!

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year 2012 from Bill Adler & Peggy Robin
and the Cleveland Park Listserv

Tech Column: Best Free Tech of 2011

2011-12-31T06:00:00.000-05:00

by Bill Adler

The Internet has always been filled with good, free things. Before the year winds down (or for New Year’s day, when you have some down time), I wanted to list some of my favorite, free places and services on the Internet.

Evernote, www.evernote.com is still the best note-taking, idea-storage, web-clipping service on the planet. With Evernote you can access your notes from your computer, the web, iPhone, Android phone -- or anywhere.

Microsoft Security Essentials, free anti-virus software for your Windows PC, http://bit.ly/vOEugL . This is the anti-virus software that Windows should have come with from day one. Now you can ditch your paid ant-virus software.

The Consumerist, www.consumerist.com -- the best (and endlessly entertaining) pro-consumer website. If you’ve been screwed by some company, you’re probably not alone, and the Consumerist can tell you how to fight back.

Zamzar, www.zamzar.com, for all your file conversion needs. Do you need that WAV converted into an MP3? Zamzar can do it for you.

Dropbox, http://db.tt/AAbiCgu, is a great way to sync, store and share files. It’s free for up to 2 GB of space; you can pay for more if you need it. The Dropbox smartphone apps are terrific, too. With Dropbox you can have access to your stuff eveywhere.

Is Snowmageddon on the horizon? What will it be like at Grandma’s when I visit? The best weather website is Weather Underground, www.wunderground.com. Feature-rich and easy to use, the Weather Underground is one of the most accurate weather websites. Their local weather, full-screen page, www.wunderground.com/auto/wxmap, offers a great view of what’s going on right around you.

“How to Cope with a Bad Day” and “How to Insulate Your Feet From the Cold” are just two of the many how-to videos on Howcast, www.howcast.com. Sure, YouTube has virtually unlimited how-to videos, but at Howcast you don’t have to first wade through all the cat videos with similar titles.

Pandora is a great web-based radio station. Tell it what bands you like and Pandora, www.pandora.com, will create a “station” based on your musical tastes. Pandora is a fun way to enjoy music you already like and to discover new music, as well.

You’ve probably heard of DamnYouAutoCorrect.com, a so incredibly funny website about text message typos. And you’ve probably visited CuteOverload.com, which will make you utter endless “awwwws.” But have you been to the Museum of Burnt Food, www.burntfoodmuseum.com? I didn’t think so. Sure, it's not actually useful, but the Internet is for fun, too. And I'm not going to admit that anything I've ever cooked might be in that museum.

---

Bill Adler is the co-publisher of the Cleveland Park Listserv, www.cleveland-park.com. He is the author of "Boys and Their Toys: Understanding Men by Understanding Their Relationship with Gadgets," http://amzn.to/rspOft . He tweets at @billadler.

Still Life with Robin: Say It With Me, "Twenty Twelve"

2011-12-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

by Peggy Robin

There’s a myriad of impractical and overreaching New Year’sresolutions that get made and discarded every year, enough to persuade me notto take on any challenge or self-improvement regimen at this particular time ofthe year. It seems preordained that any efforts begun on January 1 will peterout by the end of the season, if not the end of the month.

I do have one change that I’m pushing, nonetheless. It’s nota healthier-eating program or an exercise schedule that calls forself-discipline (and therefore stands a better than average chance of losingout to old, entrenched bad habits). It’s a simple change of phrase. This year,every time I say the year, I resolve to say it as a pair of two-digit numbers,just as we did with every year all the way up to nineteen-ninety-nine.

This simple, elegant year-naming scheme fell to pieces inthe year two thousand. It was no one’s fault. People just didn’t like the soundof the year twenty hundred -- and with good reason: it doesn't flow naturally off the tongue. It's more syllablesthan two-thous-and, to boot. The samelinguistic preferences for brevity and rhythm kept that entire single-digitdecade in the same pronoucing pattern: Two thousand and one, two thousand andtwo, all the way through two thousand and nine. I believe a certainmathematical mindset was at work here, too. By saying “two thousand and…” you forma clear image in your mind about the number of zeroes in the year. If you wereto say “twenty-oh-nine” there could have been room for confusion about the zeroes in the middle, those twozeroes in a row. This was not a problem at the turn of the previous century,because the leading number, nineteen, had no zero, and so nineteen-oh-nine wasthe clear, simple choice. For simpler times.

Once we reached the end of the zero decade, I would havethought –well, I hoped!—that would be the end of the whole “two thousand and…”format.”Twenty ten” is short and punchy. But it just didn’t catch on, and I’mnot sure why. But for whatever reasons, newscasters, business planners,weather forecasters, everyone who announces dates in public, continued to usethe two extra syllables needed to say two thousand and ten. Last year thingswere even worse, with the year as a seven syllable phrase, two-thous-and-and-e-le-ven.

So I say it’s time (no, two years past time!) for for a NewYear’s change of phrase. Starting on January 1, let’s all say twenty twelve.Let’s resolve when you hear someone else say two thousand twelve to speak up,not to correct something that is in any way incorrect, but simply to makeothers aware that there is a shorter, cleaner, more rhythmically pleasingalternative. Help it catch on in twenty twelve. Maybe if we all start doingthat, then by the start of twenty thirteen we won’t need another resolution.

Cleveland Park Metro Elevator Out of Service Until May

2011-12-29T11:33:00.001-05:00

Here's the latest bad news from Metro:

Service Advisory - Cleveland Park: Entrance Elevator Out of Service for Modernization. Beginning on or about January 5 through early May, 2012, the entrance elevator at the Cleveland Park Station will be out of service for a multi-month modernization project. During this time crews will replace all key components of the elevator to provide more reliable service.

Shuttle bus service will be provided to/from Woodley Park Station. In addition, customers can use Metrobus routes L1, L2, and L4 to travel between Cleveland Park and Woodley Park.

Is it just us, or does this missive strike you as a bit lacking in information? Maybe even misleading? Is it really "modernization" when you schedule five months of repairs for an inadequately maintained, often broken-down elevator? Perhaps "replacement" is the more accurate term when all the "key components" of the elevator are involved. Also, wouldn't it have been nice to include a brief nod to courtesy in the announcement -- you know the sort of thing: "Metro thanks you for your patience" or "regrets the inconvenience"? Or is that taken as so much boilerplate these days that it's better not to throw it in?

Ask Kelli: Holiday Blues, Crazy M-I-L, Tardy Dad

2011-12-28T07:00:00.000-05:00

by Kelli Miller

Dear Kelli,

This time during the holidays/New Year always feels so hard for me. It feels like I’m the only one who's depressed, while everyone else is in a great mood and full of “holiday cheer.” I'm having a hard time talking about this with others. I even felt ashamed to write to you confidentially. I don’t even know what I’m asking for, I guess just want to know if I’m the only one?

Signed,
Mr. Depressed Grinch

Dear Mr. Depressed Grinch,

A therapist friend of mine tells me this is her busiest time of the year. Coincidence? I don’t think so. This time, although it may seem like it’s jolly, is hard on a lot of people. It can be lonely, isolating, and difficult. The pressure of “feeling the holiday spirit” can make one even more depressed, and ashamed of the feeling. So please know you are not alone. I would strongly encourage you to speak with a therapist. This won't be the first time the therapist has dealt with this problem. Or at least reach out to a trusted friend. You shouldn’t go through this difficult time alone and you might be surprised by how much people can relate to what you’re feeling.

All the best,
Kelli

---

Dear Kelli,

Simply put, my mother-in-law is crazy! I don’t mean, crazy ha ha. I mean, mentally ill crazy. I find that she's she’s volatile (one minute happy, one minute yelling), impulsive, dramatic, and not trustworthy. The more I’m with her, the more opportunity for her to get mad at us for something. My question is, how can I maintain a relationship with someone like that? My husband does want some sort of relationship.

Signed,
Tough Spot

Dear Tough Spot,

I understand your dilemma. I believe there is a way to handle this relationship: Keep it simple by maintaining a very low-key and superficial relationship, with minimal contact. I’d encourage you to be polite and kind when you do see your mother-in-law but realize you’re dealing with someone who isn’t in her right mind. So do your best to keep things light. Give the briefest responses to her questions: “We’re doing fine," "work is good" and so on. Avoid giving her too much detail. You write thank-you notes for gifts and you send pictures once in awhile but you limit contact to necessities only.

All the best,
Kelli

---

Dear Kelli,

My dad is always late. Growing up, it was frustrating for me, but as an adult, it’s even more annoying. I ask him to come at 4 pm, he gets there at 4:45 or 5 pm. It’s to the point where I don’t even want to see him if he won't make the effort to show up on time. Do I just not have contact with him? He’s a great person otherwise, that’s the frustrating thing.

Signed,
He's Always Late for Important Dates

Dear He's Always Late,

I think not having contact is way too harsh, especially since you say he’s a great person otherwise. If tardiness is his main flaw, you can work around it. This is not to excuse this behavior, but I’ve learned that some people just don’t have a great sense of time (when to leave the house, how long it will take to get to the destination, and so on). It’s a skill and some people just aren’t good at it. So he may not be punctual but it doesn’t make him a bad person -- just not great at scheduling his time.

You can’t change your dad, but you can change your attitude about his lateness. First you need to accept that he will almost always be late. It's disappointing but it's the way he is. So just expect every time you arrange a date that he will be late.

Second, trying giving him a buffer time. If you want him somewhere at 4 pm, tell him to meet you there at 3 or 3:15 pm.

All the best,
Kelli

-----------------------------

Tech Column: Four Easy New Year's Computer Resolutions

2011-12-27T09:58:00.000-05:00

by Bill Adler

If you want a better performing, more secure computer you can spend several hundred dollars on a new one. Or you can enhance your PC with some tweaks and tips. Here are four for the new year:

Ditch your current ant-virus software and install the totally free Microsoft Security Essentials. You don't have to if you want to keep paying an annual fee to Symantec, McAfee or another company. Once installed, Microsoft Security Essentials is a set-it-and-forget-it program: It will do its duty totally without any human intervention (including entering in your credit card number once a year). Download this gem from Microsoft at http://bit.ly/vOEugL.

Install the Adblock add-on to Firefox or Chrome. Not only does blocking ads make your computer more secure, but it also makes pages load faster. No ads load, so you get right to the meat of what you want to see. The Firefox extension is here: http://bit.ly/uoaao7, and you can download Adblock for Chrome here: http://bit.ly/vr14td

Replace your router. Routers matter and if you're spending your life on the Internet, the fastest router with the greatest range will make your life happier. On the advice of Gizmodo I recently upgraded to the Netgear N900, http://amzn.to/uMz0Cu . The N900's range is about 60 percent greater than my previous router's range (it reaches the entire house, yay!), and it's faster, too.

Back up in the cloud. Seriously. Losing stuff isn't a matter of if, but when. I've experimented with a range of online backup services including Carbonite and Mozy. The best one out there is Crashplan, www.crashplan.com: It's truly unlimited backup. And if the worst happens and your computer does the ultimate crash, Crashplan can send you your data on a hard drive. You can also back up to a designated friend's hard drive. (The backups are encrypted so your friend won't be peeking at your stuff.)

Happy safe and healthy computing in 2012!

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Bill Adler is the co-publisher of the Cleveland Park Listserv, www.cleveland-park.com. He is the author of "Boys and Their Toys: Understanding Men by Understanding Their Relationship with Gadgets," http://amzn.to/rspOft. He tweets at @billadler.

Washington Tweets

2011-12-26T09:01:00.000-05:00

Washington Tweets
by Bill Adler

Washington tweets. A lot. The Washington Tweets column is a collection of the most interesting, recent Washington-area tweets. These tweets reveal a candid and fascinating portrait of what is on our collective minds: Twitter gives a snapshot of what we're doing, thinking and hoping for. Washington Tweets is Washington in the raw. Bill Adler tweets at @billadler.

Drive safely, pals; don't end up wasting away in Tweeterville. http://wapo.st/w27fQh

Remember 1 year ago? The D.C. snow hole after "No-mageddon"?...

Chairman Kwane Brown and Mayor Vincent Gray approval ratings low, ya think?

Metro is cracking down on iThefts, trying to stop thieves from snatching pricey electronic devices bit.ly/vN46WE

#SoberRide is offering free cab rides in #DC area through NewYear's Eve - bit.ly/sskfGe

Cleveland Park fire house needs wider doors, but that runs afoul of historic preservation laws. Ongoing dilemma betw/ safety & preservation.

DC Councilmember Mary Cheh's holiday gift to colleagues: personalized @bikeshare kit http://bit.ly/uGBXjT

DC is in desperate need of a Haitian restaurant. Jamaican food is good and all but its not grillot and rix nationale!

How bad is the Wash Post's art coverage? When there's news about a new DC public art program, stakeholders hand the scoop to... the NYT.

I notice the leaf blower guy always shows up right as I'm supposed to get on a phone call. How do they know?

Pretending to be a tourist in DC is fun! I may just keep this status until I leave. #escapedc

Super excited! St. Arnold's Mussel Bar to Open in Cleveland Park - http://tinyurl.com/c33ztmh

5% of Metro delays caused by sick passengers. But a 45-minute wait 4 a train 2 nites ago caused by...track maintenance http://ow.ly/83ZtD

@mayorvincegray 's disapproval rating has risen by astounding 13 pts since Mar, a new poll shows. wj.la/thqd8K

Merry Christmas! Am observing it with the now-traditional ritual of updating software on my in-laws' computer.

GREAT news from the Census Bureau: DC is leading the nation in population growth! http://goo.gl/TQs0Z

Cleveland Park Giant supermarket battle finally over. Lawsuit tossed: yhoo.it/vnNRyV #DC #clevelandpark

The @18thStProject is good for Adams Morgan, and worth the temporary pain of construction

DC Council ethics: C'mon son, we can do better: ggwash.org/13114

a girl in my grade is dating a 19 year old in DC, is this even legal?

taking the train into DC is a win - getting work done while enroute + dont have to stress over DC traffic & parking

Is there a better beer bar in DC than RFD? Selection of good beers --almost all the locals as well--and sample prices are hard to beat.

On the bus to Dulles left a vm saying I left my bberry charger in DC. Woman next to me pulls out an extra charger for me. #Christmasmiracle

CM Mary Cheh introduces bill to make sale or possession of MDPV illegal in DC. MDPV is a form methamphetamine, but made from plant food

There's an Up Arrow at the Top of This House

2011-12-26T07:00:00.000-05:00

Photo by Bill Adler

A Little Cleveland Park Holiday Cheer

2011-12-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

photo by Bill Adler

Still Life with Robin: Moves for Scary Movies

2011-12-23T09:00:00.000-05:00

by Alex Barth

by Peggy Robin

This is the prime movie-going time of year. If you’re likeme, that means you’ll probably end up seeing at least one thriller oraction-adventure picture, and if it’s not a kids’ movie (or even if it is akids’ movie but is anything other than a G-rated movie meant for toddlers),that virtually guarantees there will be at least one scene of heart-stoppingly goryor scary violence. Or more likely several.

I’m definitely too squeamish to watch the typically graphicHollywood shocker scene with my eyes entirely open. But not so sensitivethat I need to stay out of movie theaters on that account. I just need toemploy a strategy to shield myself from the bloodiest few seconds onscreen.Through years of experience I have mastered each of the following techniques:

* The blur. First, squeeze your eyes half-shut. Then do yourbest to make your eyes watery and/or unfocused.

* The lookaway/one-eyed-glance-back. As soon as you see thefirst sign that something horrible is in the works, look down or to the side.Every few seconds take a quick, one-eyed peek at the screen to see if it’s safeto return to full gaze.

* The partial hand-block. Hold one hand up in front of yourface, fingers slightly parted to allow you to just enough of a view to get anoverall sense of what’s going on, without seeing more than you want to. Theidea is to make your hand function like a slit in a curtain or a peephole in adoor. This takes practice! You may also find it useful to employ a scissoringmotion with your fingers.

* Full blindfold. You can use both hands to cover your eyescompletely. Or bring a scarf along for the same purpose. The problem with thisapproach is that you will need to rely on auditory cues (such as a change in themusic or lines of dialog) to get a sense of when it’s safe to view thescreen again. This is the riskiest of the four methods, if your aim is to avoidany unpleasant surprises.

A good strategy is to go with a friend who (a) loves thesekinds of movies and wouldn’t dream of missing a second, but (b) understands orat least tolerates your squeamishness, and so is willing to give you a pokewhen it’s safe for you to return to normal viewing mode. You also have to trust this friend’s abilityto appreciate what you consider the right time to resume watching with eyesopen.

Even with the friend-alert method above, you still have thedouble-scare problem. That’s when the movie maker has seemingly brought thescary/violent scene to its conclusion: The monster/badguy is defeated and/or dead,and you’re ready for the happy, or at least satisfying, ending . . . when,AAACK, he’s alive again and attacking everyone in sight. So there’s a second,even more unsettling scene of carnage before the final credits roll.

Here’s a strategy I think really works well: Wait until themovie has been out long enough for a full plot summary to be posted online on acomprehensive movie review site such as IMDB.com. Read the full plot, includingany parts labeled “spoiler alert.” Yes, I know what you’re thinking: “Thatwould definitely kill my enjoyment of the movie.” But according to researchersat the University of California at San Diego, it doesn’t work that way. Thestudy revealed that in most cases people not only did not mind knowing inadvance what would happen, but actually said they enjoyed the story *more* than the “unspoiled” version. (See http://reut.rs/qKNG7S.) So go ahead and find out as much as you can about what’sgoing to be in the movie before you go. That way you’ll go in armed with somesense of what scenes you’ll want to block, by whatever technique you choose.

And for all of you strong-stomached moviegoers out there: I guessI should have put a warning at the beginning of this column to alert you as toits irrelevance to you.

Tech Column: Boomerang Your Gmail

2011-12-22T06:30:00.000-05:00

by Bill Adler

Today's tech column is for Gmail users. (If you don't have Gmail, skip to the end of this column -- there's something there for you.) If you're a Gmail user, you already know that Gmail is perfect. But what if it could be even more perfect? What if Gmail was gourmet ice cream in your favorite flavor, the best ice cream you ever had? Who doesn't lust for the richest ice cream? And what if this incredible flavor of ice cream was delivered to your door in August, packed in dry ice? Wouldn't that be even better?

As great as Gmail is, there's a Chrome and Firefox browser add-on that adds a few features to Gmail that Google left out, most notably, delayed sending. The add-on is called Boomerang, www.boomeranggmail.com, and with it you can schedule your outgoing mail for any time in the future that you want. (You can also unschedule your email if you decide you want to send it right away.)

Delayed sending of email has many uses, not least of which is to postpone sending that angry email. It's happened to everyone: We dash off an irate email, only to wish we could take back a few words. With Boomerang you can write that angry email while you're still fuming to get it out of your system, but then revise and send it when you've returned to a calmer condition.

Boomerang will also return an email to your inbox if you don't get a reply in a period of time that you specify. Very handy, indeed: You don't have to create a reminder to follow-up because Boomerang will do that for you.

You can use Boomerang to send yourself reminders in the future, as well. Very handy.

Boomerang can "disappear" an email from your inbox and return it in the future when you're ready to deal with it. I use that feature all the time to keep my inbox neat and tidy: Rather than my inbox being my to-do list, I just vanish emails until later.

Boomerang, www.boomeranggmail.com, comes in several sizes: Free gets you basic features, such as 10 boomerangs a month; $4.99/a month gets you unlimited delayed messages, as well as notes.

Some email programs, such as Outlook, have delayed sending built in. If you're not a Gmail user and you don't use an email program with its own built-in delayed sending service, give LetterMeLater a whirl, www.lettermelater.com. It's easy to use, useful, handy, and free. LetterMeLater fills the same gap that Boomerang does, though it's a stand-alone service. (That is, it's not an add-on that works from within Gmail.) LetterMeLater will also let you set up recurring emails.

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Bill Adler is the co-publisher of the Cleveland Park Listserv, www.cleveland-park.com. He is the author of "Boys and Their Toys: Understanding Men by Understanding Their Relationship with Gadgets," http://amzn.to/rspOft . He tweets at @billadler.

Ask Kelli: Unflattering Glasses; Unequal Presents; Mom's Untrue Birth Story

2011-12-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

by Kelli Miller

Dear Kelli,

My wife recently got new glasses. They are hideous! I’m normally not particular but the ones she picked are really just awful. Do I say something to her?

Signed,
She’s Definitely Blind

Dear She’s Definitely Blind,

This is a sticky situation and the answer to your question depends on the answers to my questions:

1) Did she seek your opinion? If so, feel free to be polite but honest. (“Honey, you’re beautiful. And I’m thinking there could be other styles that would be more flattering.”)

2) Has she mentioned she likes them and is happy? If so, there are two ways to deal with this one. The first is to keep your mouth shut and let her be happy. A happy wife is a happy life! However, if you really can’t stand the sight of the glasses on her, you should take the second approach: Tell your wife you want her to be happy but you’d love to see her second or third choice. Gently suggest that these frames are not the right choice for shape of face. (By the way, some opticians give you thirty days to bring glasses back and choose another frame if you decide you are unhappy with your choice.)

All the best,
Kelli

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Dear Kelli,

I got my neighbor a holiday gift that cost me $15. (I always give my presents early.) She came back and gave me a $75 gift certificate. I feel so guilty. Is it necessary to go out and buy her something else?

Signed,
Thought That Counts?

Dear Thought That Counts,

No, I don’t believe it’s necessary to get an additional gift. It was very kind of your neighbor to spend so much money on you. I think a beautiful handwritten thank- you note would be absolutely perfect (and maybe an offer to shovel their steps when it snows).

All the best,
Kelli

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Dear Kelli,

I have a friend who adopted her child. I know this for a fact because I was friends with her when she went through the adoption process and got her child. It’s really strange, though: Now when we have playdates with preschool mothers and we talk about our births, pregnancies, and so on, she chimes right in and says “Yeah, when I gave birth…” I’m flabbergasted. Is this mental health behavior or do you think she’s just trying to fit in with the other moms?

Signed,
Not Sure If Friend Is Crazy

Dear Not Sure If Friend Is Crazy,

I wish I could answer your question but I believe it would take a psychological evaluation to get to the bottom of this behavior. You should also consider whether your friend has been acting strangely in other areas or just in response to questions about pregnancy and childbearing? If you have noticed other odd behaviors, you would definitely be acting as a good friend if you were to suggest that she seek counseling. If it's just in this limited situation, that suggests to me that she feels insecure about her son's adoption and so has invented a birth story to try to fit in with the crowd.

Since you’ve directly heard her tell this lie, you could say to her privately, “Bonnie, if you ever want to talk about Rick’s adoption I’m always here. I can imagine it must be hard at times to hear other moms talk about their pregnancies when you didn’t go through that.”

All the best,
Kelli

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Kelli Miller, MSW is a therapist, author, and radio personality. Miller was a featured expert for SIRIUS Satellite Radio Channel 198, the co-host for the TV show Love and Money: The Advice Show, and the advice columnist for Playboy U, and the author ofProfessor Kelli’s Guide to Finding a Husband. Ask Kelli is published on All Life is Local and theCleveland Park Listserv on Wednesdays.

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Come Up with Best New Idea to Improve DC and Win an Amazon Kindle

2011-12-20T00:30:00.000-05:00

We're running a new contest. This time it's an idea contest. A new Amazon Kindle goes to the person who comes up with the best idea that answers the question, "What innovation does the District of Columbia need most?" Your idea can be practical or fanciful, inexpensive or costing billions, agreeable or controversial. Send us your idea along with a short explanation of how your idea will change the District. Here are two examples:

"Install wifi on buses. This would dramatically increase the number of people who ride the bus, and reduce the number of cars on the road. Just about everyone will want to ride the bus. This will decrease pollution and save lives as more people take to using buses."

"Genetically engineer and release a virus that turns pigeons into multi-colored birds. DC should fund research to genetically alter pigeons so that their feathers look like parrot feathers. Doing this would make DC look like a tropical paradise."

Send your idea for our Best DC Idea Contest to greatdcidea @ fastmail.net. The contest closes on January 31, 2012. You need to be a Cleveland Park Listserv member to enter.

The winner will receive a brand new Amazon Kindle and the top runners-up will be announced on the Cleveland Park Listserv, along with the winner.

Bill Adler and Peggy Robin
Publishers
Cleveland Park Listserv

Washington Tweets

2011-12-19T08:50:00.002-05:00

Washington Tweets
by Bill Adler

Washington tweets. A lot. The Washington Tweets column is a collection of the most interesting, recent Washington-area tweets. These tweets reveal a candid and fascinating portrait of what is on our collective minds: Twitter gives a snapshot of what we're doing, thinking and hoping for. Washington Tweets is Washington in the raw. Bill Adler tweets at @billadler.

Did I mention my @uber_dc driver other day was a former fighter pilot? But unlike a DC cabbie, did not drive like one. #fighterjetapproved

DC DMV made me pay a parking ticket from 2007 #oops

Zbig Brezinski, complaining abt over-zealous DC security, tells Atlantic Council he frequently signs 'Osama bin Laden,' never been stopped.

Yum! First time getting Masala Art delivery via http://Seamless.com... Might compete w @ParagonThai for my delivery biz!

Historical odds of 1"+ snow falling in DC week leading up toChristmas: 20%, http://wapo.st/tSwSCb

Working late, prepping ingredients for days of baking ahead, after just escaping the clutches of the DC beltway...

Really, @UPS? I try the wrong password too many times and you lock me out and say "try again later"? Why not just redirect me to FedEx?

Occupy DC holiday gingerbread diorama! http://twitpic.com/7utdf0

Thank you all for your encouraging words and support. I am innocent of the charges against me and look forward to clearing my name! #KevinChavis

Zoolights & drinks at Alero in #ClevelandPark... Such a fun Christmas themed evening // Agreed! Love it!

Attended vigil outside #hitchens dc home #GodIsNotGreat #atheist #secular http://pic.twitter.com/PDDi18QU

Listening to Mayor Vincent Gray at ribbon cutting for 11th St Bridges - a great urban transportation solution for the District

Can someone please explain to me why leaf blower guy has been at it for two hours? I thought the whole point of a leaf blower was efficiency

Went on a whim to Medium Rare in Cleveland Park w/@ValerieBeard. It was life changingly amazing. Couldn't recommend any place more.

On the 3rd day of Christmas DC City Council gave to me, Jack Evans moonlighting w/ Patton Briggs and Central Benefits

If the DC metro didn't exist, they'd need 166 blocks of 5 story parking garages and 15 lanes added to the beltway.

Love my new DC Christmas ornament courtesy of @pulpdc http://pic.twitter.com/dTkuOKVx

Rep. Edwards: It's wrong for Congress to handcuff DC w/budget amendments.

5 people were killed in weekend crashes around the DC region: http://bit.ly/sZNQGu Map of crash sites: http://bit.ly/usbC1Z

Soooo... I'm a @ Ft. Totten station and someone just came on the PA system to remind customers that it's illegal to urinate in public #wmata

Being solo is no fun at Adams Morgan

ok, maybe a dumb Q, but do wards coincide w/ parking zones in #DC?

1) now, hurry up and get here, Craigslist dresser buyer person!

2) little does this guy know, but every 10 min he's late, i'm marking up the price of this dresser by 10 bucks. so far, we're up to 30.

Winter Photos

2011-12-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

Thanks to Cleveland Park List Member and bicycle commuter/photographer, Thomas S. Mann, for sending in these photos:

New Cleveland Park Listserv Poll on Cell Phone Use While Driving

2011-12-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

The NationalTransportation Safety Board recommends that states pass laws banning the use ofcell phones while driving. All cell phones, including hands-free use. TheNTSB's chair, Deborah Hersman, said, "It's about cognitive distraction.It's about not being engaged at the task at hand. Lives are being lost in theblink of an eye. You can't take it back, you can't have a do-over, and youcan't rewind."

Another NTSB board member said, "This is becoming the new DUI. It'sbecoming an epidemic." Research has shown that people talking on cellphones drive as dangerously as people who have been drinking: http://bit.ly/uYp2Ng .

In 2010, over 3,000 Americans died because of distracted driving. Over 1.9million car crashes were caused by people who were driving and using theirphones: http://bit.ly/vHzvoo .

Should the District of Columbia ban the use of cell phones while driving?Different jurisdictions have different restrictions on cell phone use, but nostate has a total ban on cell phone use while driving. Wednesday's New York Timesarticle about the NTSB's recommendation, http://nyti.ms/rqi59K, points out that completely banning cell phones would be a difficult job. Butwould it be impossible? Should DC ban cell phones use while driving, beforeother jurisdictions do?

The Cleveland Park Listserv, www.cleveland-park.com, is running a poll on this subject. Subscribed list members can vote in the poll. You do not have to live in Cleveland Park to be a member of the listserv. The Cleveland Park Listserv FAQ page at http://bit.ly/cplistfaq has information about joining the listserv, accessing the web features of the listserv (such as the polling page, or the archived messages) and many tips about how the Cleveland Park Listserv works.

Bill Adler and Peggy Robin
Cleveland Park Listserv Publishers

www.cleveland-park.com

Still Life With Robin: Feeling Scroogy

2011-12-16T06:00:00.000-05:00

by Peggy Robin

We all have a bit of Scrooge in us, I think. It’s probably agood thing in limited amounts; otherwise, long before the end of December youcould overdose on holiday cheer and be at risk of blurting out to random,unsuspecting little children, “There’s no such thing as Santa.” (Which is justwhat happened to a local anchor in Chicago last week -- see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T-3oCa07kjM). It’s fine, I think, to hate one or two, oreven three or more things about the season, no matter how beloved these thingsmay be by others.

Here are the top three things on my own personal Scrooge List:

Bell-ringing atgrocery stores. Yes, the charity is worthy and deserves your support…butthe noise! I just can't take that unceasing constant noise! How can grocery story workers stand it, muchless shoppers?

The Little DrummerBoy. Is there a more annoying Christmas song out there, ba-rump-a-bum-bum?Oh wait, there’s the Carol of the Bells, which seems to combine the endlessdinging of the grocery store noise (see above) with the repetitiveness of theLittle Drummer Boy.

Egg nog. It’s atevery holiday party but why? It’s sickeningly rich, loaded with sat-fat andsugar. And that’s just the non-alcoholic content. If it’s made with brandy or rum orbourbon, then it’s like a candy drink that's all too easy to up end up downing by thecupful, without getting any sense of how strong it is. Until, of course, you find yourself staggering back for a refill.

Although I say it’s fine to hate more than three thingsabout the holiday season, I think I’d better stop here. As I said, Scrooginessis best expressed in small doses. If you personally have a longer list ofthings to complain about, you may be happy to learn that there’s an officialholiday for just this sort of complaining: It’s Bah Humbug Day, and it’s observed onDecember 21. You can find out about ithere: http://bit.ly/dgNQ4f.

In the meantime, enjoy everything else about the holidays –including any or all of the above, if they’re not on your personal Scroogelist. (whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukah, the Winter Solstice or any orall other celebrations between now and New Year’s Day!

Tech Column: Timer Tech

2011-12-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

by Bill Adler

I've been going insane. Not insane because I'm on meds and have been forgetting to take them. Not insane because I'm trying to figure out who's in and who's out among the Republican candidates for president. Not insane because one of the smoke detectors in our house happily chirped "low batt" at about 3am the other night without saying something sensible like "the *kitchen* smoke detector has a low battery."

No. I've been going insane because I've been trying to program a 24 hour electrical timer to power cycle my router every Sunday --and only on Sundays-- at 3am.

I've written before about how it can be beneficial to power cycle various devices (see http://yhoo.it/uMm0WY ). Some technologies needs to be powered down every now and then to clear all the electronic junk that's accumulated. I've had a timer on my router for a while now, and I've been treated to trouble-free internet.

But what I really want is just to power cycle my router once a week. Say early morning Sunday when it's likely that nobody has a need to access the internet.

Have you ever tried to program a 24 hour timer, the kind that lets you select the day and time to schedule a device to be turned on or off? I tried multiple devices and with each successive device I became more and more frustrated (which is to say, bad words passed my lips). It's having to push the program button followed by the auto button after pressing the mode button twice that drives me crazy.

This week I thought I'd try again. Not only for the sake of my router, but because it's time to hang the holiday lights and, once again, around 3am nobody needs to see them on. Lots of timers do the dusk-to-dawn thing, but it's better for the environment if lights are completely off in the wee hours of the morning until it becomes dark again.

Here it is. Here's the winner: The Intermatic 2 Outlet Outdoor Digital Timer, http://amzn.to/vWQz8R.

What makes this 24-hour timer much easier to program is it has a wheel you can turn to quickly get from one function to another. No more pressing the hour button multiple times, only to find that you've passed by the time you want to set and have to start all over again. It's still more complicated than a simple timer that turns on and off at the same time every day, but it won't make you want to hurl it against a wall.

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Bill Adler is the co-publisher of the Cleveland Park Listserv, www.cleveland-park.com. He is the author of "Boys and Their Toys: Understanding Men by Understanding Their Relationship with Gadgets," http://amzn.to/rspOft. He tweets at @billadler.

Ask Kelli Is on Vacation This Week

2011-12-14T08:00:00.000-05:00

Kelli Miller, the advice columnist for All Life Is Local and the Cleveland Park Listserv, is taking a week off. She will be back next Wednesday, December 21st.

Have a question? You can write to Kelli at advice (at) fastmail (dot) net or via Twitter @askkelli.Your name and email address will be kept confidential.

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Kelli Miller, MSW is a therapist, author, and radio personality. Miller was a featured expert for SIRIUS Satellite Radio Channel 198, the co-host for the TV show Love and Money: The Advice Show, and the advice columnist for Playboy U, and the author of Professor Kelli’s Guide to Finding a Husband. Ask Kelli is published on All Life is Local and the Cleveland Park Listserv on Wednesdays.

Recent Crimes Notes from the 2nd District Police

2011-12-13T07:00:00.000-05:00

The "Watch Commander's Crime Update" from Lt. Victor Braschnewitz of the 2nd District MPD noted a number of violent crimes over the weekend. There are some lookouts for the suspects, as well.

The following information is a synopsis of crimes reported to the Metropolitan Police Department over the course of the last 8 hours beginning at 10:00 p.m., Friday, December 09, 2011, and ending at 6:00 a.m., Saturday, December 10, 2011.

Driver in Routine Traffic Stop Caught with Unlicensed Handgun

On Friday, December 09, 2011, at 11:30 p.m. a Carrying a Pistol Without a License offense occurred in the 2100 block of P St., N.W. (PSA 208) and was subsequently reported by the MPD. The MPD reported that during a traffic arrest the driver was found to be in possession of a pistol without a license. The suspect was charged accordingly. This is a closed case.

Customer Punches Employee in the Face

On Friday, December 09, 2011, at 11:40 p.m. a Simple Assault offense occurred in the 800 block of 16th. St., NW (PSA 208) and was subsequently reported to the MPD. The victim, an employee, reported that while standing outside the location when a patron became irate and punched him on the side of his face. The subject was identified and the matter is under investigation.

-On Friday, December 09, 2011, at 11:45 p.m. a Theft/Two offense occurred in the 1500 block of 17th. St., NW (PSA 208) and was subsequently reported to the MPD.

Cell Phones Stolen from Barstool

The victim reported that two unknown subjects were observed taking her cell phone which was resting on the top of a barstool inside the establishment. The suspects were last seen exiting the building and getting into a blue sedan which then drove south on 17th. St. NW. The suspects are described as:
#1-Black Male, 40-50 YOA, 6'0"-6'2", with a thin build, last seen wearing a black jacket and hat
#2-Black Female, 40-50 YOA, 5'5"-5'10", with a thin build, last seen wearing a violet colored jacket
The registration for the vehicle was not noted.

Woman Is Victim of Seemingly Random Assault (with Spitting)

On Saturday, December 10, 2011, at 12:30 a.m. a Simple Assault offense occurred in the 1300 block of Connecticut Ave., N.W. (PSA 208) and was subsequently reported to the MPD. The victim reported that while standing outside of an establishment, an unknown subject approached her and stated "Are you serious?" spat on the victim and then smacked her on the side of her face. He was last seen running away from the location. The suspect is described as a Black Male, 24-26 YOA, 6'0"-6'1", with a medium build, light complexion, brown eyes and short black hair. He was last seen wearing a black pants and a black shirt.

Fist Fight Results in Knockout, Victim Taken to Hospital

On Saturday, December 10, 2011, at 1:52 a.m. a Felony Assault offense occurred in the area of 1200 block of Wisconsin Ave., N.W. (PSA 206) and was subsequently reported to the MPD. The victim reported that a verbal altercation became physical when one of two subjects attempted to punched him in the facial area. The victim struck the suspect with a closed fist after which, both the suspect and a second subject began to punch the victim about the head and body. The victim lost consciousness and was transported to the hospital. The MPD was summoned, responded and arrested the two suspects before they were able to leave the scene. This is a closed case.

Bar Patron Insults, Hits Woman, Headlocks, Bites Her, Then Escapes

On Saturday, December 10, 2011, at 2:40 a.m. a Simple Assault offense occurred in the area of 14th. and U St., N.W. (PSA 208) and was subsequently reported to the MPD. The victim reported that a subject inside the establishment was calling female customers derogatory names. The victim verbally intervened and exited the store with the suspect. The suspect attempted to strike the victim with a closed fist but missed and was struck by the victim and ultimately put in a headlock on the ground. The suspect bit the victim on his arm and was last seen running away from the scene. The suspect is described as a Black Male, wearing a black jacket and red shirt.

Washington Tweets

2011-12-12T09:13:00.001-05:00

by Bill Adler

Washington tweets. A lot. The Washington Tweets column is a collection of the most interesting, recent Washington-area tweets. These tweets reveal a candid and fascinating portrait of what is on our collective minds: Twitter gives a snapshot of what we're doing, thinking and hoping for. Washington Tweets is Washington in the raw. Bill Adler tweets at @billadler.

Doesn't Santa Clause have a better method of transportation than the Metrobus? #WMATA http://pic.twitter.com/w14Zct91

Really glad Rob and I switched places right before Dupont Circle. I can't handle parking and/or traffic.

Most obnoxious appliance has to be gas-powered leafblower. It emits 14 - 300x as much pollution as a huge Ford pickup: http://bit.ly/u47UQj

Finally, Petworth has our 2nd bikeshare station! Terrific! @bikeshare: New 15 dock station installed at 9th and Upshur NW.

A man hid overnight at @Sears to steal from cash registers, police say. http://bit.ly/uQ7kjb

Bus driver on 9S in Crystal City rocks. Just navigated around a road blockage I don't think I could have gotten a car around. @unsuckdcmetro

Did Violent Crime Drop Because Cocaine Got Cheaper? http://wcp.to/urzN8m

Let's give a big welcome to Transit Near Me, a new app that shows transit options near you & anywhere in the region. http://bit.ly/rtXdWQ

In other Council vehicle news, @CMMichaelABrown has ditched the Hummer, now driving Jeep Liberty. Says it's more fuel-efficient.

Definitive word! "@DCStreetcar: The H St/Benning Road line will go up on the Hopscotch Bridge to connect to Union Station" #HStDC

You can now charge your electric car at the Pentagon City mall: http://tbd.ly/s8j7ov

D.C. gun laws could be eased: It could soon become easier for District resident to procure firearms. A bill intr: http://wapo.st/uLhUfT

Have you submitted to DCist Exposed yet? We want to see your pretty pictures. http://ow.ly/7VR2a

why can't all subway announcers be this entertaining? http://bit.ly/rIBC0X

Looking for a Christmas tree in #ClevelandPark? http://ow.ly/7PPlz LMK if you spot others!

DC Libraries will forgive fines through February 5: http://wapo.st/rBNHje #feellessguilty

Just boarded at BWI. @Delta your organizational skills are a joke. Boarding process awful, attendants not helpful, carry-ons out of control CM Barry (D-Amnesia) says there's a higher standard for public officials when it comes to conduct.

I wish the "reply all" button rquired people to click & respond to a "Do you REALLY want to send this stupid message to everyone?" prompt.

Can you spot the person enjoying a foot-long Subway sub on the subway? #wmata #dcmetro http://pic.twitter.com/OvYlC1Qh

if Friends had been set | in Adams Morgan, Tryst would | be their hangout spot #haiku #IllBeThereForYou

Cleveland Park Library, Dec. 15: Photos and Stories of Romanian Peasant Life

2011-12-12T08:00:00.000-05:00

Event: “The Color of Hay; The Peasants of Maramureş” -- Photographer Captures Vanishing Romanian Peasant Life
Location: The Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library
Date and Time: December 15, 2011 at 7.00 pm

The Maramureş Valley in Northern Romania is so remote that generations of peasant farming practices remained intact. As modern amenities like cable TV began to reach the region, Kathleen Laraia McLaughlin documented how the people changed.

On Thursday, December 15, McLaughlin will share her experience and photographs from her book, “The Color of Hay; The Peasants of Maramureş” at the Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library.

"Change is becoming woven into the generations,” said McLaughlin. "Though peasants desire some changes – a washing machine can actually save a grandma’s life if it keeps her from falling in the river while washing clothes – they also appreciated having the memories of their traditional lives preserved."

“The Color of Hay; The Peasants of Maramureş” captures Romanian history and a culture in transition in a book that includes photographs essays, poems, proverbs, ghost stories, and songs.

The event will begin at 7:00 p.m. A book signing will follow the program. The Cleveland Park Neighborhood Library is located at 3310 Connecticut Ave., NW near the Cleveland Park Metro Station. For more information, please call 202-282-3080.

This event is sponsored by the Embassy of Romania.

New Speed Cams in the Neighborhood

2011-12-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

The Metropolitan Police Department has announced new speed cameras in the following locations in Cleveland Park, Woodley Park, and Foxhall Road.

These new camera locations are not marked by stripes on the road. They are in stainless steel metal boxes about four feet high which have blue MPD logos on three sides. They will go live on December 21. A thirty-day educational phase will commence on November 21, 2011, during which violators will receive warning citations. Starting on December 21, 2011, MPD will begin issuing live moving citations to violators.

The locations chosen were sites with high numbers of crashes and injuries, calls for speed enforcement from neighbors, or where high speeds have been measured.

The new speed cameras are at the following locations:

1900 block of Foxhall Road NW, northbound and southbound directions, 25 mph
2800 block of Calvert Street NW, eastbound, 25 mph
2300 block of Connecticut Avenue NW, southbound, 25 mph
2300 block of Porter Street NW, eastbound and westbound, 30 mph
Canal Road NW, .3 miles south of Arizona Avenue, northbound and southbound directions, 35 mph

Tech Column: Power to the Mobile Devices

2011-12-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

by Bill Adler

The sentence, “My phone died,” should never have to be said. While smartphones’ battery life is limited --these phones are indeed power hogs-- you can extend your phone’s or tablet computer’s battery life indefinitely.

When I know I’m going to be out for more than 15 minutes (which is how long my iPhone’s battery feels like it lasts), I carry a lightweight lithium battery power pack. With that, I can double or triple the battery life of my phone and iPad -- or even longer than that.

Rechargeable, external batteries can power a multitude of devices. One battery does the job for both my iPhone and iPad, plus any random stranger’s Android phone.

These batteries vary in price, weight and size, depending on your needs. Generally, the more power, the greater the weight. Some external batteries are powered by the sun --so cool-- and those tend to be a bit larger.

The New Trent iCruiser fits in your pocket and will give you extra energy to make it through the day: Figure 50 hours of extra movie watching on your iPhone and 17 hours on your iPad. That will certainly last you on a flight from here to Sydney. You can read more about the iCruiser here: http://amzn.to/v66sQb .

I never travel without my iCruiser. In addition to having ample power for a long trip, it’s nice not to have to fight for an electrical outlet at the airport.

The New Trent iGeek is a little lighter than the iCruiser, but still gives you an extra 45 hours on your iPhone and 18 hours on your iPad: http://amzn.to/tBwB7Y .

The number you should keep an eye out for is the one that precedes mAh: The greater the milliamperes/hour, the longer the battery will power your device or the more charges it will give. The other number you’ll need to look out for is voltage. Smartphones need 5v batteries, but iPads need 10v. If you want to be able to charge your tablet, make sure you get an external battery that provides ample voltage.

The Lexus of battery backups is the Evolve XeMini, http://amzn.to/rup9Ze , which can be recharged by the sun or by plugging it it. The XeMini gives your iPhone an extra 6.5 hours of talk time, and your Blackberry an additional 8 hours to yak. The XeMini can charge two devices at once. It also doubles as a wall charger. (The irony is that it will keep your phone charged at the beach, but do you want to keep your phone charged at the beach?)

If you want something just for your smartphone that’s light and portable, Duracell’s Instant Charger is your ticket to mobile freedom in a lightweight and inexpensive package: http://amzn.to/u32Cux .

The PowerGen External Battery Pack is another excellent battery: It can provide hours and hours of additional power in a sleek package: http://amzn.to/rQAfV7 .

But what about laptops? Well, there are portable power solutions for laptops, too. Keep in mind that the larger power consumption of laptops means that you won’t get as much out of an external battery as you will with a phone or tablet. Still, a battery like the Tekkeon myPower, http://amzn.to/rTKlm1 , can get you through an extra movie on that flight to London. Be sure to get the right adapter for your laptop if your get the Tekkeon. You can’t simply plug your laptop into a USB port, as you can with the smartphone and table computer batteries.

If you’re going anywhere over the holidays, having portable power can make your journey more enjoyable.

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Bill Adler is the co-publisher of the Cleveland Park Listserv, www.cleveland-park.com. He is the author of "Boys and Their Toys: Understanding Men by Understanding Their Relationship with Gadgets," http://amzn.to/rspOft . He tweets at @billadler.

Still Life with Robin: Card Trouble

2011-12-09T07:00:00.000-05:00

by Peggy Robin

My friend went to use her credit card to buy a train ticket for a last-minute trip out of town due to a family emergency, but her card was rejected. When she called her card's customer service number, she found that a lock had been placed on further purchases, triggered by one suspicious overseas charge for less than twenty dollars. My friend was on hold to speak to a customer service rep while the minutes to the train's departure were ticking away. All she needed to do was explain that her son, who was abroad, had bought the item in question and that it was completely legitimate, but of course she had to go through a complicated voicemail maze first, followed by a seemingly endless hold. By the time she got her card cleared for use, she had just time enough to make the final call for boarding. If only her long-lost true love had been on that train, it would have been the perfect ending scene to a romantic movie. Instead, there was just one more groan-inducing moment, when, moments after stowing her bag, she realized to her horror that she had left her credit card back in the station, on the seat in the waiting area from which she’d made her frantic phone call to reactivate her card.

Fortunately, when she explained the situation to the conductor, he told her there was still time for her to go back and retrieve it, and she did so at a gallop, making it back just before the train pulled out. Whew.

My most recent experience with the customer service department of my credit card was less suspenseful but still had its little moment of drama. I got a phone message asking me to confirm a recent purchase…for twelve thousand dollars! (I have an early warning system in place that lets me know immediately when there is any unusual activity on my card, which means that I can deal with problems before I am locked out of using my card when I need it.) Well, I definitely did not make that charge. As soon as the vendor was named, I understood exactly what had happened: The charge had come in without an essential element, the decimal point. $120.00 becomes $12000 when incorrectly recorded. The vendor immediately acknowledged the mistake and the problem was taken care of in one mercifully brief phone call.

For me a big part of the relief is that I didn’t have to change my credit card number. It seems to me that by the time I’ve had a card long enough to end up knowing all sixteen digits by heart, that’s exactly when some sort of security breach is bound to occur, resulting in a changed number. The last time this happened, it was because a large retailer had reason to believe that tens of thousands of its customers’ files had been compromised. I had not had any false charges appear on my statement, but I accepted that an account number change was needed for my protection.

However, the time before that, I had gone over my statement and discovered a charge from a restaurant I knew I had never patronized. It wasn’t a huge charge – in fact, it wasn’t even large enough to be a normal sit-down meal for two. But I was sure I had never been there in my life. I called the credit card company and after discussing the situation with the customer service rep, was pleased to hear that the charge would be voided. But less pleased to learn that I would need to begin the long, slow process of memorizing a new sixteen digit number.

About ten days later, after I had already received my shiny new plastic card in the mail and activated it, I had a sudden epiphany about what had actually transpired: We had not, in fact, been out to eat on the night in question and then experienced amnesia about the name of the place but we had picked up take-out food from a local restaurant/deli. The problem was that both the name and location of the place that sold us the prepared dinners bore absolutely no resemblance to the name and identifying information that appeared on the credit card statement. In other words, that take-out place did their billing under a completely different business name and address. You might think that any company following this practice would inform its customers about how its bills will appear, or at least, when there’s an inquiry, would let the credit card customer service rep in on the secret. But that didn’t happen in this case.

Though it was too late to resurrect my old credit card number, I did call to restore the legitimate charge to my newly renumbered account. I guess that’s a happy ending to this story, at least for the business that sold me the food. As I listened to my friend tell her story about the questionable charge and its consequences, I was just grateful that mine did not involve a race for a train.

Two Great Events on Sat, Dec 10 to Benefit DC Schools: Duke Ellington Art Show; Janney Fair

2011-12-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

Duke Ellington's Holiday Gift Bazaar & Art Show

10am - 7pm at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts, 34th and R NW

Admission is free! There will be Special Guest performing artists and vendors offering custom handmade gold and silver jewelry, fine arts, natural bath and beauty products, holiday cards, silent auction, boutique clothing and accessories, taste of Georgetown from local restaurants, authors, books and and calendars and more!

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Don't miss the 6th (often annual) Janney Winter Fair!

Saturday, December 10, 10am-1:30pm
Janney Elementary School, 4130 Albemarle St. NW, (next to the Tenley Library)

Janney students and community artisans are selling holiday gifts, handmade crafts, cookies, NGO/Fair Trade goods, jewelry, second hand toys, and more.

Kid-friendly shopping for affordable holiday gifts
Special Winter Fair one-day-only discount on the famous Janney Cookbook and aprons
Hands-on craft stations for kids
Yummy snacks, baked goods, and savory lunch items for sale

Go Green for the holidays – shop local, and please bring your own shopping bags!

Ask Kelli: Over-staying In-laws; Late-Paying Tenant; Nervous Patient

2011-12-07T07:00:00.000-05:00

by Kelli Miller

Dear Kelli,

My in-laws are coming for their annual visit—of almost two weeks. They are very, very nice people, but having someone else staying in our house just starts to drive me crazy after a week. When I was working, I’d often spend long hours out of the house (it was uncanny how big work projects always seemed to coincide with their visits), just to avoid being around as much as I could. Now that I’m not working, though, I really don’t know how I’m going to survive having them hanging around the house all day for so long.

Neither my husband nor they seem to have heard of the famous Ben Franklin saying that “guests, like fish, begin to smell after three days.” My husband won’t consider any of the solutions I’ve suggested—asking them to shorten their visit (“they drive 15 hours to see us only once a year”) or finding an alternative place for them to stay (“that would be rude”)—and he thinks I’m wrong to have an issue with the length of their visit. This year my husband and I are going to take a two-night getaway during their visit (while they stay with the kids)—but I don’t think it’s going to be enough.

Help! Do I just need to grin and bear it—in which case, any suggestions for how to do that? Or am I right that this visit is just too long—in which case, how can I get them to stay for a more reasonable amount of time?

Signed,
Frustrated Daughter-in-Law

Dear Frustrated Daughter-in-Law,

I’m with you and Ben here. Yes, fish (I mean in-laws) stink after three days. Here’s the thing: you already committed or okayed them to stay for this visit. So for now I think you have to bite the bullet. Next year is a different story but we’ll get to that.

So how do you cope with the fish for two whole weeks? You take care of your guests in addition to taking care of yourself. If you feel the need to get space, you go out and run an errand. You do yoga. You do what you need to do to stay sane during those two weeks. It’s great that you have a get-away planned, and that will help keep you going. My point is, don’t be afraid to live your normal life. Often when we’re “entertaining”, we neglect our own needs and then end up getting resentful. So make this year different by doing what you need to do without the guilt. Everyone will feel better.

Assuming it’s okay with your husband, I’d lay the ground rules for next year’s visit when it’s first brought up. I’d say something like, “We love seeing you and we’ve got a couple things lined up this winter but we’d love to host you for five or seven days.” (I think five or seven days is a fair compromise, considering they want to stay for two weeks.)

All the best,
Kelli

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Dear Kelli,

I'm the landlord of a building in DC. One of my tenants always pays her rent two days late. She's the only one who pays late. She's very kind and I can tell she is struggling each month to get the money. Do I lay down the law or let it go because she does eventually pay?

Signed,
Don't Want to Be Mean

Dear Don't Want to Be Mean,

I applaud your generosity and empathy for your tenant. Even if you did lay down the law, you're not being mean, you're just doing your job. That's okay. You have to remember that it's up to her to manage her money problems.

With that said, you said the tenant is nice and you can tell she is struggling. I'm a firm believer in giving people the benefit of the doubt. The fact that she does come up with the money (albeit two days late) does show she's trying. If you're okay with knowing each month her rent may be two days late, I'd say let it go. Now if she ends up paying you even later, you'll need to have a conversation with her or come up with a new game plan.

All the best,
Kelli

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Dear Kelli,

I'm terrified of getting my blood drawn. I'm six foot four and a 250 pound male. So as you can imagine I'm slightly embarrassed. What can I do to alleviate my fear? It’s not that I faint -- I just worry about needles.

Signed,
Not a Vampire

Dear Not a Vampire,

There's no need to be ashamed. I have a friend who is a phlebotomist (blood drawer) and she says in her experience anyone, regardless of size or height, can be afraid of needles. Fear doesn't discriminate! And she's seen more men than women who react this way. I'm telling you this so that you'll know how common this phobia is and you'll be aware that professionals in the field are very used to it.

My suggestion is to look into hypnosis or hyponotherapy. You might find a CD that can help you cope with this fear. Or it could be that all you need is a good distraction (bring along a magazine, or listen to music, while your blood is being drawn). But most important, tell the phlebotomist that you’re nervous. She can take special care with you and help to walk you through the experience.

All the best,
Kelli

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And now a reader's comment on last week's letter from a gay man whose daughter has just had her first period:

Hello Kelli,

I enjoy your advice!

I would suggest that Max take his daughter to a femalepediatrician, and let them talk privately during the exam. That would guarantee thatshe has someone knowledgeable to turn to.

-------------------------------

Kelli Miller, MSW is a therapist, author, and radio personality. Miller was a featured expert for SIRIUS Satellite Radio Channel 198, the co-host for the TV show Love and Money: The Advice Show, and the advice columnist for Playboy U, and the author of Professor Kelli’s Guide to Finding a Husband. Ask Kelli is published on All Life is Local and the Cleveland Park Listserv on Wednesdays.

Kelli welcomes your comments below. Have a question? You can write to Kelli at advice (at) fastmail (dot) net or via Twitter @askkelli.Your name and email address will be kept confidential.

Invitation from NPR to Attend "Talk of the Nation" Show

2011-12-06T10:00:00.000-05:00

We received this invitation from NPR that we'd like to pass along:

You are invited to be our guest on December 12, for a live broadcast of NPR’s acclaimed Talk of the Nation from 2pm - 4pm, here in National Geographic’s Grosvenor Auditorium.

From 2pm - 3pm: "Are cities the best cure for our world’s growing pains?"

From 3pm - 4pm: "Can we feed 7 billion people without destroying the planet?"

To attend:

Email talk @ npr.org with “tickets” in the subject line. Include your name, the number seats you need, and put “tickets” in the subject line.

You can attend one or both hours, so please indicate your choice. Those attending the first hour must be seated at Grosvenor Auditorium by 1:45 pm on the day of the broadcast. Talk of the Nation is a live, two-hour program broadcast to more than 320 stations across the United States and overseas, with over three million listeners per week.

Sue Goodwin
Executive Producer, Talk of the Nation
National Public Radio
202-513-2340

sgoodwin @ npr.org

Washington Tweets

2011-12-05T13:00:00.000-05:00

by Bill Adler

Washington tweets. A lot. The Washington Tweets column is a collection of the most interesting, recent Washington-area tweets. These tweets reveal a candid and fascinating portrait of what is on our collective minds: Twitter gives a snapshot of what we're doing, thinking and hoping for. Washington Tweets is Washington in the raw. Bill Adler tweets at @billadler.

Woman sought in VA carjacking, bank heists now wanted in MD attempted carjacking: http://ow.ly/7HL2Y

A police officer refused orders to taser someone at #occupydc. thank you, whoever you are! <3 #occupysf #ows #oo

In an alternative DC, highways would have cut through Georgetown and Dupont Circle: The Lost Highways of D.C. http://shar.es/olbxf

FYI, you can get a D.C. Public Library card if you live in any of the surrounding jurisdictions, out to Loudoun, Pr. William, Frederick cos.

Monday's digit: 7/10 - Though gray, quite mild. Take these days near 60 while we can get'em.

I wish the gardener would knock on the door when he turns the leafblower on. Man, he's messing up my calls to clients. Smh

All D.C. roads, bike lanes, and bus routes lead to Wal-Mart: http://tbd.ly/v99fgS

@WMATA considering $6 fares for paper farecard users: bit.ly/vADPUf on ggwash.org/12964

Hmm: @Amtrak's WiFi filter blocks @Discovery_News. Doesn't say why. (They did unblock @CEAEnthusiast after I sent in a report.)

One of the best Italian dishes in DC: veal ravioli at Sorriso in Cleveland Park, http://yfrog.com/hslkjhqj #DCfood #DC

The sound you are hearing is the sound of 12 shredders firing up in DC Council offices across the city.

The #OccupyDC folks are getting pizza from Domino's. I mean, how ironic is that?

Proofreading is so overrated. #sierraclub ads on @wmata have a typo. See the text in blue. @unsuckdcmetro http://yfrog.com/nxeh1fej

Enjoyed helping Deal Middle School students arrive safely this morning. #Ward3DC http://yfrog.com/kjtsemuj

A really cool idea from the Va. Dept of Corrections: Virtual visits for inmates & their families http://wapo.st/sUzgSZ (via @postlocal)

The debate over lowering speed limits: How low would you set the speed limit for D.C. residential streets? http://wapo.st/vUQbg2

HO HO HO. Free dessert when you purchase a Medium Rare gift card for $50 now till Xmas!

as a DC resident who pays for Zone parking passes I'm tired of spending 20-30 mins looking for parking. @Marycheh fix it! #Clevelandpark

Full-time college students in DC can qualify for a 1-year reciprocity permit. Check first to see docs needed to apply. http://ht.ly/7EX2C

Don't see this kind of manpower ever to enforce building code laws for low-income housing #occupydc Anyone remember Mount P apartment fire?

Weekly News Notes (New Column)

2011-12-04T14:47:00.001-05:00

We're introducing a new All Life Is Local column today: Weekly News Notes. In this column we report news of note that's happened over the past week. Area news, national news, health news, tech news -- there's a little of many things in News Notes.

This column is still in its experimental and formative states, so let us know what you think about News Notes. Would you like to see more notes on a particular subject, for instance? And if you note something yourself that might be good for this column, please comment in the section below.

Bill Adler and Peggy Robin
All Life Is Local and The Cleveland Park Listserv

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Proposed DC streetcar routes: http://bit.ly/spoAK5

Postal service to implement cuts next spring that will result in slower first class mail delivery: http://n.pr/w1BEid

Traffic congestion continues to get worse in the DC area: http://bit.ly/ua7LZt

Cheese may not increase cholesterol: http://bit.ly/scUqvu

If you've noticed broken multi-meter parking stations, you're not alone: http://bit.ly/vvtpMk

Brakes put on the proposal to limit vehicles to 15 mph in DC residentialneighborhoods: http://bit.ly/uVyMSc

Which is more dangerous, driving drunk or high?: http://slate.me/sIGV9c

Connecticut Avenue Street Light

2011-12-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

Photo by Bill Adler

Tech Column: The Most Important Device in Your Home, Your Router

2011-12-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

by Bill Adler

Roofs aren't sexy. Refrigerators aren't --pardon the pun-- cool. And while we rarely think about or admire our roofs or fridges when they work, we obsess about them when they don't work. And for good reason: Without working roofs and refrigerators, home life is pretty miserable.

How often do you think about your router? Not often, I bet. Me, neither. The router is probably the most important technology in your home, but it's often such an obscure (and like a roof, boring) piece of technology that we don't consider it when things go wrong. People are apt to point a finger at their
internet service provider when they lose their connection to the internet, but most of the time, it's the router that's at fault.

A router that's working right lets you access the internet at full speed.

A few weeks ago I wrote about how power cycling electrical devices can often fix things that aren't working: That should be your first step when you lose the internet or when the internet seems to be moving at the speed of the Beltway during rush hour.

Losing your connection and having a slow internet aren't the only problems that routers present: Lack of wireless range is another. For that problem, the Amped Smart Repeater is a solution: http://amzn.to/r8ZeHB. It will can double your wireless router's range, letting you use your iPad in the kitchen or your Kindle Fire in the bath (if you dare.)

But what about the router itself? If you haven't bought a new router in eons, then you may be missing out on a faster and more reliable internet connection. Like all things tech, routers have improved over the years -- not just with speed, but with security and reliability, too. I'm currently using a D-Link DIR-655, which I like a lot and highly recommend: http://amzn.to/rIm51b . But I have my eye on the Netgear N900, http://amzn.to/uMz0Cu , which Gizmodo calls the "fastest router we've ever tested."

So you've got a new, great router. What else can you do to keep your router humming along, and your internet connection secure, fast and always-on? Check to see if your router needs a firmware update from time to time. (Every router has a different procedure for doing this, so I can't give you instructions here on
how to do that.) Also make sure that your cordless phone and all other wireless devices don't live close to your router. My cordless phone used to be just a few inches from my router and used to knock the wifi signal off the air. After moving the phone several feet, all was right again in my wireless world.

If your wireless connection is slow or pokey, change the router's channel. (Sorry, but you'll have to delve into your router's FAQ for that, as each router is a bit different.) Changing the channel changes the frequency at which your router operates and that can dramatically improve your wireless speed. You may
need to do this every now and then.

Don't suffer with a slow or unhappy router. If you live and breathe on the internet, a fully-functioning router will make your days and nights better.

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Bill Adler is the co-publisher of the Cleveland Park Listserv, www.cleveland-park.com. He is the author of "Boys and Their Toys: Understanding Men by Understanding Their Relationship with Gadgets," http://amzn.to/rspOft. He tweets at @billadler.