The Cleveland Park Listserv's Iconic Photo

From time to time we're asked about the photograph that's used on the Cleveland Park Listserv's website.

That photograph of the Cleveland Park Listserv, taken by Bill Adler, has been the iconic image of the listserv since 1996.  The Listserv itself was founded in 1999, and, with over 10,000 Washington, DC area members, is the largest neighborhood email list in the United States.  The cool, mood lighting comes from the neon of the stores nearby, including Sala Thai, which is no longer in Cleveland Park, but whose illumination is preserved in this photograph.

If you're into the nitty-gritty of such things, this photograph was taken without a tripod, using a Fuji FinePix F30, f/2.8, 1/34 second exposure, ISO 3200.

We've always loved this photograph of the Cleveland Park Metro canopy and are delighted that it is the symbol of the Cleveland Park Listserv.

Here's the light that makes this photo so unique and iconic. Neon is always magical. 

Pepco to Replace Live Trees with Storm-Proof Artificial Trees to Prevent Power Outages

The Potomac Electric Power Company (Pepco) announced today that it will be planting artificial, storm-proof trees throughout the District of Columbia and Montgomery County. According to Pepco, these artificial trees will be able to withstand heavy snowfalls, ice storms, and winds of up to 100 miles per hour. “We’re excited about the storm-proof tree initiative,” said Pepco’s arborist, Mary Conti. “These trees, which are composed of carbon nanofibers, are able to hold up against just about anything that nature can whip up. Replacing living trees with artificial trees will dramatically reduce the number of power outages in the Washington, DC area.”

Pepco plans to initially replace some 4,500 living trees with artificial trees. “None of these real trees has a life expectancy of more than 20 years,” Conti said. “Compare that to the Pepco trees that will last for at least a century.” The 4,500 trees that Pepco has targeted for replacement either intersect or overhang power lines. That alone should reduce the power outage rate by 75 percent, Pepco says. Eventually, Pepco plans to replace approximately 15,000 trees with these modern, indestructible artificial trees.

Pepco’s artificial tree project is in response to customer’s requests to have more reliable electricity.

Pepco, which already has considerable experience at cutting down trees, expects that it will take approximately eight months to replace the first batch of 4,500 trees. “When the next snowpocalypse strikes, we’ll just laugh at it,” Conti said.

Pepco pointed out that area residents will be impressed, even wowed, by these artificial trees, because they were created by the award-winning Italian design firm FioreNuovo. “We think that people will like our Pepco trees even more than actual trees,” Conti said.

Each tree will have three openings that lead to spacious hollows inside for squirrels, raccoons, birds and other critters to establish homes. “These are not just beautiful, but eco-friendly trees. I know that the squirrels will be very happy.” The upper leaves on the trees can be replaced with solar-cell coated leaves at a future date so that not only will we have fewer power outages, but the Pepco trees will actually generate more energy. “An ordinary tree can’t make electricity,” Conti pointed out. “Our trees are better than nature.”

The cut-down trees will be turned into firewood and given away to needy families, Pepco said.

There's more information about this on our companion email list, the Cleveland Park Listserv.

Outwitting Squirrels on BoingBoing's Top 10 List

One of my books, Outwitting Squirrels, made BoingBoing's Top 10 list of recommended books for 2010. Wow. Very cool and very fun. And if you're clueless about what Outwitting Squirrels is about, it's about just that: How to outwit squirrels, who have nothing better to do all day long than figure out ways to break into our birdfeeders and gardens.

I had to brag. Sorry. Now back to our originally scheduled blogging program.

Cleveland Park Listserv's Iconic Photo

From time to time we're asked about the photograph that's used on the Cleveland Park Listserv's website.

That photograph of the Cleveland Park Listserv, has been the iconic image of the listserv since 1996.  (The Listserv itself was founded in 1999.)  The cool, mood lighting comes from the neon of the stores nearby, including Sala Thai, which is no longer in Cleveland Park, but whose illumination is preserved in this photograph.

If you're into the nitty-gritty of such things, this photograph was taken without a tripod, using a Fuji FinePix F30, f/2.8, 1/34 second exposure, ISO 3200.

We've always loved this photograph of the Cleveland Park Metro canopy and are delighted that it is the symbol of the Cleveland Park Listserv.

Here's the light that makes this photo so unique and iconic:

Landing in Leesburg

The view from a cockpit of a Cirrus SR-22, landing last Thursday in Leesburg, Virginia.  

Those six blades in front of the plane aren't six-bladed propeller. They're a result of the iPhone's CMOS sensor which scans an image from left to right, rather than taking an instant shot, like a regular digital camera. If you take a photo at the right place and the right time, you can create this interesting image.  This photo was taken with an iPhone 4G.

DC Doctor's Office: A Photo Essay

A patient's eye view of doctors' offices. Photos by Bill Adler. 

The Top Ten Reasons to Join the Cleveland Park Listserv

Cleveland Park is an email list for people who live in Washington, DC and the Cleveland Park neighborhood. It's a way to meet, exchange news, and find out what's happening in the area. The Cleveland Park Listserv is Washington's most vibrant electronic community, the largest neighborhood email list in the country, and the only neighborhood email list with an columns and features.  Visit www.cleveland-park.com to join.

10.  It's an A-List that doesn't require you to be a major donor to any political party.

9.  You'll find out about new restaurants, secret parking places, neighborhood events, street construction, crime, and other activities that affect your life.