Cameras Receive Mixed Reviews: Over the weekend the first four of 48 planned surveillance cameras went live in the District, promising to help police handle an on-going crime emergency. But how useful might they be? Not very, according to the Washington Times. Officials in other cities that implemented the cameras argue that they don't do much in helping stop crime, an experience that proven in our northern-most suburb, Baltimore:

Baltimore, for example, set up about 80 cameras in May 2005 in high-crime neighborhoods. Volunteers and retired law-enforcement personnel monitor the images in real time, but the cameras have not helped put criminals behind bars. "Generally, the State's Attorney's Office has not found them to be a useful tool to prosecutors," office spokeswoman Margaret Burns said. "They're good for circumstantial evidence, but it definitely isn't evidence we find useful to convict somebody of a crime."

Comcast Raises Rates: It may have taken months and months of hard-handed negotiations and a threat of FCC intervention, but Comcast has finally agreed to air Washington Nationals games. But, as the Post reported over the weekend, those games will come at a cost. Comcast officials have announced that the company's 1.6 million subscribers in the region will start paying $2 more a month to cover the costs of airing the games. The Mid-Atlantic Sports Network, which carries the games, has accused Comcast of gouging its customers.

Post Exposes Intern Secrets: We've got to hand it to the post -- they're really searching for the big stories these days. Today the famed newspaper trains its sights on Washington's many interns, exposing their motivations in a think piece that is sure to shake things up and blow people's minds. Example:

Every summer, 20,000 collegiates flock to the capital to make connections with the nation's officialdom and gain a leg up in life. The networking doesn't stop at the office door.

Ground zero for schmoozers-in-training is the weekday happy hour. If it's the right bar on the right day, they can chat up a congressman and jump-start their careers. Ultimately, it's all about making as many lasting, positive impressions on as many important people as possible, right?

Pizza, Anyone?: A Chicago man took in 19 slices of pizza in 10 minutes on Saturday in a competitive eating contest in Greenbelt, taking home a $5,000 prize and bragging rights, notes WTOP. In a similar amateur context, a 105-pound woman from Germantown bested her competitors by devouring 11 slice in 10 minutes.

Briefly Noted: Race may affect D.C. Council chair contest ... Adrian Fenty and Marie Johns go one-on-one ... Woman with machete arrested outside White House ... DDOT asks residents to water trees.

This Day in DCist: On this day last year and the year prior, we were being lazy. D.C. in August -- can you blame us?

Picture snapped by IntangibleArts