Morning Roundup: Goodbye, Abe Edition
Vegetate to Close at the End of the Month
D.C. Police Seek Suspect in Series of Bank Robberies
Suspect in 9-Year-Old's Murder Found Dead in D.C. Jail
Wizards Owner Abe Pollin Dies at 85
OK, so few of us fulfilled those dreams of coming out of inauguration weekend with a few extra thousand dollars in our pockets courtesy of out-of-town visitors that needed a place to stay, but Distict businesses apparently did pretty well for themselves during the January 20 festivities. WJLA is reporting that businesses in the city may have pulled in an additional $1 billion on inauguration day, with some seeing jumps in sales as high as 400 percent. Business is also apparently still brisk due to visitors that have stayed in town. We'd say we should do this all again soon, but we all need a few weeks to recover.
March for Life Hits Washington: If anyone wandered down to the National Mall yesterday expecting a silence and serenity after the inauguration's record-breaking crowds, they were in for a rude surprise. The annual March for Life hit Washington yesterday, bringing in tens of thousands of pro-life activists to decry the 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision. The Post has the story.
Inaugural Performance was Pre-Taped: What does Yo Yo Ma have in common with Ashlee Simpson and Milli Vanilli? He plays along to pre-taped music, it seems. The New York Times is reporting that the world renown cellist, who was joined by Itzhak Perlman, Gabriela Montero and Anthony McGill, didn't actually play the rendition of John Williams' "Air and Simple Gifts" at President Barack Obama's inauguration -- they just played along. Fearing what the cold weather would do to their instruments, the musicians pre-recorded the song and simply played along to it during the swearing-in ceremony.
Change Has Come to the Region? Not So Much: Just three days after President Obama's inauguration inspired millions and heralded a new era of hope and change, we're realizing that things are pretty much the same as they were before January 20. The Washington Times writes that the region's traffic has taken on its usual state again -- gridlock. Broken water mains, roadwork, remaining concrete barriers and the two fires off of North Capitol Street yesterday made for a head-pounding commute for many, reminding us that President Obama can only do so much so quickly.
Briefly Noted: Canadian Olympic organizers impressed by Metro's inauguration performance ... That horse that got injured before the Inaugural Parade? It's fine ... Twelve PG County schools to be closed due to budget cuts.
This Day in DCist: On this day in 2008, Mayor Adrian Fenty fired city employees for surfing internet porn at work. In 2007, Fenty snubbed President Bush at the State of the Union by sitting with Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi instead.
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Yesterday, I saw so many people. So many people, carrying signs. Carrying signs that read: Choose Life! Next year,
I'll be carrying my own sign, which will read: Choose Beef!
It's the other dark meat! My friends will carry signs that will read: Choose Death! Do You Want to Live Forever! The Star Wars Geek Squads signs will read: Choose the Force!
The Force is with You! The Mothers will have signs that read: A Good Kid Choose his food!
Choose Jif!®
...with some seeing jumps in sales as high as 400 percent.
COUGH! (Ben's Chili Bowl) COUGH!
As I exited the U street station on the Green Line, I noticed lots and lots of swirling police lights. Lo and behold, they were in front of Ben's Chili Bowl. There was a line zig-zaging out the door. This was at about 6:30 last night. It's official, Ben's Chili Bowl is the new Ritz! Meat mechanically pulled of the bone and stuffed into
wafer thin condoms is the new steak. Yum yum, put it in a bun. Oh no, not my bun. Ben's Buns.
Then order the vegetarian chili, you pretentious prissy bitch.
Aww! What's with the name calling? Is that chili in your pants or are sick or something? Either way....that's nasty!
my thoughts exactly.
So does this mean Ben's can now pay their real estate tax bill like everyone else, or does that special bill the DC council passed just for them still stand?
Next year, I'm bringing this sign: Get A Life!
I am there with you
So did the right-to-life crowd have a lot of dead fetus on a stick signs this time around, or have they toned down that rhetoric? They should really join forces with the anti-globalization/World Bank protestors and have some fetus puppet marionette street theater. Not to make any point, mind you, but I'm ditching DirectTV and am on the lookout for cheap/free entertainment.
I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it...
We're not gonna protest! We're not gonna protest!
That guy's mask doesn't look like Obama at all. It looks like Jerry Lewis after he's been in the tanning booth too long.
So the question begs, when will Ben's go all "5 Guys" on us and open a branch Murray Utah?
as soon as their food is consistently good and they can pass a health inspection.
I wish Ben's would end up in the frozen food section, next to the White Castle Burgers and Claim Jumper frozen dinners. I'm getting so goddamned sick of seeing 20 kinds of Johnsonville Brats and not a single decent halfsmoke. Halfsmokes need to go global. Screw those limp Nathan's weenies and salad-on-a-bun Chicago dogs. Maybe Ben's can peddle those ready-to-eat-nukeable-dog-in-a-bun dealies like Oscar Mayer peddles? Perfect for the lazy fatasses who can't understand how to work an oven and have to catch their breath after hitting the microwave buttons. Maybe with a little accessory tub of Ben's chili, a roll of toilet paper, and a can of Glade Air Freshener? Or just cut out the middle man and have a pull-tab, pop-top Ben's Cholera-in-a-Can® (Now with 50% more violent commode explosions!)
I have an ignorant question-
How is a half smoke different from other times of meat in a tube?
I'm a vegetarian so I don't have the pleasure of experiencing the Ben's half smoke...
Does anyone else feel outraged 'bout that scandalous Yo-Yo Ma bait and switch?
Anyone?
Anyone?
Yeah, me neither.
I wish we had organized a Nebraska on these folks. Post signs all over town saying:
"If you have an unwanted child
go the National Mall and leave
him or her with the Right to Life
folks."
That's what those Choose Life signs were all about:
Choose Me
Help Me
Save Me
Bring me the Head of Alfredo Garcia!
Why do I have to choose between Obama and life? What I really want is Obama's life. Then I could make time with his lady. You know you got it like that baby.
Scarlett Johansson can watch.
Maybe Aretha should have used a pre-recorded song.
...or a pre-recorded hat. Wait a second, that doesn't make any sense at all...
What does Yo-Yo Ma have in common with Ashlee Simpson and Milli Vanilli? He plays along to pre-taped music, it seems.
What Yo-Yo had and the former two did not? A valid excuse
There's a typo in that sentence, it should read:
"...bringing in tens of thousands of asshats who want to impose their restrictive morals on others..."
...or a pre-recorded hat. Wait a second, that doesn't make any sense at all...
My other sign reads: Scrambled or sunny-side up. Eggs is eggs!
Does carrying a sign that says "Choose Life Not Obama" make one "Pro-Choice"?
Good point. They're not really giving you a choice if they're telling you what to choose.
I think Man Tan Jerry Lewis should replace his sign with one that clearly states, "CHOOSE HOYVIN, NOT GLAYVIN."
It means that you are a poor decision maker. If one is at deaths door and is asked whether they will choose life or Obama. The wise man will choose life. The fool will become a card board cut-out of Obama and will spend the rest of their lives being photographed on the mall.
Is this a slow news day?
Isn't anyone else at least mildy amused by the "I survived Roe V Wade" sweatshirts some of them were weearing?
These people really bother me. They are first in line to tell you how to live your life, and last in line to do something constructive to help you do so.
In the aftermath of the Katrina Disaster in August 2005, President Bush was asked about his opinion on Roe v. Wade. He subsequently replied that "I don't know. Whatever will get the people out of the city the quickest I guess".
Most but probably not all of the Roe v Wade anti abortion people are also adamantly opposed to gay couples or even single gay people adopting kids. Given that I don't have much use for their rhetoric about it being 'all about the children.'
That's an interesting choice to put to them. What's better? Abortion or having the baby raised and indoctrinated by godless sodomites? Tonight on Crossfire!
Most are really in it for the free day off from school and the free trip to DC via Mom and Dad.
Are these hardcore people? Who don't eats meat and has adopted at least one kid because if they aint then theys
got nothing on me. Nosiree! All this talk about keepin the baby. You gonna feed the lil monster. You gonna buy 'em clothes and wipe theys lil butts. Nosiree! Get that sign outta my face. Oh by the way..you got any of those free condoms'. My girl and me, we's gonna get it on t'night.
We's gonna wup it up all night long.
Us mos have raised the ante a notch.... if a gay gene is identified how many of these super fundies will choose to abort their gay fetus?
Hillman - I'll see your gay gene homo baby and raise you Sarah Palin's miracle down syndrome baby.
In Thunderdome.
Two-out-of-three falls determines who wins "The Rumble in the Romper Room!"®
What gets my goat is the fact that Catholic schools typically give their students the day off to join the protestors.
I got kicked out of Catholic school because I asked the penguin why they close liquor stores on Sunday?
Hillman, you are correct. Many (but definitely not all) pro-life activists are anti-GLBT.
Yep. From what I hear the gay anti abortion folks have actually been refused when they asked to be part of the Roe v Wade marches and whatnots.
I guess The Gay is worse than The Abortion?
I heard one of these anti-choice people on NPR last night saying these high school kids are really affected by Roe v. Wade because, "one out of three of their peers lost their life to abortion."
So, my question is, where do you go hang out when you're an embryo, zygote, or fetus? Since they seem to have such a tight bond with these unborn peers of theirs, surely they have listened to the Jonas Brothers together or something? Maybe Jesus introduced them? In that case, they should be admitted to the psych ward at the local hospital.
Also, to throw in a trite, overused movie quote because I can't resist, do they see dead fetuses?
I was down there yesterday, kicking it with the pro-life crowd. It was pretty tame. A few bloody baby parts, but mostly words on signs. All the speakers I heard seemed happy to extend a hand toward Obama. I didn't expect that given how much ink and airtime they spent calling him a baby killer for his Illinois 'born alive infant protection act' vote. Bottom line, I don't think Obama wants anything to do with this issue until he's got the luxury of alienating half the country.
I was down there yesterday, kicking it with the pro-life crowd.
I hope you weren't kicking fetuses. Because that would be tasteless.
Monkey, don't pretend as if you've never played a round of fetus soccer. C'mon.
Hungry Hungry Fetuses!
Speaking of fetuses. This is a joke that I remember from when I was little....it goes like this:
A woman is running for the bus, she trips, falls and her roast flies out of the bag onto the sidewalk between her legs. She shrieks. A homeless guy picks it up and says to her: Don't worry lady.
It would have been a 'tard anyway.
"I don't know nothin' 'bout birthing babies!"