Photo by ellievanhoutte.

Good morning, Washington. Over the course of my time in Washington, this editor has come to the conclusion that many people in the District take themselves far too seriously, far too often. There are a whole lot of people for whom harmless humor appears to be a lost art, and for whom the joy of spontaneity has been lost under a smothering cover of political correctness and a belief that they are more important than they actually are. So while Jon Fischer’s story about professional pub quiz’s popularity in Washington area bars is fairly disturbing — really, a conflict-resolution hotline for barroom trivia? — it’s hardly surprising. Like it or not, this is a city that takes itself very seriously — I suppose it only makes sense that its weeknight drinking diversions would follow suit.

South Cap Shooters Face New Charges: Five men who have already been charged with first-degree murder for their roles in last year’s South Capitol Street massacre have now been charged with 30 additional crimes, reports the Washington Times. The new indictments include charges for conspiracy and assault with intent to kill while armed for the five, who are accused of killing five people and shooting nine others over an eight-day span in March 2010.

More Trouble For DYRS: The District’s Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services will double overnight security at the New Beginnings Youth Rehabilitation Center after a teenager recently beat a guard and brazenly escaped. But DYRS’ security woes are hardly confined to Laurel — the Post reports that four D.C. youth escaped last night from the Palmetto Summerville Behavorial Center in Summerville, South Carolina, a placement facility for DYRS wards.

Weaver Picks Up WCP Endorsement: It hardly comes as a surprise, but the City Paper gave its special election endorsement to Bryan Weaver last night, though the paper conceded that Weaver “isn’t likely to win.” “There’s a lot to like about many of the candidates, but none of them are perfect,” the paper adds — advancing the narrative that no one has any clue who’s going to win this thing.

Briefly Noted: Marion Barry on William Donald Schaefer: “He and I both see public service as our ministry.”…Bethesda Lululemon to reopen but “blood must be removed from carpets, furniture, drywall“…38 percent of 2011 homicide victims in D.C. have been juveniles…City’s pay-by-phone parking system goes citywide…Man found dead on UMD campus identified as 21-year-old student…Yeah, lead, rate hikes — the biggest news from the Post’s profile of D.C. Water chief George Hawkins: he was once in a DJing and break-dancing crew.

This Day in DCist: Last year, we took a behind-the-scenes look at D.C. Public School’s Prom Dress Boutique, and were rooting hard for the cute little ducklings.