You know, we're pretty bummed out about the District's lack of voting rights, but we'd never even think about comparing our situation to what's going on in Egypt, where people are dying, journalists are being arrested and demonstrations have drawn millions willing to drop everything for days in order to stand up for what they believe in, regardless of the danger. Of course, we don't have to make that comparison, because Ralph Nader has already made it for us. more ›

Via Notions Capital, a weeks-old Politico story we missed contains a tidbit about a funny exchange said to have taken place between perennial fringe presidential candidate and consumer advocate Ralph Nader and the Washington Post editorial board.

Nader recounted a recent meeting with editors at The Washington Post, who he said told him the paper wasn’t covering his campaign because he had no chance of winning. According to Nader, he replied: “Then why are you covering the Nationals?” a reference to Washington’s long-suffering baseball team.

If you missed the Green Festival at the Convention Center this past weekend, you missed an incredible event. Luckily event organizers will be posting video and audio of the plethora of speeches to their website in about two weeks. You'll also be able to download speech audio from this year’s upcoming San Francisco, Seattle and Chicago festivals. The Green Festival is sponsored by Co-Op America and Global Exchange. The event is largely volunteer-run, with 1300... more ›

FRIDAY: >> Do the right thing and head to 9:30 Club for a show hosted by the strange gathering of the likes of Gypsy Eyes Records, The Federal Reserve and haberdasherie Propper Topper for a benefit for the DC Public Library Foundation. Kitty Hawk, Vandaveer, Revival, These United States and many more make up the crowded bill. 7:30 p.m., $20. >> The Brunettes (pictured right) perform sickly sweet but addictive pop duets, and they'll be... more ›

>> We've checked out Page France a couple of times and are sure you'll have a good time if you head down to the Red and the Black tonight. They're playing with Austin's excellent Peel for a 9 p.m. show, only $8. >> The action at SILVERDOCS continues, and if you've been having trouble getting advance tickets to evening screenings and aren't willing to wait in the stand-by lines, consider taking advantage of the... more ›

MONDAY: Leftover anger from last week's G8 Summit? Check out John Perkins at Politics and Prose tonight. He'll be discussing his newest book The Secret History of the American Empire: Economic Hit Men, Jackals, and the Truth about Global Corruption, which details the shady deals behind U.S. foreign aid to developing countries. 7 p.m. TUESDAY: Hurricane season is upon us yet again, and this August will mark the two-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina's devastating impact... more ›

FRIDAY: >> Friends 'o DCist Middle Distance Runner have had quite a ride since playing our special Unbuckled/Anniversary concert last September. Despite a few bumps on the road, they've gone from little band that could to having their first headlining slot at 9:30 club tonight. We'll say we knew them when. With The Dance Party. 10 p.m., $10. >> Akron/Family impressed the pants off of critics in 2005 with their self-titled neo-folk stylings. They'll be... more ›

Happy Mardi Gras, Washington. Great news for all those planning to expose themselves to garner beads! (We're unsure if any local bars enforce such strict bead acquisition standards, but you can let us know in comments.) It's already above freezing and temps are heading up to 50 today. That's right, the big five-oh. We predict the risk of falling on your ass will be reduced by 76% by the evening commute. Of course, now we've... more ›

MONDAY Kenneth Brannagh’s Hamlet. Laurence Olivier’s Hamlet. Bob and Doug MacKenzie’s Strange Brew. All fine examples of Shakespeare on film. Got questions? Well, pepper Simon Crowl, author of Shakespeare and Film: A Norton Guide, with them. Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St. SE., at 7:30 p.m. $12. TUESDAY According to the Wikipedia, Ralph Nader’s father “owned a bakery and restaurant where he engaged customers in discussions of political issues.” That bakery? The "Ugh…I Mean,... more ›

Good morning, D.C. Looks like it's going to be another beautiful day. We can't resist — we're ducking out of work, heading into the lovely weather and spending the morning at a net neutrality seminar. Ah, summer livin'. Ehrlich Unhappy With Rate Relief Plan: Remember the looming electricity rate hike crisis in Maryland? The one that's been looming since March? Yeah, that one. It's still not over. According to the Post, Maryland legislators have put... more ›

Four months ago the 2006 mayoral race was pure speculation. Come next week, though, we will finally have a confirmed slate of candidates -- and a year's worth of campaigning ahead of us. Council-members Adrian Fenty (D-Ward 4) and Vincent Orange (D-Ward 5) have been in the game for the better part of the summer, while former Verizon executive Marie Johns only recently joined the race and Council Chair Linda Cropp and lobbyist Michael... more ›

Well, D.C. It seems that we're almost through Inaugural Week. Though thousands of out-of-towners, constituents and other party-goers will be still around today and into the weekend, the city should be getting slowly back to normal. A quick question to those out there who are experienced travelers ... Considering the gargantuan number of fur coats brought in for Inauguration festivities, how do you pack a fur coat into one's luggage? It seems that if fur... more ›

It's Election Night. The thousands of polls; the elevation of towns like Wausau, Wis., to the national stage; the negative natterings of the nabobs -- it all comes down to this. Millions will be glued to the TV to (hopefully) watch the media put an endcap on what has seemed like the longest election campaign ever. And whether they come from Fox News to CNN, the great white board of Tim Russert at NBC to... more ›

DCSOB points out a poll showing Ralph Nader only five points behind President Bush in the District of Columbia. Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry is way ahead. DCist would like to point out that although Kerry is way ahead, Chef Geoff Tracy, husband of NBC's Norah O'Donnell, is gaining on President Bush. When we checked on Monday, the Georgetown graduate was only down by 10-15 votes at the 13th Street Chef Geoff's. We don't know if... more ›

The Maryland State Court of Appeals has ruled that presidential candidate Ralph Nader was unfairly denied a spot on the state ballot and elections officials must include him as a candidate with the Populist Party. The Post reports that the court ruled that 542 disputed signatures are valid giving Nader enough signatures to put him on the ballot. While the news is sure to rankle folks at Kerry headquarters, Maryland is not a battleground state... more ›

A couple of weeks ago, it was reported that Ralph Nader was likely going to be on the Virginia presidential ballot, after Attorney General Jerry Kilgore ordered that Nader's petitions be accepted. In a move sure to warm the cockles of a Kerry-lover's heart, Nader was today denied a spot on the ballot by the State Board of Elections, the Post reports.Nader fell short of getting the required 10,000 certified signatures on his qualifying petitions,... more ›

In a move that is certainly pissing off Kerry staffers working at 15th and I streets, Virginia's attorney general has told the state board of elections secretary that Ralph Nader's ballot petition signatures must be accepted after being initially denied. On Friday, the elections secretary, Jean Jansen, said that Nader's petitions were invalid because they weren't sorted by Congressional district. The attorney general overruled Jansen and it appears that Nader will be on the ballot... more ›