You’ve been warned: your iPod may well be stolen while you ride the rails to and from home and work. What was once a phenomena limited to Boston and New York, iPod-related thefts have made their way down I-95 and are now affecting Metrorail commuters. Police recommend being discrete with your iPod, especially by avoiding the now infamous and easily recognizable white headphones.

Butterstick Becomes Hottest Ticket in Town: Yesterday we complained of not being able to get tickets to see Butterstick. There were 13,000 to be had, and our attempts, brave no doubt, landed us nothing but those maddening “Page Unavailable” messages. And like any other hot ticket in town, the less scrupulous of those who got them quickly took to the internet to hock them at inflated prices, notes WTOP. They’ve appeared on Craigslist and Ebay for prices as high as $500, though zoo officials have tried to dissuade the practice by warning that they’ll be checking ID’s against the names on the tickets. We love Butterstick and all, but are we willing to blow a good chunk of our pay on seeing the playful critter? Sorry, ‘stick, but our love only goes so far.

Mayor Meets With Nats Bidding Group: Though MLB seems to see no rush in picking a new owner for the Washington Nationals, D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams made no secret yesterday of his preference among the eight bidding groups, reports the Post. Williams and Council-member Jack Evans (D-Ward 2) met with the members of the Fred Malek – Jeff Zients group — also known as the Washington Baseball Club — whose roster includes local luminaries Colin Powell and Vernon Jordan. The club is seen as having the best mix of local and Congressional connections, exactly what may be needed to navigate the team towards eventual success. MLB purchased the team — then the Montreal Expos — in 2002 for $120 million, and is currently looking to sell for $450 million.

Hagerstown Homes Victim of Arson: A fire that damaged four unoccupied townhouses in Hagerstown may have been the work of the Earth Liberation Front, a radical environmental group, writes the Post. The fires, which were set on Sunday, caused $300,000 worth of damage and were accompanied by a note from the group claiming responsibility. The Earth Liberation Front has mostly been active on the West Coast, setting fires to developments they claim damage the environment.

Briefly Noted: D.C. mayor accused of “intellectual dishonesty” on stadium … D.C. police recover weapons … PG County breaks homicide record … D.C. investigating condo conversions … Feeding ducks and geese in Fairfax County gets more expensive.

Picture snapped by epmd.