» Maybe no place is so desolate seeming as the flaming crater of Darvaza, Turkmenistan. But the District is just a little less warm, knowing that Vivek Kundra, D.C.’s chief technology officer, has run off to Denver. He’s there all week on personal leave, not on official business, reports David Nakamura — but don’t worry. Kundra brought the war room with him. [Washington Post]

» No surf on this turf: Jordan’s 8, an upscale steak-and-sushi joint on 8th Street SE, has been closed by the D.C. Office of Tax Revenue. [Capital Spice]

» Staff aides know better than to cross the Lion of Congress on his big day. Congressional cubs agree that Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.) is the legislative branch’s true workhorse, according to a Washingtonian survey of aides’ opinions of the powers they serve. The survey — conducted for charity, oddly enough, with proceeds going to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Washington and So Others Might Eat — also features, in the spirit of charity, populated fields for certain unlikely categories (“Hunk”, “Babe”, and “Best Dressed”). [Washingtonian]

» No details on exactly when or exactly where, but the SmartBike program will arrive at the DC USA shopping complex in Columbia Heights some time in the next couple months. Rent a bike and ferry home that plasma television with ease. [New Columbia Heights]

» Rockville is copying Montgomery County and adopting recycling. So do go back to Rockville. [Washington Business Journal]

» If you couldn’t read this, you’d never know that DC Learns is holding its 5th Annual Adult Literacy Volunteer Fair this week. Think about that. [Life in Mount Vernon Square]

» John McCain snags the official endorsement of Reggaeton star Daddy Yankee. It appears that Sommer will not be doing the rakata romp at the DNC after all. [ABC News, via FamousDC]

» New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is crushing for serious on D.C. representative Eleanor Holmes Norton. [City Desk]