Photo by jim_malone

Good morning, Washington, and welcome back to another nothing-doing Monday in August. Even if you’re not taking time off yourself this month, chances are your offices feel like an empty shell of what they usually are. You’re enjoying longer and longer lunches, indulging in some extra IM conversations and catching up on your Facebook feed. It’s just that time of year, when D.C. workers are more or less expected to be a bit tuned out and distracted by the sultry weather and slower pace of work. But let’s hope that isn’t the case at Williams, Adley & Co., the contractor responsible for building a comprehensive database of DCPS academic information. The firm has missed a series of deadlines since it got the contract last year, the Post reports, and now the project is several months behind.

A Tale of Bad Signage: The I-495 ramp to Chain Bridge is closed, but seriously bad signage may mean drivers won’t have a clue until it’s too late, WTOP is reporting. “Even though the first detour ahead is an exit to the left, the signs don’t mention that, but do say exit 46B is closed. That’s great, if you have all of the Beltway exits memorized by number. Then there’s an orange detour sign for Route 123 North on the left side of the road, just before the exit for Interstate 66. It’s only helpful, if you’re already in the left lane.” Our hats off to you on a job well done there, VDOT.

WaPo Still Worried About Fenty’s Driving: Wayward Washington Post city hall reporter David Nakamura popped up in the pages of the paper on Sunday morning, taking some time out of his year away in Japan to share his recollections of what Mayor Fenty is really like behind the wheel. Fenty routinely rolls calls on his multiple blackberries while driving, Nakamura says, which is unsurprising. But does that make him a menace on city roads?

Briefly Noted: One dead, one injured in College Park stabbing … Woman dies after falling off of car … Are Dulles Toll Road rates going up? … Minnesota Avenue shooting victims now number seven … D.C. area schools prepare for swine flu.

This Day in DCist: In 2007, we polled our readers to find out who was getting half-day Fridays in August, and in 2006, we had to remind a candidate for city council that email is free.