Photo by lehnermd.

Good morning, Washington. If there’s one thing that we learned this weekend, it’s that, at any given moment, anything that’s happening in our busy little lives might just be an articulately designed fantasy, populated with incredibly attractive actors and maybe even Batman’s butler. At least that’s what Christopher Nolan would have us believe — Inception is just as much of a mindfrak as you’ve heard. As far as summer blockbusters go, we highly recommend it (of course, you knew that on Friday, but still). One sign we aren’t dreaming: the massive thunder that resonated through the city late last night certainly would have sufficed as a kick.

The Bizzaro-Rhee? Courtland Milloy’s fluff-piece got us to thinking: is MPD Chief Cathy Lanier the anti-Michelle Rhee? There are the obvious similarities: both trailblazing women, both reform-minded, both possess strong presence and tremendous influence in the city. Just like Rhee, Lanier was appointed to her position by current Mayor Adrian Fenty. Just like Rhee, Lanier is in charge of managing a vital human service. Just like Rhee, Lanier’s had her share of stumbles, like debates about All Hands On Deck and the police department’s civil rights record. But unlike Rhee, Lanier has a sparkling-for-D.C. public reputation. Unlike Rhee, Lanier has been a overly-visible and open presence — there isn’t a week that goes by where I don’t see a Lanier email from police listservs or hear a radio interview by the Chief. (Last night, she responded to someone on the 4D listserv highlighting the Milloy story by saying “It is not hard when u love what u do.” — accessible is almost an understatement.) And unlike Rhee — and perhaps most to her credit — Lanier has thus far refused to play the political game, telling Kojo Nnamdi on Friday that “the people determine whether I stay or go, that’s who I work for.” It’ll certainly be an interesting comparison to observe as this city is faced with a referendum on its leadership.

Panetta On The War Path: D.C. Shadow Representative Mike Panetta has had some creative ideas in the past — naming Nationals Park “Taxation without Representation Field,” establishing an Olympic team for the District of Columbia — but this week, he’s taking some far-reaching action: paying for advertisements against Congressmen in Mississippi and Montana who voted in favor of overturning D.C.’s gun laws.

D.C. Police Officers Win Race Suit: Freeman Klopott reports that a jury has ruled that five D.C. police officers had been retaliated against after they complained about racial discrimination in June 2006. The five were part of the Focus Mission Unit, an advanced policing group which combats vice crime. The jury awarded the group $900,000 in damages; the department will appeal the ruling.

WaPo Examines Metro “Seat Hogs”: Conclusion: people are jerks.

Briefly Noted: Sure looks like Meridian Pint could use a bike rack or two…Need books? The soon-to-be-closing Borders at 14th and F Streets is liquidating their inventory…Big decline in homicides across metro area…Restoration work on District of Columbia War Memorial scheduled to begin next month…Several injured in pair of motor vehicle accidents this morning…Man shot on 58th Street SE…Police ask businesses to inform them about private security cameras…Park police officer saves drowning dog….14th Street Bridge lane divide, speed limit decrease now in effect.

This Day In DCist: Last year, we looked at how the city’s revised budget hit community organizations hard.