John Kelly's Commons

Meat is murder, tasty, tasty murder

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:00:18 -0500

I love the various streetboxes that pop up around Washington for dispensing various publications. Some of those publications are well-known rags like The Washington Post or New York Times. Others are thick real estate guides. I've seen ones for something called "Prison Art" and others for cultish groups like the Falun Gong. And then there's this one I spotted yesterday at 15th and L NW: I didn't actually take a copy of the "vegetarian starter kit" inside, but I did wonder if PETA had chosen the right poster child for its cause: Isn't Joaquin Phoenix currently one of Hollywood's most wacked-out stars? I'm not saying sticking to a diet of celery and tofu makes people go mental, just that there must have been better to choices to stick on a streetbox.

Photo Flashback: Georgia Avenue On My Mind

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 07:15:45 -0500

Here's a photo from July 18, 1951, that I found in The Post's "Highways: Construction" file: The caption: Here's a pictorial progress report from the Maryland State Roads Commission on the conversion of Georgia Avenue, from Silver Spring to Glenmont, in Montgomery County, into a wide, divided highway that should serve the traffic needs of the area for years to come. As the photo shows, pavement has been laid on the right-hand half of the highway while traffic uses the old road. When this portion is ready for use the pattern will be reversed and vehicles will use the new pavement while the other half of the road is rebuilt. The Wilmoth Paving Company were low bidders on all three of the contracts into which the project was divided. The first section, from Colesville Road to Seminary Avenue, part of which is shown in the photo, is about 40 per

Italian Lessons: Citizen Journalism With an Accent

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:15:54 -0500

BritNews RoundUp will return next week. Instead, I bring you this Italian video. It was produced by RAI, Italy's public television station, on the occasion of Wednesday's launch of its new Citizen Report citizen journalism Web site. Since citizen journalism is what I studied during my boondoggle year in Oxford, they asked me to comment on the new project. Anyone out there speak Italian and can tell me what I said? The folks who interviewed me (via Skype, over my Web cam!) are young and full of energy. And if the pace of that video is any indication, full of double espressos, too. Ciao!

Blood on the Tracks: CSI on My Morning Walk

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:15:32 -0500

The blood was on the footpath, three red splotches evenly spaced across the asphalt. At first I thought it was juice, the contents of a sippee cup scattered on this popular suburban path by a toddler in a jogging stroller. But it was too red, a bright crimson. Then I noticed some to the right of path, down a bank and ending at Sligo Creek, red splotches every few feet in the leaves. My eyes traveled across the creek to the other side. There was blood there, too. It must be an animal, I thought--a fairly big one given how much blood there was, each splotch the size of my hand. There's a golf course across Sligo Creek Parkway and the deer are numerous. But what if it wasn't a deer? What if it was a person? Injured, shot, fallen off his bike, confused and stumbling through the woods? I

Photo Flashback: You've Got Mail

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 07:30:16 -0500

Today: Delivering the mail through the ages. These images from The Post's photo archives show various advances in mail-delivery technology. This photo, by the Harris & Ewing studio, is captioned: "Motorcycle postman (1912)." That looks like it's a Washington street, but which one? The date is missing from this photo but from the car in the background I peg it at late 1920s, early 1930s. According to a handwritten note on the back, it's a railroad mailcar in Chesapeake Beach, Md. Note the carving on the building: Seat Pleasant Bank. This International News Photo is from 1956. The caption: Arlington, Virginia...Under a new vehicle program, the Post Office Department is purchasing 1,000 scooters; 6,000 golf caddy-type carts and 2,000 more bicycles to speed mail carriers on their appointed rounds. Mailman Joseph Adams wheels an 85-pound load on one of the caddy-type carts designed to take the load off the carrier's

BritNews RoundUp: Don't Sleep in the Subway

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 09:28:39 -0500

Of all the problems our Metro system has had, here's one we haven't experienced: X-rated moans and groans broadcast over the PA system. That's what happened recently at an Underground station in London. According to the Daily Mail, "Transport for London confirmed that a broadcast of 'sexual noises' was heard through the speakers. It said the sounds had nothing to do with any of its staff and came from outside Tube property." Said one commuter: "It was definitely a couple doing it there and then. He was grunting loudly and she sounded like she was having a great time. The driver must have heard it too, as the doors stayed open longer than usual." Officials think their loudspeaker system must have inadvertently picked up audio from a pornographic film someone was watching near the station. (Of course, this could happen on Metro but the PA is so awful, we'd never

Photo Flashback: Beltway Breezin' Edition

Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:21:32 -0500

The next time you're stuck in a backup on the Beltway--which will probably be this afternoon--think back to Aug. 13, 1964. That's when this photo of a blissfully traffic-free Beltway was taken: The photo was taken by a Post staffer named McNamee. The caption info on the back reads: Neil Moyer, 17, and Jimmie Hoffsinger, 17, pedal along the Capital beltway near a railroad overpass west of the Wash-Balt parkway. Official cars, construction workers and many bicycle riders are the only vehicles allowed on the road prior to its official opening. The Beltway was officially opened four days later. There was a traffic jam.

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Mon, 09 Nov 2009 07:21:32 -0500

Nature, Red in Tooth and Paw

Fri, 06 Nov 2009 08:05:25 -0500

I walked into a nature documentary while I was out with my dog this morning. I'd just bagged Charlie's poop and we were continuing on our perambulation when he bounded towards a squirrel. He doesn't actually chase squirrels much anymore--I think he decided that since he never catches them it's not worth the effort--but perhaps this one looked like a likely candidate for chasing. There was something of the victim about it. Just as he broke towards the squirrel a massive bird swooped down to grab it in its talons. But it missed. Charlie had saved the squirrel, for by running towards it he startled the squirrel towards the safety of a nearby tree. The hawk's talons closed around empty air. Or course Charlie was immediately surprised by the bird. He instantly forgot about the squirrel and barked at the hawk, which swooped up and landed on a high branch,

EXTRA! EXTRA! Snyder Feels 'Bad' for Fans

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:50:44 -0500

"Garbo Speaks" were the headlines when Greta Garbo appeared in her first talking picture. Now we have "Snyder Speaks." In a rare address to the press yesterday, the Redskins owner said that the team was "disappointed" and "embarrassed" by its 2-5 start. When asked what the fans must be feeling, Snyder said, “I see disappointment. It’s the same way I feel and I share their frustration. It’s hard. We’re going to try to put it together and get it going.” He apparently did not offer his thoughts on all the extraneous stuff that's going on this season, such as the sign ban. He stuck to his message: We feel bad. We're disappointed. Interestingly, while Snyder said he felt sorry for the fans, nowhere did he say he was sorry. Unless I missed it, there was no apology. Oh wait, he did say this: "And I think we have an opportunity

Photo Flashback: We're Here, We're Queer, Etc.

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:04:05 -0500

There is a file in the Washington Post photo archives marked "Homosexuals." Of course, I don't think we would label it that way these days. "Gays" or "Gay Rights" has a kinder ring to it. What sort of photos are in the files? For starters, this one, taken on Pennsylvania Avenue NW during a gay rights march on October 14, 1979: The photo was taken by Fred Sweets and the caption reads: A couple watches as the advocates of gay rights parade along the Avenue. Hmmm. "Parade" along the avenue? Do I detect a slight condescension there? I suppose it's better than "swish," but what's wrong with "march"? Also, I don't know if you can see it, but there's a crop mark on the right, just below "We don't need laws for us." The layout person probably cropped that out so the photo would fit better, though it lessens the

BritNews RoundUp: Naughty Co-Eds Edition

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:00:03 -0500

I'm an Oxford man myself so I can't say as I understand the way things work at the other university. The latest scandal to roil Britain's junior university is over co-eds posing suggestively for a student publication, or as the Sun puts it: "Cambridge girls in sexy pics row." The Telegraph is a little more restrained, though it doesn't miss the opportunity to include a photo (strictly PG-13, actually, and definitely SFW). The Daily Mail poses a question I think we've all asked ourselves: "What sort of man spends 15 years building an oil rig from matches in his front room?" David Reynolds of Southampton used 4 million matchsticks to create an exact replica of the Brent Bravo oil rig in the North Sea. It took him 15 years. "It's not my finest work," he told the Mail. "I was pretty happy with the drilling platform, but the rest's pretty

The Black Rooster to Crow Again

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:10:43 -0500

Jody Taylor has joined that select group of people who got to attend their own funeral. I last saw the owner of the Black Rooster Pub at a huge wake at his L Street NW establishment on Oct. 16. After more than 35 years the bar was set to close, victim of a lost lease and the expansion of the Peace Corps, with whom the pub shares a building. But Jody tells me the Rooster lives. With the help of D.C. Council member Jack Evans (and, I like to think, no small influence from this column), the bar is going to stay right where it is. "I was able to come to terms with the landlord," Jody explained in an e-mail to me. "We will be able to stay and will reopen after approximately two weeks. Good time to do a thorough cleaning, polishing and dusting." Don't dust it off

Photo Flashback, Trick or Treat Edition

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 11:00:54 -0500

Picked out your costume yet? I delved into The Post's photo archives to see what treasures were to be found. Maybe some of these ideas will inspire you. This photo has no caption information other than PHOTO BY ELLIS and the note that it was shot on Oct. 29, 1961. It was obviously a time when boys wanted to be cowboys and girls wanted to be...what is that? A clown? I love the way the boys are "kissing" her. It's the last thing they want to be doing but the photographer has told them to. The next two photos are from 1983 and were shot in Georgetown by Lucian Perkins. The caption info reads: Blinky from the game Pac-Man crosses M st. in Georgetown under the watchful eye of a policeman. I love how policemen always have "watchful eyes." Continuing the theme: The caption info read: Karen Lozano (left) and

Photo Flashback, Pigskin Edition

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:15:24 -0500

With the Eagles coming to Washington tonight to take out on the Redskins, I thought this photo from 1955 was appropriate: The caption on the Associated Press photo reads: EAGLES STOP GUGLIELMI Ralph Guglielmi (3), Washington back, juggles the ball as Jess Richardson, right, Philadelphia Eagles tackle, grabs him from behind after a short gain in the first quarter, Nov. 6, at Washington. Another Eagle, left, lunges toward the former Notre Dame star. How did Washington do that day at Griffith Stadium? The Skins won, 34-21. That season they would go 8-4, which wasn't good enough to take them to the playoffs.

BritNews RoundUp: Boyle'ing Over

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 08:23:51 -0500

Remember Susan Boyle, the frumpy Scottish spinster who took YouTube by storm with her moving performance on one of Britain's talent contest shows? She's dropped from the radar here in the States but she still attracts coverage in the U.K., where the Mirror newspaper was on hand to catch a "wardrobe malfunction" when she attended a soccer game. Frankly, it wasn't much of a wardrobe malfunction, as these things go. And for that I suppose we should be grateful. Remember earlier in the year ago when a Silver Spring man was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment for shining a laser pointer at a traffic helicopter that was hovering over his house early one morning? I thought it was overkill. Now I see something similar has happened in Britain. Sixty-three-year-old Torben Merriott was woken at 1 a.m. by what felt and sounded like an "earthquake" outside his bedroom window. It