Month: January 2009

January 8, 1905

From the Washington Post/ Star under “Social and Personal– Gay Season Open Until After Inauguration” pg E8[grumble] I bet their streets weren’t blocked[/grumble]

Mr. And Mrs. Thomas D. Schnopp entertained a number of friends at their residence, 318 Florida avenue northwest, last Monday evening, the occassion being a New Year’s party. During the evening a pleasing programme, consisting of vocal and instrumental solos, were rendered by well known talent. At 10:30 the assembled company repaired to the dining room, where a generous repast was served. The decorations consisted of palms, ferns, and cut flowers, the whole making a pretty effect. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ruppert, Miss Florina Ruppert, Mr. John T. Schnopp, Mrs. Ellis, Mr. and Mrs. George Glorius, the Misses Glorius, …

Longtime readers may realize that the Glorius’ didn’t have far to walk. Barely 1 block. Also I wonder what kind of one hick town DC was if your little dinner party is getting reported. Today such a gathering would barely be noted as a noise complaint.
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Speaking of history there is a newish blog/website about the criminal and quirky DC of the past.

Inauguration Musings- Blocked Streets in Shaw?

I’m looking at the press release put out by the inaugural people (PDF) and on page 8 it says that 13th St NW from K to Logan Circle and 6th Street from K to P Streets NW will be pedestrian-only for the parade. But I don’t see any time stamp for parade only stuff. So…. how long will cross streets, and I’m going to guess that the 600 to 1200 blocks of O, N, M and L Streets are going to be blocked? Because if those North-South routes are going to be pedestrian only per the press release, what of the East-West Streets that intersect them? Also those pedestrian only routes don’t show up on any of the maps I’ve been looking at.
-UPDATE-
From the DC.GOV inauguaration site I noticed:

The following roadways will be closed to traffic from Tuesday, January 20th, 12:01am through Wednesday, January 21st, 12:01am, to implement and remove the Charter Bus Parking zones. The Road Closure areas will be limited to charter buses, metro buses, taxis, postal vehicles, law enforcement vehicles, emergency vehicles and residents with government issued identification or vehicle registration showing residency inside the restricted area.

I’ve picked out the ones of interest to Shaw residents:
I-395/3rd Street Tunnel from SE/SW Freeway to New York Avenue
13th Street, NW from K Street, NW to Logan Circle, NW
6th Street, NW from K Street, NW to P Street, NW
13th Street, NW from Logan Circle to K Street, NW
14th Street, NW from R Street to K Street, NW
15th Street, NW from K Street, NW to Rhode Island Avenue, NW
New Jersey Avenue, NW from K Street, NW to Florida Avenue, NW

I’ve bolded the streets of great interest to me. It looks like a bit of the Logan Circle area is going to get caught up in this. Why aren’t these northern parts being shown on maps?

Inauguration Musings- Getting to work

If I was still working at the Holocaust Museum and scheduled to work Tuesday, I’d be so screwed.
Yes, January 20th is a Federal holiday, however, holiday or no, some people have to get to work. Think about all the places that will be open or have to be open Tuesday. Closer to the action are the museums, and the Holocaust Museum is only closed on two days, Yom Kippur & Christmas. I take it that the Smithsonian Institutions’ museums are the same, minus Yom Kippur. So there are the security, janitorial and exhibit area personnel who have to show up. Then you’ve got restaurants, coffee shops, hotels with waiters, managers, and other staff who need to get in. And silly question, will the Gallery Place Bed, Bath and Beyond be open? The movie theater?
Getting to work in the core inauguration area is an obvious bear. What of the other parts of DC that depend on workers who commute from Virginia? Hopefully getting from MoCo, or Ward 9 (aka PG Co) won’t be that bad…. with VA traffic diverted to Maryland…. Metro overloaded. It will be interesting to hear, with the bridge closures and the predictions of heavily trafficked roads, what the impact of the day will be for parts of the city far from the downtown area.
But right now, I’m so thankful that I’m no longer a Visitor Services Representative at the Holocaust Museum. I remember trying to get home after the Million Man March. The entry to the Smithsonian station (Ag Building side) was so blocked with people, a blockage that wasn’t moving, I turned around and walked across the 14th Street Bridge. I wouldn’t have that option, the 14th Street Bridge will be closed to pedestrians and cyclists from 2am to 7pm on the 20th, according to the Washington Post.

Sympathies

‘Cause apparently what little I heard from the DC cop wasn’t sounding all that sympathetic.
To the owners of the vehicles parked on the 400 block of R Street, next to the Africare lot, you have my sympathies. But living in the burbs won’t make you immune to knuckleheads smashing your windows. And to counter what I heard, just because we live in the city doesn’t mean we’re supposed to accept being victims of vandalism. My cousin who lives in the far reaches of Fairfax Co. told me that a whole block of tires were slashed in his subdivision. So the whiff of suggesting that moving to VA or MD is not a crime prevention suggestion.

Anyone else get this scam?

At last night’s BACA meeting a few of us were talking and discovered that many of us were contacted by some very possible scammer.
The way it goes is you get a phone call or phone message on your land line supposedly from some Federal Credit Union. I’ve gotten two phone calls and it was never clear what the exact name of the credit union was. The first time I just hung up on it because it clearly wasn’t my credit union so why bother, wrong number. The second time, I had time to kill and was curious, so I pressed one. Then it asked me for my 16 digit account number. Oh heck naw. I hung up.
Apparently no one else picks up their phone so the Phishing Credit Union has been leaving messages for people to call a 1-800 number. Neighbors who have called the fake credit union fearful that their real credit union accounts (the message is a bit garbled on the name) would be frozen have been prompted to put in their account information. Luckily, we’re all bright people and this raises red flags.
I’m sure there is some governmental agency you can contact regarding this scam. Maybe DCRA. Maybe Harry Thomas Jr. Maybe call up your real credit union, warn them too.

UPDATE= Here’s what some local Credit Unions are telling their members”
State Employees Credit Union:

Another incident of phishing!
Below is a text message that was received recently by an actual SECU member. This is an example of a current form of phishing that fraudsters use to obtain account information from unsuspecting account holders. There are many forms that name various financial institutions, phone numbers to contact and types of cards (credit, debit, ATM).
“Notice/ This is an automated message from Bank-Fund Staff F.C.U. Your ATM card has been suspended. To reactivate call urgent at 1-909-978-6050.”
If you receive this message or a similar message, DO NOT RESPOND! Instead, call SECU at 800-879-7328 to alert our Security and Fraud team.

Pentagon Federal Credit Union:

There is a new phishing scam in progress by phone and SMS text message from 213-596-7693. The message is as follows: “This is an automated message that your ATM card has been suspended. To reactivate call 1-410-910-0787.”
Once the number is dialed there is a request that the listener press 1 for more information. Pressing 1 transfers to a follow-up request for the account number, PIN, authorization code, etc.
Please remember that we will NEVER contact you by phone or email and ask for your PIN or account information.
This information is personal and confidential to you, our Member, and under no cirumstances would we require this information over the phone, text message or via email.
Thank you.

Inaugural Musings- HORDE THE TOILET PAPER!!!!

There was a little bit of chit chat before the BACA meeting got rolling. For my crappy notes on the meeting click here (after one year hiatus- and the username is thismeeting password- neverhappened).
Anyway, as you know streets are getting closed? One of the attendees mentioned how the Secret Service closed off some streets today without giving the District government much notice. 48 hours notice would have been nice. If the SS wants to close any other streets they’ll probably do the same with as much notice as they’ve given already (none). This has made the business community concerned. Specifically, the grocers, the restaurants, and the hotels. ‘Cause if the SS is going to be closing off streets downtown off willy-nilly during the week, not the day, the week or weeks before inauguration, how can you be sure you’re going to get deliveries?
Off handily he (the attendee with ties to DC businesses of concern) mentioned the idea some businesses have of bringing in extra freezers so they can stockpile supplies.
People you know the P Street Giant is going to run out of stuff and you know how close it is to the Convention Center, where one big aszed inaugural ball will be held. You all in Mt. Vernon Square, I pity you.
The suggestion was to treat inaugural weekend like a 4 day snow day. Stock up the weekend before and shelter in place. I’ve been slowly stocking up food and supplies (not because of the inauguration, but for other reasons), so I have enough TP to last me until the Second Coming. However, I’m running low on certain kinds of booze, also known as dangerous flammable liquids, so I may need to beef up those supplies.
Or I can just wander out to Maryland for stuff.

BACA meeting TONIGHT 1/5/09

It is the first Monday of the month, which means it’s BACA (Bates Area Civic Association) time. BACA is the civic association for the northern half of Truxton Circle, but is open to anyone who wants to pop by. Hanover Civic Association is for the southern half and I have no idea when they meet. We do see some Hanover area people in attendance occasssionally.
And as usual the BACA meeting is at 7pm in the basement area of the Mt. Sinai Baptist Church at 3rd and Q. The way to get in is either through the brown door on the 3rd St side, near the bottom of the big stairs or the door on the ground level near the double glass doors also on the 3rd St side.
I got a flier this morning from BACA (as well as several of my neighbors judging from their mailboxes) and the agenda items are crime, neighborhood beautification, residential parking, charter schools, traffic calming (aka bumps) and economic development.

Open House at the Mosque


You’ve heard the call to prayer, or some guy singing over the loudspeakers, well Saturday will be your chance to see it live.
Sometime ago I and my neighbors got a flier for an open house at the Masjid Muhammad, that mosque over on 4th St or ‘1519 Islamic Way NW’. They will open their doors to neighbors on January 10 from 11:30am-1pm. As part of the flier there was a whole thing about proper dress and etiquette for entering the musalla (prayer area) and the masjid. Call the office at 202 483 8832 for more information.
I’ve been to a previous open house and was able to get an answer to my most pressing question answered. I wanted to know how early the call to prayer was done, because it has woken me up.
Another thing I want to note that I noticed from the flier, was that Cub, Boy & Girl Scout troops meet there on Sundays. Good thing to know because I’m always trying to score me some Thin Mints.