Tag: misc

This would be a better referenced post if I knew where the heck my Census table was, but alas, I don’t have it. But when I find it, I’ll correct the data and cite it and all that good academic stuff.
One day I had a question, a question that fun Census data could answer. Who’s actually from here? There are DC natives, they proudly mention that they are from here. But so many people I meet around Shaw are not. Heck DC has only had two elected mayors born DC, Sharon Pratt-Kelly and Adrian Fenty. Marion Barry was from Mississippi.
Broken down by race, a little over half of DC black population is DC born. It’s something like 55% or 58% depending on how I factor in foreign born Blacks. The majority of non-DC native blacks come from Southern states. I’m from Florida, so I’d be part of that. Of the white population only something-teen percent of y’all are from here. Over 80% of you are not from here. Which s probably why, if most of your contacts, associates and friends are also white you’d probably be under the impression that no one is really from here. White non-natives, tend to be from all over, with a slight majority coming from the northeast. Of other racial groups, a majority are not from here either.
Going by the data it can explain some different dynamics at play as a more transient population moves into areas with a lot of native oldtimers. A population of people, black (that 40%), white, Latino & other from diverse areas having their own culture, ways, and reasons for coming to DC may from time to time conflict with the indigenous culture and ways.

My family was never really big on holidays. Mostly we’d treat it like an extra weekend day, which is what I’m doing today. My big plan is to once again attempt to clean the first floor and make sure no one sets anything off in my front yard.
I love my little bit of 600-800 sq. feet of American dirt so much that I will fiercely protect it with a water hose. Though it looks like it won’t be much of an issue this year. There is the possibility of non-firework friendly weather and the low level of pre-4th firework noise.

At the risk of jinxing it, have you noticed a decrease in pre-4th of July firework noise? I swear this time a few years back there was the old neighborhood question of “fireworks or gunfire?” Over time I’ve noticed a decrease in firework activity that used to start up around mid June and continue into early August. It’s late June and I’ve only heard one incident of fireworks going off.
The 4th also provides a good gauge of what’s going on with the neighborhood. It will be interesting to see how many drive by fireworkings there are. The drive bys are where people with MD tags jump out from their mini-van, get their big package of fireworks out and light them up on a DC corner, then jump back into the vehicle and head back to Maryland. With gas prices above $4 a gallon, we might see less of that.
Then again the reason I might be hearing fewer firecrackers, is because this year I have insulation and completely closed windows(AC).

If you are reading this, you probably have power.
Before I left home all the lights went out. Checked next door and they lost power too. Asked the folks a few houses down, no power. The next block, no power. I debated sticking around the house, but realizing I can’t do squat, I went on to work.
There is no power along 9th Street from the Convention Center to the Spy Museum. The traffic lights were out. Looking west on New York and Mass Aves, it appears the lights were out there too.
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Oh and Happy Friday 13th.
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If the Pepco Outtage Map is anything to go by, my milk and meat should be fine.