I need a new bike.

It's just a true fact. My roomates have been ragging on me for the fact that it creaks more than my girlfriend (who is an old lady), and that the chain pops off on all gears but three out of the 9 gears on the bike. However, I ignored them because since I was riding a much more difficult to ride bike than they were, I was exponentially more hXc. 

But in light of recent events, I need a new bike. 

My bike was stolen last night in front of the Fairmont on 24th and M in the West End. For those of you who don't know, the West End is basically in downtown DC and is really really really expensive. 1.5k/mo minimum. 

However, my bike still remains in my living room. You wonder, why? 

BECAUSE THE ASSHOLE RODE IT A BLOCK EAST, REALIZED IT WAS A PEICE OF SHIT, THEN LEFT IT BY THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. MY BIKE WASN'T WORTH STEALING EVEN AFTER IT HAD ALREADY BEEN STOLEN. 

what a diss. I'm pissed 

this is not a picture of my bike, it just represents my angst 

Fascinating, If You Have the Time

A very interesting interview/discussion featuring Brian Beutler, a liberal blogger that was shot at Mozart and Euclid in July

http://bloggingheads.tv/diavlogs/16301

Global Warming Google Maps: I can see my house! its.... underwater!

I was tumbling through the wormholes of cyberspace and I turned upon this interesting tool. In case anyone needed any extra reasons to care about global warming, this illustrates it's consequences rather graphically. literally. haha.

http://flood.firetree.net/

This is a google map of the world with sea levels 7 meters up, which is the sea level increase that scientists have predicted for 2050 if our current habits aren't drastically changed. Here are some of the most drastic examples:


















Well we can keep on calling it the Netherlands. (underwater) Think about it, Amsterdam, without a fragment of doubt, completely underwater.














Perhaps not as bad in Florida, as most of the underwater area would be everglades and therefore low human populations, but look at New Orleans. Also completely underwater.

Although the sick thing is that I almost want to see all this crazy stuff happen. I like the idea of things being shaken up in a drastic way. It could be my post-apocalyptic fetish but I also kinda feel like there are enough powerful people who don't believe this could happen that we won't end up getting our act together in time. Obviously the big 'bama might be a huge influence in getting things in a good direction, but who knows how much we can focus on this when the economy is what is consuming everyone's thoughts right now. Also, what are we going to do about China? I have no idea whether their administration believes in global warming.

And obviously I'm only saying this because if you look at DC on the map it's pretty set. Maybe Georgetown U's regatta team might need to buy a new boathouse and the SW Waterfront might get destroyed, but really little else. However I gotta point out that Virginia Beach, where I spent ages 10-18, will be also mostly underwater. So maybe I'm not that biased.

Ponderings on the future of 17th and Columbia

I was walking around the old Adams Morgan last night and encountered an interesting sight.

There's always construction going on at H.D. Cooke. Elementary a few doors down from us so it wasn't an uncommon thing to hear jackhammers and the like. However, it was 2 in the morning.

It was coming from that odd triangle building left of CVS on Columbia and 17th NW.













Out of all the random ass abandoned buildings I've seen around U-Adams Pleasant Heights, this one has by far the most potential. As you can see, its shape is really unique. It's also less than a block from my house so that really increases it's awesomeness potential.

However, my question is what the heck is it going to end up as? It used to be a Hispanic food market at some point long ago and the frames outside make it look like it used to be a movie theater. The lease on the door says "Retail/Commercial" for intended use. I love the specificity.

Me and my roomate Ryan are voting for a Black Cat-style venue. It's certainly big enough and the general feel of the building seems venue-ish. However, this could probably not happen due to the fact that its really close the townhomes adjacent to it on 17th and the noise would be a serious problem. You'd have to get some badass Auralex sound foam if you were going to pull that off.

All in all, I hope its not a Chipotle.

Maryland vs. Idaho. via THE STOCK MARKET OH SNAP ITS BIGGIE vs TUP WEST vs EAST COAST ALL OVER AGAIN

Eerie... 

Amidst the financial turmoil we've been encountering over the last few months, the market... it seems to have turned up looking like the state of Maryland! We can only hope that in the near future that lady luck will shine down upon us and return us to a day when the market looks like Idaho flipped 90 degrees to the left. 

"RECORD PROFITS

POVERTY ELIMINATED"*

Idaho agrees

California and Gang Gang Dance

Just an addition, two congratulations I feel are necessary as of late.

California! You voted 52.6% on Prop 1A, setting into motion the initial construction for a high speed rail system that stretches from San Francisco to San Diego! Good Job! 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zD1QGNsRg74

Gang Gang Dance! You released a very experimental record that at the same time is incredibly listenable! Usually it takes me a few listens to get into your sometimes difficult multi-instrumental grooves. However, this time around, I was nodding my head along at first listen! Good Job! 

http://www.mp3nova.org/electronic/Gang-Gang-Dance-Saint-Dymphna--Advance--2008-DV8-8426.html 

and finally, not quite as necessary, Tinchy Strider! You ended up on the Gang Gang Dance record! I was totally not seeing that coming. Good Job! 

http://www.myspace.com/tinchystryder

DC is pleasing me as of late.

First of all, according to the washington post, bars are allowed to say open until 5 am on the Inauguration weekend.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/02/AR2008120203063.html?hpid=artslot

Take that, you fifty states. Our government is  pro liquor and pro Obamapartynation. DC is also better than you. 

But you already knew that. 

I've also been Myspacing out while pretending to do Personal Finance and have uncovered two DC gems that I had not picked up on

Imperial China: 

Spikey and angular, in a DC way. Perhaps if Q and not Gazi got down more with the murk and dabbled in post rock dynamics.  Also from Mt. Pleasant so major props for being semi neighbors. The songs on their myspace are pretty varied so I'd be pretty interested to find their album at some point on the www. 

http://www.myspace.com/imperialchina

Solar Powered Sun Destroyer:

I missed these guys play at the Kay Basement because I'm dumb, and also because hell if I'm going to bike to and from campus twice a day. But anyway, take 17 years old in 1996 and sad in your garage melodies and definitely add some delicious hazyness and triumphant dum da dum dum dum power. Highly enjoyable. 

http://www.myspace.com/spsdmusic

I'm mostly excited because I'm so sick of sugary sweet pop and boring boring boring folk coming out of DC. That kind of shit isn't nearly hard enough for how protestive and crime ridden this city is.