If trains were planes?
May 15, 2009, 9:44 PM
I’ve been known to comment about Metro’s YouTube videos as being beyond corny, but this one was actually pretty good. This time, Metro did a spoof of the in-flight safety videos that the airlines do. Take a look:
Continue reading…Categories: WMATA
No more beautiful a day to get kicked out of the WMATA Rail Rodeo…
May 11, 2009, 8:05 PM
So Saturday was fun. I got together with Matthew Tilley, and we went to the WMATA Rail Rodeo at Branch Avenue Yard, went up to Dupont Circle (I had to stop by my office), and then checked out Amtrak’s National Train Day events at Union Station. The day didn’t go quite as expected, but we still had a lot of fun.
Starting out, of course, I picked Matthew up at his house. This would put my new GPS device, an early birthday present from my parents (thanks, Mom!), to the test. It did very well, and sent me on a very quick and easy route there, and one I would not have thought of – essentially the back way into Matthew’s neighborhood.
After I picked Matthew up, we got back on the Beltway, and rode over to Branch Avenue Yard to watch the rail rodeo in action. The WMATA Rail Rodeo, for those not familiar, is an annual event where Metro’s rail employees get to show off their skills in various competitions. The event is usually open to the public. I’d been wanting to go to the Rail Rodeo for some time, and this year, I finally did my homework ahead of time, writing Metro’s customer service department back in late February to find out the tentative date, and following up in late April to confirm that date.
Arriving at Branch Avenue Yard, we stopped at the security checkpoint at the gate, and indicated that we were here to see the rail rodeo. The security guard asked if we worked for Metro (we didn’t), checked my driver’s license, and waved us in. We parked, and asked a few Metro employees we found where the activity was. They weren’t too sure themselves. Okay, fine. We’re resourceful. So we went about finding out for ourselves. Matthew and I soon found ourselves in the shop building, where WMATA mechanics perform routine maintenance on the trains.
Keeping the pressure on until we can take to the streets…
May 3, 2009, 12:59 AM
In reaction to last weekend’s violence in the streets:
Categories: Activism
Okay, I’m calling it – Staunton Mall is toast.
May 2, 2009, 1:36 PM
Okay, I’m calling it. Staunton Mall is a dying mall, if not already basically a dead mall. I was in there on Friday with Katie, and I believe there are now more empty locations than there are full ones. Steve and Barry’s, in an anchor spot, is gone. Books-A-Million is gone, in another large spot. KB Toys is gone, as part of the chain’s complete closure earlier this year. The former Piece Goods location has never been filled for any appreciable length of time since Piece Goods left. The old CVS/Pharmacy location is still empty after more than two years since CVS moved to a freestanding location nearby.
Additionally, Peebles, while open, is in deplorable shape, with visibly worn tiles, stained and worn carpet, and stained ceiling tiles. That location needs to be renovated badly, but I doubt that Stage Stores (which owns Peebles) will invest in it, considering that all they did when it changed to Peebles from Stone and Thomas was change the nameplate, change some interior signage, and wall in a gift-wrapping counter. Meanwhile, the Belk store in Staunton Mall has never been remodeled since I’ve been there, aside from changes related to when the store changed its nameplate from Leggett to Belk in 1997 or so. It, however, looks to be in better shape than Peebles, but partly because the lighting is somewhat darker in there, and thus it hides the aging. Still, it certainly says a lot about what a company thinks about certain locations when they don’t bother to ever remodel or update them, while remodeling and updating other locations, sometimes multiple times.
Categories: Shopping, Staunton, Staunton Mall
Epic newspaper fail…
April 29, 2009, 9:52 PM
First of all, hello from Stuarts Draft, where I will be through Tuesday.
It’s funny… after we all said hello, I looked at today’s Staunton News Leader, and look at what sprang up from their front page:
Categories: Virginia local news
It was short, but it was a lot of fun…
April 27, 2009, 10:14 PM
So as expected, I went to the mainstream march for the World Bank/IMF protests. It was a lot of fun, though it only lasted for about 90 minutes. Thus this was short as far as protests go. But it was spirited, and went off without a hitch.
The march met up on Sunday at 2:00 PM in Dupont Circle. The crowd was diverse, as the World Bank affects a very diverse swath of humanity. Before the crowd of approximately 150 people stepped off on the march, people gave speeches:
Categories: Fire alarms, World Bank
I am shocked…
April 26, 2009, 12:58 AM
According to Luke, it would seem that the protests today against the World Bank and the IMF in DC this weekend turned hot and heavy on Saturday, with pepper spray and injuries:
I literally watched this video open-mouthed, as I was shocked by what I saw, as the protests turned ugly. I also realized that I really dodged a bullet on this one, because if not for the fact that I needed a day to prepare for a trip out of town next week, I would have probably been right in the thick of this battle in the streets, where pepper spray was used on demonstrators, and protesters were allegedly sent over a fence and into a park, and one demonstrator was sent to the hospital for a broken leg.
I consider many of these anti-capitalist demonstrators as my friends, and would hate to see anything happen to any of them. This distresses me greatly. I am planning on turning out for the mainstream march on the same issue on Sunday at 2 PM in Dupont Circle, and hopefully I will see all of my friends show up to that demonstration uninjured, and that the prognosis for those injured is good.
Categories: World Bank
“Priceless, Johann!”
April 24, 2009, 7:34 PM
I think that says it best, because my favorite left-wing radio talker, Randi Rhodes, is finally returning to the air on May 11, after which will, by then, have been be a three-month absence from the radio. The last few months have been full of chatter about unfulfilled contract negotiations with Rhodes’ old syndicator, Nova M Radio and wondering when Rhodes would return, and I’ve been filling my commutes with The Mike Malloy Show due to lack of Randi Rhodes.
And let me tell you, I’m glad that Randi Rhodes will be back. I missed the various features of the show. I missed the “pop” sound effect for first time callers, and her various other sound effects. I missed the various comedic bits at the top of the second and third hours. Hell, I even missed “Bounce Your Boobies” on Fridays.
I will, however, miss listening to Mike Malloy, though. Malloy was good to me during the last few months. Randi Rhodes was replaced on Nova M with Nancy Skinner, whom I found almost unlistenable. She just didn’t have “it”, whatever “it” is. But Malloy provided a great show to listen to, though his style is just a tad too coarse for my tastes.
Categories: Clothing, Power Rangers, Radio
And then today… flash raid!
April 22, 2009, 11:42 PM
Building on the success of the April “global raid” on Saturday, we flash-raided Wednesday evening. We were ready, too, and capitalized on the alleged assault on one of our Anons that happened on Saturday. I made a sign that said, “What kind of religion PHYSICALLY ASSAULTS its critics? The CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY!” Additionally, I brought forty copies of a “wanted poster” that another Anon made up about the assault that included the case number. I came over straight from work.
I actually had planned to flash raid on Tuesday, but a few things came up to throw that plan off. First of all, I had to take care of something for work that evening. Secondly, the weather didn’t cooperate, as I saw lightning on the way home on Tuesday. Good thing I wasn’t out flash-raiding! As a result, all my Anon stuff (the poster, the flyers, my Guy Fawkes mask) spent the night in my “man-sized safe” at work.
But Wednesday worked out – we had beautiful weather, though it was a touch on the cold side. We had great fun, the Org was hopping, and we enturbulated the people at the Org. We also gave out ALL of our flyers.
Categories: Project Chanology
With clear skies, and temperatures in the mid-70s, what better day to have a raid?
April 22, 2009, 9:53 PM
You really couldn’t ask for a better day to raid. You really couldn’t. This past Saturday, the sun was shining, and temperatures were in the mid-70s. Perfect raid weather.
And thus April 18, 2009 was when Anonymous DC had its monthly raid against the Church of Scientology. We had better turnout than we’ve had at the last several raids (we counted 22 people at one point), and we had fun, with a theme of Watchmen.
As we arrived, one thing stuck out prominently. We usually write messages all over the sidewalk in front of the Org and on the triangle across the street from the Org, but this time, the sidewalk was pre-chalked! Turned out that it was a little counter-protesting, as the “chalk tech”, as we called it, promoted the Youth for Human Rights International organization – a Scientology front group. Take a look:
Categories: Project Chanology
“Obama Hates Borf”?
April 22, 2009, 3:09 PM
So this month, someone finally painted over the “Bush Hates Borf” graffiti that’s been on the Vision Lighting building for at least four years or so. They replaced it with “Obama Hates Borf”, in large, purple lettering. So here’s the new tag:
Categories: Street art
“Triceratops!”
April 17, 2009, 9:20 PM
So this Friday, I wore my new Power Rangers t-shirt to work. And here I am, at my desk, as seen with my office Mac’s camera:
Categories: Clothing, Power Rangers
So I’m getting a 22″ LG monitor…
April 17, 2009, 12:05 AM
So I found a new monitor. After eleven years of the 19″ CRT, that new screen is on its way, and I’m $179 poorer for it. I ordered a 22″ widescreen monitor by LG, and ordered it through PC Connection.
I previously had ordered them once before for work, and while the transaction itself was fairly painless, the aftermath was hell, as it took the better part of a month to finally chase off an overzealous account manager, especially after this person sent a promotion to everyone and didn’t conceal the list. Oh, that was awesome, as people Emailed back to the entire list about how much of a jackass this account manager was. I was inclined to agree with them.
So now I went back to them for the monitor since they had the best deal on a brand that I believe I can trust. I’ve had LG phones before, and there’s an LG microwave at work, and I’ve never had a problem with any of them. So we’ll see, I suppose. But today at work, I got a call on my cell phone. It’s PC Connection, trying to establish a relationship with me. Arrrrgh. I told the woman pretty plainly – I am familiar with their company, and I am placing this order for myself and not representing any organization, and not to assign me an account manager since, “I’ve already chased off one account manager and don’t want to have to chase off another one.” Think she got the point? With my experience with this company before, though, they seem pretty dense, but hopefully I won’t hear from them again, especially since I was pretty straightforward about not wanting to hear from them again.
Categories: Computer
GENTLEMEN!
April 12, 2009, 10:19 PM
No one expects the Inquisition. And this time, Anonymous, as part of Operation Inquisition, raided the Scientology “Mission” in Richmond, under the theme of “Operation GENTLEMEN”.
Richmond was a little different than most, because in Virginia, wearing a mask is illegal. Seriously – it’s a class 6 felony. Thus Anonymous went unmasked. That’s not to say, however, that people didn’t go to this raid completely out in the open. While some people didn’t care about being seen and photographed completely unmasked, others used fake facial hair to disguise themselves. One Anon wore a set of “Groucho glasses” with a fake nose and mustache, while the women used spirit gum to attach fake mustaches and goatees to their faces. And so here we are, raiding in Richmond:
Categories: Project Chanology, Richmond
Eleven years is pretty good for a computer monitor…
April 12, 2009, 12:08 AM
And eleven years apparently is where it’s going to stand, because my old 19″ VX900 monitor apparently has become too old to continue working properly. Everything now has a nice yellow tint across it. Still, considering that thing has had eleven years of continuous use, I think that’s pretty darn good. Now, of course, I have to get a new monitor, and that’s going to set me back a pretty penny. But having lasted that long, it’s pointless to repair it. For the cost of repairing a monitor that old, I could just get a new monitor, after all.
But yeah, eleven years is pretty good. That monitor came with my old Gateway, which I got back in 1998 when I was a junior in high school, and it has served me well all these years, so I can recycle it with no regrets. Let me tell you, though, one thing I won’t miss about it is how much that thing weighed. That thing was a real b—- to move back and forth between college and Stuarts Draft, and was equally rough carrying it up the stairs at my place in Silver Spring. But its being heavy was only about half the story. That monitor was also pretty big, since after all, this was a 19″ CRT monitor. Not a flat-screen by any means. That thing was very much a two-hander when carrying. Not like those nice flat-screen monitors they have nowadays, which are light enough that you can carry two of them at once. This was one of the OLD styles.
Categories: Computer