A little birdy told me to take this picture.

I took a few pictures of the Andrew Jackson statue in Lafayette Park during the speeches before the protest last Saturday, and I caught this shot with the bird in mid-flight. Thought it was kind of cool.

Health care reform

This is a big f@#$%&* deal.

March Against the Wars

It is way beyond time for the US to end the occupation. This is not who we are.

The New Party of No

I went to the march against the wars on Saturday. Things were going well, until an Iraq war vet burned a flag on stage. At that point I left, protesting the protest. But I did learn that it's pretty hypocritical for the liberals/Democrats to call Republicans "the party of no." Photo evidence below.

Get that monkey off my back!!!

This person says no to jobs and torture. And what the heck does Star Wars have to do with any of that?

No to waiting? These folks hate on abstinence?

No to being tread upon? What does that mean anyway?

No war in Iran? Talk about a preemptive strike!

Why can't we have money for education AND jobs?

I don't know if this is no to Obama, or no to bombs, or no to both?

No to children? We need to sic TFA, and this group on these people.

No US money to Israel? Oy vey!

No to the siege of Gaza? Can you people please suggest a new place to besiege instead of just complaining about our on-going sieges.

No to the draft? I guess these folks don't like sports taking all the "brilliant" athletic minds.

NO, NO, NO! Reminds me of a portion of the lyrics from this...

Momos at Vero's

Veronica's mom, Monica, was in town visiting for the past two weeks. Before she boarded a plane back to PR we got to spend some time having dinner with her last night. We made momos, in the picture, which are similar to steamed dumplings. There were delicious. With some salad, cheese and crackers for appetizers and chocolate covered strawberries for dessert, you couldn't have asked for a tastier evening. Save travels back home Monica!

Obama, where art thou?

So I did my part. I helped to elect you. I voted for you. I listened to you and defended you to others. I argued with Hillary supporters. I laughed at McCain supporters. I woke up at 5 in the morning, walked 2 miles, and stood in the freezing cold to support your inauguration as the President of the United States. I still support you, but I want to know what happened. Where did the man that inspired me, excited me, motivated me go? What happened to the man who said he would bring a public option to the people? Where did the man go who promised to end "don't ask don't tell?" I'm saddened by the first year and few months of your presidency.

What are you doing this Saturday?

This poster was at the corner of Barry Place (named in honor of DC's Mayor for Life) and Georgia Ave, NW, at Howard University. If you are in DC are you going or would you go? If not, what are you up to this Saturday?

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood...

...a beautiful day for a neighbor, would you be mine? Could you be mine? You know how the song goes folks. It was a really beautiful day in Washington DC. When I had some time I wandered on to the streets of Bloomingdale to document. Today's picture is of Flagler Market. Flagler is less than a block from my house, and is definitely the sketchiest corner store in the surrounding area. Just to give you a taste, they have about 8 refrigerated cases, of which only about 3 actually work and refrigerate things. The others just hold the drinks. Even better, one of the refrigerators has a door but no glass, so you can reach into the thing and get a drink without opening the door. Got to love it!
Another reason Flagler Market is sketchy, the staff exercises white privilege for you. They have a sign posted "No credit for anyone," and I have watched them turn people away for being a few cents short. But when I go in, and I'm significantly short of money, they say, "Oh, no problem, you bring it next time." And I am not a regular at the store at all, not even once a month. Sad but true...what you gonna do?

Lucifer

I talked to my family tonight and, as always, my mom asked our dog Lucy if she wanted to talk to her 'brother.' As much as the dog can drive me crazy I love her. So, here's to you Lucy, aka Lucifer, aka Lucy bella, aka Lulu, aka PITA #1.
Big news!!! You have got to check out this Washington Post article on how to improve teaching in urban schools. They included a photo of me and a couple of quotes from and interview I did with the reporter.

Seed the Sound Sundays

Tonight's show featured Terrence Cunningham and an impromptu performance by a new artist to Bloombars, Noel. As always, the music was great. A friend, Kelly Johanneson Clayton, is visiting from back home, so she joined Marika and I at the show. I hope to see you there next week.

Utah rocks!

It was gray, and rainy in DC today so I am plunging into the archives for a photograph. Not to mention that I am hooked on The Wire and watching back to back episodes of it, making it difficult for me to gather any motivation to step outside and explore.
This photo is from my trip with the Bopper to Las Vegas last year. Both times we've gone out there we spend a day at a park, and this day was spent at Zion National Park in Utah. I got a $120 speeding ticket on the drive to the park, but it was a very cool spot. Lots of really interesting rock formations, and a feature called Weeping Rock that is an alcove carved into into the stone from constantly running water. The link shows a much better picture of Weeping Rock than anything I was able to capture.

Thank you Mike!

This week my focus, pun intended, is architecture. I read some tips for architectural photography in a great book that Mike bought for me. The author suggests checking out all vantage points of the building in your picture, visiting it at different times of the day and different times of the year to see it in a variety of light, seasons, etc. I also used the remote control Mike gave me. I was very excited to use the remote, but really just played around with it so I don't have a picture posted from using the remote yet. I brought my tripod and stashed it in the trunk of my car so I am ready to use it this weekend. This picture was taken from a store on 14th Street, off of U Street. I really liked the colors of the building, the sign, and the lights.

Holy moley...

I tried to go to the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in northeast Washington DC. But, I failed to realize that it is closed on Wednesdays. Never one to allow an opportunity to escape me, I turned lemons into lemonade; or, as the HIV positive optimist said, I turned lemons into lemon-AIDS (props to Sarah Silverman for that quote). I toured the grounds, which is bordered by forest, has a great fountain and a statue of the soon to be canonized pope out front.

A few last visions of winter...

Time to share this photo before it's too late.

Na na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye...

I saw this picture with the icicle melting and I had to post it. With highs in the 60's for the rest of the week, I think winter is finally loosing his wicked cold grip over the Mid Atlantic. The high for this Saturday is 66. Are you kidding me? I LOVE it. Goodbye winter, hello spring. How are things where you are?

Seed the Sound II

I went to Seed the Sound at Bloombars again tonight, and the show was great. I didn't stay for the entire show, but did stay for all of David James' set. James and some members of the band Ndelible had a great performance. He performed lots of original tunes and also covered an Avett Brothers song, January Wedding. If you haven't listened to the Avett Brothers do yourself a favor and check them out. Lisa introduced me to their song I and Love and You, and it's included below.

G40 Part Duex

Tonight was the official grand opening of G40: The Summit. I toured all five floors today and there were a number of artists working along with a dj set by Ancient Astronauts and tons more people there tonight. The work there is awesome. I hope you don't get too bored too easily with the pictures from there and my consistent praise of the whole experience. The top photo is a piece called Be the Change, and I can't remember the name of the second piece exactly, but I will update this as soon as I get it.
Update: the second piece is the Patron Saint of the '80s

G40: The Summit

I mentioned this in yesterday's post, and here is a picture I promised. G40: The Summit offers 5 floors of artwork with artists from around the world. The event has a floor of artists from NYC, California, DC, an all encompassing floor, and a floor with a performance area, information, and mixed use space. When Veronica and I toured it on Thursday there was silk screening being done, paintings that anyone could be help complete, and a guy playing guitar walking throughout the exhibit. I'm really looking forward to going back, and I think you should go too.

More Patriotism

This photo is from the Roosevelt Island Memorial. There are two large fountains there that are not running yet, so I got to take a few shots that I wouldn't normally get because I sat in the fountain to shoot these. I'm planning on attending a photography class on Sunday by Albus Cavus on photography. I met the teacher at G40: The Summit, which is an awesome art installation in Crystal City, VA that lasts until the end of the month. If you have a chance to check it out, please do. It's similar to Artomatic, but smaller and there seems to be a focus on street art and graffiti, but I only toured two floors. I'll post some pictures from there later this month.
On a totally unrelated note, Bart Stupak (D-MI)is a douchebag. More links on Bart Stupak here and here. On another unrelated note, this is not surprising at all. And this was the funniest 21 seconds of my day.

Roosevelt Island in the Potomac

Theodore Roosevelt Island is in the Potomac River between Washington DC and Virginia. It's a great little space with a memorial to Theodore Roosevelt, consisting of a statue of Roosevelt (taken from an image of him at a speech about unions, and looks a little like a statue of Lenin) flanked by four large stone tablets that have some of his words on the topics of nature, manhood, youth, and country. Reading his words made me feel patriotic and lucky about living in the US. I wonder if people in other countries feel the same way. I know that many people do, but in places where the government hasn't been stable or hasn't protected or provided for the people, do people feel optimistic about their government and it's future, or is it viewed as the problem? I know it's individual, but I'm curious to know if, even here in the US, more people feel that the government under which they live is a blessing, a curse, or both. Any opinions?

Winter wonderland

Rock Cut State Park following a beautiful storm last year. This was one of the first times I used the new lens that my brothers got me for Christmas. Thanks Mike and Bob!

Beware

This is a fence I found in Baltimore one day. I went to a concert with Jesse and when walking around the venue came across this fence with little skulls on it.

Seed the Sound

Below is Terrence Cunningham, an Artist in Bloom Resident Fellow at Bloombars in Columbia Heights, in Washington. Bloombars is a truly unique place for music, meditation, community and much more. If you haven't had a chance to check it out, you are really missing out. The photo on the right is of Carolyn Malachi, also an Artist in Bloom Resident Fellow. They each gave an amazing performance tonight.