January 2006 Archives
Alito Filibuster Fails - congressional procedure
Republican senators, aided by 19 Democrats, cleared the path yesterday for Samuel A. Alito Jr. to join the Supreme Court and for President Bush to put his stamp firmly on the nine-member bench.
The Senate voted 72 to 25 to end debate on Alito's nomination and to allow a roll call on his confirmation today, shortly before noon. Alito's supporters garnered a dozen more votes than the 60 they needed to choke off a Democratic filibuster effort, which would have allowed debate to continue indefinitely.
"Senate to Vote On Alito Today: Confirmation Near as Filibuster Fails," by Charles Babington, The Washington Post, January 31, 2006
If you want to learn more about Congressional procedure, we offer several courses, audio CDs, and publications.
- Understanding Congress offers a a basic overview of Congress in half a day
- Congressional Dynamics and the Legislative Process is our one-day course on the legislative process
- Capitol Hill Workshop: Politics, Policy, and Process is our definitive 3-day overview of how Congress works
- Advanced Legislative Strategies is our advanced 3-day course designed for those who, having already learned the legislative process, want to maximize this knowledge to develop strategies and tactics to help educate Congress and influence legislation
- We also have several Audio CDs that focus on the legislative process
- - Congressional Deskbook 2005-2007, By Judy Schneider and Michael L. Koempel, and Contributing Authors: Eugene Boyd, Peggy Garvin, Bill Heniff Jr., Henry Hogue. The comprehensive guide to Congress, clearly describing the legislative and congressional budget processes in 15 chapters that discuss all aspects of Congress. "Highly recommended. All collections." -- CHOICE
- - Congressional Directory 2006, available late-February, 2006.
Also see our previous post, "CRS reports about presidential nominations"
January 31, 2006 11:12 AM Link Legislative Process Comments (0)
Newspapers need to worry about the best and the worst of the blogosphere
Like the long-gone typesetters, today's newspaper guild members believe that their job is somehow their "property," and that no amateur can step in to perform their difficult and arduous tasks. On one level, they're right. John Q. Blogger can't fly to Baghdad or Bosnia and do the work of a John F. Burns. But what a lot of guild members miss is that not everybody wants to read John F. Burns, not everybody who wants to read about Baghdad is going to demand coverage of the quality he produces, and not everybody wants Baghdad coverage, period. If you loosely define journalism as words and graphics about current events deliverable on tight deadline to a mass audience, the price of entry into the craft has dropped to a few hundred dollars. Hell, I can remember renting an IBM Selectric for $100 a month in the late 1970s just to make my freelance articles look more "professional" to my editors.
So, when newspaper reporters bellyache about shoot-from-the-hip bloggers who don't fully investigate the paper trail before writing a story or double-check their facts before posting, they're telling a valuable truth. Bad bloggers are almost as bad as bad journalists. But the prospect of a million amateurs doing something akin to their job unsettles the guild, making it feel like Maytag's factory rats whose jobs were poached by low-paid Chinese labor.
It's not just the best of the blogosphere drawing away big audiences that the guild need worry about. If Chris Anderson's Long Tail intuitions are right, the worst of the blogosphere—if it's big enough—presents just as much (or more) competition. Michael Kinsley made me laugh a decade ago when he argued against Web populists replacing professional writers, saying that when he goes to a restaurant, he wants the chef to cook his entree, not the guy sitting at the next table. I'm not laughing anymore: When there are millions of aspiring chefs in the room willing to make your dinner for free, a least a hundred of them are likely to deal a good meal. Mainstream publishers no longer have a lock on the means of production, making the future of reading and viewing anybody's game. To submit a tortured analogy, it's like the Roman Catholic church after Gutenberg. Soon, everyone starts thinking he's a priest.
I'm not about to predict what the collapsing cost of media creation will ultimately do to the news business, if only because my track record at prophesy is terrible. But this much I know: The newspaper guild (again, reporters, editors, publishers) can't compete by adding a few blogs here, blogging up coverage over there, and setting up "comment" sections. If newspapers, magazines, and broadcasters don't produce spectacular news coverage no blogger can match, they have no right to survive.
"Not Just Another Column About Blogging: What newspaper history says about newspaper future," by Jack Shafer, Slate, January 28, 2006
More
- "Read All About It! Newspapers Lose Web War," an interview of Prof. Clark Gilbert by Sean Silverthorne, HBS Working Knowledge, January 28, 2002
- "The 8-Step Cure for Old Fartism," by Jon Katz, hotwired, November 4, 1997
- "The End of Legacy Media (Newspapers, Magazines, Books, TV Networks)," by Jakob Nielsen, Alertbox, August 23, 1998
- "Niche Masters Who Can Kill You," by Randy Cassingham, Presented to The Online News Summit II held in Washington, DC, May 19, 1998
- "Why newspapers are in trouble," by Guy Kawasaki, Forbes, February 9, 1998
January 30, 2006 06:07 AM Link Fourth Estate Comments (0)
Song Que - Bahn Mi in Eden Center
We love the Vietnamese sandwiches (Bahn Mi) and bubble drinks at Song Que in Eden Center ...
Song Que in Eden Center, Falls Church, VA
This is the #8, Grilled Pork sandwich
Another pic of the #8, Grilled Pork sandwich
The #6, grilled chicken, is also very good ... we usually ask for extra jalapeño on the sandwiches ... our favorite bubble drinks are the mango, coconut, and guavabana ...
This is a phenomenal bargain. The #6 and #8 sandwiches are $2.50 each, the bubble drinks (also called "bubble tea") are $3.00 ... a fabulous meal for less than $6. During the summer we come here at least once a week ...
Song Que is owned by the same family that owns Four Sisters (Huong Que), a few doors away in Eden Center ...
Song Que, 6773 Wilson Boulevard, Falls Church, VA, 703-536-7900 [Washingtonian | MetroConnection | NYT | wCities | a capitol life]
More
- Albert Eisele wrote about Four Sisters: "You won’t find a better Vietnamese restaurant in the Washington area." "Vietnamese food like Mom's at Four Sisters," The Hill, July 21, 2005
- "Bubble tea is also known as boba drink, pearl tea drink, boba ice tea, boba, boba nai cha, zhen zhou nai cha, pearl milk tea, pearl ice tea, black pearl tea, tapioca ball drink, BBT, PT, pearl shake, QQ (which means chewy in Chinese)," from "The History of Bubble Tea," by Bubble Tea Supply
- Tyler Cowen's Ethnic Dining Guide – January 2005, seventeenth edition.
- Vietnamese Restaurants in the Washington metro area - from Washington City Paper
Technorati Tags: washington, dc, washington-dc, restaurants, restaurant reviews, bahn mi
January 29, 2006 10:27 AM Link Dining Comments (0) TrackBacks (2)
Al's Steak House - Alexandria, VA
Al's Steak House, which says it is "Alexandria's First and Foremost Philly Cheese Steak Shop"
Al's Steak House, Alexandria, VA
cheeseburger sub - excellent
great greasy onion rings
very good hamburger
very good hamburger
fries look better than they are - kind of limp - get the onion rings
web site, 1504 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 703-836-9443 (cash only) [The Best Phlly Cheesesteaks] Very good value. Recommended
January 28, 2006 10:47 AM Link Dining Comments (0) TrackBacks (1)
This Week in DC Reviews - January 27, 2006
Periodically, we will publish This Week in DC Reviews, a roundup of reviews of DC-area restaurants, with quick links to DC-area restaurant reviews and mentions from the previous seven days in blogs, magazines, and newspapers.
For a roundup of New York City restaurant reviews from NYC food bloggers and media, see This Week in NYC Reviews at A Guy In New York.
- Florence Fabricant reports that "Walter Scheib, the chef at the White House from 1994 to 2005, has started a national catering company based in Great Falls, Va. He will also give cooking classes: (866) 755-0088, theamericanchef.com." ...
- Eve Zibart likes Capri ... "much of the regular menu here is good enough to keep patrons coming back (some obviously quite regularly)" ... "whole grilled orata (sea bream) was admirably prepared, lightly crisped at the edges and moist within" ... 6825 Redmond Drive, McLean, VA, 703-288-4601 [Washingtonian]
- Augieland describes and has pics of a 36-course meal at Mini Bar ... "cuisine is entirely chef-driven" ... "Mini Bar has trapped the guys making your food in a small box right in front of you. They make the food, they serve the food, and they explain the food." ... "17. Zucchini in Textures: Bear declared this the dish that disproves intelligent design, because if there were truly a wise being guiding along the development of things on the planet earth, this would be what zucchini tasted like. Had you told me a dish that had, as its major component, a layer of jellied zucchini seeds would be the one that knocked me out, I would have been doubtful before this meal." ... "27. 'Philly Cheese Steak': Mini Bar, Katsuya, and the boys, obviously love to take the familiar apart into its fundamental flavor components and reorganize them into something that makes an impact. The flavors of a great Philly steak are steak, cheese, hoagie loaf, and sometimes mushrooms. Here we have a tiny French baguette, but just the crust, filled with a foam that is just the flavor of whiz without the goopy texture, then black truffle slices are laid on top, under slices of Kobe beef. This is then cooked with a hand-held torch. If you've ever wondered what is to be gained by 'playing with your food,' this is the dish that should make you encourage this behavior. It is the best cheese steak I have ever had." ... FlyerTalk has pics from a Mini Bar meal last December ... (previous review: Opinionated About Dining (TWIR, December 16, 2005)) ... web site, 405 Eighth Street NW, inside Cafe Atlantico, 3rd floor, 202-393-0812 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Gayot]
- Corinna Lothar reminds us that "Drinks, dessert and coffee are not included in the comprehensive price ($24.50 at lunch and $44.50 for dinner)" at Fogo de Chao ... "the salad bar is sumptuous" ... the best meats are "the picanha, the house special, a prime sirloin seasoned with sea salt and a touch of garlic; wonderfully tender lamb chops and a delicious leg of lamb. Pork ribs are very good; the pork loin is sometimes tender, sometimes a bit tough, but always flavorful." ... (previous reviews: metrocurean (TWIR, January 20, 2006), Tom Sietsema (TWIR, December 16, 2005) ... web site, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 202-347-4668 [City Paper | Don Rockwell]
- Tom Sietsema gave 2 stars to Acadiana ... "fried green tomatoes ... arrive with a topping of sliced shrimp enriched with a zippy remoulade. The heat and crunch of the base and the chill and creaminess of the cover seesaw appealingly in the mouth." ... "Jambalaya is packed with just about everything a fan would want -- sausage, chicken, red bell pepper -- save for the kick one expects of the rice-based classic." ... (previous reviews: Erin Hartigan (TWIR, January 6, 2006), and D.C. Foodies (TWIR, December 16, 2005)) ... web site, 901 New York Ave NW, 202-408-8848 [City Paper | Don Rockwell | Gayot] ... and 2.5 stars to Oya Restaurant & Lounge ... "the original Oya ... brimmed with unfortunate ideas" ... but urges readers to try it now that new chefs are there ... web site, 799 9th Street NW, 202-393-1400 [City Paper | The Hill | Don Rockwell | Gayot]
- Albert Eisele declares "You won’t find a better Vietnamese restaurant in the Washington area" than Four Sisters (Huong Que) ... OK, the review is from last year but we like Four Sisters and we like its "sister restaurant," Song Que ... 6769 Wilson Blvd., in Eden Center, Falls Church, VA, 703-538-6717 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Gayot]
- D.C. Foodies had dinner at BlackSalt ... "The six Kumamoto oysters ... were probably some of the best I've ever tasted - buttery, briny, and tender." ... "Maryland rockfish was really incredible; the rockfish was perfectly cooked" ... "mahi mahi was also cooked perfectly [but the] sauce it came with really overpowered the mild flavor of the dish" ... "My bread pudding was quite possibly the best bread pudding I've ever had!" ... "final bill was over $200 with tip" ... web site, 4883 Macarthur Blvd., 202-342-9101 [Washingtonian | Food-Plan | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist]
- a capitol life had "mortadella, prosciutto, fresh mozzarella, lettuce, tomato, hot peppers, oil and vinegar on a 12 inch soft roll = $9" at A. Litteri's ... and also poked around the Capital City Market (bordered by New York Avenue, Florida Avenue and Sixth Street NE, next to Gallaudet University) ... web site, 517-519 Morse Street NE, 202-544-0184 [Washingtonian | WaPo | openlist]
- Mary Hager liked the "Peking duck roll with mu shu and hoisin glaze" at Juniper at the Fairmont Hotel ... 2401 M Street NW, 202-457-5020 [City Paper | openlist] ... and likes Restaurant Eve ... "everything about this fine restaurant was a pleasant surprise" ... "safe entrees are prime rib eye of beef with potato galette and bordelaise ($36), Armstrong's version of Irish stew ($35), and one of his "signature" dishes, a bouillabaisse ($26). This stunning dish, far from ordinary, has chunks of cod and an assortment of clams, mussels and prawns in a delicate and slightly tangy saffron "jus" garnished with two crisp triangles of crusty, airy toast, perfect for absorbing the flavorful jus." ... (previous review: Erin Hartigan (TWIR, January 6, 2006)) ... web site, 110 South Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-706-0450 [Washingtonian | food-plan | City Paper | Don Rockwell | Gayot]
- Le Cuvee Americain: The American Blend passed up Taco Bell and went to Alero ... "One of the nice things about Alero's brunch is they have sangre de Marias (a/k/a bloody Marys) for just $3.75 a piece." ... no comment on the food ... web site, 1724 Connecticut Avenue NW, 202-234-8100 [City Paper | openlist] ... had a quick lunch at Cactus Cantina ... the pork tamales, Monterrey spinach salad, and sopapillas were "good" ... web site, 3300 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 202-686-7222 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Gayot] ... had a Restaurant Week lunch at IndeBleu ... "had the white cassoulet of chicken confit, boudin blanc, and navy beans. I found the dish to be both wonderfully tasty and yet disappointing at the same time." ... "we all liked the place and said we'd come back, even though the serving sizes were tiny and we all found various faults with our food" ... web site, 707 G Street NW, 202-333-2538 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | Gayot] ... and had a Restaurant Week dinner at Aquarelle ... "started with the escabeche of sea scallop with a Banyuls reduction, garlic coulis, pickled vegetables, and herbs salad [which] had a nice flavor and texture" ... "My entree was the Atlantic monkfish osso bucco, two thick pieces of stewed monkfish on the bone, accompanied by black mussels and served over a bed of risotto with Spanish peppers and dry-cured chorizo. Broth from the fish filled up the hollow of the plate. The mussels were good and I enjoyed the monkfish a lot" ... "The biggest problem I found with Aquarelle was the level of service; while nothing was particularly bad, they lost points on a number of standard fine dining points" ... web site, 2650 Virginia Avenue NW, in the Watergate Hotel, 202-298-4455 [WaPo | City Paper | openlist] ... had a Restaurant Week lunch at Butterfield 9 ... "an exquisitely delicious braised beef short rib on a pool of soft, truffled cheese grits topped by mustard greens and crispy bits of portobello mushrooms" ... "duck leg confit salad served over warm, wilted frisée with some mustard cream sauced haricots verts green beans.... The confit was rich and exploding with flavor." ... web site, 600 14th Street NW, 202-289-8810 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Citysearch | Gayot]
Did we miss your favorite DC restaurant review?
Let us know: hobnobblog -at- gmail.com ... we're especially interested in hearing from DC bloggers ...
Technorati Tags: washington, dc, washington-dc, restaurants, restaurant reviews, this week in reviews, week in reviews
January 27, 2006 10:47 AM Link Dining Comments (0) TrackBacks (1)
Kids and High School
School Without Walls’ 1996 valedictorian Wai-Ying Chow graduated summa cum laude from George Washington University, worked at the National Institutes of Health, and is now back in school for her doctorate. It’s a storybook ending, but not a common one for the District’s public-high-school valedictorians.
"Honor Roles," by Huan Hsu, Washington City Paper, Januray 20-26, 2006 (article follows up on 10 DC high school valedictorians from the classes of 1995 and 1996)
WELSH: We both agree that students need to be challenged, Jay, but you seem to think that they have to be in AP courses for that to happen. Your challenge index ignores the basic mission of schools and teachers: to take their students and stretch them as far as possible. The number of kids taking AP tests is but one tiny measure of whether a school fulfills that mission. You've unwittingly created an out-of-control monster, a smoke and mirrors numbers game, the equivalent of ranking the teams in the NCAA basketball tournament on the basis of the number of players who got in the game, instead of the final score. You have image-conscious public school officials so intimidated that they're putting as many kids as possible -- and I am not talking about average kids who are willing to do the work -- into AP courses so that they can get a higher ranking on your index. In fact, I already know the challenge index score you will give T.C. Williams on the basis of the 830 AP exams to be given here next month. Even if every one of those exams got a score of 1 (the lowest possible score on a 5-point scale) you will give us a 1.4 (830 divided by the 588 kids in the senior class) up from .949 last year. Are we a better school this year than last because more kids will take the AP test and we will finally make your Newsweek list? Hardly.
The result of this numbers game is the exact opposite of what you intend: The stronger students aren't getting the challenge they should be getting and the weaker students, instead of learning the basic things they will need for college, are being overwhelmed. Furthermore, at a time when high-paying jobs that demand two years of technical school or community college go begging because of the lack of skilled workers, your index is bolstering the myth that every kid needs to go to a four-year college or university -- a myth that Bill Gates has been busy reinforcing.
"Is AP Good for Everybody? It's Debatable," an debate with Jay Mathews and Patrick Welsh, The Washington Post, April 10, 2005
Who can argue against more kids taking challenging courses? Well, count me as one who can. School officials are deluding themselves that they're raising standards for more students. From what I've seen, this trend is starting to lead to more discouragement and less learning among students who do not have the skills or motivation to do the work in an AP course. It's also watering down the courses.
In the 25 years I have been teaching AP English, I have never seen such growth in the numbers of AP students as during the past three years. Last year, T.C. Williams had eight sections of AP English; this year, there are 11 — defining about half the senior class as “advanced.” Is this year's senior class so superior to last year's that three new sections had to be added? Hardly.
One reason for the increase nationwide is that the College Board has made a big effort to convince school districts and the public that the best way for kids to show “college-level mastery” of a subject — and impress colleges — is to get a score of 3 or above (on a scale of 1 to 5) on an AP test. This is a spurious claim — at least from my experience — given that any reasonably bright kid could get a 3 on the English literature test without taking the course. In fact, some universities, for this reason, are beginning to give college credits only for a score of 4 or 5.
"Watering down ‘advanced' classes: The nation's high schools are being flooded with AP, or Advanced Placement, courses. You'd think that would be a good thing. Think again." by Patrick Welsh, USA Today, March 7, 2005
Just before the school year ended in June, my colleagues in the English department at T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Va., and central office administrators discussed which textbook to adopt for the 9th- and 10th-grade World Literature course for next year.
Of the four texts that the state approved, the choices came down to two: the Elements of Literature: World Literature from Holt, Rinehart and Winston and The Language of Literature: World Literature from McDougal Littell.
The problems with these two tomes are similar to the problems with high school textbooks in most subjects.
First, there's the well-documented weight problem. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons has said that an increase in back injuries among children might be attributed to the enormous textbooks they lug around in their backpacks. Injuries aside, what kid is going to sit in a chair and relax with a heavy hardcover, 9-inch-by-11-inch compendium?
Worse is the fact that for all their bulk, the textbooks are feather-weight intellectually.
"How schools are destroying the joy of reading," by Patrick Welsh, USA Today, August 3 2005
Like American society, schools are full of challenges, but I still don't think that my school or the schools nationwide are in as much trouble as many politicians and education experts would have us believe. The myth that American schools are in bad shape has a long history. Richard Rothstein of the Economic Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank, points out that today's complaints about students' poor reading and math skills, ignorance of history, inadequate preparation for the work force, unfocused curriculums, lack of moral education—you name it—have been echoed for more than a century. In 1892, when fewer than 6 percent of high school graduates went to college, the Harvard Board of Overseers issued a report complaining that only 4 percent of the Harvard applicants "could write an essay, spell or properly punctuate a sentence."
"Touching Hearts and Minds," by Patrick Welsh, eJournal USA, July 2005
CRS Reports
- "Military Recruitment Provisions Under the No Child Left Behind Act: A Legal Analysis," by Jody Feder, RS22362, January 6, 2006 (5-page pdf )
- "Congressional Nominations to U.S. Service Academies: An Overview and Resources for Outreach and Management," by R. Eric Petersen, RL33213, December 29, 2005 (21-page pdf )
- "The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act: A Legal Overview," by Jody Feder, RS22341, November 30, 2005 (6-page pdf )
- "Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP): Implementation of the No Child Left Behind Act," by Wayne Riddle, RL32495, October 26, 2005 (37-page pdf )
- "Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP): Might Growth Models Be Allowed Under the No Child Left Behind Act?" by Wayne Riddle, RL33032, August 15, 2005 (16-page pdf )
- "Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act: Reauthorization and Appropriations," by Edith Fairman Cooper, RS20532, February 15, 2005 (6-page pdf )
- "Teacher Recruitment and Retention: Federal, State, and Local Programs," by Jeffrey Kuenzi, RL32050, January 7, 2005 (17-page pdf )
- "Concurrent Enrollment Programs," by Charmaine Mercer, RS21898, December 14, 2004 (6-page pdf )
- "Student Loan Forgiveness Programs," by Gail McCallion, RL32516, August 9, 2004 (16-page pdf ) (there is a newer version available dated February 1, 2005, but we were unable to locate a copy online)
- "Supplemental Educational Services for Children from Low-Income Families Under ESEA Title I-A," by David Smole, RL31329, February 24, 2004 (13-page pdf )
- "Rural Education: Legislative Initiatives," by James Stedman and Richard Apling, RS20375, January 28, 2002 (5-page pdf )
- "Education Savings Accounts for Elementary and Secondary Education," by Bob Lyke and James Stedman, RS20289, August 23, 2001 (6-page pdf )
January 24, 2006 04:17 PM Link Living in DC Comments (0)
Bankruptcy and Credit Cards
Americans are drowning in plastic, maxed out, buying too much — and more and more, forced into court as a last resort.
Cameras aren't allowed inside Judge John Ninfo's bankruptcy courtroom in Rochester, N.Y., but he's more than willing to talk about what goes on there.
"I'm not a sociologist and I'm not an academic," he told ABC News' "Nightline." "I'm just a bankruptcy judge from upstate New York who sees what I see around the system every day. But clearly, we live in this competitive, consumptive society where people are bombarded with advertising that tells them that they can have anything that they want, that they're entitled to.
"From what I see every day, is it the consumer credit that has resulted in the skyrocketed filings?" he asked. "There's no question about it."
"Credit Card Debt? Tell It to the Judge: Bankruptcies Are Up, and Judge John Ninfo Sees the Result," by Vicki Mabrey, ABC New, January 20, 2006
"Credit Card Debts Aren't Inherited," by Michelle Singletary, The Washington Post, December 29, 2005
Our tips:
- Spend less than you earn.
- Pay off your credit cards in full every month
- If you use a credit card, use it like cash and get a no-annual-fee-cash-rebate card
- Save at least 20% of everything you make, starting with the first dollar you earn.
- Buy used cars
- Buy the cheapest house in the most expensive neighborhood you can afford
- Take full advantage of your employer's retirement plan and medical-spending and dependent-care reimbursement accounts
- Don't borrow against your retirement savings or withdraw from them until you retire
- Invest for the long term, in index mutual funds and in companies that have a history of increasing earnings.
10 Steps for Financial Independence - from "Financial Success Requires Saving, Spending Discipline," by Jonathan Clements, The Wall Street Journal, May 5, 1998.
1. Sign up for your employer's retirement plan. (make savings a habit)
2. Pay off your credit cards. (leave your cards at home and stick to cash)
3. Set up an automatic investment plan. (dollar cost averaging)
4. Make a ritual sacrifice.
5. Organize yourself.
6. Invest all financial windfalls.
7. Round up your mortgage check.
8. Manage your cash for maximum return. (don't leave extra cash in a savings or checking account)
9. Act your tax bracket. (or, better yet, act BELOW your tax bracket)
10. Invest for the long haul. (five years)
January 21, 2006 11:17 AM Link Comments (0)
This Week in DC Reviews - January 20, 2006
Periodically, we will publish This Week in DC Reviews, a roundup of reviews of DC-area restaurants, with quick links to DC-area restaurant reviews and mentions from the previous seven days in blogs, magazines, and newspapers.
For a roundup of New York City restaurant reviews from NYC food bloggers and media, see This Week in NYC Reviews at A Guy In New York.
- OxBlog says "there are some great places to eat" in DC, and recommends ... Tony Cheng's Seafood Restaurant: "pan-friend scallops in hot pepper sauce [and] breaded shrimp [were] cooked just right, bringing out all the flavor but still keeping it moist and tender." ... (previous review: dcfud (TWIR, December 9, 2005)) ... 619 H Street NW, 202-371-8669 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Gayot] ... Heritage India "provides taste, for example in its polenta cake with chicken tikka." ... 1337 Connecticut Avenue NW, 202-331-1414 and 2400 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 202-333-3120 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Gayot] ... and Pizzeria Paradiso: "a brick-oven establishment that can go head-to-head with the best in New York and New Haven" ... 2029 P Street NW, 202-223-1245 and 3282 M Street NW, 202-337-1245 [Washingtonian | City Paper | WaPo | openlist | Gayot]
- The Rock Creek Rambler had a Restaurant Week meal at Tosca: "you have to be impressed by Tosca's restaurant week menu. They provide you with a full size menu (none of this select one from two crap) divided into starters, pasta, entrees, and desserts" ... had the "roasted veal and spinach ravioli with red wine reduction, butter and parmesan cheese ... was phenom" ... and the "grilled pork T-bone steak, with roasted potatoes sautéed Swiss chard and rosemary sauce ... was huge, and cooked absolutely perfectly" ... web site, 1112 F Street NW, 202-367-1990 [WaPo | The Hill | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Citysearch | Gayot]
- Gabriella Boston had "32 of Team Andres' exciting and unpredictable creations as part of the Nuevo Latino Dim Sum Brunch, a unique midday dining experience in Washington." ... a "Latino dim-sum brunch" is a unique fusion we've never heard of, and none of the dishes she describes sound like dim sum ... if you want Chinese dim sum, try ... China Garden Restaurant, web site, 1100 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA, 703-525-5317 [Washingtonian | City Paper | Gayot] ... Hollywood East (Washingtonian), 2621 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD, 240-290-9988 [City Paper | WaPo | Don Rockwell | Gayot] ... Good Fortune, 2646 University Boulevard West, Silver Spring, MD, 301-929-8818 [Washingtonian | City Paper | Don Rockwell | Gayot] ... A&J Restaurant, 1319-C Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD [Washingtonian | City Paper | WaPo | Don Rockwell | Gayot] ... and for the best dim sum in NYC, try the Chatham Restaurant ...
- D.C. Foodies had dinner at Zengo ... "my experience there was average at best. Put it this way, just because you put an Asian sauce on a Latin dish, doesn't make it Latin-Asian fusion." ... "the whole crispy fish [had] 'nuggets' of fried fish meat in the dish with the fried carcass" ... "Presentation aside, the dish was bland." ... (previous review: Tom Sietsema (TWIR, December 16, 2005)) ... web site, 781 Seventh Street NW, 202-393-2929 [City Paper | Don Rockwell]
- dcfud says the service was frazzled but the food good at Bangkok 54 ... "A waitress took 20 minutes to 'be right back' to take our orders. Appetizers took a considerable amount of time to arrive. A friend’s main dish order of pineapple fried rice lacked, well, pineapple" ... "Won ton soup was perfectly spiced" ... "the five-spice braised pork ... was absolutely delicious, sweet without being cloying" ... web site, 2919 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA, 703-521-4070 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | dc-eating | openlist]
- Janelle Erlichman Diamond says "The soup from Atwater's Ploughboy Soups is worth the drive to Baltimore. Honestly, even without the Inner Harbor and art museum stuff." ... "Atwater gathers seasonal ingredients from local farmers markets and an organic co-op in Pennsylvania. He'll prep vegetables the night before (on a recent day, Brussels sprouts) before figuring out the next morning what to do with them" ... 529 East Belvedere Avenue, Baltimore, MD, 410-323-2396 [City Paper | openlist]
- Alexandra Greeley reviews two restaurants ... Dukem Restaurant: "be sure to ask for guidance. The chili quotient of some dishes can be a minefield of fire." ... "be sure to ask for the spicy version of the lamb wot, a stew of lamb cubes served in a sauce that is almost as dark as chocolate. And don’t be fooled for one minute if your first several bites seem oddly bland. Without warning, the burn sets in" ... web site, 1114 U Street NW, 202-667-8735 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper] ... Etete Ethiopian Cuisine: "azifa ... a marvelous lentil salad composed of cooked and partially mashed lentils stirred with chopped chilies, lime juice, and a daub of Ethiopian mustard. It’s delicious, and an example of how lentils can become totally addictive legumes." ... web site, 1942 9th Street NW, 202-232-7600 [WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell]
- metrocurean likes "the pork ribs, leg of lamb and fried plantains" at Fogo de Chão, a Brazilian churrasco chain ... (previous reviews: Tom Sietsema (TWIR, December 16, 2005)web site, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 202-347-4668 [City Paper | Don Rockwell] ... and had "an amazing procession of courses at" CityZen ... (dcchefsmagazine features Eric Ziebold of CityZen) ... web site, 1330 Maryland Avenue SW, 202-787-6006 [Washingtonian | WaPo | The Hill | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Gayot]
- Throwing Hammers had drinks with lots of Zombies at Mackey's Public House ... but doesn't tell us about the food - did anyone have the fish and chips, or was everyone eating brain? ... or the drinks! Someone must have had a Zombie ... Ai yi yi, youth is wasted on the young ... web site, 1823 L Street NW, 202-331-7667 [WaPo | City Paper | openlist]
- DC Pussycat Doll had dinner at 1789: "it was fabulous" ... "the oyster soup ... contained very large, done to perfection oysters" ... "the rack of lamb with feta potatoes and garlic spinach ... lamb was tender and the potatoes were out of this world" ... "grilled monkfish served over scallops and garlic spinach ... was very good" ... web site, 1226 36th Street NW, 202-965-1789 [Washingtonian | WaPo | NYT | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Gayot]
- Le Cuvee Americain: The American Blend had a Restaurant Week lunch at The Caucus Room ... "started with the open-faced wild mushroom ravioli ... had a wonderful flavor and I think it was probably my favorite dish of the meal." ... "the seared sea bass [was] presented on a bed of roasted fingerling potatoes and lightly sauteed broccoli rabe and with a tamarind-flavored thin brown sauce, which I also enjoyed a lot, especially the slightly bitter, hot zestiness of the rabe." ... was not impressed with the pecan pie ... web site, 401 Ninth Street NW, 202-393-1300 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Gayot] ... and a Restaurant Week brunch at The Grill at the Ritz-Carlton in DC ... "Our Caesar salads were okay, but terribly ordinary. They used commercial croutons and there were disgusting little anchovy filets on top of the romaine." ... "main course: Cajun spiced grilled salmon. I thought my salmon was quite good" ... and for dessert strawberry charlotte: "Well, here at the Ritz-Carleton, they took the banquet caterers' route out, filling a big sheet cake pan with a thin layer of cake and using what tasted to me like strawberry Jello whipped with whipped cream and a very gelatinized strawberry puree, then cut the dessert into squares ... and an egg-shaped dollop of what Robert called 'the most artfully presented Cool Whip I've ever seen.'" ... "I'm afraid that The Grille at the Ritz-Carleton (sic) falls into the category of the typical, severely over-priced, faux-elegant hotel restaurant." ... web site, 1150 22nd Street NW, 202-974-5566 [City Paper | openlist] ... had dinner at Penang ... the sarang burung "was delicious. That fried taro root had the texture of potatoes and the lightly fried portions had a great crunch and flavor" ... Hobnob agrees with the Washingtonian: the "downtown DC branch of Penang is a bit of a letdown" ... for excellent Malaysian food in DC go to Malaysia Kopitiam (for incredible Malaysian food in NYC, go to Sanur) ... 1837 M Street NW, 202-822-8770 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | food-plan | Gayot] ... and had lunch at The Prime Rib, "which actually requires gentlemen to wear a jacket and tie" ... "the luncheon-sized prime rib ... took up the entire oval plate! ... was 'excellent' and had a 'very nice flavor.'" ... "the grilled calves' liver and onions ... was absolutely delicious." ... if you want "an old-style, elegant, steakhouse experience, I can recommend this place highly." ... web site, 2020 K Street NW, 202-466-8811 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Gayot]
- DC Food Blog had a Restaurant Week dinner at the Oval Room ... "the duck confit cassoulet ... tasted like an upscale version of the humble pork and beans" ... "loved loved loved ... the codfish with braised savoy cabbage ... was moist, tender, and flaky with a light butter sauce that complimented the sweetness of the fish without competing with it. If it was socially acceptable, I would have licked my plate. The cabbage had a sweet nutty flavor, reminiscent of good brussel spouts" ... "Overall, this place just felt so establishment. Competent, but not warm." ... web site (a mess), 800 Connecticut Avenue NW, 202-463-8700 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | openlist | Gayot]
Did we miss your favorite DC restaurant review?
Let us know: hobnobblog -at- gmail.com ... we're especially interested in hearing from DC bloggers ...
Technorati Tags: washington, dc, washington-dc, restaurants, restaurant reviews, this week in reviews, week in reviews
January 20, 2006 11:47 AM Link Dining Comments (0) TrackBacks (4)
"Lobbying for Locality Pay"
Some federal employees may have eyed their counterparts in Raleigh, N.C., covetously this year when workers there captured a 5.62 percent pay hike.
What's the Raleigh secret? The city, along with Phoenix and Buffalo, N.Y., were marked for the first time to receive special locality payments as part of their yearly raise. They were taken out of the "Rest of U.S." category for locality pay -- which this year received a 2.83 percent increase -- and were paid according to the labor market in their area.
. . .
What does a successful lobbying effort for locality pay entail? According to Kim Ainsworth, executive director of the Greater Boston Federal Executive Board, it takes a close eye on the Federal Register, patience, a dash of political savvy and thorough research.
"Lobbying for Locality Pay," by Karen Rutzick, GovExec.com, January 19, 2006
More
January 19, 2006 02:07 AM Link Agencies Comments (0)
Legislative Drafting Resources
We recently updated our "Legislative Drafting Reference and Research Tools" page.
On January 27, we will have a 90 minute telephone seminar, "Drafting Effective Federal Legislation and Amendments in a Nutshell." On March 15, we will sponsor a 1-day training course, "Drafting Effective Federal Legislation and Amendments."
This spring, we will publish a new book, "Legislative Drafter's Deskbook: A Practical Guide," by Tobias A. Dorsey, Contributing Author: Clint Brass.
Technorati Tags: drafting legislation, legislative drafting, bill drafting, legislative drafter
January 18, 2006 07:37 AM Link Research Comments (0)
NASA map of space-related sights in DC-Baltimore
Rick Lesaar of Crabtree + Company sent us this link to an interactive map
of 21 venues in and around Washington, DC, Baltimore, and Annapolis all related to outer-space. Includes several most people have never heard of (the Moon rock at the National Cathedral, the space race murals at the Russian Cultural Center, etc.).
Click this link: http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/spacemaps/NASA_space_map.html. Then select either Washington, DC Area or Baltimore-Washington, DC Area.
Thanks Rick!
January 17, 2006 04:37 PM Link Living in DC Comments (0)
"Pizza's Next Act"
One of the nation's favorite junk foods is getting a makeover. Thanks to Atkins-style diets, gourmet chefs whose toppings extend as far as sashimi and heavy discounting by the big chains, the independent establishments that account for the majority of pizzerias have been getting squeezed for years. In response, many new places are dedicating themselves to the basics. Instead of stuffed crusts and Thai seasonings, the idea is to focus on pure ingredients: the dough, the cheese, the sauce.
"Pizza's Next Act: Buffeted by low-carb diets and chains that serve pineapple-topped pies, the local pizzerias that still dominate the business are fighting back -- focusing on basics like crust and cheese. Our look at the country's hottest joints," by Katy McLaughlin, The Wall Street Journal, January 14, 2006
According to a sidebar (1-page pdf) accompanying this article, the "pizza places that are getting buzz ["Hot"], as well as highly regarded but more traditional spots ["Classic"]" in New York and Washington, DC are
NYC
- NYC Hot: Pinch-Pizza by the Inch: "Crispy crust, subtle toppings ...unconventional by-the-inch pricing strategy inspired by the way pizza is sold in Uruguay." ... slice says "the pizza was good, and it was fun to get a long, sub sandwich–like slice. The crust was very thin, which is just how I like it. ... One of the few things we found to complain about was the convoluted ordering scheme. The price seems pretty inexpensive until you start adding various toppings willy-nilly." ... gave it a "Six-Slice rating out of a possible eight." ... web site, 416 Park Ave South, between 28th and 29th Streets, 212-686-5222 [Menupages | NY Post | NY Metro | openlist | Citysearch]
- NYC Classic: Lombardi's: "The real deal -- ultrathin-crust pizza made in the 100-year-old coal-fired oven" ... slice's take: "For the purists among us, sadly, Lombardi's has become another frayed page in Gotham's gastronomic history book. As loyal Slice readers know, Lombardi's is the elder statesman of New York pizza. Founded by Gennaro Lombardi nearly one hundred years ago, this is America's original pizzeria (even if it is a few doors down from the patriarch's famed beginnings). ... the pies at the Little Italy pizzeria were uneven." ... 32 Spring Street, between Mott and Mulberry Streets, 212-941-7994 [MenuPages | NYT | NY Metro | openlist | Gayot | Citysearch]
DC
Although we're not pizza experts (see slice) ... Chug made hand-tossed pizzas and "little hats" (a calzone) for 2 years during high school in a pizza place that made everything from scratch ... we wonder why Pizzeria Paradiso wasn't on this list ...- DC Hot: 2 Amys: "Made with sea salt, Italian plum tomatoes and extra-virgin olive oil. Certified as authentic Neapolitan pizza by the Verace Pizza Napoletanna Association." ... D.C. Foodies says "Two Amys is hands-down, the most wonderful place in DC to get gourmet pizza." ... web site, 3715 Macomb Street NW, 202-885-5700 [Washingtonian | WaPo | NYT | City Paper | food-plan | Don Rockwell | openlist | Gayot]
- DC Classic: Ledo Pizza & Pasta: "A local taste. ... pastry style crust, sweet sauce and smoked provolone - and no mozzarella, ever." ... why didn't they list Pizzeria Paradiso, which has been around for more than a decade, or even Bertucci's? ... web site, 1721 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 202-342-0091 [City Paper | openlist | Citysearch | Gayot]
- Pizzeria Paradiso ... Thomas Head: "Pizzeria Paradiso is remarkable for its consistency." ... 2 locations: 2029 P Street NW, 202-223-1245 and 3282 M Street NW, 202-337-1245 [Washingtonian | City Paper | WaPo | openlist | Gayot]
- Bertucci's: "certified by Verace Pizza Napoletana as serving authentic Neapolitan pizza." ... web site, various locations (pdf), [Washingtonian | openlist | City Paper | Citysearch]
January 16, 2006 08:37 AM Link Dining Comments (1)
CRS reports about presidential nominations
On October 12, 2005, we posted several CRS reports about presidential nominations.
We're going to keep this at the top for a few weeks, which is why it is dated January 15, 2006.
The Congressional Deskbook discusses presidential appointments and the confirmation process: Sec.10.80, Congress and the Executive: Appointments; Sec. 10.81, Confirmation Procedure; and Sec. 10.121, Nominations to Federal Courts.
"The Alito Nomination: First Day Jitters And Seconded Arguments, Half-Cocked Theories And Full-Bore Rants," The Blogometer, January 10, 2006. Good blog roundup.
From FactCheck.org (Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania)
- "Anti-Alito Ad Uses Selective Quotes," January 10, 2006
- "Does Alito Pretend To Be A Moderate?," January 9, 2006
- "Dueling Alito Ads," January 5, 2006
"Frist begins pre-emptive strategy on Alito vote: Says he’s prepared to block Democrats if they seek to filibuster nominee," AP on MSNBC, December 11, 2005
January 15, 2006 11:37 AM Link Research Comments (0)
How not to get sick on an airplane
According to an ABC News story, the way to avoid getting sick on an airplane is to wrap yourself in a sterilized bubble before boarding ... or don't fly.
Actually, some of the advice is just as impractical: don't sit within 5 rows of anyone sneezing or 3 rows of anyone coughing.
Other suggestions are a bit more under your control: Don't use the lavatory. Don't use the tray table. Use a hand sanitizer. Use a surgical mask. Turn the overhead air on.
The longer you're on a packed airplane, the greater the chance you'll walk off sick.A lot of travelers blame stale recycled air. But scientists say that's not the problem. Most larger planes now have special systems that filter out germs and let some outside air in.
"The problem is actually your [fellow] passengers that are seated in proximity to you," said Dr. Philip M. Tierno, Jr., director of clinical microbiology and diagnostic immunology at New York University Medical Center. "The closer the passengers are to you the worse it is for you if they have some sort of illness like a simple cold."
"Fliers Must Dodge Hidden Germs: Where Are the Germ Hotspots? Hint: Avoid the Restroom," ABC News, January 14, 2006
The longer you live, the greater your chance of getting sick...
See "Products that promise to keep you healthy on planes," by Conor Dougherty, The Wall Street Journal, January 7, 2006
January 15, 2006 08:27 AM Link Travel Comments (0)
This Week in DC Reviews - January 13, 2006
Periodically, we will publish This Week in DC Reviews, a roundup of reviews of DC-area restaurants, with quick links to DC-area restaurant reviews and mentions from the previous seven days in blogs, magazines, and newspapers.
For a roundup of New York City restaurant reviews from NYC food bloggers and media, see This Week in NYC Reviews at A Guy In New York.
- Tom Sietsema gave 1.5 stars to Fahrenheit: "bites of tuna banded in seaweed and served as tempura with a salad of pickled ginger are light and luscious." ... "Roasted prawns, for instance, are chokingly salty, rest on a bed of oddly crunchy red lentils and show no signs of the chili vinaigrette promised in the menu. Pumpkin risotto lacks any evidence of the vegetable." ... "It doesn't help that the service is inconsistent." ... 3100 South Street NW, 202-912-4110 [Washingtonian | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist] ... 2 stars to Evening Star Cafe: it's "the culinary equivalent of a pat on the back, a quick hug, a friendly handshake." ... "Piping hot spring rolls filled with shredded duck and presented with a not-too-sweet peanut dip make a nice introduction" ... "mussels in a creamy coconut milk broth, whose richness is cut with pickled ginger, turns out to be one of those dishes that is as good for its sauce as for its star." ... web site, 2000 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 703-549-5051 [Washingtonian | City Paper | openlist] ... and 2 stars to Cafe de Paris ... likes the "martini happy hour fueled with live jazz" and "tender and herby snails ... the crisp duck leg confit that follows the appetizer [is] flanked by perfect companions: garlicky slices of sauteed potato and winy mush-rooms." ... web site, 8808 Centre Park Drive, Columbia, MD, 410-997-3560 [Citysearch ]
- Alexandra Greeley declares that The French Quarter Cafe is "worth a trek to Germantown from downtown Washington" ... (previous review: Eve Zibart (TWIR, December 9, 2005)) ... 19847-N Century Blvd., Germantown, MD, 301-515-7693 [food-plan]
- a capitol life warns, "Avoid the garden rolls, they are premade and just sit on a tray at room temperature, they have a slightly wilted doggy taste." at Pho Sai Gon ... the pho "tasted rich and made with lots of bones. The portion of meat was small and the basil offered as a topping was small and a little limp." ... 736 6th Street NW, 202-347- 3582 [menupix]
- Chris Wilson went to Buck’s Fishing and Camping to eat ... and take pictures of the food, ala D.C. Foodies (TWIR, January 6, 2006)) ... didn't mention receiving any nasty letters from lawyers ... but then we also didn't see any photos published with the story ...
- dcfud took a "DC Culinary Tour" ... Full Kee: "A few months ago it was here that I enjoyed the best bowl of noodles with brisket that I've ever had. This time I was disappointed with the Pan Fried Noodles w/ Shrimp ($8) I ordered, which were largely tasteless and cool." ... 509 H Street NW, 202-371-2233 [Washingtonian | The Hill | NYT | City Paper | openlist | Gayot] ... Circle Bistro ... "the Classic Tartare of Hereford Beef ($12), served with a paper cone of pomme frites [was] very good" ... web site, 1 Washington Circle NW, 202-293-5390 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Gayot] ... U-topia: the mussells in "Lemon Caper Cream sauce [were] complex, a bit sweet, and completely worth the untold hours on the treadmill it will take to make it (and the two pieces of bread that soaked it up) go away" ... web site, 1418 U Street NW, 202-483-7669 [WaPo | City Paper] ... Amsterdam Falafel: "Each falafel is crunchy on the outside and surprisingly flavorful inside." ... web site, 2425 18th Street NW, 202-234-1969 [Washingtonian | menupix | WaPo | City Paper | openlist]
- Le Cuvee Americain: The American Blend had "two excellently prepared seafood dishes" for lunch, prix fixe during Restaurant Week at $20.06, at Kinkead's ... "grilled squid with creamy polenta and tomato fondue ... grilled to just the perfect degree of doneness" ... for the main course had "the brioche-crusted cod with artichoke puree and garlic mashed potatoes [which] was divine" ... web site, 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 202-296-7700, [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Citysearch | Gayot] ... and also had dinner at Galileo ... "the risotto alla pilota con costine di maiale al forno, a creamy rice risotto with tiny pieces of fresh salami and cabbage in it, scented with black truffle oil, and with a little crispy, roasted pork rib on top [was] exquisite." ... "If you like high end Italian food in a formal setting, this is the perfect place." ... web site, 1110 21st Street NW, 202-293-7191 [Washingtonian | NYT | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Citysearch | Gayot]
- Mary Hager writes about Mediterranean Breeze: "the six-month-old restaurant is casual, the food is hearty, well-prepared and affordable, and the service is efficient and friendly." ... portions are large ... 781 Station Street, Herndon, VA, 703-435-4495 ...and says Capitol Hill Tandoor and Grill "might be the least pretentious restaurant in Washington. But if you're looking for good quality Indian food for a very reasonable price, it's the perfect place" ... "Tandoori chicken is a specialty" ... "The lamb Korma Kashmiri ($12.95) is sensational, a dish of lamb in an almond sauce with dried fruits and Indian spices" ... web site, 419 8th Street SE, 202-547-3233 [City Paper | menupix | openlist]
Did we miss your favorite DC restaurant review?
Let us know: hobnobblog -at- gmail.com ... we're especially interested in hearing from DC bloggers ...
Technorati Tags: washington, dc, washington-dc, restaurants, restaurant reviews, this week in reviews, week in reviews
January 13, 2006 05:07 PM Link Dining Comments (0)
"Survey Highlights Employees' Hankering for Training"
Most federal employees like their jobs and even more are motivated by pride in their work, but almost half would like additional training to improve their job performance, according to preliminary results of a survey by the Merit Systems Protection Board.
Nearly 37,000 full-time government employees from 24 agencies participated in the survey, conducted last year. A summary of the findings appears in this month's Issues of Merit newsletter, published by the board's office of policy and evaluation, headed by Steve Nelson.
"Survey Highlights Employees' Hankering for Training," by Stephen Barr, The Washington Post, January 12, 2006
"Merit Principles Survey 2005: The Results Are In," Issues of Merit, MSPB, January 2006
TheCapitol.Net offers training about how Congress works, how to communicate more effectively, how to work with the media, and more.
January 12, 2006 04:47 PM Link Training Comments (0)
CRS Reports on Terrorism
Here's an update to a previous post, "CRS Reports on Terrorism," November 1, 2005
- "Presidential Authority to Conduct Warrantless Electronic Surveillance to Gather Foreign Intelligence Information," by Elizabeth Bazan and Jennifer Elsea, CRS Memorandum, January 5, 2006 (44-page pdf )
- "Detainees at Guantanamo Bay," by Jennifer Elsea, RS22173, July 20, 2005 (6-page pdf )
- "Libraries and the USA PATRIOT Act," by Charles Doyle, RS21441, July 6, 2005 (6-page pdf )
- "Border security: the role of the U.S. Border Patrol," by Blas Nunez-Neto, RL32562, May 10, 2005 (39-page pdf )
- "Border Security: Key Agencies and their Missions," by Blas Nunez-Neto, RS21899, May 9, 2005 (6-page pdf )
- "Bioterrorism countermeasure development: issues in patents and homeland security," by Wendy Schacht and John Thomas, RL32917, May 6, 2005 (24-page pdf )
- "Administrative subpoenas and national security letters in criminal and foreign intelligence investigations," by Charles Doyle, RL32880, April 15, 2005 (46-page pdf )
- "Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: an Overview of the Statutory Framework and Recent Judicial Decisions," by Elizabeth Bazan, RL30465, April 21, 2005 (91-page pdf )
- "Detention of American Citizens as Enemy Combatants," by Jennifer Elsea, RL31724, March 31, 2005 (61-page pdf )
- "Creating a National Framework for Cybersecurity: An Analysis of Issues and Options," by Eric Fischer, RL32777, February 22, 2005 (60-page pdf )
- "Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Programs: Issues for Congress," by Richard Best, Jr., RL32508, February 22, 2005 (30-page pdf )
- "Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: Selected Legislation from the 108th Congress," by Elizabeth Bazan, RL32608, January 11, 2005 (19-page pdf )
Some commentary on the January 5, 2006 CRS Memorandum
- "Report Questions Legal Basis for Bush's Spying Program," by Eric Lichtblau and Scott Shane, The New York Times, January 6, 2006
- "Report Rebuts Bush on Spying: Domestic Action's Legality Challenged," by Carol D. Leonnig, The Washington Post Staff, January 7, 2006
- "They'll Be OK if No One Reads the Report," from PowerLine, January 7, 2006
January 11, 2006 06:37 AM Link CRS Comments (0)
In the Loop's Name that Scandal contest
In the Loop is having a Name the Abramoff Scandal Contest ... deadline for entires, is midnight Jan. 18, 2006 ... "Names ending in -gate, while not automatically rejected, are frowned upon." ... see story for details (print version)
January 10, 2006 11:00 AM Link Humor Comments (0)
This Week in DC Reviews - January 6, 2006
Periodically, we will publish This Week in DC Reviews, a roundup of reviews of DC-area restaurants, with quick links to DC-area restaurant reviews and mentions from the previous seven days in blogs, magazines, and newspapers.
For a roundup of New York City restaurant reviews from NYC food bloggers and media, see This Week in NYC Reviews at A Guy In New York.
- WhiteTrashBBQ reports that "A stuck up chef at Buck's Fishing and Camping in Washington DC has threatened Jason at DC Foodies with a law suit for posting pictures of his dinner on his website." ... D.C. Foodies has removed the post in question, which we believe is unfortunate ... a restaurant that doesn't want its food reviewed or photos of its dishes published is a restaurant that doesn't want your business ...
- Tarting It Up also weighs in on D.C. Foodies experience at Buck's Fishing and Camping and has links to more commentary ... metrocurean also has a few comments...
- dcfud liked the tapas at Jaleo ... "Spinach with pine nuts: A surprise hit, there was just enough olive oil and sweet accent (raisins) to make this vegetable stand out." ... web site, 2250-A Crystal Drive, Crystal City, Arlington, VA, 703-413-8181 [Washingtonian | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Citysearch | Gayot] ... and said the iceberg wedge salad at Buck's Fishing and Camping "looked like a scene out of college, except with better plates: when you don't have anything but some lettuce, salad dressing, and cheese and bacon bits in your fridge, you pile them up on a plate and dig in. Why anyone would pay $8 for it is beyond me." ... we loved iceberg as a kid ... no more ... as Grace Slick and Jorma Kaukonen said in "Eat Starch Mom," "I don't care if there's chemicals in it, As long as my lettuce is crisp!" ...
- the kitchenette makes the case that the best macaroni and cheese in DC is at Florida Avenue Grill ... 1100 Florida Avenue NW, 202-265-1586 [Washingtonian | City Paper | openlist | Gayot]
- Alex MacLennan says standouts at Vegetate "include the Smokey Tomato Bisque (rich, nicely charred-tasting and hearty, with a tangle of fried tomato skin, concentric circles of sweet balsamic reduction, and a crisp, savory slice of bread) and Black-Eyed Pea Fritters, which were nutty and crisp, with a spicy jalapeño-mustard sauce." ... web site, 1414 9th Street NW, 202-232-4585 [City Paper | Don Rockwell]
- D.C. Foodies had lunch at Leopold's Kafe & Konditorei ... "lunch for two came to $70 after tip" ... the bratwurst "had a crunchy skin, with juicy meat in the center" ... and liked the gulyas (Hungarian Goulash) ..."made with tender chunks of beef in a tomato and paprika sauce, egg noodles and a dollop of sour cream." ... web site, 3315 Cady's Alley NW, 202-965-6005 [food-plan | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell]
- Mary Hager reports that the food at Woo Lae Oak is "stunning and, for the uninitiated, an easy introduction to Korean cooking." ... 8240 Leesburg Pike, (Tyson's Corner), Vienna, VA 703-827-7300 ... and likes Neisha Thai in Tenly ...the "food is great" but "Skip the Pad Thai noodles ($9.95) that are merely average" ... we agree with this poster on Chowhound ... web site, 4445 Wisconsin Avenue NW, 202-966-7088 [Washingtonian | City Paper | openlist ]
- Erin Hartigan had a nice roundup from last week ... "Erin's Food Finds of '05" ... Busboys and Poets "hits good food and great entertainment in one fell swoop" ... (previous review: a capitol life (TWIR, December 16, 2005)) ... web site, 2021 14th Street NW, 202-387-7638 [WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell ] ... Hank's Oyster Bar "consistently perfects seafood in a casual setting" ... 1624 Q Street NW, 202-462-4265 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | InTowner | Gayot] ... Acadiana "offers hearty food in a New Orleans-style dining room." ... (previous review: D.C. Foodies (TWIR, December 16, 2005)) ... web site, 901 New York Ave NW, 202-408-8848 [WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | Gayot] ... "The roof of Tabaq Bistro has become my favorite post-work meeting spot." ... (previous reviews: a capitol life (TWIR, November 25, 2005), dcist (TWIR, November 18, 2005)) ... web site, 1336 U Street NW, 202-265-0965 [WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell] ... "Every meal that I enjoy at Restaurant Eve takes my breath away." ... web site, 110 South Pitt Street, Alexandria, VA, 703-706-0450 [Washingtonian | food-plan | City Paper | Don Rockwell | Gayot] ... "My first experience with the garlicky goodness at Lebanese Taverna warrants a shout-out." ...we second her shout out for Lebanese Taverna ... web site, various locations, including 2641 Connecticut Avenue NW, 202-265-8681 [Washingtonian | WaPo | The Economist | City Paper | openlist | Gayot]
- dcchefsmagazine features Eric Ziebold of CityZen ...
- A Blog Mainly About Food says "the Triancria Sausage sandwich" at Breadline "was phenomenal. I’m a sandwich lover, and I can say with conviction I do not think I’ve had a better sandwich." ... web site, 1751 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, 202-822-8900 [WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell | openlist | Gayot]
Did we miss your favorite DC restaurant review?
Let us know: hobnobblog -at- gmail.com ... we're especially interested in hearing from DC bloggers ...
Technorati Tags: washington, dc, washington-dc, restaurants, restaurant reviews, this week in reviews, week in reviews
January 6, 2006 10:37 AM Link Dining Comments (0) TrackBacks (6)
Back up your data ....
When Linda Cerniglia went back to school, it took her almost seven years to get through all the prerequisites, the labs, the research. And it took a thief just moments to grab her purse, with the only copy of her master's thesis stored on a tiny jump drive inside.
For anyone who's ever obsessed about a project but forgotten to back up the data, watched a computer screen fizzle just before a deadline or left crucial documents in a cab -- here is a story about backing up, and moving forward.
It's about how Cerniglia almost went crazy, then took a deep breath and thought like a crook, acted like a cop and ended up in a big trash bin -- all in pursuit of her master's degree.
"Student Finds a Stolen Thesis by Thinking Like a Thief," by Susan Kinzie, The Washington Post, December 22, 2005
January 4, 2006 07:17 AM Link Technology Comments (0)
You Have Two Cows ...
We recently added to our "You have two cows. The government...." page, by adding a slew of international definitions, most from the Arab world by way of "How Arabs deal with cows," by Mahmood Al-Yousif, December 29, 2005
Some samples from our "Two Cows page:
BUREAUCRACY: You have two cows. At first the government regulates what you can feed them and when you can milk them. Then it pays you not to milk them. Then it takes both, shoots one, milks the other and pours the milk down the drain. Then it requires you to fill out forms accounting for the missing cows.
PLATONISM: You have a reflection of two perfect cows. Their milk tastes like water. You look for two real cows to milk.
SOCRATIC METHODISM: How many cows do I have? Why?
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January 3, 2006 06:07 PM Link Humor ~ You Have 2 Cows Comments (0)