Distriction: Head's Up

Wisdom in the weirdest places -- and the most apropos times

... it made my week nonetheless

watch this space: the cynic in me has to point out the riot control/opiate-of-the-masses angle of inspirational adverts on the ever-"moving-momentarily" Metro car -- points for PR and practicality

Distriction: Day Tripper Deluge

No better time or place to people watch than right now in DC ...


Watch this space: Hold the phone, we may not need Cheney's cardiologist just yet; DC is showing signs of life again

Distriction: It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ...

... and the flurry of finger pointing a la British investigative journalism puts a possible smudge on the as-of-yet snow white reputation of the second daughter, Ashley Biden -- but more so on her father, "Can-I-call-you-Joe" Biden


Biden -- Mr. that is -- is an adamant supporter of the anti-drug campaign, specifically -- you guessed it -- the trafficking of cocaine from Columbia

Since becoming a senator for Delaware in 1973, Mr Biden has pushed for harder penalties for cocaine possession and trafficking and last year sponsored a new bill aimed at curbing the smuggling of Colombian cocaine into the US in submarines.

Say it ain't so Joe! even if it is so joe, there's worse things she could do ... her last name could be Dupre

In related news: sports

British print media: 2; Young American public figures: 0
Disabled list: Michael Phelps, Ashley Biden

American print media: we lost count; British public figures: 0
Disabled list: Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, Kate Moss, Pete Doherty, Russell Brand, etc.

Distriction: Springing back from cy-bernating slumber

This weekend welcomed the Cherry Blossom Festival, DC's cultural introduction to Spring -- and the perfect way to wake from a late winter hibernation from the digital domain.


A brief greeting after my semi-extended stint away from the blogosphere. I took some time to rest and refuel my creative reserves -- similar to a bear's hibernation for the digital age, more tech and less time.


So, I'm back now: like Bipartisanship a la Britney ...



black ...



babies ...


Bush (W.) -- a la Barack ...


the sound of dot-com bubbles bursting ...


and dot-com bubbles broadening ...



Scientology -- a la Palin's people ...


bracketology ...


and those beautiful cherry blossoms.


A week (end) in review -- in case you missed it

Distriction: A is for American -- all day

To the victors go the spoils ... no matter how unpredictably fleeting

watch this space: while you can

Distriction: We're Dancin'

To Justice's request, "Do the D.A.N.C.E.; 1,2,3,4,5" DC's American University basketball takes one from their hometown's Commander and says "Yes We Can."


Watch this space: it's my alma mater

Distriction: Ba-sham-rack O'bama

The Hill was alive with the sound of Gaelic today -- and the green garb to boot -- as President O'Bama welcomed his "brother from another mother" -- land, Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen


It's all fun and festive until the water is flowing from your faucet ...


Green might be having the best day ever: White House fountain, Ba-sham-rack's tie, Dow arrows, AIG Exec's pockets, sprouting soon-to-be-Springtime grass ... fitting and fresh.

Distriction: DC HIV/AIDS Rates Surpass West Africa

Because it's not just a third-world problem, it's a problem on Third and Maryland Ave too


More imperative -- but innately intertwined -- with the "Anti-Journalism" movement is the need to debunk the (mediated) HIV/AIDS mythologies within the U.S. For example: toting Africa as the world's AIDS haven. HIV/AIDS -- like hunger, like poverty, like inadequate education -- does not stop at our doorstep. The sooner we come to terms with social pandemics -- and take accountability and ownership of them as our own -- the sooner we can solve the problem.

As the Obama Administration aims to reconnect the U.S. with our international partners, it is key that we as Americans look -- beyond politics, to people -- at shared experiences between ourselves and our fellow global citizens -- flaws and all.

Hopefully, this sparks an expansion initiative for the Project Red -- who's brilliant campaign stimulates charity, capitalism, and consumption ... all in one! The brand's mission to "fight AIDS in Africa," would provide worlds of support -- literally -- to fight the AIDS within the U.S. as well. Even a campaign to establish sub-projects -- country/region specific extensions within the larger "Project Red" umbrella -- would present the gravity in sheer breadth of the social crisis, but more so the solidarity behind the solution.



Watch this space

Distriction: Coming coming ... back back ... to DC DC

Short stint in Atlanta sadly coming to a close, but we all knew the return was imminent ...



While I'm Mid-Air, a little something to get the DC mode going for the rest of you: Distriction: City Soul

See you on the other side.

Mode: on

Distriction: March 6th at the Smithsonian

So the Smithsonian is free. Spring is coming. Southerners prefer crunk, but if you're in the District it's about high time to get some culture in your system.

I'll be leaving DC for a quick stint, but worry not there will be plenty of other Districtions to keep you engaged ... and enlightened

I suggest seeing the "Road to Freedom" Civil Rights Movement Photograph Exhibit this weekend at the Ripley Center before it closes on Monday ... great pieces and quite timely -- two thumbs fresh.

And yes, perusing art galleries is a great way to make you feel clever ...

Watch this space: it's about to March Off Washington

Distriction: Even Gwen Stefani said she couldn't doubt DC

yes. they're back like kriss kross denim.

No Doubt. 10$ Lawn Seats. Tickets on Sale: tomorrow March 7 @ 9am. Show: June 14 @ 7pm. Nissan Pavillion. That is all.

Watch this space: and the show

Distriction: March 2nd on the Metro

DC makes for great distractions during the day. If an WMATA official calls you out -- call their bluff.


I was walking along the Shady Grove platform at the Metro Center stop. Minding my own business -- kind of -- listening to my iPod and a Metro attendant stopped me. She said "I'm sorry Miss but you have to take your headphones out. iPods aren't allowed in the Metro stations anymore. Yeah. People were turning their songs up too loud."

I politely took out my headphones -- keeping eye contact -- but held them at shoulder height to let her know my ears would only be empty temporarily. Assuming she was done, I took a breath, but before I could say "No. You aren't allowed in the Metro," she continued, "I'm just playing. You looked too calm so I had to mess with you."

In my mind I already tried her -- but alas, she took the wind out of my sails. I wouldn't have minded a scene. It was all fun and games -- unfortunately for my mischievous half.

photo credit: ThisIsReality