Open for Business!

I know you see the Capitol on here every day, but considering we were really close to shuttering the doors there for a little while, I thought a celebratory photo was in order. The other good news--I, too, am back in business. With my looming deadlines pushed back for a while, I can get back to focusing on what's really important, i.e. keeping District Daily Photo from becoming District Sporadic Photo.

Rah-Rah-Ahah-Ah.

Why wouldn't she be on my blog? She's everywhere else. Frankly, I'm surprised she's not on your blog.

I came across the picture the other night while reorganizing my photo archive. Admittedly, it's a little old now. I took it in front of the Capitol at the National Equality March in October of '09, but it's particularly topical because DC is all a-frenzy with the return of Gaga. Tickets to next Thursday's sold out show at the Verizon Center are still available on Stub Hub for anywhere from $210 to $8225.00 per ticket. No, that's not a typo.

On the Inside

I love taking pictures of the US Capitol Building. It's so intricately detailed that it's gorgeous in any lighting. It was a marvel of modern architecture and, of course, still is an icon in international politics. It also helps that it's conveniently located.

The inside of the massive dome is just as stunning. In the center of the great rotunda is "The Apotheosis of Washington," which is literally about the deification of George Washington, the first President of the United States. I think the fresco epitomizes the intersection between Enlightenment ideals and the government, a tradition that is often overlooked by those that argue for Christianity as the basis of government. Right there, in the very core of our democracy, is a symbolic image of pagan idolatry.

District Nightly Photo

Welcome to District Daily Photo! What could be more appropriate for the inaugural post than the US Capitol Building?