Maddow

This weekend, author and MSNBC host Rachel Maddow took the podium to discuss her new book Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power. To begin the night, Maddow read a short excerpt proving that her published prose is every bit as witty, informative, and accessible as her prime time anchoring of The Rachel Maddow Show. Though she's arguably one of the most left-leaning journalists in American media, Maddow describes her book as bipartisan--not about Republican issues or Democratic issues--but about American issues; that is, how America moved from being a country hesitant to go to war to waging multiple wars, and how we evolved from a nation in which everyone contributed their part to the war effort to an era when war carries on indefinitely with little or no bearing on the every day lives of civilian families, while the brunt of the cost is on military families.

The rest of the evening, Maddow engaged in a lengthy Q&A session with the audience, before signing books and talking to fans. She was as she appears on screen, brilliant, funny, self-deprecating, and always very gracious. The event was sponsored by Politics and Prose Bookstore and the 6th and I Synagogue, a partnership that regularly brings writers, journalists, and political leaders to engage with the public in intellectual discourse.

Georgetown Sidestreets

Georgetown's just prettier than the rest of DC. There. I said it.

Compelling Street Art

Inquisitive Street Art

The Clinton Global Initiative

This past weekend, President Clinton, along with a host of other luminaries and leaders (pictures to follow) were on the campus of The George Washington University for the Clinton Global Initiative, an organization aimed at promoting leadership, social consciousness, community service, sustainability, and global thinking among young people.

Mocha and Motorcade

When you live in DC, you have to learn to deal with the traffic, which is almost always backed up because of the Presidential motorcade.  Even if you're not on the street, but tucked away working in a charming, funky coffee shop, the buzz of six motorcycle cops followed by 12 black vehicles, an ambulance, and at least two police cars is enough to distract you from your book. You know you've lived here for a while if you know who's in the cars by the number of motorcycles riding out front. People in DC like to be nonchalant about it, or even perpetually grumpy--both dispositions are cool in DC.  But the truth is, living in a city where the President of the United States buzzes on a regular basis, is more of a rush than a double espresso.

The shot is a bit blurry because it's a still from the video below.  fyi, the President usually travels in the second car. 

 
                                        

To Spring!

It's the weekend! And, even better, it's spring break! I only have a couple of days off so I'm heading down south to visit my family.  I'll be gone for a few days, but until then, a toast to spring! This is a cajun themed Jean Daley from Bayou on Pennsylvania Ave. in Foggy Bottom.  It's sweet tea vodka, lemonade, and Razzmatazz. Cheers!