Saturday, January 17, 2009

Prostitution Free zones, coolness factor, and visits to Ben's?

What is going on this town? It's like I live in the same apartment but the city that I live in moved.

I saw on Huffington Post this morning that there will be prostitution free zones for the inauguration. One of my first memories of living in the district is driving up New York Ave and being in complete aww of the pimps in bright purple suites with really big hats and being able to see mumblemumblemuble of the prostitutions walking down the street. Is it even possible for DC to have prostitute free zones? Does the congressional staff know about this? I'm a little confused as to how this could possibly work out.

Then I read this article.

Will there no longer be Republican 23 year old boys at Wonderland? There are basic moments that exist living in the district. You're dancing to some good music, drinking some mimosa on the rocks in a pint glass, and you see a hot hipster boy. You make your friends walk over with you and you start chatting only to learn the hot hipster is a super conservative republican from the farmlands of ND, PA, or MN. You're shocked for a moment and then politely change the subject. But 23 year boys usually prefer to talk about bullshit for shock value, so you just keep dancing and order another mimosa on the rocks in a pint glass.

Did Bush ever visit Ben's Chili Bowl? Did you know that Mayor Fenty owned Fleet Feet? Are we going to get more bike lanes? Are we going to get statehood?

Now that the cool president is in town will H & M start stocking the stores with the clothes they usually only sell in NYC or Amsterdam or Vienna. (seriously that's where they stock the good shit)

Hmm . . . I'm really hoping to move out the district in the next several months, but this whole 'cool' things people keep talking about makes me want to hold off for a second. But DC usually brings disappointment so I won't be holding my breath for very long.

Also, read this article on BPA that was in one of my favorite magazines.

Happy Inauguration!
Renee

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Whooaaa!

I'm in Florida visiting family. My sister and I just ate dinner and are watching tv. Since I haven't owned a tv since college, I'm completely mesmerized by anything on the little box with moving images. Did you know you could watch half a dozen People Court-esque shows throughout the day? I wonder if my lack of a tv has anything to do with my obsession with the periodic table. Interesting.

Anyways, we are watching this show called Weird, True, and Freaky. They are showing GIANT animals. A snake that is almost 50 feet long and 1,000 pounds. 30 pounds bunny rabbits. A giant squid (obvi)that could grow up to 46 feet stretched out. A Bovine that is over 6 feet tall. They even showed this giant poisonous frog that when you squeeze it gross orange poisonous puss comes out of its skin. oh my goodness!

Now Animal Planet is showing videos of dangerous animal attacks. Sharks, black marlins, and crazy eels.

Whoooaaaa! Animal Planet is super wild!

Maybe that doesn't have to do with toxic chemicals or environmental justice, but damn our planet has some crazy things going on it nonetheless even without stupid human tricks.

Renee

Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Three Cheers to the Happy Holidays Being Over!

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Now let's get on with it already. If you're like me you are probably really excited all that holiday fuss is over. Back to real life. Not fitting into your favorite jeans anymore, trying to match those lovely new shirts your grandmother gave you with the rest of your wardrobe and finally starting all those books you meant to read last year.

Also, if you are like me you are pretty obsessed with understanding the historical and societial significance of the periodic table and will really enjoy this great new book I recently discovered. Good Germs, Bad Germs by Jessica Synder Sachs. It goes into painstaking detail about the discovery of intestinal microflora, mutated strains of strep bacteria and much much more. I'm completely fascinated! I often squeal of excitement while reading it on the train. DC metro passangers have not been amused by my enthusiasm, let me tell you. I almost reached over to a uptight hill lobbyist with the snobby expression on his face and read him this thoughtful poem about body microflora:

A Very Happy New Year
to all for whom my ectoderm
is as Middle-Earth to me.

For creatures your size I offer
a free choice of habitat,
so settle yourselves in the zone
that suits you best, in the pools
of my pores or the tropical forests
of arm-pit and crotch,
in the deserts of my fore-arms,
or the cool woods of my scalp

Build colonies: I will supply
adequate warmth and moisture,
on condition you never
do me annoy with your presence,
but behave as good guests should,
not rioting into acne
or athlete's foot or a boil

WOW! W.H. Auden you are one poetic man of science!

Can you believe Scientific American magazine has not reprinted that thing of beauty every year since the story that inspired it was first published in 1969? Editors you have some work to do!!

But in all seriousness it really is a fascinating book and does go into some of the important historical moments in history and explains why we now have superbugs that are completely resistant to antibiotic. I haven't finished it yet, but it would be interesting to understand the cost benefit of pharmacuetical companies continuing to push the use of antibiotics that bacteria develop resistances to rather quickly thus making the entire R & D process, advertising, and drug pusher (i mean pharma reps) salaries a big ol' waste of money AND people still get sick.

The book also discusses why ingridents in cleaning products are actually making us sick. The bacteria we try to rid by using antibacterial gels/soaps are building up tolerances that then we can't kill when their cousins put us into the hospitals.

So . . . now that real life is back, you should take a gander.

Happy non-Holidays!
Renee