Sabri Ben-Achour sat down with several young people with a program called "New Story Leadership for the Middle East" to see how their summer of living, working and just plain hanging out together went down.

The scientists are with the Smithsonian Institution and their work ranges from studying climate and meteorites, to researching the very origin of the universe. And even though they're back in D.C. THIS summer... as Andrew Hiller reports, the memory of their trip continues to keep them cool.

If you believe in the magic of the unexpected chord change - and that a 3-minute pop song can be a vehicle for transcendence - you need to know the three songwriters joining us for this week's in-studio performance.

Edward O'Connell, Scott McKnight and Karl Straub perform along with drummer extraordinaire, Jonathan Babu. The team will play songs from 'Our Little Secret.'

Liam Callanan is the author of the novels The Cloud Atlas and All Saints.

• To recap today's developments from the investigation of Discovery hostage-taker James Jay Lee: Lee was only armed with starter pistols, but the explosives he had in his possession could have been deadly. Police searched Jay's residence in Wheaton today, and found several more explosive devices, which they safely detonated. Authorities are still searching for a vehicle Lee drove before going to the Discovery building yesterday. Finally, pedestrian access to the streets around the building was reopened around 11 this morning.
• The District's budget is now in the red by $34 million, after Congress reduced the amount of money allocated to the city for Federal Medicaid Assistance Percentage funding. Basically, this means that the Mayor and the Council will need to meet in October to re-balance the budget. Oh, that should be fun.
• Alan Suderman has the low-down on the total and utter fustercluck that will be the special election for Kwame Brown's At-Large Council seat. What we learned: every single person in the District of Columbia who has ever wanted to hold office in this town will be running in that election.
• The Virginia DMV is back online and will extend their hours, remaining open on Sunday and Labor Day to help alleviate the backlog.
• TBD tries to figure out who "broke" the Discovery gunman story on Twitter -- DCist staff photographer James Calder was apparently one of the first.
• Here comes Earl! You might not be able to go in the water in Ocean City, but those of us who are sticking around this weekend will be sitting mighty pretty.
• Mr. Megaphone was back outside the Washington Post today, rambling about the editorial board again.

The Tillman Story

In 2002, Pat Tillman made headlines when he turned down millions of dollars to continue as a highly regarded NFL linebacker in order to enlist in the Army. Two years later, he was killed in Afghanistan. What followed was perhaps the most shocking, crass, and disrespectful display of U.S. government-sponsored propagandizing to occur in recent memory. Despite knowing nearly right off the bat that Tillman was killed by friendly fire -- by at best recklessness and at worst intent (the inconclusive facts of the investigation remain in dispute) -- the Army declared his death the result of enemy fire and arranged for posthumous medals and a full military memorial, despite Tillman's family's insistence that it's not what he would have wanted. And that was before they discovered that the Army's whole story was a lie.

Two books have since been released exploring who Tillman was, and investigating what really happened: one by his mother, and the other by Into the Wild auther Jon Krakauer. Amir Bar-Lev's new documentary continues to shine a light on the whole sordid affair, using interviews with Tillman's family to examine the character of a professional athlete who defied stereotype and the swirling mess of official documents, memos, and investigations to paint the picture of what really happened. It might never be known precisely what happened in the Afghan valley where Tillman was shot three times in the head by a fellow soldier, but the film aims to at least sort out what happened in the days, weeks, and months that followed in an angry indictment of the Army's conduct.

View the trailer.
Opens tomorrow at E Street Cinema.

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The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg

As the National Gallery of Art's exhibition of the photographs of Allen Ginsberg draws to a close, the museum is also screening a documentary made as the poet's life was doing the same. Jerry Aronson's biographical documentary on Ginsberg seeks to be all-encompassing, looking at the Beat legend's life via interviews with friends and admirers, from his youth through the time that the film was made, a few years before Ginsberg's eventual death in 1997. In the intervening years, Aronson has revisited the project, adding new interviews and updating the film to reflect his death as well.

View the trailer.
Friday at 1 p.m. and Monday at 1 and 3:30 p.m. Director Jerry Aronson will introduce the Monday screenings. Free.

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Roman Holiday

When Audrey Hepburn landed the role of Ann -- a European princess who goes native and flees her royal life in pursuit of a "normal" one, falling in love with an American reporter played by Gregory Peck along the way -- she wasn't yet a movie star. She's gained awards and acclaim for her portrayal of Gigi on Broadway, but it was her appearance in William Wyler's Roman Holiday that won her an Academy Award and made her a star. Roman Holiday would kick off a streak of performances in classic films that solidified Hepburn's status as "America's Sweetheart."

View the trailer.
Sunday evening at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. $6.

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Machete

Everyone knows that the movie gets made, then the trailer, but Robert Rodriguez has never really been one to follow convention in his career. His 2007 collaboration with Quentin Tarantino, the exploitation-homage double feature of Grindhouse, featured a number of fake trailers in the style that would have been shown during a real 70s grindhouse double shot. But the trailer Rodriguez created was for a movie he'd had it in his head he'd love to make since he first worked with tough-guy character actor Danny Trejo back in the early 90s. Grindhouse tanked at the box office, but Rodriguez still managed to get enough support to put the project together, and the result is a hilarious throwback to 70s vengeance cinema that is funny without ever becoming spoofy. It's also filled with ridiculous amounts of sex and gory violence, a surprisingly pointed political attack on tea party conservatives, and supporting turns from a wonderfully oddball mix of a cast, including Robert De Niro, Steven Seagal, Don Johnson, Cheech Marin, and Lindsay Lohan all willing to play it straight and allow themselves to be the butt of Rodriguez' jokes in support of Rodriguez' mad, over-the-top vision. Is it bad? Only in the sense that it means to be. It's also a hell of a lot of fun.

View the regular trailer, or, the much more gruesome, definitely NSFW red band trailer.
Opens tomorrow at a number of area theaters.

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Champions

This Czech film, which won a slew of awards both in and out of in its home country upon its release in 2004, is ostensibly a comedy. But one with a bleak, dark heart, looking at a group of small town Czechs who are anything but champions: depressed, unfulfilled, drunk, and delusional. The Czech victory over the Soviet Union in the 1969 World Hockey Championships serves as the backdrop, and a point of inspiration, in their sad lives. It's cold comfort, though, given than no matter what happens on the ice, it can't reverse the Soviets' invasion and occupation of their country the year before.

Wednesday at 8 p.m. at the Avalon.

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Also opening tomorrow are Centurion, Neil Marshall's bloody account of the Roman Empire's attempt to conquer northern Great Britain, and Mesrine: Public Enemy #1, the second part of Jean-François Richet's epic biopic on the notorious French criminal (we reviewed Part 1 last week). We'll have full-length reviews of each tomorrow, as they open at a number of area theaters. Anton Corbijn's The American, an understated thriller starring George Clooney opened on Wednesday this week; we reviewed it yesterday.

Obviously, I set out to try and verify the source's story. But that has proven to be an incredibly difficult task. Why? No one, aside from the individual I spoke with and the photographer who took these photographs on the scene that night, appears to have any record or knowledge of anything happening to this shelter that evening.

The Metropolitan Police Department has nothing on file regarding the incident -- no charges, no arrests, not even a report from the scene. (My attempts to reach individual officers in the Third District and PSA 303, where the incident took place, by both phone and email have not been responded to as of this posting.) This lack of information conflicts with the emailer's account: the source said that three police officers took his and the alleged perpetrator's statements, and one of those officers informed him that since he didn't witness the vandal actually swing the hammer, he couldn't make an arrest. Obviously, police were on the scene -- that crime scene tape didn't get there all by itself. Plus, a police cruiser is visible in one of the images, along with three officers.

Attempting another route, I moved on to the people who actually are responsible for maintaining bus shelters and whose vehicles service them. John Lisle, a spokesperson for DDOT -- the agency who is in charge of maintaining the bus shelters -- didn't have any additional information on the vandalism. (Lisle did note that "vandalism of the bus shelters is not unheard of," and said that he would look into the issue.) WMATA spokesperson Ron Holzer was also unaware of the vandalism when we contacted him early Wednesday morning, but did confirm that WMATA does not own the shelter, only the bus pole next to the shelter.

DCist always prides itself on being as journalistically sound as possible when we report stories like this. But at this point, it seems like completely unraveling this mystery is just beyond our grasp. Did you witness the scene on Tuesday night? If so, please send us an email at tips@dcist.com. Obviously, we'll keep our ears to the ground and update you when -- or should I say if -- we uncover more information.

There's another flip of a switch that causes more extended wonderment, though, and it's the one that operates Dr. Givings' (Eric Hissom) new device to treat women suffering from "hysteria," a nervous condition attributed to the buildup of excessive fluid in the womb. After a session with the good Doctor's buzzing electrical device, applied to the right area of the body, and the sudden "paroxysm" that results, these women are suddenly the picture of calm, rosy-cheeked good health.

All that is a whole lot of dancing around what everyone sitting in the audience knows: that there's nothing wrong with Dr. Givings' patients aside from being sexually and emotionally unfulfilled, stressed out with all that pent-up libido combined with the legion of other repressions that came with the close of the Victorian Age -- this is a world in which even the most oblique references to sex are cause for mortification, after all. Givings lays them down, gets them off, and they feel understandably refreshed.

The sad joke of it all is that it takes so long for it to occur to anyone on stage that what these women are experiencing is just normal sexual pleasure. Like the television series Mad Men, Ruhl's play is quite effective at exposing just how backwards social attitudes were in a bygone era, as well as making one laugh at ridiculous prejudices and misconceptions that really aren't so pleasant to think about.

The subtitle may be "the vibrator play," but in taking on late Victorian social mores, Ruhl makes targets of more than just the repression-induced stress those new machines "cure" in the operating theater. There is, for instance, the notion that a woman who can't breast-feed her child is less of a mother, articulated by Mrs. Givings (Katie deBuys) when she can't produce sufficient milk for their new baby. There is the related belief that morals might be passed through breast milk, and that the black wet nurse they hire might pass on the wrong things to their child.

Dr. Givings responds to this concern of his wife's by saying he'd "rather have a negro protestant than an Irish Catholic" nursing their child. Religious prejudices still hold sway even on an ostensibly non-spiritual man of science like the Doctor.

The "next room" of the title is the Doctor's operating theater, which is adjacent to the house's front sitting room. From that sitting room, Mrs. Givings can often hear the audible results of the "treatments" next door, an effect that is heightened by the fact that the set omits placing a physical wall between the two rooms. So when Mrs. Givings sits on the chaise lounge in the sitting room, she is situated right next to the bed in the theater where the orgasmic patients (who are not just female) receive their relief.

Much of the humor in the play centers around those treatments, administered primarily to Sabrina Daldry, a young wife so paralyzed by anxiety that her hands barely work and she can't endure bright light. As Mrs. Daldry, Kimberly Gilbert is called upon to writhe and moan in pleasure throughout the play; a task which she gamely performs with the vigor of Meg Ryan in the famous deli scene from When Harry Met Sally.

That particular joke does begin to get a little stale after a while. Two and a half hours is a little lengthy for a comedy, and by the fifth or sixth time she eagerly gets under the sheet on the table for a session, Ruhl has made her point. Luckily, the sight gag of Daldry's shocked orgasms isn't the only comedic trick Ruhl has up her sleeve. She relishes in throwing out double entendres and comically uncomfortable situations that sometimes make things play out like the classiest episode of Three's Company ever seen. Dr. Givings' cognitively dissonant tendency to tell dull stories while he holds a vibrator between a patient's legs is played for plenty of laughs, though none more when the story is about "stroking the cat."

Ruhl doesn't just poke fun, though. She's genuinely concerned for the unfulfilled lives of these characters, the emotional deadness of the era. Amid the laughs, there are epiphanies aplenty, some happy, some not so much. Not everyone gets out of this play with their problems solved and their hearts and minds opened, which tempers a magical, hopeful ending with just the right measure of tragedy.

Woolly Mammoth's production of In the Next Room, or the vibrator play runs through September 19. Tickets are available online.

Two-person bands tend to evoke images of spare songs, usually performed by gritty punk bands. Then an act like Connect the Dots comes along, creating soundscapes that sound like far more people are needed in their production: backing beats inspired by a combination of math rock and Afrobeat, and dominating melodies which play like an instrumental bag of surprises. Michael Coltun and Peter Tran play tight staccato guitar and bass lines that don't sound too far removed from other local experimental pop acts like Hume (with whom Tran has toured), but they also add in xylophones and other toys that squeak and squawk, lending a childlike energy to a sound that no mere beginner could ever achieve.

We talked to Coltun and Tran about playing in multiple bands, the genesis of their bizarre band name and the influence of musically-inclined parents.

Find them online: http://www.myspace.com/ctdotsmusic

How did the two of you meet each other?

Michael: We met each other in high school jazz band. I think Peter was in his senior year and I was in my freshman year.

How long ago was this?

Peter: I guess it’s coming on three years now.

I get the impression that you guys have been through multiple genres since you started playing together. What have some of your past incarnations sounded like?

Peter: We’ve played a lot of different stuff together. We’ve done a lot of jazz combos. Before Connect the Dots is what it is now. We did this thing where we have all the pedals that you probably see but we used them really differently. It was really boring.

So what do you think makes your current music all that much more special?

Michael: I think the fact that both Peter and I have grown musically and the fact that we played in different groups made us more aware of different genres and we’ve see more worldly music and combine in with more modern music like we’re doing now.

Where does the (La La Lala) come from that follows Connect the Dots in your band name?

Michael: It’s a Pee Wee Herman reference.

If your band websites are any indication, you’ve played a lot of DIY spaces and house shows. What do you think are the perks of playing those spaces?

Peter: It’s ten times more intimate and a lot more people come out. It’s also the fact that because we’re in an alternative space, we don’t have to be conventional with how we present ourselves. Like being on a stage and setting up a PA and speakers in one area. So, it’s kind of nice to experiment with what we can do. Two guys can be pretty versatile with surrounding people or playing off the stage and I really enjoy that aspect a lot compared to playing regular venues. It’s also nice with these alternative spaces that we don’t have to go out and sell these tickets or push people to come. A lot of these places already have built in crowds and we can play to a lot of people that we haven’t played to before.

You certainly seem to have the respect of other D.C. bands. Any you’ve particularly enjoyed seeing and playing with?

Michael: Peter plays with the group Hume who are really good. He just came back from on tour with them. Imperial China’s really cool, too.

Peter: I recently just heard a track that Laughing Man put out. They’re doing their new record and I think it’s going to sound really good.

Michael: Yeah, I heard a few tracks of theirs at Brandon’s space and it sounds really good.

Peter: Also the whole Sonic Circuits scene is pretty cool. The small noise scene that’s building up here with people like Janel & Anthony has been pretty cool.

Have you played any Sonic Circuits events before? It seems like you align with them pretty well.

Michael: I’ve played there with one of my groups. We’re working on an album, for, which Peter plays in now and both Peter and I have done more noisy-type, experimental Sonic Circuits type things.

Is that outfit Les Rhinoceros?

Michael: Yup.

What’s the difference in your approach for a Connect the Dots song versus a Les Rhinoceros song?

Michael: For Connect the Dots, we kind of go for something that we think the everyday person will enjoy listening to. As opposed to with Les Rhinoceros, it’s kind of more harsh. I guess you have to dig deeper into the music than with Connect the Dots. Peter and I also talked about Connect the Dots being really kid-friendly. In playing with toys and kind of that whole kid thing.

So the Pee Wee Herman reference is also appropriate considering your approach.

Peter: Yeah, it’s kind of our thing. It’s what we’ve been doing. Most of the bands we played with were always surprised at how young we were. And so, it kind of fits with the whole image. It’s not purposeful per se but it’s just kind of how it happened.

Have you gotten to tour much?

Peter: With Connect the Dots, we’ve pretty much stuck around the D.C. area. With Les Rhinoceros we did a tour. We went up to New York and everything around this time next year. Perhaps when we’re done recording this album for Les Rhinoceros we’re going to work on some stuff with Connect the Dots, writing new stuff and recording material. Hopefully we’ll put it out somewhere else, play outside this area. Which is why we cooled down playing shows in DC with Connect the Dots so that when we come out again, we’ll have a reason for people to see us.

Are you guys both still in school?

Michael: I just graduated high school, a year early, and I’m taking this year off and then going to college. And then Peter’s in college right now, in his third year.

Are you interested in pursuing music as an academic interest or would you rather play music but study something else?

Michael: Yeah, I definitely want to continue doing music and doing music in college. It’s what I want to go to school for as well as doing something else in case music doesn’t work out.

Peter: That’s really silly. Music’s always going to work out for you. But it’s good to be well-rounded. You’ll be fine. I’m actually not going to school for music right now. Still trying to figure it out. I’m applying to Pharmacy School and I’ll find out if I get in at the end of the year. If not, who knows. Maybe I’ll do music.

Michael: We’re always going to play music.

How many instruments do you guys play?

Michael:: I kind of fool around on whatever but I started out on piano and moved to cello then to bass.

Peter: I played violin when I was nine or ten and kept playing through high school but I picked up guitar during middle school and then kind of attached myself to it, but I’ll probably bring the violin out because people want to hear it.

We’ve mentioned a couple of different styles that you guys play, what genre or style would you say you listen to the most?

Michael: I listen to everything, really. I think we both listen to everything from classical music to African music to other world music to a lot of jazz to prog rock to noisy experimental stuff. I think the fact that we listen to all this music and are exposed to this lets us combine all of that into what we’re doing musically with Connect the Dots and Les Rhinoceros.

Peter: I really wish that album was done so it made a little more sense what we’re saying with Connect the Dots and Les Rhinoceros.

When do you think that album will be done?

Michael: I’m planning on having it mixed and mastered next month.

But it’s all recorded already?

Michael: Yeah, for the most part. There are just small things that need to be recorded.

Where have you been recording?

Michael: At my house. We have a studio in my basement.

Peter: You’re downplaying that a little bit, I think. You have a really crazy studio in your basement. It’s got a sound-isolated room for drums and $1,500 mics, all Pro Tools of course. He has a pretty crazy setup down there. I think your dad has recorded people’s albums down there, right?

Michael: Yeah.

Peter: It’s a pretty nice studio.

Is your dad a sound engineer?

Michael: Yeah. He owns Bossa in Adams Morgan and he’s a musician as well.

Do you think that had something to do with your current interest in music?

Michael: Yeah, definitely. He kind of pushed me and my siblings into starting music at a very young age.

Do all of them still play music or just you?

Michael: Yeah, my brother plays violin and mandolin and my sister plays guitar and used to play flute.

>> Speaking of the National Geographic Museum: go see some colorful reptiles in Geckos: Tails to Toepads, opening September 24. Fifteen different species will be on display to the delight of biologists and reptilian fans alike. $7.

>> A Revolution in Wood: The Bresler Collection opens at the Renwick Gallery, September 24. This newly donated collection showcases the increasing sophistication of the craft of wood turning.

>> At the American Indian Museum, Vantage Point: The Contemporary Native Art Collection showcases the the concerns and experiences of Native people in the current day in 25 contemporary works. The collection addresses memory, history, and the significance of place for Native communities and opens September 25.

>> Only two more weeks before the Hirshhorn closes Yves Klein: With the Void, Full Powers. So hurry and don't miss out on this exemplary retrospective of this artist's short career. Closes September 12.

>> Fiona Tan's interest in documentary produces work focused on memory and identity in a global culture. View Fiona Tan: Rise and Fall, the first major exhibition of Tan's work to be exhibited in the U.S., at the Freer and Sackler Galleries, opening September 25.

>> September is Hispanic Heritage Month, so be sure to see The Mexican Revolution! American Legacy, which is on display at the National Museum of American History. The images, photographs, timeline and objects, examine how the Mexican Revolution precipitated a large migration of Mexicans to the United States. Opening September 16.

>> At the National Museum for Women in the Arts, explore the visual poetry of Elizabeth Gut. Gut's sculptural book pieces are inspired by dreams, memories, music and poetry. Books Without Words: The Visual Poetry of Elisabetta Gut opens September 10.

>> Cyprus, the easternmost island of the Mediterranean, has been a crossroads for 11,000 years. In Cyprus: Crossroads of Civilizations, discover the history of the island through a collection of antiquities at the Natural History Museum. Opening September 29.

Making it worse: United almost pulled out a win, despite being reduced to ten men for the final third of regulation time. Referee Chris Penso sent off United striker Pablo Hernandez (who had put the team ahead with an early penalty kick of his own) for lashing out at midfielder Danny O'Rourke with his leg after the two collided in the 59th minute. O'Rourke, who stood over Hernandez and shouted at him, was simply cautioned. Suffice it to say, the team was none too pleased about the arguably inequitable decision, nor was the small crowd that made their way out to RFK Stadium to watch this team lose yet another brutal decision.

It's difficult to really criticize any of United's players on the evening -- they all played very hard and were jobbed by a poor officiating decision -- but Columbus is a much more talented side than United, and Schelotto, who is arguably the best playmaker in the league, was always going to be tough to contain.

Just how bad is it for United? Interim head coach Ben Olsen was quoted after the game as saying: "There's a lot to play for. We still need to get up in the standings. I don't want to be in last place." Second-to-last place, a lot to play for? Oh yes, this season needs to end, and soon.

FOOD & DRINK: Take part in a Patio Spit Roast on Thursdays through September at CommonWealth (1400 Irving Street NW). The meat might be lamb, pork, or turkey, depending on what's available. 5-10 p.m., $15-$18.

MUSIC: Bust out those Hawaiian shirts and flip flops, Jimmy Buffett performs at Jiffy Lube Live (7800 Cellar Door Drive, Bristow, VA). $48.50-$157.00, 8 p.m.

>> A programming note: tonight's scheduled Kele Okereke show at the 9:30 Club has been cancelled. Refunds are available at place of purchase until September 16.

MOVIE: The Atlas Performing Arts Center's (1333 H Street NE) "Gay 101" Summer Film Series concludes tonight with Steel Magnolias. 8 p.m., $6.

BOOK: Robert R. M. Verchick, author of Facing Catastrophe: Environmental Action for a Post-Katrina World, comes to Busboys and Poets (2021 14th Street NW) to discuss his ideas for improving environmental law. 6:30 p.m., free.

We talked to HacDC's Alberto Gaitán about his team's experience during the Spaceblimp project, which started earlier in the spring. Many of you may actually know Gaitán as a new media artist, who has worked in D.C. for the last 30 years, but obviously his tech chops easily transfer over to some "creative science" as well (a particular skill set that warms this writer's heart). The HacDC members who participated in the R&D of the Spaceblimp project are mostly engineers (hardware, software and wetware -- one of them is a geneticist/bio-informaticist).

The winners of Hackerspaces in Space won't be announced until the end of September, but we do know the Spaceblimp, which cost $320 to make and is carrying a Canon PowerShot SD300 running a "Canon Hack Development Kit" in its payload, reached 60,000 feet where the temperature is a chilly negative-140 degrees Fahrenheit, when the balloon popped and the payload came back to Earth. I spoke with Gaitán about the Spaceblimp project -- what can come out of a challenge to private citizens to send balloons into space? -- and made the gallery above from HacDC's amazing Flickr set.

Can you tell me a little about HacDC? How did you get involved? What kinds of other big projects have you done?

HacDC is a member-supported space dedicated to making things by inventing, extending and repurposing new and junked stuff. We also research common interests by forming working groups and building projects, and building associations with like minded communities of interest, in D.C. and beyond. The general public is welcome to all events and is encouraged to join the hacker space.

I came to HacDC via DorkbotDC, the D.C. chapter of the international group of people doing strange things with electricity. Two of our members, Nick Farr and Adam Koeppel were DorkbotDC regulars and they germinated the idea to form a hacker space on D.C. Parallel to their efforts to raise enough charter members to rent a space, a joint DorkbotDC and HacDC build-a-thon event was planned at the Koshland Museum of Science, spearheaded by DorkbotDC regular Mark Adams. The first friends and members of HacDC came from that community.

HacDC is a relatively young organization but has organized several workshops aimed at teaching the basic skills necessary to be able to approach present and past technology with the creative mindset to mutate it in an innovative or idiosyncratic way. HacDC maintains a wiki with much of the organization's history (in progress) including ongoing and past projects.

Tell me about Hackerspaces in Space. What was the goal? How many groups were involved?

The Hackerspaces in Space contest was initiated by Workshop 88, a hackerspace in Chicago. According to their website, 19 groups are involved from as far away as Thailand. The contest officially ended on August 31. The rules are here (PDF) and include rules on cost, launch and recovery team size. Scoring criteria include retrieval time, weight of package, and cost. Our working group was code named the Spaceblimp Project because Near-Space Balloon Project didn't have the same ring to it; besides, Spaceblimp has a certain 70s disaster movie feel to it and this whole thing could have turned out to be so much pie in the sky. The team included a small core group of very talented and motivated people who dedicated many, many hours of planning, design, experimentation/prototyping, fabrication, funding, and good ol'sweat. It was their commitment and dedication that made this happen.

What was your experience building the spaceblimp? Did you have any interesting challenges to overcome? How long did it take to build?

The rules were pretty limiting and we're still not sure where we rank. We learned that it's quite difficult to get a balloon into near space cheaply. There are also regional differences in materials/supplies pricing that give a relative advantage to some groups. We lost one balloon the week before the successful launch and that was traumatic and demoralizing. We had to weigh the desire to add redundant systems and more sensors -- both of which would have allowed us to account for more contingencies -- against the need to keep the payload light. As with most projects, the highly motivated few who drove the process had the most to lose so they were more nervous than the bystanders on launch day.

What was launch day like? Did anything surprising or crazy happen?

The final launch took place on August 21, at Camp Spring, Md. The jet stream was acting crazy so the balloon deviated from the original prediction. The team was divided into launch and recovery subgroups. They both became parts of the chase team once the balloon was aloft. The stats on the launch can be found on the wiki.

Team member Tom Cohlmia added, "My feeling, at least, was excitement mingled with extreme dread; we'd lost the last capsule pretty badly, and if this one didn't make it we would completely miss the competition deadline. I really wanted to see it all go well, and it's really thrilling to do that countdown and release it into the sky."

The package descended a short distance from a private residence's pool, just beyond reach from outside the fence. Nobody was home and we were faced with a dilemma, jump the low fence and grab the package, or wait until the owners arrive? The decision was made for us as the owners' car pulled up. Our efforts turned to explaining to them why a group of people were congregated at the edge of their relatively rural property. They were amenable and allowed us to retrieve the package and go on our way. We gathered at a church up the road and converged there with the rest of the chasers. We cracked the "launch box" open and let it warm up a bit before pulling the SD card and transferring the images: without a photograph of the curvature of the planet, we would have nothing except a fun chase. As the images of blackness the of space appeared on the laptop, there was a great cheer.

What were the results of HacDC's launch in particular? Was it successful?

Ours was a big success! The payload went to 60,000 feet, and then parachuted back to the ground. Everything was intact and the pictures turned out great. Total time from launch to recovery was 1 hour, 33 minutes, traveling 27 miles as the crow flies.

What are the applications of the spaceblimp project?

We look forward to launching another balloon without having to worry about meeting contest criteria. We're talking about adding an accelerometer, several cameras with faceted mirror array to get many angles at once, and perhaps including video.

There are a wide range of applications to this kind of technology, all of which have the potential of engaging communities at the grass roots level in the observation and analysis of the kind of scientific data collected from (near) space. Given the controversies over issues like global warming, land use, environmental disaster (yes, BP and Exxon, we are looking at you) having a means for communities to monitor and record their own world and the changes in it is increasingly important. This technology greatly democratizes access to most of the value of a space program (satellites, etc.) without the cost. A relatively small group can monitor air quality, haze, temperature, radiation, and many other factors live and near-real time from 60,000 to 120,000 feet for very little money -- without dependence on large government agencies or commercial organizations.

In addition, the project provides a really exciting platform for a range of educational opportunities -- all of which include the excitement of seeing the student's own work go into (near) space! We have had both school-age kids and teachers participate in our activities, and everyone went away excited about participating, along with being very interested in perhaps doing their own near-space balloon launch in the future! One thing is for certain: kids really "get it" about the fun and potential of high-altitude balloon launches!

On what was probably a steamy D.C. summer day, Aziz. photographs a few girls enjoying ice cream near the National Mall. All I can think of is The Shining. (Redrum.)

D.C. Council member Mary Cheh (D-Ward 3) has strongly endorsed Vince Gray for mayor, raising the number of Councilmembers who are supporting the outgoing council chair and primary mayoral opponent to Mayor Adrian Fenty to six.

In an interview with TBD's Bruce DePuyt this morning, Cheh took a stance on the mayoral contest. "I'm going to support Vince Gray...because I think, having worked with him over last four years, I have become an admirer," said Cheh. She added, "I have come to the view that he is the mayor that we need now." Cheh spoke highly of Gray's ability to forge consensus, saying, "he allows people to have their say, but that doesn't mean that they tell him what to do." She also admitted that she has been slow to come to Gray's side. "I have come skeptically to him...I supported his opponent for council chair," she said, referring to former Ward 3 Councilmember Kathy Patterson, who lost to Gray in 2006.

Cheh expressed frustration with Fenty, pointing out that he missed an opportunity with the council and the city. "My disappointment [with Fenty] is heightened by a sense of what could have been," she said. Cheh also harshly criticized Fenty for not working more closely with the council, a complaint echoed repeatedly by Gray on the campaign trail. "Instead of opening the door, the door is shut...we cannot have a system we have now of secrecy, of closed doors, of decisions by one, and pronouncements," she stated.

Cheh's announcement puts her alongside five of her colleagues on the Council. Gray has picked up the support of Yvette Alexander (D-Ward 7), Phil Mendelson (D-At Large), Harry Thomas, Jr. (D-Ward 5), Michael A. Brown (I-At Large), and Marion Barry (D-Ward 8). Fenty has only gotten Muriel Bowser (D-Ward 4) and Jack Evans (D-Ward 2), while Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), Kwame Brown (D-At Large), Jim Graham (D-Ward 1), and David Catania (I-At Large) have stayed on the fence.

The endorsement is somewhat big news given that Ward 3 is considered to be part of Fenty's base. An August poll found Fenty leading Gray in wards 2 and 3 by a large margin -- 59 to 26, with 15 percent of voters undecided. Additionally, Cheh's only challenger, Republican candidate Dave Hedgepeth, made a bit of a stir in late August by endorsing Fenty, going as far as to accuse Cheh of not being pro-Fenty enough for the ward. "In this election, Cheh's refusal to endorse Mayor Fenty speaks volumes about were she really stands on education and on the quality of life issues that matter so much to Ward 3," he said.

Cheh's jump into the Gray camp isn't much of a stretch, though. She's repeatedly clashed with D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles, a loyal Fenty ally, and likely took solace in a recent Post poll that gave Gray as much as a 17-point lead. Regardless, it goes to show how strained the relationship between the Council and Fenty has become over the last few years.

And it's about time. The pulsating score of Chess, in all its synthy glory, is one of musical theater's rock operas to remember -- and it's gotten short shrift in the sea of rewrites, flops and shifts that make up Chess's storied history. Tim Rice and ABBA songwriters Bjorn Ulvaeus' and Benny Andersson's beleaguered musical made a splash in London, but died a quick death on Broadway. Rice, however, in true Joss-Whedon-meets-Firefly fashion, hasn't been able to let go of his beloved creation, tinkering with the show since in several scattered concert versions and revivals, though none has found much mainstream success.

The Cold War musical takes place during the kind of chess match that fascinating, ego-driven players like Bobby Fischer made a phenomenon decades ago. A complicated love triangle between the compelling Hungarian-born Florence and the American and Russian chess masters she's torn between drives the more emotional aspects of the plot. Schaeffer's version owes more to the Broadway version in storyline, while dialing down some of the show's more tangential satirical elements and both tightening and heightening the impact of a side plot involving Florence's refugee father. But it doesn't embrace that version's more generic Broadway musical feel; it's a rock opera that doesn't forget to, you know, actually rock.

But all of that's just Chess geek talk for those unfamiliar with the show, which has plenty to recommend it (and we're not even talking about the irrepressible dance single "One Night In Bangkok," which has found love on the radio years after Chess was mostly forgotten). The show features emotional ballads, like the Russian Anatoly's stirring "Anthem" to his country and the tragic duet of lost love, "I Know Him So Well." It's got a winking sense of humor in the chess match's straight-laced Arbiter, and a book which is unafraid to shirk away from flawed, even unlikeable characters. Psychological rock anthems like the egotistical American Freddie's confessional "Pity The Child," provide moments both haunting and lingering.

Schaeffer makes Chess feel more period piece than dated musical, with Rhythm Nation-inspired chorus gear and other subtle nods to the era. But while Chess was originally groundbreaking in its use of television-screen technology, here that trick feels tired (especially when used to hit-you-over-the-head effect; we don't need head shots of characters to tell us who they're singing about).

Paice is a sexy firestorm as Florence, her voice sweet and heartbroken at moments, throaty and challenging the next. As Anatoly, Euan Morton turns the plaintive "Where I Want To Be" into a chilling tale of a man quite conscious that he's meandering through life, stilted by regret, while Jeremy Kushnier embraces the cocky bravado of the American Freddie with flair. The soaring sound each vocalist brings to Chess's already formidable score should help the musical earn a more deserving status in musical history: Chess is more than that one flop by ABBA where a Commie and a hothead stare across each other over a board.

Chess runs through Sept. 26 at Signature. Tickets are available online.

We wondered out loud the other day about the state of Nyjer Morgan's head. He's getting into tiffs with Philly fans (although that's fairly easy to do). He missed the plate while trying to bowl over the Cardinals' catcher while the Nats were up by six runs over the weekend. We thought that the subsequent benching and the move down the order would settle things down a bit. We thought way wrong.

On Tuesday night, Morgan showcased his untimely aggression on the basepaths once again. In the top of the 10th, the Marlins were lazily trying to turn a double play to end the inning. Morgan, thinking that Adam Kennedy was going to beat the throw to first, decided to make the turn at third and go for home. Florida shortstop Hanley Ramirez, saw this out of the corner of his eye and fired a dart home. The throw was high, forcing catcher Brett Hayes to leave his feet. A strategic slide to the back part of the plate would have yielded the go-ahead run. Of course, if there's a smart, strategic play to be made, then you can rest assured that Nyjer will do the exact opposite. Rather than slide, Morgan bowled into Hayes, knocking him over but failing to jar the ball loose. The Nats failed to score, and Drew Storen lost the game in the bottom of the inning.

The collision at the plate separated Hayes' left shoulder, likely ending his season. The Marlins sought payback on Wednesday. Whether it was warranted or not, starting pitcher Chris Volstad hit Morgan with a pitch in the top of the fourth, the game already out of hand after the Marlins putting up 14 runs in the first three innings. Logically, that's where this latest chapter in the Baseball Bro-Code should have ended. But Morgan just had to needle the opposition, proceeding to steal two bases, which infuriated the Marlins. How dare he actually do little things to get his team back in the game? Does he not know that the game is automatically over if one team builds an 11-run lead after three innings?

Volstad didn't think Morgan got the message the first time (or he really didn't take kindly to the base stealing), so he threw behind him in the top of the sixth. Morgan's face immediately afterward showed his thought process: "Should I charge the mound? Yeah, I think I'll charge the mound." And then this happened. It was a bit of a letdown when Morgan's left fist barely grazed Volstad's face before he got clotheslined by Gaby Sanchez. (Obviously, Morgan's hockey background did nothing to help his fighting abilities.) Benches cleared, the bullpens jogged in, and we had one of the better brawls in recent memory. Even third base coach Pat Listach got involved.

Morgan's been a bit of a pest over the past week, and the image of him being led off of the field triumphantly raising his arms might be the last time we see him on the field in a (torn-up) Nationals uniform. The fact that all this happened while he's appealing another suspension can't sit well with the MLB brass. I'm not going to say that Morgan's speed and energy should merit the Nationals bringing him back next year, because the man makes some asinine decisions on the field and has a horrendous on-base percentage for a lead-off hitter. But all the talk of the Marlins protecting their (backup) catcher is nonsense. He's a catcher, and a wiry guy slamming into him with the game on the line is part of the job description. Hitting Morgan in the fourth proved that the Marlins were going to protect their guy, but throwing behind him in the sixth showed just how thin their skin really was.

What are your thoughts about Morgan's future in D.C.? Did the Marlins go too far in protecting their backup catcher who was hitting around .200?

"I work there, and we aren't allowed in the building yet," said an employee at the Collection, who wished to remain anonymous. "Looks like some pretty severe damage to the old historic part of the museum. No word on the cause of the fire."

Artwork is being moved now by emergency responders, who worked with curators on an overhaul strategy. D.C. Fire and EMS spokesperson Pete Peringer said that the gallery's "sprinkler system did control the fire," which took "about 10 to 15 minutes" to extinguish. Peringer also noted that there was some smoke in the air, which obviously has the potential to cause some issues with the art. We haven't been able to get any confirmation regarding any potential damage of artwork at the gallery, but we will certainly update when that information becomes available -- we tried to contact someone over at the gallery, but their phone lines appear to be down at the moment.

Traffic in the surrounding area has also been detoured around Q, R and 21st Streets NW.

UPDATE (10:42 a.m.): TBD is reporting that the fire might have been caused by the construction that is going on at the building. They also provide the following update.

Construction damage is not significant. All four floors suffered smoke and water damage. "I'm not a curator of art," says a Deputy Fire Chief Kenneth Crosswhite. "But anytime you have smoke and water you have damage."

The fire, Crosswhite says, was in section where permanent collection and masterworks are.

Doesn't sound too good, although friend of DCist Kriston Capps notes that many of the gallery's most important works were not currently on display.

UPDATE (11:15 a.m.): And now, the official word from the Phillips Collection. The good news is that none of the artwork suffered "significant" damage and no one was injured -- the bad news is that the Museum is closed until further notice. The full release, from Phillips spokesperson Cecilia Wagner:

This morning, there was a renovation-related fire on the roof of the Phillips House.

The fire was contained and extinguished. No one was injured. All artwork is safe and secure. Museum conservators are currently evaluating the artwork but nothing has incurred significant damage. The building condition is being evaluated as well.

The Museum is closed until further notice. Phillips after 5 has been postponed. This evening’s GW class, "The Peformative Impulse in American Art," will take place as planned at the Center for Study of Modern Art from 6-8:30 pm.

James J. Lee was obviously an individual who had some very skewed ideas about humanity, the media and society-at-large. We know that he was enamored with the works of Daniel Quinn, so much to the point that he paid people to sit down with him at a local bookstore and talk with him about Quinn's work. He was also a real person: someone who had a family, though even his brother-in-law described him as having "a very unstable and disagreeable personality." The national media appears to be focusing in on the immigration aspects of Lee's manifesto, but it's important to note that Lee's earlier ramblings were much more focused on the programming than such topics.

There hasn't been a lot of information from the three individuals who were held hostage -- understandable, considering the circumstances. The first hostage to come forward, Jim McNulty, who works at Discovery-owned channel TLC, released a statement late last night which thanked law enforcement officers, Discovery and his friends and family for their support. But McNulty refused to go into further detail because the investigation was still ongoing. The two other hostages were another Discovery staffer and a security guard at the office building.

What is clear: there is no question that the law enforcement officers who were working the scene yesterday responded with the utmost professionalism. (Especially considering how fragile Lee claimed his explosive devices were.) In an era when information is incredibly difficult, if not impossible, to control, the authorities in Silver Spring did nothing less than a fantastic job. There were a lot of combustible elements swirling yesterday -- explosives, children in a day care center, a nearby school which just started back up, the building's proximity to the Silver Spring Metro station and one of the area's busiest traffic spots, lots of people who were out and about for lunch breaks -- and the fact that the authorities were able to maintain control and keep everything running and all the hostages safe is an amazing thing.

Washington Post Council Endorsements Are...Interesting: The Post released its endorsements for the four competitive D.C. Council primaries last night. The paper made the interesting move of endorsing no one in the At-Large race, citing disappointment with all three candidates -- the editorial claims that Phil Mendelson has coasted as simply "the better of a bad choice" for years; that Clark Ray has failed to make "a good case for his candidacy"; and that the Michael D. Brown's name confusion doesn't lend him much credibility. The paper also shockingly endorsed Delano Hunter, who is among three challengers vying for the Ward 5 seat currently held by Harry Thomas, Jr. The Post dubbed Thomas a "major disappointment," and called both Hunter and Kenyan McDuffie better options. But the editorial board chose Hunter, noting that "he is not the homophobe his critics make him out to be," despite his connections to the National Organization for Marriage. The Post's claim that Hunter would not change the District's equal marriage law, but believes in "a way to provide equality for gays while respecting the beliefs of religious groups," is flummoxing, to say the least. In less surprising news, the paper also endorsed Jim Graham (Ward 1) and Tommy Wells (Ward 6) for reelection.

Dozens of Candidates For Metro's Top Job: Ann Scott Tyson reports this morning that WMATA's search for a permanent general manager has identified dozens of serious candidates. The news comes as a bit of a surprise, considering that most observers and members of the board assumed that interest in the job would be tempered by the position's sizable demands and the number of safety and fiscal issues the transit system is currently facing. Current interim General Manager Richard Sarles' one-year contract expires next April.

Briefly Noted: Several buses rerouted around Silver Spring scene...D.C. Fire and EMS investigating potential jumper on the 395 overpass of the 3rd Street Tunnel this morning...Lydia DePillis' City Paper cover story on David Alpert and the crew over at Greater Greater Washington is a pretty good read; GGW's David Alpert respondes to the article here...Rest in peace, Paste Magazine...Totally serious: panda-hat dude from Real World D.C. now selling panda clothing.

This Day in DCist: Last year, Bishop Harry Jackson claimed to have moved again, and we raked the Redskins over the coals for their ticketing procedures.

• Obviously, getting around the crime scene in Silver Spring is the main transportation headache of the evening rush, but riders are apparently also some delays on the Blue and Orange lines this evening. Metro is not officially reporting any official delays at this minute. Traffic around the Discovery Communications building will still be a mess -- those driving will likely need to just wait it out.
• On the plus side, Washington Nationals television broadcasts just got a lot more tolerable.
• D.C. Shadow Representative Mike Panetta got some nice face time from POLITICO this morning.
• Interesting numbers from local elections expert Keith Ivey: Ward 4 is the only ward in which the average number of candidates running for ANC seats is less than one.
• Michael Neibauer reports that Giant has confirmed that they will put a new store at 3rd and H Streets NE.
• The planned Gage-Eckington Park is going to get done. But what did Harry Thomas, Jr. promise to Marion Barry to get the Mayor-for-Life to give the thumbs up? They apparently reached a "harmonious and mutual understanding."
• The Washington Blade is curious about whether the LGBT vote can save Phil Mendelson's Council seat.
• Due to an error by a vendor, the Board of Elections and Ethics will be reissuing voter cards -- if you live in precincts 51, 52, 129 and 136, look for a new card in the mail before the primary. The cards that residents had received had the wrong ward number printed on them. The voting cards are not required to vote.
• Who Murdered Robert Wone? wonders what effect the resignation of Judge Brook Hedge from the D.C. Superior Court will have on the Wone civil case.
• A man caught an eight-foot shark in the Potomac River yesterday.

The American is ostensibly a thriller, but in a quiet mold far removed from the jittery live-wires of Bourne or Bond. There is action to be had here, but if you've seen the 90-second trailer, then you've seen the majority of it.

Corbijn and screenwriter Rowan Joffee take Martin Booth's meditative novel, A Very Private Gentleman, and create a minimal, elegiac character study of an assassin looking to stop taking the lives of others and start living one of his own. The novel is largely built from internal monologues and memories, but Corbijn is only interested in what can be seen, in the here and now. No narrations, no flashbacks. He trusts that everything else can be conveyed through the melancholy and menace with which he infuses every frame, and those same qualities in Clooney's reserved performance.

After the debacle in Sweden, Jack flees to Rome, where his boss gives him a new assignment that will take place in a small hillside town in the mountainous region of Abruzzo, east of the city. Jack declares that this is to be his last job, and his boss indicates that's just fine: he doesn't even need to pull the trigger this time. Jack isn't just an assassin, but a craftsman, a builder of weaponry custom made for the job at hand. He bears a tattoo on his shoulder that reads, "Ex Gladio Equitas" -- justice from the sword. In the mountains, he meets a woman, another assassin, who delivers her specifications, and he sets to work on a specialized rifle.

And that pretty much summarizes the first half of the movie. Corbijn lets things unfold at a measured pace, allowing the film to be carried by images of the rugged landscape, interspersed with little bits of plot, and a silent Jack working out, constructing the weapon, and occasionally having drinks with a local priest who takes an interest in him.

If Jack has plans for his retirement, they're known only to him. Clooney's stone-faced performance is impenetrable, yet speaks volumes for a character so taciturn that a sentence of more than a few words seems like a flood of conversation. The only pleasure he seems to seek, apart from the satisfaction that comes from the intricate detail of working with the metal and wood of his creations, is an occasional visit to the local brothel, where he takes a liking to Clara (Violente Placido), a beautiful prostitute whose relationship with Jack becomes more than just business.

Things begin to get messy as Jack's romantic entanglement is juxtaposed with a closing net of danger from both the Swedes of the film's opening and other sources. Earlier, the priest chastises him: "You're American -- you think you can escape history. You live for the present." Ironically, it's just as he begins, for the first time, to think about living for something other than the present that his own history begins to circle its fingers around his neck.

Corbijn doesn't always handle this more complex subject matter as gracefully as he does the film's earlier portion. Sentimentality gets the better of him in a final shot that makes a too-obvious symbolic point already made much more elegantly just a few minutes earlier.

Many may also find the film's deliberate pacing to be plodding rather than lyrical. Corbijn hearkens back to a style of European art-house filmmaking here that may seem anathema to those accustomed to the relentless pace and heart-pounding quick edits of the modern action film. But for those open to a different kind of thriller -- one that builds imperceptibly slowly, and with an understated, anti-climactic release -- the film can be a hypnotically seductive experience. At the heart of that seduction is Clooney, which may not be so out of character for a movie star after all.

---

The American
Directed by Anton Corbijn
Written by Rowan Joffe, based on the novel, A Very Private Gentleman, by Martin Booth
Starring George Clooney, Violante Placido,Thekla Reuten, Johan Leysen, Violante Placido
Running time: 105 minutes
Rated R for violence, sexual content and nudity.
Opens today at a number of theaters throughout the area.
View the trailer.

>> Celebrated clarinetist Eddie Daniels and pianist Bob James, of the smooth jazz super group Fourplay, will team up for a three-night stand at Blues Alley beginning on Thursday. The band will include legendary drummer Peter Erskine, whose resume includes the Stan Kenton Orchestra, Weather Report, Steely Dan, Diana Krall, and a host of others. Tickets to the 8 and 10 p.m. sets are $45 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.

>> Kenny Rittenhouse, a gifted trumpeter in the U.S. Army Blues, will lead a group of local all-stars on Friday at Jazz Night in Southwest. The band includes Three Stars alums Reginald Cyntje and Allyn Johnson, alongside saxophonist Lyle Link and bassist Zack Pride. 6 to 9 p.m. $5.

>> The son of a record collector who owned some 15,000 LPs, guitarist David Lighton was exposed to a wide variety of music from a very early age. In addition to his playing, Lighton contributes to the jazz scene as a writer at AllAboutJazz.com. His group will be at Twins Jazz on Friday and Saturday for 9 and 11 p.m. sets. Tickets are $15 + $12 minimum/surcharge.

>> Brazillian vocalist Kenia incorporates the music of her native Brazil into a contemporary setting, earning her notice from smooth jazz critics and fans. She'll lead her group through 8:30 and 10:30 p.m. sets on Friday and Saturday at Bohemian Caverns. Tickets are $15.

>> The D.C. Blues Society presents the 22nd Annual D.C. Blues Festival on Saturday at the Carter Barron Amphitheater. The event, running from noon to 7:30 p.m., features five acts on the mainstage, workshops, children's activities, and more. Free.

>> Zeebop is a local group that blends jazz with the grooves of soul and funk. They'll be at Twins Jazz on Sunday for 8 and 10 p.m. sets. $10.

>> Smooth jazz trumpeter Lin Rountree, an Alexandria native now based in Detroit, will play 8 and 10 p.m. sets on Sunday at Blues Alley. Tickets are $20 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.

>> Rootdown brings its jazz/groove/jam band sound to the Bossa Bistro & Lounge on Sunday. 10 p.m. Call 202-667-0088 for cover information.

>> Local veteran Jacques "Saxman" Johnson leads a band next week at Blue Monday Blues. 6 to 9 p.m. $5.

>> Michelle Webb is a multi-faceted musician who uses a variety of unique, custom made instruments to stretch the boundaries of the guitar. Fluent in a variety of styles, her playing has led her to tours and performances all over the world. Catch her unique sound on Tuesday at Blues Alley, as she plays 8 and 10 p.m. sets. Tickets are $18 + $12.50 minimum/surcharge.

We were happy to wave bye-bye to Amanda. She's been on the bottom for a few weeks, and her French onion soup in Week 10 left us wondering who really deserved to go home. Sixty-eight percent of our poll respondents felt the judges made the correct decision to send Alex home two weeks ago, while 19 percent thought Amanda was fortunate to last another week. Regardless, she wasn't going to last on Top Chef with decision-making like serving poorly made tuna tartare at a ballgame, which inspired the same feeling that one would get buying half-price sushi at a 7-Eleven. Not surprisingly, she came in last with 1.5 percent of the vote in last week's favorites poll.

Meanwhile, Tiffany came out on top of our poll with 58 percent. Her recent solid performances combined with Angelo's "villain" status reduce his share to only 17 percent. We round out our final five contestants with Kelly (11 percent), Week 11 winner Ed (6 percent), and Kevin (2 percent). And for this week's Top Chef winner poll, we want to note that the finale will take place in Singapore. Does this change things? Will Angelo's Asian-influenced cooking give him the advantage and rise higher in our polls?

Now that Bravo's Real Housewives of D.C. is in full swing, we also want to know how our D.C.-based reality shows stack up. Is Top Chef the best or the worst? Vote after the jump.

Today's mayoral debate between Mayor Adrian Fenty and D.C. Council Chair Vince Gray wasn't much of anything new. Fenty highlighted the results his administration has produced, but admitted that the speed and intensity with which they had occurred had left many residents feeling left out. Gray promised to be a better, more inclusive chief executive.

But the big newsmaker of the day may have been First Lady Michelle Fenty -- who during the post-debate media scrum not only spoke on her husband's behalf, but nearly broke into tears when describing the misconceptions surrounding him. "Everything he has done has been for the community," she said, her voice shaking. "There are so many misconceptions about him, about us, about our family, I think it's important for me to speak up." When asked why she was speaking up so late in the campaign, she responded, "The [Washington Post] poll solidified what our worst fears are...the poll was so striking to me." (The City Paper caught the snippet above.)

That she was even speaking to the media was news in and of itself, but that she appeared so emotional in defending her husband was really something to watch. Any motivations aside, her comments and the emotion behind them highlight that, despite what many in the District seem to think, Fenty is a loving family man who cares for the community around him. Some cynics pointed out that the emotion she showed coincided nicely with the Fenty campaign's new strategy of openly admitting fault and promising a kinder, gentler Mayor Fenty should he win re-election. Others argued that much like Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito's wife, who broke down during a confirmation hearing, the personal intensity of the mayoral campaign may just have gotten to her.

In the end, will this matter? While Fenty delivered a strong closing statement in which he admitted to his personal failings, its delivery with less than two weeks left in the campaign may not be enough to close a gap that has grown to as large as 17 points. Then again, every election has its one moment, and this may have been it. Michelle Fenty's emotional defense of her husband could be enough to balance off her husband's aloofness, one of the traits that so quickly lost him popular support over the last four years.

WRITING: Rock & Roll Hotel (1353 H Street NE) presents its monthly Washington Writers' Salon tonight as a way to bring like-minded creative types together to socialize. There will be no work-shopping or writing exercises, but there will be half-priced burgers and $3 drinks. 6-8 p.m., free admission.

BOOKS: Author Michael Kellogg pits big name philosophers (Kant, Nietzsche, Aristotle, Plato, Heidegger) head-to-head to reexamine ideas of knowledge, God, and virtue in his book, Three Questions We Never Stop Asking. Come hear him talk at Politics and Prose (5015 Connecticut Avenue NW), 7 p.m., free.

MUSIC: The Capstan Shafts, the "musical project of American lo-fi artist Dean Wells," hits the stage at DC9 (1940 9th Street NW) tonight with Ravenous. $8. 9:00 p.m.

UPDATE (1:40 p.m.): Montgomery County Corporal Dan Friz just described the man on TBD TV as a "hostage taker" and that it "appears he has some sort of explosive device on his person." Friz said that authorities are currently putting together a plan for dealing with the situation. No communication has been made with the man as of yet.

UPDATE (2:05 p.m.): Part of the building was able to be evacuated, including a day care center on the west side of the building -- all the children there have safely gotten out. Employees who got out of the building were told to go home. Washingtonian reports that the gunman is in the Georgia Avenue side of the building. The immediate area around the building is being cleared out, and the area should obviously be avoided.

UPDATE (2:20 p.m.): WUSA9 has tweeted that these are the gunman's demands. However, that website is the same as one produced in 2008 by James Jay Lee, who was arrested in February of that year on charges of littering or disorderly conduct at a protest site at the Discovery headquarters. However -- and we cannot stress this enough -- we cannot confirm that Lee is involved or the manifesto is a demand of any kind at this moment.

UPDATE (2:30 p.m.): Police are now speaking with the man inside the building, but are not confirming much less, other than he is an Asian male, his concerns are with Discovery and that it is possible that he has a bomb. WTOP's Adam Tuss reports that most employees have been evacuated. WUSA9 has now tweeted that their report that their report of the gunman's demands have not been confirmed.

UPDATE (2:45 p.m.): According to NBC News, authorities have confirmed that the gunman is indeed James Jay Lee, as previously rumored.

UPDATE (3:20 p.m.): Montgomery County police just held a press conference and refused to talk about the details of the negotiations. According to Chief Tom Manger, Lee has devices on his front and back and a handgun. Manger said that Lee told everyone to stay still and has remained on the first floor. Manger believes that most employees are out, but that there may be a few still on the upper floors. Manger said that there is an "unconfirmed, small number of hostages" (WTTG reported earlier that the hostage that Lee was holding was a security guard at the building) and that negotiations have been going on for about an hour now. Those looking for a bit more background on Lee should check out Silver Spring, Singular, who has several posts about him and his Discovery-related protests.

UPDATE (4:10 p.m.): Negotiations with Lee have now passed the two hour mark. Police are reporting that there have been no injuries yet. Additionally, Metrobus lines 70s, J, Q Y, Z, F4 and F6 have been affected by the scene, so if you use any of those buses, do take note that your route home might be slightly different.

UPDATE (5:15 p.m.):James J. Lee, who has been holding hostages since early this afternoon at the Discovery Communications headquarters building, was shot at about 4:48 p.m. Lee is in poloce custody but his condition is unknown at this time. Lee was described by Montgomery County Police Chief Tom Manger as having a "wide range of emotions" during the negotiations.

Here's the meat of Manger's announcement:

He took three people hostage, near the lobby area of the entrance to the building. Over the past several hours, we've been in negotiations with the man. Approximately ten minutes ago, the suspect was shot by police officers. A device appeared to go off, we haven't confirmed that as of this time, we saw some smoke, may have heard a pop, haven't confirmed all that as of yet. There were three hostages, all of the hostages are safe and out of the building.

Still lots of investigation to be done up in Silver Spring still, but it sounds like the worst of this event is over.

Today only! Save 10% on 2011 D.C. United Season Tickets

Today is the day. If you’ve been considering purchasing D.C. United Season tickets, you’ll not get a better deal than the one offered today - purchase 2011 Season Tickets and you’ll receive 10% of 2010 prices, when you pay in full. You can save up to $150 per seat! Don’t delay. Get United.

Join us tonight at RFK Stadium for the U.S. Open Cup semifinals versus the Columbus Crew! Kickoff is set for 7:30pm. If you have your College ID, you can get $20 tickets at any ticket window.

This looks like a good way to spend the summer, and AWard Tour's use of film wins the day. (EXIF.)

It should be an interesting debate -- gone are the usual hanger-ons that suck up valuable time, and it comes only days after a Post poll found Fenty is trailing Gray by as much as 17 points. Additionally, the Post reports today that Fenty's campaign is changing strategies, looking to focus in on results to energize his base, humanize the mayor by talking about his upbringing in the District and continue attacking Gray's ethics and honesty.

Minute-by-minute updates, after the jump.

11:40 a.m.: In the auditorium, which is filling fast. Ron Moten is sitting in the media section. Since when was he media? More importantly, though, who's going to tell him to move?

Noon: For additional commentary, follow the Post's Mike DeBonis, the City Paper's Alan Suderman, TBD's Sarah Larimer, and the Examiner's Freeman Klopott.

12:05 p.m.: Gray and Fenty on stage. They hug. That's a first.

12:07 p.m.: First question on transparency from Tom Sherwood. How will Gray find a new schools chancellor, if Michelle Rhee is fired or leaves? Gray says he supported reforms throughout, but questions should be raised throughout the process. Gray says he'll talk to Rhee if he wins to see what her views are and if they can work together. Fenty praises Rhee, criticizes Gray for not having leadership to say if he'll keep or fire Rhee.

12:09 p.m.: Second question, also on Rhee, this time from WAMU's Patrick Madden. What mistakes has Rhee made? Fenty says that he and Rhee have moved fast and aggressively. Doesn't really answer the question. Gray says the biggest mistake is the exclusion of the public from the reform process. Another mistake was how the teachers were let go late last year, under the guide of a budget deficit.

12:13 p.m. Question from the Post's Nikita Stewart. Give an example where you've said no to special interests. Marriage equality, says Gray. He supported it, some of his friends and confidantes did not. (Including Ward 7's Yvette Alexander.) Fenty brings up FOP support for Gray, and the fact that they want Chief Cathy Lanier fired, even though she's popular.

12:15 p.m. Question from Tom Sherwood on Mayor Fenty's personality. Why should residents re-elect someone that doesn't respect them? Fenty brings up Ward 4 council member career, stresses results after four years as mayor. In second term, he promises to listen more. "A lesson learned," he claims. Gray calls Fenty "insincere." He says, "I don't think it's a change of heart; it's a change of strategy."

12:18 p.m. Online question on affordable housing. Gray talks about inclusionary zoning (more than 10 units, some of it has to be affordable). Regulations took too long to come out of Fenty administration, threatening affordable housing. Fenty returns to results, mentions affordable developments that he's helped built. 11,000 units during administration, he claims.

12:21 p.m.: Eugene Robinson asks about racial divide. Fenty touts the tough decisions he's made, but some of the decisions have left certain residents out of the process. He admits he hasn't been as inclusive as possible. Promises to change in next administration, return to unanimity seen in 2006. Gray brings up economy, notes that many people feel left out. High unemployment in ward 7 and 8, nothing has been done to address getting people back to work. Says Fenty did not use $4.6 million fund to get people back to work.

12:25 p.m.: Madden question: how do you expand tax base without gentrification? Gray says getting people off of unemployment rolls. Stresses vocational training, community college. Fenty fires back: D.C. has always had high unemployment, especially in wards 7 and 8, due to bad government and poor schools. Nikita brings it back to race: how do you feel not being liked by the black community? "Of course it hurts," says Fenty. "Maybe I moved too fast, maybe I was too aggressive," he adds, trying to explain why black residents might not like him. "The facts say that the mayor doesn't care," responds Gray. Returns to jobs theme.

12:30 p.m. Robinson question on D.C. voting rights. Gray says he'll work with D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, which Fenty has not done. "We need to make pursuing statehood a priority," he argues, saying it won't be any harder than a single House vote. (Well, that's certainly debatable.) Gray talks about rejecting "poison pill" gun amendment. Fenty says Gray is "pointing fingers," says that D.C. has to do new things to get voting rights. And there it is! Fenty brings up Gray's leadership of Department of Human Services in 1990s, crowd murmurs and laughs. Not really relevant. Robinson follows up, why would statehood happen now? Not enough commitment yet from the people, Gray says. (That's true.) In retrospect, Fenty says single House vote deal was a mistake.

12:32 p.m.: Audience question on...parking. Really? Ugh. Fenty says you need to find balance between cars and other means of transit, cites Gabe Klein's work at DDOT. This is actually a winning point for the mayor, at least from the urbanist perspective. Gray calls parking rates "outrageous," firmly appealing to the car lobby. Boo! Does express concern over loss of business due to expensive parking, but also supports looking at alternative modes of transit.

12:35 p.m. Question on juvenile justice: should parents be more responsible for their kids? Gray says no evidence backs up that punishing parents will help. Also says that new youth jail is too small, not enough community support when kids get back home. Fenty points out that legislation before D.C. Council called for New Beginnings Center to be 60 beds, criticizes Gray for former leadership of old Oak Hill Detention Center.

12:37 p.m. Sherwood question on mayoral appointments, notably those that have been voted down. D.C. Council has ignored "advise and consent" role, says Fenty. He rattles off people in important people that were appointed and confirmed, and remain in positions. Gray highlights that there are unqualified candidates being nominated for boards and commissions.

12:43 p.m.: Question from Madden: how will Gray pay for his new plans, including birth-to-24 education? Gray says Pre-K has already been paid for, and lots of savings can come from changing special education in the District, which costs more than $250 million a year. Fenty again stresses gains made in school reform process. Stewart asks Fenty to identify two specific mistakes he made over last four years. Summer Youth Employment Program, says Fenty. Efforts to grow program quickly "stretched" ability of D.C. government to handle it. Doesn't cite second mistake. Gray says Fenty has refused to meet with him, would have loved to have a partnership. One mistake, Gray says, is that Fenty has not had relationship with D.C. Council.

12:45 p.m. Robinson asks why personal relationship with mayor is important. Better results come from cooperation between executive and legislative branches, he says. Things will slow down without that cooperation, he adds. "It's not about a personal relationship...it's a business relationship with the mayor," says Gray. Fenty says Gray isn't accepting responsibility for mistakes made.

12:49 p.m.: Sherwood to Gray: how will you keep your friends and associates from becoming your cronies? Gray brings up $82 million in contracts that went to Fenty's friends, says he'll keep distance between him and his friends. Fenty responds by citing a Post editorial arguing on Fenty's behalf. Audience question: what annoys you most about your opponent? Fenty goes first. Calls Gray "sincere" and "well-minded," but criticizes Gray for throwing out false allegations, also says Gray needs to answer questions on the fence around his house and other such insider deals. Gray is annoyed by not having a working relationship with Fenty.

12:53 p.m.: Each candidate now gets to ask the other a question. Fenty to Gray: How do you run the government while owing so much to so many people? Gray responds: you make decisions based on what's best for the people of the District. Gray to Fenty: Why did you fire Bill Slover from D.C. Housing Authority, and would you apologize to him? Fenty responds: Slover did not send contracts to D.C. Council, as D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles said he should.

12:57 p.m. Closing statements, Gray first. We live in a city divided. Fenty has embarked on an apology tour -- but it's not a change of heart, but rather a change of strategy. I'll produce jobs, reform education with community involvement, put more police on street, will end pay-to-play politics. "As mayor, we'll be partners," he says to residents. Fenty next. "Mr. Chairman, your closing, like your campaign, has been negative," says Fenty. Says that he never imagines that people would dislike him, since he just wanted the best for them. Success isn't enough -- "In moving fast, we're leaving people behind." Asks residents to believe in him for another four years. Snap judgment? Fenty's closing was much better than Gray's.

1:00 p.m. And that's a wrap! Not much new in the debate, really, and we'll see if Fenty's strong closing and persistent appeals are enough to help him win re-election. More thoughts to come.

1:06 p.m. Wow. In front of microphones and cameras, Michelle Fenty just got teary and emotional talking about the attacks on her husband. "Everything he has done has been for the community," she says. Big move for someone that to date has been absent from the campaign.

1:25 p.m. In post debate scrum, Fenty and his wife spoke extensively to the media. In short, Fenty again stressed that he's about results, but that yes, he's made mistakes. Michelle Fenty came out strong, becoming emotional on two occasions, saying, "I feel compelled to speak because there are so many misconceptions about him. It's my duty to speak up."

>> Round House Theatre is taking on the creepy, pathological questions of identity that The Talented Mr. Ripley offers (September 8).

>> Shakespeare Theater Company starts the season with the Bard himself in All's Well That Ends Well (September 7).

>> Ganymede Arts tackles the underrated musical Falsettos (September 10).

>> Here's something in the "awesome" department (well, if you liked Star Trek VI, anyway): Washington Shakespeare Company hosts By Any Other Name: An Evening of Shakespeare in Klingon. Featuring George Takei, no less. (September 25).

>> In town for Labor Day? It's always fun to check out new works and what's on top for this year at the Kennedy Center's Page To Stage Festival (September 4-6).

Also This Month:

• Solas Nua starts the year with The Prophet of Monto (September 6). Update: That show is actually playing in NYC.
• Studio's opener is set, appropriately, in an amateur theater class: Circle Mirror Transformation (September 8).
• MetroStage takes us to the jazz age with the musical Glimpses of the Moon (September 8).
• Does a thriller about stamp collecting sound like an oxymoron? Check out 1st Stage's Mauritius to find out (September 10).
• For a limited run, National Players hankers back to that infamous "A" in The Scarlet Letter (September 15-16).
• A Jewish exorcism sets the stage for American Century's The Tenth Man (September 17).
• New group No Rules Theater Company has Peanuts to work with in You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown (September 23).
• Songs of the Dragons Flying to Heaven is Studio Second Stage's irreverent offering this month (September 29).
• It's always exciting to see what Synetic will do with its latest reinvented classic: this time, King Arthur (September 30).
• Twins pursue a dying mother's last wish in Forum's Scorched (September 30).
• Solas Nua shows up in D.C. with the production Improbable Frequency.

Still Playing: This weekend is your last chance to catch Longacre Lea's ambitious Cat's Cradle and The Sound of Music at Wolf Trap; RepStage's Travels with my Aunt and Scena's Sink The Belgrano! both close September 12; September 19 is the last weekend for Toby Dinner Theater's Nunsense and Woolly's In The Next Room or The Vibrator Play (September 19); Signature's Chess (our review coming soon) and Olney's Dinner With Friends bow September 26; Theater J's Something You Did continues into October.

Whether it's the high acidity of green tomatoes or the sweetness of cherry tomatoes, the fruit is easy to grow and come in a large number of varieties. Though I have to admit: I don't love fresh tomatoes too much. That's why one of my favorite preparations is a classic homestyle Chinese dish which involves cooking tomatoes with scrambled eggs and finishing with a little bit of chicken stock.

Luckily, our chefs' favorite preparations are similarly simple classics that don't require much cooking. Be sure to let us know how you like to enjoy your tomatoes in the comments.

Bertrand Chemel, Executive Chef, 2941
"I love tomatoes because they go very well with sweet and savory dishes and bring sweetness and acidity all at the same time. They're like goodies for chefs because there are so many ways to play with them, from raw to cooked to using them in cocktails.

At 2941 we make a version of the caprese by simmering crushed tomatoes to extract their water. We infuse it with basil, coriander seed and fennel seed and add gelatin. We serve this with bocconcini, basil puree and aged balsamic. I also like making gazpacho with Sungold cherry tomatoes."

Daniel Giusti, Executive Chef, 1789
"I know bruschetta is everywhere and seems to be a cliche now. But since I was a kid, I've loved eating thick slices of a great vine ripe red tomato on a nice slice of crusty bread with some good olive oil, salt and pepper. That's it...no cheese, no herbs."

Dean Gold, Owner and Chef, Dino
"I am addicted to cherry tomatoes of various colors and varieties sliced in half. I bake them with shredded mozzarella atop grilled eggplant for a light version of Eggplant Parmigiana or saute them with roasted cloves of garlic and fresh chopped garlic to top pasta. They do need salt and black pepper to bring out their great flavors, and this year the cherries have been better than the slicing varieties."

Philippe Reininger, Executive Chef, J&G Steakhouse
"I like to use heirloom tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and basil. I like to add an Asian touch by using a lemongrass tomato water infusion. I arrange tomatoes and mozzarella over the bottom of the bowl. Season with olive oil and fleur de sel. I then ladle the lemongrass infusion into the side of the bowl and sprinkle with basil."

Brian Turowski, Chef de Cuisine, Jackson 20
"When I grew up in Jersey, my mom taught us how to grow our own tomatoes. She also was the first person who taught me how to cook. The only thing we used these home-grown tomatoes for was "Lettuce and Tomato Sandwiches," and if you know me, you know I LOVE a good "sammich." So, the sammich is simply assembled with mayo on warm toasted bread, a tomato in the mayo, and of course, crisp Iceberg lettuce -- but the most important part of this Sammich was the tomato, which had to be warm from sitting in the windowsill, thick cut, and seasoned with salt and black pepper (the only way to season a tomato). And that's how and why I love tomatoes -- I still make this Sammich to this day!"

Rob Weland, Executive Chef, Poste Moderne Brasserie
"Warm off the vine with salt and good quality olive oil. It's why we grow 12 heirloom varieties at Poste -- we try to showcase each variety during 20 Bites Heirloom Tomato menu, so that each tomato can reveal what makes it special (lower and higher levels of acidity, meatiness, etc)."

Fenty, Gray Debate At Newseum Today: The two major candidates for Mayor will debate at the Newseum at noon today, the first time that the two will tangle after polls revealed the challenger, Vince Gray, holds a large lead over Mayor Adrian Fenty. The Post's Eugene Robinson will moderate the debate, while NBC4's Tom Sherwood, Post reporter Nikita Stewart and WAMU reporter Patrick Madden will be launching questions at the candidates. We'll have full coverage of the debate later this morning from Martin Austermuhle, who will be on site at the proceedings -- the debate will also be streamed live here.

Search For Alleged Child Abductor Called Off: The Post reports that police are no longer searching for a Washington man who was thought to have abducted his one-year-old son at gunpoint on Monday night, even though they have not yet located the man or the child. The boy's mother accused Cornell Antonio Bennett of taking him from her at her home in Landover, but the police said that both have custody of the child and that investigators "feel" the child is okay,

See Something, Say Something: A man from Michigan was arrested on Monday after he left a 8-year-old Chihuahua inside his minivan for nearly an hour while he walked around the Holocaust Memorial Museum. The dog was stuck inside a plastic storage bin and eventually succumbed to heat stress. There was also an elderly beagle mix who was inside the car that barely survived. With the incredibly hot summer we've had, there have been a lot more reports about dogs being left inside vehicles than usual -- if you see any animal stuck inside a car that looks like its in trouble, you can contact the Washington Humane Society to report it at 202-BE-HUMANE (202-234-8626).

Briefly Noted: Strasburg surgery scheduled for Friday...Eleanor Holmes Norton takes her annual safety walk around the National Mall...Three veteran D.C. Superior Court judges will retire...Due to DMV mess, Virginia authorities won't ding drivers for licenses that expired between August 25 and September 30...What happens when your friends D.C. wedding is on the same weekend as a Tea Party rally?...There are some who probably think this is a fair offer.

This Day in DCist: In 2006, we examined the text message-based punk rock nostalgia tour.

• The Yes! Organic Market at 2323 Pennsylvania Avenue SE opened its doors this afternoon; And Now, Anacostia got a sneak peek yesterday. Looks good!
• DDOT relaunched goDCgo.com today, a transportation demand management website that has plenty of handy information about getting around town and serves as the online home of DDOT's efforts to cut down on car usage.
• Just how much will the construction on H Street NE affect the upcoming H Street Festival?
• Vince Gray thinks that constructing a stadium to keep D.C. United in the city would be "a very expensive proposition" that would come at the cost of "basic services of the city." So if you were expecting the team to endorse a candidate, don't hold your breath.
• Georgetown graduate student Lindsay Pettingill finds that the response to service requests made through Washington's 311 system has markedly improved since 2000 -- there isn't even a gap in response times between neighborhoods.
• The Smithsonian needs help with identifying the precise location of photographs taken in Washington in the early 20th century.
• Mayor Fenty and other officials broke ground on Canal Park this afternoon, a new green space along 2nd Street between M and I Streets SE.
• The internet wants Stephen Colbert to follow in Glenn Beck's footsteps and host a rally on the mall.

Around 12:00 AM Sunday I was tackled by some rowdy high school aged kids at the Brookland metro who were fooling around. They were trying to intimidate me prior to this by yelling in my face as I left the escalators on the 10th street side of the station, where the bus stops are. After this, some followed me a bit and one guy jumped on me from behind and put his arm across the front of my neck before releasing once I was on the ground, while still within the station. Earlier some of the group--which may be more than one group, there were over a dozen people--were also messing with a young lady who was trying to run up a broken escalator to catch a train--tripping her and getting in her way--and some jumped fare gates and knocked stuff down with in the station.

They didn't take anything or do anything besides laugh once they had me down and I'm fine physically but just really angry and shaken. I didn't think it was something worth calling the police over--though plenty of people saw it happen. In retrospect, once I had kids jumping in my face, I probably should have just walked to a populated bus stop and waited around other people for safety. I've lived in this neighborhood for just over a year and have felt safe most of the time, though I've known that I need to be aware of my surroundings and careful. Now though, I feel like that bubble has been broken.

The story lit up the list, usually a dumping ground for crime alerts and community announcements which rarely require in-depth analysis. A thread on the Fifth District listserv would probably be considered lively if it garnered a few replies. This particular story sparked 28.

There were various tones on display -- ranging from anger and empathy, to sadness and apathy -- and suggestions ranging from pepper spray, self-defense classes, a higher police presence, community uprising and activism, and more crime cameras. But each were overwhelming in their main point: you have to report the crime.

"I didn't want to make a big deal out of it but reflection made me think that it worth informing others at least," said the victim, Ryan (who didn't want to be identified by a full name), adding that "it happened to someone, really it could have happened to anyone." Ryan said that police from the listserv have been in touch -- including one officer who emailed personally -- and a report was eventually filed with Metro Transit Police, who were "very helpful."

Now, this case seems fairly cut and dry. After all, the teenagers did (allegedly) tackle Ryan to the ground. But I can envision plenty of scenarios where, as Ryan puts it, "that bubble has been broken," and not all of them necessarily lead to calling the police. An intimidating stare, or a slightly offensive verbal slur, perhaps. D.C. does have simple assault (also known as "intent-to-frighten") laws on the books that cover that kind of crime -- and if convicted, defendants on simple assault charges can face maximums of a $1,000 fine and/or 180 days imprisonment. Common sense would indicate that no matter what, reporting should be an automatic if you feel intimidated, though of course, we know that's not always the case.

So where's the line? At what point would you call the police, readers? Always? Let us know in the comments.

Sonic Circuits, D.C.'s annual weeklong celebration of music that pushes the aural envelope, starts in a few short weeks, so some of the area's finest experimental and off-center musicians will be holding a benefit show tonight at the Strathmore. Food For Animals, Buildings and Bastard Squid Implant aren't playing the festival proper, but they're all impressive musicians who will give an accurate representation of what D.C. can come to expect in the middle of September. $6. 8:00 p.m.

>> Black Cat: Unnatural Helpers and Heavy Cream. $8, 9:00 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

There was a time when The Capstan Shafts used to be a mystery. Dean Wells, the man behind multiple albums worth of short, lo-fi pop gems never toured and gained a reputation as something of a recluse. Then Wells hired a band. They've made up for lost time well, and have hit at least four separate D.C. venues in 2010 alone. Wells' stage presence certainly doesn't suggest reclusiveness, and the band gets tighter with every visit. Catch them at DC9 with Ravenous. $8. 9:00 p.m.

>> Black Cat: Autolux and Gold Panda. $15, 8:00 p.m.

THURSDAY

Remember five years ago, when Bloc Party came out with their catchy debut Silent Alarm and reminded everyone how much they love Gang of Four? Fewer people remember (or want to remember) their attempt to reach a more club-friendly audience with the release of Intimacy last year. But frontman Kele Okereke never lost the bug for creating gems. So he dropped the actual instruments and put out some electronic dance songs which sound so much better. Okereke will be at the 9:30 Club with the fun (albeit bizarrely named) Does it Offend You, Yeah? and Innerpartysystem. $25, 6:30 p.m.

>> Jiffy Lube Live: Jimmy Buffett $48.50-$157.00, 8:00 p.m.

>> Black Cat: Fu Manchu, Black Tusk, It's Casual. $15, 8:00 p.m.

FRIDAY

Whereas the Kele show has some nostalgic elements reworked into new material, Hot Hot Heat is our outright nostalgia pick for the week. They released their strongest and most popular album Make Up the Breakdown almost ten years ago, but it wasn't even clear that they were still touring anymore, much less writing new material. Catchy pop punk and spazzy art rock collide at the Rock and Roll Hotel with the 22-20s and Hey Rosetta! $15, 9:30 p.m.

>> Velvet Lounge: Screen Vinyl Image, HotChaCha, Night and the City, Hiding Places. $8, 10:00 p.m.

>> Birchmere: Nils Lofgren (for the first of three consecutive nights). $45, 7:30 p.m.

SATURDAY

Summer is (mercifully) heading to a close, schools are starting back up and the last remnants of those hot lazy days are still here in the form of looming Hurricane watches and songs that entice you to order a Hurricane (or Margarita!) to drink. Enter Jimmy Buffett, who will playing his second show in three nights at Jiffy Lube Live. $48.50-$157.00, 8:00 p.m.

>> DAR Constitution Hall: Trey Songz with Monica. $45-$60, 8:00 p.m.

>> The Red and the Black: Solar Powered Sun Destroyer, Bronzed Chorus. $8, 9:00 p.m.

SUNDAY

It's easy to be a badass when a) your father is legendary bad ass Hank Williams Jr. and b) your band calls itself Assjack. Hank III and Assjack, who don't mind modern country's penchant for sweet rock and roll riffage, but prefer to take their attitude from their old country predecessors, play the 9:30 Club. $20. 7:00 p.m.

>> Jammin' Java: Luke Brindley, Shane Hines, Todd Wright and Anthony Fiacco. $12 in advance/$15 day of show, 7:00 p.m.

Is this the best website in the city? Simple design, topical, hilarious, perfect for afternoon time-killing: if we're being honest, we can only think of a few others that would really give How To Use An Escalator In DC a run for its money. Go, click, laugh.

>> Multi-faceted and Grammy-nominated artist Kokayi is on the verge of releasing a new album this fall, Robots & Dinosaurs. He'll whet folks' appetites for it with the release of his new single, "Roxstar," tonight at Little Miss Whiskey's. Free, 10:30 p.m.

Wednesday:
>> The Soul Controllers (DJs Jahsonic, Stylus and Book) take over the U Street Music Hall for a night of music likely to range from hip-hop to house and whatever else feels good. Free, 10 p.m.

Thursday:
>> L.A.-based band Orgone has played back-up to the likes of Pharoahe Monch and Bun B, but are also known for their own take on the funk sounds of the 1960s and 70s. They'll be on a bill at the Rock and Roll Hotel that also features The Beautiful Girls. $15, 6 p.m.

Friday:
>> This week's installment of "Red Fridays" at U Street Music Hall features the area's top two house DJs with the last name Burns: Sam and Chris. They'll be spinning for an advertised five hours that's sure to span the past 30 years of dance music. Free before 11 p.m./$10 after 11 p.m., 10 p.m.

Saturday:
>> "Big Bad City" with DJ Soul Call Paul will be taking place at the Velvet Lounge for all your 60s soul needs.

>> The monthly "Sol Power" event departs for Brazil, west Africa and points in between. Joining DJs Stylus Deep Sang and Meistro at Dahlak (1771 U Street NW) will be Philly DJ, Lil Dave. Free before 11 p.m./$5 after 11 p.m., 10 p.m.

Sunday:
>> Fresh off his Michael Jackson tribute last weekend, DJ Dredd brings back his "Versus" party to the Black Cat. This outing will pit Prince against The Neptunes. $13 in advance/$15 at the door, 9 p.m.

>> Producer and 45 RPM record collector extraordinaire Kenny "Dope" Gonzalez will be spinning a pre-Labor Day set at the Eighteenth Street Lounge. $TBA, 9:30 p.m.

Here's the context. Yesterday, Wise decided to run a little experiment -- tweeting three pieces of fake news, in the hopes that he could prove that someone would run them without fact checking, in some kind of attempt to either prove that real reporting is dead, or that blogs aren't worth their salt, or both. Wise never claimed any sources in the tweets, but his notes were picked up and attributed to him in stories about the people in them. Wise then outed the tweets as fake on his radio show, and bragged about the boost in followers they provided. Then everyone called Wise out, while his editors at the Post laid the interoffice smackdown.

We noted Wise's mea culpa in yesterday's Go Home Already, but it was clear that this the scheme -- since it gambled with chips obtained with equity in the reputation of the Post itself -- was far beyond a simple apology. Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk -- who was one of the few national sources to republish Wise's claim that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger would be suspended for five games -- said that Wise "should be glad he wasn't fired."

For his part, Wise did realize the gravity of his actions today, during his radio show:

Integrity, being right before being first, is the only thing genuine journalists have left in this world. It pains me to say my own stupid, irresponsible experiment ironically has cost me a chunk of my own credibility today. I'm sorry, especially to the good, smart people at the best place I've ever worked. Even those angry and livid, I know your heart is with the paper and its reputation. I will say you find out in times like these who cares about you beyond a blog post. I'll also say it would be wrong to judge the people calling for your head. I always say our worst moments should not define us - I just didn't think I'd be talking about myself.

What made Wise's experiment so strange is that it was such a losing proposition: by knowingly breaking false news, Wise was either banking that he didn't have the kind of influence that a prominent reporter at one of the world's largest newspapers should have, or was willing to sell some (all?) of his credibility down the toilet in order to take a swing at the validity of Twitter as a news-gathering source. Regardless of what Wise was aiming for, the latter happened. One can only assume that Wise just didn't understand how Twitter has, to borrow from political parlance, changed the game.

Wise's goal of discrediting Twitter as a legitimate source for breaking news was doomed, because it already is one.

But even assuming no prior knowledge of Twitter's ascendancy to legitimacy, Wise's logic had a fatal disconnect: he assumed that there weren't levels of authenticity to Twitter, which, just like any other social construct on Earth, features some people who are reputable concerning whatever and others who aren't. Wise's move would be akin to trying to prove that the police/media information chain is broken by asking a random guy sitting inside the precinct for information about a double homicide. Of course, said random guy's information cant be relied upon for dirt, but getting an answer from the police commander is likely to produce something worth printing. And In the world of Twitter, journalists who work for the Washington Post are that commander.

This is just the way that it works now. Unfortunately, Wise just learned that the hard way.