Always Proper Grammar in themail
Dear Correspondents:
So many messages; don't want to try your patience; no room to say more.
Gary Imhoff
themail@dcwatch.com
###############
A Viable and Vibrant City
Ed T. Barron, edtb@aol.com
After spending more than a week in San Francisco it is painfully clear
just how far the District of Columbia must go before it is a real city, a city that is
resident and visitor friendly. The city of San Francisco is about twice the size of
Washington in both population and area. It's a crowded city with all the elements of a big
city — beautiful places to live and some not so beautiful areas. What the city does
have, however is a vibrancy and a great attitude. The downtown areas bustle in the daytime
and the theater and dining areas are packed with visitors and San Franciscans well into
the late night hours. The streets feel safe and there is a visible police presence
everywhere.
We stayed but two blocks from the new Moscone Convention Center, just
outside the major retail shopping district. This is a convention center to replicate. The
largest part of the center is underground. Only a two story entrance exists on the North
and South Halls of the center. On the roof of the South Hall is a lovely garden with
fountains and sculptures. On the roof of the North Hall is a restored carrousel, a skating
ring, a restaurant, and a children's science center. The complex is unobtrusive and blends
in well with a neighborhood that is still being reconstructed. Just a few blocks away, on
the waterfront is a new baseball stadium that will be the new home of the San Francisco
Giants. A major baseball stadium right downtown? You betcha. And the city has a
transportation system to die for. Buses, trolley buses, street cars, a few cable cars, and
a light rail Metro criss cross the entire city with astounding frequency making the entire
city accessible to all. D.C. should take a look at San Francisco, a vibrant and viable
city, and put together a plan to make D.C. a real city.
###############
High Population Turnover Casts Doubt on Low DC
Voter Turnout
Len Sullivan, lsnarpac@bellatlantic.net
NARPAC, Inc. has taken a look at the claimed 39% turnout in the DC
elections and concludes it is probably way off, not because the BoEE can't count the
people who voted, but because the registered voter count is probably way too high —
primarily because federal laws now make it so difficult to remove from the rolls those who
leave (like me). We have looked at the problem three ways: 1) It is hard to believe that
with a 14% loss in population since 1990, there should be a 15% increase in registered
voters. In fact, in the parts of DC that have lost the most people (21%), registration has
purportedly increased the most (19%) even though the voters declined the most (21%) —
see the pattern? 2) Whereas the 1990 ratio of registered voters to population in DC of 52%
almost exactly matched the national average of 53%, by 1998 it had reached an unrealistic
68% citywide, and well over 70% in the least likely wards — higher in fact than the
national average population of voting age (of which only 71% register on average). 3) DC's
net decrease in population hides a much larger turnover: for every loss of one DC
registered voter, three voters moved out, and two new voters moved in — the
demographers imply. If “de-registration” isn't happening, then very substantial
errors can result, turning real losses into large perceived gains.
We believe that there may be as few as 275,000 “true” registered
voters in DC now (rather than the BoEE claim of 353,500), and that the real turnout was
about 50% — way above the national average of 37%. Mayor-elect Williams has an
outstanding mandate by national standards. Take heart, Mark Richards.
###############
Tom Berry had it right on voting at Lafayette School on Nov. 3, but he
didn't know the half of it. I voted when the polls opened at 7 a.m. — granted a busy
time when many folks want to cast their ballots and get on to work, but the election
officials definitely were not ready for prime (voting) time. The alphabet was divided into
four lines for voters to sign in and pick up their ballot cards, but all four of those
lines were funneled into one line at the head of which two officials (call them Abbott and
Costello) combined to give out the actual ballots. This is the equivalent of routing all
Beltway traffic into one lane, and it showed. There were well over 100 voters in this line
by the time I left at 7:30. When I made it to the front, Abbott was telling Costello,
“Now did Mr. X [name of previous voter] get his ballot, or is this [me] Mr. X.?”
I promptly informed them that I was not Mr. X and got my ballot. But if each transaction
like this took 30-60 seconds, you can figure how long it would take 100 people to get
their ballots. Yes, I know that the poll workers are temporary help who do this only once
or twice a year. But it should be a no-brainer that many dozens of people will want to
vote when the polls open, and presumably, just before they close.
###############
Voting Procedures — “Fast Food Drive
Thru”
Liz Hoopes, wizzyliz@os2bbs.com
Sure, there could be a more efficient way of herding the voters in and out
of the polling places. But to suggest that a waiting time of 15 minutes may be the culprit
of a 39% turn out is far-reaching. (I believe that voter apathy is more like it.) Why
should one expect the voting process to resemble a fast food drive thru? Are we becoming a
society where 15 to 30 minutes of our time every couple of years is too much of a
sacrifice for our democratic way of life? And yet, how often do we see hordes of people
waiting in line — for eternity — when there's a big Powerball jackpot to be won?
Hmmm.
###############
Flying and Voting
Rich Mintz, rmintz@ixl.com
Steph Faul asks why the ID requirements for voting are less stringent than
those for getting on a plane. The short answer (from my high school civics course —
never let it be said that high school civics has no value!) is that, while airline travel
is a privilege contingent upon several factors (your income level, your willingness and
ability to be clean and dress appropriately and act civilly, etc.), voting is a right. The
state (in the abstract) has a compelling interest in ensuring that the exercise of that
right imposes the smallest burden possible. Requiring an ID would de facto exclude
everyone who, for whatever legitimate reason (e.g., no fixed address, lack of the $25 ID
processing fee, agoraphobia), did not have one. For related reasons, literacy tests are
not permitted, because they act to exclude whole classes of people.
As I recall, a locality (per Supreme Court decision, as I recall, although
I look forward to being corrected) cannot legally require you to carry a formal government
ID card or (through its police) to produce it on demand, although it can require that you
identify yourself on demand for public safety purposes, or that you formally identify
yourself in order to get certain government services. (Recall that any government form
that requires your Social Security Number must tell you what the information will be used
for, whether it is required, and what the consequences will be if you decline to provide
it.)
The state, obviously, has a competing interest in ensuring the security of
the voting process (e.g., that no one vote twice, that people vote in their own names,
etc.), but up to now our society (especially given its recent civil rights history) has
come down squarely on the side of the voter in this one. It is an arguable point (for the
record, I personally agree that openness should trump security).
###############
More on Initiative 59 (Medical Marijuana)
Arthur Spitzer, artspitzer@aol.com
Mr. Klaatu, who unlike the rest of us is allowed to hide behind an alias,
needs to pay more attention to detail. First of all, it's Initiative 59, not Proposition
59. Second, Mr. Klaatu says if we just read Article I of the Constitution we will see that
“Congress has absolute authority over anything in the District of Columbia.” Mr.
Klaatu should keep reading past Article I until he gets to the Bill of Rights. All
of Congress's powers are limited by the Bill of Rights, including its powers over the
District. No one disputes that general principle, and the courts have often enforced it.
On October 30, the ACLU filed a lawsuit challenging this new Act of Congress as a
violation of the First Amendment rights of DC citizens. I am delighted to report that last
Friday (Nov. 6), the DC Government filed papers in that lawsuit agreeing with the ACLU on
that point. We are now waiting for the US Department of Justice to decide whether to
defend the congressional action. We hope the courts will agree with us and we hope to have
the election results certified and sent to Congress by the time it convenes on January 4.
Third, Mr. Klaatu is confused when he says that “the law did not
prohibit the citizens from voting, but prohibited the District from using any funds to
certify the results of the vote.” In fact, the law prohibited the District government
from spending any funds to “conduct” the Initiative. That would have banned the
voting too, except that by the time the fiscal 1999 budget bill was enacted, the ballots
had already been printed and Initiative 59 was on the same card as other contests, so that
card had to be handed to voters. Had Congress acted earlier, Initiative 59 would not have
been printed on the ballots, unless a court had acted to overrule Congress. Finally, Mr.
Klaatu's suggestion that “there is absolutely no law against a voluntary funding by a
citizens committee to pay for a certified count” also suffers from lack of
information. Only the Board of Elections can certify the results, otherwise the
certification is not official. Private citizens cannot pay government officials to do
their jobs; that's called bribery and it's a crime. There will be a court hearing on the
ACLU lawsuit on December 18, and a ruling perhaps that day or (more likely) soon
afterward. Stay tuned.
###############
District of Complaint Revisited
John Whiteside, jwhiteside@eisi.com
If you make one mistake at work, should you be fired? Larry Seftor thinks
so, judging from his comments about Chief Ramsey and the Wilson Bridge closure. Never mind
that it's far from clear that this was a bad decision — apparently the police thought
that the man on the bridge might be armed, and for some strange reason thought this could
pose a threat to passing traffic. Never mind that had Ramsey NOT closed the bridge and
some passer-by was injured, people would be (rightly) calling for his head. Let's just
hang him out to dry, because he made a decision in a tough situation and not everyone is
sure it was the right one. Then let's scratch our heads and wonder why it's so hard to get
talented people to work for the DC government.
###############
There But for the Grace. . . .
Oscar Abeyta, NewsDC3@aol.com
Obviously, Larry Seftor subscribes to the Jim Moran school of thought when
it comes to human compassion. Moran told WTOP that if it were up to him, he'd have let the
man jump off the Wilson Bridge without intervening. Come now, Larry and Jim, is your
commute so important that you're willing to write off a human being simply so you can get
home in time to see yet another rerun of “Seinfeld?” Oh, and Larry, no one died
as a result of Ramsey's decision to close the Wilson. Not even the man who tried to kill
himself. Seems Ramsey's decision was right after all.
Larry, Jim, take heart. If life ever turns against you and you're driven
to commit a rash act that endangers your life, we'll be sure to let Chief Ramsey know he
doesn't need to inconvenience anybody on your behalf.
###############
I wonder if any of the ex-public school students who have been so badly
ripped off are lurkers here. Maybe now is the time to tell us how you found out that, when
you thought high school was a waste, you were right! If you were not a drop out and
managed to finish UDC or another institution, tell us how you made it all work.
###############
Has legislation designed to prevent the demolition of potentially historic
properties in the vicinity of the new Convention Center worked? I note that at least one
large old structure has been demolished in Shaw in the last year — but several blocks
north of the “protected area” as defined around the Mt. Vernon Square. Should
similar protection be extended to other parts of the historic Shaw community? Should the
protection be extended past the 18 months provided for in the original legislation?
I provide a listing of the Lots and Squares covered at
http://www.shawdc.com/update/Demolition-Protection.html and would be interested to hear
comments either pro or con.
###############
About 20 years ago, I was driving an ancient Volkswagen. One day I
squeezed into about a ¾ parking space in back of another VW bug. I didn't get a ticket,
but did find a testy note from the owner of the VW in front of me that, when he wanted his
car bred, he'd let me know!
###############
How on earth are the ticketing types supposed to tell WHICH car parked too
close? It takes two cars to be less than three feet apart, and I sure couldn't tell who
parked close. Even car position in relation to the demarcation lines doesn't tell you
much. Frequently, a driver has to park oddly because other parkers have left a weird
space, then the original nitwits move on and leave his/her car parked way at one end of
the space...
###############
To Michael Stempel's comments on the Plotkin-bashing in Loose Lips, I
would add: I'm sure Mark Plotkin will give statehood a rest as soon as the 1980 statehood
mandate is implemented. By what right does any journalist, Ken, give our elected leaders a
break on this fundamental issue?
###############
As the son of an English major and a commercial printer, I seem to have
the rules of English grammar as a permanent component in my arteries. I can't let Hank
Wallace's comments slip by without adding my own. Hank gets a C- at best when he claims,
“You can vote for a winner if you want to” actually does split an infinitive
— rightly.” No way! It's a contraction of “You can vote for a winner if you
want to vote for a winner.” No split infinitive, just a dropped rest-of-phrase. And
maybe a C+/B- for arguing that "splitting an infinitive often clarifies modification
('We plan to clearly describe essential procedures'), improves sound ... or saves
words.”
You can have it all, Hank, if you rephrase the sentence as “We plan
to describe essential procedures clearly.” Same clear meaning, same brevity,
and hey! no split infinitive! Adverbs are adverbs, no matter where you stick 'em. But
maybe the meaning should have been “We clearly plan to describe essential
procedures.” But grammar got in the way ...
I do give him an A+ for the clever re-spacing of “them ail”
— just so he knows there are no hard feelings ... <grin>
###############
Splitting Infinitives, and the Plural of Mouse
Stan Wellborn, stanw@aecf.org
Open your grammars to page 3. Find rule 3. Cross it out. In response to
recent Mail comments about split infinitives and what the plural of mouse (as in
computers) is, here are two observations:
Frank Abate, editor-in-chief of the Oxford dictionary, says it's OK to
with impunity split infinitives, since no one is able to with precision prove that there
ever was a rule to not do that anyway. The School Memories and Night Sweats Committee,
remembering every bun-coiffed English teacher who ever abused a class with Silas
Marner and sentence diagrams of Dickens, predicts that the new syntactic chaos will
be slow to on catch.
The more you think about things, the more thing get too complicated to
think about. For example: Some still wonder, “mouses” or “mice,” Internet
World's George Ellis has some logic to inject into the conundrum. “No computer
has ever had more than one mouse. Therefore, when talking about two computers, one would
say 'two computers and their mouses.' 'Mice' would leave open the possibility that there
could be more than one mouse per computer. Ergo, a singular sensibility, and a plural form
that expresses that singularity. At any rate, a mouse (eek!) is not a mouse (click), and
so, in true English language fashion, all rules are off. One wouldn't call two husbands
out cheating on their wives a couple of lice.”
###############
Re: “Klaatu, klaatu@earthops.org , also sent in Winston Churchill's
classic response to the prohibition on ending sentences with a preposition: 'This business
of always never ending a sentence with a preposition is nonsense up with which I simply
will not put.'” Although that classic example is clever, it overstates the position
(a position I happen to agree with, that it's OK to end a sentence with a preposition to
sound conversational or to save words). If the only goal here is to avoid ending a
sentence with a preposition, you can achieve that with a much more moderate rewrite:
“Never ending a sentence with a preposition is nonsense with which I simply will not
put up.” “Up” here is an adverb. (“Up” is a preposition in
“Hickory dickory dock, the mouse ran up the clock.”)
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — EVENTS, MEETINGS, AND
ORGANIZATIONS
Internet Viruses — Fact or Myth?
Gabe Goldberg, gabe@acm.org
Capital PC User Group Internet SIG November Meeting on computer virus
hoaxes — Past, “Penpal,” Future. Speaker: Rob Rosenberger, Webmaster,
Computer Virus Myths home page. Thursday, November 12, 1998, 7 pm, Washington Gas Light
Corporation, Springfield, Virginia.
Rob Rosenberger will take you on a fun tour of computer virus hoaxes from
past to present, playfully poking fun at prominent people who got duped by them. (The list
includes the FBI, “military intelligence,” Senator Moynihan, and many others.)
Rosenberger will also describe some virus hoaxes we may see in the future. Rob Rosenberger
is an internationally recognized expert on computer virus myths & hoaxes. He is one of
the “original” virus experts from the 1980's and is webmaster of the popular
Computer Virus Myths home page, http://www.kumite.com/myths
. Rosenberger is widely credited for writing a chronicle of the media hysteria surrounding
the Michelangelo virus in 1992.
No reservations are required to attend meetings. The Internet SIG's Web
page at http://www.cpcug.org/user/internet
provides full meeting information including driving directions, and news of other local
Internet events and resources. It also describes how to subscribe to the Internet SIG's
low volume announcements-only mailing list to receive timely information about the local
Internet community.
###############
Eat, drink, and be merry. Join Hands on DC for happy hour, Tuesday,
November 10, 6:30-10 p.m., at Politiki, 319 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, between 3rd and 4th
Streets. $5 cover; happy hour prices; door prizes raffled off.
Please bring your friends and spread the word. We are raising money to
fund our April Work-a-Thon in the D.C. public schools. Whether you are an organizer, a
volunteer, or just interested in finding out more about what we do, come join us for a
fun-filled pre-Veteran's Day celebration and fundraiser! Hands on DC is an all-volunteer
service project of College Bound, Inc., a tax exempt entity under Sec. 501 (c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Code.
###############
Oyster School Bilingual Book Fair
Philip Blair, Jr., Proud Parent of a Student at the Oyster Bilingual School, pblair@worldbank.org
Q: What is a successful bilingual education student?
A: A little girl who has learned how to not pay attention to her parents in two languages.
Oyster Bilingual Elementary School, a D.C. public school, is a world-class
model of successful two-way bilingual education. It is truly a proof that the D.C. public
schools can produce results. All readers of themail are invited to Oyster's Annual
Bilingual Holiday Book Fair. The Fair runs from Monday, November 30, through Saturday,
December 5, from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oyster is now temporarily relocated to K.C. Lewis School
at 300 Bryant Street, NW (just south of the Howard U. campus).
The event features wonderful books in English and Spanish for young people
from over 100 publishers in the U.S. and abroad. For more information, call the Oyster
School Library at 202/671-0081 or Mary Pat Rowan and Philip Blair at 202/526-8821.
###############
This Friday Franko Jazz Rhymes at Cafe Nema
Sven Abow, slomo@doubled.com
On Friday please don't go to Lima,
'Cause Franko Jazz plays here at Nema
The music is live
At 09:45
Be there if you're real or a dreama'
Cafe Nema is at 1334 U St., NW, WDC, Ph 202-667-3215.
###############
Where Will You Be at Midnight, January 1, 2000?
Gabe Goldberg, gabe@acm.org
If you've heard about the upcoming wrestling match between computers and
the new millennium, and you wonder what it means for individuals and communities, check
out the Northern Virginia Y2K Community Action Group, http://www.novay2k.org
. This is a collection of level-headed, mostly non-technical, citizens, researching and
planning what may be needed to reduce the impact of the year 2000 on individuals and
communities. It's not survivalists, it's just folks, working with local organizations and
governments. It offers an opportunity to learn and participate, to hear introductory
lectures on why the problem matters to everyone (not just to huge mainframe computer
shops), and to develop an informed opinion on how best to prepare.
###############
Ward Three Democrats Reorganize at End of Barry Era
Kurt Vorndran, kvorn@nteuhq1.nteu.org
The Ward Three Democratic Committee will hold its Biennial Caucus for the
purpose of electing representatives to the 1999-2000 Committee on Tuesday, November 17th,
7:30 p.m. at St. Luke's Methodist Church, Calvert Street N.W. at Wisconsin Avenue, in
Fellowship Hall, Lower Level. This year the Committee will hold a combined caucus of all
precincts to elect six representatives — 3 delegates and 3 alternates — from
each precinct in the Ward to become two-year voting members of the Ward Three Democratic
Committee. All registered Democrats in the ward are invited and encouraged to run as
representatives of their precinct.
As the official Democratic Party Organization in the ward, the purpose of
the Committee is the election and support of Democratic candidates for local and national
office and the advancement of the ideals of the Democratic Party. It provides the only
ward wide forum for the exchange of ideas and action on political issues of concern to the
community. The Committee advises Democratic elected officials as to the issues of the day,
participates in the selection of delegates to the Democratic National Convention and makes
political endorsements. For more information, interested Ward 3 Democrats are encouraged
to call Kurt Vorndran, Chair (667-0105) or Linda Finkel-Talvadkar, Second Vice Chair
(363-8827).
###############
The Wonder of Boys
Saskia van Groningen, saskiavg@hotmail.com
On Thursday, November 19th, at 8 p.m., Michael Gurian, a therapist,
educator, and author of the best selling “The Wonder of Boys,” will be giving a
lecture as a part of the Lowell School Lecture Series. Michael Gurian challenges long held
notions about how best to rear our boys, beginning with biology and addressing issues of
culture, morality, and spirituality. He brings important perspectives to the debate over
how the country raises its sons. The lecture will be held at the Washington Hebrew
Congregation on the corner of Massachusetts and Macomb Streets NW. Tickets are $12 and
will be available at the door. To buy tickets in advance or for more information call
(202) 726-9153.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — HOUSING AND TEMPORARY SPACE
Apartment for Rent
Evan Roth, emroth@his.com
Fully furnished one bedroom apartment in Cleveland Park high-rise will be
available for four months beginning Dec. 28. Just steps away from the Cleveland Park Metro
station, restaurants, shops, Uptown Theater. Rent: $1,200 per month. Contact Evan at
202.362.8274 (daytime) or emroth@his.com
###############
I am looking for a one bedroom apartment in a building that allows small
dogs, 9 pounds to be exact. Does anyone know of any buildings that are currently accepting
tenants in the Woodley Park area, and is within a 5 minute walk of the Metro?
###############
Our discussion group seeks a meeting location in a restaurant in the
Virginia near-suburbs. We need a private, quiet, well-lit room seating 25-30 near the
metro with some main courses below $10. We can't pay extra for the room. If you know of
such a restaurant please send an e-mail message to dsobelso@capaccess.org. Thanks!
###############
Family Party Venues
Paul Penniman, unclepaul@aol.com
For a dysfunctional family reunion, I would like any recommendations of a
place where, for a couple of hours, we all could eat, the kids could run around, and the
adults could anesthetize themselves with alcoholic beverages. Thanks for your help.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — SERVICES
Juliette's offers scrumptious vegetarian, vegan and macrobiotic meals
cooked fresh daily for delivery or pick-up. Daily, weekly or monthly meal plans are
available, as is catering for private and office events. I've used Juliette's catering for
a party, and everyone raved about the food. Call 202-518-2665 (located at 18th and S
Streets, N.W.).
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — WANTED
Birchmere Tixs
Valerie Kenyon Gaffney, vkg0531@aol.com
Desperately seeking (2) tickets to Saturday, Nov. 14 Birchmere tribute to
John Duffey. Call 202-887-4767 or 703-916-2409, or e-mail to VKG0531@aol.com.
###############
Wanted: I'm missing NBA and really want a backboard and basketball hoop
(no pole, please). Will take it off your hands for cheap. Really.
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — CONGREGATIONAL
This Congregational Church was founded in 1918 as a fellowship devoted to
worship, teaching and service. Its members seek to balance the traditional aspects of
Christianity — faith and study, prayer, and social action — and share a
commitment to these goals. The United Church of Christ (UCC) is a mainstream Protestant
denomination with a heritage of learned preaching, social services, informed faith and
local church autonomy. Each UCC church is responsible for its own decisions and support.
The roots of the UCC go back to the Pilgrims in New England and the Congregational
churches they founded.
You are cordially invited to join us on Sunday mornings at 10:30. Baby
sitting, child care and Sunday School is available for your children. Its address and
phone number are 3400 Lowell St, N.W., (202) 363-8211. The Pastor's (Ken Fuller) e-mail
is: KeDaFuller@AOL.COM .
###############
CLASSIFIEDS — CITY PAPER PREVIEW
Dave Nuttycombe, webmeister@washcp.com
From washingtoncitypaper.com's LOOSE LIPS column, appearing this Friday:
BARRY'S HAIL-MARY APPOINTMENTS: When Mayor-for-Life Marion S. Barry Jr. leaves office in
January, he certainly won't miss tussling with Congress and listening to residents gripe
about rude city employees. He will, however, have trouble parting with his club seats at
Wizards and Redskins games, the photo-ops with sports mogul Abe Pollin, and his ringside
vantage point at D.C. Armory boxing matches. So much trouble, in fact, that Hizzoner has
found a way to hold onto those precious perks for another four years.
Read the entire Loose Lips column this Friday at: http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/lips/lips.html
From washingtoncitypaper.com's CITY LIGHTS page, here are a few early
warnings for upcoming events:
FRIDAY, NOV. 13: Japanese Performing Arts Festival, to November 29 at the National Gallery
of Art's East Building atrium and auditorium, 4th & Constitution NW. FREE, but advance
tickets are required for some performances.
MONDAY, NOV. 16: Third Annual Paul Harris Comedy Concert for Children's Hospital, 7:30
p.m. at the Warner Theater, 513 13th St. NW. $20-30.
More details and more critics' picks are available online at http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/pix/pix.html
###############
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