Jaybird's Jottings

1001 Inventions and 39 Birds of Paradise

Perhaps more than any other organization in the world, the National Geographic Society, which is celebrating its 125^th birthday, has brought us the wonders of the world.   In my days of youth, they did it mostly through their magazine, wrapped in brown paper and full of the best travel photography around.    Today, their delivery system still includes that monthly, as well as options from an array of media (resists "we never had that") and wonderful places like their museum in downtown D.C.

With temps nudging up to the 60-degree mark, we took in two exhibits there today.   The first is "1001 Inventions: Discover the Golden Age of Muslim Civilization."  Suddenly, we were back in Tunisia and Oman, reliving the fascination of learning about the wonders of Islamic and Arabic culture and history.    Children on field trips looked on in fascination too, an experience enhanced with interactive tools.  

This is a popular and award-winning traveling exhibit and it’s easy to see why.   A short film with actor Ben Kingsley is a good start.

Note:  This exhibit ends Feb 3.

 

 

A few steps in the other room lies another fascinating world.   “Birds of Paradise: Amazing Avian Evolution,” is also a can’t miss presentation.   Tim Laman and Edwin Scholes spent eight years observing and filming  39 species of birds in a remote rain forest in New Guinea.  

One of their most rewarding moments came when they filmed a Arfak Astrapia male.   Be sure and watch the film, which documents some of their work and this exotic bird’s behavior.    

A word of warning, though, to this bird’s human counterparts.   Your partner’s expectations of what constitutes impressive courting may be greater after they watch this bird in action...

 

 

 

Because It Was a Day Like No Other....

More photos from NatsFest!

 

Long lines for the stairway to heaven.

 

Corey Brown.  Wife said, Cute!

 

Viera here we come.

 

Strasburg shies away from these events.   No problem.

 

Taft trips Teddy, crowd roars with disapproval, Nationals nod.

 

 

 

NatsFest 2013

 

With snow on the ground and temps below the freezing mark, a sea of fans wearing smiles and their red-colored Washington sports gear converged on downtown this afternoon.    A Capitals game?

Almost always, yes.  But today we’re talking NatsFest, the Nationals fan festival held at the Convention Center.

The Nationals have had a checkered past with this annual rite of the off-season.   Hosting the event at the new ballpark in 2008 ushered in a better chapter, but this year, the combination of a even more Metro-friendly location, the attractiveness and convenience of the Convention Center, the success of last year’s team and an even more talented squad this year, made this one easily the best ever.   

Highlights in the main ballroom included team co-owner Mark Lerner and GM Mike Rizzo on the “State of the Nationals,” and Gio Gonzalez and Tyler Clippard interviewing Ian Desmond, Bryce Harper and Jordan Zimmerman.    Gonzalez is a natural at the cock and bull.  

Also drawing a standing-room only crowd was the introduction of William Howard Taft (“Bill”) as the fifth racing President.   Let Taft-mania begin!!

No breaking news that I know of, but Bryce Harper said he bought a ’69 Camaro with 800 Horsepower.  Rizzo said Washington deserves the All-Star team.   

The schedule was brimming with activities, with an accent on kid-friendly events such as two batting cages and a base run.  Autograph sessions drew long lines and Bob Carpenter and Charlie Slowes emceed.

Most of the team appeared, with Gonzalez the most generous with his time. As Mark Zuckerman noted skipper Davey Johnson is on vacation, Ryan Zimmerman on his honeymoon, and Strasburg in San Diego for an event.

Hats off to the Nationals.   You've come a long way baby! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Out of the Vaults: The Giants Journal

Finally got some downstairs re-arranging accomplished the other day.    Moving black binders to a sub-location, I came across old issues of my Giants Journal.   

Paused briefly to remember those ancient days before blogging became mainstream.    In 1995, we had gotten back from our assignment in Muscat, Oman.   Bought our first computer, a mean machine with 100 MHZ and 8 RAM.    In between careers, I had time to surf the web and play around with Word (or was it Works?) features such as desktop publishing.    We had personal computers when I was in the Air Force, but who had time to use them for personal reasons?  (Ok, that once when….)

Thought it might be cool to post some of the newsletters I mailed out to friends and family, a period from 1996 to 1999.    But first, I’d like to start with a single-page article I wrote in August 1999, titled, “Brant Brown’s Revenge.”   As you can see, High Cheese Sports published my piece.   I think at the time I thought I was hot stuff. 

Jay Roberts, San Francisco Giants columnist 

(I’m sure Henry Schulman trembled..).

 As I write this, I just noticed High Cheese Sports copyrighted my article, which I subsequently posted to The Giants Journal (1999 to 2003).   What a lawsuit that would make, uh? 

“Your Honor, please accept this primer on File Transfer Protocol and AOL Hometown.”

Anyway, here it is. (Having some issues with our scanner.  This is a photo).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This One Belongs to the Reds

This past summer, Washington and the Nationals were tossed around as strong candidates to host the 2015 All-Star Game.

Ain’t happening.   Commissioner Selig announced yesterday the summer classic goes to Cincinnati (thus the Marty Brennaman reference).

So it’s back to the drawing board for Washington.   The Nationals have certainly done everything they can do to earn the selection.   The apparent roadblock is the “slow development around the ballpark,” as Mark Zuckerman reported yesterday.

Yahoo Sports wrote,

“The Nats lost out, the speculation goes, because the area around Nationals Park is underdeveloped.”

Given that the area around Citi Field (the Mets host this year) isn’t exactly a smorgasbord of dining and drinking options, this “not-yet-fully-developed” argument may or may not to be true.   But there’s no question the Nationals are keeping a close eye on Jacqueline Dupree’s development map, which has tracked real estate around the ballpark even before the Nationals arrived.  

Dupree has rolled her eyes more than once when someone who knows better has understated the amount of re-development surrounding Nationals Park.

A lot of new real estate has arrived and more is coming on board this year, but it is that high visibility area between the Metro station and the ballpark that stands out like an eyesore.  Yesterday Dupree said, “the big hole in the ground and the big lot covered with shipping containers probably speak for themselves.”   

Baseball fans in the nation’s capital craving for the mid-summer classic should be mindful that the Nationals and the Marlins are not the only teams whispering passionate pleas into Selig’s ear.    Wrigley Field will turn 100 in 2016 and reportedly be renovated.    The Phillies and Padres both have nice modern parks and have not had the game in years.  There’s always some new anniversary waiting to be pop up, and Selig has been known to invoke the “let’s help out the sagging franchise” clause.  

Washington has not seen the game since 1969.    But to that argument, Selig might counter that 1972 to 2004, the period of time when DC did not have a big league team, doesn’t count as a waiting period.

There’s also the worry about that tall white dome which stands one mile north of Nationals Park, the place where Congress dragged baseball to the table during the steroids hearings.    Selig, who does have a tough job as Selector-in-Chief, could be holding a grudge, or he wants time to pass before baseball and Washington are juxtaposed.

There was a time when Washington had a bit of a monopoly on the ASG, hosting it 1962 and 1969.   The latter celebrated big league baseball’s 100^th anniversary.    2019 could be what Selig has in mind for the nation’s capital, and by that time, the Capitol Riverfront neighborhood will be more than ready to host the three day festival. 

Meanwhile, we’ll see how many Nationals can make this year’s All-Star Game, while we wait for our turn.

 

 

 

 

New Documentary Film on D.C.'s Chinatown

This past May, Yi Chen previewed her verite-style documentary to an audience at the Chinese Community Cultural Center at 616 H Street NW DC.  Her film, the first of its kind, juxtaposes contemporary life in D.C.’s Chinatown with its diminished past and hopes for a better future. 

Last week, Chen, a student at American University, was proud to announce the launch of a Kickstarter campaign to raise finishing funds for the film. 

“It’s been ten days, she said, “since our launch on Kickstarter and we’re very grateful for the pledges and support from the community.  The confidence people have shown in the project strengthens our belief in the need to tell the story.”

Titled “CHINATOWN: A Documentary Film in Post-Production” on Kickstarter, the project has 78 backers and already reached 60% if its goal.

With Washington rich in ethnic stories (a recent study at Penn State University ranked the area fourth most diverse in the U.S.), those telling the stories of Chinese-Americans here face stiff competition for attention and support.    That's frustrating for filmmakers such as Chen, who know their history here is a rich one.   Chinatown is one of Washington’s oldest ethnic communities – the first documented Chinese resident of Washington, D.C. settled on Pennsylvania Avenue in 1851.   

As one of the largest minority groups in Fairfax County, Asian-Americans in the region have some strength in numbers.   But unlike the large and teeming Chinatown in San Francisco, the one here has shrunk to a population of only 400 or so immigrants.   Despite its sharp focus and easy access to Metro, this reduction means D.C.'s Chinatown is no longer the most desirable place for banquets and meetings.   

For residents at places like the Wah Luck House, who desire authentic, healthy and affordable Chinese foods, purchasing those goods means a weekly 45-minute drive to the Great Wall Supermarket in Falls Church.  

Selected by "Our City Film Festival," CHINATOWN will be screened on March 10th at the Atlas Performing Arts Center.

Please consider supporting this important film.

 

Inauguration Turnout

John King observed yesterday morning the turnout looked primed to exceed projections of 500K to 700K.

A D.C. Homeland Security official says turnout on the Mall was "definitely above 800,000" and possibly up to one million people. 

Officials are pointing to the weather, a mix of sun and clouds, light winds and temps in mid 40s.

Crowd estimates for 2009 were as high as 1.8M, which is put into perspective by the great turnout yesterday.      

 

 

 

 

 

Fort Hunt Park

Mr. Speaker, I extend my appreciation to these veterans. The Nation owes a great debt to them for their sacrifice to our Nation during a time of war for their pursuit of critical intelligence, while maintaining the highest level of integrity and America's moral values, and for their intrepid actions that have, until very recently, gone unacknowledged. – U.S. Representative Jim Moran, Congressional Record, October 18, 2007

 

With a sunny day on tap, and needing a break from transcribing, I headed over to Fort Hunt Park on Saturday.   This patch of 100 acres is located between Mount Vernon and Alexandria, overlooks the Potomac River and is easily accessible from the GW Parkway.  

Although larger in size, and not bisected by the Mount Vernon Trail, Fort Hunt Park is a counterpart of sorts to Jones Point Park.   The list of previous occupants is much longer than seems, and nearby residents are dealing with proposed changes.   In 2008, residents of Old Town were not pleased when Jones Point Park closed down two years for renovations.  Similarly, residents in Fort Hunt are dealing with an effort by the National Park Service, who wants to update historical interpretations.   Meetings have been held, a development plan contains four options, each with the goal to accommodate both recreation users and history buffs.  

Nine interpretive markers dot the park, its grassy lands once owned by George Washington.   In 1885, after the “Endicott Board” warned the nation’s coastal defenses were woefully inadequate, batteries were erected to protect Washington at the start of the Spanish-American War.    Remnants remain and can be walked on.

(By the way, I just realized there’s some kind of a trifecta for this stretch of land below Alexandria.  You’ve got these, Fort Willard from the Civil War (remnants protected in the Belle Haven neighborhood), and a fort in the colonial days (marker at Dykes Marsh, site only). 

On this site, the Bonus Army March protesters lived in tents while they asked Congress for their pensions.    The Civilian Conservation Corps sent workers here in the 1930.   They planted trees along the road, and helped rehabilitate sagging historic structures in the area.    Shoes were buffed to a high gloss in June 1939 when King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited from England.    

In terms of national importance, Fort Hunt Park’s greatest chapter is one that remained secret for over a half a century.   The markers tell some of this remarkable story, as does Heidi Ridgley who wrote an in-depth piece for National Park magazine (Winter 2010).

The government ran a top-secret program here during World War II (1942 to 1946).  The site’s code name was “P.O. Box 1142,” the mailing address for the assigned military personnel.    They interrogated more than 4,000 POW’s, including rocket scientist Werner von Braun and spymaster Reinhardt Gehlen.



The park offers great spaces for walkers and dogs, picnics, baseball games and the like.   It is much more roomier than Jones Point, and much quieter.   Trees and such block the views to the river, but part of the improvement plans are to clear the way and restore that scenic view.

It’s easy to understand the resistance to changing this park.    But Jones Point Park is an example of a win-win situation.    Not everybody is a history buff, but for those who are, the newer interpretive markers will be fantastic.   And the hidden history of the interrogation program here is a gold mine for researchers.   The oral histories alone should be worth the cost.

  In her article, Ridgely touches on this:

If funding is found, park personnel plan to install interpretive signs, old photographs, and maybe even some war paraphernalia.  The Park Service is also hoping to mirror the experience of those agents eavesdropping on the German POWs, by allowing visitors to don headphones and listen in as if they were monitoring a conversation. Using actual transcripts from 1142 recovered at the National Archives, they hope to hire native German speakers to record the original dialogue in the mother tongue, so visitors can listen in and read the English translation in front of them.

 

Jim Sutherland is producing a documentary about the men who held their secrets for so long.   Please visit his website, and consider donating.

Additional Reading

Fort Hunt Park Site Development Plan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blogging Inaugural Coverage (1045 to Noon)

All the channels are now using the same feed, with the President leaving the White House.  Decided to stay with CNN, now and throughout.

And this is a wrap of our coverage.   I gained a greater appreciation for the news media.   They certainly put in the hours, and as seen by their coverage of this 57^th Inauguration, they do with a style and integrity unmatched anywhere I have even seen.

A tip of the hat then, to them.   This was a memorable day, made much better by all their work and passion for bringing us the events that unfold each and every day.

 And congratulations Mr. President!

 

Note:  This photo happened by accident, a merge of scenes.  Thought it wraps things up quite well.

 

Blogging Inaugural Coverage (1000-1030)

Heavy hitters continue to arrive.  Scott Pelly on board, George Will joining ABC.   Brian Williams talking with Doris Kearns Goodwin who said President Obama needs to inspire as did Kennedy and Reagan.

Props to Channel 8, local news partner with ABC7, who do a great job with the backstories.  These guys also have a lot of continuity with Bruce DuPuyt, Dave Lucas and Melanie Hastings, and others. 

Photo is CNN – Mall around 1015.