• 131 number of homicides in DC in 2010, down nine percent from 2009 (from 141 killings)
• seven of the last ten years have had fewer than 200 homicides; DC was once the U.S. “murder capital”
• 1963 the last year the homicide total was so low in the nation’s capital source

• 12 hospitalized partiers, 11 female (were they drugged?) source

• dumb A woman (illegally) parks in a handicapped spot outside of a dinner where Obama’s speaking; a police officer says it’s OK for her to park.
• dumberUpon leaving, she learns that her car has been moved by Secret Service agents – and they don’t know where they put it. They can’t find it.
• dumbestThe woman, after having given up and run through red tape, finds it herself the next day – less than a block away from the convention center. source

• » How far did WaPo commenters read? Rather than get upset about the fact that the Secret Service lost her freaking car, they criticized the woman for parking in a handicapped spot, even though the tag was for her husband. Not to underplay the traffic violation, but the Secret Service lost somebody’s freaking car.

• It has had an impact on our community. It has brought negative attention on our community that is undeserved.
• Vancouver, Washington Police Chief Clifford Cook • Regarding the acid attack that his police department spent hundreds of manhours on, only to find out that the attack was self-inflicted. Bethany Storro, 28, spent days in the hospital because of the caustic liquid thrown in her face (which fortunately didn’t hit her eyes because she had just bought new sunglasses). She claimed the attack took place at a Starbucks, but over time discrepancies started to show in her story. No word on if she’ll be charged. source

• Something beyond imagination is happening. America today begins to turn back to God. For too long, this country has wandered in darkness.
• Glenn Beck • During a speech he made at the Restoring Honor thang, which has drawn a small handful of people. Beyond our personal issues with the quote, mainly because we personally prefer nonreligious Humanism, the scope of what Beck has put together is pretty impressive. “We are humbled that you are here,” he said. “The reflecting pool holds about 200,000 people. This field back here holds about 250- to 300,000 people. They are not only full here, they’re full in that field, they’re full behind me, and they are now across the street approaching the Washington Monument.” So yeah, this thing was kind of a hit. source

View The Tea Party Guide to DC in a larger map

• To our friends visiting Washington on August 28th to take part in Glenn Beck’s no-longer-9/12 protests: Here’s your map. (And some guy also made a dead-serious guide, too.) Visit the monuments, but don’t you dare leave the blue zone, or you’ll be in the red zones that signify D.C. You don’t want to be caught dead in Dupont Circle. It’s the ‘hood. source

• 3.6 magnitude earthquake hit D.C.; that’s not a metaphor, guys source

• He’s been here for some time, I’m not going to specify for how long, but he has chosen to return.
• State Department spokesman Philip Crowley • Regarding the fate of an Iranian nuclear scientist, Shahram Amiri, who randomly surfaced in D.C. yesterday after being gone from his home country for a while. Obviously, considering his job, the U.S. probably wanted some intelligence from him. And there’s been speculation that U.S. spies kidnapped Amiri – that’s Tehran’s line. Julius is probably going to stumble into an Iranian embassy any day now. You were wondering why we went on vacation for so long, right? source