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Have a Seat? DC One Row Closer to House Seat and Vote

CitizenSugar — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 15:00:55 -0800

An argument has been a brewin' for some time in Washington, DC, over the rights of its 600,000 residents. They have a delegate in Congress, but she can't vote. Why? A tiny line in the Constitution says the House of Representatives must be chosen by the people of each state. Sorry, district!

Because DC residents pay federal taxes, they've long decried it as taxation without representation. But all that might change soon. The Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs approved the legislation 11 to 1 at its first meeting with the new Congress. Who's the naysayer? Sen. John McCain. Arizona.

Overall, Republicans aren't keen on letting the electric blue district have a vote in the House (because what's next? Two in the Senate?). But nobody's more for it than DC's nonvoting delegate, Eleanor Holmes Norton. To watch Stephen Colbert grill her (and vice versa), read more.

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Giveaway of the Week! Dyson Pink DC07

CasaSugar — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 06:59:34 -0700

If you didn't win any of our fabulous method giveaways, don't worry: Thanks to our gracious friends at Dyson, we have another giveaway this week that will help keep your house spic and span.

This time, we're offering a limited-edition Dyson Pink DC07 (retail value $399) created exclusively for Target. Dyson recently re-released this version of its super-slick vacuum in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is coming up in October. Dyson will donate $40 from the sale of each DC07 Pink to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

To enter the Dyson Pink DC07 giveaway, simply leave a comment in the comments section below by 5 p.m. PDT / 8 p.m. EDT Friday, Sept. 28. We'll announce the winner next Monday, Oct. 1. Please, only ONE comment per person; duplicate comments will be discarded. You must be a TeamSugar member to comment, so if you're not a member, please register here. For the rules and regulations, click here.

DC Sniper's Ex-Wife Says Those Bullets Were Meant For Her

TresSugar — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 07:00:00 -0700

On October 23, 2002, Mildred Muhammad was visited at her Maryland home by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives agents. They'd come to inform her that her ex-husband, John, had begun shooting people around her. "You are the target," they told her ominously.

John Muhammad would come to be known as the "Beltway Sniper," and with his teen accomplice Lee Malvo, he went on a shooting spree in Maryland, DC and Northern Virginia that left 10 people dead. Malvo is serving a life sentence, and Muhammad is scheduled to be executed November 10 of this year.

In her new book, Scared Silent, Mildred Muhammad talks about her 12-year marriage to John. Things started out well, but John became emotionally and physically abusive after he returned from an Army tour during the Gulf War. Mildred is convinced that his plan was eventually to kill her so that he could regain custody of the children he lost in 2001 and to get compensation for them as crime victims. (He believed the nameless "Beltway Sniper" would be blamed.)

"I was recalling every frightening comment John had ever made to me. He once said, 'When a man hits a woman, it means that he has lost all respect for her. It would be easy for him to kill her after that.' But I did not foresee, not even in my wildest nightmare, that John would ever kill people who had nothing to do with me or our troubled marriage."

Mildred Muhammad hopes that her book will help other victims of domestic violence get the help they need.

Check This: Residents in DC Are Taxed and Ignored

LibertySugar — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 13:00:52 -0800

Six hundred thousand American citizens living in Washington DC have no representation in Congress, not a vote in the Senate or the House of Representatives. Nevertheless, Congress has exclusive legislative authority over DC. Among other things, Congress reviews and modifies DC's local budget, and can annul any law it does not agree with it. That's good old-fashioned taxation without representation.

The DC Voting Act, a bipartisan bill, which would have granted DC one voting member in the House, was defeated last September after a minority of Senators, led my Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), were able to maintain a fillibuster.

So, what does anyone have against a DC vote? The White House opposes it because the Constitution says only the states will be represented in the House, and DC is not a state. Opponents believe that DC's congressional delegate, who votes in committee but not with the whole House, is sufficient. There are also political motivations, to find out, read more. DC's representation would most likely immediately translate into one more representative for the Democrats, and more if the Senate is included. The DC Voting Act tried to appease this concern, by also giving an extra rep to Utah, a red state set to get an additional seat soon.

Constitutional interpretations notwithstanding, it is troublesome that the federal government has such geographical and legal influence over DC, while citizens are being denied democratic participation. Even the UN Human Rights Committee has called for full representation for DC residents.

Non Voyage: A Capital Celebration Where You Need DC to Be

LilSugar — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 10:00:16 -0700

If the new administration has your family dreaming of our nation's historic roots, a trip to Washington DC is sure to inspire the next generation of public servants. We continue our week of big-city non voyages in the nation's capital with activities and food that will help families recreate the DC experience without breaking their wallets.

The National Mall is lined with some of the best museums in the world, and one of the most popular is the National Air and Space Museum. Teach your budding astronauts about the history of manned space flight and then have them create their own rocket ship that will transport them to the moon. Rockets can be built out of blocks, cardboard or with any scraps you have lying around.
The International Spy Museum is one of the most unique places to visit in DC, where children and adults alike can learn about the CIA and FBI's covert operations and the techniques used to keep the nation from harm. Recreate the experience with a backyard scavenger hunt where lil ones can search for hidden treasures and practice their detective skills. Don't forget the trench coats and magnifying glasses to make them feel official.
Even in the age of email, everybody still loves to get mail and the National Postal Museum shows kids how their letters get delivered. Visit your local post office and have the kids pick out their own stamps and mail letters to their family and friends. See if the postal workers will allow your tots to view the sorting machines in the back too.
It's hard to imagine what life was like before cars, computers and modern conveniences, but Mount Vernon, George and Martha Washington's home, does just that. Give your children the colonial experience by turning off the phone and computer for an afternoon of retro cooking with recipes from the birth of our nation, including johnny cakes, shepherd's pie and apple butter.
Washington DC brings Southern hospitality and Northern sophistication to the Mid Atlantic and the city's food reflects those cultures. President Obama has already visited the famed eatery, Ben's Chili Bowl, where the deliciousness is used to smother hot dogs, sausages and burgers, so make some of those goodies at home. The Obamas are also ushering in a new era in organic cooking at the White House so take your youngsters to the local green market or farm and let them choose the ingredients they would like to nosh on that night.

Washington DC Named Fittest City

FitSugar — Wed, 27 May 2009 11:00:00 -0700

While running for president, Barack Obama's commitment to working out daily made headlines. Looks like his influence is rubbing off since our nation's capital was named fittest city.

Not usually thought of a health-conscious place, Washington DC, took the top ranking by the American College of Sports Medicine in their second annual American Fitness Index (AFI). Cities are ranked by a number of individual factors and local health resources. The percentage of residents who smoke or who are overweight, are factored into the index along with statistics on regular physical activity and number of servings of fruits and veggies eaten daily. These personal details are counted up alongside information on the number of parks, farmers markets, primary healthcare providers, and crime rates of the region. DC came out on top with Minneapolis-St. Paul ranking number two - take that Anna Wintour. Denver, Boston, and San Francisco rounded out the top five. See if your city ranked in the top 50 when you read more.

6. Seattle, WA
7. Portland, OR
8. San Diego, CA
9. Austin, TX
10. Virginia Beach, VA
11. Hartford, CN
12. Sacramento, CA
13. San Jose, CA
14. Cincinnati, OH
15. Atlanta, GA
16. Pittsburgh, PA
17. Milwaukee, WI
18. Buffalo, NY
19. Baltimore, MD
20. Raleigh, NC
21. Kansas City, MO
22. New York, NY
23. Tampa, FL
24. Cleveland, OH
25. Chicago, IL
26. Nashville, TN
27. Philadelphia, PA
28. Jacksonville, FL
29. Columbus, OH
30. Los Angeles, CA
31. Miami, FL
32. Phoenix, AZ
33. St. Louis, MO
34. Charlotte, NC
35. Dallas, TX
36. Indianapolis, IN
37. Memphis, TN
38. Louisville, KY
39. San Antonio, TX
40. Riverside, CA
41. Houston, TX
42. Las Vegas, NV
43. Birmingham, AL
44. Detroit, MI
45. Oklahoma City, OK

Five cities - Orlando, FL.; Providence, RI; Richmond, VA.; Rochester, NY.; and Salt Lake City, UT - weren't rated because of a lack of community/environmental data.

Tell me, how did your city fare and do you agree with these rankings?

Washington, DC Submits Designs For New Quarter

LibertySugar — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 15:00:00 -0800

Yesterday, the mayor of Washington, submitted three proposals to the US Mint for its new quarter to be released in 2009. All three quarter designs would include DC's motto: "Taxation Without Representation" to reflect DC's lack of congressional voting rights. In fact, today marks the anniversary of DC officially coming under direct legislative control of the US Congress in 1801.

The three proposals advocate using - the “Stars and Bars” of the District flag, which came from the Washington family crest; astronomer and abolitionist Benjamin Banneker; or the jazz icon, and native son, Duke Ellington.

Although included in all three submissions, is unlikely that "Taxation Without Representation" will be included, as the Mint considers controversial or political subjects inappropriate. Do you think the motto is a political issue or a human rights issue? Should DC's quarter represent the widespread and enduring sentiment among DC's residents?

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Casa Beta: Dyson DC24

CasaSugar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 05:04:40 -0800

The nice people over at Dyson recently gave me the exclusive opportunity to test out their new Dyson DC24 vacuum ($399.99). As a disclaimer, I've never enjoyed vacuuming, and try to pawn off the responsibility whenever possible. But, after a few sessions with the Dyson DC24, I was singing in the rain. To begin, I unloaded the box, expecting a dozen parts to put together along with a confusing manual. On the contrary, there were only four (!) pieces to put together, and no manual was required — easy, breezy, beautiful. Then came the vacuuming part. read more

For a few seconds, I looked for a carpet/floor switch on the vacuum, but then remembered, the Dyson DC24 is fit for all floor types. Yay! At 11.6 lbs., the DC24 is much lighter than any vacuum I've owned, and considerably lighter than the 40 lb. Electrolux I grew up with. Since it moves on a ball, rather than wheels, and it's so lightweight, it was really easy to move around and put away once I finished. It's also two-thirds the size of previous editions, so it's compact enough even for a small apartment. The vacuum was also surprisingly powerful, and sucked up all the dust and what-have-you collecting on my floors instantly. Its reversible extension wand was super helpful for cleaning small corners and awkward areas, like the crumby spots under my kitchen cabinets that never seem to get much attention.

The Dyson Ball also doesn't lose suction, due to "patented technology," and while I'd have to test this out over time to see for myself, I can say that the larger model Dyson I've had for the past several years continues to work great and exhibits great suction power. The Dyson ball also empties all the dust and dirt from the bottom of the bin just when you press one button (and no bags, belts, or filters needed), meaning you don't have to touch or breathe in the contents of a stinky bag when you pull it out.

The only drawback is that the DC24 ($399.99) isn't as affordable as other cheaper vacuums in initial cost. However, the Dyson is a good investment because it'll stand the test of time (five-year warranty included), and has amazing features. Buying bulky $70 vacuums that work for only eight months really will add up over time, and having a vacuum repaired isn't exactly cheap either. You're looking at around $50 or more every time you have one repaired.

Overall, the vacuum was awesome. It pretty much remedied all the things I've always hated about the chore. I can give an enthusiastic thumbs up on the new model.

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AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack Is on Its Way!

GeekSugar — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 07:30:21 -0700

You'd never guess it, but I love a good head-banging song; you know, something like "Back in Black" by AC/DC would definitely do the trick. Well this November, I'll really get to rock out since the AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack video game will be hitting store shelves. The game is playable with any compatible music instrument controller, and players who have Rock Band can import their tracks into this game. The AC/DC LIVE: Rock Band Track Pack will be available on November 2 at Wal-Mart and Sam's Clubs stores in the US for the Microsoft Xbox 360, Sony PlayStation 3 and PS2 ($30). And on November 16, you'll be able to pick up a copy for the Wii ($40).

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Bicycle Built For More Than Two: SmartBike Hits DC

CitizenSugar — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 10:00:38 -0700

Washington DC is strapping on a helmet and gearing up to offer a bike sharing program hailed as one solution in the battle against urban traffic congestion and the growing stress on the transit system. Starting as early as next month, citizens in the nation’s capital can join SmartBike DC and rent one of one hundred and twenty shared bikes for the low price of forty dollars a month.

The bikes will be available from ten locations citywide, and members will be able to swipe a card and release a bike to ride for up to three hours. Although this is not the first of its kind, the use of better technology may be the key to its success. Paul DeMaio, a Washington-area bike-sharing consultant (Do they have consultants for everything in DC?) said: “...studies showed that many bikes would get stolen in a day, or within a few weeks. In Amsterdam (Netherlands) they would often find them in the canals.” Because of this and other reasons, European programs found themselves paying up to four thousand five hundred dollars per bike without private funding.

The idea isn't a ten-speed disaster everywhere - the Velib program is a hit in Paris and Barcelona - both cities started free-wheeling around a year ago and could grow to thousands of bicycles. SmartBike is looking to expand to San Francisco, Chicago and Portland, OR depending on success and their ability to attract private bucks to make it work.

Is sharing a bike with your fellow city-dwellers a good idea? Has the technology surpassed human nature to make a communal idea like this work? Is it something the government should be funding?

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