It comes as no big surprise to those who know me that I’m not at all disappointed with John Mayer’s latest release, Where The Light Is - a live recording from December 8, 2007, in Los Angeles.  It’s got some new content, but fans will already be familiar with the set list.  The great thing about a live album from John Mayer is that he never sings a song the same way twice.  So while I may have heard “Vultures” 8,000 times already, I’ve never heard it sung like he did that night.  And that’s why I don’t feel bad for shelling out $$ for my third John Mayer concert, which just so happens to be next weekend!  Get. Excited.

And while wer’re on the subject of music, I just have to throw out that I LOVE Coldplay’s new album.  I’ve been a go with the flow Coldplay fan since they got big.  Yeah, I liked the popular songs and even downloaded them on to my iPod, but I never took the time to really listen to their stuff.  That is until now.  I got the chance to hear their newest album, Viva la Vida on a trip back from Philadelphia.  Wonderful stuff, so I downloaded that album and everything else they have.  I’m in love with their music and now I’m trying to snag some tickets to their upcoming show in DC.  Anyone want to join me??!

Am I the only one slightly sickened by today’s show of unity from Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton?  Today, they held a rally in, where else, Unity, New Hampshire - a place that ironically was anything but during the New Hampshire primary.  Each candidate earned 107 votes apiece in January.

This is why I tend to think the political process, or just politics in general, is a joke.  Just months ago they were throwing bitter comments back and forth, and now we get this love fest, where Obama said, “For 16 months, Senator Clinton and I have shared the stage as rivals for the nomination, but today I could not be happier and more honored and more moved that we’re sharing this stage as allies to bring about the fundamental changes that this country so desperately needs.”  He went on in his praises of Sen. Clinton in response to cheers from the crowd, “I’ve admired her as a leader, I’ve learned from her as a candidate. She rocks. She rocks. That’s the point I’m trying to make.”

In reality, Obama needs her voters, nothing more.  He couldn’t care less if she shared the stage with her - if he liked her that much, he’d be offering her the VP nod.

So, for all my friends in Iowa who were wondering just what happened to my love of politics since moving to DC - this happened.  It’s all about power, not helping the American people.  People will say anything to get the vote.

But, the unfortunate reality is that someone will be elected president - either John McCain or Barack Obama.  And four years from now, we’ll be back in the same situation.  Maybe the same players will be involved or maybe completely new faces and names.  But, they hypocrisy will continue - you’ll hate one person when they can hurt your campaign and love them the next moment when they can help you.

A Maryland man was pulled over on Interstate 95 between DC and Baltimore for, get this, driving too slow. Apparently, he was only driving 50 miles per hour instead of the posted 65. The man, who owns a hybrid Honda, was trying to get better gas mileage.

What?! What time of day was this? I’m usually stuck going 30 mph due to the insane traffic on that stretch of I-95!

Yesterday, DC got hit with another round of thunderstorms. But this time, it was well worth it. Once the rain stopped, the area was graced with a beautiful double rainbow. Thanks to Flickr user timkelley for uploading the image.

My last post was about why I love Iowa - its quirkiness, eccentricities and oddities. But, a story today by the Associated Press reminds me why at times I miss Iowa - the people and community. The story is again talking about the massive flooding taking place across the state, but dives into how the floods could have the potential to completely destroy small towns. What really got me was how the reporter found that in these small communities, people are rallying together, helping each other, not waiting for outsiders to come help them. It warms my heart to hear of Iowans helping Iowans in need.

I grew up in a small town similar to the ones the story talks about - in fact, it mentions that, “about 70 percent of Iowa towns have populations of less than 1,000. Just over half of those places have fewer than 500 inhabitants.” And you can be certain that if a crisis ever hit my town, everyone would be there to pitch in because not only do they take pride in their community, they know and genuinely care for the residents.

It’s something I miss since moving to Washington. Don’t get me wrong, I love city life and all the opportunities and excitement it brings. But sometimes I miss the community that you can build in a small town . . . well maybe not the part where everyone knows everything about you . . . but the part where everyone cares about you. I don’t really know my neighbors because I’m never home to ever see them. The vast majority of the people I see during the day are strangers, and I can only wonder what’s the story of the person on the Metro.

I had a small bit of my small town roots hit me last week. After class at Georgetown last Thursday, my classmates and I were standing outside our building on M St. chatting, when someone walks by, stops, and asks if I was from Stanton, Iowa. Turns out it was someone from my high school who graduated four years after I did; someone I probably hadn’t seen in eight years. It lifted my spirits to know that you can never really get too far from home.

Yep, he’s actually grilling on his roof, surrounded by flood waters . . . only in Iowa.

Source: Associated Press: Dennis Sloan prepares his dinner on his roof as floodwaters carry debris past his house in Cedar Rapids, Iowa June 13, 2008. Overflowing rivers in Iowa and other Midwest U.S. states forced evacuations and disrupted the region’s economy on Friday with fears of worse to come from fragile levees and more rain.

According to the New York Times and MSNBC, Tim Russert died from a heart attack; he was 58. A sad day for journalists across the country.

Tim Russert was always a favorite of mine - I remember being a kid and coming home from church to watch Meet the Press, and then as I got older, I loved his analysis of the presidential elections - complete with his very own white board.  He had such enthusiasm and respect for the journalism profession, and he will be missed.

Honestly, I’m not superstitious or anything, but maybe there is something to Friday the 13th being cursed. As the DCist notes, the entire city is falling apart today!

Not that the rest of the week has been a walk in the park, but what a way to go out. Last Wednesday, we had severe, tornado-producing storms that killed one person. Sweltering heat sank in, while people were still trying to get their power restored, which meant many were without air conditioning during near 100-degree heat and suffocating humidity.

Also on last Wednesday, power lines between the East and West Falls Church Metro stations on the Orange Line fell on the tracks, closing that portion of the track, making for a loooonnng commute for some. But that was just the start of our travel woes. On Monday, an Orange Line train derailed between Rosslyn and Courthouse (luckily it only took me 15 extra minutes to get home), trapping riders for more than two hours. Wednesday saw a heat kink on the Orange Line (yes, again, Orange Line) casing major delays Wednesday night (I just so happened to drive to work that day, phew!).

And that brings us to Friday . . . shortly after 7:00 this morning, Pepco lost power, meaning much of downtown DC was with out electricity. A full 30 blocks of downtown DC were without traffic lights until 10:30 a.m., and three pedestrians were struck by cars. The power outage also affected several Metro stations. On my ride in today, I noticed that Farragut West and McPherson Square were pitch black, but the trains moved through and people were getting on and off. By the time I got to work, I realized it was a bigger problem, as Farragut North, Dupont Circle and Shaw-Howard stations were dark as well. Dupont Circle closed at 9:30 after, according to the Washington Post, “medics treated a dozen people for shortness of breath after they trudged up that station’s particularly steep escalators. The station has the longest climb in the city, and the ascent left many winded. One man was taken to the hospital after his internal defibrillator triggered.”

And if you think it ends there, well you’re wrong. Two fires broke out at Metro Center station at 7:30 and 9:50 this morning, closing the station and causing MAJOR delays on the Red Line (finally, not the Orange Line!).

The Post’s description of the chaos is best:

A carnival-like scene developed along 12th Street NW, between F and K Streets, near the heart of the of the blackout. Workers milled on the streets, not sure whether they were experiencing a late start to the work day or an early jump on the weekend.

Business people manipulated Blackberrys to reschedule meetings. Police officers directed traffic in the intersections. Faces peered out windows down on the scene as others chatted on cell phones making last-minute plans.

“Are you going home?” a bellman asked Lisa Washington as she strode past the J.W. Marriott at Metro Center. “No, this is better than being in a movie,” said Washington, the chief operating officer at the Design Build Institute of America.

Business people manipulated Blackberrys to reschedule meetings. Police officers directed traffic in the intersTwo lawyers from the firm Williams and Connolly, holding expandable folders, sat down with a client in one of three plush chairs dragged out into the courtyard. “Welcome to the law firm,” one of the lawyers said, laughing, as the meeting began.

It’s 12:10 p.m. as I write this, and according to Metro’s Web site, both Metro Center and Dupont Circle are are open and power has been restored. I just received an email from OPM, saying each agency has discretion to let employees leave; too bad I’m in the ghetto where everything is working correctly for once. Now, can the city hold out until 5:00?

The Associated Press reported today that Ron Paul is officially ending his campaign for the Republican nomination. Who knew he was even still running? I thought Mike Huckabee was the last to drop out. Did Paul really think he still stood a chance?

While I’m on the subject of tornadoes . . . a deadly tornado hit a Boy Scout camp in the Loess Hills in Iowa, killing four Scouts. Forty-eight others were injured as a result, but thanks to the help of their fellow Scouts, injuries were minimized. The Boy Scouts, whose motto is “Be Prepared,” are known for being trained to respond in emergency situations where first aid is needed.

The camp, which is near Blencoe, Iowa, isn’t all that far from where my family lives in Stanton. And the past week’s weather has had them heading to the basement on one occasion and sitting through various tornado watches and warnings as well.

Factor in the severe flooding in Eastern Iowa, and the state has had it rough lately. It was reported today that at least 10,000 people have been ordered to evacuate Cedar Rapids, with the city losing power. Fifty-five of Iowa’s 99 counties have been declared disaster areas, with the flooding being compared to the great floods of 1993. On Friday, Interstate 80, Iowa’s busiest route for travelers and commerce, will shut down in the eastern part of the state for two to three days due to the flooding. The floods are causing a hit to the Midwest’s economy as well.

Luckily, my family hasn’t been affected, but things aren’t looking too good for the state. I’ll always have a soft spot for Iowa, and it breaks my heart that people are suffering - especially farmers who work so hard each year only to have everything wiped away.