Look carefully here. Scroll down and enjoy the nice photos of the two companion dogs and then the tattoo. DC Dog Blog.

Question: What do you get when you park a donut delivery truck next to a police cruiser? Answer: A photo at Velvet in Dupont.

A Craig’s List drama over “young gays vs. old,” is the topic of this thoughtful piece involving a local institution, the Duplex Diner. Kenneth Hill, the managing editor of AOL’s Gay and Lesbian blog, explains that the diner may be casual but some of its patrons are in a stew over older guys wearing Abercrombie. He writes: It also makes me wonder why age discrimination is so entrenched in our community. Don’t we gays face rejection enough from the outside world?

Tourists have all the fun. Hey Dan files this report: I had a strange and mildly heated conversation with a DC policeman. Apparently it is illegal to take pictures of federal buildings. Yes I got caught taking a picture of a federal building. The sunset was reflecting in the glass windows of the building next the White House and I took a picture. This is when the policeman walked up and told “you should watch yourself that is a $500 ticket.”

The algae in US Navy Memorial Foundation just won’t die, according to what Beauty and the Beltway has learned from the Foundation. She shares an email that explains what’s going on.

The owner of Nathans in Georgetown keeps a blog, the Diary of a Mad Saloon Owner by Carol Joynt, and has this to say about recent development trends: I know upper Georgetown shouldn’t become the ghetto of charming Indie shops while M Street becomes the ghetto of big chain sameness.

If you have ever wondered why Bartholdi Garden on Independence Avenue is stunningly beautiful, the blogger at DC Master Gardener News will fill you in. This writer talked with staff and volunteers for this report. There’s information about how to volunteer and the benefits of doing so. An excerpt: As I was walking through Bartholdi Park with its top horticulturist Virginia Harmon, I overheard a familiy from the Midwest asking her “Why aren’t there any weeds?” Her answer was to credit the garden’s 21 weekly volunteers for its well-kept appearance.

Don’t mess with Smash. That’s our lesson for today folks, because she’s a bad to the bone, tough Southern lady. The scene begins at an airport gate and continues to the plane. Southern honor and the right to recline are well defended here at Secret Simmerings and Shameful Scandals of the Singular Smash

Mandy at Speakeasy thought she had puppy proofed the room. But this clever dog discovers comfort in the unmentionables. One of her readers sent in this recommendation, Susann, who wrote: this is seriously one of the funniest entries I have read in months.

No need for a spoiler warning. You already know how this film ends: Who Killed the Electric Car? Stef at The View from 16th Street gives it a thumbs up, and writes: You won’t necessarily feel uplifted as you leave — walking out, I turned to Onyah and said “How do we get around the fact that everything a company or our government tells us is a lie?” — but you might just feel angry enough to do something about it.

The Catch Up Lady takes a clever look at the fashion taste of The Axis of Evil, in a post titled: Being evil never looked so good.

Dupont Circle’s conversion into an upscale and yet-another-useless chain shopping venue is killing businesses that offer essential services. A lament at Random Duck. Richard Layman also wrote about this topic in January for the Intowner.

New blog look at I’m Not a Girl, Not Yet a Wino. Well done.

Happy Birthday Week at DC Pussycat Doll.

World traveler Mister Jinxy is in China hiking the Great Wall in drenching heat, sharing rich observations and many photos and video as well, including one of him squeezing the moisture out of his shirt. This post received Washington Cube’s highest recommendation: Absolutely totally the best.

If you are a taxi cab dispatcher, waiting for a cab never tell a customer that it will be “right there.” The taxi cab dispatcher at The Black Top Chronicles reports another tale of weird.

What attendance woes? Brandon at the Curly W attends the Nationals game against the Mets and is joined by 42,506 other people. The place was jammed with tailgaters and up in the cheap seats, he writes, Man, there are some salty characters out there in the cheap seats.

The blog name, Fight HIV in DC, accurately sums up its focus and direction. It’s run by David Mariner of the AIDS Clinical Trials Information and Orientation Networks.

Survey results: Of the approximately 110 responding to last week’s survey, more than 60% were women and nearly all of the respondents are less than 44 years-of-age. The largest age group, about 60%, is between 24 and 34 years of age. This, I strongly suspect, will change once baby boomers and seniors catch on to blogging. Only 35% said they were married or partnered. By occupation, bloggers covered the map, with the largest group, 26%, indicating they work in media, journalism and public relations. Non-profits accounted for 16%, and “other,” received 23%. We received a ton of comments, which we’re still sifting through, with some good ideas for future direction. The response was better than we hoped, and want to thank everyone for taking time to respond — kob

DC Election Data: Neighbor Search – This is one of the more extraordinary and useful projects undertaken by a blogger. It’s a database that Eli of dcwanna.be constructed. Put in your address – or any address – and find out what political candidates are getting in contributions from your neighbors. DCist has a write up here. And here’s the Rock Creek Rambler review: I could really play with this thing all day.

Rob Goodspeed has completed some very interesting research on the history of the word “gentrification.” He used a newspaper database to discover when the word first appeared in the Washington Post and its frequency of mentions since then. He charts the data and combines it with some insights. The Goodspeed Update.

The Emotional Economics of the DC Rental Market, from Alex Payne. After his experience searching for a rental he writes: The rental market in the DC metro area is, in a word, godawful.

More rental woes: I am trying to find a place to live, and it is killing me slowly. By Michelle McNamara who is guest blogging at LMNOP.

The Bethesda Safeway puts more of its products under lock and key to keep them safe from meth addicts and thieves. The price: One customer, the writer at Good at Drinking, Bad at Life. A nod to E:)

The kindness of a co-worker and the plants he saves. A report by Hey Pretty.

How do you like it so far? This blogger, a recent transplant from Seattle who writes at Washington to Washington, shares some thoughts about her new home and its people. An excerpt: I consider myself a generally friendly person. In fact, I have never been accused of being shy. However, striking up conversations with strangers has been interesting. Something as little as holding a door open to standing in line, I have noticed that East Coasters enjoy their own company – for a lack of a better term.

The latest in anti-blogging clothing at Circle V.

Radical Flower puts her camera phone to use documenting “Metro Don’ts.” She makes her point with photos, but one anonymous commenter says there’s a bigger problem, and writes: Anyway, I am beginning to hate people in general because in retail you learn most are rude and none have manners …

Do Capitol Hill residents want to expand educational preschool opportunities? Some residents do, and the writer at The Quick and the Ed points to a recent Washington Post magazine piece about a Capitol Hill mother dealing with a shortage of preschool slots. This effort to enroll in a preschool is happening at the same time the neighborhood has been trying to block a school. Excerpt: It sure would be nice to see moms … spending a little less time trying to figure out how to game the system to get their kids in existing preschools and a little more time speaking out against restrictions that keep the supply of high-quality preschools on the Hill (and elsewhere in the DC metro area) artificially tight. (Here’s a recent WaPo story on the this neighborhood dust-up.)

A writer who is Jewish-Argentine and has named his blog Ar-Jew-Tino, is making some big changes in his life for his girlfriend, and describes the five things he will miss from living alone.

New blog, How Not to be Dreadful, that also adds in podcasts. In a note, Amanda and Bill, its authors, wrote: The blog/podcast highlights things in our society that are dreadful (such as cougars, raptor attacking, being a bad neighbor, and talking like a frat boy…) and offers commentary and solutions on how to make them better!

The hip tranquil chick poses for Washington, DC Official Visitor’s Guide. Photos.

Dear Readers, To those who responded to yesterday’s request to fill out the survey – Thanks! For those who missed it, here’s the message we posted yesterday: Running dcblogs and its live feed requires an ongoing financial commitment, so we are considering adding sponsorships. We’ve been covering costs out-of-pocket, but want to continue to improve our services to dc bloggers and that will take help. You can help us by responding to this anonymous survey. It will give potential sponsors basic demographic information about the readership. We’re also seeking some general feedback. We’re grateful for your support. Thank You — kob.

Dear Readers,

Running dcblogs and its live feed requires an ongoing financial commitment, so we are considering adding sponsorships. We’ve been covering costs out-of-pocket, but want to continue to improve our services to dc bloggers and that will take help. You can help us by responding to this anonymous survey. It will give potential sponsors basic demographic information about the readership. We’re also seeking some general feedback. We’re grateful for your support. Thank You — kob.

A wedding photographer documents a surprise engagement aboard a Capitol Cruise boat. Photos. From Adventures in Wedding Photography. She writes: She’s crying, he’s all smiles. They hug. They kiss. It’s sweet. We’re on a boat with the Lincoln Memorial behind it. It’s great.

Separation anxiety; a history of togetherness from kindergarten to condo, at an OC girl living in an extraordinary world. The boyfriend is going on a trip. My heart drops, she writes. (Nod to Erika for the recommendation)

Advice from an internist on how to be your physician’s favorite patient. From Where’s My Cape.

A tourist from Ohio takes photos of street scenes, percussion musicians, the down and out, and shares his thoughts about it. historymike writes: Competition for spare change was heavy today, as Ed was joined a block further up H street by a man who did not want to give his name. This was a proud man who seemed ashamed at being reduced to looking for handouts, and our conversation was limited; his eyes, though, spoke of a life that once did things.

The real reason people shop at the Whole Foods salad bar, explains I Am A Lefty, has nothing to do with the fruits and vegetables, organic or otherwise. She writes: I bet you at least a dozen new couples form every month right near the olive bar.

PlayfulinDC is now PlayfulinNC and she has an embarrassing theater story to tell.

Random TSA search turns up the bacon at Heart Tribute Band Super Fan Page. If you saw two girls carrying a large, black leather sofa in Georgetown recently … here’s what happened, at a girl from the south. A new DC arrival.

There’s an underground barbecue at U Street’s Homegrown, reports Harmany Music.

Sexy or suicidal? Opinion on shoes sought by Love is Blonde.

Sweet of Sour N Sweet, whose photo work appears in the dcblogs banners, also has a photo blog.

A kooky thing about her neighborhood: Dupont Circle residents are obsessed with their pets. It’s the urban equivalent of suburban PTA moms. This is by Sarah Massey, a writer and media consultant, from her blog, Own the Press, which was launched on Independence Day.

Here’s some advice from Eat Foo for surviving “credit card roulette” at dinner. Excerpt: The best time to play credit card roulette is when you can spring it on unsuspecting companions you’ve never met before and may never meet again Selling Subculture on the Streets. Well observed scenes and messages from DC streets, by Elle Dee at this is by us. Excerpt: The kids, who all look a little younger than I am, point to books for sale and the curiously handwritten signs, all announcing our impending doom. “Would you like to stop World War Three?” asks one. I almost expect him to say it casually, as if he were asking people if they would like to switch their long distance carrier.

The writer of An Innocent Okie in King George’s Court goes to Le Pigalle and has an a dining experience opposite the Washington Post’s recent no-star review of the restaurant. Okie writes that the WaPo review “very simply wasn’t our experience.” Take the salad, for instance. He writes: The Post reviewer accused this salad of being a way for the restaurant to empty out its refrigerator, but all I can say, then, is that they have a very nice refrigerator. The WaPo review. Low-Carb Dieting, The Blonde Way, Elevator vignettes at Snarky Bastards. The Purina Diet at Avert Your Eyes. A tourist’s perspective on DC Metro escalator etiquette: People there can get really rude if you stand on the wrong side of the escalator on the metro. what’s the big deal. you’re in their way, and god forbid they just say “excuse me”. i was afraid that they were going to push me down the stairs. A commenter wrote: … if you don’t get killed, it’s a great city to visit.

DC’s Fish Market Scene What I Cook There are good alternatives to DC’s grocery stores, including the Eastern Market and the Maine Avenue fish market. That’s where this writer shopped for a party and he tells the story about his experience. He finishes the post with a crab recipe. An excerpt from the fish market:

He had five large steamer machines running, and all he did all day was dust bushels of crabs with bay seasoning, and hoist them into and out of these humongous steamers (each of which could hold two bushels). On Sunday, with the temperature in the 90’s, this guy was working with steam for a 14-hour shift. WOW. Huge props to the crab steamer dude for enduring weekend after weekend. His “beer fund” box was rightfully full of bills.

Also Noted: I’m a member of the WHAT? That’s what DC’s resident Aussie blogger wrote after receiving a Republican Party membership card in the mail. And is she ever steamed: You DC Republican Party morons are dishonest creeps and have no right to do what you did … Ever wonder what others on the Metro are thinking? Not much is missed by Scotus at DC Universe, a capable observer, who is assaulted on all levels by a cast of characters that includes the smelly homeless guy and the woman groper.

There’s one big advantage to living in DC and adapting to its continual siren noise generated by the chronic police emergency and self-important motorcades. And Mr. Anthrope discovered that advantage in London.

Federal budget cuts will soon end a program that helps disadvantaged Latino students get into college. In a note, Alejandra of sent from my dell desktop, said: We’re are trying to mobilize the media and inform the public in order to try to get these cuts reversed and to hopefully attract corporate funding so that we can keep these centers open. As of now, they are all slated to close at the end of the month unless they can find the funding they need. We’re also trying to protect the jobs of the counselors that selflessly work in these centers

This post explores whether it’s possible to keep a personal secret. A circle has too much symmetry writes: The idea that someone could keep a personal secret, a personal fear, desire, love interest, want; to themselves just amazes me. I am not wired that way and I don’t think most people are. Friday is the day for the best party in town Kathryn and DC Cookie are sponsoring. Site Note: Back Monday. Enjoy the weekend.

Darn Knit’s parents are out of Lebanon and she is relieved. One of my first comments when they arrived was “your village got bombed, didn’t it?” They were totally shocked that I found.

The woman who authors Church of the Big Sky is a wonderful and powerful writer who is chronicling the treatment of her serious eye problem. It involves getting a shot in the eye, an expensive course of action not covered by insurance. She writes: … When you’re forty and you find out the only thing that can possibly save your rapidly failing vision in one eye is a drug FDA-approved for cancer treatment. A follow up post after the shot here.

The Screen on the Green isn’t about the movie, writes Thoreau: It is just an excuse to gather on blankets with your friends and chat quietly as far as I can tell. And that is what I like about it honestly.

The Nationals from Box 338 at RFK is a little bit about baseball but mostly about the price of drinks and the search for a mythical food court. With photos from The Curly W.

An extensive list of restaurant recommendations from the great to the “totally blah” at One Fleeting Moment, by a woman who describes herself as Liberal, open-minded with a known weakness for bespectacled and intelligent men.

Godfather solution: A car was blocking Home Improvement Ninja’s driveway Tuesday morning. He wasn’t happy and neither were some of the people who left comments. “You should have put a small nail in the front tire,” suggested one. “Put a fish on his engine block,” wrote another.

An anti-development push in Montgomery County is getting harsh criticism at Just up the Pike. The group, Neighbors for a Better Montgomery, says it wants to stop our “population overcrowding” and the “uncivil human behavior it spawns” … Now, is that being progressive – or is that a fascist streak?

Dear Mel Gibson: Apology NOT Accepted. Womenhavingitall