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Morning Notes

by ARLnow.com | July 19, 2011 at 7:30 am | 1,976 views | 53 Comments

Construction Planned for New Penrose Square Park — Construction is set to begin on a new public park in front of the Penrose Square apartment building on Columbia Pike. Included in the park will be a 50-ton granite sculpture of a “concave elliptical parabola.” [Pike Wire]

Free Pizza Offer — For some reason, Papa John’s and the Washington Post are giving away thousands of free pizzas over the next three days. Papa John’s has three Arlington locations. [The Capitol Deal]

A-SPAN Launches ‘Street Soccer’ Team — The Arlington Street People’s Assistance Network has set up a soccer team for its homeless clients. The team was created as part of the Street Soccer USA program. [Shirlington Village Blog Spot]

Flickr pool photo by Christaki

Blue Virginia

And the big news of last night.

Jaime Dominates Debate as Barbara Storms Out, Refuses to Shake Hands!

http://www.bluevirginia.us/diary/4395/jaime-dominates-debate-as-barbara-storms-out-refuses-to-shake-hands
- G Clifford Prout
  
  I’ll admit that I’ve never met Barbara in person. I only know of her through watching her on the TeeVee. She always comes across as a bitter person and somewhat mean spirited. I’m guessing this type of behavior confirms my suspicions.
  - david
    
    I’ve worked directly with her on a couple of issues and never saw any hint of her being mean-spirited or bitter; in fact she was really receptive to listening to our concerns. I guess that the stresses of a campaign can really drag you down as the behavior (if true) discussed in the article above is pretty disappointing.
  - samsonite
    
    I have met her several times. She is not at all like that. She’s quite pleasant. Not defending her behavior at the debate, or saying I’ll vote for her, but it’s not fair to conclude you know her from watching her on TV.
    - samsonite
      
      I do recall her storming out of a meeting about the Cherrydale firehouse years ago though. She was getting hammered by the locals on that, so it was probably justified on her part.
      - jan
        
        The Cherrydale Firehouse snafu was irresponsible governance. The whole affair smells of “sweet deals”.
        
        Does anyone know what the real story was?
      - ZoningVictim
        
        Why is it okay for an elected official to storm out of a meeting where their constituents are holding their feet to the fire?
    - SomeGuy
      
      By your own logic, it’s probably not fair for you to say “she is not at all like that” since you’ve only met her several times. Unless you’ve interacted with her directly and frequently over time, it’s tough to make that character judgment.
      
      Unfortunately for her, it’s these surface-level impressions that stick with people, and her character will be judged by what sounds like her lack of manners in concluding the debate.
      
      I’m also not sure why you’d justify her “storming out of a meeting” either, but I’ll leave that alone for now.
- KalashniKEV
  
  What does this have to do with anything?
- Arlwhenever
  
  Favola says she knows how to work both sides of the aisle — heck she can’t even be civil on her own side.
G Clifford Prout

They found the bosque. Albeit a half a bosque.
- eh?
  
  what does this have to do with riverland gallery forests
  - G Clifford Prout
    
    The original plans called it a bosque. I’m holding them to it.
http://www.arlnow.com/2010/10/13/lyon-hall-answers-the-call-when-a-loyal-customer-pops-the-question/ Lauren

ice cream shops are going to make a fortune today.
KalashniKEV

Hahaha… a soccer team for Bums? Seriously??!?
- ZoningVictim
  
  Not everyone who ends up homeless is a bum, and believe me, I can’t stand bums. A lot of people just don’t plan very well and end up out on the street quickly when they lose their job. It does, however, seem quite odd that anyone who can play soccer on a weekly basis would end up unemployed for an extended period of time.
  - KalashniKEV
    
    “however, seem quite odd that anyone who can play soccer on a weekly basis would end up unemployed for an extended period of time.”
    
    It’s just an alternative lifestyle… maaaaaan.
    
    Where can I sign up to play AGAINST the Bums?
    - Man Utd
      
      At least one of them went on to be a successful international soccer star:
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/B%C3%A9b%C3%A9
- doodly
  
  If ever there were someone begging to lose their job or get sick or some other reason people become homeless who never ever thought it could happen to them, it’s you.
  
  Oh, and you still haven’t wiped your spit off the homeless veterans.
  - KalashniKEV
    
    No, but at least now I can challenge them on the soccer field! Maybe we can all go out for some beers afterward… or Night Train! lol
    - doodly
      
      Someday maybe you’ll play ON their team. But no, it could never happen to you.
      - KalashniKEV
        
        Homelessness could certainly happen to me- that’s why I’m on my hustle ever single day.
        
        Playing on a Homeless Soccer Team with other Bums? Not possible.
        
        I would have other priorities to address first… like, ummmm getting a job and a place to stay. I suppose once I had the time for leisurely pursuits though, I would be unqualified to play on the team.
      - doodly
        
        Too late. Once you’re homeless, you’re soaked with spit, and nobody’s going to hire you like that.
      - KalashniKEV
        
        http://www.usajobs.gov
http://cavysavvy.blogspot.com Jessie

“Included in the park will be a 50-ton granite sculpture of a “concave elliptical parabola.”

Ugh, so this is what I have to look forward to seeing every day from now on in my neighborhood. Public art is never pretty for some reason.
- ZoningVictim
  
  pa•rab•o•la
  –noun Geometry .
  a plane curve formed by the intersection of a right circular cone with a plane parallel to a generator of the cone; the set of points in a plane that are equidistant from a fixed line and a fixed point in the same plane or in a parallel plane. equation: y 2 = 2 px or x 2 = 2 py.
  
  Sounds great, doesn’t it? On the bright side, it’ll make the concrete Death Stars in Roselyn seem much better.
  - Josh S
    
    Ah, the art critics chime in. And what’s truly fabulous – they’ve never even seen that which they condemn!!
    
    Aren’t the Internets just FABULOUS!!!?!?!
    - CW
      
      I’m no art critic, but, as the definition posted by ZoningVictim clearly states, a parabola is a two-dimensional entity. An ellipse is also a plane curve as well, I might add. So I’m not sure how this translates into three dimensions.
      - SaveDaveMcKenna
        
        All county residents will be required to wear 3D glasses as mandated by our jackbooted brown flip-flop overlords.
      - Josh S
        
        !
        +1
        that sh*t’s funny.
        As Eddie Murphy would say.
      - eh?
        
        how do you wear flip-flops and jackboots at the same time?
      - Jackflops!
        
        They’re like chaps with straps. So manly. Yet so douchey.
      - Josh S
        
        That must be why ARLNow put it in quotes. He’s distancing himself from any physical impossibilities that may be claimed by unsophisticated press release writers.
      - Clarendon
        
        Every person should be an art critic. The problem art got in to is bamboozling everyone into thinking you have to be some expert to ‘understand’ the art and therefore have an opinion about it.
      - V Dizzle
        
        OK, “parabolic” might be a more proper expression of the shape. Being an artist doesn’t include a math requirement.
    - RosRes
      
      I agree re the horrendous Darkstar Park in Rosslyn. I live in Rosslyn, and I can’t understand how those ugly concrete balls constitute art. I hope the parabolas turn out better (hard to be worse).
    - ZoningVictim
      
      Actually, all you have to do is search for the term and you’ll find drawings of “concave elliptical parabola” since they are used in a number of things like satellite antenna, telescope mirrors and amphitheaters; basically anywhere where you want to concentrate waves from a large area into a small area or single point. They are 3D, but I’m not sure how two radar dishes made of rock are supposed to be art. Then again, I don’t think sculptures are a warranted expense at all.
CrystalMikey

When did you have your first?
BerryBerryCold

What’s the catch with the free pizza?
- Mark
  
  You have to sign up for yet another daily deals site. But you can register for the pizza and then unsubscribe I suppose.
- Anne
  
  You have to eat it.
charlie

re: debate
again proof that our board of supervisors are amateurs, at best.
- Not not larry
  
  Board Members, please. Arlingtonians don’t have Supervisors.
samsonite

The homeless should stop playing soccer and start getting some free pizza.
- KalashniKEV
  
  You don’t think they can do both? Have some faith in their abilities!!
  - samsonite
    
    Not at exactly the same time. I tried it once, doesn’t work.
    - KalashniKEV
      
      Well they don’t have to “stop playing soccer then…”
      
      A good game with the other Bums, free pizza afterward, maybe wash it down with some King Cobra. The only thing that could make it any better would be a Red Prius Soup Kitchen.
      
      (though I’m sure the ASPAN dorms will suffice) = )
Michael H.

I biked down Columbia Pike the other day. I don’t usually head over to that area. I was surprised to see all the FOR RENT signs. Are any businesses there still operating? Seemed like more than half of the small business locations were closed.
- Aaron
  
  Retail might do better along the Pike if the County wasn’t obsessed with filling those neighborhoods up with households who don’t earn enough to live in this area.
Tom M

I believe I read that Pepto Bismol is underwriting the free Papa Johns giveaway.
Vinh An Nguyen

For some reason, Papa John’s and the Washington Post are giving away thousands of free pizzas over the next three days.

Campaign ploy by Herman Cain?
- JimPB
  
  Why the free Papa John pizza offer?
  
  Capitol Connections wants to build a customer base for its coupons. To get the free pizza, you have to sign up for e-mails from Capitol Connections with offers.
  
  Papa John’s gets publicity and identifies prospective repeat order customers.
  
  Free enterprise at work.
  - http://www.arlnow.com ARLnow.com
    
    I wouldn’t be surprised if Papa John’s is being paid a bulk “per pizza” rate. The Post probably is viewing this as a form of customer acquisition.

War of Words Between Favola, Areizaga-Soto Continues Morning Poll: Heat Edition

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