Wendy Rieger is the anchor of NBC 4's "News 4 at 5." She has worked as a reporter in Washington for over two decades.
When I first contacted Ms. Rieger about this project, I worried that a person who earned a living sitting in front of a major network's television cameras would not be interested in [...]

Chuck Brown, popularly known as the “Godfather of Go-Go,” has been making music in and around Washington, D.C. for four decades. I filmed Mr. Brown before a show in the parking lot behind the Ram's Head Tavern in historic downtown Annapolis on March 17, 2008—St. Patrick’s Day. Though Mr. Brown had a green feather tucked [...]

“Have you ever visited the Coca-Cola Museum?” I inquired of my bandmate. We had set our automobile’s controls to the heart of Atlanta, and were speeding towards that sprawling metropolis at speeds in excess of 80 m.p.h.
“No,” my bandmate replied. “What is the Coca-Cola Museum?”
“As you may be aware, the corporation that manufactures the popular [...]

“Do you want to watch Control?” inquired my host in Birmingham, Alabama. We stood in his spacious living room examining his enormous collection of DVDs.
“What is Control?” I queried.
“Control is a movie about the rise and fall of Joy Division frontman Ian Curtis,” my host replied. “This film, released in 2007, stars Academy Award Nominee [...]

“The last time I was in Little Rock, I vomited,” I informed my bandmate. We sped east on Interstate 630 towards the Arkansas state capital.
“What led you to vomit?” my bandmate inquired.

Dear Home Depot:
I am loath to use the expression “Suck my dick.” I believe the expression is anti-feminist and anti-sex. I am pro-feminism, and pro-sex. However, there is no better way to say it: the Seven Corners, Virginia Home Depot sucks my dick.
Like many Americans who helped you post over $90 billion in net sales [...]

“Where would you like to sleep?” inquired my host. After a show in Denton, Texas, she had graciously opened her home in suburban Ft. Worth to my traveling musical troupe. We stood in her living room, determining where our itinerant quartet would bed down for the night.
“What are the options?” I queried. “Our party numbers [...]

“Would you like to see Aliens Versus Predator: Requiem or One Missed Call?” I inquired of my bandmates. We stood at the box office of a movie theater outside Austin, Texas with many hours on our hands and few activities to fill them.
“What is Aliens Versus Predator: Requiem?” my bandmate queried.
“Aliens Versus Predator: Requiem is [...]

“Andrew Jackson cuts quite a striking figure,” I commented to my bandmate. We stood in the parking lot of an artist’s studio in Houston, contemplating the enormous busts of U.S. Presidents that this artist had made his calling card.
“Look at that hair,” my bandmate replied.
“Jackson’s hair is indeed a thing of beauty,” I observed. “The [...]

“I didn’t bet yet,” I informed the gentleman sitting to my left. We were playing $1-2 No Limit Texas Hold ‘Em at Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans, Louisiana. “I see that you have declared yourself ‘all-in.’ However, I must note that it is my action, not yours. Thus, I deem your premature bet a breach [...]

IN THE BEGINNING WAS THE WORD
“How goes the academic rat race?” I inquired of my host in Tallahassee, Florida. This generous, learned gentleman, a classics professor at Florida State University, had opened his hearth and home to my bandmates and I. We were discussing the politics of professorship as we stood ordering breakfast at the [...]

"Gainesville has always seemed a particularly fecund place," I remarked to my host in Gainesville, Florida. We strolled through a sinkhole in a protected nature reserve on the outskirts of the city. A number of alligators sunning themselves beside the bank of a muddy stream regarded us disinterestedly, if at all.
"Indeed," my host replied. "One [...]

HE'S GOT THE WHOLE WORLD IN HIS HANDS...OR, AT LEAST, FRANCE
“I have a fascination with the hyperreal,” commented a young woman at a concert venue in Orlando. She stood beside the merchandise table, disinterestedly browsing the selection of CDs, 12” vinyl records, and T-shirts available for purchase by any comers willing to part with small [...]

KITES ARE THE VEHICLE BY WHICH MERE MEN SWIPE AT GODLINESS
“I know you!” exclaimed an enthusiastic representative of a Jacksonville, Florida health food retailer.
“Who am I?” I queried.
“You played that show at last night,” the representative explained. “I saw the show.”
“Guilty as charged!” I ejaculated.
“I enjoyed the show,” the representative explained. “But why are you [...]

“I’m glad that we are now finally able to speak,” I informed the representative of a corporation under whose name I hold a credit card. We were communicating via telephone. “I have been on hold for some time.”
“And I, sir, am happy to speak with you,” the representative replied. “How may I be of assistance?”
“Well, [...]