Author Archive for Max Linsky

AT&T: Cheap, Lazy, or in Need of a Geography Lesson?

From the Woodley Park Metro:

I've long held affection for this ad campaign–it's like an incredibly easy Where's Waldo. But as I searched for the bars on my way out of the station this afternoon, something else caught my eye. AT&T, which has been doing swimmingly despite the economic downturn, appears to be cutting some corners [...]

Attention Nordstrom Shoppers

Vigilance on Seaton Street.

Fuego/Frio: Ruth Is Back!

And boy does she have stories to tell. Actually, she doesn't have any stories, save one about stealing from first class on an airplane. Still, Ms. Samuelson dutifully "sampled" her way through South African media and came home with her favorite: the Star.
Plus: Robert Mugabe, George Will, the Times' disappointing Metro section, and the Post's [...]

The Top 5 Things Jule Banville Likes About Bolt Bus

Today marks Day 2 of the already controversial Bolt Bus era, and Jule's long-awaited maiden voyage. She called in from the road—the bus has wi-fi; Jule doesn't have a laptop—with her list:
5. There was a guy standing at 11th and G in a Bolt Bus golf shirt letting passangers know where to wait. This seemed [...]

Fuego/Frio: Wemple Solves Newspapers’ Problems!

All it takes is one easy step: stop reporting on water agencies! Eric Alterman's big "Out of Print" essay may have made it to the Fuego side this week, but imagine how hot it would have been if he'd had that nugget.

Fuego/Frio: Glee Club

Mr. Wemple, still flying solo, attacks the conventional wisdom. Print media is dying? Don't tell that to the Post, which just unveiled a redesign. The Washington Times becoming more evenhanded? Tell that reporter to check his facts. And, finally, there's been some talk that the Post has too many editors. Maybe so, but that doesn't [...]

George Mason: So the run was a little shorter this year. Still, did anyone catch Coach Larranaga's pregame speech last night? Win or lose, you have to be impressed by a guy who can say "magic carpet ride" that many times with a straight face.

Fuego/Frio: So, Post, Where Is Black Lips Playing?

It's chilly today, folks. The Post, el Pregonero, and the Examiner are all under the weather. Black Lips? I'm sure the band's feeling healthy enough after Saturday's show at the BLACK CAT.
Got a story you'd like to see discussed on the next Fuego/Frío? Wondering if you're the only one who didn't know breakfast was [...]

Fuego/Frio: Flu Epidemics and Whatnot!

With Ruth Samuelson taking her first vacation in nearly three decades, Erik Wemple must be a little lonely. Good thing he found his comfort zone: Yelling about the weather, of course!

Got a story you'd like to see discussed on the next Fuego/Frío? Wondering how much money we're spending on glue stick? Let us know in [...]

Fuego/Frío: This is Internet Video!

The Hotness: The Post's story on Anthony Williams taking the plunge and buying a condo; the New York Times for its well-rounded Spitzer coverage; and Harper's for the Tasmanian devil/cancer piece (we'll let Wemple explain).
The Notness: Sorry, District Chronicles, but cutline cutline just won't cut it.
You need to a flashplayer enabled browser to view this [...]

Fuego/Frío: Spitzer, Howell, and Milbank

Elliot Spitzer's frío as can be, but is the local media hot on the story? Hosts Ruth Samuelson and Erik Wemple are back with Episode #3,457 of Fuego/Frío—you know the drill:
Fuego: Dana Milbank, the Dupont Current, and today's Post story about Michelle Rhee.
Nope: The Washington Times—who knew Pennsylvania and Ohio were similar?—and Deborah Howell for [...]

To The Poor Schmuck Whose Car Blew Up Last Night:

Sorry.

The 20th Anniversary of Fuego/Frío

As we all know, Ruth Samuelson and Erik Wemple have been taking the local media’s temperature on Fuego/Frío for two decades now. But the following episode, in this viewer's humble opinion, is the all-time best.
Who’s hot? The Post, el Comercio, the Washington Times, and Express, who took home this week's award for Outstanding Selection of [...]

Who’s Up for Some Suburban Exploring?

On my first day at the City Paper, I went out to lunch with a few staffers. It took about five minutes for them to start debating the suburb/city divide. Wasn’t much of a debate, actually—three of the four were bashing the suburbs, and the one guy who didn’t live in the District kept that [...]

You might want to rethink that move to Alabama.