The New Teacher On The Block was really pissed off that Fenty kept the schools open yesterday. Apparently, the mayor didn't factor in the slippery streets and that kids will use any excuse to play hooky (see the drop-out rate):

"I mean, I was slipping and sliding on 395 this morning, for goodness sakes. Once I got to the neighborhood street next to my school, I slid all the way up the road. NONE of my students showed up today. 1 of Ms. P's kids came, and we dually hosted 5 kids in her classrom, because almost all the teachers were out as well (read: both pre-k teachers, the kindergarten teacher, both 1st grade teachers, both 2nd grade teachers, both 3rd grade teachers, 1 4th grade teacher, and 1 fifth grade teacher)."

Dee Does the District, another teacher/blogger, agrees that opening the schools yesterday was a stupid move.

Southwest...The Little Quadrant That Could wants everyone to know that the Cherry Blossom Festival is one month away. And, well, Southwest is a big part of it: "Southwest was designated the 'Cherry Blossom Capital of Washington, DC.' About 90% of the cherry blossoms in DC are located in Southwest, including the Tidal Basin and East Potomac Park, according to Lida Churchville, who has been working on the SW Call Box project for the past two years." The festival has a website with plenty of details.

Just.in.DC posts a snow pic from Shaw. It almost makes you forget about the Convention Center. Borderstan has a sweet picture as well.

Bloomingdale (for now) writes up a pesky problem with 911 dispatchers.

In case you missed it: The D.C. Council introduced a bill to expand the powers of the Office of Police Complaints.

*photo by Prince of Petworth.