I guess I don't know why it matters that the president hasn't found a church home in D.C. But apparently it does. The Post reports:

Although many just wanted to spend a morning with the first family, others had hopes the Obamas would choose their church exclusively. The Obamas have not joined a Washington congregation.

Since becoming president, Obama has made one-time visits to Nineteenth Street Baptist, Vermont Avenue Baptist, Allen African Methodist Episcopa, Metropolitan AME and Shiloh Baptist. He has attended St. John’s Episcopal Church several times — most recently in December — but the Obamas have been only occasional churchgoers.

The Obamas spent yesterday morning at 16th Street Heights institution Zion Baptist. But it seems like everytime the family attends a church service—typically around holidays—the question comes up: Why haven't they picked a church yet?

But it's not all that surprising that they haven't, is it? They're a relatively young family with busy schedules. And overall, only 35 percent of Americans claim to attend church, synagogue, or mosque every week. Instead of asking why he hasn't, maybe we should start asking why he should?

Photo by Pete Souza/The White House

Statehood Rides the Bus: Hot on the heels commissioning of pro-statehood TV spots that only ran on the D.C. government's cable Channel 16, District patriots today rolled out pro-statehood advertisements that will run on...the sides of Metrobuses. That surely guarantees more viewers than tune in to watch old mayoral press conferences, but, especially with bus routes that stay in the city, it still presents a problem: The people most likely to see the ads have no ability to call a voting member of Congress to demand that the situation be rectified. -1

No Bull's Eye on South Dakota Ave: Target is abandoning plans to open a second D.C. store. The chain was supposed to go into Dakota Crossing, the troubled Fort Lincoln retail development that was supposed to have a Shopper's Food Warehouse and a Costco, too. But only one of the three hyped retailers has signed a lease, meaning it's unclear just who else will be luring shoppers to far northeast. The good news: If Michelle Obama's next "secret" shopping trip is to Costco, she may be able to stay in the District. -2

We Love Stuff:  If only Target had paid attention to the survey results from Bundle.com. The website says Washington is America's "most shopaholic city," with an "average monthly spending in clothes, shoes and other wear" of $263. Arlington, with $254.58, is second. Oddly, burgs like New York and Los Angeles aren't on the list, "we're guessing, because their populations include both the wealthiest and the poorest," speculates the Huffington Post. Because, you know, the District doesn't have any of America's poorest people. +3

It's a Disaster! President Barack Obama "today declared a major disaster exists in the District of Columbia," the White House announced. The Redskins? No, silly: The earthquake? Sure, the trembler took place back in August, but today's declaration helps the District and "certain nonprofit organizations"–like, say, the one that runs a cathedral frequented by various important locals–recoup repair costs. +1

Yesterday's Needle rating: 32 Today's score: +1 Today's Needle rating: 33

I don't know what people 'expect' but if a 5'11" black lady showed up at my cash register in Cleveland Park with Secret Service in tow, I'd sure as heck take notice, no matter what kind of dog she had. I can't help but think she's doing some damage control after all of the accusations that the photos of her at an Alexandria Target were staged.

But if we take Obama at her word, note that she says she also hits up Chipotle on occasion. So now that we do know where to expect her, just be cool, you guys.

Photo by tedeytan via Flickr/Creative Commons Attribution Generic 2.0 License

First, the first lady was spotted at an Alexandria Target store, skipping the Columbia Heights Target (which is only a short ride up from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave on the 16th Street s9 bus)—then, last night, the presidential couple celebrated their wedding anniversary at Alexandria's Restaurant Eve.

To be fair, we know the pair has eaten out in D.C. in the past, and considering only 37 percent of Americans think the president will be re-elected next year, maybe this is part of a strategy to show love to areas where, you know, votes actually count.

Photo by aschweigert via Flickr/Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic License

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT—"Joyner Family Wants Answers On Park Police Shooting," "FOIA Denials Under Fenty: The Charticle," "Is Someone Poisoning Dogs In Stanton Park?"

Good morning. Last night was an important one for local political junkies—it was the filing deadline for campaign finance reports! WBJ's Michael Neibauer noted that both main mayoral candidates raised some serious dough: "The two main players in the race for D.C. mayor waited until just before the midnight Thursday deadline to file their campaign finance reports, perhaps because they had so much money to count." Fenty Cash: "Mayor Adrian Fenty is sitting on a $3.2 million war chest going into the critical summer months, having raised $475,486 since March 11. He also spent $336,436 during the period, on ads buys, printing, and a bevy of consultants. Overall, Fenty has collected $4.38 million since launching his reelection bid last summer." Gray Cash: "Council Chairman Vincent Gray, despite his relatively recent entrance into the race, generated $561,342 and spent $190,134 during the fund raising period, leaving him with $371,208 cash on hand (though he loaned himself $25,000). It's well short of the mayor's bounty, but still a respectable rake given he only joined the race March 30. Gray also appears to have a much larger number of smaller donations than Fenty, in the $50, $100 and $200 range. But if Gray makes headway, the big money donors are certain to come around. They did four years ago when Fenty's grass roots mayoral bid went from underdog to front runner." As WaPo's Tim Craig notes: Gray raised more cash than the mayor in the last three months.

WaPo's Mike DeBonis offers a breakdown of some of the council races with At-Large Councilmember David Catania the big winner with "$204,796 raised this period; $36,501 spent; $302,204 cash on hand." There were also respectable showings from Councilmembers Jim Graham and Mary Cheh.

You can check out the full list at the Office of Campaign Finance [it gave this LL an error when he tried to get past the first page].

FENTY-GRAY FORUM RUMBLE: WaPo's Tim Craig and Ann Marimow report from the third mayoral forum sponsored by the Ward 3 Dems and moderated by beloved former Councilmember Kathy Patterson: "Despite a chorus of boos from the audience, Fenty repeatedly attacked Gray for his service during the Pratt administration, accusing him of being part of a government that nearly bankrupted the city. 'I know Gray supporters don't want to hear the truth,' said Fenty, responding to the boos. 'The Department of Human Services was spending money hand over fist during your leadership.' When Gray got a chance to respond, he leapt to his feet and walked to within a few feet of Fenty. Cheered on by supporters as he shook his finger at the mayor, Gray stated: 'I will put my record up against your record any day. . . . You want to talk about my record, let's get it on.'" Extra Points to Gray for invoking his campaign's theme song.

But wait there's more: "At nearly every chance, Fenty sought to shift the focus back to the Pratt administration. Fenty noted that the Department of Human Services was under 16 court orders under Gray's leadership. He also accused Gray of failing to adequately address juvenile-justice issues in the early 1990s. 'The truth hurts,' Fenty said.
Gray responded: 'How can you be so misinformed?'"

AFTER THE JUMP—Fenty botches interview, what's next for the HIV/AIDS Administration, former supporter becomes headache for mayor, Metro surcharges, and much, much more!

FENTY FUMBLE? Mayor Fenty struggled to answer basic questions during an interview yesterday on FOX5. D.C. Wire's Tim Craig reports: "The Gray campaign is buzzing today about Fenty's appearance this morning on the Fox 5 morning show. It looks like, the Gray campaign says, Fenty's weekly appearance on the show might not be the sort of face time candidates strive to obtain. Appearing on set with the morning anchors, Fenty appeared ill-prepared to answer questions about the triple shooting last night near Howard University, the Washington Post story this morning about questionable DUI arrests in the city, or his views on the Office of Campaign Investigation into whether D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee improperly solicited private money to fund the teachers' contract. When asked for an update on the shooting last night near Eighth and V streets NW, Fenty said he hadn't 'gotten a full briefing.'... The hosts then asked Fenty about D.C. Attorney General Peter Nickles's contention that 400 people were recently convicted of driving while intoxicated based on faulty breath tests. Specifically, the anchors wanted to know whether the city was considering restitution for those who were wrongly convicted. 'I actually haven't been briefed on this for several months,' Fenty said." More coverage via The Examiner.

METRO MESS: WTOP reported that Metro workers believe more training would have prevented that 10-car screwup on the Green Line. Unsuck DC Metro has a great YouTube retort. Meanwhile the Examiner's Kytja Weir reports on the staggered fare increases set to begin at the end of this month: "Metro riders saw their fares rise by 10 cents this spring. Now they will see them rise again June 27, then likely change again on Aug. 1....Confused as to how much the commute will cost? Just wait. The confusion will be compounded by complicated fare increases. Metro plans to raise all fares to cover $108 million of an $189 gap in the budget that begins July 1. But the transit agency won't be able to program all the machines and farecards to accept the changes at one time, so it plans at least two phases. Metro board members said Thursday they worry riders may not know what to expect, especially as some of the changes will occur when locals are on vacation just before the July Fourth holiday and during August when Congress has its recess. The agency had pushed the board to make fare decisions early as it said it needed extra time to avoid confusion, noted board member Christopher Zimmerman. But now, he said, 'It seems that nonetheless we are going to have maximum confusion.'" More coverage via WTOP.

But wait there's more...WaPo's Ann Scott Tyson reports surcharges may be hitting riders at six subway stops: "The finance committee of Metro's board of directors approved the option Thursday of imposing yet another five-cent surcharge on entry and exit at two rail stations each in Virginia, Maryland and the District to fund capital improvements to the Metro system at those stations. The full board has yet to agree on the concept or to decide where and when to implement the surcharge. But the catalyst for the idea was a $36 million plan to ease commuter congestion at Union Station, one of Metro's busiest hubs, according to Metro and District officials. No other stations have been proposed for the surcharge, said Catherine M. Hudgins, who represents Virginia and is chairwoman of the finance committee." More coverage via NBC4.

D.C. AIDS PROGRAM: WaPo's Darryl Fears investigates how the city's HIV/AIDS Administration will cope post-Shannon Hader: "The HIV/AIDS Administration is one of the most important agencies in the Department of Health, with an $88 million budget, consisting mostly of federal dollars. The administration is responsible for distributing federal money to D.C. area governments such as Prince George's, Fairfax and Montgomery counties. It is tasked with gathering data and provides federal grants to community organizations for prevention efforts, such as condom distribution, tests for infection and distribution of drugs that lower the level of the virus in those infected....Catania said Hader's departure leaves the city's efforts to fight AIDS in limbo. No one is likely to take the job before the mayoral contest between Fenty and Council Chairman Vincent Gray is decided in September. And it is unlikely that a permanent replacement will be appointed by a mayor before January, Catania said. 'Her loss in catastrophic,' Catania said. But [DOH Director Pierre] Vigilance barely acknowledged Hader while praising Elias at her introduction Tuesday. On Wednesday, activists circulated a blog item on a Web site maintained by Vigilance, under the Watchstone Health Consulting Group, in which he appeared to criticize the city's singular focus on HIV/AIDS. 'There are those who will try to get you to focus on one specific issue because it is politically appropriate to do so,' he wrote. 'It is a failing of public health agencies to allow this to be the case, especially in jurisdictions where multiple health issues challenge the current status and future of some communities.' Dena Iverson, a spokeswoman for the Department of Health, said Vigilance told her that that comment was referring to H1N1 and not HIV/AIDS."

PARKS AND WRECK: WaPo's Mike DeBonis identifies an individual–a former Fenty supporter–that will surely be a huge headache for the mayor:

"Bill Slover is a successful businessman, a family man and active in his community. And he's a major problem for Mayor Adrian M. Fenty (D) in his fight for reelection. That's because Slover is at the center of questions about Fenty's parks contracting — the $100 million in proposed city spending that's fueled accusations of malfeasance that Fenty's foes are flinging freely on the campaign trail. 'What happened with these contracts is one of the worst examples of cronyism I have ever seen in the District of Columbia,' council chairman and Fenty's chief rival, Vincent C. Gray (D), said, latching onto the fact that the mayor's fraternity brothers, Omar Karim and Sinclair Skinner, profited from the parks work. Gray made that claim last week at a mayoral debate, hosted by several Ward 3 community groups, where Fenty was sharply questioned by moderator Davis Kennedy, publisher of the Current community newspapers.

The mayor answered in the same way that he has since the story broke: by seizing on the fact that the contracts were awarded by a subsidiary of the D.C. Housing Authority, which Fenty does not directly control....But what happened to Slover stands in opposition to that claim.

By the time Slover arrived, the parks contracting process was already connected to the mayor. Of the five panel members who selected Karim's Banneker Ventures, three worked for Fenty — one, Jacquelyn Glover, was a project manager working for the deputy mayor for economic development; two others were Parks and Recreation Department employees.

So when the deal came to his attention — a contract solicited through a process that didn't involve bids, included an unusually high fee arrangement for Banneker and kept most control in the mayor's office — Slover grew uncomfortable. He abstained from voting.

In November, after the arrangement was publicized and Slover learned more details about the parks work, he moved to end the authority's involvement in the contract and send it back to the mayor's office.

Some DCHA board members with ties to Fenty, including Deputy Mayor Valerie Santos, objected, and the proposal was tabled. The following week, Slover says, he spoke to City Administrator Neil O. Albert and said he would continue pursuing the resolution. Four hours later, he received a call from Fenty's boards-and-commissions director telling him he'd been removed as chair."

WORLD CUP: NC8 via AP reports that the month-long tournament is expected to become a big cash cow for local bars/restaurants. You should check out our exhaustive guide.

DYRS SUCCESS: Twelve juveniles earned high-school diplomas inside New Beginnings.

HAY-ADAMS: The landmark hotel will be closing for the summer to make way for a multi-million dollar renovation.

MICHELLE OBAMA: Speaks to D.C. grads.

SOMMER MATHIS: The great DCist editor writes her farewell blog post.

KOJO: D.C. Chief Financial Officer Natwar Gandhi and Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett.

MAYOR'S SCHEDULE: No public events.

D.C. COUNCIL SCHEDULE: No public events.

A helicopter delivers a junk shot.

Morning, all. Happy Friday! Let's take a look at what's going on in the world.

Oil continues to invade the Louisiana coast, though BP asserts their clean-up efforts–which includes a "junk shot" of golf balls, old tires, and the like, intended to fill the damaged blow-out preventer on the ocean floor–are working. Um, junk shot? Even if they're not going to rethink their solution to the spill, they might rethink what they call it.

President Obama hosted his second state dinner Wednesday, for Mexico's president Felipe Calderón, and this one apparently went off without a hitch. Rick Bayless, of Frontera Grill fame, prepared a delicious sounding menu. Wagyu beef in a Oaxacan black Mole, and graham cracker crumble with goat cheese ice cream? Yes, please. And Michelle, per usual, looked great, although not everyone seems to agree.

The good news: DCPS distributes condoms to high school students. The bad news: the condoms are too small. High schoolers, and others who obtain publicly-distributed condoms in D.C., will soon be shielding their swords with Magnums. Though exposure to lead-laden drinking water may have effected D.C. youths' brains, at least it doesn't seem to have affected their penis sizes.

This day in history: Montenegrins voted for independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro in 2006. (Wonder how they're feeling now that Serbia's in the World Cup and they're not.) Former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a suicide bomber in 1991. Mr. T (born Laurence Tureaud) was born in 1952.

Photo courtesy of france24.com.

On June 11th, Mrs. Obama will address the Anacostia Senior High School Commencement, a DC public school that Mrs. Obama visited in the spring of 2009 in conjunction with her Women of Excellence event and her early mentoring activities as First Lady.

Last year, FLOTUS spoke at the commencement for the Washington Math Science Technology Public Charter High School in Northeast.

One word: Oprah! The "queen of daytime television" will announce today she's ending her show in 2011. This is huge! Now, in case you're a little slow, let me connect the dots and tell you what's really going on here. Just this week, Sarah Palin goes on Oprah to plug her book Going Rogue even while insisting that 2012 is "not on my radar screen right now," which is what all candidates for president have to say in 2009. Oprah is all charming, as usual, and gets her biggest audience in two years! Then, just a few days later, Oprah announces that she will be leaving her show after 25 years to "start her own cable channel." Coincidence? This could really only mean one thing: Palin-Winfrey 2012! You heard it here first.

I'm sure there are skeptics out there. Yeah, Oprah endorsed Barack Obama during last year's campaign. But whatever. Remember how she didn't go out and stump for him, except, like, once? It's obvious now that this is because she is a secret political admirer of Sarah Palin. And Michelle Obama knows it (see picture).

Also, put yourself in Palin's place. Who else would you pick to be your vice presidential running mate? John McCain? He's too old, and he obviously held her back last time. Mitt Romney? Not until he changes his hair, and that doesn't seem imminent. I suppose Todd, the ex-First Dude, is a possibility. Sarah does say in her book that "God and Todd" got her where she is today, and it's not like she can put God on the ticket. Anyway, Oprah makes total sense.

In other news, NASA has confirmed that the world is not ending, at least not on Dec. 21, 2012.

Just in time for Thanksgiving, there is a shortage of canned pumpkin.

Two-thirds of American Santas are fat—and they want a swine flu shot.

Happy Friday! And catch up with me on Twitter!

Photo by woohoo120, Creative Commons Attribution License

After a neighborhood blog pictured the mural of "Boxer Girl," a black woman clad in workout attire with her hands raised in boxer's gloves and sporting a black eye, at least one commenter expressed dislike for it by dubbing it "ghetto" – thus setting off a long (and unresolved) debate over the mural's artistic merits, what, exactly, it said about the neighborhood, and, now, the use of that descriptor.

Lynda Laughlin, a family demographer at the U.S. Census Bureau and resident of Petworth, weighed in at GGW, drawing heavily from the thinking of University of Chicago sociology professor Mario Small, who has argued that the term be abandoned, at least as a concept used in talking about black urban poverty.

Laughlin wrote:

The term "ghetto" has become such a common term in everyday language, it is hard to determine what we really mean when use the term. Even urban scholars are guilty of overusing and under-defining the term "ghetto." Many scholars use the term "ghetto" to describe a geographic area, such as a neighborhood or census tract that is characterized as having a high concentration of households in poverty as well as a high concentration of blacks, or any other racial/ethnic minority group. General public use of the term "ghetto" tends to assume such areas characterized by crime, slackers, Chinese take-out restaurants, store front churches, poverty, and racial/ethnic minorities. Unfortunately, for many individuals, their image of a "ghetto" is less from actual experience but influenced by the popular media.

... Clearly, we need a more sophisticated approach to how we classify the social and economic conditions of urban neighborhoods; one that does not demoralize a community and its residents. The current use of the term "ghetto" glosses over the real issues facing urban communities and allows individuals to hide behind racist and classist assumptions instead of engaging in productive conversations and actions. More importantly, it is on us to change or abandon the term "ghetto" because the cultural and ideological construction of the term has often shaped public policy. Stereotypes and sweeping generalizations should not be the basis for reform. The problems we face in urban America are complex and should be treated as such.

The Webster's New World College Dictionary defines "ghetto" as such: 1. in certain European cities, a section to which Jews were formerly restricted 2. any section of a city in which many members of some minority group live, or to which they are restricted as by economic pressure or social discrimination.

But the Urban Dictionary, a dictionary of slang written by its online users, offers several adjectival meanings as well. Among them: 1. urban; of or relating to (inner) city life 2. poor; of or relating to the poor life 3. jury-rigged, improvised, or home-made (usually with extremely cheap or sub-standard components), yet still deserving of an odd sense of respect from ghetto dwellers and non-ghetto dwellers alike (used in a sentence: "A TV Guide duct-taped to a 4 foot stick?! That's one hella ghetto 'mote control!").

The term, as noun and adjective, has come to be used in many ways and contexts: Frederick L. McKissack wrote an article in the Progressive in 1998 about the "cyberghetto," describing the technology gap that has left far fewer minorities with access to the Internet than their white counterparts. Albums by the former Master P include The Ghettos Tryin to Kill Me, Ghetto D, Ghetto Postage, and Ghetto Bill.

Recently, Belva Davis, blogging in the San Francisco Chronicle, recounted the controversy over the word's use in a June New York magazine story on the Obamas' decision to vacation in Martha's Vineyard, long a favorite spot for the black elite. One anonymous long-time islander was quoted as questioning Michelle Obama's place there, "calling her a 'ghetto girl,' one who did not belong in the august company of the regulars," Davis wrote.

But there was more: Davis' friend, Abigail McGrath, also a Vineyard resident, designed a T-shirt listing the names of a few dozen well-known women, from Rosa Parks and Sally Hemmings to Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Oprah Winfrey, that declares: "GHETTO GIRLS ROCK. Life's not about where you're from; it's where you're going." It's supposedly on sale on the Vineyard now.

Writing a few years back at theblackcommentator.com, Harold M. Clemens called "ghetto" the "new N-word." "What does it mean to act 'suburban,' if acting 'ghetto' means unruly?" he asked.

He blogs at ghettouprising.

Did anybody tell Abe Pollin?

***

Lebron's come and gone. But we only have to wait a week for the next celeb sports doc extravaganza: Luis Tiant will be at the E Street Cinema downtown on June 22 for red-carpet screening of "The Lost Son of Havana," a film about the ex-Indian- Twin-Red Sock-Yankee-Pirate-Angel's trip back to the Cuban capital, which is his Akron.

After the screening the movie's producers will throw a bash across the street from the theater at the ESPN Zone. But don't expect much. In the invitation the party's organizers just sent out, they're promising that: "Light refreshments will be served in accordance with House Ethics rules."

House ethics used to lead to the wildest parties in town. Jack Abramoff mussed up everything.

***

Sign of the times or the Times? Despite a big write-up in Sunday's Washington Times, the Hoop Dreams Scholarship fund had to cancel its next big fundraising event for lack of interest.

Hoop Dreams has been a powerhouse on the DC charity and social scene for more than a decade. The organization was started in 1996 by former H.D. Woodson teacher and sleepless superhero Susie Kay, who began holding an annual outdoor basketball tournament to help her students get money for college.

Her cause took off, and before long, Kay, backed by Ted Leonsis, Ari Fleischer and scads of local pro athletes and federal lawmakers (including John McCain and Barack Obama), was divvying out grants to kids from schools all over the city. (Leonsis threw more than checks at the group, serving for years as a mentor to Kay's kids.)

The organization now claims to have funded continuing education for more than 1,000 DC students.

The plan was to celebrate that milestone on June 25, with a soiree at the Historical Society of Washington, DC, called "1,000 Strong."

But this morning Hoop Dreams sent out a brief, terse announcement that the event was canceled "due to lack of ticket sales."

"For the few people who purchased tickets online you will receive a full refund," read the cancellation notice.

Hoop Dreams' cause remains righteous. This party might be canceled, but the party can't be over for this bunch.

Other hoops-related charities are claiming big doings around here: The group Nothing But Nets, also known for raising funds through basketball tournaments, is holding a series of local events this week with the Mystics, DC United, the Bayhawks and Michelle Obama and Jack Evans, and says it will use the proceeds to send 10,000 malaria nets to various refugee camps in Africa.

***

Good golly, did David Letterman look like a coward and a buffoon last night, caving in and bumbling through a fake apology for his lazy line about Sarah Palin's daughter getting "knocked up" by Alex Rodriguez.

Yeah, talk about an athlete impregnating a Palin daughter really isn't fit for a late-night monologue. It's ok to use that material in a campaign press release, however.

Guess it's all been said. But let's take another look at Palin with her daughters at the Flyers game during the campaign, one of many appearances at sporting events where she's used her kids as human shields.

What network fool told Letterman to crater?

***

Story tips? Wanna Play the Feud? Tube amps for sale? Send to: cheapseats@washingtoncitypaper.com

Our most recent snark on Brown came when she rode along with First Lady Michelle Obama on an outing to a soup kitchen for the homeless.

Brown wrote up the event for the post's 44 blog, and here's how we handicapped it:

* Here’s Brown writing her own Brown parody sentence (all italics mine):

And Obama dished risotto, one by one. Offering steamed, fresh broccoli.

* There is apropos-of-nothing color:

Man in green sweater: “You really are tall.”

“I am tall,” Obama said.

* And, finally, complete kerblooey:

And the guests stood behind in the hope that she left behind.

We don't know for sure right now, but that last line, unparalleled in its preciousness and bullshitiness, could have prompted the newspaper's management to make the move announced in the memo below: DeNeen is off the First Lady beat:

We're pleased to announce that Robin Givhan will be returning to Washington soon to cover Michelle Obama and the first family. Robin has long been one of our most graceful and insightful writers, not only on fashion designers but on politicians as well. She won the Pulitzer Prize for criticism in 2006, in part for her work on the public image of powerful people. Now, she'll bring that sharp eye to bear on the cultural and social issues that swirl around the new occupants of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., picking up on the good work begun by DeNeen Brown, who has been our go-to person for several months on the story of the new first lady. Robin will also continue to write about fashion through her Sunday column. DeNeen will focus her attention to stories about people "on the edge" — the poor, the uneducated, the disenfranchised; and Race in the age of Obama — looking at how racial mindsets, definitions, are changing.

Raju Narisetti Steve Reiss

• Here's Brown writing her own Brown parody sentence (all italics mine):

And Obama dished risotto, one by one. Offering steamed, fresh broccoli.

• There is apropos-of-nothing color:

Man in green sweater: "You really are tall."

"I am tall," Obama said.

• And, finally, complete kerblooey:

And the guests stood behind in the hope that she left behind.

For all intents, former City Paper editor Howard Witt put Ty'sheoma Bethea in the presidential box next to Michelle Obama for last night's unauthorized State of the Union address.

Witt met Bethea while reporting on the schools in Dillon, S.C. His discussions with the youngster, who attends a rundown middle school that Barack Obama had visited twice before taking over as president, resulted in the kid writing a letter to federal lawmakers.

The school's principal asked Witt how to get the missive to the right folks up here in Power Town, and Witt helped out and wrote about Bethea's letter in the Tribune.

Via e-mail, Witt, who left City Paper for the Tribune in 2001, says that he's not sure if the White House found out about Bethea from her letter or from his piece on the letter.

"But either way, the letter would not have existed if I hadn't visited that classroom," Witt tells me.

Boastful? For sure. But Witt's got an amazing track record in these matters.

Whatever the guy writes about becomes a national cause celebre.

Whoever he writes about becomes a star.

He's the Walter Winchell of race reporting.

So if you see Witt coming at you with his notebook, chances are you need a lawyer or an agent—or both.

You can look it up:

• In May 2007, Witt broke the Jena 6 story in the Chicago Tribune, where he's head of the paper's Southwestern bureau. Next thing you know, busloads of college kids are flocking to the Louisiana town crying injustice.
• Two months earlier, Witt broke the story of Shaquanda Cotton, a black Paris, Texas, 14-year-old who was sentenced to up to seven years in a juvenile detention center for allegedly shoving a white school employee. Witt’s report drew national attention to the case, and, not coincidentally, Cotton was released by from the state facility shortly thereafter.
• And a month after his Jena 6 tales caught fire, Witt's race copy went viral all over again with a report on Channon Christianand Christopher Newsom, a white Knoxville couple allegedly kidnapped and murdered by four blacks.

Who's next?

*U Street Girl comments on the fight at Cardozo High, in which 16 students were arrested, 15 injured, and 5 hospitalized after a cafeteria fight between several girls.

*district, schmistrict complains that (a) D.C. has no "townie" bars; (b) Baltimore has real taverns; (c) "fluffy companion dogs" are nice! but unattainable.

*Vox Populi's Lillian Kaiser writes a darling headline.

*Capitol Hill Style offers tips for purchasing V-Day flowers. The take-home? Hew to cultural convention:

Don’t Send the Wrong Message! Every flower in the garden has an assigned meaning. Red tulips are a declaration of undying passion. Daffodils are a symbol of unrequited love.

There’s a flower for any message you could want to send, and since women are notorious for reading too much into things, now would not be the time to choose haphazardly.

This means no yellow roses (”I just want to be friends,” or worse, infidelity). No yellow carnations (disdain and rejection). No hyacinth (jealousy) and no snapdragons (deception). Good rule of thumb: no yellow and no carnations.

*John Dickerson reports on Michelle Obama's trip to Adams Morgan, during which the First Lady addressed a gaggle of kids at Mary's Center:

"My name is Michelle, and I'm married to the president of the United States. Do you know his name?"

"Barack Obama," said a 5-year-old girl named Anise, who became the star of the show. She also knew the Obama daughters' names and several other pieces of information. (She was silent, however, on the stimulus bill.)

Seriously, Georgia Brown's?

Dunno if that was your idea, Mr. Mayor, or yours, Mrs. First Lady, but you both need some better culinary counsel. I mean, how much more Clintonian can you get?

LL thought this was a new day for America!

UPDATE, 4:45 P.M.: Apparently GB's was the Fentys' idea. Jill Biden—ahem, Dr. Jill Biden—was there, too.