Since it's been established here, here, and here that terminology matters, it seems worth pointing out the screaming language on the front page of the Washington Examiner yesterday: "Suburban dreams turn into ghettoes." The headline inside the paper said: "Foreclosure crisis creating suburban slums."

The story by Bill Myers and David Sherfinski began:

Two years of economic collapse have pockmarked the D.C. region's affluent suburbs with blight, and experts are worried that the foundering cul-de-sacs and towns are on the verge of becoming the region's next ghettoes.

Here's another term - "ghetto" - that gets thrown around far too much, and too casually, in talking about urban (and, in this case, suburban) problems.

Read More "More on Why Words Matter: The Examiner Says D.C. Suburbs Are Becoming “Ghettos”" »

The Washington Post runs a Metro story about the fans who spend a day watching practice at Redskins Park. (Lemme quote Allen Iverson: "PRACTICE? We're talking PRACTICE?") One of the fans quoted in the piece is Peter Lalich. Though the story doesn't go into it, Lalich was the Everybody's-All-American kid from Springfield who was headed for stardom as a UVa quarterback before getting booted off the team for a string of teensy crimes that weren't considered crimes a generation ago, before we went to war on the use of even low-level mind-altering substances.

Lalich transferred to Oregon as soon as his run in Charlottesville went to hell, and, because of some weird quirk having something to do with his new school being on a quarter system and not semesters, he'll be eligible to play this season.

If the punishment schedule announced last year still holds, Lalich should get his drivers license back this week from Virginia authorities. It makes sense that Lalich would be on a practice field this time of year, but... Why isn't he in Oregon?

***

Another formerly local athlete in some legal heat, and not dealing real well with it: Antonio Pierce, the ex-Redskins linebacker turned Giant person of interest in the Plaxico Burress thigh blast case, is making enemies with his tweets.

(AFTER THE JUMP: Examiner column calls out Duds? Godly folks are coming after the racist Redskins? Who says Cal Ripken and/or Eddie Murray were juiced? FedExField also sucks for things other than football games? Jeremy Mayfield called his stepmomma THAT? Van Pelt goes for big bucks, but Czarniak goes bid-less?)

Read More "Cheap Seats Daily: FedExField Still Blows?" »

In which Erik gives prop to former CP reporter Jessica Gould, scolds the Examiner for "buying the tort reformers' angle," refuses to read Baltimore Gay Life, and dings the auto section of the Washington Hispanic for overstepping its advertorial bounds.

PLUS: A stirring bonus segment in which Erik lobs a BIG ONE at CP's own glass house. No way are you touching that remote!

Good morning, City Desk readers, and welcome to another edition of Freedom Friday. We're wrapping up our Summer Music Guide as I type, and I can assure you that it's going to be a doozie--the kind of doozie you'll likely keep on your coffee table from May 15 through September 1 as a quick reference to the summer's most notable shows, from Baltimore to Richmond and everywhere in between.

William Saletan vs. John McWhorter and Stephen Colbert vs. Byron York, after the jump.

Read More "Our Morning Roundup: McWhorter, Saletan, and the Color of Performance" »

Dear everyone preparing "First 100 Days" packages for tomorrow: HAPPY TUESDAY, SUCKERS!

Love, the Examiner

Today's Examiner has an opinion piece by Noemie Emery that is just so ironical, I had to blog it! It relies on a metaphor.

This metaphor takes five paragraphs to unspool.
Read More "Somebody Call a Plumber to Unstop This Metaphor!" »

THIS WEEK: The Washington Times digs Democratic sex scandals; the Washington Informer misinforms; Bob Woodward writes a yawner; the Express does some textbook critter-pandering; and Erik withholds the vaunted 'fuego' designation.

Burned!

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