p is for...

In Copenhagen, P is for Porno. There's a half-assed red light district here, about three blocks of sex shops, strip clubs, and adult video stores. Nothing particularly noteworthy, though I did find this sign amusing. Perhaps the owners felt the need to distinguish so people wouldn't mistake the shop for a parking lot. Such confusion could be calamitous.

live from copenhagen

I just arrived in Copenhagen after a flight filled with crying children and poor in-flight movie options (I don't care how bored I might be, I'm not watching The Dukes of Hazzard). The kind folks at Scandic Copenhagen already had my room ready, so here I am blogging just moments after arriving in town. Time for breakfast and a day of meandering the streets.

top tickets of 2005

Continuing the lists, these are the top events I attended this year:

• Washington Nationals vs. Arizona Diamondbacks - April 14, RFK Stadium:
  The Washington Nationals home opener - the President threw out the first pitch, the home team won, and baseball is back in DC.
  
• The Decemberists - May 6, 9:30 Club:
  Kassie came to visit me for a long weekend and we went to this show. It was good.
  
• Kaiser Chiefs - July 22 - 9:30 Club:
  Best show by a band with which I was not very familiar.
  
• Portland Beavers vs. Las Vegas 51s - August 27, PGE Park, Portland:
  While visiting Kelly and Scot, we went to this minor league baseball game. The final score was 11-9, with all kinds of offense, and Kelly, Scot and I had a great time.
  
• Sigur Ros - September 11, Strathmore Music Center:
  The Strathmore is a beautiful venue, as was Sigur Ros' performance.
  
• The New Pornographers - October 15, 9:30 Club:
  The best concert I saw this year.

Off to Copenhagen...

end of year lists

I'm back in DC for a few days before I go to Europe for ten days. Copenhagen, Sweeden, and Norway await after Christmas. Because it's easy, I've got a few year-end 'best of' lists. The first:
Best albums of 2005

1. The New Pornographers : Twin Cinema


2. Sigur Ros : Takk


3. Stars : Set Yourself on Fire


4. Four Tet : Everything Ecstatic
   
5. Bright Eyes : Digital Ash in a Digital Urn

Last week I had an opportunity to take a bus tour of damaged areas in New Orleans, including the Lower 9th Ward, where the damage was the worst. For months, people have been using phrases like "a war zone," or "as though a bomb went off." Having never been in a war zone, or witness the aftermath of a bomb, I'll refrain from such descriptions and let these few pictures speak for themselves.



I have more than 20 photos just like this one, basically the entire neighborhood was razed by the burst of water from the levee break. Complete devastation.





Note in this photo, the surge of water strong enough to lift the building from its foundation.

fear the rain

A Great thunderstorm rolled through Baton Rouge tonight. As the rain started falling, I began to worry for New Orleans. Few people realize it, but the city will flood again under a major rain event. I don't think tonight's showers will do it, but Katrina destroyed so much of the basic infrastructure keeping the city above water that relatively minor storms will cause significant problems.

New Orleans has a pumping system to drain water when it rains. This system was damaged during Katrina and remains compromised. Efforts are continuing to restore those systems to their pre-Katrina capacity, but this will not be done for months. Until then, the city holds its breath every time it rains.