D.C. Council Rebukes Jim Graham
• February 28, 2013

Well, the District Council went and did what Chairman Phil Mendelson said it was going to do. They reprimanded Councilman Jim Graham, D-Ward 1, over accusations that he attempted to intervene in a city lottery contract dispute four years ago. The vote was 11-2; Graham and Ward 8 Council- man Marion Barry were the lone nay votes.

Yet, it probably didn’t settle the issue, except to put a stain on Graham’s council record. Graham was also stripped of his power to oversee District liquor licenses and alcohol issues on the Human Services Committee, which he chairs. They did not strip him of his chairmanship.

The reprimand followed several investigations of Graham and the D.C. Lottery contract. The D.C. Board of Ethics and Government Accountability concluded that they had found “substantial evidence” that Graham had broken the District’s code of employee conduct but did not sanction him, according to a Washington Post report. Another independent investigation by the Metro board, of which Graham was then a member, concluded that Graham had improperly mingled his Council and board duties. In addition, there’s an ongoing investigation of the lottery contract process by the U.S. attorney, not to mention numerous negative editorials in the Washington Post about Graham’s activities and roles.

Graham promised to fight the reprimand at the hearing but remained relatively silent, indicating that the is- sue was now closed.

“There’s the saying, ‘All’s well that ends well,’ ” he told WRC 4 reporter Tom Sherwood. “Well, all’s well that ends.” Graham sounded more than anything relieved and argued that the voters would have their say on him in the 2014 elections, when apparently he will run for his seat yet again.

Mendelson chose to have Graham reprimanded it seems from here because quite a bit of how Graham operates in his various roles give not so much the fact of wrong doing or ethical wrong doing, but the appearance of them.
Often, Graham’s defense has been to claim loudly that has not been indicted or that he was not the target of an investigation, as in the taxi commission bribe scandal which involved his chief of staff.

Ward One voters have repeatedly voted Graham back into office. Newly elected At-large Councilman David Gross said he would not support him next time around.

It seems though that there was little substance behind a public reprimand or even taking away his committee duties. The act smacked a little bit of grandstanding on the Council’s part, designed to do nothing more except perhaps to give the appearance of a serious smackdown and the appearance that the Council is finally serious about ethical matters, given Kwame Brown, Harry Thomas, Jr., Mayor’s Gray’s campaign and other matters.

This is not to suggest that Graham is innocent of everything he’s been accused of, but rather that he should be proven guilty of something. In the very least, the Council might have ordered an investigation of its own—by a legal entity or attorney—as it did in the case of Marion Barry, who was censured after such an investigation of his role in a legal services contract in 2010. That hearing, conducted and ordered by then Council Chairman Vincent Gray had the gravitas it and Barry de- served. Not, apparently, going to happen. ?

Ave atque Vale, Benedicte
•

The Roman Catholic Church will soon be without a pope. Pope Benedict XVI renounced his absolute powers as if a last lesson to his flock: for them and the church, the Bishop of Rome freely released his grip on the papal crosier because of his failing health.

The 265th pope succeeded the popular John Paul II. While both are seen as high intellects, Benedict often seemed to play Truman to John Paul’s FDR.

The seemingly mild-mannered pope, nevertheless, pursued his goals, sounding conservative or liberal in his speeches and readings because he thinks on a different moral scale than mere secular political observers.

Read Benedict’s encyclical on love or his essays on Jesus Christ.

As the Vatican is vacant of its leader, all manner of rumors, accusations and grief are let loose. One can imagine a scene from “Angels & Demons.”

The revelation of pedophile and perverted priests — and the sinful cover-up by superiors — has poisoned the church. Indeed, for this alone, some condemn the oldest followers of Western Christendom. Regardless, a comprehensive solution must be applied now.

The College of Cardinals is set to do its primary duty. Whom will it choose? Ask the Holy Spirit.

For us, some of whom are Catholic, it is a time of reflection, supercharged by Lent, looking forward to a new pope for Easter.
For all of us living in Washington, look to your Federal City, bookended by high-powered Catholic institutions — Georgetown University on the west and Catholic University, Trinity University and the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the east.

These educators are impressive influencers, grounded in religion and guided by art and science, that look toward the masonic overlay of Washington’s architecture. They know more than you know, and there is a reason that they are here.

In the coming weeks, much speculation will be offered about the papacy and the church. Reserve your own judgment, and let some prayers and thanks come into your own thoughts.

Hail and farewell, Benedict XVI. Auf wiedersehen, Joseph Ratzinger.

What is next for this 2,000-year Christian institution, full of human achievements, injuries and foibles?

Expect a miracle. ?

Weekend Round Up February 21, 2013
• February 25, 2013

Tickets Lottery for the 2013 Easter Egg Roll Opens Today

February 21st, 2013 at 08:00 AM | Event Website

Don’t miss your chance to join the First Family for the 135th annual White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday April 1. This year’s theme is “Be Healthy, Be Active, Be You” — and more than 35,000 people will be joining the First Family on the South Lawn for activities including games, stories, singing, dancing, and of course, the traditional egg roll.

Address

The White House; 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

DC Shorts WINS!

February 22nd, 2013 at 07:00 PM | $12 | Event Website

DC Shorts WINS! are special showcases of award-winning films from previous D.C. Shorts — and a few we wish we programmed. Some films have Oscar connections, and all of the films have won accolades.
Tickets: $12 /showcase

Showtime: 90 minutes, Age: 18+

Shows:

Friday, February 22, Show 1: 7:00pm Show 2: 9:00pm

Saturday, February 23, Show 3: 7:00pm Show 4: 9:00pm

Sunday, February 24, Show 1: 12:00pm Show 3: 2:00pm

Address

US Navy Memorial Burke Theater; 701 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Entertainment Cruises — Black History Month Cruise

February 23rd, 2013 at 11:30 AM | $46.90 | Tel: 866.302.2469 | Event Website

On Feb. 23, guests can enjoy a special narration highlighting momentous events in African American history followed by the music of Duke Ellington, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Prince and more. The DJ’s song-list will cross all genres – from Jazz and Blues to Pop and R&B, showcasing how these great African American artists paved the way for today’s contemporaries. After working up an appetite from all the dancing on deck, guests can indulge in a mouth-watering, multi-course grande buffet.

Address

Gangplank Marina; 600 Water St., SW

AYPO Presents ‘Symphonic Serenade’ Concert with NSO Violist Tsuna Sakamoto

February 24th, 2013 at 08:00 PM | $15 adult, $10 senior (65+), $10 student, free for music teachers | outreach@aypo.org | Tel: 703-642-8051 | Event Website

AYPO Presents “Symphonic Serenade” Concert featuring Violist Tsuna Sakamoto of the National Symphony Orchestra and American Youth Symphonic Orchestra with Conductor Carl J. Bianchi.

PROGRAM

Bartók: Concerto for Viola and Orchestra

Sibelius: “Alla Marcia” from Karelia Suite, Op. 11

Sibelius: Symphony No. 5 in E flat major, Op. 82

Address

Hylton Performing Arts Center; George Mason University; 10960 George Mason Circle; Manassas, Va. 20109

Snuggle With the Stars: DC’s Only Official Oscar Experience

February 24th, 2013 at 6:30 PM | $50 | info@dcshorts.com | Event Website

Washington, D.C.’s only official Oscar experience. Forget the formalities; we are presenting a pajama party. Watch the broadcast on a two-story HD screen while enjoying beverages from Buffalo & Bergen and gourmet snacks from Whole Foods. Age 21+
General pass: $50. Includes: Open bar, buffet and swag bag.

VIP pass: $100. Includes: General pass plus Snuggie, official Academy Award program and poster, passes to watch the nominated shorts at Landmark’s E Street Cinema and West End Cinema.

Address

U.S. Navy Memorial Burke Theater; 701 Pennsylvania Ave., NW

Miner Family Wines Wine Dinner: Capital Wine Festival

February 26th, 2013 at 6:30 PM | $125 | bbaskervill@fairfaxembassyrow.com | Tel: 202 736-1453 | Event Website

Four-course wine dinner featuring wines of Miner Family Wines: Winemaker Gary Bookman hosts the evening’s dinner. This is a great opportunity to experience the vineyard’s sensational portfolio of wines including its single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Oakville Cabernet as well as their proprietal blend, Oracle. Executive Chef Chris Ferrier will create a customized menu to complement the vintner’s selection for the dinner. Dinner will be served in 2100 Prime, providing an intimate dining experience.

Address

The Fairfax at Embassy Row; 2100 Massachusetts Ave., NW

Weekend Round Up January 10, 2013
• February 22, 2013

Photo Exhibit and Opening Reception

January 17th, 2013 at 06:00 PM | FREE | photograpghy@georgetowner.com | Tel: 2023384833 | Event Website

Join
Boston University’s Center for Digital Imaging Arts and the Georgetowner for its third annual photo competition. Check out the winning photograph and other images submitted to The Georgetowner’s Annual Photo Competition.

The reception will be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Boston University’s Center for Digital Imaging Arts

Please RSVP to photograpghy@georgetowner.com.

Address

Boston University’s Center for Digital Imaging Arts

1055 Thomas Jefferson ST NW

Washington DC 20007

Washington Winter Show

January 11th, 2013 at 11:00 AM | $20 Gen. Admission | jtaylor@thearcdc.org | Event Website

The Washington Winter Show (January 11-13, 2013) will include art, antiques,and various rare and interesting items from 45 dealers, as well as guide tours and lectures. Local exhibitors include Becks Antiques and Books, Priscilla Boyd Angelos, Fletcher/Copenhaver Fine Art, Arthur Guy Kaplan and many others. The show benefits several local charities including THEARC.

Address

Katzen Arts Center at American University, Washington, D.C.

29th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast

January 12th, 2013 at 08:00 AM | oland@upo.org | Tel: 202-238-4629 | Event Website](http://www.upo.org/)

United Planning Organization

29th Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast

Proceeds from the Breakfast support the Joseph A. Beavers & the Adult Construction Trade and Nursing Scholarships. The Joseph A. Beavers Scholarship provides five deserving high school graduates a $10,000 scholarship, bringing them closer to their higher education aspirations.

Address

JW Marriott Hotel 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

We Avalanche/The Dwells at Solly’s U Street Tavern

January 14th, 2013 at 08:00 PM | Tel: 202.232.6590 | [Event Website](http://www.weavalanche.com/)

On an East Cost Tour from Boston, MA, acoustic powerhouses, The Dwells and We Avalanche, will play live at Solly’s U Street Tavern. Join them for an evening of progressive, folk inspired songwriting on Monday, Jan. 14th. Drawing from the common influences of American Folk music and songwriting stylings such as Elliott Smith, both Boston based bands pull audiences in with their intimate, unplugged feel. Don’t miss seeing these fresh faces in the Free Folk scene together under one bill!

Address

Solly’s U Street Tavern – 1942 11th St NW, Washington, DC

Writer Richard Ben Cramer Knew What It Took
•

If it is true that Theodore White invented the campaign book—those dramatic, vivid, action-packed histories of presidential campaigns—with his “Making of the President” series, beginning with the 1960 John Kennedy-Richard Nixon campaign, it may be just as true that Richard Ben Cramer set the standard for such a book and wrote the most exhaustingly detailed one ever.

That would be “What It Takes,” an account of the 1988 campaign in which George H.W. Bush eventually prevailed over Michael Dukakis. The book was more than one thousand pages long and etched in sharp detail the personalities of the men who ran for president that year, including Bush Sr., Bob Dole, Jack Kemp, Dukakis, Pat Robertson, Jesse Jackson, Gary Hart and quite a host of others.

Cramer, whose book came out four years after the fact in time for the next presidential election, was a stalwart of new journalism scribes—many of whom also wrote books—in the sense that his writing tended to be personal, impressionistic, dramatic, leaving no detail unreported. There never was a book like “What it Takes.” White in his “Making of the President” series was soon followed by others and was topped by a group of English journalists whose “An American Melodrama” was a dramatic and passionate account of that very melodramatic 1968 campaign, which featured President Lyndon Johnson’s refusal to run for re-election, the assassinations of Martin Luther King, Jr., and Sen. Robert Kennedy, D-N.Y., the often violent Democratic National Convention in Chicago and the return of Richard Nixon, who prevailed over Vice President Hubert Humphrey by a hair.

The 1988 campaign—complete with oddball candidacies from the fringes of both parties—contained no such dramatics, since neither eventual standard bearers were hard pushed in their quest for the nomination. What it provided for Cramer was a cast of characters noted for their hearty ambition. That’s what intrigued him: why people were attracted to the idea of and believe they should be president.

Today, of course, campaign books are a regular part of the landscape, both in print and on the net and some come out barely weeks after the last vote is counted, as opposed to Cramer’s labor of love that took four years to come out.

Campaigns and politics are tantalizing mirrors to hold up to the idea of the American character. They are pulse-taking and myth-making arenas, almost exactly like the big world of American sports. Cramer sought answers about America in the life and times of Joe DiMaggio, the Yankee Clipper and American sports hero who played hurt, still holds the major league hitting streak record, and made his way into a Simon and Garfunkle song. He also married Marilyn Monroe, America’s great and messed up movie star and sex symbol in the 1950s.

“Joe DiMaggo: The Hero’s Life” was a fine book in many ways, but it a lacked something almost every article and profile and book about the baseball star lacks: DiMaggio’s own voice. He refused to talk with Cramer, leaving a crater-sized hole in the book, which no amount of obsessive detail and mythologizing could fill. The writer had put a profile on Yankees’ star Alex Rodriquez on hold during the summer.

Cramer died Jan. 7 of lung cancer at the age of 62 in Baltimore and lived in Chestertown, Md., with his wife, Joan Cramer, who survives him.

Hit the Pause Button, But Get Ready to Hit Play
•

President Obama and the Republicans avoided the fiscal cliff. Taxes were raised on the wealthiest 1 percent and spending cuts were delayed for another two months.

Was the tax cut fair? Every worker faces higher taxes because the social security tax holiday is over. Corporations got $20 billion a year in tax breaks. You decide.

Republicans have one talking point: “Spending is out of control.”

What is out of control is aging and healthcare, and no one knows how to deal with that.

More than 75 million baby boomers are waiting in line for government healthcare. In the 1960s, healthcare was 2 percent of government spending and people lived to age 70. Today, healthcare is almost 30 percent of government spending and people are living to almost 80.

No one has offered a solution to that problem. Even Paul Ryan’s plan to shift more healthcare costs to seniors didn’t begin for ten years. After all, he wanted his 78-year-old mother to vote for him.

Here’s the real problem: Americans like what government does. They just don’t like to pay for it, especially since borrowing has, thus far, been painless.

Government spending in the U.S. is different than in other countries. The U.S. doesn’t own airlines and factories. The government buys from the private sector.

If the defense department buys fewer airplanes or battleships, will airline companies and cruise lines buy more?
Highways are built by private sector companies with government contracts. Do we want more crowded highways with more potholes?

Eliminate Fannie Mae? Will banks make mortgage loans without government support and guarantees?
Eliminate the Education Department? Will banks make student loans without federal guarantees? Can local school systems compete with Japan and Germany? Do we want our great universities to rely even more on foreign students if Americans can’t afford tuition?

Eliminate the Department of Commerce (and save less than 1 percent of government spending)? That means eliminating the Census (which determines how many dollars and votes each state gets) and the Patent and Trademark Office.
Eliminate the SBA? Will banks make loans to small businesses without government guarantees?
Stop protecting our water and air? Close the national parks? (Or charge admission and watch them fall into disarray like the Transportation Museum in Spencer?)

Eliminate any national energy policy or the Environmental Protection Agency? Just tear up the environment with no regulation?
Eliminate welfare? That would save about $250 billion which, of course, the poor use to buy food, housing, and heathcare in the private market. And there would be other costly repercussions.

Eliminate foreign aid and save 1 percent of federal spending? Will Americans buy more tractors and food since those countries are required to use those dollars to buy American goods?

Eliminate the Congress and the Presidency? That would save 1/10 of 1 percent of federal spending. Not much, but perhaps what we really want.

Costs won’t disappear. If government pays less, Americans pay more. Sounds like a tax.
Times up. Release the Play button. Let’s get on with the show.

Golden Globes Do Not Disappoint
•

It’s not only flu season but also awards season. I don’t know which is worse. If you haven’t got the flu, you’ll get the awards fever.

Actually, there’s a reason why we—yes, we—like Jodie Foster, we have something to confess or admit or ramble on about—watch these shows. Exhibit A turned out to be the Golden Globe Awards, which were on display and televised last night, fulfilling its mission of handing out best this and that awards to nominated film, cinema and television artists in its own peculiar fashion.

The awards—televised on NBC and preceded not one but two red carpet shows—managed to be a perfect antidote to the flu panic now occurring across the country, causing people in the Washington area to scurry about all weekend in search of a flu vaccine—Safeway seemed to be the only place where you could get one, although not without waiting for hours. Not that the flu didn’t make an appearance at the awards show: apparently Meryl Streep was homebound with the flu, although, as co-host with Tina Fey Amy Poehler said, “she played the flu perfectly.”

The Golden Globes, handed out by the Hollywood Foreign Press community—some dozens strong it is rumored—nevertheless have a certain impact, anointing favorites—or not—in the upcoming Oscar Awards, the nominations for which were only recently announced.

Still, it’s television, it’s musicals and dramas, it’s different, it’s a sit-down dinner and open bar, a combination that gives the occasion a certain Titanic beginning to sink quality. People say the strangest things and the oddest people show up. It’s Les Mis, can you hear the people wing it, it’s Ann Hathaway scrambling on stage when the movie won “best musical and/or comedy” award, looking for someone to hug.

Who would have thought that President Bill Clinton—now that his party animal days are in recession—would show up at an event where cleavage vied with “Argo” for attention. Clinton, in fact, gave the introduction to Steven Spielberg’s “Clinton…”, sorry, “Lincoln”, for which Daniel Day Lewis won the best acting awards. Clinton noted that the film depicts Lincoln, in trying to achieve larger goals, had to make compromises not to his taste. “I wouldn’t know anything about that,” Clinton quipped, obviously expecting the Hollywood folks to remember him passing welfare reform legislation. Lewis, not known for his standup banter, said “who knew two ex-presidents would be here tonight.”

And so it went—that’s why we watched. We watched the tremendously gifted British blues singer and super Grammy Adele deliciously gush about receiving an award for song-writing for penning the James Bond movie theme this year and had a quick glimpse of the also-nominated Taylor Swift with that “they took away my award” look on her face.

Red and nude, according to the experts, were the dressy look for the ladies, all of whom got to answer the question of the night: “whom are you wearing”, when collared by Savannah Guthrie or the three young women on the mysterious first look segment on the red carpet that appeared mostly devoid of stars.

I’ve really got to get around to watching “Homeland”, the national security thriller on Showtime which swept all the television drama awards. So far I’ve only seen the funny version on Saturday Night Live. Claire Dane looked fabulous in red, Mandy Patinkin looking like a thinker in brown beard.

The big surprise of the night beside the appearance of Lincoln/Clinton was the award for screenwriting to Quentin Tarantino for “Django Unchained”, his take on slavery, and carnage, Southern-style, beating out Tony (“Angels in America”) Kushner’s screenplay for “Lincoln”. The Golden Globers of course like to be contrarian at times and Tarantino is as contrarian as they come. He was last spied on camera spitting out the contents of a drink.

Less surprising and very popular was the best director for drama award to Ben Affleck, snubbed by Oscar, for “Argo” and an award for best drama for the film, although, as his wife pointed out, he did forget to thank the producers, one of whom was George Clooney.

Jodie Foster was given the Cecil B. De Mille award, a life-time achievement kind of thing, and proceeded to puzzle and move everyone watching with a speech that rambled, sometimes sounding like a retirement speech, sometimes like an auto-biography, sometimes like a coming-out speech, but never quite any of them. Still it was evocative, touching, strange and, oh, heck, this is Hollywood, and we love Foster—a two-time Oscar winner. Friend Mel Gibson as well as her children were at her table, among other folks.

Benedict XVI to Resign: a Stunning and Humble Act
•

The 265th pope of the Roman Catholic Church — Benedict XVI (Papa Benedictus Sextus Decimus) — announced his resignation, or retirement, Feb. 11, to take effect by the end of the month for health reasons. The 85-year-old Benedict is the first pope since Pope Gregory XII in 1415 to resign.

A press release from the Vatican website reads:

“Dear Brothers, After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the barque of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me. For this reason, and well aware of the seriousness of this act, with full freedom I declare that I renounce the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, entrusted to me by the Cardinals on 19 April 2005, in such a way, that as from 28 February 2013, at 20:00 hours, the See of Rome, the See of Saint Peter, will be vacant and a Conclave to elect the new Supreme Pontiff will have to be convoked by those whose competence it is.

“Dear Brothers, I thank you most sincerely for all the love and work with which you have supported me in my ministry and I ask pardon for all my defects. And now, let us entrust the Holy Church to the care of Our Supreme Pastor, Our Lord Jesus Christ, and implore his holy Mother Mary, so that she may assist the Cardinal Fathers with her maternal solicitude, in electing a new Supreme Pontiff. With regard to myself, I wish to also devotedly serve the Holy Church of God in the future through a life dedicated to prayer.”

Before the big news, the pope tweeted (@Pontifex) on Sunday: “We must trust in the mighty power of God’s mercy. We are all sinners, but His grace transforms us and makes us new.”

The announcement was met with surprise, if not shock, by many observers across the world, especially by the more than one billion Roman Catholics, led by Benedict. Even cardinals in the Vatican had no idea it was coming, according to reports.

An expert on Roman Catholicism, Chester Gillis, dean of Georgetown College and a theology professor at Georgetown University, talked Feb. 11 to “CBS This Morning,” co-hosted by Charlie Rose and Norah O’Donnell. Gillis called the pope’s resignation “unthinkable,” adding that if the pope felt he could not continue because of health issues his stepping-aside was “generous” and “a humble act.”

Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, held a press conference this morning on the resignation and what to expect in the weeks ahead. “What has to be uppermost in the hearts and minds of all of us is ‘What is God asking of us in making a choice for who will fill the chair of Peter?’ ” said Wuerl, according to the Washington Post. “And I think that’s going to be the only consideration: who among this body has the qualifications, the characteristics, the spiritual gifts to fill that chair.”

Already speculation has begun on Benedict’s successor. Media outlets and bookies, such as PaddyPower.com, are looking at Cardinal Francis Arinze of Nigeria, Cardinal Marc Ouellet of Canada, Cardinanl Luis Tagle of the Phillipines, Cardinal Peter Turkson of Ghana and others.

President Barack Obama praised the pope: “I have appreciated our work together over these last four years. The Church plays a critical role in the United States and the world, and I wish the best to those who will soon gather to choose His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI’s successor.” French President François Hollande called the pope’s decision “brave and exceptional.” Also via Twitter, Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti said he was shocked by the decision and expressed “deep respect” for the pontiff.

Pope Benedict visited Washington, D.C., in April 2008. Greeted by President George W. Bush, the pope was presented with a birthday cake in the White House. The pope was serenaded by students from Annunciation Church on Massachusetts Avenue, who sang “Happy Birthday” to him in English and German in front on the Vatican Embassy, where he enjoyed a lunch catered by Cafe Milano. Like his predecessors, he visited the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception next to Catholic University. One of the biggest events of his trip was a mass at the new Nationals Park .

Born Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger on April 16, 1927, in Bavaria, the pope attended the seminary as a teenager but was forced to be part of the Hitler Youth and then German infantry briefly at the end of World War II. His family’s home was used by U.S. troops as a headquarters. He returned to the seminary with his brother — and went on to become a professor and the Archbishop of Munich. Becoming a cardinal and then as the Prefect of the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, he succeeded the extraordinarily popular, beloved and long-reigning Pope John Paul II in 2005. Benedict has dealt with the sexual abuse scandals within the church and its children — not always to the satisfaction of many, if not the hatred of some. He has been seen as an intellectual, explaining the correctness of tradition and of Christian theology and culture.

Upon his ascension to the seat of Saint Peter, Benedict said, “Dear brothers and sisters, after the great Pope John Paul II, the cardinals have elected me — a simple, humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord.”

We shall see and hear more in the days ahead, but a German proverb from Psalms — “An Gottes Segen Ist Alles Gelegen” — should inform our understanding. Once seen in many households in Saxony and Bavaria, these words mean: “With God’s blessing, everything is possible” — or, more literally, “On God’s will is everything placed.”

D.C. Celebrates the Chinese Year of the Snake (photos)
•

In 2013, on the Western calendar, the start of the New Year falls on Feb. 10 and is the Year of the Snake. Tens of thousands turned out on Sunday, Feb. 10, in Chinatown in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the Chinese New Year which is the lunar year 4711 on the Chinese calendar. During this important celebration in East Asian culture, it is traditional to wear red, meant to ward off evil spirits. The event featured a parade through Chinatown and the traditional Chinese Lion and Dragon Dances. On hand were Mayor Vincent Gray, Council members Jack Evans, Tommy Wells and Muriel Bowser, along with Shadow Senator Paul Strauss. Leading the festivities were Rita Lee, chair of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, and Ambassador Pu-tsung King, Representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States.

View our photographs of the parade by clicking on the photo icons below. [gallery ids="101153,141081,141088,141096,141104,141112,141119,141126,141133,141140,141148,141156,141164,141172,141180,141188,141074,141066,141221,140984,141214,140991,141209,140999,141204,141008,141014,141022,141030,141038,141045,141052,141060,141196" nav="thumbs"]

Cupid’s Undie Run Participants Bare Nearly All for Charity
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Despite chilly temperatures, hundreds of runners and 4 “racing presidents” stripped down for charity in the 4th Annual Cupid’s Undie Run on Capitol Hill on Saturday, Feb. 9.

The event, which started in the District in 2010 and takes place just ahead of Valentine’s Day, has expanded to over a dozen cities across the country and around the world to benefit the Children’s Tumor Foundation. Founders and organizers of Cupid’s Undie Run, Bobby Gill, 28, and Brendan Hanrahan, 27 were on hand to lead the festivities and award prizes for the best undressed.

View our pictures of the race and all the after-race festivities inside the Pour House Bar and Restaurant by clicking on the photo icons below. [gallery ids="141498,141406,141400,141393,141386,141380,141374,141367,141360,141354,141413,141420,141428,141490,141483,141476,141469,141462,141455,141448,141441,141434,141346,141339,141332,141240,141234,141504,141226,141510,141218,141515,141211,141521,141246,141254,141260,141324,141318,141312,141304,141296,141289,141282,141276,141268,101154" nav="thumbs"]