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February 2003 Archive  The snow started up again late last night, and it looks like we have about two feet so far. Things are pretty quiet around here. 15 February - Code White  With the Museum closed because of the security situation, I had time to wander around Washington Grove to enjoy the first half of our late winter storm. The Museum's woods were quiet - didn't even see any of the resident deer. More snow's expected tonight. 13 February  While driving across the Anacostia River in Washington this morning, I caught a glimpse - and grabbed a quick shot - of one of the Avenger antiaircraft humvees stationed around town. Never thought I'd see 'em here set up for action; sigh... 12 February - Code Orange The world is a different sort of place when it's Code Orange time. There are reports that air defense units have been deployed in the DC area - nothing has shown up in the Washington Grove area, yet; but maybe our nearby old Nike base will get refurbished. The museum's disaster plan has been rummaged, and some precautions have been taken: public tours have been curtailed for the duration and a number of the most valuable Janus artifacts have been removed to our secure storage facility in West Virginia. Gus, the museum handiman, has been issued Janus' old Model 1861 Navy Colt and is now detailed to security duties. Toby the museum cat has caught the general air of nervousness and seems to have moved permanently under the couch in the Fellow's Common Room. It's interesting to see how individual members of the staff prepare for... whatever - the Curator has stocked up on Cuban cigars, purchased lord knows where - the Norbeck-Wallingford sisters went out and purchased more ammunition - the staff cafeteria bought a moderate truckload of canned Hormel Chili. Gus has brought in a 55-gallon drum of M&Ms.  Wild Potomac Poodle, from the Janus series White Dogs of the Potomac 9 February  Federal Hill, Baltimore, 1992. Still in the cat pictorial mode, for some reason... 6 February  Another treasure from the Collection, a broody cat protecting a clutch of chicks. Albumen carte de visite by H.A. Ball, c.1870. Pythonite Terry Jones acts locally in the spirit of U.S. foreign policy (via Metafilter). 2 February  Quarter-plate daguerreotype of an unidentified gentleman, c.1855. Photographer unknown I temporarily escaped the terrible news yesterday by going to pick up the Museum's new scanner. Getting everything set up was a welcome distraction. The daguerreotype shown here, and this artifact are my initial efforts - both are from the Museum collections. 1 February  The Shuttle Columbia, with the crew of STS-107, is lost. This photograph of the moon was taken by a crew member on January 26.  It's a dreary day, made more so by the news. I took a walk through the Museum woods to get away, briefly, from the coverage. |
