The Night Note: 9/22/09

News you need to know

The following stories are brought to you by the fine folks on the News4 assignment desk.

DRUM STARTS BEATING FOR ZORN'S HEAD
The Jim Zorn DeathWatch has begun.  We knew it'd begin sometime, but two weeks in?  Ah, the pressure of unreasonable expectations. Coach was interviewed during his weekly segment on 980, and quickly was asked about whether the results of this week's game against the Detroit Lions would impact his job status.  His response, as relayed by Redskins 360: "I won’t even answer that question. I’m trying to get ready for Detroit. I’m not worried about my job."  So he claims.  But even if he wasn't, he might be now.  Once a coach makes it to the hot seat, that discussion tends to fill the room, sucking all the air from it.  It's the giant cat lurking in the shadows, ready to pounce at any moment.  Even if you try to ignore it, the back of your mind knows its there.  (NBC Washington)

LOCAL MAN ALMOST RUINS NEIGHBORHOOD FUN
Frozen Tropics reports that the H Street Festival almost didn’t happen. Why? Because of one NIMBY who thought the festival permits might not have been in total compliance. The blogger calls out the NIMBY by name:“For a few hours there it actually looked like Bobby Pittman (a well known local gadfly) might be able to stop the Festival through last minute bureaucratic tie ups (NB, [nothing] is wrong with checking signatures, but this was a dirty Bobby move at the last minute). In the end Bobby did not get his way, and the Mayor’s office allowed the Festival to proceed. But I’d like to send out a personal Evil Eye to Bobby on this one.  If you really hate seeing all this great stuff on H Street, maybe you should just move dude. Bobby, you have gone on some Don Quixotesque crusade of harassing local businesses (including, but not even close to limited to: Rock and Roll Hotel, the Pug, and the Atlas Performing Arts Center [!])[...]" (Frozen Tropics via City Desk)

CHIEF'S MASK PROMPTS SCHOOL LOCKDOWN
A masked police chief planning to surprise Michigan high school students in a forensic science class ended up sparking a brief lockdown after being spotted by a cafeteria worker. The Flint Journal reported Montrose Police Chief Darrell Ellis and another person from the department were seen Thursday putting on stocking masks outside Montrose High School for a mock robbery. Ellis said the lesson called for students to write descriptions of the suspects and do interviews. (MSNBC)

MAN EATS 30 BURRITOS, SURVIVES
Professional eater "Humble Bob" Shoudt ate 33 burritos in 10 minutes, winning the 2009 World Burrito eating championship on Friday before an excited crowd at the New Mexico State Fair.  Shoudt, of Royersford, Pa., finished just ahead of runner-up Hall "Hoover" Hunt of Jacksonville, Fla., who put down 30 burritos in the International Federation of Competitive Eating-sponsored contest.  Shoudt, who won $1,500, said he didn't eat for two days to prepare for the competition. Competitors ate 4-ounce burritos, filled with beef, beans and green chile — each weighing about a quarter of a pound. (USA Today)

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