Peaches and Herb One More Tme!

With news that Peaches and Herb has a new album set to debut, "Colors of Love", I look forward to a new generation yelling "Hey Herb, where's Peaches?"

Gee, haven't heard that in a week or two.

No really this is great news! Is it possible that it's been 30 years since "Reunited" topped the charts?

As I wrote about last year in a somewhat blind item "The Greatest Blog Post I Didn't Write", Herb (Fame) Feemster has kept his job all along at the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, where he works as a deputized court security officer for the U.S. Marshals Service.

In honor of TGIF and their new album, today I will shake my groove thing, shake my groove thing, yeah, yeah.

The new CD may be ordered here.

Buffalo Thunder in Shaw 2009

Each year on the Sunday before Memorial Day, hundreds of members of Buffalo Soldiers and Troopers Motorcycle Clubs from around the country rally at the African American Civil War Memorial in Shaw to lay a wreath at the Memorial's Wall of Honor which lists the names of 200,000 + African American troops who served in the Civil War. The clubs are named in honor of the legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers, which were comprised of former slaves, freemen and Black Civil War soldiers, who first served in the U.S. Army during peacetime after the Civil War.

A couple of hours of inspiring speakers, pageantry, music, costumes and house-shaking noise from hundreds of motorbikes, so what was missing? Well mostly the neighborhood. Sadly I was one of a handful non-club members present. The rally was held at the plaza at top of one of the U Street Metro exits but still the reaction of people arriving to the surface was a blase "Oh, look hundreds of bikers. Now which way to Ben's?"

So I represented. And darn well!

This rally appropriately takes place in Shaw since the neighborhood is named for Robert Gould Shaw (October 10, 1837-July 1863) who was the commander of the all African American 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry which entered the Civil War in 1863. Col. Shaw and his troops were the subject of 1989 film "Glory." After the cermony the Buffalo soldiers queued up and rode to the Mall to join the better known "Rolling Thunder: Ride for Freedom."

One of the costumed ushers























The Buffalo Soldiers arrive!















Most are wearing the black and gold club colors







































Bikes lined up on Vermont during the ceremony




















The laying of the Wreath Ceremony













After the ceremony, the bikers head to the Mall.










Copy of the General Order 143 "Establishing the U.S. Colored Troops" that was handed out to the crowd: (click to enlarge)

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

I was going to write something about Memorial Day and Logan Circle but suddenly remembered, I did that last year.

Oh Ativan, the tricks you play on my mind!

I'll be enjoying my staycation and will no doubt, think about blogging about something but probably will just put it on Facebook.

Have a safe and fun long weekend!

Squashing Rumors about Dancin' Kim!

I want to put an end to the current interwebs rumors that in the '80s I was known as "Dancin' Kim."

First of all I am much perkier and smile more. Secondly, I am have much more awesomer rad dance skillz.

You decide:


'80s Dances: How To Do The Thriller

Uh Oh! The Boss Is Here!

Please pardon me for this brief commercial interruption.

Video of Universal Gear Robbery

All the neighborhood blogs are posting the video of the Universal Gear robbery so I may as well join the fray, although I doubt if my tens of readers move in the right circles to spot the criminals. But if you see your local thug wearing a $79.50 pair of Cha Cha Boy Silver Print Swim Briefs or a Diesel Sleeveless V-Neck Hoodie you might want to call 911. It's sad that despite the renaissance of 14th St, punks like this can still terrorize small businesses with impunity.

NBC4 is running this video as part of its newscasts so hopefully these crooks will get caught soon.

There is a $500 reward for the arrest and conviction of these criminals. Contact info@universalgear.com or call at 202-319-0136 with any information.

What's Rule Number One When Organizing a Protest in DC?

Is Rule Number One spreading the word to your large and engaged populace via Social Media like Facebook? Making sure your protest signs are colorful and eye catching? Contacting the Main Stream Media in advance for coverage? Obtaining sponsors for food and water?

Nope.

Rule Number One is double checking to ensure that your protest takes place at the correct address. We were all mystified when you showed up today waving your signs at us and snapping our pictures while we pulled out our camera phones and returned the photo fusillades. We mostly agree with your demands but regardless there is little we can do beyond what any other American citizens can do.

It was a little embarrassing and uncomfortable since you seemed so passionate and sincere. It was almost like telling the guests at your surprise birthday party that your birthday was last October but thanks anyway and by the way, you are allergic to chocolate cake.

You left after about an hour and hopefully someone had provided you with the correct organization address. Similar sounding names, different missions, different addresses.

It's so DC, isn't it?