Safety first...

A recent community women's meeting had a guest speaker, Lisa Adams-Williams, a detective with the DC Police's Sexual Assault Unit. Ms. Adams-Williams spoke on how to avoid being assaulted, as well as what to do if it happens to you.

She gave much of the usual spiel about being careful in parking garages, with the additional caveat to be careful about parking near the driver's side of a van, as people have been snatched away from that side of such a vehicle.

The most surprising information (perhaps it shouldn't be) was her caution that the restrooms in Union Station are the most likely places for sexual assault attempts in DC, so to be careful to accompany children to the restrooms there, whenever possible, to avoid problems. (And to be careful there yourself.)

You probably already know that if you are assaulted, that you don't shower or change your clothing, etc., until after you report it to the authorities. She also mentioned that you should first report the crime to the police, then go to a hospital or clinic.

Of course, you need to report the crime where it occurred (what happens in DC stays in DC)--if the crime happens in DC, then report it to the DC Police. If you're attacked in Arlington, report it to the Arlington County Police, etc.

All in all, a helpful chat, and hope to speak with her again.

Car Free DC? Still a ways off...

Today is supposedly Car Free Day worldwide. Unfortunately, traffic may be less in some areas (not enough that I can notice, though) because of the economy. However, it may have been tricky to actually go car-free in DC today, as cabbies were on strike protesting the new meters.

Another impediment from more people going car-free in the area stems from recent transit troubles, such as the latest in a string of suicides at subway stations (causing Metro to begin suicide prevention measures). If only to prevent another suicide like last week's tragedy at the Columbia Heights station, a fifteen year old who decided to end it all in public (I heard the awful thud when it happened; the boy was still alive for a little while after he jumped), such efforts could be worthwhile.

Scene outside the Columbia Heights metro, about 2 pm on Sept. 17, 2009.

Perhaps we need the equivalent of the Tokyo subway's people pushers , whom, by their presence, are another level of eyes and ears in the system, who could also watch out for the extremely distraught.

DC Go Boom!

After browsing the international websites today, a habit I got into during the Bush years (to find out how others view Americans), I found this tidbit in the online Toronto Globe and Mail, "Canada to stage mock Afghan attack in Washington," (which garnered many comments, rightfully). That's right, a mock attack by the Taliban is to be staged in town this month, four times during a two-day period, in part to inform Americans of the part Canadians are playing in the Afghanistan war effort. Eh?

Who dreamed this up? This stunt's going to backfire, bigtime, for our Canadian friends. However, what I find even more worrisome is that the local major media outlets have not yet reported on this upcoming turn of events; so far, the only local "media" to mention this is DCist, which only found out about the mock "shock and awe" from the same article. Can you say "blackout before the blowup"?