Photos: Sunrise light “shoots the gap” while rain falls in Washington, D.C.

occur on the leading edge of storms. The IR satellite image from Saturday morning, before sunrise, shows a clear slot of sky to the east of Washington while cloud cover is overhead. Clear skies east of Washington allowed light from the rising sun to shine under the clouds which provided a colorful sunrise. (Unisys) We loaded the car and took I-66 east toward Washington. It was 5:40 a.m. There was solid overcast with spits of rain. For me, part of the fun of sunrise shoots is predicting the color in the sky based upon the current satellite imagery and the current weather conditions. Close calls with storms are interesting. It’s boom or bust. Sometimes, the sunrise explodes in color before a storm system moves in. Other times, the color in the sky never appears. It’s hard to predict a good sunrise. I just enjoy watching how the weather unfolds. That is reason enough for the photo trip. The gap in the clouds to the east of Washington is very apparent at dawn. As sunrise approached, however, the gap became much more narrow. (Kevin Ambrose) When we arrived at the Reflecting Pool, dawn was just starting to break at 6:15 a.m. There was a large, visible gap in the clouds to the east of Washington that looked perfect to provide a passage for the light of sunrise to illuminate the sky. We had high hopes that the sky would explode in shades of red and yellow as the sun’s light hit the underside of the clouds and falling precipitation. Unfortunately, as the minutes ticked down to sunrise, we watched the gap in the clouds get squeezed to a sliver. By the time of sunrise, the gap in was barely visible. The clouds were pushing east. A wide view of sunrise in Washington while light rain falls, September 13, 2014. The light from the rising sun shines through a very narrow gap in the clouds and illuminates the sky over Washington. (Kevin Ambrose) As the sun rose, the narrow gap in the clouds held tough and it did provide a small passage for the light of sunrise to illuminate the clouds over Washington. The light from the sun glowed in shades of red and magenta above the Washington Monument and National Mall. The color in the sky only lasted a moment, then it was gone. The sun quickly moved behind the clouds.


The Sunday political shows debate: Can non-American ground troops eliminate the Islamic State threat?

Syria southeast into Iraq, Iraqi forces frequently abandoned their positions, thereby giving up both terrain and equipment — including weaponry provided by the United States over the course of training the Iraqi army after the ouster of Saddam Hussein. As The Post reported separately, questions about Iraq's ability and willingness to fight this time remain unanswered. McDonough offered one response to ABC's Martha Raddatz. Iraq, he said has "a new prime minister. ... There is a new multiethnic government in Baghdad. They will support a unified, capable multiethnic Iraqi force so that they can take this fight to ISIL. Ultimately, they need to do it for their success, not just ours." NBC's Richard Engel, talking to Todd from Iraq, worried about another aspect: the role of Iran. "Many people are questioning the loyalty of the Iraqi army," Engel said. "They say that it is deeply influenced by Iran. So now the Americans are flying overhead dropping bombs, doing American airstrikes — and you have the Iraqi army ineffective and guided by Iran." Then there's the question of scale. There already are American "boots on the ground," of course, several hundred that are engaged in the training that McDonough mentioned (and that the administration would like to see more of). On Fox News, former CIA head Michael Hayden suggested that the number would climb — including with the use of combat troops. "I actually think we're going to end up with small American special operations forces active in this broad theater, both Iraq and Syria," Hayden said. "I don't think you get American maneuver units on the ground" — although, he said, two former U.S. Central Command leaders had predicted exactly that. Hayden was also skeptical that this fight would be resolved soon. "Let me put another sense of scale on this," he told Fox News' Roberts. "This is three to five years. This is three to five years even if we are successful." McDonough's apparent goal in the Sunday appearances was, in part, to bolster confidence in the president's plan for improving the fighting capability of Syrian opposition forces. He left open the question of whether American allies would join the effort; even as his interviews aired, the New York Times reported that some regional states would join in airstrikes. But the broad response from McDonough's outreach suggests that, even if a vote passes, key questions are likely to remain.


Pundits go crazy for Kirk Cousins

(By Nick Wass / AP) Robert Griffin III got hurt against the Jaguars. Kirk Cousins came in and quickly led the Redskins on three touchdown drives. And national football pundits started punditing, hard. Kirk Cousins. If this isn't a QB controversy, I don't know what is. Would the Colts look better if Andrew Luck went down? Think not. Kirk Cousins leads Washington on a third straight touchdown drive. Prepare for furious levels of Cousins vs. RG3 debate starting immediately This is not a debate. Kirk Cousins can run this offense. #Redskins So, when do the RGIII trade rumors start? Helluva rise & fall for RG3 in DC. Kirk Cousins era underway in Washington. Kirk Cousins takes the Redskins back down to the 1 yard line. Possible touchdown is being reviewed. No denying, Cousins has lit the offense. DC fans love their backups. Kirk Cousins may have just barely eclipsed Colt Brennan hype status. Kirk Cousins scans. Guy’s eyes are all over the field. I can't tell which quarterback looks more comfortable in this offense... Kirk Cousins is a Elite quaterback


Respiratory virus Enterovirus D68 hits the Northeast

Hundreds of children in several states have been stricken by a potentially deadly strain of enterovirus that is spreading across the United States. Connecticut and New York are the two latest states to report possible cases of Enterovirus D68, the respiratory illness suspected of hospitalizing hundreds of children in 21 states in the South, Midwest and now Northeast. New York became the first state on the East Coast to report cases of the virus that has been attacking children, especially those with asthma. On Friday, the New York State Department of Health announced the virus has been confirmed in more than a dozen children in the capital region and central New York. Onondaga County Health Department’s Medical Director Quoc Nguyen said two patients were in Onondaga County. Although Enterovirus D68 has caused concern, particularly among parents of young children, enteroviruses themselves are common. The CDC estimated that 10 to 15 million people are infected with them each year. The Enterovirus D68 strain, in particular, dates to 1962 and hasn’t been widely reported in years, which experts said could be part of the problem. “What’s unusual this time is this strain is causing severe respiratory disease,” Kennedy University Hospital Chief of Infectious Diseases David Condoluci told NJ.com. “We haven’t seen this strain for a long time, so a lot of kids don’t have the immunity for it.” In addition, there are no available vaccines or specific treatments for the virus, according to the CDC. Mild symptoms typically look like those of a common cold: fever, runny nose, couching and sneezing, body and muscle aches. Many who became severely ill had asthma and experienced difficulty breathing and wheezing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent out a health advisory stating it was working with hospitals and health departments to investigate such cases. The CDC has not yet confirmed the cases in New York State. On Saturday, the Connecticut Department of Public Health said in a statement two hospitals in different parts of the state reported suspected cases of Enterovirus D68. The state health department said it is working with those hospitals and the CDC to facilitate laboratory testing. Nicholas Bennett, head of the infectious disease department at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, told FOXCT last week he saw a handful of patients whom he “highly suspects” have the fast-spreading virus. “We’re starting to see a few just in the last day or


immunity for it.” In addition, there are no available vaccines or specific treatments for the virus, according to the CDC. Mild symptoms typically look like those of a common cold: fever, runny nose, couching and sneezing, body and muscle aches. Many who became severely ill had asthma and experienced difficulty breathing and wheezing. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent out a health advisory stating it was working with hospitals and health departments to investigate such cases. The CDC has not yet confirmed the cases in New York State. On Saturday, the Connecticut Department of Public Health said in a statement two hospitals in different parts of the state reported suspected cases of Enterovirus D68. The state health department said it is working with those hospitals and the CDC to facilitate laboratory testing. Nicholas Bennett, head of the infectious disease department at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, told FOXCT last week he saw a handful of patients whom he “highly suspects” have the fast-spreading virus. “We’re starting to see a few just in the last day or so, where I’m really suspicious that’s what’s happening,” he told the station. He said at least one was treated in the Intensive Care Unit at the medical center. After a surge in cases of severe respiratory illnesses last month popped up in Illinois and Missouri, the CDC ran tests and determined dozens of the children who were hospitalized there tested positive for a rare enterovirus strain. Most recently, Alabama and Washington state hospitals have seen an influx of sick children. Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, Oklahoma and Utah are also now investigating cases of respiratory illnesses, CNN reported. The CDC since confirmed nearly 100 cases in six states: Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky and Missouri. Some state laboratories may have confirmed cases too, but those were not included in the CDC’s total. According to the CDC, Enterovirus D68 is spread by coughing, sneezing or touching contaminated surfaces. Although the virus could potentially infect adults, most cases have been reported in children. “It is important that we follow common sense rules to prevent the spread of this virus, as we do for flu and other contagious illnesses,” New York State’s State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker said in a statement. “Because there is no specific treatment or vaccination against this virus, our best defense is to prevent it by practicing proper hygiene.” Related: What is Enterovirus 68?


Wonkbook: The effects of the new sanctions against Russia

Welcome to Wonkbook, Wonkblog’s morning policy news primer by Puneet Kollipara (Photo by Katya Golubkova/Reuters) To view this on the web, click here. Wonkbook’s Number of the Day: Wonkbook’s Chart of the Day: Wonkbook's Top 5 Stories: 1. Top story: The effects of the new sanctions against Russia U.S. will watch Russia closely before lifting latest sanctions. Explainer: The energy sanctions could especially hurt. Russia will try to help affected energy firms, but only to an extent. Exxon riled the U.S. by exploiting a loophole in the previous sanctions. Exxon's Arctic ambitions may be dashed, at least for now. With energy sanctions, closest U.S.-Russia ties may now be toast. Falling oil prices put U.S. at economic, political advantage globally. Former BP chief warns on sanctions could hurt oil supplies. How Russia's ban on EU food imports has triggered deflation fears in Europe. Other economic/financial reads: U.S. retail sales move higher; consumer spirits rise. Lucia Mutikani in Reuters. Fed rallies team to forestall next crisis. Binyamin Appelbaum in The New York Times. World awaits white smoke from Fed. John O'Donnell in Reuters. BIS warns on latest emerging market cycle. Alen Mattich in The Wall Street Journal. Top opinion KRUGMAN: How to get it wrong. ROY: Obamacare's failure to collapse doesn't mean success. COWEN: The economic gender gap will eventually close. KRISTOF AND WuDUNN: The way to beat poverty. LEVY: Education officials flunk Statistics 101. KLEIN: The greenwashing of big business. SAMUELSON: The roughed-up American. BERSHIDSKY: Saving net neutrality the BitTorrent way. Miraculous golf shot interlude: 2. Two 20-year-old laws sought to cut crime — but did they work? 20 years later, major crime bill viewed as big mistake. Explainer: Little evidence that the previous ban on assault weapons worked. More incarceration doesn't mean less crime. We don't really understand why crime rates have fallen. Did 'stop-and-frisk,' while controversial to this day, help cut crime? Background reading: Domestic-violence protections still resonate 20 years after Clinton crime law enacted. Explainer: Related: Meanwhile, has Ferguson spawned a new civil-rights era? Used with community concerns in mind, police body cameras can work, DOJ says. Other legal reads: Colleges ramp up efforts to prevent sexual assaults. Randi Weiner in The (Westchester County, N.Y.) Journal News. Building legacy, Obama reshapes appeals courts. Jeremy W. Peters in The New York Times. Pa. execution delayed because state doesn't have lethal-injection drug. Mark Berman in The Washington Post. Parody interlude:


Why the U.S. might just need a Federal Commission on Robots

algorithm, Calo points out, organizes a warehouse differently than a human would, even if it's programmed by a human in the first place. That's a sort of emergent behavior, and it raises all sorts of legal, ethical and technological questions that take a type of expertise and holistic thinking to understand and support. Bitcoin enthusiasts, for example, are musing about a future in which not only can autonomous taxis "own" money but, without human decision-making, can also go about acquiring additions to their fleets. Is the Treasury Department set up to make sense of that? Is the Department of Transportation? Of course, there are considerable downsides to starting a new federal agency, not the least of which is startup costs -- especially when you consider that nearly every Federal Robotics Commission employee is going to want a coffee with the unavoidably awesome new agency logo. And there are those who have argued that at least when it comes to driverless cars, our existing legal structures are perfectly capable of coping with whatever changes they might wreak. And, too, it's possible that the Treasury or Transportation Department could develop the expertise to handle our robotic eventualities. But the way that Calo seems to be imagining it, they wouldn't have to. The FRC could serve as as sort of floating band of robotics experts available to help out its allied agencies when such questions arise but that is meanwhile developing useful expertise in its chosen field. No doubt, there's a risk of technological determinism here; when you're an agency charged with focusing on robots, everything can look like a problem for robots to solve. But Calo makes a compelling case for the idea that agencies rooted in single solutions can evolve into ones that capture major themes of modern American life. The Federal Radio Commission grew out of a desire to promote and protect the futuristic industry of its time, and that begat today's Federal Communications Commission. Or take the newish Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and its organizational starting point of how real-live people engage with consumer financial products that seems to be expanding into an experiential understanding of citizen-centered enforcement. We might, in other words, start with a Federal Robotics Commission in 2015 and by 2030 end up, usefully, with a United States Department of Emergence. You can read -- or have your robot assistant read you -- Calo's paper here.


David Beckham urges Scotland to say ‘no’ to independence, think about Olympic pride instead

bring the greatest sporting event of them all to our nation and I was thrilled to watch us competing together against the world,” he wrote. Here’s the text of the full letter, via Alan Roden, political editor of the Scottish Daily Mail: The full letter to Scots voters from David Beckham. #indyref http://t.co/Vrazn4em8x Regardless of anyone’s view on Scottish independence, Beckham brings up a very good point about how a “yes” vote might affect the union’s Olympic contingent in Rio in 2016. Scotland would technically be able to field its own team, apart from Great Britain’s, as independence would go into affect in March 2016, according to reports. In her first comments on Scotland’s independence vote, Queen Elizabeth II urges Scots to ”think carefully about the future.” Polls show the vote split down the middle. However, others say the few short months between full-fledged independence and the start of the Summer Olympics in Rio would mean the Scottish contingent would miss out on the competition due to logistical issues. Per the Associated Press: Scotland would need to set up its own national Olympic committee and gain recognition from the International Olympic Committee. The new body would require affiliation with at least five international sports federations. Scotland already meets that criteria easily. But Scotland would also need to win full ratification as an independent country from the United Nations. It’s not clear how long that could take. IOC vice president Craig Reedie, who is Scottish, has said it would be “very, very difficult” for an independent Olympic team to be formed in time for Rio. The 2020 Tokyo Olympics could be a more realistic target. Still other reports say Scottish athletes would get to choose whether to compete for Scotland or Britain, which could set up new and bitter rivalries. For example, Murray, who was lauded by Brits (and Beckham) for winning Wimbledon in 2013, has said if independence passes, he would represent Scotland instead of Britain. As a result of the impending independence vote, Murray’s popularity has already dipped 11.9 percent, the Telegraph reports. One can only imagine the downward spiral of his popularity in the United Kingdom if it passes. Per the AP: “The joke in England has always gone that Andy Murray is Scottish when he loses and British when he wins,” Britain’s Daily Mirror newspaper said. “If there is an independent Scotland, the joke is on us.”


Which D.C. VIP had the best weekend?

With apple-cider and pumpkin-spice-latte season approaching, some D.C. VIPs incorporated a little pre-fall spirit into their weekend fun. Football games and pumpkin festivals, anyone? Here’s the photo evidence: NBC “Crisis” actor Lance Gross took a break from L.A. living this weekend. He was in the D.M.V. to watch one of the oldest HBCU rivalries: Howard University versus Morehouse for the AT&T Classic. The morning after, Gross posted these before and after photos of the waffles he demolished at local establishment Ben’s Next Door. Talk show host Meghan McCain attended the 25th annual GLAAD Media Awards (she’s a progressive GOP-er, see?) held in New York City on Saturday. She was nominated for dedicating an episode of “Raising McCain” to LGBT issues. McCain tweeted this photo, posing with “actorvist” Wilson Cruz. Look who I found at the @glaad #gamechangers San Francisco event! My love @wcruz73! http://t.co/lkvk28iuc1 “Guardians of Galaxy” actor and D.C. native Dave Bautista returned home this week. He cheered on the Washington Nats on Thursday before attending his lil’ bro’s wedding in Richmond on Sunday. Congrats to my little brother Mike on his wedding day! ..... God I have a huge head! http://t.co/2E6FQdKUo3 Melissa Gilbert, best known for her role on “Little House on the Prairie,” was in town to promote her new book, “My Prairie Cookbook.” Gilbert instagrammed this photo with local broadcaster and movie reviewer Arch Campbell. Michelin-starred Bourbon Steak chef Michael Mina was on duty Sunday for the San Francisco 49ers season opener against the Chicago Bears. Mina served up barbecue for some stadium VIPs; but he took a breather to snap a photo with all-time home run record-holder Barry Bonds and football hall-of-famer Ronnie Lott. Honored to be between these legends. Thank you @BarryBonds and @RonnieLottHOF for visiting #MinaTailgate http://t.co/dkQjCsqMoZ Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) embraced fall a bit early, attending the 48th annual Morton Pumpkin Festival in Illinois over the weekend. In the spirit of the fest’s “Pumpkin of the West” theme, Schock tailored his political message for the estimated 25,000 to 30,000 spectators. Team Schock getting very festive for the western theme Morton Pumpkin Festival Parade #pumpkinfest @MortonPumpkin http://t.co/8T3gTzDzLT “American Idol” winner Phillip Phillips touched down for the D.C. leg of his tour. He clearly enjoyed the venue and his aunt’s sweet treat. Lincoln Theatre in DC tonight. Beautiful place. See y'all tonight at 8pm! http://t.co/uPIi4x3LK3 Had a great time tonight in DC! Thanks everyone


Climate change rule of thumb gets rained on

(Nature Geosciences) The study’s news release summarizes: Some regions which should have become wetter according to the simple DDWW formula have actually become drier in the past – this includes parts of the Amazon, Central America, tropical Africa and Asia. On the other hand, there are dry areas that have become wetter: parts of Patagonia, central Australia and the Midwestern United States. Nevertheless, the ‘wet gets wetter’ rule is largely confirmed for the Eastern United States, Northern Australia and northern Eurasia. ‘Dry gets drier‘ also corresponds to indications in the Sahel region, the Arabian Peninsula and parts of Central Asia and Australia. While the DDWW theory hasn’t played out as expected over land, the study notes it has had better success over the oceans. The study is an important reminder that due to the complexity of atmospheric circulation patterns, the behavior of precipitation is incredibly difficult to predict. “We conclude that aridity changes over land, where the potential for direct socio-economic consequences is highest, have not followed a simple intensification of existing patterns,” the study’s abstract states. Link: Although the DDWW theory may represent an oversimplication (to date, over land areas), it doesn’t change the overall expectation for greater precipitation extremes as the Earth warms. A January 2014 study from the Journal Nature explains the rationale for projections for increased drought: Climate change is adding heat to the climate system and on land much of that heat goes into drying. A natural drought should therefore set in quicker, become more intense, and may last longer. Droughts may be more extensive as a result. Indeed, human-induced warming effects accumulate on land during periods of drought because the ‘air conditioning effects’ of water are absent. Climate change may not manufacture droughts, but it could exacerbate them and it will probably expand their domain in the subtropical dry zone. Whether or not drought has already increased is controversial, at least on the global scale. While a global drought signal isn’t entirely clear, heavy precipitation events have shown an increase. Per the 2014 U.S. National Climate Assessment: Warmer air can contain more water vapor than cooler air. Global analyses show that the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere has in fact increased due to human-caused warming… This extra moisture is available to storm systems, resulting in heavier rainfalls. A 2013 study in the Journal of Climate states: “[A] picture of a world with


Nearly one in every three beers in the world could soon be sold by the same company

Big beer brands could soon be getting even bigger. (David Hecker/AP Photos) There's a global beer behemoth in the works. Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world's largest beer maker by volume, is preparing itself to offer as much as $122 billion for SABMiller, which sells Castle, Miller, Peroni, and Foster's. The beer giant is currently discussing the financing of the deal with banks, according to reports by The Wall Street Journal. A merger between the two would create one company that controls nearly a third of the world's beer supply. Anheuser-Busch Inbev brews a number of the world's most famous beer brands, including Bud Light, which accounts for one in every five beers sold in the United States, Corona, which it sells nearly 2 billion liters of each year, Stella Artois, and Modelo. SABMiller sells many familiar brands, including Castle Beer, Miller Lite, and Miller Genuine Draft, but also a handful of highly successful localized beers, like Aguilar and Poker, which it sells in parts of Latin America. Speculation of a deal between the world's two largest beer companies is nothing new—the two have been rumored to be discussing such a deal in the past, and industry analysts have long fantasized what a joint company would look like. But there are many indications that this time the merger might actually happen. "There are strong indications that Anheuser InBev not only wants to acquire SABMiller, but is actively pursuing the buyout," said Amin Alkhatib, an industry analyst at Euromonitor. "It's really just a matter of whether they can afford to do it." SABMiller, which is publicly owned, is susceptible to a buyout because there is no majority shareholder capable of preventing such a purchase. The company recently made an offer to purchase Heineken, which is still privately owned, but the offer was rebuffed. Expansion is well within Anheuser Busch InBev's vocabulary—the beer maker, which currently controls more than 20 percent of the the global beer market, has achieved some of the highest margins in the industry by successfully scaling its business to cut costs, and often by way of big buyouts. Look no further than the company's name for evidence. Brazil's AmBev and Belgium's Interbrew combined in 2004 to become the world's largest beer maker; just four years later, in 2008, the newly formed company gobbled up American beer giant Anheuser-Busch. The company's current name, Anheuser-Busch InBev, is a testament to its merger-driven


Congress nearing plan to approve training and equipping Syrian rebels

President Obama met with top congressional leaders in the Oval Office at the White House last week. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) This item has been updated and corrected. Congress is moving quickly this week to approve President Obama’s plans to train and equip moderate Syrian rebels but also ensure that Capitol Hill is kept informed of plans to recruit, vet and train those forces. Under plans formulated in recent days by House Republicans, Congress would authorize the Pentagon to begin operations to counter the rise of the Islamic State terror group in the coming days, and likely set up time for a more robust debate on broader military action in Iraq and Syria later this fall after the midterm elections. The process is expected to begin with the House voting to grant Obama the authority to begin training Syrian rebels and Iraqi military forces as part of an amendment to a larger measure that funds federal agencies and is expected to pass after debate on Tuesday and Wednesday, aides said. Once the House votes, the Senate would take up the issue by next week before adjourning for the elections. In a bid to ensure “robust oversight” of the operations, the authority to begin training and equipping rebels would require that the Pentagon submit detailed planning reports with the first one due 15 days before formal missions begin, according to senior GOP aides who were not authorized to speak publicly about the plans. Subsequent reports would be required every 90 days and would need to include details on how military officials are recruiting and vetting rebel forces, the aides said. The authorization would not include any additional funding, aides said. Longer-term authorization for military force would be approved later this fall either through the annual defense policy bill or as part of a separate authorization measure, according to senior aides familiar with the plans. Aides to top Senate Democrats did not raise any concerns Monday as plans came together in the House, though Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) planned to take the temperature of his colleagues Monday night on the floor and on Tuesday during a weekly caucus luncheon, aides said. In a sign of how quickly lawmakers are working to approve Obama's request, House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) have been working together in recent days to formulate a cross-chamber strategy, with


Rare respiratory illness confirmed in 10 states, expands to New York and Alabama

Will Cornejo, 13, recovers at a Denver hospital. (Cyrus McCrimmon/Denver Post) The rare and severe respiratory illness sickening children around the country has expanded to new states, and health officials believe there could also be unconfirmed cases in other places. These children — and it has only affected children so far, for reasons we explain here — are suffering from enterovirus 68, an uncommon virus strain that can cause severe breathing problems. Alabama and New York are among the newest states with confirmed cases of the virus. The Alabama Department of Public Health confirmed Monday that four of six specimens from Mobile County positive for the virus. That follows the New York State Department of Health’s confirmation Friday that more than a dozen children in two parts of the state have enterovirus 68. As of Monday, there are now 10 states with confirmed cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition to Alabama and New York, there are now confirmed cases in Indiana and Louisiana, with those four states joining Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky and Missouri. Health officials in New York say samples from around the state are being sent to a laboratory in Albany for testing to see if there are cases in other parts of the state. Unlike New York, which has a laboratory that can test for the strain, most other states have sent their samples to the CDC, and they are awaiting responses to see whether they have the strain. Connecticut has also joined the list of states with possible cases. The state’s Department of Public Health said over the weekend that it has received reports of clusters of children in two different areas who may be suffering from this virus; it is awaiting confirmation from the CDC. The precise number of children with this virus, along with the number of states where it has occurred, is unknown. But one hospital in Kansas City, Mo., is believed to have seen hundreds of cases, which suggests that the national number could be significantly higher. There is no vaccine for this virus strain. Enteroviruses are actually very common, causing between 10 million and 15 million infections a year (many people who get them just wind up with a cold or don’t even get sick). But this strain is fairly rare — not appearing very often since it was first isolated in California in


How fighting climate change could save the planet–and rebuild the economy

The Turanor PlanetSolar, the world's largest solar-powered boat, plies the Venetian Lagoon in Venice earlier this month. A new report argues that climate-related technological innovation could spur an economic renaissance. Despite all the scary predictions of rising seas and global warming, politicians in the United States at least have been reluctant to take serious action to reduce greenhouse gases. Reasonably sensible ideas like taxing carbon emissions -- an idea with bipartisan intellectual support -- are routinely dismissed out of hand as being bad for the economy. But it doesn't have to be that way, according to a new report out in advance of next week's United Nations summit on climate change. The report argues that governments could significantly slow emissions and boost economic growth simply by making smart decisions about how they spend money they're going to spend anyway. The nut of the argument is this: Over the next 15 years, as population grows and cities expand, the world will spend $90 trillion on urban development, land use and energy systems -- the very areas where carbon emissions are concentrated. That money does not have to be spent on business as usual. Instead, it could support a low-carbon future. The report says: This would mean building more compact, connected, coordinated cities rather than continuing with unmanaged sprawl; restoring degraded land and making agriculture more productive rather than continuing deforestation; scaling up renewable energy sources rather than continued dependence on fossil fuels. Such an approach would not only reduce global warming, it could also provide the technological spark to ignite global economic growth: A central insight of this report is that many of the policy and institutional reforms needed to revitalise growth and improve well-being over the next 15 years can also help reduce climate risk. In most economies, there are a range of market, government and policy failures that can be corrected, as well as new technologies, business models and other options that countries at various stages of development can use to improve economic performance and climate outcomes together. These opportunities, the report says, require new policies in three key areas: 1. An end to fossil fuel subsidies, imposition of new taxes on carbon and the adoption of new rules to encourage the growth of renewable energy, such as wind and solar. 2. Financial innovations to encourage governments and the private sector to invest in badly needed upgrades of public


Looking for a career with certainty? This Harvard Business Review article might help.

Gold bullion sit on display inside a Lukfook Jewelery store, operated by Luk Fook Holdings International Ltd., in the Tsim Sha Tsui district in Hong Kong, China, on Aug. 21, 2014. (Bloomberg) Are you sick of “embracing change” and tired of worrying about being “disrupted?” Are you more comfortable inside the box than outside of it, and looking for an industry with some stability? A post in the Harvard Business Review The ranking is based in part on the percentage of sales spent on research and development, revenue volatility (reflecting fluctuating prices and demand) and turnover, meaning entrances and exits of companies into the field per year. For example, ranking the highest in uncertainty is the medical equipment industry, which spends 8.2 percent of sales on R&D, has a firm turnover of 13.1 percent and revenue volatility of 90.7 percent, according to the article. Precious metals, by contrast, spends 0.1 percent on R&D, has a turnover of 1.5 percent and revenue volatility of 40.7 percent. Precious metals is ranked as the most certain industry, followed by utilities, wholesale, insurance, tobacco products and personal services. Go for those if you’re looking for stability. For those who crave stress and uncertainty, there’s the aforementioned industry of medical equipment, followed by computers, computer software, pharmaceutical products and measuring and control equipment. The authors are Jeff Dyer and Nathan Furr, both of Brigham Young University’s School of Management, and Curtis Lefrandt, chief executive of Innovator’s DNA. For a chart with the rankings, click here.


The apocalyptic magazine the Islamic State uses to recruit and radicalize foreigners

solidifying the last recognized Islamic caliphate. The historical allusions accomplish two things. They first evince the Islamic State’s commitment to theological study — important to Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghadi, who reportedly holds a doctorate in Islamic studies. And they also show the power that such a message would have over Western recruits, whom intelligence experts call “disaffected, aimless and lacking a sense of identity or belonging.” The magazine severely criticizes secular society, deriding employment and wages as “modern day slavery.” Such messages are, of course, nothing new. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, one of the ideological founders of the Islamic State who ran the Iraqi offshoot of al-Qaeda during the Iraq War, invoked the same sentiment. “The spark has been lit here in Iraq,” he once said, “and its heat will continue to intensify — by Allah’s permission — until it burns the crusader armies in Dabiq.” But it has never been presented like this. In nearly 100 pages spanning three issues, the magazine teems with slick imagery and snazzy graphics. Images show a masked militant against a backdrop of flames and an ark in a rough sea. In all, the presentation seems like something out of a science fiction movie or video game. RE: PT, from Dabiq, ISIS's new English language rag (Issa bin Maryam is Jesus, son of Mary): http://t.co/Nu8YYmcy21 Violence, however, is also important to the Islamic State ethos — and Dabiq features plenty of that, too, in image and verse. Such brutality, analysts suggest, is another potent tool in its recruiting strategy. There are pictures of bloody corpses, destroyed buildings and, perhaps most disturbing of all, a large section dedicated to the beheading of American journalist James Foley. The group defended his murder as retribution for “the countless accounts of American soldiers executing families and raping women under the sanctity of the U.S. military and Blackwater.” “Muslim families were killed under the broad definition of ‘collateral damage,’ which the US grants itself alone the right to apply,” the magazine says in its third issue. “Therefore, if a mujahid kills a single man with a knife, it is a barbaric killing of the ‘innocent.’ However, if Americans kill thousands of Muslim families all over the world by pressing missile fire buttons, it is merely ‘collateral damage.'” The magazine presents the Islamic State as the sole Muslim voice and, as such, the West’s inevitable enemy in the approaching


From E. coli to Ebola: A device that can filter deadly pathogens out of the body

dialysis machine. It removes blood from the body, filters it, then returns it to the body. The key innovation, however, lies in a single protein that naturally occurs in the human body that was genetically modified to maximize its pathogen-fighting abilities with the fewest side effects. In a healthy immune system, the protein, mannose-binding lectin (MBL), naturally attaches to carbohydrate molecules found on bacteria, viruses and fungi, and it helps trigger the immune system response that allows the body to destroy those invaders. This process works fine for most people. But when infections turn deadly, it typically is because the virus has overwhelmed the body's natural ability to fight it. Sepsis In Ebola patients, for example, with no cure or therapy, while the virus attacks the immune system, doctors can only try to support patients' bodily functions with rehydration and fluid replacement so they can live long enough for their immune systems to fight the virus. Researchers believe there may be similarities between septic shock and how the Ebola virus eventually kills its human host. Addressing the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, the World Health Organization’s director general didn't mince words, saying, "Quite frankly, ladies and gentlemen, this health crisis we face is unparalleled in modern times." "Infection is a battle," said Ingber, who is also the founding director of Harvard's Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. "And you basically hit a tipping point where the invader is overcoming your ability to fight them." At that point, a few things happen. When the immune system kills pathogens, it leaves behind fragments of the bugs that are toxic. A build up of these dead pathogens "triggers a cascade to inflammation that can lead to multiple organ failure," Ingber said. The naturally-occurring form of MBL also causes another adverse effect: excessive blood coagulation. To create this device, Ingber's team genetically modified MBL to keep the best parts -- its ability to identify and bind with a wide variety of pathogens -- while getting rid of the worst features -- its role in activating inflammation in the body and causing blood coagulation that both lead to septic shock. Magnetic nano-sized microbeads are then coated with the genetically modified proteins. When the blood goes through the device, the MBL proteins bind to it, then are pulled out of the blood -- toxins attached -- through magnetic forces. (Wyss Institute) "Clean" blood then reenters the


The Milky Way as you’ve never seen it, featuring no fewer than 219 million stars

(Courtesy Hywel Farnhill / University of Hertfordshire) The above photo does not do justice to the extraordinary density-map of the Milky Way constructed by scientists at the University of Hertfordshire over a 10 year period using the Isaac Newton Telescope in the Canary Islands, so click here to get a better look, though it’s a mere segment of the entire image. It’s art, with what the researchers describe as “Turner-like brush strokes of dust shadows” that would “grace the wall of any art gallery.” Researchers led by Geert Barentsen managed to actually count the stars — at least those brighter than the 20th magnitude, which they explain is one millionth of what the human eye can see. They came up with the figure of 219 million separate stars. The map was produced by Hywel Farnhill as part of his PhD project at the University of Hertfordshire.


How Italian honeybees in Maine are helping to sustain our food supply

of pesticides known as neonicotinoids, or ‘neonics.’ With a potential $15 billion loss in crops due to declining honey bee population, new initiatives have sprouted up in recent years to try to reverse a dying population. In the summer, photographer Andrees Latif followed beekeepers who have been trekking large crates of Italian honeybees across the country from one farm to another in the effort to pollinate crops. All photos by Andress Latiff/Reuters Beekeepers secure a cover over bee hives stacked on a truck as they prepare to transfer the bees to another crop after they completed pollinating a blueberry field near Columbia Falls, Maine June 23, 2014. Adrees Latif/Reuters A colony of Italian worker bees congregate outside their hive while pollinating a blueberry field near Columbia Falls, Maine June 22, 2014. Adrees Latif/Reuters Robert Harvey, a beekeeper or apiarist, is illuminated by lights from machinery as he transfers Italian honey bee colonies to fields of crops for pollination, near Columbia Falls, Maine June 23, 2014. Adrees Latif/Reuters David Hackenberg, 65, a beekeeper or apiarist, secures bee hives stacked upon the back of a truck as he prepares to transfer the bees to another crop after they completed pollinating a blueberry field near Jonesboro, Maine June 24, 2014. June 24, 2014. REUTERS/Adrees Latif Beekeeper Robert Harvey transfers Italian honey bee colonies from a blueberry field to pollinate crops in different fields near Columbia Falls, Maine. Adrees Latif/Reuters A beekeeper uses a lift to stack beehives onto a truck before transferring the bees to another crop after they pollinated a blueberry field near Columbia Falls, Maine June 23, 2014. Adrees Latif/Reuters A honey bee, which beekeepers said was an Italian honey bee mixed with an Africanized honey bee, flies near the headlamp of a truck transferring bee colonies to pollinate crops in Columbia Falls, Maine June 22, 2014. Adrees Latif/Reuters Beekeepers are seen atop a truck as they secure a cover over bee hives before transferring the bees to another crop after they completed pollinating a blueberry field near Columbia Falls, Maine June 23, 2014. Adrees Latif/Reuters Harvey transfers Italian honey bee colonies pollinating a blueberry field near Columbia Falls, Maine June 23, 2014. Adrees Latif/Reuters Beekeeper, or apiarist, David Hackenberg, 65, rests by the side of his truck at the end of the evening after transferring bee hives from a blueberry field near Columbia Falls, Maine June 22, 2014. Adrees Latif/Reuters


Stephen Colbert tweaks New York Times report on think tanks

On Sept. 7, the New York Times fronted a thoroughgoing investigation on how foreign governments were seeking to influence Washington via donations to Beltway think tanks. The story started with an anecdote about how Norway had negotiated a $5 million agreement with the Center for Global Development. That’s part of a commitment totaling about $24 million over the past four years from Norway to such research organizations, which have “advocated in Washington for enhancing Norway’s role in NATO, promoted its plans to expand oil drilling in the Arctic and pushed its climate change agenda.” Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert doesn’t sound overly scandalized. After playing a clip of Fox News’s Shepard Smith citing the story in serious tones, Colbert riffed, “Yes, foreign governments are buying influence. So good news — America has an export.” The Times story quotes a Japanese official as giving this explanation for why it pays money to U.S. research groups: “Japan is not necessarily the most interesting subject around the world.” Colbert scoffed at such a self-assessment: “Yes, there’s nothing interesting about Japan. Take away the whaling, the sex robots and the strapping meat to the heads of teenage girls — other than that, it’s basically Ohio.”


How are citizens made?

privilege of certain ethno-linguistic groups. I argue in the book that this was both the result and a further development of ‘meaningful citizenship’ in Ethiopia in that these communities saw their demands recognized, accommodated and at least in some respects, integrated into the national polity. This is the foundation of a new national identity, a citizenship that is meaningful both for members of formerly marginalized groups, but also of the larger national collective. Ethiopian-ness has been made more relevant, more inclusive for all Ethiopians. The outcome for women’s citizenship in Ethiopia questions assumptions of gender equality. The 1995 Constitution in Ethiopia has radical commitments to gender equality and subsequent legal provisions and reforms went a long way in institutionalizing those principles. Yet outcomes for women and girls lag far behind and the national dialogue about equality and participation tends to focus on ethnicity and language communities (and recently religious communities) much more than gendered inequalities. Still, I think that the potential for a more meaningful citizenship in Ethiopia exists not only for both types of claims, but actually at the intersection. That is to say, ethnic equality can actually be a tool for greater gender equality and vice versa, even if this has been an underappreciated avenue for civil society organizations or activists to pursue. And I think the implications of these sorts of outcomes have relevance far beyond Ethiopia. Women at a market in Weliso, Oromiya Regional State, Ethiopia. (Lahra Smith) There is tremendous work to be done. In particular, on questions of women and girls we have a really narrow understanding of how ethnic and religious identity groups intersect with women and gendered identity in Africa. We tend to acknowledge regional and ethnic difference, while bemoaning gender inequalities, without ever considering the potential ways that ethnic communities provide protection, care and empowerment to women and girls. We need to understand how modern legal and advocacy tools in support of women and families could incorporate and accommodate ethnic, regional and religious mechanisms as well. At the same time, the question of the influence of the state, the dominant political party and the wider political culture loom large in Ethiopia, even more so since the book was completed. Moreover, meaningful citizenship requires a minimum of state tolerance of participation and debate, something that has dramatically decreased in the years since I did the research for this book. *** Lahra Smith


Teen drug and alcohol use continues to fall, new federal data show

Drug and alcohol use among America's teens continues to trend downward, according to new numbers released today by the Department of Health and Human Services. From 2002 to 2013, the average American teenager's odds of regular (at least monthly) tobacco use nearly halved. Recreational use of prescription painkillers saw a similar decline. The rate of regular alcohol use among teens aged 12 to 17 declined from from 17.6 percent to 11.6 percent over the same period. Teen marijuana use, a contentious topic now that several states have legalized marijuana sales, is also on the decline. These findings come from the 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), an annual, nationally-representative survey of roughly 70,000 Americans aged 12 and older. Because of its large sample size the survey is considered an authoritative account of the nature and scope of drug, alcohol and tobacco use in the United States. "We're seeing really exciting numbers in terms of the 12 to 17 year-olds across the country," according to Peter Delany, the director of the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (CBHSQ) at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. "We see illicit drug use down significantly from 2009. We see marijuana starting to trend downward. Hallucinogens and inhalants are also down slightly." "The 2013 NSDUH results suggest that the Administration’s efforts to reduce drug and alcohol use among young people is working," the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) said in a press release. Among all Americans, the survey finds that drug use trends are essentially flat. The percentage of those aged 12+ using any illicit drug in the past month is up slightly year-over-year, from 9.2 percent in 2012 to 9.4 percent in 2013. These numbers are driven primarily by a similar uptick in marijuana use over the same period. The numbers suggest that ONDCP efforts to curb some of the most dangerous drug behavior, like opioid abuse, may be bearing fruit. "We’re especially heartened by the decrease in new initiates [that is, first-time use] of prescription drug misuse, which aligns with our prevention efforts," said ONDCP spokeswoman Cameron Hardesty. The new figures on marijuana use come as several states are debating whether and how to legalize and regulate the marijuana market. Much of the discussion has centered around whether legalized marijuana would lead to increased adolescent marijuana use, which has been linked with poor


Why Northern Ireland’s Protestants really don’t want Scotland to leave the U.K.

Members of the public watch Orangemen and women march during a pro-union parade less than a week before voters go to the polls in a yes or no referendum on whether Scotland should become an independent country. (Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images) If you thought Scotland’s upcoming independence referendum was exclusively a standoff between the English and the Scots, think again. Just a couple of days ago, the streets of Edinburgh filled with 15,000 anti-independence demonstrators allied with the Orange Order, a centuries-old masonic-style brotherhood forged to defend Protestant supremacy in Northern Ireland. The Orangemen were long one of the most visible parties during the Troubles, and they remain notorious for their yearly marches through Catholic neighborhoods and controversial links to loyalist paramilitaries. It’s another reminder that while half of Scottish voters may want to leave the U.K., many of their Northern Irish neighbors are passionately committed to keeping the union alive. To understand why, you have to delve into the intimate, complex kinship between Scotland and Northern Ireland. Orangemen and women march during a pro-union parade less than a week before the Scottish independence vote. (Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images) Most of Northern Ireland’s Protestants actually have distant Scottish roots. These descendants of Scots Presbyterian settlers were encouraged to settle the United Kingdom’s Gaelic north as part of the 17th century Plantation of Ulster. The plantation plan was developed by the English and Scots. It aimed to stimulate growth, but mainly to subdue and dispossess Catholics in a region deemed rebellious by the joint Anglo-Scottish Crown. Its prelude, after all, was a mass expulsion of regional Catholic Gaelic leaders. When the Scottish Protestants settled untilled land, Catholics were dispossessed of their holdings and often sent into poverty in Ireland’s stony West. The legacy of bitterness this created — fueled by massacres of both sides — has never entirely been laid to rest, leading to fierce sectarian tensions only now (and only just) fading. Scotland’s intimate ties with Northern Ireland don’t end there. In the 19th and 20th centuries, the tide flowed the other way, when Irish immigrants flocked to Scotland after Ireland’s Great Famine. Sucked in by Scotland’s booming industries, Irish immigrants became so numerous that now up to 1.5 million people in Scotland have Irish roots (including well-known Scots such as Gerard Butler and Susan Boyle), roughly a third of the country’s population. This influx of both Protestants and Catholics


Rare respiratory illness has spread to a dozen states

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. (David Goldman/AP) The rare respiratory illness affecting children has now been confirmed in a dozen states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday. The two newest states with confirmed cases: Oklahoma and Pennsylvania, which join a growing roster of states that officially have cases of enterovirus 68, a rare virus strain that can cause severe breathing problems. Hospitals around the country are seeing an increase in the number of children dealing with respiratory illnesses. Testing has shown that many of these children are suffering from this enterovirus strain. Enteroviruses are quite common, causing between 10 million and 15 million infections each year, but this particular strain has not appeared very often since it was first isolated in California in 1962. So far, the other states with confirmed cases are Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri and New York. There have been 130 confirmed cases, the CDC says, but the number of actual cases is likely much higher. Public health officials continue to warn that other states are presumably going to join this list, with cases expected to be confirmed in other places where there have been clusters of children suffering from respiratory illnesses. There are suspected cases in Georgia and Michigan. At least two other states — Ohio and Utah — have no confirmed cases yet, but health officials have told The Post they suspect that they have cases of the virus. The CDC expects that the number of infections is going to drop later in the year. Most enterovirus infections in the United States occur in the summer and fall, so these infections are coming at a typical time for enteroviruses, Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters. Only children have been confirmed to have the virus so far, as they lack the immunity that comes from being exposed to a disease, according to the CDC. The virus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. (There is no vaccine, so health officials encourage people to follow the usual common-sense guidelines: Wash your hands, avoid excessive contact with sick people, that sort of thing. Here’s the advice in infographic form.) As for why it is taking so long to confirm all of the places seeing this virus, that stems from issues with the testing that is required.


Mapping the future of sea-level rise on the Potomac, the Chesapeake and the Atlantic

Climate Central on Tuesday released new maps for the District, Maryland, Virginia and Delaware cataloguing flood risk from climate change. The topline news is that roughly $42 billion worth of property in the region lies within 5 feet of current high tide and is therefore likely to be inundated by storm-related flooding within the next few decades as sea levels rise. But the maps are more interesting for their local details than for the broad sweep of data. The organization of scientists and journalists is mapping flood risk on the entire U.S. coast, taking note of every school, police station, hospital, museum, roadway and environmental hazard. So it's worth poking around to see what's likely to get hit at various flood levels. I wrote a whole story about their predictions for D.C. and what local officials are doing about it. You can explore the D.C. map by clicking the image above. Here's Baltimore, where thinking about sea-level rise is significantly more advanced. As the map shows, the whole Inner Harbor would be at risk from an 8-foot storm surge, which is projected to be a pretty routine event by the end of the century. As in D.C., Baltimore officials also are worried about flooding from extreme rain events, like the one in April that caused a railroad retaining wall to collapse. Unlike D.C., which recently hired a team for the first time to begin assessing the city's future vulnerabilities, Baltimore has been on the case for years. City officials pioneered what they call the "Disaster Preparedness Plan" in 2011, telling the Federal Emergency Management Agency that it made no sense to keep assessing risk based on historical data when the future is likely to bring very different dangers. Kristin Baja, the climate and resilience planner with Baltimore's Office of Sustainability, now spends a lot of time talking to other cities about how to expand their existing FEMA hazard mitigation plan to include sea-level rise and other risks, such as extreme heat, that are likely to get worse in the future. For example, instead of planning for the kind of major flood that occurs every 100 years, Baltimore is planning for a catastrophic 500-year flood -- and then drawing up plans that consider the possibility that a 500-year flood in the future could be as much as 7 feet deeper. "We're taking a no-regrets approach," Baja said. "To this point, scientists


Our repeated response in the Middle East


Study: Online gun sales open market to buyers who would fail a background check

A new study suggests thousands of felons prohibited from owning firearms could be turning to online sales to escape background checks. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) Tens of thousands of guns will be sold through online portals in Washington state this year, and none of the buyers will be subject to background checks. That’s because of a loophole in federal law that allows unlicensed dealers to make sales online without conducting criminal records checks on those who purchase their firearms. A new study suggests a significant portion of those buyers — at least 10 percent — would fail a background check conducted by a licensed dealer. The study, conducted by the pro-gun control group Everytown For Gun Safety, examined sales through several Web sites that serve as online portals for firearms dealers. Sites like Armslist, Northwest Firearms, Outdoors Trader, Washington Gun Trader and Gun Listings all allow sellers to list their weapons for sale, and buyers to post notices searching for specific kinds of firearms. Those sites featured advertisements for nearly 17,000 weapons during a recent five-month stretch, Everytown researchers found. At the same time, another 1,164 buyers posted advertisements looking for weapons. When the group matched public records with any identifying information the buyers posted, they found almost 10 percent — eight out of 81 identifiable buyers — would be barred from buying a gun from a licensed dealer. Federal law prohibits anyone convicted of a felony or domestic violence or anyone deemed severely mentally ill from possessing a firearm. That law prevents only a small number of people from owning a weapon: In 2013, gun dealers in Washington state conducted 561,000 background checks and denied only 3,600 people. Among the identifiable buyers who sought weapons through online portals in Washington, several had been convicted of a domestic violence crime or were under a restraining order. Others were convicted felons, with rap sheets ranging from car theft to rape, burglary and robbery. “[T]he background check system is effectively preventing criminals from obtaining guns at licensed gun dealers — but unlicensed sellers who offer an open door for acquiring guns without background checks are attracting them instead,” the authors of the Everytown report concluded. The prevalence of online sales, which are excluded from background check requirements, has shown up in licensed dealer sales: Since 2003, the number of gun sales denied because of a failed background check dropped by more than half.


Mass incarceration is making the Federal Reserve’s job harder

by about four percentage points over the same period, from 67 percent to 63 percent. That decline reflects both the aging of the population and the financial crisis. Many felons in that two-percentage-point group have probably managed to find jobs, and a few would have struggled to find work even without the conviction on their record because they lack the skills they need to earn a living legally or because they are genuinely dangerous people whom employers would be wise to avoid. But people with any kind of criminal history face a number of obstacles when they look for work. A prison sentence is a lost opportunity to learn useful skills on the job, but even someone with a felony conviction who has never been to prison may face legal barriers to working in all kinds of occupations, from hairdressing to policing. There are also laws intended to prevent discrimination against those who have served their time, but many employers are leery of hiring felons all the same. "I don't think it's received enough attention by economists," said Steve Davis of the University of Chicago."This is a sobering set of facts and developments that we’re talking about." Harry Holzer, who served as the Clinton administration's chief labor economist, said the overall effect of convictions on the number of working adults is likely to be modest, but added that the effect on some groups would be more severe. Fully one third of adult black men have a felony conviction, according to the unpublished estimates. "If you focus on male drop-outs and black men, it's not trivial," Holzer said. A study published a few years ago by the Center for Economic and Policy Research estimated that in 2008, felony convictions kept just under 1 percent of American adults out of a job, including somewhere around 5 percent of black men and at least 6 percent of men without a high school diploma. These people would have added around $60 billion to the economy had they been working, but the study presented a wide range of results. Yellen and her colleagues might not be able to help these people get back to work. Employers' aversion to hiring convicts is strong enough that they might have a hard time finding a job even if businesses can't find enough applicants to fill vacancies. In other words, the damage might be done already. Update, 3:45 p.m.:


Astronomers find the tiniest galaxy ever to contain a supermassive black hole, doubling our estimation of black holes in the universe

galaxy, named M60-UCD1, was formed from a larger, normal galaxy. Seth says that while this process took about 500 million years, astronomers don't know when it happened, and that it could have been billions of years ago. A supermassive black hole has been spotted in the tiniest galaxy yet -- an ultracompact dwarf galaxy -- which suggests that black holes could be in places we haven't even thought to look yet. The galaxy, named M60-UCD1 and reported in a new Nature study, is 0.2 percent the size of the Milky Way, but contains a black hole with the mass of 21 million suns. That's 15 percent of the galaxy's total mass, which is pretty staggering compared to the less than .01 percent taken up by the Milky Way's personal black hole. Astronomers believe that the galaxy, which is a ball of about 100 million stars, used to be much bigger -- with a more sensible star-to-black-hole ratio. But as M60-UCD1 orbited a much larger galaxy, the force of it stripped all of its outer parts away. The little dwarf with a big black hole was left behind, still orbiting its larger neighbor. The galaxy on the lower right, M60-UCD1, is home to a suprisingly large black hole. (NASA/Space Telescope Science Institute/European Space Agency) We already know that big galaxies, like our own, have black holes in their centers, and that there are probably millions of them out in the universe. But this discovery gives astronomers new targets to search in. "This discovery could actually double the number of black holes in the universe," said Anil Seth, an assistant professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Utah and lead author of the study. "There are lots of ultra compact galaxies like this one, and it's possible that many of them have black holes as well." It's going to take more than one dwarf to prove that, but any opportunity to study black holes is a good one. "They're part of the origin story of us, and our universe," Seth said. "Every galaxy like ours has one of these, and we know that they affect how galaxies evolve and how stars form." But we still don't understand why black holes end up where they do. "If you want to understand how we got here, figuring out the role that black holes play is an important part of that," Seth said.


British volunteer receives Ebola vaccine in second human trial

the United States at the National Institutes of Health; that one began last week. In the NIH study, half of the 20 participants have received the vaccine and so far "no red flags" have been reported to indicate adverse effects. The vaccine was developed by GlaxoSmithKline in conjunction with the NIH. And it uses a strain of a chimpanzee cold virus called chimp adenovirus type 3 to deliver the benign genetic material of the Zaire strain of Ebola. The genetic material delivered to the patient isn't able to replicate and poses no health risk, but it is intended to prompt the immune system to kick in. The trials are intended to first demonstrate that the vaccine is safe for use in humans, and they will be followed by larger clinical trials. GSK is producing 10,000 doses of the vaccine while the human trials are underway so that if it is deemed safe, those vaccines can be deployed in the current West African outbreak. "These are initial safety trials of the vaccine and it will be some time before we know whether the vaccine could protect people against Ebola," Oxford's Hill said in a statement. "But we are optimistic that the candidate vaccine may prove useful against the disease in the future." Others have cautioned, though, that in order to determine whether the vaccine works in humans, it needs to be tested in West Africa. “There is clearly a need for this vaccine, but what is not clear is whether it will work well enough to protect someone from Ebola," said Ben Newman, a virologist at the University of Reading. "This vaccine uses some of the best available technology to give the immune system a good long look at its target -- a small but vitally important part of the virus. However we won't really be able to tell whether the vaccine works until it is tested on the ground in West Africa." He added that "two trials with HIV vaccines that used very similar vaccine technology have recently failed, despite promising initial results." The vaccine would be used to inoculate people who are at risk of contracting Ebola, preventing them from falling ill with the deadly disease if they become exposed. It is different from experimental treatments such as ZMapp, which are intended to treat people who are already infected with Ebola. ZMapp contains anti-bodies that attach to the Ebola


9 big questions before Scotland’s big vote on independence

the island named Britain. Critics have wondered what, exactly, the remaining part of the United Kingdom could be called if Scotland goes it alone: It will no longer be a kingdom that is united, nor will "Great Britain" encompass all of Britain. "Former United Kingdom" has been suggested, though it's hard to imagine that catching on. Even the flag might be up for debate. The current flag for Britain is the Union Jack, which incorporates both the English flag (the red cross of Saint George) with the Scottish flag (the white saltire of Saint Andrew). If Scotland were to leave, logic dictates that the white saltire should go, too. The impact would make itself known in relatively insignificant ways (yet again, no British man would have won the Wimbledon tennis tournament since 1936) to ways that may have a major effect (Britain's left-wing Labor Party may struggle to regain the Scottish MPs it loses). Why does any of this matter? Sure, Britain is a slowly diminishing world power, and Scotland, at least in terms of population, is only a small part of it. But a vote for independence has many implications beyond the dramatic sundering of Britain. The SNP has said that an independent Scotland would be totally free of nuclear weapons currently kept in its territory and waters. That raises real headaches for London, which anchors its "Trident" system, a number of nuclear-armed submarines, in Scotland's Firth of Clyde. Scotland's independence campaigners believe their disavowal of nuclear weapons would be consistent with their future obligations as a NATO state. Its independence would also buoy secessionist movements elsewhere, particularly in other restive corners of Europe. Campaigners in the northeastern Spanish region of Catalonia have specifically pointed to the success of the SNP and the process that led to this referendum as a model to be replicated. A pro-independence protest in Barcelona last week drew as many as 1.8 million supporters. Both Scotland and Catalonia's independence movements champion their respective regions' roles in a wider Europe and see their independent states as cosmopolitan and open to immigrants. It's a far cry from the ethnic nationalism that reshaped Europe's map a century ago. At a time when many pundits wring their hands over the future of the world order and the fundamental flaws of our traditional nation-state system, these small struggles offer an interesting insight into where global politics may be heading.


What <i>can</i> we say about Ebola? (without starting a panic or making everyone mad)

West Africa outbreak, could be transmitted by the respiratory route from pigs to monkeys, both of whose lungs are very similar to those of humans. Richard Preston’s 1994 best seller “The Hot Zone” chronicled a 1989 outbreak of a different strain, Ebola Reston virus, among monkeys at a quarantine station near Washington. The virus was transmitted through breathing, andthe outbreak ended only when all the monkeys were euthanized. We must consider that such transmissions could happen between humans, if the virus mutates. Osterholm certainly knows his stuff when it comes to public health, and, he said this week, the piece was vetted by other scientists before it was submitted. Osterholm told The Washington Post that the group included C.J. Peters, a famed virologist who has chased pathogens for years and is very familiar with the Ebola virus. (Peters did not immediately respond to a request for comment.) "That's not about scaring people," Osterholm told The Post on Wednesday. "That's about being responsible." But it's hard to control the way Osterholm's message is interpreted. His op-ed was discussed in Scientific American, Time magazine, the BBC and this blog. What Osterholm wrote troubled some scientists, who feared that shifting the Ebola dialogue toward airborne transmission might distract people from the bigger picture -- and might lead to distrust of the scientific community, too. But for Osterholm, risk management means talking about all sorts of situations, even the ones that seem unlikely now. That's why people put this out there — to try to make sure that responders won't be caught off-guard, facing a scenario they hadn't considered. His op-ed was followed Wednesday by a piece from University of Illinois-Chicago professor Lisa Brosseau, entitled "Health workers need optimal respiratory protection for Ebola." There are other questions Osterholm's op-ed raised, beyond just issues of medical care: Is it possible for a scientist to raise concerns about an outbreak without seeming like an alarmist? What's the best way to talk about a virus this scary without seeming like you're just trying to scare people? There's no question that Ebola is a terrifying virus. During the deadliest outbreak in history, it has killed 2,461 people out of nearly 5,000 infected, the World Health Organization said Tuesday. There are corpses left lying outside in Liberia. Clinics are overflowing with patients, and medical teams are overwhelmed. The United States is sending military assistance, and an assistant director general


PM Update: Maybe a shower Thursday, otherwise pleasant; “Overcoming Extreme Weather,” tomorrow at noon

- Temperature Map - Temperatures: Latest D.C. area temperature map. See interactive map on our Weather Wall. It is already becoming difficult to describe these nice days in new and different ways. But, let’s not have that issue get in the way of enjoying them! Another in a series of fronts is headed our direction tonight. It might cause a slight disruption to the perfect weather streak, but don’t bet on it being a big one. Through Tonight: Tomorrow (Thursday): See my forecast through the weekend. And if you haven’t already, join us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter National Gallery of Art fountain on a beautiful September day. (John Jack Photography via Flickr) Weather ready: Watch it live tomorrow Don’t forget Thurs to join us & @capitalweather @NWS @twcMariaLaRosa @DrShepherd2013 @Almitche11 for a Google Hangout http://t.co/IEwG1jwHY8


The rare respiratory virus sickening children has been confirmed in 16 states across the country

A 13-year-old being treated in Denver for the virus. (Denver Post/Cyrus McCrimmon) The rare respiratory illness that cropped up in multiple states recently has been confirmed in four new states, public health officials said Wednesday. Cases have been confirmed in Connecticut, Montana, Nebraska and Virginia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which means that 16 states now have confirmed cases of the virus. The others are: Alabama, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and New York. The rare virus strain, enterovirus 68, can cause severe breathing problems. There have been 140 cases confirmed by laboratory tests, the CDC said, but it is believed that many more people have the virus and that it will continue to appear in additional states in the near future. Enteroviruses are very common, causing between 10 million and 15 million infections each year. But this particular strain has not appeared very often since it was first isolated in California in 1962. Public health officials have said that other states are presumably going to join this list, with cases expected to be confirmed in other places where there have been clusters of children suffering from respiratory illnesses. There are suspected cases in Georgia and Michigan, while health officials in Ohio and Utah have told The Post they suspect that they have cases of the virus. The CDC expects that the number of infections is going to drop later in the year. Most enterovirus infections in the United States occur in the summer and fall, so these are coming at a typical time, Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters last week. Only children have been confirmed to have the virus so far, as they lack the immunity that comes from being exposed to a disease, according to the CDC. The virus spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so health officials are encouraging people to wash their hands and avoid excessive contact with those already sick. (Here’s the advice in infographic form.) Here’s more information on the virus itself. And here is some background on why we are only gradually learning how many states have this virus.


D.C. area forecast: Not as sunny today, with a small shower risk; weekend looks great

- Today’s Daily Digit - A somewhat subjective rating of the day’s weather, on a scale of 1 to 10. - 8 You know you’re spoiled when some clouds and small shower chances represent the worst the week has to offer. - Express Forecast - Today: Increasing clouds, small chance of showers. Highs: 75-79. - Tonight: Clearing and calm. Lows: 53-59. - Tomorrow: Mostly sunny and dry. Highs: 74-78. FORECAST IN DETAIL Radar lightning: Setting aside today’s slight chance of morning to midday showers, the next few days are what I would characterize as boringly beautiful. Don’t get me wrong, I will enjoy them just as much as everybody else, but all I am left to babble about a few showers today and some very light showers on Sunday night. So… let’s talk trees; all those street trees could use a drink so if you have the means, help them out. Or we can talk astronomy; a nice pairing of Jupiter and the crescent moon will occur on Saturday morning and there is always the upcoming Fall equinox on Monday evening. Or I could just shut up so you can get out and enjoy; now you’re talking! Today (Thursday): Tonight: For related traffic news, check out Dr. Gridlock. Keep reading for the forecast through the weekend… Tomorrow (Friday): Confidence: Tomorrow night: September 13, 2014 (Kevin Wolf via Flickr) A LOOK AHEAD Saturday Sunday Monday


Here’s how the Scottish independence vote could affect the country’s athletes

2012 London Olympics, Scottish athletes had a hand in 13 of Great Britain’s 65 medals, with Andy Murray (gold medal in tennis), Chris Hoy (gold medal in keirin cycling) and Michael Jamieson (silver in the 200-meter breaststroke) taking home medals in individual events and 10 other Scottish athletes helping Great Britain to medals in team events. Great Britain’s Olympic athletes train under the aegis of an organization called UK Sport, which gets 60 percent of its funding from the United Kingdom’s national lottery, according to the BBC. Should Scotland become independent, there is no plan for funding the country’s Olympic athletes at the level they currently enjoy. There’s also the matter of whether Scottish athletes would meet the prerequisites for competing at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. In order to qualify, a national has to be a member of the United Nations and “have at least five national sports bodies recognised by their respective international federations,” the BBC reports. Some worry if all that could be accomplished in time for the 2016 Games. The BBC has more This issue was studied by a working group of experts appointed by the Scottish Parliament’s sports minister Shona Robison. Chaired by the former First Minister Henry McLeish, the group’s report cited the recent examples of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Montenegro as newly independent states that gained Olympic and Paralympic status “in a very tight timescale”. With 11 governing bodies already “directly linked” to federations and early dialogue between the new Scottish government and the Olympic and Paralympic authorities, the report said there are “no obvious or major barriers to securing accreditation”. Others, however, wonder if there will be time to achieve all this by July 2016, when qualification for Rio closes. If the timetable does slip — and other countries with similar tensions, such as Spain, would be happy for it to do so — Scottish athletes would have the choice of joining Team GB again, or competing under the Olympic Flag, as athletes from East Timor, Macedonia and South Sudan have done at recent Games. Murray, inarguably Scotland’s best-known athlete, has been on the fence about independence but revealed his preference in a tweet on Wednesday night (though he is not eligible to vote as he currently does not reside in Scotland). He seems keen on representing an independent Scotland at the Olympics and the Davis Cup. Huge day for Scotland today!


Comment on CFPB Data Point study on checking account overdraft

readers as well — there is no evidence that the actual use of overdraft protection is disproportionately among low income consumers. As Michael and I report (page 7), “While … many low-income consumers are beneficiaries of free checking, there is no indication that usage of overdraft protection has regressive effects. For example, an analysis of a regional community bank in Texas indicates that after geocoding its accounts, approximately 70 percent of overdraft users are classified as either upper income (30 percent) or middle income (40 percent) and 30 percent of active users represent moderate income (27 percent) or low income users (3 percent).” This is consistent with prior research (which I summarize here) that finds that usage of overdraft protection is correlated with credit score but that, after controlling for customer risk, there is no statistical relationship between use of overdraft protection and income. While many might be surprised by this finding, those who know the history of this product may be less so — after all, overdraft protection started as a discretionary program offered by banks to high-income customers who mismanaged their finances or were temporarily illiquid. Overdraft protection, therefore, started as a benefit to high-income consumers but as a result of automated overdraft protection programs has filtered down to ordinary bank customers. But obviously it still retains a significant customer foothold among higher-income consumers. Third, we emphasize as we have previously, before the CFPB takes steps to reduce access to overdraft protection it must consider the costs of alternatives for consumers. Consumers who use overdraft protection frequently overwhelmingly report that they have poor credit and limited credit choices. For most frequent users of overdraft protection, payday lending is the most likely alternative, which can be less expensive or more expensive depending on the situation. In addition, we stress that a rigorous economic analysis would consider all of the costs of overdraft protection and alternatives — for example, while other products such as payday loans may sometimes be less expensive in pure dollars, that calculation excludes the full cost, such as the “shoe leather” costs of acquiring a payday loan or the value of immediate access to a funds advance when one is buying diapers at the grocery store in the middle of the night or dealing with a car breakdown after hours. Until it is determined what will actually happen to consumers who currently rely on payday lending


What is Enterovirus 68, the mysterious illness that is sickening hundreds of children?

Centers for Disease Control officials say a potentially deadly respiratory virus that has sent hundreds of kids to the hospital in the Midwest is likely to spread across the country. There have now been 153 confirmed cases in 18 states of a respiratory illness that has sent scores of children to emergency rooms and, in some cases, even to intensive care units. Cases have now been confirmed in Minnesota and New Jersey, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday. Public health officials had previously confirmed cases in Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia. The culprit is Enterovirus 68 (also known as EVD-68 or Eentrovirus D68), a rare viral infection that can cause symptoms such as coughing, wheezing and low blood oxygen levels (also known as hypoxemia). In some cases, however, the symptoms can be severe — particularly for children who already suffer from asthma or other respiratory problems. Jennifer Cornejo of Colorado told Denver's ABC affiliate that her 13-year-old son, William, had cold symptoms that developed overnight into a life-threatening illness. "He was in really bad shape," she told the station. "He came really close to death. He was unconscious at our house and white as a ghost with blue lips — he just passed out." Here is how William Cornejo described it: "My head started hurting. And after that my lungs started closing up. It felt different." Until recently, Enterovirus 68 was only thought to cause sporadic infections, but there have been reports of more widespread outbreaks in Georgia, Pennsylvania and Arizona between 2008 and 2010. Only Missouri and Illinois have confirmed cases of EV-D68, but cases with similar symptoms have been reported in Colorado, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio and Oklahoma, as well. Cases of EV-D68 have also been confirmed in Canada. The outbreak, though worse than usual, is typical for this time of year, and the CDC expects that cases will decline in the fall. In the mean time, here is what you should know now: Why is it called Enterovirus 68? Enterovirus is the name used to describe a group of more than 100 of the most common viruses that affect humans and other mammals. Most people might interact with an enterovirus by way of the common cold, which can be caused by enteroviruses as well as rhinoviruses. Enterovirus 68


it is spread has also changed, said Rafal Tokarz, a scientist at Columbia University's Center for Infection and Immunity who has studied the spread of Enterovirus 68. "We speculate that this virus in the past 10 to 15 years has sort of evolved into different sub types and has allowed it to become more prevalent worldwide," he said. "Maybe it has mutated into something that is more easily transmissible, I don’t know if that is the case but it's certainly possible." Why are children getting sick but not adults? So far, all of the confirmed cases of this virus have been in children, the CDC said, but the Enterovirus can also affect adults. According to the CDC, approximately a quarter of all Enterovirus 68 cases before 2005 were adults. It is possible that the respiratory symptoms are more acute among children than adults. Kids, particularly if they suffer from asthma or other respiratory problems, might become so sick that they require a trip to the emergency room where they can be treated with breathing aids. "It was initially believed to be associated mostly with kids, but there have been reports that it can also appear in adults," said Tokarz. "In adults, the symptoms may not be as severe, which is why in some cases the symptoms may be missed." How do I know if my child has it? Enterovirus 68 is just one of many potential causes of respiratory illness. And the only way to know if someone has this particular type of virus is through a form of testing that sequences the virus. If a child reports severe difficulty breathing, and especially if that child also suffers from asthma, parents should consult a health care professional. Many hospitals are able to do this kind of testing, but if they cannot, they can send samples to the CDC, which has the ability to conduct more advanced testing and confirm an infection. Is there treatment or a cure? There is no treatment that is specific to the virus, and there are no anti-viral medications. But most cases of the virus are not fatal. Intensive treatment and supportive care, including oxygen provided in a hospital setting help. And in the confirmed cases of Enterovirus 68 from 2008 to 2010, the median length of time patients were hospitalized ranged from 1.5 to five days. How do we stop it from spreading? Other than


It is possible that the respiratory symptoms are more acute among children than adults. Kids, particularly if they suffer from asthma or other respiratory problems, might become so sick that they require a trip to the emergency room where they can be treated with breathing aids. "It was initially believed to be associated mostly with kids, but there have been reports that it can also appear in adults," said Tokarz. "In adults, the symptoms may not be as severe, which is why in some cases the symptoms may be missed." How do I know if my child has it? Enterovirus 68 is just one of many potential causes of respiratory illness. And the only way to know if someone has this particular type of virus is through a form of testing that sequences the virus. If a child reports severe difficulty breathing, and especially if that child also suffers from asthma, parents should consult a health care professional. Many hospitals are able to do this kind of testing, but if they cannot, they can send samples to the CDC, which has the ability to conduct more advanced testing and confirm an infection. Is there treatment or a cure? There is no treatment that is specific to the virus, and there are no anti-viral medications. But most cases of the virus are not fatal. Intensive treatment and supportive care, including oxygen provided in a hospital setting help. And in the confirmed cases of Enterovirus 68 from 2008 to 2010, the median length of time patients were hospitalized ranged from 1.5 to five days. How do we stop it from spreading? Other than treating the symptoms of patients who have contracted the virus, there is very little that can be done to stop the spread of EV-D68. But practicing normal, good hygiene is more important now than ever. Washing hands, disinfecting surfaces, avoiding touching eyes, mouths, and noses with dirty hands can all help stop the spread of the virus. And if you or your child feels sick, stay home rather than risking further spreading the virus at work or at school. Sarah Kaplan contributed to this report. [This post has been updated.] Related: Respiratory virus Enterovirus D68 hits the Northeast Virginia has 7 confirmed cases of rare respiratory illness The rare respiratory virus sickening children has been confirmed in 16 states across the country Tracking a rare polio-like illness affecting children


Rare respiratory illness now in 19 states as cases are confirmed in California, Minnesota and New Jersey

The rare respiratory illness affecting children across the country has now spread to at least 19 states, with confirmed cases in California, Minnesota and New Jersey, public health officials confirmed Thursday. This rare virus strain, known as enterovirus 68, can cause severe breathing problems. There have now been 153 confirmed cases across the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But it is believed that many more people have the virus and that it will appear in additional states in the near future. Minnesota and New Jersey are just the latest places with this virus, joining a list of states that has lengthened as testing confirms cases. The other states are Alabama, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia. Public health officials say other states are expected to join this list, as cases could likely be confirmed in other places where there have been clusters of children suffering from respiratory illnesses. There are suspected cases in Georgia and Michigan, while health officials in Ohio and Utah have told The Post they suspect that they have cases of the virus. Enteroviruses are very common, causing between 10 million and 15 million infections each year. Most enterovirus infections in the United States occur in the summer and fall, so these are coming at a typical time, Anne Schuchat, director of the CDC’s National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, told reporters last week. But this particular strain has not appeared very often since it was first isolated in California in 1962. The CDC expects that the number of infections will drop later in the year. Here’s more information on the virus itself and how it is treated. And here is some background on why we are only gradually learning how many states have this virus. This post has been updated to note the confirmed cases in California. First published: 1:04 p.m. Last updated: 4:28 p.m.


H Street Festival: Eat, drink, dance and celebrate D.C.’s quirkiest neighborhood

and Service (1320 H St. NE) is setting up a marinara dunk tank outside the shop. Yes, an actual dunk tank filled with sauce. Buy two slices ($2.75-$3.75 a slice) and you get three balls to throw. Sink the person inside and win a full pie. Drink in the street Turning H Street into a giant beer garden is one of the highlights of the festival. (Just remember to keep your drinks inside the designated areas.) A London-style double-decker bus will be parked outside the Queen Vic British pub (1206 H St. NE), offering shots of Jameson Irish Whiskey and four draft beers from a special bar inside. Grab a seat on the top deck and watch people stroll by. The H Street Festival always falls on the first day of Oktoberfest, so Biergarten Haus (1355 H St. NE) taps a number of Oktoberfest lagers for the occasion. Last year's star was Hofbrau served from a wooden keg; this year's festival features Paulaner beers. The German beer garden is raffling a March 2015 trip to Munich for the Paulaner Salvator strong beer festival, with proceeds going to the Wounded Warrior Project. Melissa Rife and the Alt Washingtonia dance group perform at Biergarten Haus. The H Street NE beer garden will feature music and dancing on weekends through the end of October. DC Brau will have a stand outside Little Miss Whiskey's (1104 H St.) pouring several beers, including its new Oktoberfest and the cult favorite Imperial IPA On the Wings of Armageddon. Brewery founders Brandon Skall and Jeff Hancock, a.k.a. the Brothers Brau, will be DJing house music from an old ambulance parked in the street. Rock out Music is a staple of the festival, and outdoor performers run the gamut from local hip-hop figurehead Asheru (4th Street Stage) to the peppy ska and soul of Caz and the Day Laborers (14th Street stage), plus an all-gospel gathering outside Douglas Memorial Methodist Church (11th Street stage). WASHINGTON DC, SEPT. 21, 2013 -- During the H Street Festival, members of the local hip-hop group Beyond Modern perform on a stage in the parking lot next to Smith Commons. The restaurant also offered craft beer stations, skateboarding on a half-pipe, and live painters. (Instagram Photo by Fritz Hahn/The Washington Post) Venues along H Street are getting in on the act, too. The Rock and Roll Hotel (1353 H St. NE) is the


Bitcoin gets an industry-backed advocacy group

Brito, a law professor who was until recently the head of the technology policy program at George Mason's Mercatus Center, announced in August that he was leaving for "a new adventure." On Thursday, Brito announced that he will be heading an organization called Coin Center, what he describes as a "new non-profit research and advocacy center focused on the public policy issues facing cryptocurrency technologies." "Our mission is to build a better understanding of these technologies and to promote a regulatory climate that preserves maximum freedom of action for digital currency innovation," Brito writes in the shop's founding letter. "We will do this by producing and publishing policy research from respected academics and experts, educating policymakers and the media about block chain technology, and by engaging in advocacy for sound public policy." Coin Center will, according to Brito, have an annual budget of more than $1 million, with contributions from venture capitalists like Andreessen Horowitz, Union Square Ventures, and RRE Ventures and bitcoin-tied firms like BitPay, Coinbase, and Xapo. Board members will include innovator and entrepreneur Marc Andreessen, Andreessen Horowitz partner Balaji Srinivasan, bitcoin developer Jeff Garzik, Hudson River Trading partner Alex Morcos, and Stanford business professor Susan Athey. The group is a little bit Electronic Frontier Foundation -- founded in 1990 and dedicated to "defending your rights in the digital world" -- and a little bit P2P Ride-Share coalition, the group that popped up in February to help companies like Lyft in the regulatory fights they're waging in cities across the country. In fact, disruptive technologies, to borrow a Silicon Valley phrase, are increasingly running into federal, state, and local legal battles, as we've seen with companies like Uber and Airbnb. It's becoming fairly common for tech start-ups in even their earliest phases to hire a public policy expert as one of their first half-dozen employees. Bitcoin might be a bit unusual for being a fairly amorphous technology that is getting its very own advocacy center before, arguably, going all that mainstream. That's not to say that it's off the radar of regulators. In August, for example, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau warned of Bitcoin that "at this point consumers are stepping into the Wild West when they engage in the market." But there are no doubt plenty more regulatory battles that will be had, and with the Coin Center bitcoin's backers are attempting to get ahead of them.


This thing you should try: The burger Menage a Trois at DBGB

On this National Cheeseburger Day, show the special person in your life how much you care for them by ordering not just a single cheeseburger, but a Menage a Trois. That's what they call a three-burger platter on the menu at Daniel Boulud's DBGB Kitchen and Bar at CityCenterDC. (Wait, what did you think we were proposing here?) The Menage a Trois burger platter at DBGB. (Alex Baldinger/The Washington Post) The $48 platter showcases three of Boulud's creations, each of which can be ordered individually if you don't feel like eating three gourmet burgers by yourself: The Yankee: The Frenchie: The Crabbie: The Crabbie. (Alex Baldinger/The Washington Post) Be forewarned: After eating three of these burgers -- even if you share -- you're going to feel a little bit like this: DBGB Kitchen and Bar, 931 H St. NW. 202-695-7660. www.dbgb.com/dc.


7 things to do in the D.C. area on the weekend of Sept. 19-21

Festival-goers at D.C. VegFest look over the fancy, dairy-free desserts brought in by the Pennsylvania-based company Vegan Treats, one of the stars of the annual festival, which returns to Yards Park on Saturday. (Compassion Over Killing) Friday-Sunday: Saturday: With the H Street Festival expected to draw 125,000 people to the neighborhood, it’s an ideal time to retrace the Northeast neighborhood’s milestones from the past decade. View Photo Gallery —With the H Street Festival expected to draw 125,000 people to the neighborhood, it’s an ideal time to retrace the Northeast neighborhood’s milestones from the past decade. Saturday: Saturday: Saturday: Sunday: Sunday: