Newspapers don't read resumes

It's Friday so Jody bought us lunch as usual, but today we were joined by Gardiner Harris, reporter for The New York Times. He is the Times science correspondent and writes a lot about food safety and science policy.
Gardiner told us how he worked his way up from the very bottom of the industry, and about the benefits of working for a smaller paper, such as the opportunity to really know a community and hone your beat. And he told us something else, too, that was a little discouraging, but not that surprising: Newspapers don't read the resumes and clips they receive in the mail. He said the best way to break in and get your first newspaper job is to show up at the newsroom, meet the mid-level editors and hand them your resume.

Touring the Post

Yesterday morning Jody took us down the street to The Washington Post and we had a brief tour of the newsroom and sat in on their morning meeting to discuss the next day's headlines. It's funny how newsrooms everywhere, no matter the size or prestige of the paper, all look pretty much the same.

Also, boston.com has a wonderful photo gallery from around the world during Earth Hour. You can see how many lights faded by clicking on the photos for a before and after effect.

Last night I went to an early screening of Disneynature's new documentary film, "earth," at Washington's Landmark Theatre, E Street Cinema.
"earth" was directed by two men, one of whom produced the TV documentary series "Planet Earth," and some sequences are common to both the TV series and the film. It will open in theaters April 22, Earth Day.

Unexpected event

Every Friday our editor takes us to lunch. We usually get takeout from somewhere nearby and eat in the conference room while we have our weekly meeting. Today we went across the street to an Indian restuarant called "Spice Express."

There's a Bank of America on the first floor of our office building and when we walked outside we noticed the bank's street entrance was blocked off with yellow police tape and a few police cars were parked near the entrance. When we came back with our lunch a building security guard told us a man in his mid 50s to early 60s attempted an armed robbery but was caught by police just a few hours before. We were upstairs in our office completely unaware and I was just at the bank yesterday.

Lights out

Saturday night join millions of people around the world and "vote" for action on climate change by turning off your lights and other unnecessary electronics from 8:30 to 9:30, or longer if you're really ambitious. 2,800 cities in 83 countries plan to participate in the World Wildlife Fund's Earth Hour 2009.
To learn more about it read my story.

I went to another hearing on Capitol Hill today, this time about Michigan's "Sixth Amendment crisis." I wish some good news would come out of the state.

20 years later spilled oil still lingers in Alaska waters

I met Captain Keith Colburn of the Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch," on Capitol Hill today, the 20th anniversary of the Exxon Valdez oil spill. He appeared before before two subcommittees of the Natural Resources Committee that deal with energy, minerals, oceans and wildlife that held a hearing on energy development on the outer continental shelf and the health of Earth's oceans.

He brought with him a glass jar full of oil soaked sand and stones taken from Alaska's Prince William Sound coast a month ago. Two decades after the spill, an estimated 21,000 gallons of spilled oil still remain.

Never eat in Metro

Saturday Caitlyn and I went to the Pentagon City Mall and on the way learned that Metro rules are not to be taken lightly.

While waiting for the train we heard an announcement over the loud speaker, but this was no ordinary, pleasant prerecorded reminder of Metro rules. The woman shouted for all of D.C. to hear that there is to be absolutely NO eating or drinking in Metro. Her angry order was directed to a man who will only be known as "You sir, with the unwrapped Chipotle."

I'm pretty sure he'll never ride Metro again.

I also went with Megan and Alex to the National Aquarium. It was kind of a dud. Dark, gloomy, smaller than I expected it to be. But we saw an octopus swimming which made it worthwhile.

Look closely, there is a fish in this photo...

Police arrest student protesters in downtown D.C.

Today was the 6th anniversary of the beginning of the war in Iraq and I had a very long day of following several groups of protesters around the city. At least two protesters were arrested.