DuPont Circle is one of the District’s best-known neighborhoods, and there’s so much history and beautiful architecture to love in the neighborhood. A commercial district with great shopping and restaurants, a variety of housing types from historic houses to newer buildings, and a truly walk-able character. Most DuPont residences are within a short walk to neighborhood restaurants, coffee shops, supermarkets, museums, galleries, and parks. The neighborhood is also accessible, DuPont Circle is served by the Washington Metro Red Line at the DuPont Circle Metro station.
DuPont Circle is located in the "Old City" of Washington, D.C. the area planned by architect Pierre Charles L'Enfant, but remained largely undeveloped until after the American Civil War. Improvements made in the 1870s by a board of public works headed by Alexander "Boss" Shepherd transformed the area into a fashionable residential neighborhood. On February 25, 1882, Congress renamed the circle to "DuPont Circle", and authorized a memorial statue of Samuel Francis Du Pont, in recognition of his service as a rear admiral during the Civil War. The DuPont Circle statue, sculpted by Launt Thompson, was erected in 1884, and the circle was landscaped with exotic flowers and trees. During the 1870’s and 1880’s, mansions were built along Massachusetts Avenue, one of Washington's grand avenues, and townhouses were built throughout the neighborhood. In 1949 traffic tunnels and an underground streetcar station were built under the circle as part of the now-defunct Capital Transit project. In 1975, the store ran the world's first gay-oriented television commercial. Gentrification accelerated in the 1980’s and 1990’s, and the area is now a more mainstream and trendy location with coffeehouses, restaurants, bars, and upscale retail stores.
DuPont Circle gets its name from Samuel Du Pont, an admiral who served during the American Civil War. DuPont Circle is filled with historic homes and embassies. Popular landmarks include Heurich House, also known as the Brew-master's Castle, the Textile Museum and the Walsh-McLean House. DuPont Circle is also great for dining and shopping and small private art galleries. DuPont became a bohemian zone, a place for sketch artists and beat poets. Washington's hippies played their guitars on the Circle's grass in the 1960's; attracted by the liberal atmosphere, gay people moved to the neighborhood in droves.
Most of our food supply originates from agriculture, the production of food through farming. Over the past century, industrialization and other similar trends have drastically transformed the United States agriculture, redefining farmer’s decisions towards their ecosystems in the process. While industrial agriculture has increased food production, it has also resulted in various health, environmental, social and economic issues. Organic and sustainable agriculture movements offer alternative approaches that are more ecologically peaceful and healthy.
In the past several years, the economics of the food production system has changed dramatically. Thousands of farms have doubled as new government policy have encouraged bigger, more intensive farm techniques, such as the production of meat, eggs, etc… Many corporations such as; producers of seeds, meat and milk now control most aspects of the food production system, giving them enormous power to control the markets, and of course enable them to influence agricultural regulations. Promoters of this new industrial model show off their “efficiency,” demonstrating their ability to produce a huge amount of cheap food. These demonstrations however, fails to take into considerations the many undercover costs, such as declining farmer equity, environmental damage, and health consequences.
Decisions about what food is produced, how it is produced and who produces it are being changed from farmers to the hands of a small number of really influential corporations. This new trend of agricultural concentration can leave farmers with fewer choices about where to acquire supplies, such as seeds, pesticides, and where to process their products. Farmers are being pressured into following the practices that are specifically dictated by the big companies, leading to a loss of skills, agricultural knowledge, and a bigger loss of animal biodiversity. In the end, industrialization and market concentration forces a farmer to give up on what they believe is the best for their land and animals. Trying to address these types of issues in the current food production system requires a more collaborative effort from farmers, industries, and most importantly the consumers.
Heavy reliance on agricultural chemicals is one way by which the practices associated with industrial agriculture can greatly affect our environment. In order to provide crops with nutrients, most farmers now apply some type of chemical fertilizer, or manure to farm crops. Over time, many of the targeted species, develop resistance to the pesticides being used against them. This causes farmers to continually need to apply more chemicals to achieve their goals of keeping away pests from their crops. This specific practice is contributing to the loss of biodiversity. People can be also be exposed to the pesticides through air inhalation.
Due to all these problems, new type of movements towards a more sound agriculture have gained more popularity. These alternatives aim at reducing the health, environmental, and economic issues associated with the current food production system. In a more local level, communities can have their own garden where vegetables are grown pesticides-free. Something really important that every individual can do is know where their food comes from and spread the wealth of knowledge by informing others.
Marion S. Barry was an African American politician. He was the first black activist to have been elected mayor of the District of Columbia, and was currently member of the Council of the District of Columbia, representing Washington D.C’s Ward 8. In the 1960’s, Barry was involved in the African-American Civil Rights Movement, serving as a chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), which gave him his start in D.C politics. During his time serving as the mayor, Marion Barry did things that both helped and hurt the City of Washington and its people. Marion Barry died early Sunday at United Medical Center in Washington. He was 78. The D.C. medical examiner said Sunday evening that Mr. Barry died of a cardiovascular disease, with kidney disease and diabetes contributing to his death.
During his time leading the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee SNCC, Barry led protests against racial segregation and discrimination in Washington D.C. During his time as the mayor he spent millions of tax dollars into summer jobs programs, senior centers and an array of social welfare programs that ranked among the most generous in the whole country. He also used the city’s bureaucracy as an employment program to help foster the growth of the black middle class, hiring more municipal employees than any other city in America. He created an organization named Pride which helped people who couldn't get jobs to work. These people were usually male African American who had served jail time and were given a criminal record afterwards.
Photography is a powerful medium. It can expose truths and show emotions that words never could. It can turn a mirror to our deepest fears and give us hope for humanity. Photography can change the world. Since 1942, the Pulitzer Prize has been awarded to the most excellent photographs and photos taken every year. Usually awarded to news photographers, the award-winning images include some of the most iconic photographs ever taken.
This photo, taken by Ron Edmonds in 1981, shows Secret Service agent Timothy J. McCarthy, foreground, Washington policeman, and presidential press secretary James Brady, background, laying wounded on a street outside a Washington hotel after shots were fired by John Hinckley, Jr., who pushed a pistol through a cluster of bystanders and fired six shots at President Ronald Reagan. Brady was permanently disabled due to the attack and later became a gun control advocate.
The Brit behind Miley Cyrus' "Party in the U.S.A", Jessie J, has stepped out into the light to claim her own fame. Born as Jessica Ellen Cornish on March 27, 1988 After attending Collins Performing Arts, Jessie was cast at Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End play "Whistle Down the Wind" at the age of 11.
She went through High School and began channeling down her talent again when completing her study at the BRIT school and joining an-all girl group. Her first push into the real business began when she was signed to Gut Records. Unfortunately, the label went bankrupt before she even released an album. Determined as she is, Jessie continued writing songs and gaining a contract with Sony ATV.
It was in November 2010 when she began to step out as a solo artist, releasing the single "Do It Like a Dude" which quickly came at number two on U.K. Singles charts. The success was followed by a greater one with the release of "Price Tag" in which Jessie collaborated with rapper, B.0.B.. It became her first number one single. Due to the amount of success, Jessie was a regular name at awards events. She won 2011 BRIT Awards' Critics' Choice and was nominated for BBC's Sound of 2011 list. Her first debut album, is called "Who You Are", and her third album which came out very recently is titled “Sweet Talker”. Something that I really like about Jessie J is that she is a very different and original artist.
Something that I really admire and love about Jessie J is that most of her songs have a very positive and true message. She uses her talent to help others overcome certain situations and to inspire them as well. She's always very transparent and true to herself and that's really something that makes her so different to other artist who just perform for the money and the fame.
Playlist Recommendation -
- Said Too Much
- Do It Like A Dude (Explicit)
- Price Tag
- Nobody's Perfect
- Big White Room
- Who's Laughing Now
- Who You Are
- Stand Up
- Casualty Of Love
- You Really Don't Know Me
Flame-haired singer/songwriter, beat boxer, and guitarist Ed Sheeran's style blend of acoustic pop, folk, and hip-hop has been acclaimed by many people. Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, England in 1991, Sheeran released his first EP, "The Orange Room", while still at school, and his first two albums, his self-titled debut and Want Some, by the age of 16. After moving to London to gain more live experience, his performance of the self-penned "You Need Me, I Don't Need You" on YouTube gained him half a million viewers and attracted the attention of actor Jamie Foxx, who later invited him to appear on his Los Angeles radio show.
In 2011 he released his major debut studio album +. The album was a massive hit, selling over a million copies in the U.K in just six months, and charting highly in many countries. Sheeran worked co-writing songs for One Direction and Taylor Swift. He toured the U.S. with Swift on her massive 2013 arena tour, and saw his song "I See Fire". His latest album is titled X . Appearing in June 2014, X contained his acoustic/hip-hop sound, but also had a new R&B feel in places along with pop.
Playlist Recommendation -
- Don't
- Thinking Out Loud
- I See Fire
- Sing
- Lego House
- Give Me Love
- The A Team
- You Need Me, I Don't Need You
- Bloodstream
- Tenerife Sea
Ebola is a virus that first appeared in 1976 on Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.The disease is mainly found in tropical Central and West Africa, and has a 90 percent mortality rate. The current epidemic began in Guinea when a 2-year-old boy died on 6 December last year. His mother, sister, and grandmother then became ill with similar symptoms and died.
People infected by those victims spread the disease to other villages, eventually crossing into neighboring Liberia and Sierra Leon. It is transmitted through close contact with sweat, blood, secretions, organs or other bodily fluids of infected. Experts conclude that America’s hospitals have notable advantages that West Africa’s hospitals generally don’t. More resources to devote to round-the-clock care.
