Lunchline: What's your area code?

If you have difficulty viewing this newsletter, click here to view as a Web page. Click here to view in plain text. Friday, March 23, 2012 I'd like to thank everyone for the birthday wishes yesterday. I do appreciate it. More importantly, many wanted to know what my sister's Ph.D. dissertation was about. Here's the title: "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised? Black Nationalist Comedians Shape Mainstream Culture Through Television, 1975-2005." The truth is, I love Metro. You might hate it because it's come to symbolize all that is wrong with red tape, corruption and inefficiency. But when you rode the school bus in the morning, I rode Metro as a kid. So when it does something productive, I feel the need to highlight it. The transit agency has set up an e-mail address and Web site to deal with sexual harassment in the system, which is an obvious problem. The Post's Dana Hedgpeth explains how Metro is encouraging riders to report these incidents. Don't get it twisted, area codes are a status symbol. When you drop your number on someone for any reason at all, if you've got an oddball number, people will look at you funny. I don't think I could ever have a non-202 area code. But in Maryland, they're running out of numbers so they've had to expand. The state is opening up a new area code starting Saturday, and it's '667.' Sounds sexy, except not at all. The Post's Michael Rosenwald explains the numerology. The first time I heard the term 'vomit comet' it was when I watched the commentary on the "Apollo 13" DVD. Tom Hanks was explaining how tough it was to shoot those weightlessness scenes, because they had to repeatedly go up and down to nail the takes. Seemed like fun. The Post's Hayley Tsukayama got to do this, as part of a story about YouTube's Space Lab competition. All that matters is that Hayley got to write about being in zero gravity, which is awesome for all of us. Geraldo Rivera is a man of opinions. He and his mustache have interviewed some of the biggest names in the world over the years, but he's also never been far from controversy. Today, he really went for it. The Fox News reporter said on Twitter and in an interview that Trayvon Martin's hoody was as responsible for his death as George Zimmerman. In other news, President Obama said, "If I had a son, he'd look like Trayvon." This is America, kids. The Pacers present an interesting conundrum for me. For one, I like the way the team plays. Second, former Hoya Roy Hibbert is the best player on their team. So when they come to town, I have to root against a Georgetown player. Alas. The Wizards dropped a 20-point lead to the guys from Indiana and neither Nene, who was playing, or Andray Blatche, who most certainly was not, were anywhere to be found. Extra Bites • If you don't remember the story of Fabrice Muamba, he was the Bolton player who barely made it out alive after his on-field cardiac arrest last week. A player in Bangalore wasn't so lucky. Very sad. • There are stereotypes about black barbershops. There are also stereotypes about Prince George's County. Fairly or unfairly, this story reinforces both. • It is a 100% lock that I'm going to see 'The Hunger Games' this afternoon. That is all. Check out my Facebook fan page, my Twitter feed, or e-mail me at clinton.yates@wpost.com Get The Washington Post, your way. Want to stay on top of the latest news, features, commentary and more? Here's how: Mobile: Alerts: Social Media: Applications Web site E-mail SMS RSS Feeds Facebook Twitter SEND TO A FRIEND UNSUBSCRIBE NEWSLETTER CENTER GET HELP Washington Post Digital E-mail Customer Care 1150 15th Street NW Washington, D.C. 20071 ©2012 The Washington Post Privacy Policy