Lunchline: Barry is blocking streetcars

If you have difficulty viewing this newsletter, click here to view as a Web page. Click here to view in plain text. Wednesday, June 20, 2012 Man, it is SUPER hot outside, which is my favorite kind of weather. If you're wont to complain, alas. Here's how to beat the heat: Drink more water. Wear lighter clothes. Move slowly. It works surprisingly well. Just when you think that D.C. might be on the verge of reform, something crazy happens. And with the federal buzzards swarming around Vincent Gray, he hired a guy embroiled in a sex scandal. Michael Kelly, who used to work under Adrian Fenty, was reportedly having an affair with a subordinate at his job in Philadelphia. Apparently, that makes him fit to head the Department of Housing and Community Development. The Post's Mike DeBonis reports that Gray knew the deal and hired Kelly anyways. There's an interesting situation unfolding on the D.C. Council. Marion Barry is throwing a monkey wrench into the plans to build streetcars along the H Street corridor. He thinks the project is too expensive, doesn't serve enough people and is not a well-thought-out plan. He's filed a disapproval resolution for the project, The Post's Tim Craig reports. I think I know another reason why Barry's throwing shade on this operation. Make sure you read the last two paragraphs of that story. Adidas really stepped in it this week. Photos of a sneaker they planned to release were leaked and they didn't go over well. Mainly because they were racially insensitive. The shoes, designed by a guy named Jeremy Scott, featured rubber shackles and a fake chain. Scott says they were a throwback to the old "My Pet Monster" toy. They pulled the shoe, eventually. What is going on at Adidas? How did this product ever make it this far in the first place? The Style Blog's Maura Judkis reports. Forks are a relatively modern product. Knives and spoons have been around far longer than the pronged objects, which have an interesting history. Personally, I prefer the three-pronged variety over others, but that's just me. And don't get me started on sporks, easily the best eating tool this side of chopsticks, ever. But until forks made their way to the table, your hands were the simple solution. Slate's Sara Goldsmith chronicles the history of la fourchette. Davey Johnson pulled a fast one on Joe Maddon last night. The cagey old Nationals manager asked that an umpire check Rays' pitcher Joel Peralta's glove when he came into the game. After the umps determined that he had too much pine tar in his glove, they tossed Peralta out of the game. Maddon, the Rays manager, didn't hide his anger, calling the maneuver "cowardly." The Post's James Wagner, the star of our office softball team, reports. Extra Bites • You can go anywhere. Take a look. It's in a book. Levar Burton taught me that. And now, Reading Rainbow has its own app. If I had a kid, I would so buy this for them. I grew up watching that show, and as a result, I pretty much blindly trust everything Burton does. • Adam Carolla is known to make outrageous radio comments, but recently he claimed women aren't funny. And then, a bunch of funny women crushed him. • I didn't care about the new Batman movie, until I saw the last trailer. I'm in. Here's how to get at me. There's Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and you can 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