Lunchline: Operation Obelisk

If you have difficulty viewing this newsletter, click here to view as a Web page. Click here to view in plain text. Tuesday, July 10, 2012 Last night, a man left his keys behind at our local pho establishment while picking up his takeout. Recalling that the man said he had a long walk, another customer tried to chase him nearly six blocks before giving up. Eventually, the man called back inquiring about his keys. There are decent people in this world. It's looking like the Washington Monument is going to be closed for some time. The damage from the earthquake will potentially shut things down until 2014, according to the National Park Service. Those of you who have been here for some time will recall when the obelisk was covered in scaffolding before the turn of the century. That actually made the monument look kind of awesome for a while, like a giant Ikea lamp. The Post's Michael E. Ruane reports on the latest renovations on the Mall. Protip: If you give your car to a stranger, don't expect to get it back. But that's exactly what one guy did in Burke, Va. Now he's out a BMW. The man, a regular a the local Hooters restaurant in Fairfax City, happened across a couple who said they were down on their luck and needed a ride to a wedding. Instead of giving them a ride, this guy told them to take the car. Just bring back the keys when you're done! Literally. The State of NoVa's Tom Jackman details what should have been a giveaway to the crime. It kind of blows my mind that there are zero Whole Foods in Prince George's County. But yesterday, officials cleared the way for one to make its way there. By voting to change the zoning setup at a site north of East-West Highway, the county is hoping to lure the upscale grocery chain as part of a mixed-use development. But of course, residents are balking, saying it will be a burden on the community. The Post's Luz Lazo reports on the dispute. The job hunt can be daunting. Competition is tight and first impressions are vital to making an impact on a potential employer. Mess it up and your résumé goes straight to the trash folder. Unless your name is Vanessa Hojda. Because she, my friends, is fantastic. When applying for an administrative assistant position, she meant to attach her cover letter and résumé. Instead, she attached a photo of Nick Cage. And not just any photo. This one. Someone, please give this awesome woman a job. At the Home Run Derby last night, the crowd had no love for Robinson Cano. Kansas City fans, who have for years suffered in the doldrums of Major League Baseball (trust me, my late grandma lived there), gave the Bronx Bomber a full complement of boos as he batted. When he finished with no homers, he got a standing ovation. Cano passed on picking Royals DH Billy Butler to his lineup, a bush league move in the guy's home stadium. Elsewhere, of course, Bryce was a star, Tom Boswell says. Extra Bites • A new report is ranking D.C. as the best city in the U.S. Chicago, New York and L.A. ranked behind, in that order. The study also showed that the District is home to the best newsletter writers in the world. Except, it didn't show that at all. Alas. • Oh, you want to see two superheroes duking it out on the street? Luckily, I have something for you. But, it happens in Toronto. And Spidey is wearing Chuck Taylors. • Here's Brandi Carlile's Tiny Desk Concert. I just want one friend who works at NPR Music. 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