pileofcrapola

WASHINGTON — Frank Ruta is known for his burgers.

Of course the D.C. chef and former star of Palena is known for plenty of other dishes (his roast chicken made him famous in this town), but his burgers have a dedicated following — and they have for years.

The reason, he says, is not because of one single ingredient. Every aspect of the burger — from the bun, to the sauce, to the pickles — is made from scratch and made with care. Even the dry-aged angus beef, which hails from the Shenandoah Valley, is ground in-house, daily.

“It’s fairly straightforward and simple, but I think that’s probably one of the things that sets it apart,” says Ruta about his burger. There are no unnecessary toppings, and thus, no competing flavors.

It’s no surprise, then, that when Ruta closed Palena in 2014, diners mourned the loss of his locally and nationally acclaimed burgers. But Ruta never intended to let them die.

In January, he took over as executive chef at The Grill Room in Georgetown’s Capella Hotel. Once he got his new kitchen and his new menu up and running, Ruta decided it was time to bring back an old favorite: the burger. And he added a few more to the mix.

Ruta now offers an entire burger menu at The Grill Room. Diners can order the classic cheeseburger, complete with homemade mayonnaise and truffle cheese, and they can also experiment with a few other varieties.

There’s a burger topped with mortadella, an Italian pork cold cut, and one served with a fried duck egg. This summer, Ruta is also introducing the Colonial Burger, made with Randall Lineback beef, a new bun, American cheese, bacon-onion confit and an heirloom tomato.

And while the extravagant and unique garnishes are equally as impressive as they are tasty, Ruta says they’re not necessary to a good burger — but he’ll tell you what is.

D.C.’s reigning king of burgers offers his best tips on how to make the perfect patty, and yes, more friends than you’ll be able to feed at your next summer cookout.

Skip the propane: This is not a tip Ruta discusses at length. He’s quick and to the point: A burger has a better flavor when it’s cooked on a charcoal grill.

The meat needs some fat: Not everyone is able to grind his own meat, like Ruta. So if you have to buy it from the store, it’s best to buy something with a little more fat than the typical 85 percent lean packages.

Ruta makes his burger with meat that is about 68 to 72 percent lean. He also opts for a grind that is not too fine. “We don’t play with it too much; we just hand-form it,” he says. “I think gives it a great quality and texture.”

No fillers, please: If your secret burger recipe calls for egg, chopped onion, or Worcestershire sauce, Ruta is here to cut your prep time in half. He says while all of those are great, they’re best left as toppings. The only thing the meat needs before it hits the grill is salt and pepper.

“The meat, itself, should be unadorned and unadulterated,” he says.

Meat too rare lacks flavor: Plenty of burger-lovers like their patties cooked medium-rare, but Ruta advises home-cooks to take their time on the grill. One of the biggest mistakes he sees is a burger that’s undercooked.

“The flavors really don’t develop until it gets a little bit beyond medium-rare,” he says. “Don’t make it too rare; don’t make it too well-done either.”

All it takes is a few minutes on each side for the perfect burger, and a spatula that won’t flatten the beef when it’s time to flip.

“Don’t smash it when it’s cooking; you don’t want to squeeze any of those juices out,” Ruta says. “And try only flipping it once.”

Take the time to make the mayo: A homemade mayonnaise, or high-quality spread, gives the burger “that right tinge of acidity,” Ruta says. He makes his mayo with “a little bit of citrus and a little bit of garlic and a little bit of mustard.”

Give the bun some love too: Whether you’re making your own or buying the bun, Ruta says some thought should go into the bread. For starters, a succulent burger needs a bun that can hold everything together.

“Because the burger is pretty juicy, [the bun needs to be] sturdy enough to absorb all of those juices, and then that’s just more flavor in your mouth. It’s like an extra dimension of flavor. If it’s all just dripping on your plate, it’s just lost,” he says.

Toasting the bun really makes a burger sing, too, Ruta says. And don’t just toast the inside: toast both sides to add some extra crunch and flavor.

No need to spring for the truffle cheese: Ruta’s burgers come topped with truffle cheese, but he says there’s no need to make a special trip to the store to pick up a specialty cheese.

“That’s just kind of gilding the lily to a certain extent,” he says. American cheese or cheddar works just fine. Ruta says a good burger will taste like perfection sans cheese, too.

Timing is everything: Everything, and Ruta means everything, should be ready to go before you even think of throwing the burgers onto a hot grill. Beers should be poured, pasta salad should be served, and buns should be toasted, so that the burger has nothing but your undivided attention.

“Once the burger hits the bun, that’s it; I’m ready to eat. I’m not trying to pull together any other side dishes or drinks — that should all be there, ready to go,” Ruta says.

Bon appétit.

The post Summer grilling 101: Frank Ruta’s guide to the perfect burger appeared first on WTOP.

Prince William County community calendar Washington Post Tour of Prince William The third annual cycling event, organized by the Prince William Trails and Streams Coalition, includes a 25-mile, a 45-mile and a 67-mile route through the western end of the county and into Fauquier County. 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m ... and more »

Costumed interpreters bring Old Town Manassas to life Washington Post If you happen to see historical interpreter Michelle Bondesen leading an Old Town Manassas walking tour in the sweltering summer heat, you might be tempted to feel sorry for her. Bondesen's Civil War-era garb — light gray hoop dress, white blouse and ... and more »

(This isn’t an ad and I’m not being paid to write this. It’s just my honest experience with the product.)

Three weeks ago, I replaced most of my diet with Soylent. A food replacement that started production last year, after a successful crowd funding campaign that raised $3 million bucks.

Soylent is designed to contain absolutely everything that the body needs. Theoretically, a human being could survive on nothing but Soylent and as long as they were getting a healthy amount of calories, they’d be perfectly healthy (at least as far as nutrition is concerned). Kind of like that goop they were eating in The Matrix. Just not as gross.

From what I understand, most people don’t outright replace their diet with Soylent. Instead, they use it as a meal replacement when needed. I think I’m one of the rare users of the product that has replaced all but a couple meals a week with the drink.

I know that the idea of not eating actual food is unappealing to a lot of people, but for me it’s perfect. Sure, I love food. Pizza, sushi, sugar cereal, ice cream… all of this is awesome stuff, but most of the time, eating is a nuisance for me. I’m always racing against deadlines and I forever have two days of work to get done in one day. I’m more interested in finishing more work, than I am in eating. As a result, I often end up choosing the fastest food option, rather than the healthiest. More than once, I’ve had Pop Tarts for dinner, simply because I wanted to get something in me and rush back to drawing. So the fact that I can walk to the fridge, pour a glass of Soylent, down it and get back to work, is a game changer for me. It not only helps my work schedule, but my health as well. The two or three meals a week that I eat, are usually due to social responsibilities. If I’m out with my family or friends and we go to a restaurant, etc.

Ulcers

Over the past couple years, I’ve started to have serious issues with re-occurring ulcers. I can honestly say that when an ulcer hits peak ouchiness, it’s by far, the worst physical pain I’ve ever felt. Too many times, I’ve found myself curled up on the floor, groaning or even yelling due to the pain. I’ve been to the hospital a number of times and I’m on prescription meds for it, which helps a LOT. While avoiding really spicy foods or an entire pizza helps smooth things over, food generally hurts at least a little bit. But Soylent… this stuff doesn’t hurt. Now I don’t want other people with various types of tummy troubles to take what I’m saying as factual evidence. I’m not a scientific study. I’m one guy with one, single experience. So it’s important to understand that I’m not telling other ulcer sufferers that this stuff will work for you. Also, I’m only three weeks in with this stuff. Who knows, by week four, my ulcers may come back with a vengeance. But so far, so good.

The Taste

Okay, so what does it taste like. Well firstly, don’t drink it warm. It’s just… well… yeah. Don’t drink it warm. Yuck. However, when it’s shaken up well and served cold, the stuff isn’t unpleasant. It’s like a very bland smoothie with a hint of vanilla and peanut butter. I wouldn’t call it delicious, but it’s very easy to drink. I know that some people blend it up with fruit, etc but I’ve only ever downed it plain.

Hunger

Of course, when I’m hungry I sometimes think “I could go for a big cheeseburger or something“. Though, while Soylent isn’t as enjoyable as a steak dinner with mashed potatoes, it’s amazing at removing hunger. Seriously, after drinking a glass of this stuff, I’m not the least bit hungry and once I’m done my liquid dinner, any craving for food is just gone.

Is This Stuff Safe?

Before I ordered Soylent, I did a lot of research on the stuff and while it certainly hasn’t been around for long, there is no end to people online speaking about it. Actually, that kind of makes this blog redundant, now that I think about it. Oh well.

There are websites talking about how dangerous it is, because it doesn’t contain the right vitamins, etc and there are websites talking about how it’s perfectly safe. But here are the reasons that I personally believe this stuff to be safe.

• I eat crap. I mean… I don’t literally eat crap, but… well you know what I mean. On a daily basis, I do not get the vitamins and nutrients that I need. So when compared to what I was eating… this goop packed with all manner of vitamins, proteins and carbohydrates all designed to keep someone healthy is definitively a big step up for me.
• I’m no longer eating processed foods and things covered in icing or ketchup. All that junk that my body definitely doesn’t need is pretty much gone. So again, this has got to be a step up on the health… scale. You know, the health… rating… measurement… thingy.
• A couple years ago, I went vegan for awhile. During that time I accidentally deprived myself of various proteins and such that I need to live and fight crime and stuff. I’m not saying that a vegan diet automatically deprives you of those things, just that a vegan diet done incorrectly, deprives you of those things. I learned as I went along and figured out how much tofu or nuts I had to eat, etc. But here’s the thing… each time I was missing out on something that my body needed, I felt it. I either felt sick or weak or in some way icky. My body seems to be really good at saying “Hey, dumb ass! Eat some protein!” or whatever. But for the last three weeks, I’ve felt pretty damn good. I’ve been paying attention to my body to see if it seems to be lacking something, but I feel awesome. Granted, no one has lived off Soylent for twenty years to see what happens, but at least I know that three weeks is no problem.

What’s The Company Like?

This is one of the biggest selling points for me. They seem to be genuinely cool people. They’re accessible and friendly and seem really willing to help if you have questions. I jumped in with both feet and got the subscription of monthly orders and my first shipment arrived pretty quickly. It was packaged really well. Here’s a pic…

So I know a lot of people will shake their heads and turn up their noses at the idea of this stuff, but I freakin’ love it. It’s made my life a lot easier. Even if you’re just wanting some for the odd time you need a meal replacement, I can highly recommend it.

Thanks,

-Tarol

Why are random animal sculptures hanging from light posts in Southeast? Washington Post Any knowledge of sculptures mounted on light poles in Southeast: a dog jumping through a hoop at Third and D streets SE and a grasshopper at Seventh and G SE? For a minute, I thought I was on “Sesame Street,” and went on a bit of a scavenger hunt to ...

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — On a tumultuous day for Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland, the second-year player was suspended by the NFL on Friday, nearly a year after being cited for marijuana possession, then was carted off the field because he got injured in practice.

It was not immediately known how badly hurt Breeland might have been. His leg gave out from under him when a receiver he was covering made a cut.

“He’s being evaluated for his injury,” Redskins spokesman Tony Wyllie said.

Breeland went down to the ground a couple of hours after the league announced that he had been suspended for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.

NFL spokesman Randall Liu said Breeland will serve his suspension in the first week of the regular season, when Washington hosts the Miami Dolphins, whether he is healthy or injured.

He played in 15 games and made two interceptions last season for the Redskins, who went 4-12 and finished last in the NFC East for the sixth time in seven years.

Breeland was expected to contend for a starting spot in the secondary this season.

“It’s a big loss for us, because not only can he play inside at nickel, he can play outside. And he’s a key member of our special teams,” Washington coach Jay Gruden said after the suspension news was released — but before the practice session when Breeland injured himself. “We’ll have to get somebody else ready.”

Breeland was cited for misdemeanor possession of marijuana the night before the Redskins broke training camp in August 2014. The fourth-round draft pick was given a citation on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University, about a dozen blocks from the Redskins’ training camp facility.

Asked why the punishment came so much later, Gruden replied: “I have no idea.”

___

Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich

___

Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

The post Skins CB Breeland suspended by NFL, then injured at practice appeared first on WTOP.

This is a sponsored post by Elizabeth Arguelles, veterinarian and owner of Just Cats Clinic at Lake Anne Plaza. 

One of the most popular questions cat veterinarians hear is can my cat see color? Though for years it was widely believed that cats were color blind, recent research indicates cats have the ability to detect color. While our eyes are able to detect a broad range of different colors, cats view color on a much smaller spectrum.

Where does the ability to see colors come from?

The retina contains two types of cells that allow us (or our feline friends) to see: rods and cones. Rods signal to the brain when any light waves reach the retina, regardless of their color. Cones, on the other hand, fire when lights of specific wavelengths (i.e. different colors) hit the eye. Some cones signal when blue light comes in contact with the retina, others respond to red light and a third variety fires when green light is detected.

How do cat and human eyes perceive color differently?

Because space on the retina is limited, more rods necessarily mean less cones and vice versa. Because cats have evolved to hunt in darker environments, their eyes are packed with considerably more rods than cones. As a result, they can seemingly “see in the dark” and detect the slightest motion, but their perception of colors is relatively poor. One study indicated, for example, that felines can only see blues and grays, while another concluded that they are also able to detect yellows.

The relative lack of cones also makes cats less sensitive to changes in the brightness or vibrancy of a color. They may not be able to distinguish, for example, between light blue and dark blue.

Humans, on the other hand, have to be able to function in both low-light and bright environments, so our eyes have evolved to contain ten times as many cones as those of our furry friends. Our night vision is worse, but we can see a full rainbow’s worth of color during the day.

How else are cat and human eyes different?

Evolutionary forces have also changed how well felines and humans can focus on objects at different distances. Because cats are closer to the ground and have more acute senses of sound and smell, focusing sharply on objects at distances greater than 50 yards away has never been a priority. As a result, they are somewhat nearsighted compared to us. Felines can detect things in the distance, but those objects tend to appear blurry.

What does all of this mean?

Though your kitty’s ability to detect and perceive color is largely unimportant with regard to its health and wellbeing, knowing about its sensory abilities can help you create a more enjoyable living space for your feline friend.

For more information please visit our Feline Health Library at: www.justcatsclinic.com.

The post Beyond 9 Lives: Through a Cat’s Eyes appeared first on WTOP.

WASHINGTON — Charges have been filed against 33-year-old Narges Shafeirad following a car fire that killed her 5-year-old son in June, The Washington Post reports.

After a six-week investiation, Montgomery County Police say that before setting the fire, Shafeirad poisoned her son, Daniel Dana, with a high dose of Diphenhydramine, which is an antihistamine found in allergy and cough medicine. Investigators believe Shafeirad then started the fire to cover up the poison. She was charged with first-degree murder and first-degree arson on Friday.

Around 3:30 in the morning on June 16, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue passed a Toyota Corolla that was on fire near Sam Eig Highway and Fields Road. Shafeirad was pulled from the car and suffered serious burns, while first reponders were unable to save Daniel, who was unconscious in the back seat.

“When you look at the depravity — she murdered her son and attempted to cover it up — it’s awful. He was a little kindergartner,” Capt. Darren Francke, commander of the Montgomery County police department’s major crimes unit, told the Washington Post.

While the motive is unknown, police believe it may be linked to a custody battle between Shafeirad and her ex-husband over Daniel. She remains in the hospital with burn injuries.

Francke told the Washington Post that Shafeirad will be taken to jail once released from the hospital.

The post Mother charged with murder, arson in Gaithersburg car fire that killed 5-year-old son appeared first on WTOP.

If we’re going to hear stories of children being left in hot cars, we’re at least glad to report on those that end well. That includes the report of a New Jersey sheriff’s officer who bashed open a minivan window to free a child who was locked inside it as it sat parked at a Costco supermarket.

Witnesses said the crying two-year-old was drenched in sweat when a Bergen County police officer broke open one of the van’s windows, reports NBC News (warning: link has video that autoplays).

Passersby worried about the girl in the van parked in Costco’s parking lot had gathered on the scene, with at least two people attempting to push down a window that had been cracked open a few inches. In a video taped during the rescue, you can hear the child crying inside the car.

“I’m telling the girl, ‘Don’t cry, we’re gonna get you out,'” one of the men who tried to get into the van told NBC News. “She was drenched in sweat and crying constantly.”

Bystanders wondered if the parents were shopping, expressing disbelief that they would’ve left the toddler behind.

Moments after an officer carries the small girl in her arms away from the van, with her hair matted to her forehead with sweat, the toddler’s mother shows up with a shopping cart and another child.

“You left her in the car!” the officer holding the crying girl says. The mother apologizes, but the officer replies, “No ‘Sorry!’ She could have died!”

The child’s mother was arrested for child endangerment and released with a desk ticket. The little girl was taken to a local hospital and then turned over to her father, according to the sheriff’s office.

Though it’s unclear how long the girl was inside the van, temperatures can rise dangerously high in a matter of minutes. Remember: Leaving a child in a hot car for any length of time is unsafe, so please, please do not do it.

WATCH: Sweat-Soaked, Wailing Toddler Rescued from Hot Minivan in Costco Parking Lot [NBC News]

From puppies to old dogs: The weird world of home-sale clauses Washington Post Maybe some Virginia lawmakers have watched too many episodes of “Breaking Bad.” Home buyers in Virginia now have one more request they can make of sellers: to disclose whether the property has ever been used to manufacture methamphetamine, and, ...

Editor’s Note: Healthy Paws is a new column sponsored and written by the owners of Clarendon Animal Care, a full-service, general practice veterinary clinic. The clinic is located 3000 10th Street N., Suite B. and can be reached at 703-997-9776.

Following up on our previous article about intestinal parasites, we thought a brief summary of diarrhea in general would be warranted.

What IS diarrhea?

Diarrhea is the abnormal (often rapid) movement of ingesta through the gastrointestinal tract, resulting in increased frequency or volume of stools with decreased form. Diarrhea can be the result of small intestinal disease/inflammation, large intestinal disease/inflammation or a combination of the two.

What are the most common causes of diarrhea?

There are far too many causes to cover in our limited space, but the most common include intestinal parasites, dietary indiscretion and rapid diet change.  Viral infections, bacterial infections, and toxin ingestion are also relatively frequent causes.  Most often, whatever the initial trigger, the diarrhea is perpetuated by an imbalance in the normal bacterial population in the gut — the “bad guys” — i.e. Clostridium, etc. — take over the “good guys” — i.e. Lactobacillus, etc.  These bacteria then secrete toxins that can perpetuate the diarrhea.

Chronic diarrhea is defined as diarrhea lasting longer than three weeks.  The potential causes for chronic diarrhea include the above causes, but also may warrant further investigation into the possibility of a food allergy/sensitivity, or of an underlying condition such as inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatic insufficiency or other system or metabolic disease.

A fecal sample is typically the first diagnostic test ordered, as this screens for intestinal parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, whipworms, Giardia, and Coccidia.  Additional tests such as blood work, x-rays, or even fecal pathogen testing or cultures (to look for Salmonella, and other bacterial and viral infections) may be recommended based on the symptoms. In some cases biopsies of the small and or large intestine may be indicated to diagnose certain inflammatory conditions or cancer.

What can you do at home?

There are several things that you can do at home that may help improve an uncomplicated case of loose stools.  A bland diet is one of the mainstays of treatment.  We typically recommend a 50/50 mixture of boiled boneless/skinless chicken breast and white rice, divided into several smaller meals throughout the day.  If your pet has a possible allergy to chicken, you can discuss with your veterinarian alternatives to chicken.

We are often asked if Pepto-Bismol or similar products can be administered at home.  These products are strongly NOT recommended, as they often contain salicylate, an aspirin derivative which can be toxic to dogs and cats and may even exacerbate the GI upset. Imodium (loperamide) can be used safely in some breeds, but please consult with your veterinarian first as certain breeds are predisposed to inherited genetic metabolic defects in which this drug can cause severe neurologic problems.

What treatment will the veterinarian prescribe?

Well, that depends on the clinical symptoms and diagnostic results of fecal and other testing. We often treat with antibiotics, bland diet and probiotics – but may also need to reach for prescription diets (e.g. hypoallergenic diets, low fat diets, highly digestible diets), anti-inflammatories such as steroids, deworming medications and vitamin B-12 injections to name a few therapeutic options. When diarrhea is secondary to an underlying metabolic or systemic disease – that underlying disease needs to be addressed. We tailor our treatments to the individual pet and make sure we are assessing response and making changes to treatment in a timely manner.

When should you be concerned?

We recommend calling your veterinarian after two consecutive episodes of diarrhea, or right away if the diarrhea is grossly bloody or black/tarry or is accompanied by other clinical signs such as decreased appetite, vomiting, lethargy, or pain.

The views and opinions expressed in the column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ARLnow.com.

The post Healthy Paws: Diarrhea and the Scoop on Poop appeared first on WTOP.

WASHINGTON — With temperatures nearing triple digits, many of you will be retreating to local pools to keep cool.

Yet for some, lounging in the water isn’t enough.

The Washington metropolitan area is home to a wide variety of water parks that will delight everyone from thrill seekers to people just looking to dip their toes.

Cannonballlllll!!!

 

The post Best water parks in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. appeared first on WTOP.

Don’t even think about getting a bit unruly at the soon-to-open boozy Taco Bell, because you’ll be under the watchful eye of a security guard.

DNAInfo reports that the operators of the alcohol-serving fast food restaurant – set to open in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood later this summer – recently agreed to a few restrictions amid concerns from area residents.

In addition to staffing a security guard at the door from 9 p.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday, the restaurant will stop selling liquor at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and at midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Alcohol must be consumed on the premises and the staff will include workers over the age of 21 who have completed training to serve alcohol — which will come in a different style of cup to set it apart from non-alcoholic drinks.

The restrictions were settled upon after a community group expressed concerns in June about underage drinking, late hours and customers leaving the restaurant with open containers.

A lawyer for the operator – who owns 34 other Taco Bell restaurants in the area – said they felt the restrictions were reasonable. However, he notes that the plan can be amended or extended after nine months, depending on how things are going at the location.

The president of the Wicker Park Committee tells DNAInfo that the group welcomes the new establishment.

While both the Taco Bell owner and community group have agreed to the new plan, it still must be approved by the city’s Liquor Commissioner.

A spokesperson for Taco Bell tells DNAInfo that they expect the new location to open in August.

“Our franchisee is thrilled with the positive feedback from city officials and the Wicker Park Community on this newly designed Taco Bell,” he said, noting that a similar booze-serving restaurant is set to open in San Francisco in September.

Back in June, the fast food restaurant confirmed earlier rumors that it would sling boozy at the location.

Guests shouldn’t expect the same ol’ Taco Bell, as meals will be served in baskets. In addition to serving beer, wine or “mixed alcohol freezes” – that come with one shot of rum, tequila, or vodka  – to their meals, customers can order appetizers that aren’t currently available at other locations.

First Taco Bell to Sell Alcohol Agrees to Have Bouncers [DNAinfo]

As we saw last week, the ability to remotely take control of a vehicle is a very real concern. While Fiat Chrysler recalled nearly 1.4 million vehicles and issued a patch related to some of its internet-connected cars, another automaker is now sitting in the precarious spot of potential hijack victim, as a hacker claims he can commandeer any of the company’s vehicles as long as they come with the OnStar system.

A hacker named Samy details in a new video the creation of a gadget – he’s calling it “OwnStar” – that allows anyone to locate, unlock, and start a car using the OnStar system.

The hack works by intercepting the communications between an opened OnStar mobile phone app and the OnStar service itself.

Once the car is in range of the OwnStar device – Samy doesn’t specify what the range of the device is – the hacker is able to gain access to a user’s credentials, allowing indefinite access to the vehicle.

Samy points out in the video that the vulnerability actually lies in the mobile software utilized by the service and not the actual General Motors vehicle.

Additionally, he notes that both General Motors and OnStar have been receptive of his concerns and have already started working on a resolution.

A spokesperson for the car maker tells Tech Insider that a remedy for the issue has already been put in place.

“GM Product Cybersecurity representatives have reviewed the potential vulnerability recently identified by [Samy], and a fix has already been implemented to address this concern. No additional action is required by our customers,” the spokesperson said.

Despite GM’s assurance that everything has been fixed, Samy suggests users of OnStar refrain from opening the app in their vehicle until they explicitly receive an update.

[via Tech Insider]

It’s one thing to lose your phone on the street, in the back of a cab or anywhere on dry land where a good Samaritan might come by and decide to help find its owner. But after one guy watched his phone sink to the bottom of the Pacific Ocean back in March, he figured that thing was gone for good. Enter: scuba divers going for a swim who just happened to find his device in the waterproof bag it had sunk in.

That waterproof bag turned out to be the key to getting his phone back — obviously, if the phone had been water damaged, it’s unlikely its rescuers would’ve been able to turn it on and connect with the owner.

Imgur user ehtnaerokyug posted his story this week of the prodigal iPhone 6 Plus he took with him on a kayaking trip in Monterey Bay back in March. He’d purchased a waterproof bag just for the trip, and took photos with the case hanging around his neck.

At some point, he fell into the water, and panicked when his foot got caught in the seaweed. Despite the scare, he made it back onto the boat, only to fall again. That’s when the iPhone slipped away.

“I pulled myself back onto my boat and I heard something snap but thought it was my life vest,” he writes in the description. After he got back to the shore he removed his life vest and realized the iPhone had slipped away in the water, likely never to be seen again. He put the phone in lost mode, logging in to the “Find My iPhone” app for a week before giving up.

Fast forward to early May, when he gets a notification that his phone had been turned on.

“It turns out the person who found my phone tried to put their number but I declined through my notification on my new iPhone (the replacement) and contacted the person,” he writes, adding that at first he came off as a jerk because he wanted his phone back, and someone else had it. But the finders arranged to meet with him and hand it over.

When he got to the meeting spot, he found his phone was in the same waterproof bag, and worked perfectly fine, with no water damage. The iPhone’s saviors? A couple who’d also been in Monterey Bay to go kayaking and scuba diving.

“They found the phone in the bottom of the ocean near a rock still in the pouch. I was baffled. I had no words to explain my feelings,” he wrote. “I didn’t know what to say or do. I couldn’t have thanked them enough.”

The lessons here? Don’t go kayaking without a waterproof case for your phone… and there are decent humans out there.

“There’s amazing people out there who are willing give back your possession if you’re nice and not a jerk to them,” the happy guy noted.

In this month’s recall roundup, a stroller wasn’t designed to be chewed on, a fish tank heater might cook your fish instead of keeping them comfortable, and a lawn mower may fling grass clippings at the person operating the vehicle. It’s a dangerous world out there, apparently.

Babies & Kids
UPPAbaby Strollers and RumbleSeats – Children may bite off pieces of foam that pose a choking hazard when chewing on the bumper bar. 22 incidents reported, but no children have choked on the pieces.
Kyber Outerwear Animal-Themed Sweaters – Drawstring around neck that poses strangulation hazard. No injuries reported.
Circo Animal Night Lights (Target) – May overheat and melt, causing a fire hazard. Two incidents reported, including one fire.
Bexco da Vinci cribs – Bracket may break, posing entrapment, fall, and laceration hazard to youngsters.
Otteroo Inflatable Baby Floats – May leak air and pose drowning risk. 54 consumers have reported broken seams, but no harmed babies.
Classroom Select NeoRok Stools – May break during use. Two incidents reported, but no injuries.

Pets
Top Fin Plastic Aquarium Heaters – Risk of fire or electric shock. 13 incidents reported, which included overheated fish tanks, minor electric shocks, and one fire that caused property damage.

Toys
Northern Tool + Equipment Little Digger Toy – Lead paint.
Bud and Skipit Wheely Cute Pull Toys – Hub caps may come off, posing choking hazard.

Lawn & Garden
Briggs & Stratton Simplicity Riding Mowers, Garden Tractors, and Mower Decks – Deflector chute may not keep mower from flinging grass clippings at the operator. No reported injuries.
Husqvarna Lawn and Garden Tillers – Defect means they may move backward or forward when the user doesn’t expect it. No reported injuries.
GreenWorks blower/vacs – Motor may catch fire. Three fires have been reported, but no injuries.
Worx electric blower/vacs – Wiring problem leading to electric shock hazard. No incidents reported.
Appliances
Jenn-Air (Whirlpool) Wall Ovens – Rolling rack may roll out unexpectedly, burning the user. There have been eight incidents reported, and one user sustained second-degree burns.

Furniture
IKEA Dressers and Chests – free wall anchoring kits to keep furniture from tipping over onto small children. Two children have been killed.
Cost Plus World Market Ronan Bistro Chairs – Metal legs may bend or fracture. Two reported incidents.
Hearth & Home Technologies Pellet Stoves and Inserts – Fuel may back up, resulting in pressure in the firebox that shatters the glass. Eight reports of broken glass.
Hearth & Home Technologies Gas Fireplaces – Back of firebox may bow out and pose a fire hazard; there have been two reported incidents with charring and minor property damage.
Ramart Swing Chairs (HomeGoods) (also sold at Big Lots) – Chairs may tip over. 11 reported incidents, with five injuries, which include a baby.
Pali Design Children’s Furniture – Straps meant to anchor dressers to walls may break. One incident of a broken strap reported.

Clothing
lululemon athletica Tops With Elastic Draw Cords – Cord may get caught on something and snap back. There have been seven reported face and eye injuries.

Electronics
Beats XL Pill – Fire hazard.
Olympus VG 170 Digital Cameras (sold only at HHGregg) – Electric shock hazard. No reported incidents in the US.

Lighting
Cooper Lighting, Portfolio and Utilitech fluorescent lighting fixtures – May overheat, arc, and melt. Seven overheating incidents reported, but no injuries or property damage.

Vehicles
Polaris Youth RZR recreational off-highway vehicles – Fuel pump retaining ring can leak, which is very bad and flammable. No reported incidents.
Arctic Cat Prowler 500 HDX – Potential fuel leak. No reported incidents.
E-Z-GO Gas-Powered Golf, Shuttle and Utility Vehicles – Potential fuel leak. No reported incidents.
Yamaha Recalls Golf Carts and Personal Transportation Vehicles – Front wheels may detach. No reported incidents.
Yamaha SRViper Snowmobiles – Brake line and clutch may come into contact, which would cause the brakes to fail. No reported incidents.

Sports & Outdoors
Diamond Sports Umpire and Catcher Face Masks – Stitching on mask may fail. 36 incidents reported, but no injuries.
Black Diamond, Pieps and POC Brand JetForce Avalanche Airbag Packs – Motor may fail to deploy. No reported incidents.
Specialized Bicycle Components Pedal Axle Extenders – May break, which is bad when you are pedaling a bicycle. 10 reports, some of which led to minor injuries.
Barnett Outdoors Slingshots – Wrist strap may slip off. Two reported incidents resulting in minor injuries.
Technosport Omersub Scuba Mask – Glass may shatter. Twelve incidents have been reported.
Bicycles with SR Suntour forks – Bolt may break, causing front wheel to come off. 15 reported incidents that caused minor injuries.

Kitchen
EKO Motion Sensor Trash Cans (Sold only at Costco) – Plastic collar may cut the user. 13 laceration injuries reported.
Teavana Tristan glass pitchers – May break or leak during use. 50 reports, including three lacerations and two minor burns.
Avon nut choppers – Tines may break, resulting in metal fragments mixed with chopped nuts.
Double Insight Instant Pot Pressure Cookers – Electric shock hazard; three reports of shocks but no injuries.
Epoca International Glass Whistling Kettle – Bottom of glass kettle may break. Nine reported incidents, including three injuries and some property damage.
Monogram Beverage Mugs (Kirklands) – Mugs contain metal and are not microwave-safe. One incident of a sparking mug reported.

WASHINGTON — Storms this week left a lot of swimmers confused after employees at D.C.’s public pools pulled them out of indoor pools.

“If we do close, there is lightning in the area,” not because pools are unsafe, says Tyrell Lashley, aquatics director for the D.C. Department of Parks and Recreation.

He says all D.C. pools are grounded and up to code. But instead of leaving it up to each pool, new technology — using satellite imagery — helps streamline the process of figuring out when both indoor and outdoor facilities pull swimmers out of the water.

Gone are the days of guessing how far away lightning strikes have hit.

“So when there’s a confirmed lightning strike within five miles of any pool, the pool gets notified electronically within three seconds of the strike,” Lashley says.

He says after an assessment a few months ago, DCPR sought advice from national organizations such as the American Red Cross and the National Lightning Safety Institute. The city decided to play it safe regarding the safety of indoor swimmers during a storm.

“They’ve advised us to be on the safe side,” Lashley says. “We should suspend operations because lightning can travel. If [the pool is] grounded or not, lightning can jump from one point to the next.”

By contrast, Judy Stiles, with Montgomery County’s recreation department, says it does not stop indoor swimming during lightning strikes, unless the facility loses electricity.

The post D.C. rule pulls indoor swimmers from water if lightning strikes appeared first on WTOP.

Meet Cuddles, our Reston Pet of the Week. Cuddles is an older male cat in need of a home.

Here is what the people at Reston’s Little Buddies Adoption and Humane Society have to say about him:

Never was there a more handsome cat than Cuddles. Just look at all that gorgeous, silky orange and white fur.

Also, never was there a more affectionate cat. He is a total lap cat.

Because of allergies, his previous family with whom he lived for his entire life up to now, had to give him up. They say that Cuddles is cute and very well-behaved.

He loves toys. Cuddles is nine years old.

Are you and Cuddles a match? If so, Contact Little Buddies. Then let us know and our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, will send you some treats and $100 in Becky’s Bucks.

Want your pet to be considered for the Reston Pet of the Week?

Email news@Restonnow.com with a 2-3 paragraph bio and at least 3-4 horizontally-oriented photos of your pet.

Each week’s winner receives a sample of dog or cat treats from our sponsor, Becky’s Pet Care, along with $100 in Becky’s Bucks.

Becky’s Pet Care, the winner of three Angie’s List Super Service Awards and the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters’ 2013 Business of the Year, provides professional dog walking and pet sitting services in Reston and Northern Virginia.

The post Reston Pet of the Week: Cuddles appeared first on WTOP.

WASHINGTON — The National Zoo is now home to seven new monkeys called guenons.

The zoo announced Wednesday that it recently welcomed two species of guenons — four Allen’s swamp monkeys and three Schmidt’s red-tailed monkeys. All seven of them are on exhibit in the Think Tank indoor and outdoor habitats at the zoo in Northwest.

The two guenon species are being kept in separate quarters of the Think Tank area and will be introduced after keepers monitor their behavior cues and see how they acclimate.

Allen’s swamp monkeys are native to the swamp forests of Cameroon and Democratic Republic of the Congo and are distinguished by their small and stout size and fur that varies in color from brownish-gray to green.

Schmidt’s red-tailed monkeys are also native to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, as well as Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya. The monkeys have a whitish-yellow nose, white cheeks and a long tail with a bright red underside.

The zoo’s Think Tank is connected to the Great Ape House by the O Line — a line its six orangutans can use to travel between the buildings. The Think Tank combines the appeal of animals as well as the cognition in three areas: tools, language and society, according to the zoo’s website.

The post Two species of guenons swing into National Zoo appeared first on WTOP.

My car was manufactured about eleven and a half years ago, which I thought was relatively old. That’s why I was surprised to learn that it’s perfectly average. According to data compiled by the consulting firm IHS Automotive, cars that are registered and on the roads have an average age of 11.5 years, and there’s a record number of cars registered right now.

Why does this matter? First, it’s interesting, because the trend of older cars began during the recession, and the average age of cars on the road has been increasing since 2008. People wouldn’t be keeping their cars for longer (or acquiring older used cars) if the cars themselves weren’t more durable, though, and that indicates that cars are more reliable than they use to be and staying out of the scrap heap.

IHS are business consultants, though, and one important implication of this data for repair shops, dealerships, and auto parts manufacturers is that with more cars that are in or approaching their teens in circulation, there will need to be more parts for those vehicles and mechanics able to work on them.

Cars that are more than ten or eleven years old used to be thought of as an anomaly by some aftermarket repair shops, and that’s not the case now: eleven-year-old cars are perfectly average.

Average Age of Light Vehicles in the U.S. Rises Slightly in 2015 to 11.5 years, IHS Reports (via Fortune)

Imagine you’re a student at tiny Oglethorpe University in Atlanta and you’re in need of a lift home because you’re in no shape to drive. So you pull out your smartphone and request an Uber car. When your ride arrives, your driver looks awfully familiar… probably because he’s the school’s president.

In a first-person story for the Washington Post, Oglethorpe U. President Lawrence Schall explains why he decided to spend some of his free time as an Uber driver — and what he’s learned from the experience.

“I signed up because I wanted to broaden my perspective on today’s ‘sharing economy,'” he writes. “Since the 2008 recession, many Americans have been pushed into or chosen to join the freelance marketplace, taking jobs with no regular hours, no benefits and no office.”

And so Schall went online, registered his Volvo with Uber and recently began picking up passengers in need of a lift. Considering his already hefty workload as the head of a small liberal arts college, his driving hours are limited mostly to weekends.

When he began working as a driver, his “coach” told Schall he could earn upwards of $300 in a night if he knew which parts of town to patrol at the right time. But so far, the results have been underwhelming.

“My biggest one-day take thus far has been $29,” he admits. “Even with my limited schedule, I thought I’d do a bit better than that. Maybe it’s a good thing I didn’t leave my day job.”

That’s also not great news for the Oglethorpe scholarship fund, to which Schall has pledged to contribute all his Uber earnings.

Schall’s preconceptions about the types of riders he would pick up proved misguided. He’d thought his car would be filled with college students, but aside from his very first passenger (who happened to be an Oglethorpe student), most of his fares have people going been to and from the MARTA train station.

“Instead of getting a glimpse into the new economy, I was getting full exposure to the burdens of the old economy — specifically, how hard it is for regular working people to make it from their home or apartment to a job every day,” he notes.

His work has also taken him to some of the Atlanta suburbs populated by large numbers of lower-income, minority residents who need to get back and forth to the city but who lack proper public transportation.

“[I]f I hadn’t started this little experiment, my path would probably never have crossed the lives of any of these people whose life stories continuously surprise me,” concludes Schall. “After three weeks, my earnings are approaching $100, but I sure feel richer for the experience.”

And now, just because we can’t get it out of our head, here’s Harry Chapin singing about being a taxi driver:

When it comes to celebrating birthdays, there are good surprises and bad ones. A good surprise could be a special gift, a card containing a large amount of cash, or a surprise party. A bad surprise would be diving face-first into a cake that has a pair of scissors baked into it. That last example is not a theoretical one.

A family near Dallas paid $60 for a cake from a local supermarket when they had a surprise birthday party for the family matriarch. Fortunately, it was before the guest of honor plunged her face into the cake at the urging of the guests (a Latino birthday tradition) that someone noticed a pair of scissors sticking out of the cake.

The scissors weren’t pointing up, and she probably wouldn’t have been hurt, but that doesn’t change the fact that cakes aren’t supposed to have scissors in them. The woman’s daughter, posted a video of the scissors sitting inside the cake and shared it on Facebook.

The local El Rancho Market where they bought the cake referred the family and media requests to their corporate office, and corporate offered them a replacement cake. They quite understandably don’t want another cake from El Rancho Market, and you can’t re-throw a surprise birthday party.

What they want is assurance that bakery employees will be trained on how to not leave office supplies in cake pans, and that this won’t happen again. That’s it.

Surprise Cut Short By Scissors In Birthday Cake [CBS Dallas]

Fairfax County Animal Watch Washington Post The following incidents were reported by the Animal Control Division of the Fairfax County Police Department. For information, call 703-246-2253. Dog injured in altercation: River Park Lane, 100 block, July 21. A dog was injured after an encounter with ... and more »

HANOVER, Md. (AP) — A man is suing Baltimore-based Cordish Companies for injuries he says he received after being struck by a roulette ball at Hanover’s Maryland Live casino.

The Capital of Annapolis (http://bit.ly/1fGFznH ) reports that Leander Stocks filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Washington last November. According to online court records, on Friday, U.S. District Judge Amit P. Mehta denied a motion by Cordish Companies to dismiss the lawsuit.

According to the lawsuit, Stocks was struck just above his left eye by a roulette ball in December 2013.

Stocks says an employee squeezed eye drops into Stocks’ eye without his consent, causing him to become disoriented and hit his head against a wood door, knocking him unconscious.

Stocks is suing the casino on two counts of negligence and battery, seeking $150,000 on each count.

___

Information from: The Capital, http://www.capitalgazette.com/

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CHINCOTEAGUE, Va. (AP) — An Eastern Shore tradition celebrated by Marguerite Henry’s book “Misty of Chincoteague” is marking its 90th year.

The highlight of the week will be the annual swim of the tough little ponies from Assateague Island to Chincoteague Island early Wednesday. A group of volunteers called the “Saltwater Cowboys” rounds up the ponies and leads them through the passage at slack tide.

An auction of a portion of the herd benefits the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department.

Pony week on the Virginia barrier island will be missing a key player this year. Surfer Dude was found dead this spring, leaving dozens of ponies he sired to continue his legacy.

Some islanders called him the Misty of his day. During his 23 years, Surfer Dude often led the swim to Chincoteague.

The post Annual Chincoteague pony swim off Va. set for Wednesday appeared first on WTOP.

WASHINGTON — Three months ago, it was rare for Tantalia Hall to bring fruits and vegetables home from the grocery store.

When it came to purchasing food for her family of seven, the Northeast D.C. resident stuck mostly to the bargain bins, filled with processed packages and canned goods.

“Most of the time, it wasn’t fruits and vegetables; it was actually pastas or maybe chicken,” says Hall, 33. “There were actually times when we didn’t have any fruits or vegetables at all.”

The absence of fresh produce had an impact on Hall’s overall health. She had difficulty moving around and was diagnosed with blood sugar issues.

It wasn’t until Hall’s physician wrote her a prescription that she was able to get her health back on track. The prescription, however, was not for blood pressure medication or diabetes-related drugs — it was for fruits and vegetables.

Hall is one of nearly 400 D.C. residents who have received a written prescription for fresh produce in the last three years, and it’s all thanks to DC Green’s Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program.

The program works with four D.C.-based health care centers and several farmers markets to help low-income patients who are struggling with chronic disease related to obesity, such as hypertension, diabetes, joint issues and more.

Participants who receive a doctor’s note for free fruits and vegetables are required to enroll in a weekly wellness program, which includes nutrition education and physical activity components.

Sorelle Cooper, a nurse practitioner and assistant medical director at Unity Health Care’s Parkside location, runs the Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program in conjunction with The National Institutes of Health’s program, We Can!, at the Northeast D.C. health clinic.

Cooper decided to start the program after becoming frustrated with how little time medical providers are able to spend discussing prevention, education and disease management with their patients, especially those with a chronic illness, such as diabetes.

“With diabetes, the management is so inclusive of all aspects of your lifestyle. It really is important to talk about more than just medication with patients,” Cooper says.

Now, she spends quality time with her patients outside of the exam room, leading activities and lessons that build on traditional medical advice. Each week, program participants might watch a cooking demonstration, learn about portion sizes, taste quinoa for the first time and take a Zumba lesson.

After each class, the Arcadia Mobile Market pulls up to the clinic to meet participants who are eager to cash in their prescriptions. The amount each patient is given to spend on fresh produce at the market is based on the family size of the participant.

Hall, who has a large family, receives a prescription that is worth $70 a week — an amount she calls “very generous.” The prescription enables her to buy plenty of apples, blueberries and kale for her family, but it also allows her to get adventurous with her selections.

“When you’re on a budget, you’ll never stop and go, ‘You know what, I’m just going to try this just to see how it is,’” Hall says. “Being in this prescription program, I’m actually able to say, ‘I wonder what this would taste like,’ and I’m not afraid to try it because I’m low on money and it might not work out the way I want or feed enough of my family.”

Recently, Hall picked up fennel at the market. “It looked weird, and I didn’t know exactly what it was,” she says. But she decided to give it a try anyway. She brought the vegetable home and sautéed it in a pan, just like an onion.

“It was more of a nuttier taste, but it still had the feel of onions, so it was a really good experience of trying it,” she says.

And while sweet corn, juicy tomatoes and plump peaches are in peak season now, Hall is already preparing for the months when they won’t be around. Because the Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program is dependent on the city’s farmers markets, it only runs from June through November. Therefore, teaching various methods of preservation — from freezing to canning — is an important part of the classroom lessons.

“If we have an abundance, we’re able to store them for later on when the program is no longer running,” Hall says.

Lillie Rosen, the food access director at DC Greens, says $40,000 worth of prescriptions have been issued to patients over the past three years and 80 percent of that money, which is funded by DC Greens and the DC Health Department, has been redeemed.

“What we hear from the health care providers is that this gives them a way to actually help their patients make a change in their diet because they know that the biggest barrier for many of these patients is not knowledge … it’s money — being able to actually afford the fresh fruit and vegetables that they’d like to be able to purchase,” Rosen says.

The Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program has done more than help families increase the amount of food available at home — it’s helped shrink waistlines.

Since starting the program in June, Hall has lost 7 pounds. “I’ve felt healthier, and feeling healthier made it easier for me to exercise and to be more mobile. And that, in turn, has resulted in weight loss,” she says.

DC Green’s Rosen says Hall’s results are not uncommon. About half of the patients who participate in the combined wellness and prescription program see a reduction in their BMI (body mass index), which Rosen says is “incredible.”

The program has also seen a 61.5 percent increase in patient retention. Unity Health Care’s Cooper says she’s had several patients ask if they can repeat the program.

“To be able to have a reason to go back to your health care provider, every single month is huge because it gives the health care provider an opportunity to talk to the patients about the little things that might need tweaking in their medications, or might need tweaking in their understanding of what it is that their supposed to be doing to reach their health goals,” Rosen says.

Cooper says the ability to give patients a free solution to improve their own health and the health of their families is priceless.

“We’re selling this product of improved health care, of improved diet, of greater exercise, and it makes it so much easier to sell that product to our patients when we can say, ‘Listen, we are helping you to actually get what it is that we are recommending for you,’” she says.

“I just think the buy-in is greater when we offer the vehicle for them to learn more.”

The post Skip the pharmacy, head to the farm: Physicians write prescriptions for fruits, vegetables appeared first on WTOP.

WASHINGTON – The National Park Service helped rescue some adorable additions to the White House grounds.

The Park Service tweeted a photo Tuesday of baby squirrels discovered near the White House Monday.

With help from City Wildlife, the National Park Service moved the squirrels from the grounds. It is not clear if the baby squirrels will be brought back to the White House grounds once they have matured.

Baby squirrels we discovered near @WhiteHouse yesterday were saved with help from @DCCityWildlife #keepwildlifewild pic.twitter.com/zqHtlCFZrU

— NationalParkService (@NatlParkService) July 28, 2015

The post Squirrels rescued from White House grounds appeared first on WTOP.

WASHINGTON — A lieutenant with D.C. Fire and EMS faces a departmental reprimand for not sending a crew to a report of an infant choking on a grape near the lieutenant’s station in Tenleytown.

The lieutenant, whose name has not been released, faces charges of neglect of duty, incompetence and unreasonable failure to assist the public for failing to alert dispatch that the computer system had disconnected from the network and that his paramedic crew was available.

The Bowser administration released a redacted version of the 49-page report detailing the internal investigation into the city’s response to the boy choking. In a statement, the city says that the investigation found “that human error along with technological and training issues, related to a new dispatch system, contributed to a breakdown in emergency response communications.”

Staff at the Tenleytown station were a few blocks from the one-year-old boy’s Warren Street home when the first 911 call came in the morning of March 13. But because of a computer problem, dispatchers did not know that the Tenleytown paramedics were available and instead ambulances were sent from a station further away.

A fire truck from the same station did eventually go out on the call. After an initial attempt to help, the fire truck was told they weren’t assigned to the call and the firefighters remained at the station. They eventually arrived at the home about 12 minutes after the first 911 call.

The boy died at the hospital several days later.

The child’s death was among of series of high profile cases involving delayed ambulances or fire and EMS staff not assisting members of the public during the past several years.

Since taking office in January, Mayor Muriel Bowser has hired a new fire chief, recreated the position of assistant chief for EMS and put 10 more ambulances on the city’s streets.

Fire crews now monitor the GPS systems regularly to make sure they are connecting to the network and that dispatchers can see each apparatus’ status. Fire crews and EMS staff are also expected to jump on a call and announce on the radio that they are closer than an assigned crew.

According to the report, if an ambulance or fire truck sits in a station for too long, the GPS tracker disconnects from the dispatching system. The lieutenant facing reprimand was instructed to pull the ambulance out of the station so the computer system could reconnect.

A battalion chief likened the system to satellite radio, in an interview with investigators.

“When you go under cover, the signal will go off and doesn’t send a signal,” the chief said in the report.

The post D.C. lieutenant faces discipline for delayed response to choking boy appeared first on WTOP.

Washington City Paper

DC fire lieutenant faces discipline in botched response to choking toddler Washington Post A D.C. fire lieutenant has been charged with neglect of duty for failing to alert emergency dispatchers in March that he was just down the street from a child who later died after choking on a grape, according to a report released by the mayor's office ... Fire Lieutenant Cited for 'Neglect of Duty' After Delayed Response to Choking ...Washington City Paper (blog) DC Fire Lieutenant Charged After 1-Year-Old DiesCBS Local D.C. Fire Lieutenant Charged by Department After Death of 1-Year-Old BoyNBC4 Washington MyFox Washington DC all 7 news articles »

NBC4 Washington

D.C. Fire Lieutenant Charged by Department After Death of 1-Year-Old Boy NBC4 Washington A D.C. firefighter has been charged by the department with neglect of duty for failing to dispatch the closest unit in a fatal choking incident in March. (Published Tuesday, July 28, 2015). Updated 26 minutes ago. A D.C. fire lieutenant has been ... and more »