"Shaw"-shank Redemption

After a lengthy absence, I have decided to re-enter the world of blogging. I imagine the scope of this blog will be rather broad, as I have a variety of interests, and I am easily bored when talking about one topic for too long. What are some of the things I plan on touching on? Life in D.C., politics, sports, music, random rants and raves, and whatever masturbatory exaltation I can come up with. Since I have much free time at work, and the ubiquitous high-speed internet connection that we all take for granted, I will most likely post links to articles I find interesting. I will start off with a great blog that describes where I am currently living, Shaw

I preside in the Western section of Shaw, close to Logan Circle. Like many parts of the country Shaw is rapidly becoming gentrified
Everyone so far I have met on my street are white mid-twenties to late-thirties professionals , who have moved in because it is the only section of D.C. they can afford to live in (myself, on a paralegal's salary, have moved for a similar reason). this is significant because Shaw is a historically black district that was 92 percent black in 1970. So much has already been said and said so much more eloquently than I could ever hope to, so I will not go anymore in depth about the issue at this point, but I will say this to strident opponents of "gentrification:" cities change, neighborhoods change, streets change, and definitely economic situations change, and one's desire to live in a decent place at an affordable price in a city they want to should be respected. I don't want to oversimpify a complex issue such as gentrification into a black/white issue when there are so many other factors, but as a newcomber to the district (I have been here for less than a month), I have to admit that is the most obvious and striking aspect of it.

For anyone who is planning on moving to D.C. and is not here yet, I have the following bad news: vacancy in D.C. is 1.7 percent Good luck is all I can say.