As If D.C. Weren't Painful Enough

DC residents may take umbrage, but I certainly had no love loss for our nation's capital during the 2 1/2 years I spent there. The only thing the city had going for it - in my usually outnumbered opinion - was free museums, good running trails, a decent music scene (all hail 930 Club and Black Cat) and a precious handful of approachable bars (and of course, the proximity to family, and a handful of amazing friends). But now, seems as if the "real" residents of MTV's "Real World D.C." (the 23rd season mind you, lord have mercy) have decided to ruin the handful of authentic bars. Maybe a new spate of bars will crop up in defiance, and all-good-things Obama!

No Moments of Zen or Train Wreck Hill Gazing in 09?

Viacom and TimeWarner Cable are in a bit of a public spat as we close out 2008 after Viacom asked for a raise in its fees for 19 of its channels, including Comedy Central, MTV and VH1. This means that NYC may lose TV-access to its beloved folk heroes Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, and in almost as big of a tragedy, we'll miss out on the premier of our very own Real World Brooklyn. An auspicious start to 2009 indeed. Thank goodness for Hulu and Boxee's Apple TV hacks.

Set the Music Free!

For the love of all things holy, the beneficent folks at Pitchfork Media have announced plans for a 24-hr online music channel - Pitchfork.tv. Think MTV circa 1986. Bring back 120 Minutes, will the real VJs please stand up, and Madonna rolling around the floor in a wedding dress.