On my way back to Honolulu from Charlottesville in December 2001, I stopped over at Georgetown University to visit the infamous Orian Lee for a day-and-a-half before my flight on the 19th.  On the second day, I convinced him that we should go visit the Jefferson Memorial, which I had never been to, and which, of course, is the most important monument in Washington, D.C., since Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia and wrote the Declaration of Independence, etc.  These pictures are from that short adventure.

The front of the sacred structure.  The picture seems tilted but I can't actually tell which way it is tilted...

Damn wildlife, always screwing up your pictures...

Closer...Wow you can feel the power...

A lifelong dream fulfilled.

Now, this is a good picture.

After gaping in awe at the greatness of Jefferson, we ventured downstairs to the museum, which is where this picture was taken.  What Orian is trying to communicate in this image is that the bust of Jefferson which is supposed to be on the pedastol is missing.  As it happens, this is probably one of the worst pictures of Orian ever taken, and I don't mean the photography--I mean, look at him!  In any case, I am proud to display it on my site.  (There was actually a worse one of Orian, but whereas this picture is merely exotic, that one was so bad that I couldn't bear to mar my site with it.  In fact I think I deleted it.)

Moving back out as we depart...  As you can see, the Jefferson Memorial is so important that they actually cut down the trees between it and the White House so that the President could look at it from the Oval Office.

Another gorgeous picture.

A member of the local criminal population admiring his graffiti.  Punk.

A sight that has gained new meaning in the last few months...

Continue