TBD: D for Downsize

Six months after its debut, the TBD news website is losing most of its work force and will retool as an arts and entertainment niche site.

Arlington-based Allbritton Communications Co. — which also owns television station WJLA, the ABC affiliate in Washington — launched TBD in August with plans to aggressively cover local news in the region.

Initial plans called for a staff of about 50 journalists. But TBD editor Erik Wemple said that Wednesday's restructuring will reduce TBD staff from about two dozen to about eight staffers.

Read it all here and read editor Erik Wemple's thoughts here.

Facebook scares

I don't know why, but my Facebook profile always had this scary picture as part of the ads to the right of the profile. I write "had", because as soon as I clicked on the ad in order to get the below image for this post, it no longer shows up trying to sell me stuff to grow huge muscles.

These are supposed to be "smart ads" that learn about the person (me) and then try to show them ads that they think the person will like. They are the main, and only reason that Facebook is apparently worth $25 billion dollars.

I have news for whoever designs the logic that learns to make these "smart" ads: you're really fucking up when it comes to me.

I can clearly and honestly tell you that I don't want to look like Mal'akh (a.k.a. Zachary Solomon, the estranged son of Peter Solomon in Dan Brown's impossible to put down thriller The Lost Symbol, easily the best ever fictional (I think) literary work set in Washington, DC).

If you haven't read the book and love weird, slightly historical thrillers which teach you a lot about DC's buildings and architectural historical provenance, buy one here.

Carlos Hathcock

Today is the anniversary of the death of USMC legend Carlos Hathcock. To get called a "legend" in the USMC takes a lot of legend-making, and few Marines are more legendary than Hathcock, perhaps the American most deserving of the Medal of Honor who was never awarded that medal (he declined being recommended for it).

We salute you Gunny!

Over in Norfolk

Several DMV area artists, such as Tim Tate, Andrew Wodzianski and yours truly are in MFA's Winter show. The reception is February 26, from 7-9PM.

Mayer Fine Art
333 Waterside Drive
Norfolk, VA 23510
(757) 803-4749