Tasty Morning Bytes — Cheaper Houses, Immigrant Journalists and Saying ‘That’s Racist!’
New limits on mortgage size likely to affect high-end home prices in D.C. area The government will stop backing loans of $625,000 or more starting this fall. One result: housing prices in D.C.’s most expensive neighborhoods and suburbs will drop. (The Washington Post)
What if we are part of the voiceless community? Veteran journalist Robert Hernandez laments Jose Antonio Vargas’ journalist credibility coming into question given he lied about his immigration status for so long. Hernandez contends that not all journalists come clean about their backgrounds and that journalists can be members of the the communities they cover. “Our job is to give voice to the voiceless… but what happens if we are part of the voiceless community?” (Online Journalism Review)
‘That’s Racist!’ How A Serious Accusation Became A Commonplace Quip Saying “that’s racist!” is now an ironic statement, used by some to poke fun at those perceived to be overly sensitive to issues dealing with race. But the statement still has power, to which the members of the band Das Racist can attest. (NPR)
Laogai Museum in D.C. focuses on human rights abuses in China Harry Wu, a D.C.-based human rights activist who spent years in Chinese labor camps, opened a Dupont Circle museum to highlight abuses in China. Exhibits document life in labor camps and make connections between prisoners and the every day items they make. (The Washington Post)
Future of D.C. development will be in Ward 8, Gray says Mayor Vincent Gray gave a speech on the state of the District economy, saying that much of the city’s most ambitious development will be located in Ward 8. He cited retail, housing, commercial and school projects. (Washington Times)