<?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1" ?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>washingtonpost.com - Columns</title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/print/metro/columns?nav=rss_print/metro/columns</link><description>Columns</description><language>en-us</language><ttl>15</ttl><image><title>washingtonpost.com</title><width>140</width><height>20</height><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com</link><url>http://media.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/hp/image/wp_web.gif</url></image><item><title><![CDATA[Welcome to Fairfax  --  if  You Vote Red]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12612-2005Apr23.html?nav=rss_print/metro/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12612-2005Apr23.html?nav=rss_print/metro/columns</guid><pubDate>Sun, 24 Apr 2005 8:01:53 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[  Just when you thought the political polarization of this country had gone as far as it could, here comes Rep. Tom Davis with a whole new frontier for the Red-Blue wars: The Republican congressman from Fairfax seems to believe that the only way he can guarantee himself reelection till the end of time is to prevent Democrats from moving into his district.]]></description><author> Marc Fisher</author></item><item><title><![CDATA[Defense Pay-Raise Flap  Shaking NSPS Confidence]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12549-2005Apr23.html?nav=rss_print/metro/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12549-2005Apr23.html?nav=rss_print/metro/columns</guid><pubDate>Sun, 24 Apr 2005 8:01:53 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[  A single paragraph in an $81 billion spending bill provides a glimpse of why government officials must move carefully when taking on the responsibility to more rigorously link pay raises to job performance.]]></description><author> Stephen Barr</author></item><item><title><![CDATA[O'Malley Rides Wave of Good Polls and Press]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12495-2005Apr23.html?nav=rss_print/metro/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12495-2005Apr23.html?nav=rss_print/metro/columns</guid><pubDate>Sun, 24 Apr 2005 8:01:53 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[  Baltimore Mayor    Martin O'Malley  hardly could have scripted a better few days.]]></description><author> John Wagner and Matthew Mosk</author></item><item><title><![CDATA[Liquor Store Owner Undeterred by Push for Midnight Closings]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12492-2005Apr23.html?nav=rss_print/metro/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A12492-2005Apr23.html?nav=rss_print/metro/columns</guid><pubDate>Sun, 24 Apr 2005 8:01:53 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[  In 1985, Amrik and Ravinder Melhi moved into a Riverdale apartment complex with the goal of someday owning their own home and their own business. After several years of working long hours in convenience stores, the couple purchased an abandoned liquor store on Branch Avenue in Temple Hills.]]></description><author> Hamil R. Harris</author></item><item><title><![CDATA[In Ward 8, Groundbreaking Is a Symbol of a Sea Change]]></title><link>http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13000-2005Apr24.html?nav=rss_print/metro/columns</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A13000-2005Apr24.html?nav=rss_print/metro/columns</guid><pubDate>Sun, 24 Apr 2005 8:01:53 GMT</pubDate><description><![CDATA[ To write about economic development in Washington these days is to get weekly, sometimes daily, media alerts announcing groundbreakings, ribbon-cuttings and other small reminders of the city's seemingly unstoppable construction boom.]]></description><author> Debbi Wilgoren</author></item></channel></rss>