Some national-security officials worry about the appointment of Jim Jones to be Barack Obama’s national-security adviser. There are so many Jim Joneses here that keeping things flowing to the right one could be a challenge.

To begin with, there is the former congressman Jim Jones. From 1973 until 1987, he represented Tulsa in the House and became the powerful head of its budget committee. He gave up his seat in a losing Senate run, became ambassador to Mexico, and now chairs a foreign-policy think tank. Like the first Jim Jones, he went to Georgetown and served in the military.

Almost as well known is lawyer/lobbyist Jim Jones, the six-foot-six former managing partner at Arnold & Porter, who hails from Texarkana. Lawyer Jones is an inch taller and about the same age as the new national-security adviser, who was born in Kansas City. The taller Jones is now managing director of Hildebrandt International, a company that provides law-firm consulting services.

Less likely to cause confusion is the mass murderer of Jonestown, as that Jim Jones died in 1978. Also unlikely to be mistaken for a general is the rapper Jim Jones, who appeared in the recent movie Righteous Kill with Robert DeNiro. This Jones was a member of a hip-hop group called the Diplomats.

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This article first appeared in the January 2009 issue of The Washingtonian. For more articles from that issue, click here.

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Today we introduce a new member of our Dating Diaries group, Jenn Heilman. Are you interested in being a Dating Diaries participant? We’re always looking for new additions. If so, just fill out this questionnaire.

Jenn Heilman, 23.

Lives in: Columbia, MD.

Makes a living: Doing public relations for a nonprofit that deals with health issues.

Background: I grew up in a small town north of Baltimore. My parents have lived there my entire life. I have one younger sister. I went to college in North Carolina and graduated with a degree in journalism in 3½ years. After three internships writing for two different newspapers and a teen magazine, I decided a career in journalism wasn’t going to pay my student loans. I practically live in DC between working full-time, graduate school, and my social life, but I shower, sleep, and eat an occasional meal in Columbia.

I’m close with my family and have a close-knit group of friends, but I’m finding myself with more time on my own, which has me exploring the dating scene—a lot. I love Italian food, a good bottle of wine, relaxing outside, visiting museums, spontaneous road trips, cooking extravagant meals that are too good to be enjoyed by only one, Ravens football, and traveling—I’ve lived in Hawaii and Italy. I’m always up for trying something new. I’m currently taking pole-dancing classes in Bethesda and am on to level three. My condo is neat and organized, and I love cleaning, which is a little weird, I know.

USA Today asks: "God: In or out at Obama inauguration?"

Bill Clinton sent around his first fundraising letter for the Obama inauguration yesterday. Unfortunately, it might have come at a bad time—the New York Times reports that donor fatigue is setting in.  

Michelle Obama's inaugural gown is still a mystery, but we have one tip for the soon-to-be first lady: Register your garb before the event so you don't get caught wearing the same dress as somebody else.  

MSNBC.com has a funny tip for inauguration-bound visitors: Bring toilet paper. 

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Photo by Flickr user Intangible Arts

Happy near-weekend, dear readers! Looking for something to keep you occupied the next few days? Try our weekend guide. We've got a new craft cocktail happy hour, a chocolate-themed happy hour, journalists rocking out, and a, er, pantless Metro ride—plus lots more.

Color us surprised—DC media blogger Patrick Gavin of FishbowlDC (a daily read for us) is leaving the site to work for Politico. All aspiring media bloggers, here's your chance—you can apply for Gavin's former job here.

Via DCist, we see that the DC Council is considering making all license plates issued by the District Department of Motor Vehicles to be the 'Taxation Without Representation' version. Currently, drivers have the option to request a plate that lists the DC.gov web site URL instead. 

The US Transportation Secretary has given the final seal of approval on the plans to extend Metro to Dulles Airport.

Free yogurt today at TangySweet's Penn Quarter location!  

Check back later today for...a new Frugal Fashionista; the Hot Ticket guide to concerts going on sale; a Video FeedBack; and lots more!

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If NBC's Luke Russert looks a little out of it during the inaugural parade, it's because he was up all night drinking at the Rookery. Word just came across our desk that the newbie (er. . .wannabe?) pundit is throwing an inaugural bash.

We couldn't believe our eyes this morning when his invitation arrived in our in-box. The Photoshop job on the invitation alone warranted that we share it with the world. No, your computer's not tricking you—that's Russert's face on Uncle Sam's body. Seriously.

The party's being held at the Georgetown prepster spot the Rookery on January 18. It will include music by Old Man Brown and a deejay, plus hors d'oeuvres, and, of course, an open bar. The dress code: "jackets required." Doors open at 8.

Tickets are $95 for the first 50 sold. No word on what they'll jump to after that.

The invitation and party seem to continue Russert's slide away from serious journalism towards being an entertainment figure. Whereas he spent the fall on the campaign trail as a "real" reporter for NBC News, more recently he's been doing gigs like standing in Times Square on New Year's Eve "reporting" for Carson Daly.

Would any other network reporter throw himself such a self-indulgent party in the midst of a major news event like the inauguration? Not a chance, not even Chris Matthews. We're still waiting for our invite to David Gregory's "all you can drink" Meet the Press after-party. 

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Sacha Cohen is a seasoned writer and editor; she’s been at it in print and on the Web for more than 15 years. In 2006, she delved into environmental and green writing, a natural extension of her interest in organic food and cooking. While job hunting last year, she started Going Green DC as a way to continue to write regularly. “There wasn’t a good local online resource for all things green, so I decided to fill the void,” she says.

Now Cohen has been blogging for about a year, posting at least once a week on environmental news, products, restaurants, and sustainable living. To celebrate her blog’s birthday this month, Cohen is opening her writing space to outside contributors. If you’re interested in writing for her ecoblog, click here for details.

Before moving to Washington at age seven, Cohen lived in England, where she says she was “raised on whole-wheat bread and organic food before it was chic.” We put her to the test recently and picked her brain about all things ecofriendly. Where to shop? How to be green at work? What to compost? Read on for her answers.

Planning to drive from Virginia to Washington during the inauguration? Think again—the biggest news of the past 24 hours has been that the Key Bridge will be closed to traffic on Inauguration Day. Officials previously announced that the 14th Street, Memorial, and Roosevelt bridges will not be open to regular traffic, either.

The Obama team is going the extra mile to ensure the president-elect is safe during the inauguration. He'll be toted around in a new, heavily armored Cadillac limo featuring run-flat tires, bulletproof glass, and a completely sealed interior to ward off a chemical attack, CBS News reports.

HBO has purchased exclusive rights to broadcast the star-studded inaugural opening ceremony on January 18. The cost? $1.5 million. Here's the good news: The channel is planning to offer the event free to cable and satellite subscribers, in addition to its usual customers.

This afternoon, Obama will meet with all the living ex-presidents at the White House for what is sure to be the ultimate power lunch. Like, ever.

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