Thunder Rolls: Han Sa “Thunder” Yu, the 44-year-old leader of a gang of Annandale extortionists that went by the extraordinary name Korean Night Breeders, was sentenced to 17 1/2 years in prison last week after pleading guilty. +3

Colonel Blimp: Two defense blimps, worth a combined $450 million, could launch around D.C. as soon as late September for a three-year test. +1

themail vs. The YIMBYs: Email newsletter proprietor Gary Imhoff is no fan of the so-called YIMBYs—-people who actually support granting new liquor licenses.

Resident associations, YIMBYs think, just want to kill the fun. Why can’t every neighborhood in the city be like the French Quarter at Mardi Gras? Why can’t those stuffy old people who want to raise families move out to the suburbs, where they belong?

-1

Charmed by Charm City: Washingtonians jumping on the Ravens bandwagon earned a rebuke from the Pigskins’ Niles Paul. +2

Friday’s Needle rating: 56 Today’s score: +5 Today’s Needle rating: 61