Even though the skinless man is mostly gone…

…the DC Metro ads stand in a class by themselves.

- War: Tanks on one side, child soldiers on the other. Polaroids from just outside the Green Zone? No, it's Washington DC's Metro, with bold photos representing two sides of a Middle East conflict in fair-and-balanced proximity of each other. Flak jacket not included with fare card.

- War on terror, part 1: A rosy-pink background, a handsome man with a beatific glow. He’s not Jesus, he’s “securing America’s vital infrastructure” (or something like that), and he works for one of our region’s many proud acronyms.

- War on terror, part deux: Tickets to Strathmore – check. New shoes – check. The latest models of fighter helicopter ... why not?

- Raw, clever power: “In a city like this, never leave a paper trail.” Tee-hee. We’re insiders, too.

- Stereotypes: Some stops get ads for designer shoes, others get “Jail – a Four-Letter Word” and “Pregnant? Better Start Eating Right.” Even The Onion might find this lacking in subtlety.

- Ads unique to government: “My family’s covered, too.” So many speech bubbles in this ad, so unlikely that people would be raving about federal health care rather than Dancing With the Stars or who drank too much at last weekend’s barbecue.

The only government insurance Metro ad I remember was the one with the Airedale – specifically because the dog’s only purpose in it was to look cool.

I miss that Airedale.