Just a few quick observations based on spending the last couple of days in DC.
(1) If you have two young kids and you're really exhausted, pay extra attention to what you pack. Maybe even do it the night before instead of waiting until the last minute. That way, you might not find yourself with two different shoes when you go to put on your work clothes. Because of all the things which might impress a high-powered government panel, wearing two different shoes - both black, but not even a little bit similar in design - probably is not one of them.
(2) Starbucks is getting out of hand. Down in the GWU / Foggy Bottom area, I swear to god there really is a Starbucks on every single corner. So when your friend says "let's meet at the Starbucks down by GW", it might be a good idea to get more details in advance.
(3) It really should not take three and a half hours in the air from Washington National Airport to La Guardia. LaGuardia really should not have to cancel half of its flights when it isn't even raining, at least not to the naked eye. But it reminds me that, as a matter of principle, one should never accept a connecting flight through the NYC Metropolitan area... it's just asking for trouble. One more thing: a big shout-out to Budget Rent-a-Car: unlike all the other rental agencies I talked to, they actually got me a car to drive home one way (okay, it was a big old white Buick, but it got me home before the cub woke up... and nothing makes driving three and a half hours in the middle of the night worth it quite like seeing her enormous, sleep smile and having her first words be "Daddy home!"). And special thanks to the dude from the Bronx who works there who not only gave me good directions to 87 North, but also showed me where Buick hides the switch for lights... all after he was officially off duty.
(4) Star Wars: better than I expected. [SPOILER ALERT, for those of you who - like the guys in the row behind me - somehow managed to not know exactly what was going to happen] Good fun, even if Annakin's conversion didn't really make sense... awfully quick progression from "I want to save Padme" to "Okey dokey, any more kids you want me to slaughter, master?" My biggest beefs:
(a) how did everyone get from the home planet out to that planet in the Outer Rim in about 15 minutes? First Padme and company got there while Darth Annakin was still all broody, and then the Emperor got there while Darth Limbless was still smoldering. What kind of "Outer Rim" is that?
(b) why were the Jedi such total losers? If they're so in tune with the Force, why didn't they notice that big old Dark spot over in the Chancellor's office? Why didn't they get suspicious when they started "feeling" other Jedi getting killed off? And why were they all so easily killed? I mean, you'd think that at least some of them would have been able to fight off the completely ordinary troopers, right?
Anyway, that's it for my exhausted, rambling self. I have to drive back to the airport now and exchange the rental car for my car.
Amtrak really is the best option between NY and DC - I don't know why anyone would fly, given the option.
I'd be curious to know what you make of Homo Foggybottumus, and whether the High Powered Government Panel is paying any attention to what's going on in Egypt.
Posted by: SP | June 30, 2005 at 08:07 AM
RE Logistics: SP is right, Amtrak is the only way from NYC, from my 1200 or so trips (that I don't have to make any more since I live in the Gulf now).
RE Jedi: You gotta wonder. Were they disembowled by some kind of Jedi Dreyfus affair that occured between episodes?
Posted by: windinthewhistle | June 30, 2005 at 10:28 AM
Yeah, Amtrak is better. But that doesn't help when you are making a connecting flight....
Sorry, SP, can't say anything about my panel, even though I'd love to blog it. I was told so, quite sternly. Not that I would have anyway - basic confidentiality protocols - but I'm on especially good behavior on account of the shoe situation.
Posted by: the aardvark | June 30, 2005 at 10:42 AM
Ooohh...seriously high-powered, eh?
Maybe not specifically about the panel, but if you spoke to other policy types in DC I'd be curious to know what the general trend is with regard to Egypt. There have been so many conflicting signals that there is a good deal of cynicism here about US intentions, and an assumption that recent rhetoric about liberalisation is pure window-dressing. If you'd care to, do comment on that, if not, maalesh.
Posted by: SP | June 30, 2005 at 10:48 AM
re 4b...not that lucas every really seeks to be more logical than any 10year old boy....but for what its worth...that's why the sith are called "the phantom menace" they used to be a large order, but were revived in a very sealthy manner, only allowing two to exist at any one time. from more see:
http://www.starwars.com/databank/organization/thesith/
(yoda, of course, is the only one who sensed what was going on, defeated his attackers)
Posted by: waleed | July 01, 2005 at 09:00 AM
waleed,
OK, that's more about the sith than I knew. But here's the next silliness: why did they only send two troopers to kill Yoda, the most powerful of all the jedi? I mean, everyone else got taken out by practically a whole batallion.
Posted by: the aardvark | July 01, 2005 at 09:22 AM
Random question re Egypt: Why are we selling em Avengers?
What the hell is the potential threat? (Besides, I thought we try to avoid encouraging arms races.)
Posted by: Penta | July 02, 2005 at 11:33 PM
Abu, Please accept my condolences on the loss of your cat.
this is the first chance I have had to say, welcome back.
Posted by: boilerman10 | July 03, 2005 at 02:07 PM