In Washington, D.C. this week for a two-day IT policy conference -- different and pretty interesting.
Ended the day by walking by the White House in time to see a tiny group of pitiful, hairy protesters... sad. The 60s are over, dudes.
Hiked down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol; it was longer than I had hoped (ouch). Noticed a looong line outside the Nat'l Archives - dunno if it was that long before National Treasure made the Declaration of Independence into a McGuffin.
No access to the Capitol without a pass, so went to our Representative's office & got one easily. Rode the elevator down with Dennis Kucinich (D-Pluto), who was in a hurry to get across the street for a roll call vote. He's as unlovely as the news photos would indicate and definitely not conversational, at least not today. I could enter the House gallery to watch a series of roll call votes for various amendments, which was supposed to include a vote on women in combat. News reports say it was pulled, but one couldn't really tell as a spectator -- the House floor is chaos during an all-hands vote. They're ALL talking at once. Did see Tom DeLay and Charles Rangel.
Then went to the Library of Congress and caught the last tour of the day. Saw the Reading Room and their Gutenberg & Mainz Bibles. Sweet.
Took a taxi back - better.
Wireless high speed internet access in my hotel doesn't work so hot, and even modem access is slow. Man, 24K hurts.