back from another land

OK, so I didn't write a blog yet this week, as I was away at a conference in DC. It was a good conference, but I was glad when it was over. DC is a bizarre place, but I kind of like it. Besides the fact that it is the most expensive place I am aware of, there is a ton to do. We got there early, as it was cheaper to fly in on Saturday than on Sunday. So I got the chance to go to the Museum of Natural History on Saturday (Hope Diamond = Big Fucking Rock), and the new WWII Memorial and the Museum of American History on Sunday. The WWII Memorial was very nicely done, lots of water and marble, sitting just behind the Washington Memorial, and to the right of the Jefferson Memorial. The American History Museum was good. Their exhibits ranged from Brown vs. Board to Ella Fitzgerald to the Presidents. Looking through the row of presidents, there was one who looked out of place, less dignified, than the rest of them. See if you can guess who I mean.

Anyways, the conference was good. Lots of hobnobbing and politicking, plenty of beers andexpensive-ass food. ham sandwich + iced tea = $12, plate of spaghetti + glass of water = $17, cup of coffee 5 bucks, and there goes the per diem. Glass of Yeungling beer off the tap, $6.25. Cosmopolitan = $10. Bottle of Bud = $5. It was nice to drink the hometown beer again though, it had been a while.
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On to other things...

So I see Goody is once again concerned about his "manliness" and boobs. Also, to agree with John, Goody, for christ sake, even you can drink more than one beer in an hour of football. And, that's your only beer a week? Jesus. It looks like Johnson and I are going to have to make an emergency stop in your neck of Brunswick to save you. This requires beer die.

It appears that John got out of roofing with beer, but is tired and needs coffee. I hear you. The GF had to be at work at an obscene hour of the day today, and apparently forgot to make coffee. Thus, I am without coffee today. I did manage to make my own sandwich, but it was hard. Had to cut the roll and everything, but thankfully, still have all my fingers.

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Things I'm thinking about today.

1. The keynote for our conference was Jonathan Kozol, author of several books, most recently Shame of America. He basically spoke about how the public schools of America have been resegregated, and are in fact, as seperate as they have ever been. He was fairly persuasive, but after I finish reading his book I am going to have to read up this some more.

2. The most unifying thing about the conference, to me, was race. The people I talked to, largely african american, feel that there is absolutely no getting around race when you talk about the aftermath of Katrina. I have to say, I fear that we might have seen faster response times and less deaths if it was poor white people dying instead of poor, largely black people.

3. Yankees and the Sox, September, 1 game apart, season ends on a three game series in Boston. Does it get any better than this? Even if the Yankees are relying on the genetic mutation that is Randy Johnson?

4. MVP or not, doesn't matter. Ortiz is a monster, and he is a much bigger part of the Sox than Arod is of the Yankees. In an important at-bat, Ortiz is the last person I want to see come up (followed by Damon and Nixon, and only then Manny.) For the Yankees, in a clutch spot I think most Sox fans would say they are most scared of Sheffield, followed by Jeter, with Matsui/Arod/Bernie all at about the same.

5. That said, the Cy Young this year should be Mariano Rivera.