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This was my first rally.
the proceedings
I left San Jose at 8 pam and got to DC at 9:30am. Joanne picked me up, we had brunch from 11 to 12, then I headed to the rally while Joane headed to her soccer game. I hung out around 7th and Madison until Joane found me a little before 3. We made it to Dulles airport barely in time for my 5.30 flight. Am currently at LA, will be back iin San Jose at around midnight.
Rally observations
- rally extended from capitol building to wahington monument. Unfortunately the jumbletron screens were only in the front. This meant anyone past 6th street couldn't hear anything. That was over half the audience (including me)
- cell phone networks got overloaded inthe first and last half hour of the rally, mking it rather difficult to meet up with people.
- short people are at a significant disadvantage.
- agile tree- and post-climbers were at a significant advantage. (and provided much needed entertainment for the rest of us)
- signage was either serious appeals to reason, snarky jabs at the tea party, or silly non sequitors
- there were a lot of old people and babies, Most people seemed to come from the profeesional class.
- I saw people from Honolulu, Canada, Ohio, LA , and Italy.
I am sure that Stephen had a very different experience at the front of the crowd.
interesting people I met
- an Indian man on the plane who was from boston who regularly commuted to Chicago and flew to India and Israel one a month.
- old ladies and men who were very serious about voting and were present at MLK march, ERA march, Vietnam protests, and milliom man march. They had interesting stories to tell about tear gas, veteran vs park police showdowns, and fear of arrests. Verdict was that this rallly was tame, but heartening to see young people involved. Also that they didn't hear the MLK speech either, and really it's about being present to show support, like voting
- a DC guy who recently fled Florida's housing collapse and currently works 100 hours a week -- both as unpaid internfor a congressman and at a restaurant for money. He is unhappy with the lack of cultural vibrancy there.
- the DM of the first roleplaying game I played with Alexis, Isaac, Mark, and Cat.
- a cool guy onthe plane from Rhode Island en route to Melbourne... we swapped travelling stories and he told me about the DnD campaign he has ben in since 2nd ed, and how much more superior 4th ed is.
the proceedings
I left San Jose at 8 pam and got to DC at 9:30am. Joanne picked me up, we had brunch from 11 to 12, then I headed to the rally while Joane headed to her soccer game. I hung out around 7th and Madison until Joane found me a little before 3. We made it to Dulles airport barely in time for my 5.30 flight. Am currently at LA, will be back iin San Jose at around midnight.
Rally observations
- rally extended from capitol building to wahington monument. Unfortunately the jumbletron screens were only in the front. This meant anyone past 6th street couldn't hear anything. That was over half the audience (including me)
- cell phone networks got overloaded inthe first and last half hour of the rally, mking it rather difficult to meet up with people.
- short people are at a significant disadvantage.
- agile tree- and post-climbers were at a significant advantage. (and provided much needed entertainment for the rest of us)
- signage was either serious appeals to reason, snarky jabs at the tea party, or silly non sequitors
- there were a lot of old people and babies, Most people seemed to come from the profeesional class.
- I saw people from Honolulu, Canada, Ohio, LA , and Italy.
I am sure that Stephen had a very different experience at the front of the crowd.
interesting people I met
- an Indian man on the plane who was from boston who regularly commuted to Chicago and flew to India and Israel one a month.
- old ladies and men who were very serious about voting and were present at MLK march, ERA march, Vietnam protests, and milliom man march. They had interesting stories to tell about tear gas, veteran vs park police showdowns, and fear of arrests. Verdict was that this rallly was tame, but heartening to see young people involved. Also that they didn't hear the MLK speech either, and really it's about being present to show support, like voting
- a DC guy who recently fled Florida's housing collapse and currently works 100 hours a week -- both as unpaid internfor a congressman and at a restaurant for money. He is unhappy with the lack of cultural vibrancy there.
- the DM of the first roleplaying game I played with Alexis, Isaac, Mark, and Cat.
- a cool guy onthe plane from Rhode Island en route to Melbourne... we swapped travelling stories and he told me about the DnD campaign he has ben in since 2nd ed, and how much more superior 4th ed is.
