ATL

Well, the Atlanta International Airport is a happening place. I'll have to say that much. The morning I arrived, as I was exiting the airport, an announcement came over the loudspeakers that a "lockdown" was in effect. I later learned that there had been a fire somewhere. And I think I may have discovered where that fire took place, since all the ceiling tiles had been removed from the gate where my plane was parked. And, by the way, all the shops in that corridor were closed. Had to walk a quarter mile (and back!) just to get a bagel and tea. 

Sheesh! Air travel! Almost makes me want to drive. Only, my next scheduled trip is back to England, and I ain't exactly likely to go there by boat!

Champions

 

A sports bar and restaurant in the hotel called Champions where I sat down to a late lunch or early supper. No snacks for the hoi palloi on the plane because of what the pilot called a "bumpy ride." Not sure the Biscoff cookies the crew nevertheless handed out to the first class passengers would have been worth the extra fare. Made the price I paid for my salmon salad at Champions seem quite economical by comparison. :-)

Autowalks

When I read yesterday about the Trump administration's desire to redevelop Dulles International Airport and to possibly do away with the so-called "mobile lounges," I had to chuckle a little bit, especially as I thought about the autowalks at the Atlanta airport. Not sure I which I prefer. 

I didn't mind the walking. In fact, I actually preferred to walk rather than to take the airport's trains. But I'm not sure I would consider those advancements over Dulles' shuttles.

Relativity

No, not one, but multiple escalators! I'm sure that over time I would begin to make sense of all these, but to someone who hasn't been to Atlanta's airport in years, they were somewhat bewildering. Like, am I any nearer to my destination than when I started? Or am I trapped inside one of M. C. Escher's woodcuts? :-)

Escalators

 

There sure were a lot of these at Atlanta International Airport.

Layout

There is a logic to how airports are laid out, I'm sure. But I have yet to entirely understand it, despite having taught logic to undergraduate students. Hmm. For instance, why this HUGE space dedicated to eateries with a little sculpture something-or-other in the middle? The only advantage I can see is that I certainly got my steps in before the flight. Not nearly as many as I got by walking from my plane to my rental car in Atlanta, but a decent number nonetheless. Or maybe the persons responsible were thinking about future expansion. In any case, it's confusing. So maybe I should have consulted this terminal map BEFORE I arrived? 

 

Flight Crew

 

This photo taken at Norfolk International Airport actually later proved helpful as I was trying to remember where I parked my car, although my original interest was in the flight crew evidently heading off either for a well deserved rest or else heading home.

Palazzo in the Park

 

Capybara

 

Feeding the capybaras at the Forest Park Zoo.

Prince George Street

Palace Green

Virginia Referendum

I don't think yesterday's referendum in Virginia was as much a victory for the country as a whole as it may have been for Democrats. Yes, gerrymandering is bad. But so, too, is totalitarianism. A democracy can still function with gerrymandering.  Poorly, to be sure. It cannot when ruled by a tyrant. 

Spring Fashions

Quilt

This past week, Williamsburg rolled out a 500-foot quilt celebrating the nation's 250th year of independence.

Tandem

A very pleasant day to visit Colonial Williamsburg. Sun shining. Temps reasonable. All in all, a very enjoyable spring day.

Drive-By

Youth Movement

No Kings protestors are getting younger and younger.

Vote Yes

I think it is important that voters understand the limits this referendum proposal would set for redrawing congressional districts. I’ve added the italicized bits to emphasize what I believe are the sensible limits. Yes, it’s partisan gerrymandering, but only for a limited time and, importantly, in response to the same GOP gerrymandering in other states.

"The proposed amendment would give the General Assembly the authority to redraw one or more of Virginia's congressional districts before 2031 in limited circumstances. In the event that another state redraws its own congressional districts before 2031, without being ordered by a court to do so, the General Assembly would then be able to redraw Virginia's congressional districts. The General Assembly's power to do so would continue until October 31, 2030, and the Virginia Redistricting Commission would reassume the responsibility of drawing the congressional districts in 2031.

The proposed district map has been approved by the General Assembly and would take effect only if the constitutional amendment is approved by the voters.

A "yes" vote would allow the General Assembly to redraw Virginia's congressional districts, since other states have done so, in addition to giving effect to the proposed district map in time for the 2026 Congressional elections, and return the responsibility of drawing the congressional districts in 2031 to the Virginia Redistricting Commission." -- Virginia Department of Elections

Kool-Aid

 

Yass