Date: Thu, 11 Jan 2007 23:56:31 -0500 (EST) From: "Keith F. Lynch" <kfl at KeithLynch.net> To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net> Subject: [WSFA] Denver in 2008 Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net> The DNC has just picked Denver to host their 2008 convention. It will begin 15 days after the Worldcon ends. I don't know how far in advance of the DNC convention that city will be "secured," but I do know that ordinary people are like pesky insects to them, to be swept aside or crushed. (The RNC is exactly the same.) Why do the parties still hold conventions? Their candidates will be picked before the convention begins. Denver is the city where people were arrested for not carrying government-issued picture ID on a *city bus*, when that bus passed close to federal buildings. On the other hand, I seem to recall that the victims *won* that case, and ID is no longer required on the bus. I attended every Worldcon from 1991 through 2004 (as well as a couple in the 1980s). But I missed the last two, and plan to miss the next one. Now it looks like I had better miss the one after that, too. Maybe by the end of the decade the War on Tourism will be over. Then all we'll have to worry about are insane hotel prices. Speaking of hotels, I just proofread another Washington Convention Center Board of Directors meeting, the first of the new year. The headquarters hotel is still on target to open in October 2010. The only remaining issue involves how large a room block will be set aside for the Convention Center. The hotel will be a 1400-room Marriott Marquis. I'm not sure how that differs from a regular Marriott. More expensive, probably.