Thirty days across America

Dollar dives again

2008-11-20T17:57:00.000-08:00

I came home just in time.
The dollar dropped to 77 cents, down 2.5 cents just today!

The people, the accents, the conversations

2008-11-20T14:53:00.000-08:00

These people made my trip. They either ate with me, drank with me, drove me to interesting places, walked around those interesting places, or let me sleep on their couch or air mattress or even bed (not with them -- calm down). Or in some cases, all of the above.

Doug and Cynthia in Halifax.
Ryan and Maya in Washington.
Don in Nashville.
Phil in Nashville.
Jim in Birmingham.
Sean, Cole, and Stacey in New Orleans.
Joana and Jeff in Chicago.
Jen in Denver.
The Cosgroves in Albuquerque.
Laura in Austin.
Sean and Cole again. Glorious.

Oh, and there were these secondary characters who livened up life on the bus:

Javier the soon-to-be media baron from Orlando.
The Drunk Texan who travelled 3,500 miles on the bus to three funerals in a week, and then visited his sister before she had triple-bypass surgery.
Shelley and Stacey, two Canadian songwriters introduced to me at the Nashville hostel by the aforementioned Phil, another Canadian (who blogged about his time in the city)
Pete the recent convict (no big deal, it was just residential burglary "for a good cause")
Amanda the pregnant lesbian and former lover of a currently incarcerated ex-boyfriend.
Weirdo, a.k.a. Captain Obvious, who was on the way to Oregon.
Loudmouth in the back who called me "Toronto" (and Amanda "Germany")
Gunshot victim in Salt Lake City (at the hands of a 95-year-old woman).
Floridian woman who didn't believe a thing I said about Greyhound.
Jeff the disgruntled, yet happy-go-lucky Floridian who was coming from a job in San Jose.
Various barristas throughout America.
Various crying babies across America.

Oh, and most of all. Man, I can't forget these people. They are arguably even more important than NOLA Sean, who opened doors to me all across the country:

The bus drivers of America.

Some, though not all, wrap-up

2008-11-20T14:04:00.001-08:00

A few weeks ago, I set off on an adventure to do two things: see America and meet Americans. The only planning I did was have money in the bank and a Greyhound pass that would take me just about anywhere. In other words, not much.

All things considered, then, the trip went well. It spanned twenty-five states and included a whole lot of nice, gracious, outgoing, and terribly friendly people. A hundred posts later, I think October Nick would be satisfied with November Nick's travels.

A sort-of recap of cities visited. Not driven through, but visited:

Halifax
Bangor
Boston
Washington, D.C.
Lexington, Kentucky
Nashville
Birmingham
New Orleans
Chicago
Denver
Salt Lake City
Albuquerque
Austin
Atlanta

And now, day-by-day distance covered in miles. Keep in mind, there were some rest days:

Day 1: 254 (Halifax to Bangor)
Day 2: 244
Day 3: 455
Day 5: 557
Day 6: 466
Day 7: 214
Day 9: 362
Day 14: 965 (New Orleans to Chicago)
Day 17: 1096 (Chicago to Denver)
Day 19: 592 (in air)
Day 21: 592 (in air)
Day 22: 479
Day 23: 849 (Albuquerque to Austin)
Day 26: 558
Day 28: 533
Day 29 and 30: 1,038 (Atlanta to Toronto)

Total: 9,254

Um. That's 14,806 kilometres. Or 493.5 kilometres a day.
That doesn't make sense. I can't fathom that.

Assuming the bus was always travelling at 70 miles per hour, the limit on the Interstate system, I was on a bus for just over 132 hours. Given the reality of roads, acceleration, deceleration, and construction, and traffic jams, bus time lasted much, much longer.

And all that doesn't include flying from Toronto to Halifax two days before the bus trip started.

This reflection stuff is fun. What to calculate next?

**

Oh, and please excuse the calculation of miles per day. It includes travel through the air, which it shouldn't for accuracy. But the point stands.

UPDATE: My friend Philippe reminded me that the Earth's diameter is roughly 12,800 kilometres. Take that, planet!

Map update: 19 November

2008-11-19T18:42:00.000-08:00

I write this from Toronto, where my bus safely arrived this afternoon. Above is the completed map, roughly broken into the two halves of the trip (black = first half; blue = second half).

Below is the day-by-day map. It's a bit hard to follow in some places, and I spent multiple days in a few places, of course, but it at least illustrates how long (and short) some of the trips were. Check out Chicago to Denver, Albuquerque to Austin, and Atlanta to Toronto. Man oh man. Never do that.

The long (long, long, long) ride home

2008-11-19T18:30:00.000-08:00

25 hours in total. Atlanta to Chattanooga to Nashville to Louisville to Cincinnati to Detroit to Windsor to London to Toronto (Yorkdale first, argh) to downtown Toronto. Don't ever do what I did after spending 32 days on the road.

It's fine to take one of these long trips, or even two or three -- okay, not three -- but the rides just don't end. Toss in some crying babies, some sickeningly irritable coughing from all sides, and the cramped space that is the Greyhound, and you get cabin fever almost instantly.

This, though, was one of the better looking parts of the trip. It's the Tennessee River just a few miles north and west of Chattanooga. Sorry for any glare.

Otherwise, not a fun trip. I did pick up a book called The Edifice Complex in Chattanooga (at the bus station, of all places) and got through some of it. Take a look at the review if you're interested. It's all about power and its relation to architecture, and vice versa -- really interesting stuff. I just couldn't get too far without getting annoyed by a shrill baby or gross cough or an unsettling bump in the road.

Georgia: Home of peaches, CNN, and an Olympic park

2008-11-19T18:01:00.000-08:00

I was in Atlanta for just a few hours on Tuesday morning before the bus left for Toronto (well, the bus to Chattanooga, Nashville, Louisville, Cincinnati, Detroit, London, and -- 24 hours later -- Toronto).

But I got the chance to walk around a bit and check some things out. I recorded this video in the Olympic park. It was cold and windy.

You'll notice I talk about the CNN Centre. Clearly, I was excited to see it. Walking inside, this is what confronts visitors:

CNN is an empire. The lady at the ticket booth volunteered that information. She probably noticed how obviously wide-eyed I was at the whole scene. I didn't care that the tour cost $12 -- this was CNN, everyone's favourite mainstream-media punching bag!

Well, the tour was just what you would expect: longish (about 45 minutes) and polished to the last detail. We walked past -- above, really -- some of the studios and hung around atop the newsroom for a few minutes as the tour guide, Anne-Claire (or Claire-Anne?), talked about how each worker bee contributed to the hive's uber success.

OK, so CNN doesn't have the best coverage of international events. I'd still kill to work in that newsroom. In the end, worth the $12. Maybe not for everyone, though.

AC did mention something towards the end of the tour that piqued my interest. She informed us all about the majesty of CNN's iReport system -- YouTube for citizen journalists. Her shining example of iReport at its finest was when one college student at Virginia Tech relayed his photos and videos very quickly after the shooting there. CNN was able to break the story before anyone else.

I asked AC if the kid was paid anything for his efforts. She said when people submit material, they allow CNN the right to use it but retain the right to sell it elsewhere. Answer: no. Interesting, I thought: CNN has created a means of working around freelancers, acquiring breaking news without paying a cent, and even giving the "iReporter" a few seconds of fame.

My partial diagnosis as a struggling freelancer: lame. The rest of me says it's smart business.

**

Last stop before the bus: the State Capitol. Why not, right? It's yet another dome. It's not as pretty or foreboding as some of its counterparts in other states. Here it is, in sunny glory:

Atlanta: First impressions

2008-11-19T17:51:00.001-08:00

I walked out of the subway (called MARTA) after getting into Atlanta at about 11 p.m. and, almost immediately, three people asked me for money. And they were willing to help me out by showing me the way to the hostel where I had booked a room.

Two notes:
a) I had almost no money (one American dollar, five Canadian dollars)
b) These people clearly had never heard of the hostel ("You mean hotel?")

So one guy, Tyrone, insisted that he would help me. I knew the address of the place already and could probably guess just as accurately as he where it was, but what the heck. He seemed nice and I was too tired to say No Thanks.

We got to the place, which was seven or eight blocks from the subway, and I said I could really offer very little. I didn't want to insult him by giving him pennies. I did find that dollar bill and also gave him the five bucks. Hell, he had gone out of his way and was down on his luck.

Times like this on the trip, I realize that I still do have some money in the bank. Not too much, but enough that I don't have to help clueless quasi-tourists as they linger outside of a subway close to midnight.

A little later on, I was walking by a hotel a few blocks from the hostel. Another lady asked me for some money. Then, several very well-dressed people walked by, looking like they were on the way somewhere important.

I don't know too much about Atlanta -- 16 hours isn't much time to assess the situation -- but it seems like it's just one of many American (and Western, really) examples of poverty and wealth confronting each other each day, block after block, neighbourhood after neighbourhood.

**

Also, Atlanta has a lot of security cameras and what seemed like a pretty substantial presence of guards and police officers. Again, maybe it's where I was in the city (Midtown, looked like Yonge/Eglinton or Yonge/Sheppard), but I never felt entirely uncomfortable.

Another fine evening in NOLA

2008-11-16T15:45:00.000-08:00

Ah, yes. A beautiful sunset to cap my last full day in the United States not on a bus. Tomorrow, the trip home begins. Atlanta, here I come.

Today, NOLA Sean, NOLA Cole, and I played Frisbee in Audubon Park. Perfect.

Remember "Fatigue"?

2008-11-16T09:51:00.000-08:00

Yeah, that was lame. This is a bus trip. No flights home. There is nothing quite like seeing the country at 70 miles an hour, and 500 miles an hour from 30,000 feet up? That's just a cop-out.

See you at the finish line!

(*Which is, uh, undetermined as of this morning. Still negotiating with Toronto council and provincial and federal counterparts to close some streets and secure multi-level police presence. And I imagine most major national networks will be there, but we're still talking about financial compensation. Oh, the Queen has confirmed her attendance, though.)

Want to read a book?

2008-11-15T21:34:00.001-08:00

Then go on a road trip. You'll read lots. Here is a list of what I've flipped through so far:

DelCorso's Gallery
Late Nights on Air
Dreams from my Father
Choke
How did the States get their Shapes?
In the Shadow of Watergate

Map update: 15 November

2008-11-15T21:10:00.001-08:00

Ah, it's good to be home (away from home) here in sunny, if chilly, New Orleans. The bus was about 20 minutes late, but no matter. I ate pizza with NOLA Cole (a friend of NOLA Sean, and now a friend of mine) and all is swell.

You know, that map is looking pretty full by now...

Progressive opinion in the heart of Texas

2008-11-14T17:40:00.000-08:00

While I was hanging out at the university today, I came upon today's Daily Texan, a pretty solid student-run daily.

There was a story in the opinion section lamenting the production of Longhorns apparel -- some of the most popular in the country, as Texas has a well-developed brand -- in sweatshops. Full text here and below:

UT’s Athletic Director Deloss Dodds once said of the University, “We’re not keeping up with the Joneses, we are the Joneses.” He’s right — there are few brands in America that are marketed as well as the severed bovine head we call our logo. A recent “Texas Monthly” article about the University of Texas machine was aptly titled “Come early. Be Loud. Cash in.” Selling merchandise is a good thing, and UT is better at it than any school in the country.

While I’ve always enjoyed walking around campus and being greeted by people wearing burnt-orange everything, it wasn’t until recently that I became cognizant of where all this apparel came from. As it turns out, the majority of UT apparel is manufactured in sweatshop conditions. While this fact in itself is troubling, more upsetting is that there has been a proposal in place for months now that would allow UT to eliminate the use of sweatshop labor in the production of its merchandise, and to date, it has not been accepted by the administration.

The initiative is called the Designated Suppliers Program, and it is a program that requires university licensees — in UT’s case, Nike — to source most University logo apparel from factories that have been determined through independent verification to be in compliance with their obligation to respect the rights of their employees. This includes the right to organize and bargain collectively and the right to be paid a living wage. To date, 44 universities have signed on to the program, including the entire University of California system, Duke University, Georgetown University and the University of Miami.

A sample cost breakdown conducted by GEAR for sports, an apparel company that markets the Champion brand, revealed how cost is distributed in the sale of a $37.99 sweatshirt at the University of Connecticut Co-op. It was revealed that only 18 cents was designated for the labor cost, which amounts to 0.047 percent of the total cost of that $37.99 sweatshirt. It should be noted that price is not dependent on what it costs to manufacture the product, but rather how much consumers are willing to pay for it. If the labor cost in the creation of merchandise were to double or even triple, the ultimate price shift the consumer would see would be non-existent or negligible. And based on sheer popularity, it’s probable that most fans would purchase a UT football jersey even if it was infested with Africanized bees, much less if it cost them a few pennies more.

The Oxfam UT Sweatshop Free Campaign has spearheaded the initiative to get President William Powers to sign on to the program. The group has been campaigning since last spring and submitted its first formal proposal to the administration in August. In a meeting with the administration last Monday, the group was told the University would not accept the proposal at that time, partly because of concerns that the program may violate antitrust laws.

Many of the schools that have refused to sign off on the agreement have had similar concerns, but these claims seem to be unsubstantiated. Donald Baker, a former assistant attorney general in charge of the Antitrust Division at the U.S. Department of Justice, wrote a 20-page memo concluding that the program does not interfere with antitrust law. In a follow-up letter about the memo to the Workers Rights Consortium, Baker wrote, “We continue to believe that the program, adopted in order to serve humanitarian goals rather than revenue enhancement, is consistent with the U.S. antitrust law.” I doubt that the program would pass the litmus test of 44 universities, including many that also license their apparel to Nike, if it were to lead to a lawsuit. As was said best in a press release put forth by Oxfam UT last week, “This is a moral issue and not a legal one.”

Signing on to the DSP holds no legal liabilities to the University. If Powers were to give the program his approval, it would merely mean that UT supports the program, and that when it gets implemented after all the legal processes, it will take part in providing a living wage and ensuring free association for laborers. More importantly, if the University signs on, it will set a very important precedent. Because The University of Texas sells more merchandise than any school in the nation, if we support this initiative, it will put pressure on other schools to perhaps do the same, because, alas, we are the Joneses.

Good words!

The Capitol: sun and clouds

2008-11-14T15:51:00.000-08:00

A sunset on my time in Austin.
(With storm clouds brewing?)

UTexas: I want to study here

2008-11-14T15:49:00.000-08:00

What an entrance to a school.

And this courtyard? What a place to snack and study. One of many spots on campus.

Take a _____ pill (bad pun)

2008-11-14T15:48:00.000-08:00

Maybe the CFS referendum at the U of O would be less hostile if the school invested in one of these:

Texas likes football

2008-11-14T15:43:00.000-08:00

If you pay attention to national college football rankings in the U.S., you'll know that Texas has two top-10 teams: the Longhorns here in Austin and Texas Tech down the road in Lubbock. Tech beat Texas the other week, which shook up the national ranking. It was a last-second thriller that, I must say, made me stand up and clap.

That game was in Lubbock. This is where the Longhorns play, though. Right on campus. Um, enough seats? (The school has 50,000 students, and they really love this team down here, so maybe there aren't enough!)

Oh, and everything is bigger in Texas. But apparently bigger isn't enough. Now they want to make Texas bigger-er.

Canadian student paper makes it to LBJ library?!

2008-11-14T15:40:00.000-08:00

Yeah, that's right. I spotted this issue of the Ubyssey in the space-race exhibit at the Lyndon Johnson Library at the University of Texas. It's all about when the Soviets sent a dog to space. Apparently the nickname you see in the headline made waves.

Fatigue

2008-11-14T09:58:00.000-08:00

Folks, it's almost time to come home. Forgive me if I don't take the bus the whole way and come up with some alternate arrangement. It turns out lack of sleep and bad diet, coupled with lots of walking or maybe a bus trip each day -- yeah, that takes its toll.

Even copious amounts of water don't fix it. My body does not want to sit on a bus. So New Orleans will wait one more day (departure tomorrow).

Getting up at 3:30 a.m. (Central time) to write for MediaScout doesn't help either. I think it's not a bad post today, all things considered.

See you soon enough in a province. Rest assured, the countdown is on!

Another town, another nice, nay, terrific person

2008-11-13T20:12:00.000-08:00

In Austin, I met a girl named Laura. We ate enchiladas at a place called Mother's. It's at Duval and 43rd, if you're ever in the area. It was a delight.

The connection to Laura? If you've followed closely, you'll note that many of the people I have met and hung out with all know New Orleans Sean.

Sean, thanks. Laura, thanks.
America, you're welcome.

State Capitols: Texas edition

2008-11-12T20:03:00.000-08:00

Texas loves Texas. Everything is big in Texas. Don't mess with Texas. Etc.

Sean from New Orleans told me that in Austin, the Capitol is actually bigger than that in Washington, D.C. I believe him. This one's huge.

As shown earlier, Americans love to mark their seats of government with domes to mark their seats of government.

Doesn't this shot look like sort of like that iconic image down Pennsylvania Avenue in D.C.?

More on food: IHOP is not for amateurs

2008-11-12T19:56:00.000-08:00

I've eaten at Denny's. It's a pretty solid 24-hour joint that dots the landscape on both sides of the border. It's hard to beat their lumberjack slam. Denny's is a great place to pick up some free WiFi while you munch on some bacon, eggs, and hash browns.

Then, there is IHOP. I ate there tonight for the first time. Don't believe the hype. It's Denny's for pancake freaks. Actually, pancake Freaks. Upper case.

Case in point:

The undisputed champion of 24-hour breakfasts is Waffle House. It's not everywhere in the United States -- you won't find it in New England, most of Illinois, or the Midwest -- but Waffle House owns the American south's Interstate corridor.

Think Elgin Street Diner, but at every offramp you can find. Also, while Denny's and IHOP are all colourful with their logos, Waffle House is simple.

This one is in Birmingham, Alabama. I've only eaten at the Nashville location (er, one of the Nashville locations. There are several interchanges in the area).

Map update: 12 November

2008-11-12T15:35:00.000-08:00

So I just got off the bus in Austin. It was an 18-hour trip across New Mexico and much of the Great State of Texas. By the way, it's just as big as it looks on the map.

Don't ever do what I just did. Somehow, the 23-hour trip from New Orleans to Chicago and the 24-hour trip from there to Denver both seemed easier to endure than today's beast of a ride.

Unfortunately, there were no real characters of note on any of today's three buses.

One woman going to Florida who didn't trust anything I said about our next destinations (that I was right every time isn't much of a boost. I just learned how to read directions as a child.). One drunk Texan who kept accosting people. A teenager coming back from Marine Corps training in San Diego. You know, same 'ol.

So that's that. Oh, and the blue on the map is sort of what I'm considering the second half of the trip, if only because I'm moving back to time-zone sanity (i.e. Eastern Standard Time).

VIDEO: Another day, another mountain

2008-11-12T15:28:00.000-08:00

This time, the mountain was in Albuquerque. Dan and I took the world's longest tram (they keep reminding you of that) to Sandia Peak, which is a whopping 10,000+ feet above sea level. The tram isn't for weak stomachs -- just like the food -- but it's worth the ride.

Eating here is not for the weak

2008-11-11T15:05:00.001-08:00

A gentleman named Dan, a son of Ellen who is a friend of my mother, took me 'round the city today. We saw some Petroglyphs, as noted, and we also went to the National Atomic Museum.

And then. And then we ate.

New Mexico loves food. They love Mexican food. They love eggs, re-fried beans, rice, cheese, cheese, chile (red and green), cheese, and honey. I don't know how I ate what I ate. Should have taken a picture. Then again, any record of having eaten that might hurt my stomach.

Food. Delicious, filling, and heart-attack inducing. Welcome to ~~The Southwest~~ America.

Petroglyphs

2008-11-11T14:58:00.000-08:00

If you've been here, maybe Petroglyphs National Monument in Albuquerque wouldn't even be worth noting. I'm sure it's much the same. Lots of pictures on rocks. Example:

Next, I will show you what New Mexico looks like:

Rabbit-ing around New Mexico

2008-11-10T22:35:00.000-08:00

I made it to Albuquerque, where Bugs Bunny never made a left turn he didn't regret. I am staying with maybe the nicest family in the world. More tomorrow.

Not-very-notable sighting

2008-11-10T17:33:00.000-08:00

For those of you who have watched Red Dawn, the story of a group of rebels who fight off Soviet and Cuban Communists when they invade Colorado during World War III (and also the first-ever PG-13 movie), be jealous.

My bus drove right pas Las Vegas, New Mexico, where much of the film was shot. Ha!

Whoops, I skipped past the mountains

2008-11-10T17:19:00.001-08:00

I don't know how much I should say about the mountains west of Denver. They were just as beautiful as you'd expect. You can find pictures of them just about anywhere on the Internet.

I didn't take my camera out for the excursion. Why not? I don't know. I guess I just wanted to enjoy the scenery without having to frame it all creatively. But rest assured they were no disappointment.

On this leg of the trip, new friend/tour guide Jen took me around. She lives in Denver, likes mountains, and drove there with me in the car. Up and up and up. And then up some more on foot. It was a fun time, to say the least. Jen: Thank you. Thank you so much.

Hilarious sign sighting #436C

2008-11-10T17:16:00.001-08:00

Right off the bus in Santa Fe:

Jesus was a community organizer. Pontius Pilate was a governor."

Wow. At this point, that takes the Best Sign of the Month cake. It was made even better because I had spent the last hour on the bus listening to the Jesus Christ Superstar soundtrack.

America: Land of the free, home of precipitation

2008-11-10T17:11:00.000-08:00

After almost three weeks of sun or only partial cloudiness, America decided to rain. And it's going to keep doing that for the next couple of days (according to the only people less trustworthy than politicians). Try as I might, I probably can't escape it.

Notice how New Orleans isn't raining. It's just asking for me to come back. That's right, me.

The beginning of the final week

2008-11-09T18:57:00.000-08:00

It might look like this:

Denver
Santa Fe
Albuquerque (Sleep)
Oklahoma City
Austin (Sleep)
New Orleans (Sleep)

It's no more than 10 hours between any of those cities, which is manageable.

Cool. The southwest!

Salt Lake wrap-up

2008-11-08T19:23:00.000-08:00

So, I'm off to Denver tomorrow. But just a couple of things to note. The red dot in the city is (around about) where I am staying, and the one in the mountains is as far as I walked earlier this afternoon. OK, so it wasn't the top of the mountain. Give me some credit.

Oh, it's called Mount Van Cott. And Google Maps tells me I reached about 5,500 feet above sea level. Also, the range is known as the Wasatch Mountains -- part of the Rockies.

Some views from the north, southwest, and south:

VIDEO: Peek-a-boo with Salt Lake City

2008-11-08T18:58:00.000-08:00

That's right. I'm treating my readers like small children. Behold.

I am out of breath, as you might hear.

Taste of home...

2008-11-08T12:51:00.001-08:00

Or what I imagine is starting to happen more at home as November continues.

Oh, and here is the obligatory Temple shot. Yup, Mormons live in Salt Lake. If you want to make fun of them, please refrain from it in the comments and, instead, do so here.

Salt Lake: I had lots of misconceptions

2008-11-08T12:25:00.000-08:00

Utah is, maybe rightfully, made fun of by a lot of people all over the place for its overt conservatism -- Mormons are populous here, after all. And their voting record en masse confirms it: 67 and 72 per cent for Bush, and 63 per cent for McCain just the other day.

Here is an example of Utah's wild west tendencies:

But it's not all gun shops in Utah. In fact, what I have discovered is that Salt Lake is, as most cities here are, a progressive enclave in a very, very conservative state. The county did vote for McCain by a very small margin (under 2,000 votes), but you might not even guess that by spending some time here.

Public transit here is pretty solid. There is light rail and a free-fare zone. There are a couple of other reasons to call this place progressive, bu my stupid mind has forgotten for the moment. That's a bit disappointing.

I think there was some kind of protest on Capitol Hill yesterday. Something about religion. A guy at a coffee shop just down the street from that gun shop told me that it really is a big deal here, but beneath the surface. It has replaced the racism of his southern upbringing, he said.

I saw some signs on both sides at the Hill.

Oh, here is another shot of the State Capitol. As you can see, Americans love domes.

They also love Capitol Hills. As far as such climbs go, Utah might have the country beaten.

Ouch. But the view from the top? Check this out:

I probably lost a gallon (hey, I'm in America) of water walking up and around this driest of climates, so I am now rehydrating. On to the next stop!

VIDEO: Salt Lake City from the top o' the library

2008-11-08T12:21:00.000-08:00

This is a breathtaking view. The video probably won't express it because of the haze in the sky and the relative graininess of my camera. But seriously, the city essentially hits the mountains. Unbelievable. Or, believable, but hard to believe.

Hey, I got a haircut!

What binds us

2008-11-07T19:10:00.000-08:00

Want to know what binds Canadian and American youth?

Is it love of democracy?
Faith that everyone gets a fair shot?
Freedom?
Liberty?

No. Everyone I have met loves Arrested Development.
Michael, Gob, Tobias, and the rest, you bring countries together.

Map update: 07 November

2008-11-07T19:01:00.000-08:00

Just a quick jaunt over the Rockies to Salt Lake City, Utah. I never thought I'd go to Utah. Just a quick note: In both Denver and Salt Lake, there are free fare zones downtown. And both cities have rapid transit right downtown.

Salt Lake City: First impressions

2008-11-07T18:43:00.000-08:00

I haven't flown to many places. Only once outside of Canada, and a handful of times in Canada. So I don't have a lengthy resume of breathtaking landings from which to draw.

But the descent into Utah's capital is something else. Mountains, the Great Salt Lake, what appeared to be a huge network of marshes, and a sunset. If they didn't ask us to turn all electronics off as we hit 10,000 feet, I would have snapped a picture!

Here is a shot courtesy Google Maps that gives an idea. I didn't glide in from space, but you get the picture.

Denver: The State Capitol

2008-11-07T14:26:00.000-08:00

Things I learned on a tour of Colorado's State Capitol:

Colorado was almost called Idaho
State representatives and senators are paid $30,000 and expected to work other jobs
Water is a delicacy in Colorado. There isn't very much, as Denver only receives about 15 inches of rain every year. See: rain shadow. (Thanks, grade nine geography)
When Japanese-Americans were expelled from the west coast in 1941, and most inland states denied them from entry, Colorado decided to play hero:

During World War II, Colorado governor Ralph Lawrence Carr was the only elected official to publicly apologize for the internment of American citizens. The act cost him reelection, but gained him the gratitude of the Japanese American community, such that a statue of him was erected in Sakura Square in Denver's Japantown.

Wow. All this in just 45 minutes.

Salt Lake, you're in my crosshairs

2008-11-07T14:15:00.000-08:00

I figured out how to get to Salt Lake today, to find the hostel I booked this morning before being shut out by both bus and train: the air.

My chariot has not docked at gate C43 yet, but thanks to Denver Airport's free wireless, I can show you what the gate next to mine looks like, with mountains (way off) in the background. Oh, technology.

Today's task: Make it to the Great Salt Lake

2008-11-07T08:25:00.001-08:00

I've been told that city is made entirely out of salt and have decided to bring lots of fresh water. Demandigans!

Then it's back here to Denver because on Sunday: mountains.

UPDATE: It turns out that it was pretty hard to get out of Denver and then get back by Sunday without spending the whole time on a bus. So Denver it is for a little while longer!

More chronological disorder: Videos from Grant Park

2008-11-06T10:33:00.000-08:00

NOTE: Please turn volume down to a comfortable level for the following videos. There is a lot of annoying background Obama cheerleading.

Video the First: a pre-game interview with friend and associate Scott Bedard:

Video the Second: the end of the countdown to West Coast polls closing. And reaction. Notice the shakiness of the camera. People were bashing all around in jubilation.

Video the Third: a post-game interview with Scott.

Please ignore the shoddy cameraman-ship. But please appreciate the effort!

Denver: First impressions

2008-11-06T10:30:00.000-08:00

Around the corner from the Denver bus terminal, this banner adorned a wall.

The Denver Daily News tells me that Democrats picked up a Senate seat and a House seat in addition to, of course, voting for Obama. So there are now two Republicans in a traditionally red congressional delegation.

Colorado: Blue rectangle in Red swath

Map update: 06 November

2008-11-06T10:23:00.001-08:00

As you can see, Greyhound doesn't always allow you to go in straight lines. That last 23-hour leg (24, actually, since we dropped a time zone) was something else. Turns out Kansas looks exactly how you think it would.

Tumbleweed.
Rolling.
Slowly.

Cars kicking up dust on dirt roads reaching to the horizon.
And the flattest horizon you can imagine.

Night and day are interchangeable 0n the Great Plains.

Location: Grant Park

2008-11-05T07:58:00.000-08:00

This post is a bit out of chronological whack, but it's the first opportunity I've had to post some pictures. Videos will take a bit longer to upload, as I can't find a solid connection around here. But the videos are pretty hilarious. Anyways.

Last night, the mood in Grant Park was at first apprehensive. The crowd was very young and very energetic, but also on edge. It grew excited in spurts, wavered, and then cheered again. Every projected victory was cause to stand, but then the mass would settle again. It became clear that everyone was waiting for the killer blow.

And then CNN declared Obama the winner in Virginia. That made the result inevitable. Five minutes before the west coast polls closed, everybody stood for a final time. And then...

Euphoria.

CNN declared Obama the president-elect. Emotions exploded. Jubilation. Celebration. It's likely impossible to understate the overwhelming relief and raw emotion that lasted and lasted until cameras moved to Phoenix.

McCain delivered his concession speech -- gracious, I thought, maybe more gracious than anybody might have expected in the heat of the moment -- and the Obama faithful awkwardly booed and applauded in spurts. In the end, not an unexpected concession. McCain had spent a ~~few~~ days weeks attacking Obama to the core, but last night he returned to a more humane tone. The crowd in Grant Park settled on polite applause as McCain wrapped things up.

A few minutes later, a miniature eternity to the happiest people in Chicago, Obama took the stage. His speech grabbed the crowd, and they didn't let go, well, probably until they fell asleep.

Critics can probably point holes in the speech. He implied that the United States became a country in 1787, when it ratified its constitution ("I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years"). I always thought they liked to start in 1776 (232 years ago). Perhaps I'm being petty.

The speech was pure rhetoric. But last night, tonight, and years from now, you will probably find more than a few commentators who will call it perfect.

Some post-game pictures. Sorry for the blur. I figure they're still worth posting.

Nice result, problems remain

2008-11-05T07:51:00.001-08:00

From commenter Uncle Doug:

Look at the statistics, and you see the problem with democratic voting. Obama wins 53% of the popular vote, but receives 67.5% of the electoral college votes. I don't mind the outcome, but I sure wish that the percentages were a bit closer.

The 1924 U.S. presidential election is similar. Calvin Coolidge won with a 54% plurality and 382 electoral college votes.

But nothing compares with the Kennedy election of 1960 where the popular votes were tenths of a percent apart, but the electoral college split 303-219.

Agreed. I think that such a disparity is less important in a presidential election when the people essentially elect a one-person majority. So long as they score a majority of votes, the larger share of the electoral vote is rendered irrelevant. But it's still a problem. The electoral college is so bizarre.

Of course, I'm more concerned with fixing Canada's system. In some ways, even more bizarre.

Next stop: Denver

2008-11-05T06:00:00.001-08:00

First, there was the Music City.
Then the Magic City.
Then the Big Easy.
Currently, the Windy City.
Next, the Mile High City.

Americans are so creative.

Obama wins, Chicago erupts

2008-11-04T23:50:00.000-08:00

I've never before experienced anything like tonight, and I doubt anything will match it for quite a long time. It's too late to say anything articulate. It's been quite a day. Rest assured, though, there will be pictures, videos, and commentary tomorrow.

Good night from Chicago!

Blog cameo, Ottawa style

2008-11-04T11:47:00.000-08:00

An Ottawa friend is going to appear right here, in the space below, in just a little bit. If you can guess who (and I haven't already told you) before I post the picture, I owe you a cola.

Thirty Days hits the big time: CityTV comes calling

2008-11-04T11:26:00.001-08:00

If you are watch CityTV tonight at 6 p.m., or are near Internet some time soon after and visit citytv.com, you might catch a glimpse of three Canadians here watching the action in sunny Chicago.

Depending on what gets edited out or not, one of my inarticulate ramblings might make it to air!

UPDATE: Here it is!

(In the accompanying story, I'm quoted saying: "There's been so much hype around it is that the energy is just here in a way that it just doesn't exist in Canada." I'm positive I didn't say that and think it was the other guy, though I don't disagree.)

How did it all happen?

Carl Meyer made me aware of a post by..
Warren Kinsella, who was looking for Canadians in Chicago, because..
CityTV's Richard Madan wanted to interview some.

Kinsella wanted people to get in touch with him. So I did. And then Madan called me. What a funny sequence of events. Just another day on the trip.

Oh, and this articulate woman named Danielle Takacs was also part of the interview, along with another guy named Mike.

By the way, there is more security in this city than anything I can remember. The lone exception might be New Orleans in April, when the streets were full of state and federal authorities for blocks and blocks. As was the case there, Chicago police are pretty much all on duty tonight.

An early morning in Chicago

2008-11-04T07:09:00.001-08:00

Any minute now, check out MediaScout for a post about today's election, amongst other things.

UPDATE: Here it is!

Voters, take your marks

2008-11-04T04:22:00.000-08:00

Can anyone believe voting day in America is actually here again?

Prelude to a victory: Is this the right spot?

2008-11-03T11:37:00.000-08:00

Chicago on the eve of The Most Important Election Ever. The mood in the city might be different but, as this video explains, I really don't know anything about Chicago. Lots of sidewalk conversations about the election, though, for what that's worth.

Observe:

Not surprisingly, I was wrong. Sort of. All of Grant Park is presumably being prepared for an expected one million people who will stream downtown, but the speech will be given here:

There's some doin's a'happenin'

2008-11-03T11:24:00.001-08:00

It looks like national security is coming to Chicago. Some examples:

This is a Coast Guard boat in Chicago's Harbour. What a gun!

Homeland Security isn't missing this party.

Chicago: First impressions

2008-11-03T08:46:00.000-08:00

It's taller in real life. I swear.

America's soundtrack

2008-11-03T08:43:00.000-08:00

Yes, when the bus got into Alabama I played that song.
Yes, when the bus turned the corner and showed the Chicago skyline that song came one.
And yes, I play that song every so often just to remind myself where I am.

It's a wonderful country.

Map update: 03 November

2008-11-03T08:34:00.000-08:00

Wow. When I woke up this morning, we were lumbering along I-57, making the final charge to Chicago. In the night, I think the bus wound through Arkansas and Missouri. But I don't think that counts on my Official State Count, does it?

Anyways, I'm sitting in a cafe just east of Canal Street and just west of what I assume is the Chicago River. The Sears Tower is nearby, and it's quite tall. I feel like I should resent its height just on principle, having been born near the world's (former) tallest free-standing ~~structure~~ ~~tower~~ building.

I believe I have a place to stay. This time with a friend of a friend of a friend. Because I trust everyone in the world, this should be easy.

Tomorrow: cameo appearance on Thirty Days made by friends from Ottawa.
Also tomorrow: cameo appearance by potential president-elect

Obama: then and now, a stark contrast

2008-11-02T15:23:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I started reading Dreams from My Father, Barack Obama's first book published in 1995. Obviously, it's quite a time to read it. Polls close in 48 hours and I am on the way to Chicago.

Regular Greyhound riders know that at most American bus stations, TVs constantly blare either Fox News or CNN. Given the timing, that means Obama is on the screen a lot. And as he hits rally after rally in swing states and I hit layover after layover in mostly red states, I'm reminded of his oratorical flare and his wide appeal. And most of all, the confidence he exudes in the limelight.

Then I climb back on to the bus, read a few more chapters, and am struck by just how far the man has come -- not just in terms of power, but personally. In Dreams, he holds back little as he unveils his deepest struggles with his own maturity. And with race. It's a contrast unlike anything I've really experienced.

Oh, and on race. Expect more on that from this blog. Much more.

The next leg of the trip

2008-11-01T17:27:00.001-07:00

It might look something like this:

New Orleans
Memphis
Chicago
Denver
Austin
New Orleans

Yeah, that's right. A return visit to the Big Easy. Then on to Canada and into the Great Unknown.

VIDEO: Hallowe'en in New Orleans.

2008-11-01T16:40:00.000-07:00

So this is an example of the hilarity and surreality of New Orleans on Hallowe'en. This scene was on the way to Frenchman Street. We followed these drummers and their silver leader as they snaked their way through the streets.

And some other pictures. In sum, lots of people. In costumes. All night. We got in just before 6 a.m.

Frenchman Street, (arguably) the biggest party of the night.

Bourbon Street, par for the course.

Again, other direction.

The Simpsons run into each other.

I went out as a road trip across America. Did it work? Yes.

New Orleans at approximately 4:45 a.m.

Memories of Canada. I know, I know. This stuff is deadly. But it was deliciously home.

VIDEO: The eve of All Hallow's Eve

2008-10-31T17:07:00.001-07:00

Hey, another video! I just realized how dark this is. Oh well!

The best place to be on Hallowe'en

2008-10-31T12:25:00.000-07:00

Last night on Julia Street, we walked by singers, musicians, dancers, artists, sumo wrestlers, post-modern art, stilt-walkers, and lots of local food. It was all part of Prospect.1, an 11-week art festival that will take over most New Orleans galleries, museums, and in some cases, street blocks. It was apparently just a prelude to tonight's festivities.

The Location is Frenchman Street.
The People are filling the block.
The Costume is the United States of America.

It's only 2:30 p.m. here, but people are already roaming the streets of the French Quarter in full costume. I found an Uncle Sam hat, but I still need to find a shirt with this great nation's stars and stripes all over it.

Obama vs. McCain: The Ultimate Showdown

2008-10-30T19:43:00.000-07:00

My dear uncle Doug asked in a comment what the mood is down here re: presidential election campaign. Well, to be blunt, I'm not the one to ask.

On the way south, you'll observe most of my destinations have been, well, either blue states or liberal enclaves in red states. As far as I can tell, Obama's got about 75 per cent of the vote locked up.

But of course that's not the case. In Birmingham and again today in New Orleans, I heard some talk radio. Conservative talk radio. And there were some upset Republicans (the Angry Right?) on air who really do think that Obama is a terrorist, a socialist, and the worst thing for America since French fries.

Most people seem to think that Obama has it, though. So that's the update with five days left until voting day.

Where the other half live(d)

2008-10-30T19:09:00.000-07:00

Lived, because very few people still live in New Orleans' Lower Ninth ward. It's impossible for me to convey the lingering devastation in that part of town. I'm sure words can describe the situation on the ground, but nothing I can compose would do it justice.

Four years later, the infamous markings on the houses used by search-and-rescue teams are still there -- some faded, some as vivid as when they were sprayed. Some families live in the houses, and kids walk past these markings as they run in and out of their front doors.

I didn't take pictures, and if I had I'm not sure I would post them here, or anywhere. They are already all over the Internet. And these are peoples' homes, whether the owners are dead or alive, long gone or staying put.

Come to think of it, the lower ninth has no lingering devastation. That takes the situation quite lightly. Only a 15-minute drive from the French Quarter and this weekend's Hallowe'en parties, there sits a neighbourhood -- and there are others -- that died four years ago.

It might be on life support now, and things might be improving in small doses, but a refurbished lower ninth wouldn't be a resurrection. It would be a new neighbourhood built on top of a graveyard.

That's not all there is to say. Not even close. But everyone should come to New Orleans and understand the situation. It is dire.

I did it again. I understated it.

VIDEO: Lafayette Square

2008-10-30T18:59:00.001-07:00

A couple of hours after I recorded this, the park turned into a party. Rock band, drunk people, food, and art for sale.

Such is an evening in New Orleans.

Hullabaloo!

2008-10-30T13:33:00.000-07:00

The student newspaper at Tulane University, the Hullabaloo, is impressive. It's a weekly broadsheet, which just looks cool. It's not a daily like so many other American student papers. But who cares? The Hullabaloo has great content that makes up the difference.

Th stories are very thorough, and writers and editors quite obviously strive to cover both sides of their stories. Their editorial this week is also worth reading: reasonable, understandably harsh, and well written.

Go Tulane! (They're playing against LSU, who I presume are their rivals, this weekend at the Superdome.)

New Orleans: This area is where the better half lives

2008-10-30T13:13:00.001-07:00

A lone string of beads dangles from a limb on Napoleon. Beads like this hang everywhere on St. Charles. It's equal parts eerie and hilarious. While it's clear that a party happened here (and does every year), the beads really do like, well, dead. Their colour has dulled, the revelers are long gone, and everyone now walks idly by.

Behold a fountain in Audubon Park, at the edge of a golf course. Hanging out in this part of town, you'd never have guessed anything had happened in this city (contrast visible here).

The golf course in Audubon Park. In the distance is a tower at the entrance to Loyola University. People here must always be happy, happy, happy. Money does that, right?

This guy did it, too, and he did it well

2008-10-30T09:44:00.000-07:00

One of the comments on my post about a near-death experience outside of Birmingham came from a guy named Padraic Ryan. He travelled the western United States by train last year, and he wrote a travelogue -- that's what these are called -- along the way. And he did it well. It is suggested reading.

Markets are loonie

2008-10-30T09:22:00.000-07:00

Trading at ~~83 cents~~ 81 cents, up ~~two~~ zero cents over yesterday's close. On this budget, every cent matters. And late last week, the dollar was down to 76 cents.

(Over the course of this post, the value of my pocketbook in this country dropped significantly. I hate volatile financial markets.)

Map update: 30 October

2008-10-30T09:10:00.001-07:00

Made it to New Orleans!

This city might have more character than anywhere else in the world.

I'm comfortable saying that even though I have only ever been to three countries and never to continental Europe. Call me wrong if you want. I dare you to provide a better example.

(Map pending; not the greatest connection here at the CC House at Magazine/Jefferson)

Lesson of the Night: Always stay healthy on the road

2008-10-28T21:05:00.000-07:00

I intended to arrive in New Orleans tomorrow morning at 5:30, but circumstances changed.

It's interesting how sometimes our bodies don't tell us how tired they are until the last minute. There I was on the bus to Montgomery, Alabama, thinking about the Gulf Coast.

Then, whammo! Cold sweats. As I coaxed my body into making it to Montgomery, I realized I was incredibly dehydrated. It was a very gradual process. Whoops.

Lesson: Always eat well (check) and drink fluids (duly noted) on the road, or your body will get angry and demand rest immediately.

So: Staying in Montgomery at the cheapest Econolodge ever. They gave me the corporate rate, for whatever reason.

UPDATE: It's amazing what water does. Things should be rolling by morning.

VIDEO: Birmingham's Kelly Ingram Park

2008-10-28T13:04:00.000-07:00

The Civil Rights Institute describes Kelly Ingram Park:

Birmingham's Kelly Ingram Park was the staging ground for Civil Rights rallies, demonstrations and marches during the tumultous years of the 1960s. It was in Kelly Ingram Park that Birmingham police and firemen turned attack dogs and high-powered hoses on participants rallying for human rights and simple decency. These images will forever be associated with Birmingham and Kelly Ingram Park.

And here is Thirty Days, standing near the park's northwest corner.

Only a few decades ago, everything was so much different...

2008-10-28T12:51:00.000-07:00

This church, 16th Street Baptist, was something of a staging ground for Birmingham's civil-rights movement. It sits right across the street from what is now the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and kitty corner to Kelly Ingram Park, a square that pays tribute to those who fought (and gave their lives) fighting segregation.

Birmingham was one of the most segregated cities in the United States for a long time. White people and black people couldn't do anything together. They couldn't even play "an innocent game of dominoes", as the Institute puts it.

The Carver was one of the only theatres that permitted black patrons. It closed in the 80s but is back open now. One of many sites in the city that people who are just now middle-aged would remember as segregated.

Notes from Birmingham

2008-10-28T12:50:00.000-07:00

I saw a sign for someone running to be the district judge. Fair enough, Americans elect judges. I disagree with that, but so it goes.

But now, wow. I just saw a sign for a candidate for none other than the prestigious position of Tax Assessor.

Americans elect everybody. They just elected a traffic light, in fact. It was the man (post?) for the job.

SACME, you've done it again

2008-10-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

I picked the wrong profession. As it turns out, everyone who works for the Society of Academic Continuing Medical Education is incredibly nice. Well, two for two. The most recent example of this gallantry is Birmingham-based Jim Ranieri.

Jim rolled up to the Oxmoor Econolodge and we drove over to Five Points South, the historic-type neighbourhood in town, to grab a bite to eat.

Where did we go? Jim 'n Nick's, of course. We ate pulled pork sandwiches. I should note that mine was better than the one in Nashville -- everyone thinks they have the best BBQ, Jim says. Maybe I just didn't drown the Nashville sandwich in enough BBQ sauce.

All in all, a success. This morning was an early rise to write a post for MediaScout, so it was early to bed.

Thanks for everything, Jim!

Map update: 27 October

2008-10-27T16:02:00.001-07:00

Distance covered so far. I think it has been 12 buses so far. There is still so far to go to get to California. Onward!

First impressions: Birmingham, Alabama

2008-10-27T14:26:00.000-07:00

Well, everything was going fine. We were getting along sweetly, Birmingham and me. But then I saw a monument to Confederate soldiers and remembered all of that business. I'm not writing this place off, of course. After all, that monument was erected 102 years ago. Times change, right?

Tootsie's

2008-10-27T07:24:00.000-07:00

Four Canadians and an Aussie, all staying at the same hostel, went to a bar called Tootsie's last night. I'm not big on country music (at all!), but lemme tell ya. This city shows its visitors a good time.

The REAL Gotham city

2008-10-26T19:00:00.001-07:00

Which one of these buildings do you think is the aforementioned Batman Building?

VIDEO: Nashville at (or near) sunset

2008-10-26T17:09:00.001-07:00

What a vast improvement over Cincinnati. Nashville has character and, as you'll see, a pretty nice looking downtown. There is also a giant football stadium.

You know what? It's a very American city.

They walked like zombies

2008-10-26T17:00:00.000-07:00

Today was apparently the Nashville Zombie Walk. There were loads of them parading down Broadway, freaking everyone (read: old people) out along the way. They caught up with me on a bridge overlooking downtown and we palled around for awhile.

They were surprisingly nice, given that they were zombies.

Free tour of Nashville!

2008-10-26T16:42:00.000-07:00

Late this morning, I met a guy named Don Moore. He has worked with my mom before at this organization, and he holds this position at Vanderbilt University.

After parking downtown, we walked a couple of blocks to Broadway Avenue. It looks a lot like a movie set, this tourist trap of a main drag. But it's great. In the early afternoon, music blared out of each bar and restaurant's windows.

It was mostly country. Nashville loves country music.

After eating, Don and I took a drive around the city. First on the docket: Vanderbilt. It's known as one of those Rich Boys' schools -- $38,000 tuition will give that reputation, I guess. What an incredible campus. Coming from the University of Ottawa where greenspace is quite rare, Vanderbilt was something else.

This is the student centre.

Maybe the most surprising attraction Nashville has to offer is the full-scale replica of the Parthenon west of downtown. Yes, the Parthenon. The city's founders apparently thought its plethora of post-secondary institutions gave it a distinctly Athenian feel. There is an art museum in the basement.

Don, thanks a million for imparting your knowledge of the town. Thirty Days is beyond grateful.

Transylvania: a really old school

2008-10-26T09:05:00.000-07:00

Andrew and Rachel have both attended Transylvania University -- Transy, for short. Andrew is a senior and Rachel finished her undergrad degree there. Here's the thing about Transy.

It's old enough to be an Ivy League school (founded in 1780) and fosters the academic excellence equivalent to an Ivy League school (Andrew and Rachel are smart-plus). But it doesn't have a football team or a hockey team, so it cannot qualify for the prestigious group.

Also, the Kentucky Wildcats lost in a big way to Florida 63-5 yesterday. The U of Kentucky is also in Lexington. People laughed at the score. So did I.

Finally, the best pizza in Lexington is here, and this beer (the first one listed, anyway) is pretty delicious. I can now attest.

Lexington: a blue city in a red state

2008-10-26T08:57:00.000-07:00

There are a few "blue" cities in a few red states. Cities tend to be more liberal than rural areas as a general rule, but some are better known than others. Austin, Texas is one, but I learned that Lexington is another.

Please cherish the photo below. The man in the middle is Andrew Owen, a friend from the NDP a couple of years back. He participated in an internship that brought a bunch of American students to various offices on Parliament Hill. He worked with me in Nathan Cullen's office.

Rachel Wilson, who kindly went out of her way to meet up with Andrew and me for a little while to catch up, interned in Liberal Mike Savage's office down the hall. Such a nice person.

Simply put, Andrew is a rock star. And he was going to a jungle-themed sorority party in the get-up you see pictured. Missing is his pair of pants. Leather (or pleather, I guess). Owen is a hero among his floormates and fraternity brothers at Transylvania University.

Unfortunately, the timing of the bus schedule meant I couldn't attend that party. Imagine the stories. Well, another time soon, perhaps.

Andrew, Rachel, thanks for the welcome.

Map update: 25 October

2008-10-25T11:17:00.000-07:00

Progress as of 14h00. The next few days are set in stone, more or less, but after that dotted line ...

VIDEO: Cincinnati, America's disappointment

2008-10-25T10:58:00.000-07:00

I might be knocking Cincinnati for no good reason. I might just have been trying to fill time there by recording this uninspired video. But if someone can tell me something redeemable about Ohio's southern terminus, I'll be glad to hear it.

Sitting here in beautiful, downtown Lexington, the sun is shining again.

West Virginia: beautiful state

2008-10-24T19:07:00.001-07:00

In a recent episode of FX's 30 Days, Morgan Spurlock returned to his home state, West Virginia, to work in a coal mine.

The show gave the impression that the state is all about coal.

Well, at first glance, that's pretty accurate.

We passed numerous coal refineries and pro-coal billboards today as we wound through the Kanawha River valley on the way to Charleston.

Most of the state itself, though, looks much like the picture to the left (not mine, unfortunately). It is in the heart of the Appalachian mountains, a very old range that is mostly tree-covered -- not many bare peaks, in other words. It makes for a very relaxing experience.

(Note: West Virginia tourism did not pay for any of the above.)

A wacky day on the road

2008-10-24T18:53:00.000-07:00

Every bus today was late. Nothing out of the ordinary in these parts, as Greyhound Canada is much more reliable than its southern parent company that rolls along most Interstate routes.

Some highlights from today, a monstrously long day that started in D.C. and ended in Columbus:

In D.C.'s waiting room, I talked to a gentleman named Mel. He likes Barack Obama and prefers him to John McCain, but is rooting for McCain, anyway. Why? If Obama wins, Mel says, he will be assassinated. The civil-rights movement will thus be set back a generation.

Mel also believes that the Monica Lewinsky affair was a set up; that Bill Clinton plotted to kill former commerce secretary Rob Brown; and that the Pentagon strike on 9/11 was not carried out by Islamic terrorists, but "someone else" who actually received training in landing.

The gentleman in front of me leaving D.C., a clean-cut chap on the way to Richmond, Virginia, proceeded to shield his eyes from light by, I kid you not, wearing underwear on his head.

Someone behind me sort of mumbled his way through the trip, doubting the existence of New Jersey and requesting corroboration from his seatmate.

From rural West Virginia until Columbus, I sat across from a drunk Texan who was drunk presumably because he attended two funerals this week in different parts of the country, and is on his way to see his sister who is (hopefully) recovering from triple-bypass surgery.

A crying baby ruined the trip by crying, in my estimation, 60 per cent of the time. Moral of the story: Always bring some form of nourishment for an infant.

Eighteen hours through the Appalachians

2008-10-24T18:40:00.000-07:00

Not everything always goes according to plan. Case in point: Columbus, Ohio was not part of the plan for Thirty Days. But the way Greyhound travels the land isn't always the most convenient.

As the map illustrates, West Virginia and Kentucky border each other. But in order to get from Charleston to Lexington, you have to transfer (twice!) in Ohio: Columbus and Cincinnati.

Even though the trip cuts through part of Kentucky no more than two hours from Lexington.

All of this made today a little longer, and it's the reason I decided to spend the night in Columbus.

Goodbye, paradise

2008-10-24T18:27:00.000-07:00

Maya (left) and Ryan, meet the world.
Thank you so very much.

And...

Meta.

VIDEO: Exclusive broadcast from D.C.

2008-10-23T16:15:00.000-07:00

I said in the last post that there wouldn't be a picture of me. But I'm debuting a video series. It's sort of inspired by Warren Kinsella. Anyways, the first one was a bit of an experiment.

Go to Washington, take pictures

2008-10-23T16:03:00.001-07:00

It's what you do, right? What's a trip to the National Mall without snapshot like these?

Rest assured, this might be the last picture of me on this blog. I'm not a fan of this kind of thing normally, but this is pretty much to let my parents know that I'm alive and in (fairly) good
shape.

I stumbled upon the Iraqi embassy on Massachusetts Avenue (they sound the whole thing out here, unlike in Boston). Behind me is a water-bottle delivery service. International trade right in front of me!

This is the self-proclaimed Greatest Block in D.C. -- according to the Canadian embassy, anyway. I must agree. That a museum (or Newseum!) about the development of the free press is located right beside the Canadian HQ in Washington is ... well, I can't tell you how at home I felt as I walked past.

Lots of flags, sun bursting through the clouds. Snap.

Holocaust Museum: worth the visit

2008-10-23T15:48:00.000-07:00

There isn't too much I want to write about this museum. Suffice to say, I felt sick when I left. I guess that's part of the point. No pictures, of course.

D.C.'s National Cathedral

2008-10-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

Ryan and Maya live in Cleveland Park, a fine neighbourhood about a 15-minute walk away from Washington's National Cathedral. West Wing devotees will remember the church from a pretty dramatic scene towards the end of the second season. Melodramatic, say some.

In that episode, the President claimed that the Washington Monument could, on its side, fit into the cathedral. I believe him. That is one monstrous church. And it's just as beautiful as the show suggests.

Map update: 23 October

2008-10-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

This is my progress so far. Next stop is Charleston, West Virginia. The bus leaves tonight at 1 a.m. Then it's on to Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi (briefly) and Louisiana.

UPDATE: Part of the itinerary for the next few days looks like this:

D.C. to Charleston, WV
02h15 to 14h45
Overnight

Charleston to Lexington, KY
01h30 to 13h25
Overnight

Lexington to Nashville, TN
22h30 to 05h20
Overnight

Then a hostel/motel!

Nashville to Birmingham, AL
11h20 to 15h50
And then a motel, for sure!

Three nights on a bus in a row. I don't know if that makes sense or not. I think not. I guess we'll see.

Boston to Washington

2008-10-23T09:55:00.000-07:00

Not much happened for 12 hours. But at the end of it all, I had made it Washington, D.C.
My mission for the day was to spot as many professional sports stadiums as I could from the windows of the bus. The final tally:

Fenway Park (Boston Red Sox)
Yankee Stadium (Chicago Cubs)
M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore Ravens/Stallions/Colts)
I couldn't spot Giants Stadium in the Meadowlands. This was a big disappointment, mostly because it's the only thing in an enormous swamp. Er, New Jersey.

Boston and a trip to a newspaper

2008-10-23T09:48:00.001-07:00

Walking around Harvard, you wouldn't think that one of the most famous student newspapers around is all that credible. Not because it looks unappealing, reads badly, or is disparaged by students. None of that is a problem. You just can't find it anywhere.

We asked a few students outside one of the cafeterias where to find the Crimson. Their answer: a shrug of the shoulders. What!?

Turns out the Crimson e-mails every edition to all students. Stop the presses! (Literally)

OK, I'm not one to advocate for the death of the print edition, but an electronic version in the inboxes of every student seems not only to be a great way to spread information, but is also cheap. Crazy cheap.

The Crimson, you've done it again.

But I still wanted to find a copy of the paper. All the stars aligned, we turned the right corner, and there was Crimson HQ. Not only does the staff occupy their own building, but the name of the newspaper is engraved in cement. In a word: badass.

For the record, the design staff seemed weirded out by my excitable request for one of their newspapers. And they were really young, which terrified me.

Spend an hour walking by people you know are eons brighter than you and you start to feel a bit uneasy.

Boston and a trip to school

2008-10-23T09:38:00.000-07:00

The downtown core and near suburbs of Boston all share one thing in common: beautiful, well-dressed, clearly wealthy people. Everyone on the subway reads. Not the city's trash tabloid either, but real books. Everybody. And it smells, well, not bad—anywhere.

At the hostel, Thirty Days encountered its second guest cameo: Dr. Javier Vera, a TV producer who lives and works in Orlando. He also attends conventions all over North America to do with new media and the future of the business. There was one rolling through Boston, so that explained his presence.

Javier and I took a trip to Harvard, a small college just north of the Charles River in Cambridge, Mass. By the way, everybody refers to the state and all of its subsequently titled hospitals, schools, and streets not as Massachusetts, but simply as "Mass".

When we walked by the main church on campus, Javier and I noticed several hundred or maybe a couple thousand chairs set up. Turns out Al Gore spoke there yesterday. It was almost enough for me to stay in Boston for an extra afternoon, until I remembered that Al Gore is the most boring person in the world. But it's all part of a new initiative to green the school.

This picture, by the way, is of MIT Building Ten: The Great Dome. Two incredible schools, thousands of terribly smart people, minutes apart.

Wow.

In D.C., updates coming soon...

2008-10-23T06:29:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posting. I am currently in Washington, D.C. and will update later this morning, photos and all. Last night, after a 12-hour trip from Boston (a long 12, not a short 12), I was too tired to want to do anything.

But I should mention that the two people currently housing me are without a doubt the coolest Canadian (temporary) expats I've ever met. Their names are Ryan and Maya, and they are studying here in the nation's capital.

They get to witness the ignorance of Americans every day and, as a result, feel more comfortable and secure about Canada's cultural superiority. They can also say they live in D.C., which counts for points right off the bat.

Travis, thank you for introducing us.