This past weekend I attending the American Political Science Association annual convention here in DC. I didn't go to as many sessions as I planned on, but it is rather hard to choose what to go to since most of the interesting things overlap. I was able to find some interesting panels to attend, including one from the wonderful Claremont Institute. Perhaps the best part is the book fair, where all the major publishing houses put their wares on display. Granted, most of the offerings aren't terribly interesting I did see a few tomes that I put on my list. And I picked up a few of my own.
I first arrived on Friday at about 1:30pm and wandered past the Harper Collins booth. I quickly backtracked as Bill Kristol was sitting there chatting with the publishing rep. There he was, just sitting there. They were giving away free copies of the special 10th Anniversary collection of Weekly Standard articles to the first 100 people. They started at 12:30 so I arrived just as the hour allotted was concluding. The rep took a copy from a box that was still surprisingly full and handed it to Mr. Kristol to sign, which he did (for MOMS, a big fan of the mag). At first I was surprised that Mr. Kristol would be sitting so alone and that there would be so many books left over from the 100 provided, but then I remembered that this is an academic conference and my surprise turned to the fact that Harper Collins brought him at all. Certainly Thomas Friedman or Paul Krugman would have gone through that 100 in a minute and have a throng of admirers all around (not that I think that Friedman and Krugman are comparable, lunacy-wise). After Mr. Kristol signed my copy up came Harvey Mansfield. I was going to compliment him on his article on TR in TNC a few months ago, but he started having a personal conversation with someone and I thought it best not to intrude like a teenager watching The Beatles de-plane. It certainly was neo-con heaven! I also got a two volume edition of the Fable of the Bees and a handy tote bag from The Liberty Fund, a great organization.
On my way out to meet my friend Kilometers I had a sighting of a different sort. Storming up the driveway to the hotel was a man in a very well-tailored three piece suit which a large gold watch chain strung across his vest. A very well-dressed man, surely, with the finest taste, like an English gentleman of old. Of course the large afro and snaggled teeth dispelled this misconception. It was none other than the star of the Matrix, and rap sensation Cornel West. I won't even tell you what I think about him since you can likely fill in your own thoughts for mine.
But it was fun and exciting. Other than the fact that a more than average proportion of the men had beards, there weren't a lot of whacky-looking people. There weren't too many women, and a lot of Asians and Latin Americans. I will say the most whacky people I saw were from Duke, for what it is worth. But then, I have probably already said too much.
Where in heaven's name is my air sickness bag?
Posted by: Cardinal | 12 September 2005 at 02:57