My Netroots
We attend the Netroots convention every year. This year’s was unusual in many ways. The train from the airport to the hotel was free for those over 65; progressive. The first Kossack we encountered was arjun, who directed us to our hotel. We discovered that our hotel, The Hampton Inn, was directly across from the convention center, very convenient. The architecture of the city as viewed from our window was impressive. More about that later.
The next day we toured the Reading Terminal Market, which is like Pike Place Market without the Flying Fish. So much good food and vegetables, with a significant Pennsylvania Dutch influence.
We attended the Cheers and Jeers dinner at the Ritz! which was excellent for both the food and meeting up with Kossack friends. The next morning we enjoyed the fabulous included breakfast at the hotel. Then things changed, in that Mrs. side pocket felt ill. I have detailed this before on KTK, OND, and New Day. While she stayed in our room I was able to attend some of the panels and presentations, but I also attended to Mrs. sp and missed quite a bit; we are generally a team and do things together.
For those who wish to read a good overview of this year’s Netroots I recommend On the Ground at Netroots Nation 2019. And if you are ever in doubt about attending in the future I recommend making an effort to do so. Meeting folks you only know on line is excellent and will enhance your participation here immensely.
One positive impression I brought back was that young people, millennials if you will, attended in force. They were everywhere in the halls, communicating and networking, exchanging contacts and ideas. Good vibrations.
One sad thing about our Philadelphia experience was the number of homeless. Folks had mentioned that the city is the poorest big city in the country. The view out of our hotel included spectacular buildings and expensive automobiles parked in lots. It also included homeless sites where an individual had set up blankets and cardboard walls. There were guys sleeping on the sidewalks both under cover under the convention center and right in the open next to building walls. I spoke with a Philadelphia woman on our return flight who said it was even worse in the winter. We have a problem.
Mrs. side pocket was in the hospital much of this week. She is now home and on the mend (diverticulitis). We are thankful for the excellent care she received at Kaiser, and for our neighbors, who have brought food and good wishes and offers of help. It seems as though our group of condos is like the neighborhoods we grew up in years ago.