The view from here

The amazing view from the front steps of the United States Capitol Building. Took a tour with the Science Olympiad team. Although we did get to see the big dome room, Statuary Hall, the Crypt (not actually a crypt, just where Mr. and Mrs. Washington were supposed to be buried. However, in their will, it plainly stated that both were to be buried at Mt. Vernon, so they were.) and the old Supreme Court room, it was a rather wimpy tour. All of us were not impressed.

Today we also walked to the building where all the US senators have offices and met with Senator Ted Stevens (AK-Rep.) He was nice and let us sign his guest book, take a group photo with him and answer our questions in his office. However nice he was, though, he rather stepped around some questions. One of my teammates asked something along the lines of "What is your opinion on global warming and what do you plan to do about it, etc.?". Mr. Stevens gave us a long and detailed talk about what measures had already been taken and what was happening, but, on the whole, he avoided saying his opinion and what he was doing about it. I found it rather hilarious. I know that he can't say a far-left or far-right thing, even if that is what he believes, because he would offend people and scare away some of his voters, but seriously! He could at least make an attempt at saying something we don't already know!

Lastly, we had a re-enactment of a death march to the White House. Although I will admit in hindsight it was nice to see the White House with my own eyes, all of us [kids] were exhausted and didn't care. We hadn't had food or water for at least six hours, it was 90 degrees F. (as compared to cool temps. around 60) and we all stayed up the night before, hyped on stress-release. After that, we were all given ten bucks for lunch, which we had to keep for two more hours till we got to the airport. (I didn't go with the team, I stayed two more days with Mum and KMS, but I got ten bucks anyway!) It was inhumane.