As we await the real start of the RNC tomorrow — today is a gavel in, gavel out affair due to the weather — here are a few sights from the scene.
I grabbed this shot in the Tampa Bay Times Forum last night. They’re getting the big stage ready.
Security is literally wherever you look, once you near Tampa’s downtown “green zone” style security perimeter. Swarms of these bicycle police roam the streets in organized packs.
Inside the convention center, we see a glimpse of the future. Once Google takes over the world, we won’t have any privacy but we’ll have bubble chairs for everyone.
And you’ll be able to work and walk on treadmills at the same time.
The bubble chairs, the treadmills, a TV studio and a coffee shop are all in the designated bloggers area. So far the wi-fi is holding up to moderate traffic here.
You never know who’s going to turn up. I ran into Virginia Lt. Gov. Bob Bolling outside the America’s Radio News booth earlier, and after that, turned a corner, and there was Angelina Jolie’s father.
Jon Voight was giving an impromptu press gaggle right in the middle of the hallway.
Update: NRO’s Jim Geraghty turned up on the treadmill.
The treadmills on which you walk while you work are the new “green power” generators now that Obama’s solar gamble has gone bellyup. Who needs dirty old coal when you can have people moving, as Michelle Obama has directed, and generating power as they move and go about their jobs?
– Jon last night in The Odessa File. He was so young then!
Reading or working on a treadmill, stationary bike, or elliptical machine is old hat. One company made bikes with a Web browser built into the control panel.
However I question the judgement of anybody who uses one while wearing work clothes. There’s reason they make “sweat” pants.