When I arrived at midnight after the trip out, the car rental place was in complete disarray. The computers were down. The people were down. Nothing was working. Someone behind the counter decided he wanted to help me, and so he went out into the cold night and proudly brought me this:
I drove away with an (unintentional) screech of wheels. The next morning, I started my LA driving adventures: manuvering through terrible traffic, finding freeways, getting lost. This afternoon I convinced my niece to do the driving for me, which was a huge relief. She got a big kick out of the car.
It's always sweet and sour to come back here for me. I went to high school here, but I don't know much about the territory. I do recognize everything about how it feels to be here, and I always notice the pitiless sun and the solitary palm trees -- and also the sweetness of the air near the beach. I notice the campiness and the ugliness of things. It's a harsh place when you visit, and I think it gets easier once you've been here for a while. I'm from here, but I don't feel a close connection to this place.
I visited the ICANN offices today in Marina del Rey, to meet the new Chief Operating Officer, Doug Brent, and to talk to several people. ICANN is also "from" here, as a matter of history -- its offices are in the same building as ISI. Should ICANN always be here? Does it make sense? This city is more about media than technology or governance.
But, as I say, it's about time for me to leave, so no grand pronouncements about anything much. I sadly have to return the car.