Newseum: Better late than never!

Sorry that I'm so late on getting everyone up-to-speed on what I've been up to down here; it has been a very busy week getting settled in at work.  As busy as it has been, I'm really enjoying the internship, and I am fortunate enough to work with a dedicated and personable group of paralegals and attorneys (and, of course, fellow Hamiltonians, Knute and Cris).  I'm looking forward to beginning my first full week at the office and delving deeper into my assignments.

I have to say, I am thoroughly impressed with Washington, D.C.  It is an incredible city that has seemingly endless educational and recreational opportunities.  Being my first week here, I have felt humbled on a regular basis by the massive monuments and government buildings, the likes of which I have never seen before.  As I continue to explore everything that the capital has to offer, I'm sure that I will grow to appreciate it more and more each day.  

Last Wednesday, during our group outing, we went to the Newseum.  If I'm not mistaken, I believe that the museum is relatively new, and it features some fascinating exhibits.  Here is a sampling of what it has to offer: large segments of the Berlin Wall, which were painted by famous artists; the pen that was used by Mikhail Gorbachev when he officially resigned, symbolizing the end of Soviet rule; prize winning photographs; a First Amendment display; copies of newspapers from around the world that displayed September 12, 2001 headlines; the boots belonging to the infamous "shoe bomber"; and, most chilling of all, pieces from the planes that were hijacked on 9/11.  I cannot describe how strange it felt to be in the presence of these objects; they so poignantly represent a day that left the lives of many Americans in shambles, but simultaneously invigorated the American spirit.  I will certainly not forget this experience any time soon.  I have uploaded pictures on Facebook, so feel free to check them out.

In other news, I seem to be eating my words from a previous post, in which I suggested that the Republican candidates should concede to Romney.  Newt pulled off a huge victory in South Carolina, but, ultimately, I believe that Romney has more firepower and a better chance to contend for the presidency come November.

Federal offices here don't open until eleven tomorrow morning due to ice, so it looks like I can sleep in a bit.  Clearly the folks down here in the Mid-Atlantic aren't as hearty as up in Clinton, where it takes ten-plus feet of snow for a delayed opening.  Although the weather down here has been fairly cold recently, we should see mid-fiftys as the week progresses.  I hope that you all have a good week at school/work!  More to come.

Nick