Folks, Earlier today, while making my flights reservation, I realized finally what's going on: suddenly all the pieces are getting into place. Well, this whole process (IFWP, formation of ICANN, SOs, ...) is run behind the scenes by an international cartel: the airline companies and traver agents. We suspected this since the Summer World Tour of the IFWP, and to a certain extent we accepted it. We found that some change of time zone (with the consequent loss of sleep), change of climate (with consequent loss of health), change of food (with consequent increase of... well, forget it) was keeping us young. "We will have something to tell our grandchildren" we thought (if this way of life is not killing us well before we get to the age of having grandchildren). Think at the key issues: openness, and geographical distribution. What does this mean? Openness: everybody can participate - more people, more flights, more hotels, more money. Geographical distribution: fly people from everywhere to somewhere else. But now, it is becoming too much. The airlines + travel agents found out that by planning in advance (thing at which we are getting pretty good - we already know that the next ICANN meeting will be in Singapore on 1999-03-03) we *save money*, and that's good. Well, what's good for us, is bad for them. So they blurred the picture and mudded the waters. They made confusion, so that we didn't know until two weeks before the last DNSO meeting where it was. People suspected Washington, but were not sure. Moreover, rumors spread that the meeting was closed, by invitation only. So people decided not to book: the risk was too high. And now, the big news: the meeting will be held! Even bigger news: it will be open, and geographical representation is recommended. So people from every remote place on Earth rush in herds to their local travel agent, who is all smile (remember, he is part of the plot!), and sais: "Sorry, I wish you had decided earlier! You know you need 21 days advance booking for having reduced fare flights!" You hold your breath, get all purple, and, while you think at the answer, he adds: "Ah, BTW, Washington you say? Nay, Congress has resumed working (?!?) and almost all hotels are booked, you only have the most expensive left!" I realized all this in a flash when I heard my travel agent say the exact words I reported above. Regards Roberto __________________________________________________ To receive the digest version instead, send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To SUBSCRIBE forward this message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNSUBSCRIBE, forward this message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Problems/suggestions regarding this list? Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___END____________________________________________
