Jacksonville Skyline Rag

Ah, the joys of business travel.  I just got back from two days in Jacksonville last night, and it wasn't until this morning that I realized how restful it was.  Not because I wasn't working or running around, but because I wasn't woken up at 5:30 by crib-calls from the adjoining room.  I did miss the little kid, though...we spent this morning discussing the relative enjoyment of the squeeky toy vs. the crinkly toy.  And it's nice to be back in New York, where your dinner options at 10:30 PM go well beyond Denny's.  By the way, do you realize how much food you can get for $5.99 there?  No wonder I had a roll-away bed stored there in college...

I love going to and learning about new places, and Jacksonville was no exception. While I was there I did a little exploration and research, and discovered some fascinating things I'd love to share with you.  To provide context, I've decided to compare Jacksonville to someplace relatively similar--in this case Phobos, the largest moon of Mars.

	Phobos	Jacksonville
Named for	The Greek god of fear, an attendant of the war god Mars	Unknown, but probably named after Action Jackson	Advantage = Phobos
Size	12.4 x 14.3 x 17.4 miles	874.3 sq miles (the largest city by land area in the U.S.)	Advantage = Jacksonville (who knew?)
Number of Applebee’s restaurants	0	10	Advantage = Phobos. Does the food you get ever resemble the picture on the table-tent?
Temperature	-4° to –112° C	60° to 41° (on Wednesday)	Advantage = Phobos. Dude, I knew it was cold there, but I should have been swimming in Florida
Accessibility	Russian Phobos-Grunt probe may launch by 2010	More than 100 departures and arrivals per day	Advantage = Push. Jacksonville is more accessible, but a Russian ship named after a bathroom noise is hard to pass up
Neighboring Communities	Deimos	Daytona Beach	Advantage = unless the residents of Deimos press their boobs on your wind-shield, it’s Jacksonville
Famous Natives	These guys	Some of Lynyrd Skynyrd	Advantage = Push
Leader	John Carter (Warlord)	John Peyton (Mayor)	Advantage = Phobos

I'm not sure who wins this battle royale, but the fine people of Northern Florida should be proud to be so competitive with a captured asteroid.

Comments

[Sarah]

Um, I shouldn't even admit I know this, but Limp Bizkit is also from Jacksonville.

[Sarah]

Advantage: Phobos

[Phat Daddy]

Lynard Skynard is from Phobos?

[Mr. Big Dubya]

Oh - just another story I'll have to share with you whenever it is that we get together - I spent a long weekend there one night back in '86.

[misfithausfrau]

Wow. My Jacksonville experience consisted of getting to the hotel at 11PM on a Wednesday, a meeting at the hotel the next morning from 8:30-5:00 (which consisted of my Florida counterparts having their heads and asses served on a platter--THAT was comfortable) and a cab ride back to the airport at 5:15PM. Come to think of it, that is the only time I have ever been to Florida.