Talking South Africa, staging areas, security alerts and tasers

Well, looky here! Dig, if you will, this picture. It's everything I packed for the 2006 World Cup trip to Germany. Clothes and everything -- they're just a bit hard to see, up top but below the gnome.

And no, silly, the gnome didn't roam. He remained home, like a good little gnome – I just thought it was something funny to stick in the picture.

Any-who, gnomes and Dr. Seuss rhymes aside, I’ve got to begin putting together my staging area for South Africa this weekend. I do so love the staging area. Let’s see, how am I going to pack that taser … ? (Sounds like your intrepid journalist here will damn sure need it.)