This was posted on the Peace Frogs web site sometime between 1630 and 2000
EDT today (7/20/98):
"Team Tralfamador, Ranas de la Media Noche, and Team 406 have made it to
the Cancun checkpoint. Team Frogzilla is out of the race."
I have three comments:
1. I have been spelling Vonnegut's planet, and the name of our heros'
team name, as "Tramalfador." The Peace Frogs organizational wizards
disagree; they spell it "Tralfamador." I own only one Vonnegut book, and
it isn't "Slaughterhouse Five," from whence the name doth spring. The
District of Columbia library system, suffering certain funding disabilities
during the most recent forty-four years of the reign of Mayor-for-Life
Marion ("The Librarian") Barry, is open only about one hour every third
month.
I therefore went to the source of all human knowledge, the
world-wide web, and did a Yahoo search on both names. My spelling choice
came up with 13 hits; the other variant tapped out at 17. I like my hits,
though fewer in number, better. Until someone comes up with a categorical
answer by reference to publisher name and page number in Vonnegut's book,
it will remain "Tramalfador." I swear to God that if I never learn
anything further about this rally --- and if the past several days are any
indication, I may not --- I will at least learn how to spell that damned
name.
2. It's a rally, not a race.
3. Team Frogzilla was composed of the four kids in the low-slung Chevy.
I didn't think they'd make it out of Richmond in that pig. They did. I
give them a round of applause for accomplishing that. Team Brew Crew II is
not mentioned in the dispatches from the Peace Frogs front lines.
Presumably they are returning to New York, meeting new drinking buddies
along the way. Another round of applause, please. This Bud's for you, II.
The three teams left were the only ones who had any realistic chance to
finish, much less win. So what can I say? If I knew the standings, I'd
tell you, even though they apparently don't mean anything. If I knew where
they were going next, I'd mention that as well, but I don't, so I can't.
I sincerely do not believe that this is how most good war correspondents
began their careers. At least they had rumors to work with.
Bob Higdon
Washington, D.C.
Gleaned from Vicki Harvey's posting on Greg McQueen's Frog Rally page:
"Bob Ray called in from Punta Gorda, Belize, where they had driven
over 100 miles of gravel road to catch a ferry that could take them
directly to Costa Rica.
Unfortunately, when they arrived in Belize they discovered that the
ferry had sunk a couple of weeks ago, so now they have to backtrack
and drive through Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua.
Apparently the checkpoint in Guatemala has been canceled, so now
they just have to get to the finish in San Jose, Costa Rica by
Saturday. They are reported to be in good spirits and doing well."
