There was a traffic jam in the hall. As I got closer it became clear that a small woman with red hair was locked in a very intense conversation with Matt Stoller from MyDD in the middle of the corridor.

Kombiz from Eduwonk pulled me aside.

"Do you know who that is?" he whispered.

I assumed that the small but vital woman undressing Matt Stoller with her eyes was Arianna Huffington.

"That's Maureen Dowd."

"No way!" I blurted out, "My grandfather has a crush on Maureen Dowd!"

I must have said it louder than I thought, because Dowd instantly severed her laser-like eye contact with Stoller and swiveled at the waist to glare at me.