NATO Invades Chicago

I just read an article about the upcoming NATO conference in Chicago, and how much of a big deal it is to beef up security. I had read earlier how certain tourist attractions are even closed to the general public during this time period. Today's story also mentioned all the protesters getting organized. Tens of thousands of ordinary people are getting their lives and daily routine upset, millions of dollars eXpended, ... and for what? So some "important" people can chat?

Then I thought, why can't they just send e-mails and have video conferences like the rest of us already do? Skype? Text messaging? Tin cans and string?

And then I read farther into the article and saw that the Secret Service was handling the security at the venue. I laughed when I thought, "Let's see, wasn't there another recent news story involving the Secret Service and an international conference somewhere, um, let's see, South America maybe? Why, what else could possibly go wrong with the Secret Service in charge?"