[chapman1]

What I found distressing about this year's paper airplane madness is that most people above us seemed to make no attempt to actually create an object that flew well. Many of the objects that landed near - or on - us were crumpled pieces of paper that resembled what a kindergartner might create. Note: there were no kindergartners above us.

I can only assume that the appeal to such people was a) indulging in a sanctioned form of littering, b) in bothering those below them, or c) in creating a great mess that others will have to clean up. Not exactly what FIRST is all about, IMHO.

Some (5%?) of the paper planes that descended from above, however, had beautiful flight paths that gracefully wafted with the air conditioning currents all the way to the playing field. These were the creations of FIRST-caliber kids.

It might be beneficial to create a separate event in the Einstein sector while the Quali rounds are going on, for those kids who are so inclined... with the proviso that they all pitch in to pick up their collective litter each day, in a display of Gracious Professionalism rather than defacto sanctioned littering.

Perhaps a mini-championship for those who excel... and hence create an atmosphere that does not promote a littering problem but instead creates another intellectual and creative challenge...