A buddy of mine wrote this past week to ask, “What *do* embassies do? If the only answer is “notarize papers and renew passports” then my follow-up question is: Why does it take a building the size of a football field to notarize papers and renew passports?” Actually, I thought he had a pretty good point. A quick check at the US State Dept. turned up this definition: “An embassy is a permanent diplomatic mission with the purpose of improving the national interests between the host country and the United States.” But that still doesn’t seem to explain the football-field sized buildings. Can anyone offer any insight for my buddy and me? :-) If so, just click “Comment” following the posting of this item on the web. We’d greatly appreciate the explanation.