We do know a good thing, don't we. GK and Sean - you're great!!
From the visa site:
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">If you cannot come personally, you may entrust someone else or a travel/visa agent to come to the visa office ...
</font>
Way in advance I know, but as I'm in DC I'd be willing to walk anyone's passport in with my own for the visa when we get closer to the date.