Heading down to DC

Our masters project is due in a week. So of course I’m on a Greyhound
bus heading down to Silver Spring for 24 hours, solo, carrying a pile
of gear and thankful beyond words for the social network I’ve got.
When I found out only last night exactly where the event I’m covering
is being held, I was able to reach out and find friendly hospitality
with next to no notice. It’s a very comforting feeling.

One of the Iraq vets who featured prominently in our project is
speaking at an event called Winter Soldier; it’s a reprisal of the
event of the same name from 1971, where many, many Vietnam veterans
(including a young John Kerry) spoke out against the war. This weekend
is about veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan doing the same thing.
Apparently there are the inevitable pro-war protesters heckling
outside the event, too - besides filming our subject’s panel
discussion, I’ll probably film or record for radio any conversations I
can get. Assuming I don’t hermiate myself carrying stuff.

Then it’ll be back to NYC tomorrow evening, followed by a weeklong
spring “break,” which will be spent almost entirely in writing and
editing together our project.

On other news: bus travel blows, compared to train travel, in every
aspect other than price. Why does it only cost half as much?