6.06.2008
Attending a briefing on U.S.-China
Attending a briefing on U.S.-China relations at the Center for Strategic & International Studies.
Front Row Seats at 1600 Pennsylvania: Priceless
Yesterday was definitely an interesting day. We started out on a walking tour of some areas around the White House--saw a bunch of statues. One of the coolest views of the city is from the observation deck of the Old Post Office. The brave students that decided to take the journey, albeit in an elevator, to the top were rewarded with a 360 angle of breathtaking visuals. Washington, D.C. is most certainly a city that makes one feel very, very small. In the midst of grand history, affluent culture and huge buildings, more than once I've heard the students say just how humbled they are to be experiencing in real-time the concepts and theories that most have only really read about in books or seen on TV.
Probably the highlight of yesterday was the opportunity to sit in on the daily press briefing at the White House. Of course, the journalist in me wanted to be throwing questions at Dana Perino about the latest goings-on in the Bush White House. I instead refrained and sat in awe. I had the opportunity to sit down with a couple of students at yesterday's conclusion. I still need to do a quick edit on the audio, but I will plan to post the audio reports by tomorrow. Also, I took pictures at the press briefing, etc. that are on a camera that seems to have misplaced itself. So, until (I'm being optimistic) I find the camera ... those pictures will have to wait.
We continued our busy day with a visit to The American Interest, a political magazine that publishes six times a year. We sat down with Editor Adam Garfinkel and discussed a variety of topics: the 2008 presidential race, the war in Iraq and the hyper irrelevancy of the mainstream media. The discourse was intense as the long time journalist and former speechwriter for the Secretary of State navigated the depths of his mind and experiences.
Last night, we took a stroll down to Washington Harbor and Georgetown. Really happening places with shopping and restaurants galore.
Feet are blistered, shoulders are burned and minds are being expanded.
Lizeth Chacon records the view looking towards the U.S. Capital building
View from the Old Post Office observation deck.
The Old Post Office
Fountain in Washington Harbor
Probably the highlight of yesterday was the opportunity to sit in on the daily press briefing at the White House. Of course, the journalist in me wanted to be throwing questions at Dana Perino about the latest goings-on in the Bush White House. I instead refrained and sat in awe. I had the opportunity to sit down with a couple of students at yesterday's conclusion. I still need to do a quick edit on the audio, but I will plan to post the audio reports by tomorrow. Also, I took pictures at the press briefing, etc. that are on a camera that seems to have misplaced itself. So, until (I'm being optimistic) I find the camera ... those pictures will have to wait.
We continued our busy day with a visit to The American Interest, a political magazine that publishes six times a year. We sat down with Editor Adam Garfinkel and discussed a variety of topics: the 2008 presidential race, the war in Iraq and the hyper irrelevancy of the mainstream media. The discourse was intense as the long time journalist and former speechwriter for the Secretary of State navigated the depths of his mind and experiences.
Last night, we took a stroll down to Washington Harbor and Georgetown. Really happening places with shopping and restaurants galore.
Feet are blistered, shoulders are burned and minds are being expanded.
Lizeth Chacon records the view looking towards the U.S. Capital building
View from the Old Post Office observation deck.
The Old Post Office
Fountain in Washington Harbor
The A-List
Good morning!
Lots to try and get through in the few minutes that I have before we head out for today's adventures.
First, an introduction of student participants:
James Armstrong
Stephanie Bullen
Lizeth Chacon
Morgan Feldhamer
MacKenzie Lintz
Alexis Marsh
Conor O'Neil
Brandon Peterson
Allie Rocheleau
Anthony Stachowitz
Kathleen Van Voorhis
Erin Woodward
Lots to try and get through in the few minutes that I have before we head out for today's adventures.
First, an introduction of student participants:
James Armstrong
Stephanie Bullen
Lizeth Chacon
Morgan Feldhamer
MacKenzie Lintz
Alexis Marsh
Conor O'Neil
Brandon Peterson
Allie Rocheleau
Anthony Stachowitz
Kathleen Van Voorhis
Erin Woodward
6.05.2008
Day Two
It's Thursday. Day Two. Oh, the joys that are sleeping on a dorm room mattress!
It was nice to finally close my eyes last night after a night time walking tour of some of Washington's more prolific monuments. With twelve students and a blogger in tow, Norman led us to the Vietnam Wall, Korean War Memorial, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and others. The monuments are cool during the day, but take on an entirely different persona when the lights go out and the focus is on them and only them. Seeing folks rubbing the names of lost loved ones off the Vietnam Wall is quite moving. More than once last night, I heard students talking highly of the experience. It seems like the perfect way to begin.
It rained on and off yesterday--varying between subtle spitting to heavy hurricane type moisture. We managed to dodge most of the drops on our tour, but it is nearly impossible to miss the moist, humid air that resonates throughout D.C.'s inner workings.
Today, we are off to do a little ... okay, a lot ... of walking near the White House before heading in to 1600 Pennsylvania for the morning press briefing and a visit with Press Secretary Dana Perino. Like Norm said last night, "the best way to learn about a city is on foot." I think the students are getting pretty excited for their two-week stay in "The District." Should be interesting.
I am optimistic that the wifi access issues are going to work themselves out. Look for more intensive, thoughtful ramblings--compliments of some student and Provizer sound bytes--coming in the next day or so. And, also a discussion of some more technical and logistical angles on the tools I'm using and why.
Until then, enough of my rambling ... here are a few pictures.
It was nice to finally close my eyes last night after a night time walking tour of some of Washington's more prolific monuments. With twelve students and a blogger in tow, Norman led us to the Vietnam Wall, Korean War Memorial, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial and others. The monuments are cool during the day, but take on an entirely different persona when the lights go out and the focus is on them and only them. Seeing folks rubbing the names of lost loved ones off the Vietnam Wall is quite moving. More than once last night, I heard students talking highly of the experience. It seems like the perfect way to begin.
It rained on and off yesterday--varying between subtle spitting to heavy hurricane type moisture. We managed to dodge most of the drops on our tour, but it is nearly impossible to miss the moist, humid air that resonates throughout D.C.'s inner workings.
Today, we are off to do a little ... okay, a lot ... of walking near the White House before heading in to 1600 Pennsylvania for the morning press briefing and a visit with Press Secretary Dana Perino. Like Norm said last night, "the best way to learn about a city is on foot." I think the students are getting pretty excited for their two-week stay in "The District." Should be interesting.
I am optimistic that the wifi access issues are going to work themselves out. Look for more intensive, thoughtful ramblings--compliments of some student and Provizer sound bytes--coming in the next day or so. And, also a discussion of some more technical and logistical angles on the tools I'm using and why.
Until then, enough of my rambling ... here are a few pictures.
6.04.2008
Getting Going
So, wifi access has proven a little spotty so far. Have just been
hanging out with the students and getting settled. Headed out in a bit
for a night tour of the monuments. More, including pictures in the
a.m. or sooner if I can tap some Internet love.
hanging out with the students and getting settled. Headed out in a bit
for a night tour of the monuments. More, including pictures in the
a.m. or sooner if I can tap some Internet love.
Sent from my iPod
6.03.2008
Is this thing on?
In a little more than 24 hours, I will check my black Samsonite at the ticket counter, navigate the airport security march and park my rear end at the gate where the airplane is headed for Washington, D.C.
Honestly, I'm getting kind of excited just typing about it. You see this isn't just another opportunity to earn frequent flier miles and pay $5 for a bag of pretzels. This is going to be different. Much different.
Cathy Lucas, the College's communications ace, approached me six weeks ago about taking on this project. The goal was to have me spend a few days walking, walking, walking and documenting, documenting, documenting the 17th edition of a two-week summer session in the nation's capital with Political Science Professor Norm Provizer and a handful of adventurous college students.
Sounded like fun to me.
I'll be staying in the same dorms. I'll be eating the same food. I'll be wearing the soles off my sneakers just the same. I'll be seeing, hearing and experiencing the same grand history. And, I'll be loving every minute of it.
You might be wondering who "I" is? I'm Chris Lawson and I spend my days (and occasional sleepless nights) working with a talented and creative team in the Office of College Communications. I am a 2002 graduate of the College. Photojournalism and Technical Communications is what it says on my transcripts. After graduation, I spent a few years telling stories with pictures as a community journalist for a group of weekly newspapers. I am definitely thankful for the many experiences I was blessed enough to witness as a full-time photojournalist. I left the newspaper world last May. And, somehow, all these years later, I find myself back at Metro State. Still telling stories. Still really blessed. Life's great like that.
I look forward to helping tell the story of D.C. Experience 2008. Thanks for being the audience--one of the most important aspects of any story.
Honestly, I'm getting kind of excited just typing about it. You see this isn't just another opportunity to earn frequent flier miles and pay $5 for a bag of pretzels. This is going to be different. Much different.
Cathy Lucas, the College's communications ace, approached me six weeks ago about taking on this project. The goal was to have me spend a few days walking, walking, walking and documenting, documenting, documenting the 17th edition of a two-week summer session in the nation's capital with Political Science Professor Norm Provizer and a handful of adventurous college students.
Sounded like fun to me.
I'll be staying in the same dorms. I'll be eating the same food. I'll be wearing the soles off my sneakers just the same. I'll be seeing, hearing and experiencing the same grand history. And, I'll be loving every minute of it.
You might be wondering who "I" is? I'm Chris Lawson and I spend my days (and occasional sleepless nights) working with a talented and creative team in the Office of College Communications. I am a 2002 graduate of the College. Photojournalism and Technical Communications is what it says on my transcripts. After graduation, I spent a few years telling stories with pictures as a community journalist for a group of weekly newspapers. I am definitely thankful for the many experiences I was blessed enough to witness as a full-time photojournalist. I left the newspaper world last May. And, somehow, all these years later, I find myself back at Metro State. Still telling stories. Still really blessed. Life's great like that.
I look forward to helping tell the story of D.C. Experience 2008. Thanks for being the audience--one of the most important aspects of any story.
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