things i learned on my trip to dc

1. Don't try and photograph the IMF or World Bank! A major goal of mine on this trip was to enter the sacred confines of the IMF and World Bank to see the kind of information they offered on development, lending strategies, and 3rd World debt. Of course, since the major policy makers worship at the alter of the "free"-market, I wasn't surprised to see that most of the history/timeline offered at the IMF remained in line with the current neo-liberal economic order. Anyway, once outside the IMF, I asked J to take a picture of me, only to be yelled at by a security guard, rent-a-cop type. He said only staff member can photograph the building. Fearing for our beloved disposable camera, we slipped across the street and photographed from a nearby park. We managed to enter the World Bank, but once security discovered we didn't have an appointment with anyone, they escorted us outside. Sigh. I feel like creating one of those awful touristy t-shirts that reads: I went to the IMF/WB and all I got was this lousy photograph.

2. According to the Smithsonian exhibit on America's military "adventures," the Iraq war appears to be over. J pulled me aside to read their description of our current war, and it was all written in the past tense, described as a brief "entanglement" that was now completed. Hmmm . . . I guess the daily bombings and deaths of Iraqi civilians and US military personnel are all simulacra, media inventions, hallucinations? Perhaps more absurd was the manner in which the museum described the onset of the war in 2003 . . .it stated the US had to respond because Iraq was testing the America's power in the world. Really? I thought the US government went ahead and voted for a preemptive strike of a sovereign country,based on (as we all know or should have known when this was being "debated") lies, lies, lies, and more lies put forth by the corrupt, incompetent, despicable Bush administration.

3. School children don't like going to the Capitol. Despite the overwhelming presence of the good ol yellow school buses positioned everywhere around the mall, museums, etc. school kids seemed positively BORED with learning about US history. Most were tuned in to their IPODS and tuned out of the Smithsonian. Other young children had the unfortunate experience of being dressed head to toe (in their strollers) in camoflauge, while older folks were standing in line to buy "authentic" dog tags.

4. The Metro is much easier to navigate than the NYC subway system. Thank god for public transportation!!

That's all I can think of at the moment, but overall, I did enjoy this trip. Leaving the village life for some urban action was a must, and we thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to hook up with some old friends from grad school. Our conference panel went very well, and it looks like J and our friend John, are going to have plenty of material to draw from for their upcoming edited collection on the corporatization of academy and its impact on contingent and part-time junior faculty.

Ah, here's an update from the money pit: we sprung another leak. But, it's probably our fault, because the house inspector said we should have the roof checked out . . .last night we experienced 55 mph winds for about 30 minutes and the drops started coming in the family room. Blah. We should just move to the backyard and set up a tent.