Thursday, August 16, 2012
Visiting Ft. Meade: Accommodations and Public Transport
Driving: If you drive, good. Lucky you.
Public Transport:
Bus: Greyhound is the best and most reliable, I believe, from any destination. The Greyhound terminal in D.C. is just a couple blocks from Union Station, the main train station.
If coming from The north, Baltimore is another option.
Check Boltbus and Megabus sites, if you want, but they often involve waiting outside somewhere with a mad dash to the bus when it arrives.
Train: You may take a train from either Washington, D.C. or Baltimore, Md to reach Ft. Meade.
Once in D.C. or Baltimore, take the local Marc Train service to the Odenton station (about $5). The ride is less than 30 minutes.
Taxi:
Call for a taxi to meet you for a short ride to Ft. Meade (Reece Rd. entrance), The taxi is about $11.
Call for the taxi just before getting on your train. They ask 30-minutes notice. Call Odenton Taxi: 410-674-6660
or Liberty Car 443-618-5863.
People have done this route of train, bus and taxi very smoothly. Chances are you will be able to get a ride from someone back to the Odenton Station after the hearing.
Hotels, Motels, What-the-Hells:
There IS a motel VERY close to the base. DON'T go there. Even base staff say stay away. Great options are Red Roof Inns and other chains. I recommend Red Roof. www.redroof.com As cheap as $69. a night.
Hotwire: www.hotwire.com is a great value, too.
Remember, you really need to have, or be with people with, a car for these locals. There are no sidewalks, 7-11s, etc., but are only 5/10 min. from the base. Great value.
Camping:
This is NOT for the truly hard-up. Camping in a tent, sleeping bag or your car can be fun, uber green and sooooo cheap. Two are very close to Ft. Meade. www.koa.com This is a commercially-owned number with a heavy family theme. Check the site.
WWW.dnr.state.md.us is the site for the state-owned campground near the base. 2 cars, 3 tents can stay for $16. a night. Shared showers, toilets, etc.
WWW.Couchsurfing.org
Best for young people, adventurous, you know who you are.
Downtown D.C.: Really good 3 or 4 star hotels can be had through hotwire.com
These hotels are best if you want a break at night and need to get out and do something (and you can afford it).
Penniless and Beat:
If I were driving and totally broke, I might park in a cozy spot in a chain-motel parking lot. No one will question you and your horn gets a lot of attention, should you need it.
These are the best travel and accommodation ideas I can think of, off hand. If you have any questions, ask me @DavidFPowell
Public Transport:
Bus: Greyhound is the best and most reliable, I believe, from any destination. The Greyhound terminal in D.C. is just a couple blocks from Union Station, the main train station.
If coming from The north, Baltimore is another option.
Check Boltbus and Megabus sites, if you want, but they often involve waiting outside somewhere with a mad dash to the bus when it arrives.
Train: You may take a train from either Washington, D.C. or Baltimore, Md to reach Ft. Meade.
Once in D.C. or Baltimore, take the local Marc Train service to the Odenton station (about $5). The ride is less than 30 minutes.
Taxi:
Call for a taxi to meet you for a short ride to Ft. Meade (Reece Rd. entrance), The taxi is about $11.
Call for the taxi just before getting on your train. They ask 30-minutes notice. Call Odenton Taxi: 410-674-6660
or Liberty Car 443-618-5863.
People have done this route of train, bus and taxi very smoothly. Chances are you will be able to get a ride from someone back to the Odenton Station after the hearing.
Hotels, Motels, What-the-Hells:
There IS a motel VERY close to the base. DON'T go there. Even base staff say stay away. Great options are Red Roof Inns and other chains. I recommend Red Roof. www.redroof.com As cheap as $69. a night.
Hotwire: www.hotwire.com is a great value, too.
Remember, you really need to have, or be with people with, a car for these locals. There are no sidewalks, 7-11s, etc., but are only 5/10 min. from the base. Great value.
Camping:
This is NOT for the truly hard-up. Camping in a tent, sleeping bag or your car can be fun, uber green and sooooo cheap. Two are very close to Ft. Meade. www.koa.com This is a commercially-owned number with a heavy family theme. Check the site.
WWW.dnr.state.md.us is the site for the state-owned campground near the base. 2 cars, 3 tents can stay for $16. a night. Shared showers, toilets, etc.
WWW.Couchsurfing.org
Best for young people, adventurous, you know who you are.
Downtown D.C.: Really good 3 or 4 star hotels can be had through hotwire.com
These hotels are best if you want a break at night and need to get out and do something (and you can afford it).
Penniless and Beat:
If I were driving and totally broke, I might park in a cozy spot in a chain-motel parking lot. No one will question you and your horn gets a lot of attention, should you need it.
These are the best travel and accommodation ideas I can think of, off hand. If you have any questions, ask me @DavidFPowell
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Chin up!
There has been a fracturing in press coverage and press member cohesion at the hearings at Ft. Meade; Smallwood Hall has been closed since the early June hearings, some journos have opted for Public status at the hearings in hope of better treatment on base, there's been no Live Feed of the proceedings at the temporary Media Center (due to cost, though the TV monitors are in place), blogs, e-mail accounts and phones of journos have been compromised and there is whispering of shuffling and discontent within support groups.
Without transcripts, an effort was undertaken to supply everyone in the court with notebooks for reporting as independent reporters. The court's response seems to have been to make the judge as inaudible as possible (no amplification) and placing disruptive staff members directly in front of credentialed media representatives.
There has been an ongoing rumor of infiltration in support groups and this may be evidenced by mis-information campaigns and poorly planned and executed projects.
This could not be a more critical time in the proceedings and each journalist, credentialed or not, would be well advised to operate as independently as possible for the duration of the proceedings.
Without transcripts, an effort was undertaken to supply everyone in the court with notebooks for reporting as independent reporters. The court's response seems to have been to make the judge as inaudible as possible (no amplification) and placing disruptive staff members directly in front of credentialed media representatives.
There has been an ongoing rumor of infiltration in support groups and this may be evidenced by mis-information campaigns and poorly planned and executed projects.
This could not be a more critical time in the proceedings and each journalist, credentialed or not, would be well advised to operate as independently as possible for the duration of the proceedings.
Friday, June 8, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Today's legal proceedings commence at 9:00 a.m. EDT with an "802 Session," which is behind closed doors. The live feed from the courtroom to the press pool here at the Media Operations Center begins at 10:00 a.m. EDT (15:00 BST). We will report/Tweet before and IMMEDIATELY after court recesses, for whatever reason. NO electronic communication of any kind is permitted anywhere during the proceedings themselves.
We will have the news first, believe me.
We will have the news first, believe me.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Sunday, June 3, 2012
15-16 March 2012 Bradley Manning Hearings
Live Tweets from Ft. Meade, MD by David F. Powell
- PLZ RT LIVE this morning: Coverage of the #bradleymanningtrial livestream.com/bradleymanni... #carwinb #DavidFPowell
- IT WAS AFTER THIS REMARK OF MINE THAT BRADLEY'S HAIR WAS CUT SHORT DURING THE LUNCH RECESS> (!)
- Electronic Press Kits avail: mdw.army.mil/mediarelations...
- NEXT DAY MARCH 16th 2012
- PLZ RT During the proceedings, please visit livestream.com/bradleymanni... for great video, interviews, and a recap of yesterdays proceedings.
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DavidFPowell
David F. Powell
Blogging live from the Bradley Manning legal proceedings at Fort Meade, MD, April 24-26, starting about 8:00 A.M. EDT
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