Elliot Spitzer Eat Your Heart Out

Washington DC (see the picture)N 38 52.736 W 077 01.507

Wow; we're doing things so fast that its hard to keep track. Yesterday we went to the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian. It was so interesting that despite the fact that we spent the whole afternoon there, we only saw half the museum. We'll have to go back another day to finish it.

At the very least, a libertarian government should resolve to do no harm. It seems that one of the most blatant and inexcusable things this country ever did is, (not the Iraq war), but rather the way the Bureau of Indian Affairs tool all the Indian's money and lost it, and then didn't even keep records. This new Smithsonian museum was developed with long and in-depth collaboration with native Americans. I wonder to what extend, if any, this was an attempt to make amends for the misdeeds of the BIA.

On the way back to the boat, we stopped at the nearby fish market. What a cool place that is. The local people there haggling for their dinner make for wonderful people watching, and the fish and crabs make for iconic scenes. I tried to capture some of those images on film.

Today (Monday) we went with Ray and Pat from Reflection. First, we went to the mint to see money being made. The technology there is rooted in the 19th century, albeit modernized. However, even in the digital age, money is magic. Seeing all that money in various stages of printing is fascinating. After the tour, a woman in the gift shop demonstrates how they did it in the old days with hand operated "spider presses" She made a gift card of the Capitol, and even let us handle the engraving plate for that. Fascinating.

Below is a picture of Libby standing next to the scale that shows what your height is worth in $100, bills. Eat your heart out Elliot Spitzer. That woman is MINE.


After touring the mint, we ate in the USDA cafeteria (good food). Then we went to the National Aquarium (a disappointment, skip that) and to the Old Post Office. Up in the tower, everyone enjoyed the view. Back down in the food court, we relaxed with cool drinks. It is brutally hot today, 105F wind chill temperature (41C). When outside, we dash from spot of shade to spot, then duck in to an air conditioned building as fast as we can.

Last, we went to the Hirshorn museum. It is mostly full of modern art that didn't move us one way or the other. However, we stumbled across a 26 minute film of kinetic art called "The Way Things Go." It was marvelous. This kinetic art was much more imaginative and varied than Rube Goldberg art. It used potential, mechanical, and chemical energy plus pyrotechnics. Overgrown boys (especially my son Dave and his son Bobby) would absolutely love it. I watched it twice.

We got confirmation today that John and his family will arrive here Friday to spend the weekend with us. HOORAY!!!!


above left-to-right top-to-bottom

• 4th and 5th graders from a Navajo school in New Mexico present a very well done tom-tom concert.
• One of the many beautiful objects of Indian Art
• At the fish market (3 pics)
• A $500,000,000 treasury note with two $5,000,000 coupons still attached.
• The demonstration lady with the spider press behind her
• Attempts at photo trickery have to be done very accurately to work. This almost worked.
• Art at the entrance to The Hirshhorn Museum