Saturday, some guy stuck a video camera in my face and, after a fairly general question, followed with "How many countries are there in the world? Do you know?" I heard him do the same thing with other marchers.

The sheer pointlessness of the question confused me, and I fumbled.

I can only assume that this is a part of an attempt to discredit us by making us appear ignorant, ill-informed.

This is what I learned: When you are talking to someone, especially while being documented, you have no way to know who they are, or for what purpose the information or images you supply them will be used.

Be prepared. Try to anticipate questions and have sound bites ready, so they hear what you want them to hear, and not what they want you to say.

And, as I said in a comment on an earlier posting about alternative protests, Prepare to join or initiate spontaneous actions. Wear your t-shirts and pins. Carry a cloth banner and flyers in your bag. If we don't know exactly when or where a demonstration will happen, it's less likely the riot police will be prepared for us.