Got back yesterday after about a week away. A brief recap:

Drove down to Washington DC last Thursday. Saw DC United defeat Colorado Rapids 4 to 1 at RFK. It was 2 to 1 and then there was a lightning delay, after which DC scored their other 2 goals.

On Friday went on a long tour of the Library of Congress. Advertised as a 1 hour tour, it lasted about 2 hours. It wasn't longer because we saw more--it was longer because the guide had more to say. I enjoyed it, but I think that even the "general public" tours given by LOC staff could be a bit more specialized. Perhaps an architecture tour, perhaps a "quick tour for families/kids" could be offered rather than the one-size-fits all generic tour.

Friday night, Saturday and Sunday were taken up by wedding weekend festivities. It seems not so unusual for wedding events to now takeover three days. Just noting the trend.

After the Sunday post-wedding brunch in Maryland, we drove to the Jersey Shore beach. I had never been before. Interesting enough experience. Monday I read most of Petropolis (quite good) on the sand, burning the tops of my feet unintentionally (not good). This despite a lot of sun preparedness on my part, but I always seem to forget something. Played a round of mini-golf (always enjoyable).

Tuesday we drove higher up in New Jersey. Saw Sicko Tuesday night. Pretty good; I think M. Moore actually dialed it back a bit this time. He is still as appealingly cheap as ever with his gimmickry, but maybe it will make some people think, if they go see it.

[Sicko official site]
[Metacritic Sicko]

back on the chaingang

Last night we saw Word Wars, a documentary about Scrabble. It made me want to get good at Scrabble, even if the reward isn't so good. Also, all the good scrabble players are fairly messed up.

Official movie site
IMDB site

Links:
Dinosaur Jr is playing some expensive shows this summer.

all about Jandek

some stuff about Chris Ware

these bands so far at the Siren thing:
Spoon, Mates of State, Brendan Benson, VHS or Beta, Dungen, Q and Not U, The Dears

Oh, I also saw the Star Wars movie a while ago. It made me sleepy in parts but was not as silly as episode 1. Episode 2 I didn't see, so maybe I missed some things. Space seemed to be a lot more high tech in this one than in the older (but later) Star Wars movies.

Last weekend I went to a wedding. it was at this museum. Mr. and Mrs. Backwardscity formalized it. It was nice, as weddings should be. The Wilmington airport is very expensive. $7 for a bottle of water, bottle of soda, gum and chips? I think that's more than laguardia or JFK. Who would have predicted that? Also while in NC: caught an episode of Bibleman, starring the buddy guy from Charles in Charge. I guess the daily show doesn't need to make this stuff up.

The Bibleman website also links to a site that proudly brags to be " the only national organization fighting to repeal the Brady instant "registration" check, and is alone in pushing truly constitutional CCW legislation that allows law-abiding citizens to carry a firearm without a permit." wow. There is also acually a villain named "Wacky Protester" I am glad to be back home.

Oh and another Franzen piece in the New Yorker...he must have some incriminating evidence to hold over the editors' heads...