Yesterday evening there was a birthday party for Ben and Cynthia in Raleigh. It was a nice evening with a cookout and good conversations.

In one of the rooms there was a Rock Band installation set up. Rock Band is a video game where the goal is to make music together. I had read about the game before, but it's quite something else to see it in real.

In the room was large video screen, a console and a sound system, but also two guitars and a drum set. The guitars and drum sets are peripherals that are connected to the main console, and allow 4 people to join together to make music. I played the bass in a song by Blondie (on the easiest level), and it was really fun.

Friday afternoon on the Full Frame Festival I saw Bigger, Faster, Stronger*, a movie about American sport culture. The films asks why anabolic steroids are illegal and forbidden in sports, while so many athletes use it and there are so many similar drugs and techniques in use. "Is it still cheating if everybody is doing it?"

It was an amusing documentary, but it fails to make a strong case. The style of argumentation is that of Michael Moore, albeit less stark. There are lots of insinuations but hard data and solid arguments are lacking. I didn't care for the part where the main character talks to his congressman, who is not completely up-to-date of all the facts and has to consult with an assistant. A cheap shot on somebody who was only sideways involved. Over-all, I don't believe this movie made a compelling case.

Nevertheless, it is an entertaining and interesting film. It does a really good job of mixing general commentary with the personal history and developments of the family of the main characters, three brothers who grew up working in a culture of weight-lifting. The main character is trying to determine for himself whether or not it is all right to use steroids, and among other things looks at his brother, a failed WWE wrestler. The film keeps an upbeat tone, and the part about the LA Times picture was very funny. The incorporation of old family video material is well done.

The asterisk (*) in the title refers to the by-line: "* The side-effects of being American". A good film, interesting and entertaining.

I transplanted some of the herbs that I planted three weeks ago.

It's the first time I'm doing this; I'm curious to see how things will work out. Not all plants looked ready to go outdoors, so I'm keeping about half of them inside.

The weather has been really nice, but with the herbs outside I'm a bit worried about frost at night. It would be rare, but one night could be enough to do damage. I haven't found an RSS feed yet that can tell me if there's frost predicted for our area.

What a beautiful day! The temperature is in the 80's and the sun is shining brightly... spring is coming up to speed.

I woke up early this morning and went for a nice run at 8.30 am. The swimming pool opened last week, so maybe we'll go there later but for now it's coffee on the balcony.

Over the last few months we've been making (wonderful) plans for the summer and things are starting to finalize. Jaap and Mieke will visit us in July and booked their flights today.

The trees are losing their spring blossom, and everywhere you go there's a yellow or white coating of little blossoms.