America - Fuck Yeah!

(Sorry Granddad, it's a reference to Team America. You won't like it.)

Everyone is wearing: Short shorts.

4th July fireworks

Columbus Ohio - State capital number 13, over 2300 miles covered. I arrived in Columbus on 4th July, an important day in America celebrated with quality foods such as burgers and hotdogs, and by blowing shit up. Independence Day celebrates America's independence from British rule. A key influence in this was the raising of taxes on the Colonies without representation in Parliament.

Taxation without representation is tyranny.

A tyranny that Americans fought against and upheld the principle as a cornerstone of their democracy, unless you live in the nation's capital, Washington DC, in which case you get taxed as much as anyone else and only have one guy in the House of Representatives who can only listen to what's happening and not vote and that's it as far as representation goes. Independence Day is a reminder that America is free from British rule. That Britain no longer has any say in its direction or development. That Britain can claim no responsibility for America's growth and rise to superiority as a global superpower. That Britain can no longer claim any responsibility for America's foreign policy, warmongering or crippling debt. That Britain is free!

Fine pair of beards

My stay in Columbus began with meeting my WarmShowers host for a few nights, Josh. Got to say - he has one luxurious beard. 4th July in America wouldn't be 4th July in America without a cookout and fireworks and I've been fortunate enough to experience it. We headed out to a friend of Josh's for burgers, hotdogs and beers with an impressive collection of beards on display. On the way to the park to watch the firework display, we were surrounded by kids with glowsticks. Looked like something out of Avatar and not something to be tried on a bad acid trip. The fireworks came complete with patriotic soundtrack that everyone claimed not to like or listen to and yet they all knew the words. We missed the start of the fireworks as they were set off a little early to miss the approaching storm (another one - this 40 C heat with 60% humidity is just crippling; the dew point was 25 C the other night) which we just about avoided on the way home.

Mobiles constructed by visitors to Columbus Museum of Art

In COSI, yup, another science museum, I thought I had a new favourite museum. The first exhibit about the ocean was just incredible. There were water jets and games and fun things all over the place in a space that looked like a cave with a giant statue of Neptune looking over things. After that though, somehow I just couldn't connect with the rest of the exhibits. There seemed to be too many things that were for kids and just there for the sake of fun and the educational aspect didn't really come across, or there was just displays of things that were a bit boring and didn't inspire. So, Connecticut Science Center remains my favourite museum for now. Honourable mention for the Columbus Museum of Art though. Not the biggest collection, but with post-it notes and set questions all over the place, materials to make sculptures and tags with emotions to make you find a piece that conveys that emotion, the museum engaged visitors with the art better than any other museum that I can remember. Any place that has a collection of shapes and holes and tunnels and asks kids to make a quality fort with supplied sheets and cushions has got to be doing something right.