September 3 - 4 - We spent two days in Washington, D.C. with Britney Spears, Mary J. Blige, Aretha Franklin, Aerosmith, Good Charlotte and assorted politicos at the NFL’s (that’s the US National Football League to you foreigners) season kickoff festivities. When a reporter asked Britney her opinion of using the Washington Mall – federal land – for commercial and advertising purposes, an NFL flack jumped in and said, “This is not what we’re here to talk about”. What we thought were casts on Britney’s feet were just mutilated socks: “My feet were cold. I had flip-flops on, so I cut a hole in the toes so I could put socks on.” Britney also said that Madonna had given her the diamond “B” necklace a few days before their famous MTV kiss. We didn’t get to ask Britney’s grandfather what he thought about her girl-girl kiss on international TV. That evening, we stumbled upon Mary J. and Britney doing sound checks, which is when we got the close-up photos at left (at the next day’s live concert we were stationed, oh, about six miles from the stage). The rehearsals were taped as backup in case of torrential rain the next day, but nature cooperated. Oh yes, Britney’s shorter hairdo was a wig. At the press conference, members of the military introduced the performers, who were asked if they knew anyone serving in the armed forces. We weren’t paying much attention at this point, but Mary J. had some family member or other who’d served, the Good Charlotte guys knew some, and we think Britney did not. Feel free to correct us if we’re wrong. Happy football.