barbershop

My trip to the Las Vegas Hilton was one of the more interesting trips I've made.

First, on my flight, Edgar Martinez was sitting in first class.

Second, a few weeks ago in Port Angeles, I found a flyer: "Interested in Barbershop music? Come join a weekly Barbershop singing group!" Weird. Port Angeles is crazy like that.

Two weeks later, in Fremont, I was walking behind a band - they were unloading their gear from the High Dive. One turns to the others and sarcasticly says "you know what's going to be big? Barbershop. Dude. Barbershop..." and the others ended up joking with the first guy.

Saturday is the last day of the International Sweet Adeline contest - apparently one of the top acts is from Sweden, where I'm sure barbershop is still alive and kicking.

Third, on the bus to a hotel with the Sweet Adeline contestants, the bus driver egged them on to start singing, "you know, a few weeks back we had a yodeller onboard. I turned the external speakers on for that guy..." - so they start singing and a big dude starts cursing at the bus driver saying that it's his constitutional right not to hear 'bible music' on a public bus. He kept swearing and threating the bus driver. People on board start yelling at the guy to get off with equal venom. It was quite the scene. One you would never see in Seattle.

Barbershop IS coming back.

The Office mimics my office

When I was contracting at Food Services of America, I participated in a daily tournaments of skill in the form of Star Trek: Elite Force II, based, of course, on the Quake II rendering engine.

This test of skill occured daily - sometimes twice daily - for nearly 30 minutes a pop. It was a nice team building exercise. It also gave a reason for people I didn't know to call me 'Sparky', after my character.

Unfortunately for me, once someone outside of my group found out that a contractor was playing video games during work hours, I was disallowed from participating. For several months after I last played, I was still referred to as Sparky.

Nevertheless, clips from last weeks' The Office are completely accurate:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=PUr2O-LfDMI

abraham lincoln settling fees.

Stand-out letter from The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, Volume II, 1848-1858:

To Gustave P. Koerner (an attorney at Belleville, Illinois, associated with Lincoln in trying the case of Clark & Morrison):

Hon: G. P. Koerner.
Springfield, Feb 18.1856

My dear Sir: You left here sooner than I expected; else I should have asked you on what terms you settled your fee in the case, in connection with which we met at Carlinville last fall. I think you said you had no objection to tell me. If you have not, please write me at once, as I wish to regulate my claim somewhat by yours.
Very truly Yours,
A. Lincoln

From The Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln, Volume IV, 1860-1861:


To William H. Seward

Hon. W. H. Seward:
Executive Mansion
April 29, 1861
Dear Sir, If you have no objection to Timothy C. Smith having one of the $2000 consulships remaining open in Russia, I have none. Yours truly,
A. Lincoln

Memorandum: Appointment of Stephen A. Hurlbut

The writer of this letter is especially worthy of attention. In anything further done for Illinois, let him not be neglected.
April 30, 1861.

A. Lincoln