Food Court Flash Mob Performs Hallelujah Chorus

On November 13, 2010, shoppers ate lunch at a mall food court in Canada. They could choose the usual fare: Arby's, Subway, Golden Wok. Then this phenomenal thing happened, where first one person, then another, then a few more, rose from their seats and, seemingly spontaneously, launched into a rousing performance of the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah. I imagine myself being there - just an average, middle-age guy at a mall food court, doing my own thing, unaware of the spike-haired 20-something at a nearby table, comfortably disinterested in the woman herding her children, almost hoping to avoid human contact. And then, I notice. (more)

"The very winds carry freedom" - Thursday, October 7, 2010

I recently received an email with the transcript of the sentence read by the judge to Richard Reid, the Shoe Bomber. The sentencing hearing was in 2003, and the Reid story is old news. But it is worth reading again now that some time and distance has passed since 9/11.

Judge Young: "Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you." (more)

I Found Burley Today - Tuesday, November 17, 2009.  She had been missing since Saturday. But with 3 cats and a dog, it's not always obvious where everybody is. We started looking around yesterday, thinking she must be snoozing in a laundry basket. When the home inspection didn't turn up a contented cat, we started looking outside, we sent emails, and we even posted a notice on facebook. Then we got a voicemail from a neighbor who saw our email. (more)

Lawyers for Lawyers - Wednesday, April 29, 2009. As law firm economics place increasing demands on lawyers and firms, lawyers are starting solo and small law firms, moving to other firms, merging practices, taking in-house counsel positions, reorganizing partnerships and updating technology. In many situations, attorneys need assistance with legal, technology and firm administration issues associated with these transitions. In other words, lawyers need lawyers too. For more information about our legal representation and related services for lawyers and law firms, please click here.

A More Perfect Union, Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Photo from ABCNews.com

May we all be as gracious in victory and defeat as John McCain in concession and as dignified and determined in citizenship as President-Elect Obama.

"Elections belong to the people. It is their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters."

          – Abraham Lincoln

A Glass Act - Sunday, September 21, 2008.  From a story in today's Charlotte Observer, Rick Rothaker wrote of the day the news broke, "at a restaurant at the base of the Merrill tower, the takeover news was rippling through lunchtime conversations.  General manager Melonee Gilchrist said the firm's investment bankers were taking the news as expected. 'They're drinking,' she said."  (more) 

The War - Monday, October 8, 2007.  I watched the recent Ken Burns documentary, The War -- an oral history by and about about the men and women who experienced WWII.  What a remarkable piece of work.  (more)

The Other Branch of Government - Friday, April 20, 2007.  The law is something of a mystery to most people.  In fact, it's apparently a mystery to a good many North Carolina state lawmakers.  (more) 

Pneumonia - Monday, April 16, 2007.  I was out of the office last week with pneumonia.  If you've never had it, avoid it at all costs.  I had it for two weeks before I got really sick and went to the doctor.  When pneumonia gets bad, it gets scary.  The infection makes breathing painful - like having broken ribs.  I was amazed at how much energy and strength I lost.  Pneumonia is no laughing matter - it's not just a bad cold.  Fortunately, modern antibiotics and a week of rest had the desired salutary effect and I am on the mend. 

Property Taxes (civic pneumonia) - Tuesday, March 13, 2007.  A while back, I received a tax notice from the Catawba County Tax Collector for the boat I keep on Lake Norman in Catawba Country.  A few weeks later, I received a tax notice from the Mecklenburg County Tax Collector for the same boat, which, as I said, is kept on Lake Norman in Catawba County.  As it turns out, Mecklenburg Country uses database software to identify taxable property owned by Mecklenburg County residents but kept outside Mecklenburg Country.  I understand that I do not have to pay the Mecklenburg County tax if I can show that I paid taxes on the property in the country in which the property is kept.  Sounds fair, right?  (more)

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“After a time, you may find that ‘having’ is not so pleasing a thing, after all, as ‘wanting.’  It is not logical, but it is often true.”

– Mr. Spock, "Amok Time," stardate 3372.7

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