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DISCLAIMER: This is my personal blog. The blatherings here aren't (necessarily) the views of the current company I work for, companies I've previously blessed with my presence, my loving parents, the Illuminati, or anyone other than me, me, me!

Happy feet

My Lindy Hop (swing dance) birthday jam, which included a dance with Sharon Ashe (of Paul and Sharon)

This past Thursday was the beginning of my birthday weekend, or more specifically, the celebration time of my Bodaciously Binary Birthday (#100000).

It began with a birthday jam for me (and other b-day boys and girls) at the 9:20 Special, a very popular weekly local swing dance event.

In this fun photo -- taken by Darren Holloway -- I'm dancing with the amazing Sharon Ashe, of the highly respected swing dance instructor couple Paul and Sharon. These two have done quite a bit to spread Lindy Hop skillz and love around the world. As you can imagine, it's a bit intimidating, but a thrill nonetheless to dance with her

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- Blathered by Adam on Saturday, May 17, 2003 at 1:19 Permalink
- Filed under Dancing • Personal
- Commented on by 2 folks so far. Visit the full entry page and join in!

Lindy Hop Heaven

Take a moment to destress and check out this contagiously happy and definitely talented jazz quintet: Peter Davis and Lindy Hop Heaven. One of my friends introduced me to this group and loaned me their CD, and I haven't stopped smiling since.

You can hear a few clips on their Web page, ~~and I've also encoded a full-length sample here of their signature "Lindy Hop Heaven" song, which should stream pleasantly (RealAudio Player required) whether you're on dialup or DSL. Enjoy!~~

Updated on 4/30/04:
Alas, I've lost access to a RealAudio server, and haven't had time to re-encode the songs on my site. My apologies!

- Blathered by Adam on Monday, March 17, 2003 at 11:21 Permalink
- Filed under Arts and entertainment • Dancing
- Commented on by no one yet. Bummer. Check out the full entry page to leave a comment or trackback!

Dancing to hateful lyrics?

I was chatting with a former swing dancer yesterday, and I was a bit shocked when she explained one of the main reasons she quit dancing.

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- Blathered by Adam on Saturday, March 1, 2003 at 19:22 Permalink
- Filed under Dancing • Society
- Commented on by one person so far. Visit the full entry page and join in!

I have Al Gore disease, and I want to find a cure

On the piano, I can play a song such as Mary Had a Little Lamb:
- in any key
- at any tempo
- in almost any style (waltz, tango, jazz, whatever)
- combined with anything else
- even blindfolded.

I have been known to beautifully blitz through Chopin's quite challenging Black Key Etude. I can play Mendelsohn and Muppets with equal aplomb. In short, as a pianist I'm accomplished, creative, and fun.

All of this is of no value, however, in curing my bad case of Al Gore disease on the dance floor.

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- Blathered by Adam on Friday, February 14, 2003 at 16:30 Permalink
- Filed under Arts and entertainment • Dancing • Personal
- Commented on by 4 folks so far. Visit the full entry page and join in!

My allegorical speed date with a supermodel

ME: Hi there, would you like to go out on a date with me?

SM: Sure!

[Date begins]

ME: So, uh, how are you doing?

SM: Great! Just jetted in from Paris, learned some more French, bought this great new dress, had some drinks with Chirac, you know, same ol' same ol'. How about you?

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- Blathered by Adam on Thursday, February 13, 2003 at 11:17 Permalink
- Filed under Dancing • Personal
- Commented on by no one yet. Bummer. Check out the full entry page to leave a comment or trackback!

The concept of ‘networking’ events

This past Friday evening, I attended an event associated with the well-respected and impressive 'business networking' organization called Ryze (here's my Ryze profile, for those curious

I consider myself to be a reasonably friendly and extroverted guy, and certainly one who enjoys talking with, learning from, and getting to know others.

But the concept of networking for networking's sake is still both alien and uncomfortable to me, and this event was no different.

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- Blathered by Adam on Sunday, January 26, 2003 at 23:45 Permalink
- Filed under Dancing • Personal • Society • People and relationships
- Commented on by no one yet. Bummer. Check out the full entry page to leave a comment or trackback!

Lindy Hop—The validity of learning steps

I posted the following note in rebuttal to a fellow who asserted this:

When I go to a workshop and it is a bunch of patterns and moves I feel like I wasted my money.

---

Why? This seems really strange to me.

Personally, I think the ideal Lindy instruction is that which is balanced... touching upon moves, floorcraft, etiquette, confidence, musicality, history, and safety.

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- Blathered by Adam on Thursday, January 23, 2003 at 21:56 Permalink
- Filed under Dancing
- Commented on by no one yet. Bummer. Check out the full entry page to leave a comment or trackback!

Sort of bad days, lindy like, and unrequited “like” like

Today was not a good day.

I rolled out of bed late and already cranky, since taking melatonin apparently succeeded in making me have vivid not-so-nice dreams and sleep fitfully throughout the night

Not long after arising, I had a phone conversation with a friend of mine -- who, bless her heart -- meant well but was disarmingly blunt. After inquiring about the possibility of working at her company, she told me that they get 800-1000 resumes PER DAY and that I'd have no chance in hell of even being seriously considered for a position there. I applied anyway, dammit.

Apparently out of masochism, I looked at my bank balance online. Well, at least it wasn't negative. Close, but not quite. But let's just say I better get a job soon. Or learn how to rob banks. Or marry rich. Or to be on the financially safe side, perhaps all of the above.

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- Blathered by Adam on Saturday, January 11, 2003 at 14:21 Permalink
- Filed under Dancing • Personal
- Commented on by one person so far. Visit the full entry page and join in!

An obligation not to be intimidated

I was chatting with a kind and talented Lindy Hopper friend today after our usual Sunday dance, and he shared with me an interesting concept.

"You know how we often say that it's wrong for people to be snobs?" he asked. "Well, I think the other side is that we have an obligation not to be intimidated."

At first I was simply puzzled and a bit amused. An obligation not to be intimidated?

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- Blathered by Adam on Sunday, January 5, 2003 at 22:49 Permalink
- Filed under Dancing
- Commented on by one person so far. Visit the full entry page and join in!

Lindy Hop Greatness

A friend of mine recently posted a note on the Bay Area Lindy Hop board called SwingTalk, asking who people thought were "Lindy Hop Greats."

I responded with the following, which -- although it contains the names of some local (San Francisco) talent -- should still serve as an interesting view into what I perceive as Lindy Hop 'greatness.'

---

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- Blathered by Adam on Friday, December 20, 2002 at 13:15 Permalink
- Filed under Dancing
- Commented on by no one yet. Bummer. Check out the full entry page to leave a comment or trackback!

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