"Lieutenant Dan, what are you doing here?"

Last night, I waited in a line at the theatre. After waiting for a time, we were let in, and despite being somewhere around 50th in line, I got an excellent seat. Some time later, the lights dimmed and someone's commander came to the stage to introduce the Lt. Dan Band. Gary Sinise plays bass in a 12-person ensemble that does shows for the USO. They play an eclectic selection of Soul, Country, Rock, Jazz, whatever. It was a great show.

So my seat was, in fact, front row. I was close enough to see the sweat on their brows. To cap it off, I was able to coin Kimo Williams (a Vietnam Vet who plays guitar) and I got a set list from the stage.

Yeah. It's pretty cool.

Semi-ABEND

Ok...I have to turn in my modem and landline in order to get the bossman to sign off my checklist so I can get out of the building. It will be a couple days until I can move into the hotel where I'll have reliable service again.

So, my connection will be ...sketchy... for a bit.

Thoughts on the oneness of Mankind

Human beings are members of a whole,
In creation of one essence and soul.
If one member is afflicted with pain,
Other members uneasy will remain.
If you have no sympathy for human pain,
The name of human you cannot retain.

The above poem is an exact translation of Prophet Mohammad's Hadith from Arabic into Farsi by the Persian poet Saadi. It graces the entrance to the Hall of Nations in the UN building.

Very apropos today, I think.