The Juice

Caught Juice Newton last night at the hot Iowa State Fair. She plays for free at 7 and 9 o'clock Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday this week on the Bill Reilly stage after all the pageants and dance recitals are over. Arrived a little late to hear the song I wanted to during the first set, so sat through part of both. Of course, Queen of Hearts was a highlight, but The Sweetest Thing and especially Break it to me Gently gave me goosebumps.

Management

So, I sent out the following e-mail to all managers yesterday:

From: Nick
To: All Managers
Date: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 4:10:51 PM
Subject: Internal Control Certification Form

It's time again for the annual signing of the Internal Control Certification Form.

IF YOU ARE IN CAPITOL CENTER III: Please print off, fill out in ink other than black, and return to me at Station 28 by NOON Friday August 19th.

IF YOU ARE IN CAPITOL CENTER II: Please print off, fill out in ink other than black, and return to Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx by NOON Friday August 19th.

IF YOU ARE NOT IN DES MOINES: Please print off, fill out in ink other than black, and send to Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx, Internal Audit, Mail Stop C01044 in Birmingham in time for her to receive it by Monday August 22, 2005.

Thank you,

Nick

The first three forms I received back? In black ink. Apparently, saying something three times in the same message is not enough. One director-level manager even e-mailed me that she had already filled it out in black before noticing the requirement and was that okay? Taking the same amount of time to e-mail me as it would have to reprint and resign the form.

Blond Moment of 2005 (Don't Tell Lou)

So I want to play an obscure Culture Club song the other day that was only released on vinyl. Previously, I had been playing the four-album Superstars of the Seventies box-set I've had since elementary school and all sounded great. However, The Boy sounded like Bea Arthur on quaaludes. I fiddled with things over the course of a few days but could not get the turntable to behave. So, over my lunch hour yesterday I run home, unhook the turntable (no small feat since the cords run through a hole that's actually smaller than their plugs), and run it up to the very patient Lou at Audio Labs.He fiddles with it for awhile and we make arrangements for me to pick it up after work. He doesn't find anything and we're both perplexed. We finally conclude that whatever was causing the trouble must've cured itself in the jarring ride there. Stranger things have happened after all. Not bright enough to try a different album, when I get home and get everything rehooked up, I stick George back on; still spinning at the wrong speed. I finally have presence of mind to read the album label. I'm sure I knew 20 years ago when I bought it that it was a 12-inch single meant to be played at 45 RPM; not 33 RPM. DOH!