I'm intrigued by how many names you dropped right off the bat and it makes me wonder if it corresponds to who the focus of each piece is. Ah! I see that in your revelations. (Makes me wonder how many people I mention in my first lines. I will have to go see.)

I'm also very interested in what you said about having it drilled in to you that opening with dialogue is bad form. I've never heard that before.

These are some great lines to hook readers with. ^_^

Question: Wouldn't your shortest opening sentence be just two words? "He stood."