Category: history
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leadership, generals, and politicians
I developed an interest in “leadership” from an early age. The mundane reasons for this interest aren’t important. It is even possible that “leaders” are/were a pre-requirement for the whole “human civilization” thing – i.e. we are all “leaders” in one form or another if we are “involved with other people.” SO an interest in…
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extremists, expert knowledge, more rules don’t make people honest
Back when “tradition warfare” was, well, “traditional” – I stumbled across a book that tried to answer the age old “why do countries go to ‘war’ against each other.” The researchers where approaching the question from a secular psychology perspective – but I’ll point out James 4:1-10 as kind of summarizing what the researchers found…
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programming, teams, and the limits of automation
It is always worth pointing out that (as a general rule) human beings are terrible at predicting the future. This isn’t a harsh condemnation so much as recognition of the human condition. It wouldn’t take much effort to fill up a small book of quotes/proverbs/sayings that all boil down to “it is out of our…
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parenting, birth order, destiny
Recently noticed a “social media post” from a well meaning individual about individual responsibility – that I would tend to agree with, but is still slightly specious … Before starting, I feel obligated to point out that no one has “perfect parents” – we are all imperfect human beings. I will argue that MOST parents…
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Capitalism, unions, THINK
Capitalism“Capital” is simply “money and goods” used to produce more “money and goods.” Merriam-Webster tells me the first known use of the term “capitalism” goes back to 1833. It is slightly interesting that “Banking” goes back to 1660. Then the parable of the “minas” also comes to mind (where earning “interest” is mentioned in passing…
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Breathless, Awards, Bogart
I finally got around to watching “Breathless” (1960) – mostly because the movie has been mentioned from various sources in connection with the death of the actor that stars in the film (Jean-Paul Belmondo – he was 88). Now, I enjoy a good “noir” flick – but I tend towards the “hard boiled private eye”…
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roots of happiness
A study of characterJust watched “Citizen Kane” again – always near the top of the “best American movies” list, it wasn’t a commercial success when first released. PART of the problem is that the movie is very much a “character study.” I suppose the main character getting divorced twice might have been more interesting in…
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fugitives, vagabonds, and vagrants
Fun with words…A recent Merriam-Webster “word of the day” was “fugitive.” Being a “fugitive” implies actively fleeing something — as opposed to being a vagabond which implies “wandering” (as in aimless movement). Then there is vagrancy – which implies “marginal” legal status at best. Laws against vagrancy used to common in the U.S. – I’m…
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Eternity is a long time …
Woody Allen started out “doing stand-up” in the 1960’s. (e.g. Spotify has “Woody Allen – The Stand Up Years Years 1964-1968”). I would have to re-listen to some of his stuff to give any sort of critique – BUT the fact that the “The Stand Up Years” was released in 2015 implies SOMETHING positive. ANYWAY…
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situational leadership, reciprocity, football?, Hamlet?, random thoughts …
Random thoughts …I find myself wondering this morning if saying “I’m a proud Gen Xer” is an oxymoron. Kind of like saying someone is enthusiastic about apathy. hmmm – I’m usually TRYING to be funny when I say “proud Gen Xer” – a line from “Chinatown” comes to mind “’Course I’m respectable. I’m old. Politicians, ugly buildings, and whores all…