It isn't hard to do........................................

John Lennon..............................................................Imagine

Suits.............................................

"The shoe that fits one person pinches another; there is no recipe for living that suits all cases. Each of us carries his own life-form—an indeterminable form which cannot be superseded by any other."
-Carl Jung

Just because........................................

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Maybe it just seems that way.......................

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Fifty years ago.........................................

On the TV.........................Ed Sullivan presents The Animals

Opening paragraphs....................................

In the ancient city of London, on a certain autumn day in the second quarter of the sixteenth century, a boy was born to a poor family of the name of Canty, who did not want him.  On the same day another English child was born to a rich family of the name of Tudor, who did want him.  All England wanted him too.  England has so longed for him, and hoped for him, and prayed God for him that now that he was really come, the people went nearly mad with joy.  Mere acquaintances hugged and kissed each other and cried.  Everybody took a holiday, and high and low, rich and poor, feasted and danced and sang, and got very mellow;  and they kept this up for days and nights together.  By day London was a sight to see, with gay banners waving from every balcony and housetop and splendid pageants marching along.  By night it was again a sight to see, with its great bonfires at every corner and its troops of revelers making merry around them.  There was no talk in all of England but of the new baby.  Edward Tudor, Prince of Wales, who lay lapped in silks and satins, unconscious of all this fuss, and not knowing that great lords and ladies were tending him and watching over him - and not caring either.  But there was no talk about the other baby, Tom Canty, lapped in his poor rags, except among the family of paupers whom he had just come to trouble with his presence.
-Mark Twain,  The Prince and the Pauper

There was a time in my life when this......

...................................................would have come in handy.

via

In investing, as in life.....................................

" I need to be reminded over and over again that making emotional decisions will eventually lead to terrible performance."
-Ben Carlson, as excerpted from here

Nothing to worry about................................

thanks ann

He's at it again...................................

"The world frequently reminds us that weakness is provocative, especially to evil people. There are gentle warriors and vicious pacifists."
-two wee sentences from Michael Wade's latest Random Thoughts

The Helicopter Chase.......................

James Newton Howard...................from The Fugitive soundtrack

Marinate.............................................

     Inward-bound courses would do wonders for "thought leadership."  There are good reasons why the business world is so preoccupied by that notion of the moment:  the only way to prevent your product from being commoditised or your markets from being disrupted is to think further ahead than your competitors.  But companies that often pose as thought leaders are often "thought laggards": risk analysts who recycle yesterday's newspapers, and management consultants who champion yesterday's successes just as they are about to go out of business.
     The only way to become a real thought leader is to ignore all the noise and listen to a few great thinkers.  You will learn more about leadership from reading Thucydide's hymn to Pericles than you will from a thousand leadership experts.  You will learn far more about doing business in China from reading Confucius than by listening to "culture consultants."  Peter Drucker remained top dog among management gurus for 50 years not because he attends more conferences but because he marinated his mind in great books:  for example, he wrote about business alliances with reference to marriage alliances in Jane Austen.

-Schumpeter, as excerpted from this The Economist essay

Thucydides.................................

"So died these men as became Athenians. You, their survivors, must determine to have as unfaltering a resolution in the field, though you may pray that it may have a happier issue. And not contented with ideas derived only from words of the advantages which are bound up with the defence of your country, though these would furnish a valuable text to a speaker even before an audience so alive to them as the present, you must yourselves realise the power of Athens, and feed your eyes upon her from day to day, till love of her fills your hearts; and then, when all her greatness shall break upon you, you must reflect that it was by courage, sense of duty, and a keen feeling of honour in action that men were enabled to win all this, and that no personal failure in an enterprise could make them consent to deprive their country of their valour, but they laid it at her feet as the most glorious contribution that they could offer. For this offering of their lives made in common by them all they each of them individually received that renown which never grows old, and for a sepulchre, not so much that in which their bones have been deposited, but that noblest of shrines wherein their glory is laid up to be eternally remembered upon every occasion on which deed or story shall call for its commemoration. For heroes have the whole earth for their tomb; and in lands far from their own, where the column with its epitaph declares it, there is enshrined in every breast a record unwritten with no tablet to preserve it, except that of the heart. These take as your model and, judging happiness to be the fruit of freedom and freedom of valour, never decline the dangers of war. For it is not the miserable that would most justly be unsparing of their lives; these have nothing to hope for: it is rather they to whom continued life may bring reverses as yet unknown, and to whom a fall, if it came, would be most tremendous in its consequences. And surely, to a man of spirit, the degradation of cowardice must be immeasurably more grievous than the unfelt death, which strikes him in the midst of his strength and patriotism!

-excerpted from Pericle's Funeral Oration:  a hymn to democracy

Austen, Jane Austen..............................

“Angry people are not always wise.”

“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.” 

“but for my own part, if a book is well written, I always find it too short.” 

“There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others. My courage always rises at every attempt to intimidate me.”

“I could easily forgive his pride, if he had not mortified mine.” 

“Our scars make us know that our past was for real” 

“I have not the pleasure of understanding you.”

“There are people, who the more you do for them, the less they will do for themselves.” 

“I always deserve the best treatment because I never put up with any other.” 

“You must learn some of my philosophy. Think only of the past as its remembrance gives you pleasure.” 

“Seldom, very seldom, does complete truth belong to any human disclosure; seldom can it happen that something is not a little disguised or a little mistaken.” 

“My good opinion once lost is lost forever.” 

“Stupid men are the only ones worth knowing after all.”

wiki here

Fifty years ago...........................................

On the TV.......................................................The Fugitive

the ultimate resource....................................

"In a rapidly changing technological culture and an ever-growing information-based economy, creative ideas are the ultimate resource.  Yet our current educational system does little to nourish this resource.
     "Moreover, our current system is built around fact-based learning, but the Internet makes almost every fact desirable instantly available.  This means we're training our children in skills they rarely need, while ignoring those they absolutely do.  Teaching kids how to nourish their creativity and curiosity, while still providing a sound foundation in critical thinking, literacy and math, is the best way to prepare them for a future of increasingly rapid technological change."
-Peter H. Diamandis and Steven Kotler, Abundance:  The Future Is Better Than You Think

And then, acting......................................

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Checking in with Aesop...........................

                              The Dog and the Oyster

A Dog, used to eating eggs, saw an Oyster and, opening his mouth to its widest extent, swallowed it down with the utmost relish, supposing it to be an egg.  Soon afterwards suffering great pains in his stomach, he said, "I deserve all this torment, for my folly in thinking that everything round must be an egg."

Moral:  They who act without sufficient thought, will often fall into unexpected danger.

A fundamental law, period.............................

“The fundamental law of investing is the uncertainty of the future.”
- Peter Lewyn Bernstein

Aching for breaking....................................

Connie Francis........................................Who's Sorry Now?

This is a phrase you don't hear much anymore...

................................."the majesty of the law."

I’ve already said my piece about affirmative-consent laws, to which I will just add this: I am disturbed as hell by the number of feminists I’ve seen defending these laws on the grounds that of course they will rarely be enforced. Why pass laws you don’t intend to enforce? Unenforceable laws weaken our whole legal framework by conceding that really, the whole thing is just an arbitrary exercise of power by authorities -- a theory of justice that has not, I must point out, generally redounded to the benefit of women and minorities. It is, in the words of P.J. O’Rourke, “Pinning a ‘kick me!’ sign on the backside of the majesty of the law."
-as excerpted from this Megan McArdle post

Encouraging..............................................

"Note how good you feel after you have encouraged someone else.  No other argument is necessary to suggest that one never miss the opportunity to give encouragement."
-George Mathew Adams

On Wills and Won'ts........................................

"The difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one comes from a strong will, and the other from a strong won't."
-Henry Ward Beecher

On the importance of teaching about.........

.......................................the miracle of compounding interest.

"Because of this sad catch-22: the biggest investing advantage is youth itself, but young people care the least about investing. In my experience, when you lay out the basics for millennials, they start investing right away."

Excerpted from here.

Fifty years ago..............................

At the movies...Connie Francis/Johnny Carson.....Looking For Love

It was a different era......................................

via

Entrusted.........................................................

"Work while you have the light.  You are responsible for the talent that has been entrusted to you."
-Henri Frederic Amiel

The history major in me says "Ouch"........

Comparing Obama to Commodus.  Full essay here.  Wee excerpt here.

"Victory cannot be declared by one side, merely out of desire to return to other pursuits; it needs to be won."

While understanding the author's point, the view from here is that the whole Iraq venture was folly, and while we may have made a mess, we have no way of fixing said mess.  Time to leave.

On fairness.................................................

"Yes, life is unfair but we need not be accomplices."
-Michael Wade

Starting after lunch..............................

Over and out..........................................

Frank Sinatra......................................................That's Life

On readiness..............................................

     Confusion can be a gift from God.  Looking back on instances when I felt desperately in need of an immediate solution, I can see that often I wasn't ready to act.  When I became ready, the information I needed was there for the taking.
     When I know too much about my options before the time is right to exercise those options, I tend to use the information only to drive myself crazy.  That's why today, when I am feeling confused, I try to consider it grace.  It may not be time for me to act.
     I think that dealing with confusion can be like cooking.  If the bread isn't done, I don't take it our of the oven and insist that it's time to eat.  I let it finish baking.  If a clear solution to a problem hasn't shown itself yet, I can trust that it will appear when the time is right.
-Courage to Change

On solitude...........................................

"To go into solitude, a man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society.  I am not solitary whilst I read and write, though nobody is with me.  But if a man would be alone, let him look at the stars."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

photo via

Fifty years ago.........................................

At the movies.......................................Robin and the 7 Hoods

Good idea..........................................

Just love that last line............................

From a Usenet bulletin-board posting, August 21, 1994:

      Well-capitalized start-up seeks extremely talented C/C++/Unix developers to help pioneer commerce on the Internet.  You must have experience designing and building large and complex (yet maintainable) systems, and you should be able to do so in about one-third the time that most competent people think possible.  You should have a BS, MS, or PhD in Computer Science or the equivalent.  Top-notch communication skills are critical.  Familiarity with web servers and HTML would be helpful but is not necessary.
      Expect talented, motivated, intense, and interesting co-workers.  Must be willing to relocate to the Seattle area (we will help cover moving costs.)
     Your compensation will include meaningful equity ownership.
     Send resume and cover letter to Jeff Bezos, US mail:  Cadabra, Inc.  10704 N. E. 28th Street, Bellevue, WA  98004
     We are an equal opportunity employer.

-as excerpted from Brad Stone's the everything store:  Jeff Bezos And The Age Of Amazon

Flash floods.....................................

A short cut..................................

"It's easier to invent the future than to predict it."
-Alan Kay

Me three................................................

thanks Kurt

189,932,343 views on YouTube. Really........?

Jason Mraz............................................................I'm Yours

Opening paragraphs.................................

This book will start and end with the idea of the value and the creative power of the individual.  This is the ultimate driver of prosperity in the modern world:  it is the power that can get you the best of things in life.  Our tour in middle will visit society, technology, politics, economics,  culture, and the internet, but the first step on this journey will be one of self-discovery.
-Tyler Cowen,  Create Your Own Economy:  The Path to Prosperity In a Disordered World

Within.................................................

"What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us."
-Anonymous (although attributed to Thoreau)

It's not a fantasy.....................................

...............many people in my wee corner of the Intertunnel have been saying nice things about you behind your back.  It's how we roll in the Heartland.

Fifty years ago.....................................

At the movies.............................................Zorba The Greek

Dissing pandas...................................

"I am sure most of you have noticed the publicity surrounding Bao Bao, the new panda cub at the Smithsonian National Zoo this year.  Well, Bao Bao should fit in well in Washington:  she costs a fortune, she has no useful skills, and she is always on TV."
-Richard Kovacevich, as excerpted from this Cato's Letter

wiki on Bao Bao.  Methinks Mr. Kovacevich is being uncharitable.  The life expectancy of a panda is between 20 and 30 years.  We don't expect useful skills from a human baby, why should we from a panda baby?  Just wondering.

Good news...........................................

May the trend continue!   Back story and source is here.

Thought we already did...............................

via

Little known bit of history...............

Christopher Columbus was Portuguese.  The things you can learn in the Intertunnel.  And here I would have bet money that Genoa was in Italy.  Wiki here if you're now curious.

Pretty good advice..................................

via

Reach the morning light...................................

Gary Wright............................................Dream Weaver



Though the dawn may be coming soon
There still may be some time
Fly me away to the bright side of the moon
And meet me on the other side

Sayonara, South Carolina

I believe I've had enough golf for a while...............

Bill Russell..............................

Sports Illustrated, celebrating their 60th year, is re-running 60 great columns.  In 1999, Frank Deford, who I have always thought of as a really good writer, featured Bill Russell, who may be the greatest winning athlete, as well as the best teammate, ever.  The essay is worth your time.  A wee excerpt:

What do you remember your father telling you, Bill?

"Accept responsibility for your actions.... Honor thy father and mother.... If they give you $10 for a day's work, you give them $12 worth in return."

Even more clearly, Russell recalls the gritty creed his mother gave him when he was a little boy growing up in segregation and the Depression in West Monroe, La. Katie said, "William, you are going to meet people who just don't like you. On sight. And there's nothing you can do about it, so don't worry. Just be yourself. You're no better than anyone else, but no one's better than you."

Fifty years ago........................................

The Rolling Stones........................................an extended set

Royal life in Spain............................

.................................................................4,000 years ago.

Growing up I was never interested, but archaeology looks like fun.

On great ideas....................................

"The Pretzel Crust pizza, on the other hand, is a pizza filled with nothing but great ideas."

There was a time in my life when I would have taken notes after reading this story on "the ten best deals in fast food."

Fortunately............................................

...................................................there were 27 of them.

27. There was the person who sent ten puns to friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would make them laugh. No pun in ten did.

the tide slowly turning...............................

The Moody Blues....................................The Story In You Eyes

On business strategy.......................

"No, the conventional wisdom on Wall Street is and always has been quite simple: do whatever makes the most money. This is actually quite a sensible, beautiful, adaptable, and flexible business strategy."
-The Epicurean Dealmaker, as excerpted from here

Striving..................................................

"By striving to do the impossible, man has always achieved what is possible. Those who have cautiously done no more than they believed possible have never taken a single step forward."

-Mikhail Bakunin

thanks rob

Change happens.................................

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Fifty years ago.....................................

The Miles Davis Quintet.....................Autumn Leaves (Part One)

Not a problem yesterday.........................

More sage advice......................................

via

He's a man..................................................

The Man Song................................................Sean Morey

Lord, may there never be a time of "no libraries"...

thanks kurt