Interview | MPS & The Big Show12/20/2023
December 03rd, 202312/3/2023
An irregular round-up of interesting reads. Most of these made me go "hmmmmm," none of them imply concurrence:
Quote of the Day: “The reward for conformity was that everyone liked you except yourself.” – Rita Mae Brown
POEM |Thanksgiving11/23/2023
By Edgar Albert Guest
Gettin’ together to smile an’ rejoice, An’ eatin’ an’ laughin’ with folks of your choice; An’ kissin’ the girls an’ declarin’ that they Are growin’ more beautiful day after day; Chattin’ an’ braggin’ a bit with the men, Buildin’ the old family circle again; Livin’ the wholesome an’ old-fashioned cheer, Just for awhile at the end of the year. Greetings fly fast as we crowd through the door And under the old roof we gather once more Just as we did when the youngsters were small; Mother’s a little bit grayer, that’s all. Father’s a little bit older, but still Ready to romp an’ to laugh with a will. Here we are back at the table again Tellin’ our stories as women an’ men. Book Review | Finding of the Mayflower11/22/2023
THE FINDING OF THE “MAYFLOWER” | Rendel Harris, Read & Co. (1920), 58p
"The Discovery of the Mayflower" by Rendel Harris is a captivating account of how the remains of the famous ship that transported the Pilgrims to America were discovered in a quiet corner of England. As a historian and lecturer, Harris weaves a fascinating tale of detection, intrigue, and revelation that keeps readers engaged until the end. The book’s preface lifts an infamous essay from G.K. Chesterton titled “They Myth of the Mayflower,” where he notes that the Puritan Pilgrims were religiously intolerant and fled to American shores to establish a more rigid commune of intolerance. Within short order, it clashed violently with the Quakers. In 1920, Harris stumbled upon an old barn in Jordans, Buckinghamshire, which locals claimed contained timbers from the Mayflower. Intrigued, Harris began investigating the claim, using his extensive knowledge of maritime history and the Pilgrims' journey. His research led him to believe that parts of the barn were constructed using wood from the Mayflower. Book Review | THE WISDOM OF THE BULLFROG11/19/2023
"The Wisdom of the Bullfrog" is a unique and compelling guide to leadership that draws upon the lessons of the natural world to provide practical advice for leaders in any field. Author William H. McRaven is a retired Navy SEAL and former chancellor of the University of Texas system.
In the Navy SEAL tradition, a "bullfrog" refers to a senior enlisted member of a SEAL team, typically the Command Master Chief Petty Officer (CMC) or the Senior Enlisted Advisor (SEA). The term "bullfrog" is used to signify the individual's position as the leader of the enlisted personnel within the team, much like a bullfrog's role as the dominant male in a group of frogs. The title of bullfrog is earned through experience, leadership ability, and dedication to duty and is considered a mark of distinction and respect within the Navy SEAL community. It is not uncommon for a bullfrog to have served multiple tours of duty and received numerous awards and decorations for their service. Sunday Reads...11/19/2023
An irregular round-up of interesting reads. Most of these made me go "hmmmmm," none of them imply concurrence:
Quote of the Day: "[H]is education had had the curious effect of making things that he read and wrote more real to him than the things he saw. Statistics about agricultural laborers were the substance: any real ditcher, plowman, or farmer’s boy was the shadow…he had a great reluctance, in his work, to ever use such words as “man” or “woman.” He preferred to write about “vocational groups,” “elements,” “classes,” and “populations” for, in his own way, he believed as firmly as any mystic in the superior reality of the things that are not seen." - C.S. Lewis. Sunday Reads...11/12/2023
An irregular round-up of interesting reads. Most of these made me go "hmmmmm," none of them imply concurrence:
Quote of the Day: “How selfish soever man may be supposed, there are evidently some principles in his nature, which interest him in the fortune of others, and render their happiness necessary to him, though he derives nothing from it, except the pleasure of seeing it.” Adam Smith, Theory of Moral Sentiments
HUNTER GATHER’S GUIDE TO THE 21st CENTURY | Heather Heying & Bret Weinstein, Swift Press, (2022), 301p.
Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein's "Hunter Gatherer's Guide to the 21st Century" offers a refreshing and insightful perspective on how humans can thrive in today's rapidly changing world. As evolutionary biologists, the authors bring a unique lens to the table, drawing upon our species' history to provide practical advice for navigating the complexities of modern life. The book is divided into four parts, tackling a distinct aspect of human existence. Part One, "Understanding Ourselves," delves into the evolutionary roots of human behavior, shedding light on why we act the way we do. From the role of dopamine in motivation to the importance of community, the authors provide a compelling explanation of our innate drives and desires. Part Two, "Navigating the World," applies the same evolutionary framework to explore how our surroundings shape our actions and decisions. Topics range from the impact of urbanization on mental health to the influence of social media on our relationships. Throughout this section, Heying and Weinstein challenge readers to question their assumptions about the world around them. In Part Three, "Building Resilience," the authors focus on strategies for cultivating individual resilience in adversity. They advocate for physical exercise, mindfulness, and creativity, all of which help us adapt to an ever-changing environment. This section also includes valuable discussions on managing stress, building meaningful relationships, and finding purpose in life. Finally, Part Four, "Rethinking Society," takes a step back to examine the larger structures that govern our society. Here, the authors critique contemporary institutions such as education, healthcare, and government while offering proposals for positive change. Their arguments are well-supported and thought-provoking, encouraging readers to rethink their assumptions about the systems that shape our lives. Sunday Reads11/5/2023
An irregular round-up of exciting reads. Most of these made me go "hmm," none of them imply concurrence:
Quote of the Day: "The reward for work well done is the opportunity to do more." - Jonas Salk
Book Review | Size10/29/2023
SIZE: How it Explains the World | Vaclav Smil, William Morrow Publishing (2023), 304p.
In "Size: How It Explains the World," author Vaclav Smil embarks on an intriguing journey to explore the significance of scale in various aspects of our lives. From the nanoscale to the global level, this book delves into the impact of size on biology, technology, society, and the environment. As an energy and environmental science expert, Smil brings his unique perspective to reveal the profound effects of scaling on our world. The book begins with an introduction to the concept of scale and its importance in understanding various phenomena. Smil effectively illustrates how size influences everything from materials’ strength to transportation systems’ efficiency. He presents fascinating examples, such as the fact that spider silk’s strength-to-weight ratio is more significant than steel’s, highlighting the remarkable properties of natural materials. Sunday Reads...10/29/2023
An irregular round-up of interesting reads. Most of these made me go "hmmmmm," none of them imply concurrence:
Quote of the Day: “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.” - Henry Ford
Sunday Reads...10/22/2023
An irregular round-up of interesting reads. Most of these made me go "hmmmmm," none of them imply concurrence:
Quote of the Day: Many whose sense of morality is offended by large economic disparities among individuals, groups, and nations tend to see the causes of these differences as “advantages” or “privileges” that some people have over others. But it is crucial to make a distinction between achievements and privileges. This is not simply a matter of semantics. Privileges come at the expense of others, but achievements add to the benefits of others. - Thomas Sowell
Sunday Reads...10/15/2023
An irregular round-up of interesting reads. Most of these made me go "hmmmmm," none of them imply concurrence:
Quote of the Day: We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes, we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant. Wherever men or women are persecuted because of their race, religion, or political views, that place must – at that moment – become the center of the universe. -Elie Wiesel, “Night.” Round-up:
Sunday Reads...10/8/2023
An irregular round up of interesting reads. Most of these made me go "hmmmmm," none of them imply concurrence:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: The Antitrust laws—an unenforceable, uncompliable, unjudicable mess of contradictions—have for decades kept American businessmen under a silent, growing reign of terror. Yet these laws were created and, to this day, are upheld by the “conservatives,” as a grim monument to their lack of political philosophy, of economic knowledge and of any concern with principles. Under the Antitrust laws, a man becomes a criminal from the moment he goes into business, no matter what he does. For instance, if he charges prices which some bureaucrats judge as too high, he can be prosecuted for monopoly or for a successful “intent to monopolize”; if he charges prices lower than those of his competitors, he can be prosecuted for “unfair competition” or “restraint of trade”; and if he charges the same prices as his competitors, he can be prosecuted for “collusion” or “conspiracy.” There is only one difference in the legal treatment accorded to a criminal or to a businessman: the criminal’s rights are protected much more securely and objectively than the businessman’s. - Ayn Rand Today's quote comes to mind in the context of the nutty FTC-led "anti-trust" charges in the headlines.
Book Review | Fourth Turning Is Here.10/7/2023
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BOOKS | THE FOURTH TURNING IS HERE | Neil Howe, Simon & Schuster, (2023) 587p.
If you read only one book this year, make it this one. Neil Howe’s theory interprets history as a series of repeating cycles, commonly referred to as the “Saeculum” view. This perspective suggests that history operates in cycles, each spanning approximately a long human life (80 to 100 years). At any moment, about four generations coexist, each influencing and shaping events. In Howe's model, a Saeculum comprises four distinct turnings, or generational eras, each lasting approximately 20-22 years (roughly the time it takes for a new generation to come of age). These turnings are:
However, these Crisis periods (Glorious Revolution, American Revolution, Civil War, WWII) are not easy. During a Crisis period:
These turnings are not just chronological periods but are also associated with generational archetypes that play specific roles:
Nevertheless, history is not predetermined. We make choices. Howe's work, particularly when looking at the attributes of generations or historical events, has - by necessity- some amount of cherry-picking involved. Additionally, given the vagaries of technology and human interactions, straight-line trends seldom self-execute without unpredictable swerves and curves. Grab a copy of this tome, consume, reflect and prepare. A study outline can be found here. saeculum_matrix.pdf Sunday Reads...10/1/2023
An irregular round up of interesting reads. Most of these made me go "hmmmmm," none of them imply concurrence:
Quote of the Day: Those who promise us paradise on earth never produced anything but a hell. – Karl Popper.
Sunday Reads...9/24/2023
An irregular round-up of interesting reads. Most of these made me go "hmmmmm," none of them imply concurrence:
QUOTE OF THE DAY: “We shall never prevent the abuse of power if we are not prepared to limit power in a way which occasionally may also prevent its use for desirable purposes.” From F.A. Hayek’s “The Road to Serfdom"
Sunday Reads...9/17/2023
An irregular round up of interesting reads. Most of these made me go "hmmmmm," none of them imply concurrence:
Quote to ponder: F.A. Hayek’s 1944 book, The Road to Serfdom; from chapter 5, which is titled “Planning and Democracy:" Those most immediately interested in a particular issue are not necessarily the best judges of the interests of society as a whole. To take only the most characteristic case: when capital and labor in an industry agree on some policy of restriction and thus exploit the consumers, there is usually no difficulty about the division of the spoils in proportion to former earnings or on some similar principle. The loss which is divided between thousands or millions is usually either simply disregarded quite inadequately considered.
Our "K-shaped" economy.9/12/2023
Sunday Reads...9/3/2023
An irregular round up of interesting reads. Most of these made me go "hmmmmm," none of them imply concurrence:
Sunday Reads...6/22/2023
An irregular round up of interesting reads. Most of these made me go "hmmmmm," none of them imply concurrence
Sunday Reads...6/18/2023
An irregular round up of interesting reads. Most of these made me go "hmmmmm," none of them imply concurrence.
Sunday Reads...6/10/2023
An irregular round up of interesting reads. Most of these made me go "hmmmmm," none of them imply concurrence.
Book Review | The Great Debate4/30/2023
THE GREAT DEBATE: Edmund Burke, Thomas Paine and the Birth of the Right and Left | Yuval Levin, Basic Books, (2014), 304p.
Levin makes the case that the emergence, in the West, of a Left and Right diverged with the variance between Edmund Burke and Thomas Paine. Levin makes a compelling case for them as early proxies and clear archetypes but fails rigorous historical proofs. Nevertheless, for moderns, this juxtaposition serves its purpose. Paine was a proponent of rigid principles based upon absolutes. Burke is the defender of tradition and custom. Paine pushed for what was believed to be correct, regardless if it had been proven or tried. Burke advocated sticking with what worked and reforming what did not. Regarding Burke, Levin follows the trail blazed by Michiganian Russell Kirk, who well-established the Burkinan tradition as the intellectual bedrock of modern conservatism over 50 years ago. The challenge for both is that they require context. Left unabated, Paine leads to the murderous tyranny of democracy, and Burke, without pivots, remains friendly to monarchial nonsense. Nevertheless, Levin provides a service in refreshing this debate and renewing the vital nature of policy founded upon principle and reflection for modern thinkers versus a parade of current events and mere exchanges of power. The Great Debate is written clearly, providing a good launching pad for contemplating eternal truths. Book Review | Will4/26/2023
WILL | Will Smith, Penguin Press (2021), 432p.
Undeniably one of Hollywood’s most lucrative actors, Will Smith is such a recognizable international brand that his self-titled autobiography is simply “Will.” He vividly shares his childhood experiences in a fairly broken home with an alcoholic parent yet a loving family equipped with the means to travel most summers domestically. While growing up on the south side of Philadelphia, Smith had exposure to a tremendous set of experiences that empowered him with confidence and a larger horizon. When Smith reflects on obstacles or challenges throughout the book, he repeatedly invokes language, indicating he’s fairly steeped in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) tools. Ironically, however, he almost always has an excuse or defense where his mistake was not his fault. He also makes nearly everything about him - not his loved ones, family, or children - lending credibility to the stereotypical egomaniac superstar. He goes through the motions of vulnerability, but the final product is paragraphs of bragging and faux moralizing. One of the book’s highlights is Smith's personal interactions with Muhammad Ali and Nelson Mandela during filming on respective projects. These encounters provide a unique insight into the lives of two of the most influential figures of the 20th century. For those who grew up with Smith’s rap, acting, and general stardom, his autobiography will reveal tidbits and details of the entertainment world you likely missed and provide a tour-de-force of ’90s nostalgia. |
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