"Some Like It Dark"

 

Commentary magazine: Terry Teachout examines film noir.

An Early Tweet from Revolutionary France

 Terror is naught but prompt, severe, inflexible justice; it is therefore an emanation of virtue.

- Maximilien de Robespierre

Recipe for Life

 

Russia Required More Than Horses

 Then you need logistics - for want of a better word. What resources are required? I'm always reminded of the old story that whenever Napoleon's brilliant marshals came out with great plans of moving against Prussia, or Spain, or what have you, Napoleon would listen silently and then ask, "How many horses does it require?" Usually they hadn't thought it through and their plan outran the available horses. That's very typical.

- From Managing the Nonprofit Organization: Principles and Practices by Peter F. Drucker

In the Monastery

Distraction is the enemy, so I begin by removing the clutter.

What I need for the project is on my desk. Related material is on a table in another room. 

When the project is finished, I will repeat the process for another project.

Simplicity itself reduces distraction.

[Photo by Danielle MacInnes at Unsplash]

Back to Re-Reading the Entire Series

And Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series of novels is great all over again. Stunningly good.

COVID Start Date

"China's Foreign Ministry disputed the findings."

Which means the report from Nikkei Asia is worth reading.

Quick Look

 

"Fear Works."

"Fear works. You normalize an idea by making opponents afraid to contradict you."

Read the rest of Nick Cohen in The Guardian.

Miscellaneous and Fast

• Steven Malnga: "The New Secession Movement."
• The Study: "Why are Cuban Cigars So Expensive?"
• Ryan Long: "Trust the Experts."
• Matt Taibbi on America's new religion.
• Eclecticity Light: Where does he find this stuff?
• Reuters: FBI finds scant evidence the January 6 attack was coordinated.
• Political Calculations: COVID and Americans' spending.