The Reaction

Dysfunctional management by one or a few can cause many others to react in a manner that is equally dysfunctional.

Watch out for that. The finger pointers may not be as bad as those who sparked the problem but their own poor management may contribute massively to the overall situation.

[Photo by charlotte at Unsplash]

Carmina Burana

Cultural Offering posted a special treat on Halloween.

And it is very much in the Crank It Up category.

Marshall on Leadership

If leadership depends purely on seniority you are defeated before you start. You give a good leader very little and he will succeed; you give mediocrity a great deal and they will fail.

- General George C. Marshall

Anyone who studies great leaders should be studying George Marshall.

Going Greek

Anderson Layman's Blog is into some very good reading.

Modern Tech and Connectivity

General Stanley McChrystal, who commanded the American forces in Iraq, on the illusion of being connected. 

Modern Times in Reverse

The Wall Street Journal: Venezuela's health crisis is crossing its border.

Back By Popular Demand

Allison Krauss: "Down to the River to Pray."

One Urban Area, Two Halves

Of course, there is a very simple and obvious explanation for the differences between the two halves of Nogales that you've probably long since guessed: the very border that defines the two halves. Nogales, Arizona, is in the United States. Its inhabitants have access to the economic institutions of the United States, which enable them to choose their occupations freely, acquire schooling and skills, and encourage their employers to invest in the best technology, which leads to higher wages for them. They also have access to political institutions that allow them to take part in the democratic process, to elect their representatives, and replace them if they misbehave. In consequence, politicians provide the basic services (ranging from public health to roads to law and order) that the citizens demand. Those of Nogales, Sonora, are not so lucky. 

- From Why Nations Fail: The Origins of Power, Prosperity, and Poverty by Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson

[The authors later note: Why are the institutions of the United States so much more conducive to economic success than those of Mexico or, for that matter, the rest of Latin America? The answer to this question lies in the way the different societies formed during the early colonial period. An institutional divergence took place then, with implications lasting into the present day. To understand this divergence we must begin right at the foundation of the colonies in North and Latin America.]

[Photo by Andrew Schultz at Unsplash]

360+

We had over 360 trick or treaters last night. A record.

[Photo by Cayla1 at Unsplash]

Should Be Periodically Re-Read