Quote of the Day

If progress is real despite our whining, it is not because we are born any healthier, better, or wiser than infants were in the past, but because we are born to a richer heritage, born on a higher level of that pedestal which the accumulation of knowledge and art raises as the ground and support of our being. The heritage rises, and man rises in proportion as he receives it. 

- Will and Ariel Durant

Documentaries

The trailers for:

• "The Roosevelts"
• "In Search of Blind Joe Death: The Saga of John Fahey."
• "Mitt"
• "Love Hotel"

Riveting

Am curled up with some regs from the Federal Register. The coffee is brewing. I'll need it.

It strikes me that when many citizens hear politicians decry the increase in federal regulations, they have little appreciation of just what that means. Some time spent with the Federal Register would be a great orientation. 

Part of my reading: "Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination Obligations of Contractors and Subcontractors Regarding Special Disabled Veterans, Veterans of the Vietnam Era, Disabled Veterans, Recently Separated Veterans, Active Duty Wartime or Campaign Badge Veterans, and Armed Forces Service Medal Veterans; Final Rule"

Simplification is not the norm.

Greed

This observation by Thomas Sowell is quoted in today's Wall Street Journal and is from his fine book, "The Vision of the Anointed":

Among the many other questions raised by the nebulous concept of "greed" is why it is a term applied almost exclusively to those who want to earn more money or to keep what they have already earned - never to those wanting to take other people's money in taxes or to those wishing to live on the largess dispensed from such taxation. No amount of taxation is ever described by the anointed as "greed" on the part of the government or the clientele of the government.

Art Break: Aylward

Art Contrarian looks at the work of William Aylward.

Sitcom Nostalgia

Althouse and The New York Times look back at the success of "Bewitched."

[I never watched a single episode. Was more of a fan of "The Avengers" and old Wallace Beery movies]

The Mighty Quinn

It is a little known fact that the creator and host of Anderson Layman's Blog, when not reading fine novels by Patrick O'Brian, shuts his office door and cranks this up. 

Furniture is thrown. Joy ensues.

Scotland

If Scotland votes for independence, I hope they have a Lee Kuan Yew in the wings.

Don't

Don't:

• Set a requirement unless you're willing and able to enforce it;
• Overstate your case;
• "Bet on the come";
• Rely on the magical;
• Overlook the classics;
• Let a focus on legal standards cause neglect of ethical ones;
• Excuse poor performance if it's by your team;
• Create unnecessary complications.
• Hold yourself to impossible standards.
• Rush through the miraculous;
• Assume that others are without serious problems.
• Forget to appreciate nature;
• Inflate your fears;
• Ignore the importance of faith.

Quote of the Day

I like to think of the prototypical manager as the person who brings the thoughts of the mind to bear on daily organizational problems. In contrast, the leader brings the feelings of the soul to bear on those same problems. 

- Craig R. Hickman