Posted by Frankly Francis on April 23, 2010 under Books/Authors, Social Issues/Politics | 
I had a real good idea what this book would say – I figured it would be preachin’ to the choir. Mostly because of that, I really took my time getting around to reading it. Published in 1979, I let it languish in my library for almost 30 years. Well, as it turns out, it was indeed preachin’ to the choir. And this choir really enjoyed the preachin’ it got.
Not to exclude Rose Friedman, but…
Here’s my take: Milton Friedman valued our individuality. He felt that the collective acts of individuals pursuing their own interests would provide much more, in terms personal satisfaction and economic resources than the results of individuals acting in a collective. It follows then, his basic tenet that without economic freedom, there cannot be political freedom.
The fusion of economic and political freedom becomes the optimum result. Note, Friedman was much too realistic to advocate utopia – he certainly knew that there was no perfection in any approach, but held firmly to the value of recognizing each individual life as having a value that exceeded that of the state. Frankly Francis says: True That!
A few thoughts directly from Friedman:
Milton Friedman
“A society that puts equality before freedom will get neither. A society that puts freedom before equality will get a high degree of both”
“One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than their results”
“I think the government solution to a problem is usually as bad as the problem and very often makes the problem worse”
“I say thank God for government waste. If government is doing bad things, it’s only the waste that prevents the harm from being greater”
Amen Brother.
Here’s a quote about Friedman by George Schultz that I think is worth aspiring to – “Everyone loves to argue with Milton, particularly when he isn’t there.”
Milton was philosophically a libertarian. Politically, he was a Republican, but that, he explained was for expediency, perhaps much the same as Congressman Ron Paul.
During his lifetime he was recognized with the John Bates Clark Medal (1951), the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics (1976), and in 1988, both the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the National Medal of Science. Big Stuff!
I must say that as reading Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged” strengthened my existing perceptions, reading Freidman solidified my existing beliefs.
It is distinctly your own unique and wonderful life – Do yourself a real favor and read this book.
Frankly,
Francis
Posted by Frankly Francis on March 6, 2010 under Books/Authors |
A fair time ago, The Last Lecture was recommended to me by someone whose opinion I respect.
For those that have let the memories slip away, Randy Pausch was a Professor at Carnegie Mellon who was diagnosed with terminal cancer at the age of 46. In 2007, he gave a “last lecture” that got all kinds of attention and subsequently expanded upon it in best-selling book form. He died in 2008.
Back to me: I sure took my sweet time getting around to reading it. I really didn’t want to read it. We all have our own unique make-up, quirks, and traits. For better or for worse, I operate under the idea that the masses are always wrong. So as everybody was reading The Last Lecture, then by my standards, it was not for me.
As Mark Twain said, “When you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.”
But in all due fairness, the masses are not always wrong. And they certainly weren’t wrong in their embrace of Randy Pausch’s memoir.
I’d like to say that I enjoyed reading it, and to a degree I did, but my overall take on it was not too dissimilar from my post funeral home introspection…in that having paid my last respects to the deceased and my sympathy to the family, I realize that the vast majority of the things that I have to do and deal with that seem to really matter, really do not matter all that much. I do my best to not get caught up in petty details, but I would be misleading if I said that I don’t get caught up in the petty details.
Professor Pausch’s book goes a long way in pointing out what is important and what is not so important. He does not get deeply philosophical. He certainly does not say anything that has not been said before. His take is refreshingly simple and straight forward. I would like to think that it is naturally intuitive, but even if that is the case, it never hurts to have meaningful things pointed out.
Randy Pausch
Occam’s razor dictates that the simplest explanation is the best explanation.
In fact, Pausch’s quote “We cannot change the cards we are dealt, just how we play the hand” should make Occam proud. I think, for ourselves and more so for our own understanding of the people around us, we would be well advised to embrace this principle.
My summary: It is a short, easy read that offers valuable insights – well worth the time I spent on it.
In closing, my too late thanks to Randy Pausch for taking the time during your last days to express your thoughts. I wish you were amongst us longer.
Frankly,
Francis
Posted by Frankly Francis on January 23, 2010 under Books/Authors |
I really enjoy reading Michener. And fortunately for me, he wrote a lot of books. I have historically travelled through time to Alaska, Spain, Poland, Texas, Hawaii, Africa, The Caribbean, Chesapeake Bay, Colorado, Mexico, and so forth.
Not too long ago I stumbled upon “Caravans” – a book centered in Afghanistan, written in the early 1960’s. Funny how the more things change, the more they stay the same. Michener could have published it today with minimal updating if he were still alive. And the foregoing is more than a subtle hint to remember the lessons of history. But I digress…
Anyways, that led me into the abyss of my library to look for other Michener gems yet to be read. Low and behold, “The Source” was still waiting for me. Published in 1965, the story alternates between the histories of the initial inhabitants of the land that is now Israel to the modern dynamics of building a state in a hostile place.
Jewish history is primarily delved into, but the Arabs, Romans, Greeks and Europeans get their share of attention. Along with Baal, the Greek and Roman Gods are profiled, but the main focus in this regard is upon the Creator that the Jews do not refer to by name.
Let me say that I am pleased that I was not placed in direct lineage of God’s Chosen People. I do not think I am worthy. And even if I am, I much prefer not to have that target placed upon me by the other dwellers of planet Earth. I’ve got enough problems.
For the record, I do feel a very deep affinity with and respect for the Jewish People.
As usual when reading Michener, I found it interesting and enjoyably educational. He does have a tendency to write at length, but when you have a big topic, what choice do you have? There are other authors on my “must read” list, but I am looking forward to perhaps finding other books by Michener that I have not had the pleasure of reading yet.
Oh, I should mention that it was Michener who sparked my determined interest in running the bulls – something that I look forward to doing before this is all over, whatever this is.
Frankly,
Francis
Posted by Frankly Francis on October 15, 2009 under Books/Authors |
I have recently finished reading, over the course of this year, Neal Stephenson’s Baroque Cycle. It comprises three volumes entitled “Quicksilver,” “The Confusion.” and “The System of the World.”
It was not a light weight exercise, as the three books amount to almost 3,000 pages. Stephenson can make Michener look like a short story writer. However, if the writing is good, length or brevity is of no concern to me. For the record, I, personally, think the writing is excellent.
I have found that the smarter I get, the more I realize how much I don’t know. Stephenson makes me feel like a complete idiot.
Many, many years ago, my good friend Fast Eddy handed me a copy of “Snow Crash” and told me that it was mandatory reading. It was one of Stephenson’s earliest published works (1992). It detailed an Internet that I would like to experience before I take the Big Sleep. It was intriguing and I’ve been reading his books ever since.
Neal Stephenson
The Baroque Cycle, covering the second half of the 17th and early 18th centuries, covers a lot of concepts, history, and geography. As I mentioned, it can get fairly deep, but it is still very entertaining. So many thanks to the author for doing an incredible amount of research, and then spending the time and effort to write this series of books.
By the way, Eddy tells me that Stephenson’s latest published work, “Anathem” is his best yet. Can’t wait to get to it!
Frankly,
Francis
Posted by Frankly Francis on April 11, 2009 under Personal |
Sunrise at Daytona Beach
During the last month, I’ve been terribly remiss in my postings – Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa.
However, during the last month, I’ve been very involved in a number of things that have been wonderful, but time consuming as well, such as:
Two and husband, Two of My Son-In-Laws, had their first Child. My second Grandchild, 2.1!
I had a remarkably active tax season with virtually all returns prepared and filed – a record!
My association with a respected colleague, who I prefer to call “The Mad Scientist” led to the successful completion of a favorable business deal – the first of even better deals to come. I could not be happier that he has been true to his word throughout our dealings together – a remarkable commodity these days!
We, that is my new colleagues at Noobis.com, were nominated for an InfoTech Niagara Beta Award for Best New Site. We didn’t win, but when I was with Appraisal.com and Kanoodle.com, we didn’t win on our first pass either, but both went on to substantial things in subsequent years!
…So now I’m writing this from a cottage bungalow on the Atlantic Ocean in Daytona Beach, Florida.
Soon in the very early morning, I’ll be reading Neal Stephenson’s “Quicksilver” with coffee and cigarettes while the sun rises in front of me over the Atlantic Ocean.
At this moment in time, it probably couldn’t get much better.
Frankly,
Francis
