He Wrote Poetry?

I'm embarrassed to say that I was not aware Mark Twain wrote poetry (and apparently Twain said he detested poetry).  I've read much of his "sketches," essays, A Tramp Abroad, Roughing It, and of course, I think we all had to read about Huck's adventures during high school.  So I was pleasantly surprised to catch some of his verse in "Brain Pickings," another great site for all things bookish/reading.  This one -- a short poem about the death of his dog, titled "My Dog Burns" -- is moving.

A young Mark Twain

MY DOG BURNS

No more shall bear beauteous form
Be seen in the raging storm.
No more shall her wondrous tail
Dodge the quickly dropping hail.

She lived a quiet harmless life
In Hartford far from madding strife;
Nor waged no War on peaceful rat
Nor battled with wild fierce tomcat.

No, No, my beloved, dear ’cause dead
What tough thy coat was a brick dust red?
Like a good author, thou was a trusty friend
And thy tail, like his, red to the very end.

You can read more here.

Do You Want To Read More?

Occasionally I'm asked how I'm able to read so much.  Speed-reading -- no.   Skimming -- sometimes.  Like many things, we accomplish what we make a priority.  Reading just happens to be one of my priorities. A few things, however, will probably help you make more time for reading.

1.  The internet can be a time suck.  Seriously.  Ask yourself how often you've got online, only to click on a link, then click on another, then suddenly you are following crumbs down a hallway, link to link and now you've been "surfing" for an hour, maybe more.  Try -- yes it is hard -- to focus your online reading (e.g., click only through your favorites or your news feed) so you can leave time for a good ol' book.

2.  Always have a book handy.  How many times have you been in a line or sitting in a traffic jam -- absolutely still -- but you didn't have anything to do?  I've read a book in the DMV line (California has LONG lines), in a 20min traffic jam, and more.  Just have a book handy.

3. The bathroom.  Duh.

4. For my military peers:  I don't think it is unreasonable to carve out some time to read during the workday.  Something on naval history?  Military biography?  Absolutely.   

5. Finally, books on CD.  If your commute is a beast -- like it is for many folks in major cities, then books on CD are fantastic.  Give it a try.

Live First, Then Write...Not the Other Way Around

Today I read a nice, short article on the Atlantic by Jon Reiner titled, "Live First, Write Later: The Case for Less Creative-Writing Schooling."  In it he discusses his initial shock, then envy, and finally, understanding of how a young writer whose work he edited, while still rough was selected for publication for The New Yorker online.  Reiner realizes how much experience matters:

''After I was talked down from the ledge by a patient friend, however, I realized that the student's scenario represented something I believe about the essence of good writing: experience matters. And, unintentionally, his success illuminated how the process of teaching writing to aspirants is often misguided or flat-out wrong.''

It was another reminder, for me at least, that you have to get your writing out there -- let others decide if they like it or not.   Listen to feedback, edit and rewrite -- and then rewrite some more.  

You'll be able to read it in 5-8 minutes; it is short and worth your time, particularly if you've ever thought about taking a writing course.  You'll find it here.

An Early Christmas

A few weeks ago I sent a "return care package" to my favorite author, Mr. Michael Dirda.  In a past blog post I described how I shipped some of my favorite copies of his works to him for inscription.  And I closed the post saying I would tell you how it all turned out.  Well, Mr. Dirda, a busy but generous man indeed, inscribed my copies and returned them using my self-addressed envelopes.  I do say it felt like Christmas morning when I saw the package on the front porch this afternoon.  In the picture above, in my copy of On Conan Doyle: Or, The Whole Art of Storytelling, you might be able just to make out his inscription: "To Christopher, The Game is Always Afoot."  For the none Sherlockian fan, it is a quote from Sherlock Holmes, first seen in "The Adventure of the Abbey Grange," when Holmes tells Watson, "Come. Watson, come! The game is afoot. Not a word! Into your clothes and come!"  Leading us into another fantastic story.  

I know I'll enjoy and treasure these inscribed editions for many, many years.  Although, I guess it bears repeating: write an author whose work you respect, admire, or simply enjoy.  You really never know how your favorite author may respond.  

A Robot Reading List

The FBI has a reading list for all things robots and unmanned vehicles.  PW Singer's book Wired for War, which I purchased a few weeks ago, is on the list.  It is sitting on the shelf waiting to be read.  I think we are at the cusp of what we'll look back and call a robotic revolution.   But whatever you want to call it, I believe we'll see amazing advancements in artificial intelligence and robotics in the next 5-10 years.  Should be interesting.  And definitely, if anything, a great place to start working in and learning more about.

Here's the list.  

Do You Use Letterhead?

Letterhead of the late Theodore Geisel, known to the world as Dr. Seuss.  More great letterheads here at letterheady.com

A Man of the Corps

Imagine if you can, watching a naval battle while sitting in a small boat, furiously sketching and recording everything you see with pencil and paper.  Simply an observer, nothing more.  Your observation of one country's amphibious landing craft, with later modifications and effort, will become a Higgins boat, a small landing craft that Ike said helped win the war for the allies during WWII.  Or imagine you developed new tactics, never before used, for what was in the 1950s a new weapon in war -- the helicopter.  And finally, imagine defending and saving not only your livelihood, but a cultural institution -- the United States Marine Corps -- against hostile historic heavyweights -- army officers that helped shape the course of US history yet didn't believe the Corps should still exist.  Lieutenant General Victor Krulak did all that and more in his long and amazing life.  

DaVinci's Helicopter (from notebooks)

I finished Robert Coram's outstanding biography on Victor Krulak about a week ago.  I put the book down and I intended to do a blog post immediately following the last page.  But I had to think about the man before I wrote anything.  I even considered making a short pilgremage to his grave site, located here in San Diego.  Soon after finishing the book I wrote a retired senior naval officer, whom I regularly correspond with, and said that Krulak was, if I recall, "an amazing Marine -- but a questionable father."  Something to that effect.  I say that only to tell you reader, of my immediate opinion of the man, in so few words.  And after a week of thinking about the man my opinion hasn't changed.  

I could spend paragraphs retelling his story.  Telling you how much Robert Coram fairly captured Krulak's success and shortcomings.  I'd say read it for yourself.  If you want to know anything about the Marine Corps, particularly one of the more interesting personalities in its history, read this book.  Besides Chesty Puller, I can't think of another single Marine that has changed or influenced the Marine Corps as much in its entire history.  

What I did think about while reading it, was how Krulak rose to such heights.  And how, if at all, his story might apply to officers today. 

Two things stand out about him after reading the book:

1.  He saw opportunities and aggressively pursued them.  In many instances arguing or demonstrating his case/opinion in front of officers many years senior to him in age and rank.  

2. And second,  closely tied with my first point, he found mentors in very senior officers (most notably General Holland "Howlin' Mad" Smith) that pushed him and help endorse his ideas and career.

Higgins Boat

Could he have risen to historic heights without -- what Coram quotes -- a "Sea Daddy"?  Can any officer do so today?  Namely, does pure merit and no mentor make you invisible?  It stands to reason that if you show promise, someone senior will see it and (hopefully) cultivate your talent.  A good survey would be to ask flag/general officers today if/how senior officers changed their lives or possibly enhanced their career.  I'm not saying military officers should not have mentors, or even that mentors of senior (general officer/flag officer) rank should not influence subordinates' careers.  What I am saying, or rather asking, is that if we live and work in a military organization that honors and rewards these types of relationships, what does that mean -- and what needs to be said to junior officers?