Monday, February 28, 2005
Shadow Games
Continuing on my Black Company binge...
I guess each of us, at some time, finds one person with whom we are compelled toward absolute honesty, one person whose good opinion of us becomes a substitute for the broader opinion of the world. And that opinion becomes more important than all our sneaky, sleazy schemes of greed, lust, self-aggrandizement, whatever we are up to while lying the world into believing we are just plain nice folks...
Wednesday, February 23, 2005
The White Rose
What the greater of two evils show up, but you've been fighting the lesser evil for year?
"I do not want to die, Croaker. All that I am shrieks against the unrighteousness of death. All that I am, was, and probably will be, is shaped by my passion to evade the end of me." She laughed quietly, but there was a thread of hysteria there. She gesured, indicating the shadowed killing ground below. "I would have built a world in which I was safe. And the cornerstone of my citadel would have been death."
What the greater of two evils show up, but you've been fighting the lesser evil for year?
"I do not want to die, Croaker. All that I am shrieks against the unrighteousness of death. All that I am, was, and probably will be, is shaped by my passion to evade the end of me." She laughed quietly, but there was a thread of hysteria there. She gesured, indicating the shadowed killing ground below. "I would have built a world in which I was safe. And the cornerstone of my citadel would have been death."
Monday, February 21, 2005
Shadows Linger: Book 2 of the Black Company
The Black Company switches sides.
I could think of nothing to say. It was no less than I had expected, and had hoped she would accomplish, for she was the lesser evil, and, I suspect, remained possessed of a spark that had not committed itself to the darkness. She hads shown restraint on several occasions when she could have indulged her cruelty. Maybe if she felt unchallenged, she would drift toward the light rather than farther toward the shadow.
The Black Company switches sides.
I could think of nothing to say. It was no less than I had expected, and had hoped she would accomplish, for she was the lesser evil, and, I suspect, remained possessed of a spark that had not committed itself to the darkness. She hads shown restraint on several occasions when she could have indulged her cruelty. Maybe if she felt unchallenged, she would drift toward the light rather than farther toward the shadow.
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
The Black Company
Inspired by The Black Company Campaign Setting, I'm re-reading the series.
There are no self-proclaimed villains, only regiments of self-proclaimed saints. Victorious historians rule where good or evil lies.
We abjure labels. We fight for money and an indefinable pride. The politics, the ethics, the moralities are irrelevant.
Inspired by The Black Company Campaign Setting, I'm re-reading the series.
There are no self-proclaimed villains, only regiments of self-proclaimed saints. Victorious historians rule where good or evil lies.
We abjure labels. We fight for money and an indefinable pride. The politics, the ethics, the moralities are irrelevant.
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Friday, February 11, 2005
The Monk and The Riddle
Randy Komisar writes about the difference between drive and passion. Acknowledging that most things in life are out of your control, he claims that the important part in life is to be doing what's the so important to you that you're willing to do it for the rest of your life.
Yet many still believe that those who enjoy exceptional achievements and accomplishments rode to the top entirely by themselves. The media always look for a single person, a CEO or an entrepreneur, to personify the accomplishments of an entire company or industry. It makes good reading, but it's simplistic. Someone in the Valley suddenly finds himself worth $100 million dollars and begins to believe he earned, and therefore deserves, that money because of his skill and ability... If you're brilliant, 15% to 20% of the risk is removed. If you work 24 hours a day, another 15 to 20% of the risk is removed. The remaining 60 to 70% of business risk will be completely out of your control.
Randy Komisar writes about the difference between drive and passion. Acknowledging that most things in life are out of your control, he claims that the important part in life is to be doing what's the so important to you that you're willing to do it for the rest of your life.
Yet many still believe that those who enjoy exceptional achievements and accomplishments rode to the top entirely by themselves. The media always look for a single person, a CEO or an entrepreneur, to personify the accomplishments of an entire company or industry. It makes good reading, but it's simplistic. Someone in the Valley suddenly finds himself worth $100 million dollars and begins to believe he earned, and therefore deserves, that money because of his skill and ability... If you're brilliant, 15% to 20% of the risk is removed. If you work 24 hours a day, another 15 to 20% of the risk is removed. The remaining 60 to 70% of business risk will be completely out of your control.
Sunday, February 06, 2005
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