Mass Psychology is a Lukewarm Pool

It's kinda funny.

As I'm making my way through Ron Chernow's "Washington: A Life" I am constantly struck by the descriptions of the how most Americans felt about the Revolutionary War at any given time as it was going on.

Aside from the initial outburst of patriotism at the outset of the war, a majority of the American populace seemed largely indifferent, both towards the war itself as well as towards both the Continental and British armies.

People just wanted to get on with their lives.

Even at the height of American patriotism, the Continental Army was constantly fighting to hold onto or bring on a few extra mediocre troops.

When the troops were literally starving to death in cold, dreary Valley Forge during the brutal winter of '77~'78 - well after the initial patriotism at the outset of the war in '75 had subsided - the farmers living closest to the pitiful army didn't bat an eye at the death in front of them. Instead they tried as hard as they could to sell their livestock and crops to the British Army in Philadelphia for their solid sterling pounds.

The Revolutionary War ended in 1783 mind you.

But we know how the story ends: America wins its independence then charges up and to the right in the annals of world history.

What happens when mass sentiment turns lukewarm is the stuff that defines the direction that history heads and turns mere mortals into legends.

Amazon gutted it out and did innumerable laps in the Olympic sized pool of lukewarm human sentiment following the dot-com bust before ascending into the upper echelons of elite, global corporations.

And there are a few of us in the crypto-space who are doing what seem like Sisyphean laps in the same luke warm pool of public indifference. But just as Washington emerged victorious, and Bezos stands vindicated, Cent will take its place at the podium of human history and beam ascendent as a beacon of hope for everyone that wants to earn a life sustaining income from anywhere. That day will come. Soon.

Exitus Acta Probat

For some reason I love Latin mottos. Maybe this has something to do with the outsized meaning they often contain within their compact form factor.

As any regular reader knows, I'm currently working my way through Ron Chernow's biography on George Washington. 

During my reading last night, I came across the Washington family's Latin motto that their coat of arms contains: Exitus Acta Probat.

It means: The outcome justifies the deed. Indeed.

Reading Three Books at a Time

Normally I'm a one book at time kinda guy. Since I'm a completionist that means I wait until I finish one book until I start the next one.

At least that's how I've read books up until now. Recently I've noted that many people seem to read multiple books at a time. USV's Albert Wenger is the only name that comes to mind now, but there's more - trust me ;)

Also I recently received my annual bulk book purhases, and there are a ton of tempting titles just begging to be read. So I've decided it's time for a change.

I am in the middle of reading three titles now: Rene Gerard's 'Things Hidden Since the Foundation of the World', Ron Chernow's 'Washington: A Life', and James Surowiecki's 'The Wisdom of Crowds'. All three are incredibly engrossing and interesting.

Gerard's work is where I am concentrating the bulk of my attention and I'm reading it during my morning and evening commutes. As for the latter two, I am reading one to two chapters each before tucking into bed.

So far so good.