Sunday, November 27, 2016

Why to NOT have a back-up plan

That is why Scipio Africanus burnt his navy fleet in front of his army in Northern Africa saying, "Now there is no choice but success or death. As long as there was an escape route you would not fight as hard." This was at the end of the second Punic War with Carthage when he defeated Hannibal.

Cortez consciously copied that exact same strategy at the beginning of his conquest of Mexico. He lined all the men up on the beach to watch as all their ships were burned, except the one ship that was sent as an envoy back to Spain.

 Apparently, Salvatore Dali and Luis Bunuel were roommates in college in Spain. Bunuel came from an aristocratic background and Dali was a commoner. When Bunuel received an inheritance from a wealthy uncle he used the entire amount to produce the movie Un Chien Andalou - a legendary "art" film and the first non-narrative film ever. Aside: During WWII the fascists confiscated all existing copies of the film and destroyed them as "anti fascist" Bunuel himself was wanted for treason because of the film and he would have been shot if he had been caught. He sneaked out of the country in disguise and escaped detection. At the time, he was carrying the one master copy of the film left in existence. We are all indebted to him for his bravery.

 Van Gogh would sleep outside in the fields to save money on room and board, so he could buy paints and canvas. At the end of the month, he lived on coffee and water until a check came and he could afford food.

 Apparently, one of the qualities that made the Samurai such intimidating warriors was their training to "respond without any thought at all" Once they saw an action that required an armed response they would respond immediately no matter how many adversaries they faced or how well they were equipped. Frequently, individual Samurai were unsuccessful in their reaction, but the immediate ferocity of the response was always remembered. Occasionally they were successful in their effort and emerged victorious against unbelievable odds.



copyright (c) 2016
William Schaeffer

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