dispatches from the new world of work

Old & Old

In California, the story goes, anything over 50 years of age merits the title "antiquity"—I suppose that includes me! On the East Coast the # is more like 100 to 150 years. (Of course, that blithely ignores the fabulous Spanish settlements in what became California—that pre-date by 100 years the Pilgrims not landing at Plymouth Rock in 1620.)

But that's not my point.

My point is ... Athens. It is, yes, bizarre and wonderful—in a nondescript square, one casually comes upon a little sign tacked to a wall: "Façade of Hadrian's Reservoir."

Now that's antiquity!

(Sorry—no photo. I forgot my camera on that walk, but I did take a note.)

Tom Peters posted this on 01/16/07.

Comments

1. Tom - as fellow '29 & holding' antiquity - a forgotten camera is of interest - last week forgot 2 things & thought this is 'not like me'

2. Now I can't recall what I forgot

3. And as 2nd home Santa Fe resident - 1500's in 'new' Mexico endure

Posted by sean_29_holding at January 16, 2007 9:22 AM

Regarding old cities--Antoine de St-Exupery wrote this about Madrid:

"A new image has wiped out the old. Madrid with its chimney-pots, its towers, its portholes, now looks like a ship on the high seas. Madrid all white on the black waters of the night. A city outlives its inhabitants. Madrid, loaded with emigrants, is ferrying them from one shore to the other of life."

Posted by david foster at January 16, 2007 3:50 PM

And Emperor Hadrian of course built his wall 73 miles long to separate England and Scotland when he paid a visit to our shores. And with that he underlined the acrimonious â€˜divorceâ€™ of England and Scotland.

Ill feeling remains between our two great and proud countries although we don't actually fight each other these days â€“ apart from when we play each other in sporting events :-)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadrian's_Wall

Posted by Trevor Gay at January 16, 2007 6:31 PM

1. Thanks TG - fun one - didn't realize the range of Hadrian!

2. Olde - I have a Ping putter that is 40 years olde - so have some history going there

3. The Scot tribes should be monitored at all times ... esp. for their fine whiskey!

Posted by sean_historian at January 17, 2007 10:22 AM

Sean - didn't realise golf was something else you and I had in common! This story is typical of England/Scotland rivalry. Enjoy

Englishman Charlie got home from his usual Sunday round of golf against his regular Scottish opponent later than normal and very tired. "Bad day at the course?" his wife asked.

"Everything was going fine," said Charlie. "Then Jock had a heart attack and died on the 10th tee."

"Oh, that's awful!" replied his wife

"You're not kidding. For the whole back nine it was hit the ball, drag Jock, hit the ball, drag Jock."

Posted by Trevor Gay at January 17, 2007 12:19 PM

Here's a book that'll help anyone under 70 feel young. It's called Why Die? It's about Percy Cerruty, the guy who coached Herb Elliot et al. His extraordinary life story is one of constant searching and re-invention. He was nearly dead through various ailments & abuses at 44 and became one of the world fittest "old" men. It's a least worth a skim.

Synopsis & Reviews at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Why-Die-Extraordinary-Cerutty-Champions/dp/0734405405/sr=1-1/qid=1169060797/ref=sr_1_1/203-0532790-7948753?ie=UTF8&s=books

Posted by Chris Nel at January 17, 2007 2:11 PM

http://www.bobdelmonteque.com/

1. TG - indeed - golf as religion - time to get a cart perhaps in case of fatality

2. Chris - thanks for the link - maybe check the 87 year olde via link above - amazing how he retains lean mass @ 87 - plus ancient history w/ likes of Marilyn Monroe

Posted by sean_29_holding at January 17, 2007 3:01 PM

I love the wiki article talking about Hadrian experienceing "military difficulties" wonderful understatement.

What is interesting about the wall is the quality of construction is variable. Certain groups of workers obviously had a great deal of pride in what they were doing (left their names)- other parts of the wall (further than civilisation and possibly supervision?) are constructed to a somewhat poorer standard- wonder what the management around that project looked like.....

Posted by PaulH at January 19, 2007 4:30 AM

Great observation Paul and reminds me of two things;

1 The cleaner at NASA in the 1960â€™s who, when asked what her job was, replied â€“ â€˜I am part of the team that is going to put a man on the moonâ€™

2 This wonderful quote from Martin Luther King Junior; â€˜If a man is called to be a streetsweeper, he should sweep the streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry, He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well.â€™

In answer to your excellent question Paul I suspect in AD 122 - just like 2007 - the INTRINSIC LOVE of their work was the main reason they carved their name rather than the management style in place although like today having a management style that respects the front line worker and acts with INTEGRITY AND HUMILITY does motivate

Posted by Trevor Gay at January 19, 2007 8:08 AM

Only one way to beat time. Be timeless.

Rediscover! Reorient! Reimagine! ReDo!

Discover Me2.0 all the time...

http://ideaburger.blogspot.com/2007/01/me-20.html

Jay, from Bangalore

Posted by Jayakumar Hariharan at January 20, 2007 7:14 AM