Video of the Week: Chopin, the Long Line and Leadership

"One of the characteristics of a leader that he not doubt for one moment the capacity of the people he’s leading to realize whatever he’s dreaming – imagine if Martin Luther King had said “I have a dream – of course I’m not sure if they’re up to it.”

This man really is a spectacular performer! He once wrote that metaphor of the orchestra is frequently used in the literature of leadership because the profession of conductor is one of the last bastions of totalitarianism in the civilized world! His provocative ideas about leadership are rooted in a partnership with Rosamund Stone Zander, with whom he co-wrote The Art of Possibility. The book teaches how to give an A, how to lead from any chair, rule number 6, and more; a great addition to anyone's personal and professional reading list.

Since 1979, Benjamin Zander has been the conductor of the Boston Philharmonic. He is known around the world as both a guest conductor and a speaker on leadership -- and he's been known to do both in a single performance. He uses music to help people open their minds and create joyful harmonies that bring out the best in themselves and their colleagues.

"Arguably the most accessible communicator about classical music since Leonard Bernstein, Zander moves audiences with his unbridled passion and enthusiasm." Sue Fox, London Sunday Times

Video from ted.com licensed under the cc license "attribution -- noncommercial -- nonderivative."

Related Item:
Benjamin Zander's Website

And the FRUS Marches On

You’ve heard about that blow-out concerning the FRUS series in the Office of the Historian under the Bureau of Public Affairs at State. Now, on December 22, Secretary Rice told the Historical Advisory Committee about her appointment of a Review Team to provide recommendations about “how to ensure the FRUS series remains the gold standard for diplomatic history scholarship.”

Things must be moving at the speed of light up there.

On December 31^st, I noticed that there was another press release relating to the FRUS series:

“The Department of State released today Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume E–14, Part 1, Documents on the United Nations, 1973–1976, as an electronic-only publication. (Part 2, Arms Control topics, will be published at a later date.)” It went on to talked about what’s included in the report then this: “Additional global issues with United Nations-related aspects, including Antarctic resource exploitation, international drug control, human rights, oceans policy, space and telecommunications, and terrorism, are covered in Foreign Relations, 1969–1976, Volume E–3, Documents on Global Issues, 1973–1976.”

Is it just me or does this sound like hamster in a treadmill or something? Sorry for being a scatterbrain here but where the heck does Volume E-3 fit into the whole scheme of things? Is this a previous or forthcoming volume? I realized that this is a historical series, I gotcha - but folks, haven’t you heard of plain language in government?

I do not like confusion even in style.

I do not like it even with smiles.

I would not, could not, in a mailbox.

I could not, would not, in a soapbox.

I will not file it with a mouse.

I will not file it in my house.

I will not file it here or there.

I will not file it anywhere.

I do not like confusion in style

Even if Volume E-3 beguiles

I supposed that Volume E-14 now counts as 7^th of the 42 volumes. Which means there’s 83.4% more work to be done?

For those interested - the Office of the Historian now has its own website at http://www.history.state.gov where you can look up historical documents (including the FRUS series), the department’s history, milestones all the way back to 1750, plus historical references on the United States’ relations with the countries of the world.


It may not be a bad place to hang out in a rainy afternoon, if you’re interested in history, that is. Sorry no dropdown option for Volume E-3, do let me know if you find it.

Update: Click here to check the status of the FRUS series as of December 2008, including volumes planned for publication this year and later, as well as volumes under research or declassification review. Thanks to TSB for the tip!

Update 1/19/09: Last Friday, this tidbit came out: Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has finished reviewing the report of the Office of the Historian’s review panel and has thanked the members for their work. Secretary Rice has asked Under Secretary of State for Management Patrick Kennedy to take appropriate action.

Related Posts:
Domestic Disturbance in the Public Affairs Shop
Review Team for the FRUS Fracas