Facilitating change: Four lessons, involving communication, size, and culture, from the devolution of the British roundabout
https://www.conferencesthatwork.com/index.php/facilitating-change/2012/02/british-roundabout
#lessons
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#Random lessons:
1. Ran out of thread. Needed to buy more. Substituted a different thread, hopefully will hold up fine.
2. Upholstery thread is much harder to work with than normal thread.
3. End of the spool of thread was near impossible to use, due to change in tension.
4. Should have gotten softer cushions. The firmer cushion was hard to cut even with a electric paring knife. Used the firmness recommended for the Eames, but this was actually softer.
5. Exact shape and size of material is not that important, as long as the material covers the face of the cushion. It's all pulled back and stapled anyway.
6. Vinyl is extremely, extremely, extremely stretchy... must adjust everything to accommodate for that stretch.
7. Bought too much material... Probably an extra yard. Now I need to figure out what to do with that material. Used an estimate for an Eames, vs. the Eames clone I have, and there is no backing on the clone (thus less material)
8. Hardest part of this was the arms, particularly getting the welting evenly sewn around the edges.
9. Snap button didn't work, covering the old buttons and new buttons with fabric by hand was the best way to do this, and looks and works fine.
Lessons on How to Draw by Hokusai via Kottke [Shared]
In 1812, Japanese woodblock print artist Katsushika Hokusai, who would later become famous for his iconic Great Wave off Kanagawa prints, published a three-volume series called Quick Lessons in Simplified Drawing. All three volumes are available online: one, two, three. Even if you’re not in the market for drawing lessons, the pages are wonderful to flip through.
https://welchwrite.com/blog/2025/04/06/lessons-on-how-to-draw-by-hokusaivia-kottke-shared/
#art #drawing #education #rendering #lessons #Hokusai #artist #shared #books
Lessons for #eventprofs from an improv and mindfulness workshop: making sure messages are received, flattening status, and building together.
https://www.conferencesthatwork.com/index.php/event-design/2016/07/lessons-from-improv-2
What can meeting designers learn from religious services? Here are five religious meeting design features that can improve any meeting.
React Query API Design: Lessons Learned, by @tkdodo.eu (@bejs_@x.com):
Here's a lesson from Anguilla. Sometimes, the lessons we learn from what doesn't change are the most important lessons of all.
Facilitating change: Four lessons, involving communication, size, and culture, from the devolution of the British roundabout
https://www.conferencesthatwork.com/index.php/facilitating-change/2012/02/british-roundabout
Lessons for #eventprofs from an improv and mindfulness workshop: making sure messages are received, flattening status, and building together.
https://www.conferencesthatwork.com/index.php/event-design/2016/07/lessons-from-improv-2
Historical Precedents for Preventing Authoritarian Rule: Lessons from Attempts to Stop Adolf Hitler
The rise of authoritarian regimes remains a critical subject of
historical and contemporary analysis.
This report examines verified instances where individuals, groups,
or geopolitical decisions could have altered Adolf Hitler’s
trajectory, focusing on assassination attempts, internal resistance,
and missed diplomatic opportunities. By analyzing these events,
we aim to contextualize the broader question of how societies
might counter authoritarian consolidation.
Failed Assassination Attempts and Their Strategic Limitations
The July 20 Plot (1944): Operation Valkyrie and the Complexity of Coups
The July 20 Plot, led by Claus von Stauffenberg, sought to
assassinate Hitler and overthrow the Nazi regime through Operation
Valkyrie, a contingency plan repurposed by resistance members within
the German military. Stauffenberg placed a bomb in Hitler’s Wolf’s
Lair headquarters, but the dictator survived due to a combination of
structural fortifications and last-minute movements of the explosive
device[1][3].
The plot’s failure underscored the challenges of
coordinating a coup: even with high-ranking military support, the
conspirators faced internal distrust, logistical missteps, and
Hitler’s cult of personality, which persisted despite growing
military defeats[1][3]. Critically, the plan required not only
Hitler’s death but also the immediate seizure of institutional power
to prevent Nazi loyalists like Himmler or Göring from filling the
vacuum[1][3]. This highlights the insufficiency of mere assassination
without a parallel strategy to dismantle the regime’s
infrastructure.
Georg Elser’s Lone Wolf Attempt (1939): The Role of Individual Agency
Johann Georg Elser, a carpenter acting independently, nearly
succeeded in assassinating Hitler in 1939 by planting a bomb in a
Munich beer hall. Elser’s meticulous planning—hollowing out a pillar
and using a timed explosive—demonstrated extraordinary resolve, but
Hitler left the event early due to foggy weather, which necessitated
a train departure[2][4]. Elser’s effort illustrates the potential of
individual resistance, yet his isolation from broader networks
limited his ability to adapt when circumstances changed[2][4]. Unlike
later military conspiracies, Elser acted on personal moral conviction
rather than institutional backing, a factor that rendered his attempt
both remarkable and structurally fragile[2][4].
Institutional Resistance and Missed Opportunities
Early Military Dissent (1938–1941): Pre-War Resistance and Hesitation
Before WWII, factions within the German military, including General
Ludwig Beck and Admiral Wilhelm Canaris, opposed Hitler’s aggressive
expansionism. During the Sudetenland crisis (1938), conspirators
planned to arrest Hitler if Britain and France resisted his demands,
but the Munich Agreement’s appeasement undermined their
resolve[3][4].
Similarly, in 1940, General Erich Höpner and others
considered a coup during the invasion of France but abandoned plans
due to Hitler’s rapid victories[4]. These episodes reveal how
authoritarian consolidation often benefits from external diplomatic
miscalculations and internal opportunism among elites[3][4].
International Diplomacy and Appeasement: The Allies’ Role in Enabling Hitler
The policy of appeasement pursued by Britain and France in the
1930s, exemplified by the Munich Agreement (1938), granted Hitler
territorial concessions in exchange for illusory promises of peace.
Historical consensus suggests that earlier military intervention—such
as during the remilitarization of the Rhineland (1936) or the
Anschluss with Austria (1938)—could have destabilized the Nazi regime
before it gained overwhelming momentum[4]. However, Allied leaders
prioritized short-term stability over confronting Hitler’s ambitions,
a decision that inadvertently strengthened his domestic
legitimacy[4]
Structural Barriers to Resistance
The Nazi Security Apparatus: Gestapo and SS Control
The effectiveness of Nazi surveillance and repression cannot be
overstated. The Gestapo’s network of informants and the SS’s
ideological rigidity created an environment where dissent was
lethally risky. For instance, the Red Orchestra resistance group,
which disseminated anti-Nazi propaganda and aided Jews, was
dismantled by 1942 through infiltration and mass executions[4]. This
pervasive repression necessitated extreme secrecy among resisters,
often hindering broader coordination.
Public Complicity and Propaganda: Societal Buy-In to Authoritarianism
Hitler’s regime exploited economic despair, national humiliation
from the Treaty of Versailles, and antisemitic scapegoating to secure
public acquiescence. Propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels’ media
machine cultivated a cult of personality around Hitler, framing him
as Germany’s sole savior[4]. While resistance existed—such as the
White Rose student movement—the majority of Germans either supported
the regime or adopted a stance of passive compliance, fearing
retaliation[4]. This societal dynamic underscores how
authoritarianism thrives not solely through coercion but also via
manufactured consent.
Conclusion: Historical Lessons for Modern Democracies
The historical record demonstrates that stopping authoritarian
figures requires multifaceted strategies: timely institutional action
(both domestic and international), public mobilization, and
dismantling the regime’s ideological and structural foundations.
Hitler’s survival of over 40 assassination attempts[4] was not merely
luck but a testament to the Nazi regime’s adaptability and the
fragmented nature of resistance.
For contemporary concerns about authoritarianism, these precedents
emphasize the importance of safeguarding democratic institutions,
countering propaganda, and fostering solidarity among disparate
resistance groups. However, historical analogies are imperfect; each
political context demands tailored solutions rooted in its unique
sociohistorical conditions. Vigilance, civic engagement, and
institutional resilience remain indispensable tools in preserving
democratic norms.
This report synthesizes documented historical events to provide a
framework for understanding the challenges of countering
authoritarianism. While parallels to modern politics can inform
vigilance, they must be approached with nuance to avoid
oversimplification.
Citations:
[1]
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/135b2u/world_war_ii_wh
y_did_the_july_20th_conspirators/
[2]
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/10dhz5z/til_of_georg_e
lser_who_spent_a_year_planning_the/
[3]
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1aun05f/if_the_partici
pants_in_operation_valkyrie_had/
[4]
https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/1bn9dab/til_hitler_bar
ely_escaped_an_assasination_attempt/
[5]
https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/4tdkwq/what_was_allies
reactions_to_the_july_20th_plot/ [6] https://www.reddit.com/r/worldnews/comments/cf8g10/germany_honours_tho se_who_tried_to_assassinate/ [7] https://www.reddit.com/r/AlternateHistory/comments/155acx1/what_if_sta uffenburg_actually_managed_to_kill/ [8] https://www.reddit.com/r/history/comments/ckop94/what_was_the_true_mot ivation_for_stauffenbergs/ [9] https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/98z9n8/how_did_the_all ied_forces_react_to_the_failed/ [10] https://www.georg-elser.de/en/ [11] https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistory/comments/18vhbn4/had_the_plot_to_a ssassinate_hitler_succeeded_what/ [12] https://www.gdw-berlin.de/en/recess/topics/7-georg-elser-and- the-assassination-attempt-of-november-8-1939/ [13] https://www.britannica.com/event/July-Plot [14] https://engelsbergideas.com/reviews/the-other-plot-to-kill- hitler/ [15] https://www.worldhistory.org/article/2584/the-1944-plot-to- assassinate-hitler/ [16] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georg_Elser [17] https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/1e7zwif/today_is_the_8 0th_anniversary_of_the_20_july_plot/ [18] https://www.reddit.com/r/history/comments/ckop94/what_was_the_true_mot ivation_for_stauffenbergs/ [19] https://www.reddit.com/r/wikipedia/comments/r42ulz/claus_von_stauffenb erg_was_a_german_army_officer/ [20] https://www.reddit.com/r/OldSchoolCool/comments/sg8cq6/early_1940s_gen eral_claus_von_stauffenberg_around/ [21] https://time.com/5629999/operation-valkyrie-july-plot/ [22] https://www.annefrank.org/en/timeline/77/german-officers- attempt-to-assassinate-hitler/ [23] https://www.britannica.com/video/Overview-Plot-1944/-193829 [24] https://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/collections/departments/germanic- collections/about-collections/spotlight-archive/operation-valkyrie [25] https://encyclopedia.ushmm.org/content/en/article/the-july-20- 1944-plot-to-assassinate-adolf-hitler [26] https://unwritten-record.blogs.archives.gov/2019/07/18/20-july- plot-and-operation-valkyrie/ [27] https://www.reddit.com/r/GermanWW2photos/comments/1i12txx/german_commu nist_georg_elser_19031945_shows_a/ [28] https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/6l07ds/til_in_1939_geo rg_elser_a_36yearold_carpenter/ [29] https://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/ciqk1g/til_that_a_germ an_carpenter_named_georg_elser/ [30] https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoricalWhatIf/comments/a9whvl/what_if_hitl er_died_in_the_beer_hall/ [31] https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoricalWhatIf/comments/s4rs6p/what_if_one
of_the_assassination_attempts_on/
[32]
https://www.reddit.com/r/HistoricalWhatIf/comments/1e812sm/what_if_eve
rything_went_terribly_for_the_axis/
[33] https://www.museumsportal-berlin.de/en/exhibitions/ich-habe-den-
krieg-verhindern-wollen-georg-elser-und-das-attentat-vom-8-november-
1939/
[34] https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32160816
[35]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_attempts_on_Adolf_Hitler
[36] https://www.ushmm.org/online-calendar/event/MALEVINELEC1218
Answer from Perplexity… Deep Research AI
Here's a lesson from Anguilla. Sometimes, the lessons we learn from what doesn't change are the most important lessons of all.
thank you Madeleine. Here's the full blogpost on my site:
What's interesting about being a parent is that not only have I begun to understand my mom in a different way, but I've also continued to learn from her even after her absence.
https://mollycantrellkraig.co/you-cant-give-what-you-dont-have-remembering-mom/
Facilitating change: Four lessons, involving communication, size, and culture, from the devolution of the British roundabout
Here's a lesson from Anguilla. Sometimes, the lessons we learn from what doesn't change are the most important lessons of all.
Lessons for #eventprofs from an improv and mindfulness workshop: making sure messages are received, flattening status, and building together.
After four years away, we finally returned to Anguilla! Here are three more Lessons from Anguilla I learned during our two-week stay.
https://www.conferencesthatwork.com/index.php/lessons-from-anguilla/2024/02/lessons-from-anguilla
Replied in thread
Here is the bicycle area of the Pacific Surfliner. You may need to remove the panniers and stow them if there are a lot of bikes. Key thing is to know which side of the train the bicycle train is! In my area, it's always the southern most car. Otherwise you will be running to find the right place! (Cont.) #lessons #amtrak #bike
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#lessons continue from the #bike and #train trip:
3. Unlike plane travel, train travel (for me) includes A TON MORE CONVERSATIONS with strangers. I ended up in a long conversation waiting for the train with a fellow waiting for his commuter bus before I had even left, where he saw I was on a bike trip and talked about how much he loved bicycling, how addictive it was, and his recent bicycling trip up and down the Ojai River trail (the bike path between Ventura, California and Ojai, California). He told me HOW MUCH he loved that trail, and how they have paved it, and how many times he has gone up and down it.
Then, on the train up, got the life story of another guy with a bike...
(cont)
Continued thread
So, #lessons from this trip (Amtrak -> Destination -> Amtrak Return)
1. Need to remember that Amtrak is aspirational travel, i.e. you want to go where your ticket is taking you, but you PROBABLY won't get there at the time it says. i.e. You'll get there EVENTUALLY, not without adventure and delays, but at least there is a bathroom on board.
2. Amtrak does allow bikes, but it is on a ROUTE-BY-ROUTE basis, and you need reservations. There is a single car with bicycle racks (on the Amtrak Pacific Surfliner, approx. officially 6 spots per train, though one of the trains had enough space for 8 bikes). They don't seem to check, but if you run out of room, could be an issue.
(cont) #Amtrak