Kickoff For January 3, 2022
Welcome to this week’s edition of the Monday Kickoff, a collection of what I’ve found interesting, informative, and insightful on the web over the last seven days.
Let’s get this Monday started with these links:
Crime
My Father, the Hitman, wherein James Dolan reminisces about his father, a criminal who met a brutal end, an end that kicked off what has become a 37-year search for truth and understanding.
The Company Man, wherein we learn how, from humble beginnings in China and Canada, Tse Chi Lop changed the face of the illegal drugs trade, generated revenue that put many large, legitimate enterprises to shame, and how it all fell apart.
The Greatest Unsolved Heist in Irish History, wherein we learn about the theft of the so-called Irish Crown Jewels in 1907, a heist that involved scandal, embarassment, and assorted theories — all at a time when Ireland was about to explode with violence.
Work
The future of work is written, wherein Juan Pablo Buriticá argues that the best way to overcome the obstacles and distances (physical and otherwise) of working remotely is through the written word.
[Letter from Alabama] Hard Bargain, wherein we learn about the (ulitmately unsuccessful) efforts to unionize an Amazon facility in Bessemer, Alabama, and the historical parallels to the town’s industral and union past.
The ‘great resignation’ is a trend that began before the pandemic – and bosses need to get used to it, wherein Ian O. Williamson explains that employees quitting en masse isn’t a new phenomenon, and offers some advice about what firms can do to adapt to, and manage, this situation.
Odds and Ends
The Norwegian art of the packed lunch, wherein we learn about the humble matpakke and how — aside from traditionally being a simple, utilitarian, and boring source of sustenance — it helps contribute to the productivity of Norway’s workers.
The CIA Is Trying to Recruit Gen Z—and Doesn’t Care If They’re All Over Social Media, wherein we discover a bit of how the spy agency is trying to attract young recruits, young people who (despite the need for low profile in the intelligence game) pretty much live their lives on social media.
The Day I Got Old, wherein Caitlin Flanagan describes what reaching 60 years of age means to her and what lessons hitting that milestone has taught her.
And that’s it for this Monday. Come back in seven days for another set of links to start off your week.