Why We Make Mistakes

Why We Make Mistakes provides anecdotal evidence about why humans repeatedly commit the same common errors. The books is written like a concise summary of Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink and Outliers books that imparts more information in less words.

The book outlines countless ways that someone can make a bad decision, from drivers to surgeons. There is no universal remedy to reduce blunders but overconfidence and a failure to understand and make use of feedback were consistent among multiple missteps. The old adage repeated by Winston Churchill seems to be appropriate: “Those that fail to learn from history, are doomed to repeat it.”

Building upon Gladwell’s books, author Joe Hallinan writes that it is not simply enough to complete 10,000 hours of an activity, one must intelligently analyze their performance and learn what could be improved. When acting quickly, humans should be aware that brains process information according to previously established paradigms: we see what we expect to see. Keeping an open mind and adjusting to the situation can reduce oversights.

Le Corbeau

Black and white film seems to suit the Film Noir genre, from the moral ambiguity to the focus on acting and tension created by a well-written screenplay instead of meaningless explosions. Le Corbeau is no exception. Popular in Vichy France but banned after the liberation, it covers the disintegration of a small town when an anonymous letter writer begins accusing public figures.

Henri-Georges Clouzot uses a great deal of light and shadow to show the difference between right and wrong. Like Plato’s parable of The Cave, the viewer is left wondering about the true nature of each character: the real person or the shadow that they often cast. The Raven who observes the town and casts aspersions seeks to show that nobody is entirely good or evil; a shade of grey abound.

There are many clues as to who might be the letter writer and members of the town council each claim that they will solve the mystery. Like occupied France, the leadership has failed the citizens. Someone has betrayed the town but nobody can right the situation. When private citizens take the law into their own hands, mob rule ensues. A mother of a suicide victim swears vengeance, a nurse is falsely accused and expelled from the town, and a reputable doctor is accused of performing abortions. A Plague engulfs the town.

After a funeral, a furious mob pursues the nurse through the town. Church bells ring, a horde chants for blood, glass is shattered, and the nurse’s footsteps echo through the cobblestone streets. The din overwhelms her and the town, fervor overcomes logic and results in a miscarriage of justice. The writer may be correctly identified but the citizens cannot recover after falling from their perch.

French Open 2009

The triumph of Roger Federer’s win is not in the compilation of fourteen Grand Slam titles but his recovery from adversity and the adjustments and evolutions that he has made to his game. Rafael Nadal has displayed phenomenal athleticism and power during his six Grand Slam wins but he has never exhibited the consistency shown by Federer in three areas:

Consistency: Federer has always played the entire year and wins during each season. Like Tiger Woods - another blue chip brand name athlete - he wins about half the time. Federer has made every Grand Slam semi-final for the past five years. The Swiss player has displayed both the regular success of Pete Sampras and the ability to win on all surfaces like Andre Agassi.

Adjustment: In the 1990s, Federer first realized that he needed to become more mature and ceased arguing petty line calls. Since then he has always been gracious and is often cited as an excellent example of sportsmanship. On the court, Federer continually enhances his game, most recently adding an effect forehand drop-shot to use against baseline players like Nadal. He is never satisfied with himself and pushes himself to get better.

Adversity: The past year has been trying for Federer as he lost the Wimbledon crown to Nadal but recovered to win his fifth consecutive U.S. Open Crown. He lost the final of the Australian Open but won the French Open (also returning from a dismal showing in the final last year in Paris). A clown rushed on to the court but Federer never lost his focus. Nadal has been influenced by negative crowd reaction but Federer normally seems confident. During the 2009 season, Federer did show some emotion but his determination permitted him to overcome his weaknesses.

Both Federer and Nadal are highly skilled players and among the best of all time but I think that it is Federer’s mental ability that makes him stand out.

Pizzeria Libretto, Part I

Pizzeria Libretto prides itself on creating premium Neapolitan pizza with authentic ingredients prepared by “pizza artisans.” The key is the ingredients. The restaurant may win the award for Toronto’s best pie but it is not a fair comparison. The quality ingredients are a cut above what is served at Cora’s, Massimo’s, or Papa Ceo’s that there should be two separate categories: one for walk-up stands that sell slices and another for sit-down restaurants which sell more expensive pizzas.

The service is very attentive which partially compensates for the lengthy waiting period but the attitude is a bit much. Although the pizza is prepared according to a detailed philosophy, it is merely a pie. It does not reinvent the wheel or usher in a new age in deliciousity. The décor is also a bit clichéd: stripped down light bulbs and exposed wood that have appeared on Restaurant Makeover for years.

The crust is thin and expertly cooked. I tried the House-Made Sausage (with Caramelized Onion, Ontario Fiore Di Latte Mozzarella , Chili Oil) pizza but found it to be a tad too sweet, a consequence of the onion and chili oil overwhelming the sausage. The sausage may have been flavourful on it’s own but the savoury taste does not come through when laid on the pie.

During another visit, I sampled the Duck Confit (with Bosc Pear, Panna, Ontario Fiore Di Latte Mozzarella) and found it to be a massive improvement. Sweet and savoury balance perfectly. The pear slices are not too big and they don’t dominate the pizza. I thought that the duck and the pear were an excellent match and would certainly order it again.

Toronto’s best pie? Perhaps on some nights but you better get there early…