New York, NY; Toronto, Ontario; Madrid, Spain.
Roberta’s Bushwick: Checking quality of pizza fresh out of the oven, experiening the Bushwick neighbourhood. Will just have a weekend in the New York with 2 of our sons, before moving on. The urban vibe is energetic, but it’s getting harder for the elders to hear, over the music. (Roberta’s Bushwick, Moore Street, Brooklyn, NY) 20220902Roberta’s Bushwick: Dinner after a long day with family plans shifting, and then adjustments made en route. NYC weekend and then cruise to Bermuda was planned months ago, but I’ll be returning home on Monday before everyone else ships out. New York looks a little different since my last visit 7 years ago, but the energy persists. (Roberta’s Bushwick, Moore Street, Brooklyn, New York) 20220902Graham Ave, Avenue of Puerto Rico: Morning walk in neighbourhood to pick up bagels with lox cream cheese and tofu vegetable spread, and fruit. Apartment is full of light, home touches of our Chinese-American host. Slow start to a Saturday scheduled for art museums. (Graham Avenue (Avenue of Puerto Rico, East Williamsburg, New York, NY) 20220903
Williamsburg Bridge walk: Ambling eastbound from Williamsburg to the Lower East Side, on a warm September Sunday. Popular with joggers, bicyclists, and a few families with shopping bags. High outside fences unfortunately obstruct a scenic crossing. (Williamsburg Bridge, New York, NY) 20220904
Museum of Modern Art: Feeling small beside Gaetano Pesce (1970-1971) Moloch Floor Lamp, (1969) Up 5 Lounge Chair with Up 6 Ottoman, both made in Italy. Museum feels much larger than last visit years ago, I’ve lost my family walking around. Visitors to the galleries fully international. (Museum of Modern Art, 53rd Street, New York, NY) 20220903MacDougal Street: Salon conversation via @KositsMarianne with #PeterSkinner and @deadlinepundit on history in world affairs. Caucasus mountains blocking invasions of Georgia from the east; People’s Republic of China before opening to the west in the early 1970s. Tenement apartment in the heart of Greenwich Village since 1967, partygoers frequently sitting on the steep front steps up. (MacDougal Street, Greenwich Village, New York, NY) 20220903Whitney Museum of American Art: Fifth floor deck #DavidSmith (1961) Lectern Sentinel sculpture made of stainless steel, background southeast into Meatpacking District. Family plus friend walked through Lower East Side, Mott Street and Little Italy, and then discovered Columbus Park with Sun Yat Sen memorial. Called car service as we realized our time visiting museum would be limited by 6pm close. (Whitney Museum of American Art, Gansevoort Street, New York, NY) 20220904
Times Square: North view from 7th Avenue at 46th Street West, panning from northwest past George M. Cohan statue to look southeast. Labour Day weekend crowds were exceptionally packed and noisy. The bright lights were to wrap up a few family days in the bit city, followed by destination wayfinding to a strongly renowned pizza restaurant. (Times Square, 7th Avenue at 46th Street West, New York, NY) 20220904
Scarborough Health Network, Centenary Hospital: Fifth floor view northeast, gable skylights over the second floor below, and trees in the park around the Rouge River towards the eastern suburban edge of Metropolitan Toronto. Modernist facility constructed in 1967, with multiple expansions in decades following. Early admission for procedure with father scheduled tomorrow, medical professionals prefer control over food and drink for a day. (Scarborough Health Network, Centenary Hospital, Ellesmere Road, Scarborough, Ontario) 20220906Scarborough Health Network, Centenary Hospital: Behind the secure door, there’s a small children’s play area before the operating room corridor where only hospital scrubs are permitted. After the patient and family are briefed on the procedure, adults are normally asked to go to the waiting room outside the secure door. Normal scheduling aims for surgeries to finish off around 4:30pm, but urgent cases may see the doctors still onsite at 11pm. (Scarborough Health Network, Centenary Hospital, Ellesmere Road East, Scarborough, Ontario) 20220907Scarborough Health Network, Centenary Hospital: The first day recovering from surgery for my father, vital signs all look fine. We expect to visiting this semi-private room daily until he’s well enough to return home. Easing back onto solid food, a period of disorientation after general anaesthesia seems normal. (Scarborough Health Network, Centenary Hospital, Ellesmere Road East, Scarborough, Ontario) 20220908Scarborough Health Network, Centenary Hospital: After 11 days of wearing a hospital gown, got dressed in street clothes and walked out of the hospital. Now back at semiors apartment, where there’s no walker assistance, just handrails in the hallways. Only started on solid food again yesterday, so more rest and recuperation is ahead at home. (Scarborough Health Network, Centenary Hospital, Ellesmere Road, Scarborough, Ontario) 20220916Polson Street: The yellow of the Cherry Street Bridge South is distinct from the red of the Cherry Street Bridge North. The naturalization of the Polson Slip is still in progress, as the former rectilinear Ship Channel gains curves constructed in the River Valley to slow down fast-flowing water during anticipated major storms. Looking northward over the Lafarge cement operations, industrial production will continue long after the district transformation is complete in 2024. (Polson Street, Port Lands, Toronto, Ontario) 20220920Centre for Social Innovation Spadina: Festive spirit @csiTO Welcome Back Wine & Cheese party (with mocktails and vegan spreads) as first indoor event since the pandemic precautions started 2 years ago. Game cards with questions encourage meeting new people, exchangeable for drinks at the Social Capital Cocktail Bar after connection validated with writing on the back. Encourage to join the dancing, but that’s not my style. (Centre for Social innovation, Spadina Avenue, Toronto, Ontario) 20220922Thorncliffe Park Community Hub: Midafternoon break for bivalent booster vaccination, fifth in the series. Drove to the mall wtih a bike packed in the back to ride home, so that DY could continue shopping in the area. Feeling some stiffness, presuming recovery over the weekend. (Thorncliffe Park Community Hub, Overlea Boulevard, East York, Ontario) 20220923The Oud & the Fuzz: Entertaining in the urban Toronto style, on a rainy Kensington Market Pedestrian Sunday, with family visiting from Vancouver on business. Under the backyard pergola shelter, the band played bossa nova while we sampled Armenian small dishes. Walked to the local brewery for a 6-pack variety of flavours, enjoyed back in the apartment a little further south in Spadina Chinatown. (The Oud & the Fuzz, Kensington Avenue, Toronto, Ontario) 20220925
The Oud & the Fuzz: Bossa nova sax, guitar, bass and drums, in the backyard dining area under sheltering pergola, not further east on the stage exposed to the rain. Armenian entrees on the Kensington Market Pedestrian Sunday menu, with usual crowds diminished by the damp weather. Vancouver-side family gathering coinciding with business travel extending over weekend. (The Oud & the Fuzz, Kensington Avenue, Toronto, Ontario) 20220925
Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, International: Arrived 3h45 minutes before flight to Madrid, after driving in local traffic in rush hour from Scarborough 1h40m. Long queue in priority check-in, followed by diversion from E gate entrance to D gate queues, then crossing back across airport to international gates. Travel for academic meeting has a last minute extension for university lectures, we’re happy to be in person rather than online. (Air Canada Maple Leaf Lounge, International, Pearson Airport, Toronto, Ontario) 20220929Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía: On the 3rd floor terrace, Miralda (1981) Tri-Uni-Corn sculpture of fibreglass and corn husks of ox, pig and lamb on a table, ready for traditoinal slaugher in the Kansas way. Large museum with wings added to a quadrangle, particularly rich early 20th century works by Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro on the second floor. Arrived ready to view art after 4pm, after airplane landed at 11am, checking out hotel, having lunch, and figuring out the bus system (Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, Calle Santa Isabel, Madrid, Spain) 20220930Antón Martín Market: Hardly the first, but maybe one of the brighter and attractive displays of jamon iberico hanging from racks to attract customers. I’m unlikely to make a meal of pork, since I’m a vegan, but I enjoy the vibe of thriving public markets. Located in a less-touristy local, this public market seemed to offer a lot of Japanese food options. (Antón Martín Market, Calle de Santa Isabel, Madrid, Spain) 20220930Huertas: Started wandering this neighbourhood before dusk, found a welcoming restaurant after considering tapas bars that serve similar limited menus. Seated at a high table with view on the intersection, observing groups of friends convening and wayfinding. Madrid is active at 10pm, lots of pedestrians providing eyes on the street. (Calle del Leon, Huertas, Madrid, Spain) 20220930
Road construction impacting not only automobiles, but also bicycles and pedestrians. Roadway is to be reconfigured to 3 lanes each direction. Bike path might be restored in June, but the whole project to the Don River will take to end of 2025. (Lakeshore Boulevard East at Carlaw Avenue, Toronto, Ontario) 20250517
On morning bike commute to OCADU event, the lower leg of the rear rack sheared off, just above the eyelet. I slowed down and fell to the ground on my left side, causing back pain for the day. Old Raleigh mountain bike still comfortable on roads with potholes. (Commissioners Street Bridge, Port Lands, Toronto, Ontario) […]
Afternoon @TedX @OCADU_SFI speaker @zaid___khan on Humbling Design by Sensing Rhythms. Major Research Project of 2020 extended with continuing progress on Systems Changes Learning. Noticed audience resonance with heads nodding. (OCAD U Co, Queens Quay West, Toronto, Ontario) 20250516
Emcee for @TedX @OCADU_SFI day, @FentonJagdeo synthesized across 12 themes on identity, assumptions, power, + possibilities. Program content by Master of Design graduates, acknowledgement of scripts provided by student organizers of the event. Video recordings of speakers should show up in a few weeks. (OCAD U Co, Queens Quay West, Toronto, Ontario) 20250516
Family dinner celebrating birthday with vegan desserts from new Bloordale bakery originating from Montreal. Also another belated birthday, plus belated Mother's Day. Schedules have been busy. (Pape Village, Broadview Avenue, Toronto, Ontario) 20250515
Welcome to first day of SFI International Innovation Forum by @MikeMastroeni, with lead-off by #DannyGhantous. Presentations of Major Research Projects from master's program in Strategic Foresight and Innovation, second day will be online. Getting a feel for type of research from OCADU, now that I'm an adjunct professor. (OCAD U Co, Queens Quay East, Toronto, […]
Blossoms of kanzan cherry trees attracting many visitors for selfies or portraits. One of many sites of the Sakura Project donations started in 2005 by the Consultate General of Japan. Nature tells us winter is over. (Trinity College, Hoskin Avenue, University of Toronto, Ontario) 20250511
South of Hart House is a gathering place with 13 columns symbolizing 13 moons of the year, with a hole in the roof where smoke from ceremonial fires can rise. Beyond is clearing space at a lower level, with new trees planted. Part of the Landmark Project officially completed in November 2024, based on an […]
Diasporic memory Aysia Tse (2025) Bean Curd Soup ft. Ye-Ye resonates as we use this vegan ingredient at home frequently. Familiar style of bowl not usual for our family. Part of the Talking Walls exhibition on Interwoven Identities. (Hart House, University of Toronto, Ontario) 20250511
In #GradEx110, Sohyn Yoon (2024-2025) Remnant Project has 7 channels of video on vintage monitors, with 2 audio tracks. Objects decayed or rusted that might be otherwise discarded, now fulfill a new purpose. Recognized as recipient of OCAD University Medal (2024-2025) in Integrated Media. (OCADU, McCaul Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20250509
Two years after submitting an academic manuscript and responding to double-blind reviews, “Rethinking work, with the pandemic disruption” has now been published in the International Journal of Organization Theory and Behavior (IJOTB) as earlycite. The article has a DOI (Document Object Identifier), and should be streamed with an official volume and issue number soon. The […]
The 128th meeting of Systems Thinking Ontario was convened in person. The classroom was filled with current students, alumni, our regular participants, and a few curious newcomers. Moderated by Zaid Khan, the conversation was sparked by Stephen Davies and myself (David Ing) on the evolving styles in learning systems thinking. Stephen has been leading SFIN-6011 […]
The “Understanding Systems” SFIN-6011 course is a requirement in the master’s program in Strategic Foresight and Innovation at OCADU. For winter 2025, the class is now led by Stephen Davies, breaking the incremental evolving of content since 2008. While still on faculty at OCADU, the original course designer Peter H. Jones is now a Distinguished […]
In the 1970s, five ways of knowing were established by C. West Churchman in The Design of Inquiring Systtems. In the 1990s, his student Ian Mitroff carried on the tradition and extended that work in The Unbounded Mind. Now in the 2020s, the technology of Generative AI opens up opportunties to query or request responses […]
For readers with an interest deeper than the 15-minute presentation given in August, the Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Socio-Technical Perspectives in Information Systems (STPIS 2024) have now been formally publishied. The invited paper on “Reifying Socio-Technical and Socio-Ecological Perspectives for Systems Changes: From rearranging objects to repacing rhythms” was reviewed by the […]
The 125th meeting of Systems Thinking Ontario coincided with the closing day for the RSD13-RSDX online program. As a regular systems convening group, we’ve had monthly meetings since January 2013. Zaid Khan moderated a discussion including me (David Ing), Tim Lloyd, Allenna Leonard, and Kelly Okamura. We recollected starting as a spinoff from Design with […]
Rhythm and pitch are primordial to language. Susan Rogers, after a career becoming Prince's recording engineer, turned to complete a PhD in psychology focused on music cognition and psychoacoustics.Read more ›
David L. Hawk (American management theorist, architect, and systems scientist) has been hosting a weekly television show broadcast on Bold Brave Tv from the New York area on Wednesdays 6pm ET, remotely from his home in Iowa. Live, callers can join…Read more ›
Following the first day lecture on Philosophy of Chinese Medicine 1 for the Global University for Sustainability, Keekok Lee continued on a second day on some topics: * Anatomy as structure; physiology as function (and process); * Process ontology, and thing ontology; * Qi ju as qi-in-concentrating mode, and qi san as qi-in-dissipsating mode; and […]
The philosophy of science underlying Classical Chinese Medicine, in this lecture by Keekok Lee, provides insights into ways in which systems change may be approached, in a process ontology in contrast to the thing ontology underlying Western BioMedicine. Read more ›
In conversation, @zeynep with @ezraklein reveal authentic #SystemsThinking in (i) appreciating that “science” is constructed by human collectives, (ii) the west orients towards individual outcomes rather than population levels; and (iii) there’s an over-emphasis on problems of the moment, and…Read more ›
In the question-answer period after the lecture, #TimIngold proposes art as a discipline of inquiry, rather than ethnography. This refers to his thinking On Human Correspondence. — begin paste — [75m26s question] I am curious to know what art, or…Read more ›
Timothy F.H. Allen, president of International Society for the Systems Sciences 2008-2009, passed away peacefully in his home, surrounded by his family, on May 1, 2025. With his work on ecosystem ecology, I learned more about living systems than anyone else in the systems community. After his retirement, he was proud of putting together a […]
In 2024, WordPress Studio was released, making installation on a local computer simpler. The instructions were modified from MacOS to Ubuntu Linux, by Daniel Kossmann, “How to install WordPress Studio in Ubuntu Linux” | Jun 15, 2024 at https://www.danielkossmann.com/how-to-install-wordpress-studio-ubuntu-linux/ I already had NVM installed, but in Terminal, with the result “command not found”. In the […]
The appreciation of change is different in Western philosophy than in classical Chinese philosophy. JeeLoo Lin published a concise contrast on differences. Let me parse the Introduction to the journal article, that is so clearly written. The Chinese theory of time is built into a language that is tenseless. The Yijing (Book of Changes) there […]
In trying to place the World Hypotheses work of Stephen C. Pepper (with multiple root metaphors), Nicholas Rescher provides a helpful positioning. — begin paste — Philosophical perspectivism maintains that substantive philosophical positions can be maintained only from a “perspective” of some sort. But what sort? Clearly different sorts of perspectives can be conceived of, […]
Finding proper words to express system(s) change(s) can be a challenge. One alternative could be diachrony. The Oxford English dictionary provides two definitions for diachronic, the first one most generally related to time. (The second is linguistic method) diachronic ADJECTIVE Oxford English Dictionary, s.v. “diachronic (adj.), sense 1,” July 2023, https://doi.org/10.1093/OED/3691792233. For completeness, prochronic relates “to […]
