Toronto, Ontario
St. Michaels Hospital: Emergency room visit checked ultrasound and xray as normal, but soft tissue brusing ln wrist and hip could take a few days to unstiffen. On Dundas Street eastbound just before Bond Street, a car struck my bicycle, and I fell on top on my left side. Traffic continued, no pedestrians stopped. Ambulance drove me one block, police came and noted the event, but it was a hit-and-run with no witnesses. (St. Michael’s Hospital, Bond Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20230207
The Theatre Centre: Dinner-theatre @CahootsTheatre production of #BetweenAWokAndAHotpot with #mandamlin later plays name-that-actor, not scripting @jean_yoon in audience stage left. Instructing audience members not only on ingredients and protocol for communal dining, but also the history of Taiwan, immigration, and Asian-Canadian identity. (The Theatre Centre, Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario) 20230209
Hirut: Reinterpreting Black Disciples from The Triodes band, called by @robocchipinti (bass) with @michaelocchipintimusic (guitar), @hug_the_mod (violin), #DavideDiRenzo (drums). Paul Neufeld was listening in the audience, and then left to play another gig. World class musicians in a neighbourhood east end venue, casual and low stress, (Hirut Cafe and Restaurant, Danforth Avenue, Toronto) 20230211
Hirut: Without sequencer, #AreYouGoingWithMe called by @robocchipintii (bass) with @michaelocchipintimusic (guitar), @hug_the_mod (violin), #DavideDiRenzo (drums). One of two #PatMetheny tunes played in the early set. More improvised than rehearsed, key features of the composition were preserved. (Hirut Cafe and Restaurant, Danforth Avenue, Toronto) 20230211
Heartland: Halftime show is highlight for non-fans of professional sports, with an ex-varsity football player providing commentary this year. Resumption of annual Superbowl party tradition a reason to celebrate, after some years of pandemic shutdowns. Representation from our family members was low due to travel schedules, we invited a few friends to round up the numbers. (Heartland, Mississauaga, Ontario) 20220212St Michaels Hospital: Struck by car 2 weeks ago, right hand x-rays last week, finger splint today installed in hand clinic to be worn for 6 weeks, 24 hours per day. Fourth distal interphalangeal joint noted to be in hyperflexion on all views consistent with a mallet deformity, implying extensor tendon insertion avulsion. No associated fracture detected. discomfort is on left side rather than right, just problems typing the letter O. (St. Michael’s Hospital, ‘Queen :Street East, Toronto, Ontario) 20220222Centre for Social Innovation Spadina: Special community lunch @csiTO prepared by @NewcomerKitchen, drawing attention to conditions following recent earthquakes in Syria and Turkiye. First speaker direct from Syria a few days ago, spoke about difficulties with cold weather even before the earthquakes. Supporting groups locally in Toronto packing supplies to be airlifted to the region, and doctors reaching out across the ocean. (Centre for Social Innovation, Spadina Avenue, Toronto, Ontario) 20220222
Fortune Seafood Restaurant: Cake topped with fresh fruit to celebrate grandfather’s birthday (on the Western calendar) slightly early, and Noah’s birthday slightly late. Courses of Vancouver crab, Peking duck, white cut chicken, pork chop, beef with greens, grouper tofu in pot, all finished off by our sons. Restaurant is operated by a new owner since the many years we’ve been here, the quality will see us return. (Fortune Seafood Restaurant, Midland Avenue, Scarborough, Ontario) 20230225
A special issue on “Sustainable, Smart and Systemic Design Post-Anthropocene: Through a Transdisciplinary Lens” in the Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics edited by Marie Davidová, Susu Nousala, and Thomas J. Marlowe has been released. In that issue, the journey of the Systems Changes Learning Circle from 2019 through 2022 is reviewed. The editorial team, […]
In the ISSS 2022 Plenary talk, the first 25 minutes were a blast through (a) the rising interest in system(s) change(s); (b) appreciative systems (Vickers); (c1) the philosophy of architectural design; (c2) the philosophy of ecological anthropology; (c3) the philosophy of Classical Chinese Medicine; (c4) the philosophy of rhythms; and (d) methods of multiparadigm inquiry, […]
The theme for the February online meeting of Systems Thinking Ontario was sparked from the discussion from the January session on Root Metaphor and World Hypotheses. What does it mean to have a theory? How does sensemaking contribute to this? Gary Metcalf volunteered to guide a conversation on these topics. Two prereadings were to serve […]
Philosophy underlies the distinction in the three volumes of the Tavistock Anthology: founded on the World Hypotheses of Stephen C. Pepper, the Socio-Psychological Systems Perspective and the Socio-Technical Systems Perspectives are based on Organicism, while the Socio-Ecological Systems Perspective is based on Contextualism. This thread on contextualism can be traced from the association between E.C. […]
Researching the philosophical foundations of systems theory to understand the meanings of “causal texture, contextualism, contextural” from the Tavistock legacy led to philosopher Stephen C. Pepper. The philosophical lineage and contributions of Pepper were the focus for the January online meeting of Systems Thinking Ontario. A deep reading of Pepper’s work (over a month!) was […]
The first Systems Thinking Ontario session for 2023 is scheduled for January 9, on “Root Metaphors and World Hypotheses”. This is philosophical content, for which a guided tour and discussion will be better than attempting a solo reading of the World Hypotheses wiki on the Open Learning Commons. Upon announcing the session on social media, […]
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 ›
How might our society show value for the long term, over the short term? Could we think about taxation over time, asks @carlotaprzperez in an interview: 92% for 1 day; 80% within 1 month; 50%-60% tax for 1 year; zero tax for 10 years.Read more ›
For the @ArchFoundation, #TimIngold distinguishes outcome-oriented making from process-oriented growing, revisiting #MartinHeidegger “Building Dwelling Thinking”. Organisms are made; artefacts grow. The distinction seems obvious, until you stop to ask what assumptions it contains, about the inside and outside of things…Read more ›
In web conference, #HermanDaly says #EcologicalEconomics used to get attacked from the right, now it's from the left. Panel @revkin @jon_d_erickson @ktkish @sophiesanniti #TimCrowshaw #KatieHorner livestreamed #sustainwhat .Read more ›
Complementing the idea of a @longnow , @nfergus provokes the challenge of a #shortthen as the online social media platforms distract the larger perspectives on history.Read more ›
In a recording of the debate between Michael Quinn Patton and Michael C. Jackson on “Systems Concepts in Evaluation”, Patton referenced four concepts published in the “Principles for effective use of systems thinking in evaluation” (2018) by the Systems in Evaluation Topical Interest Group (SETIG) of the American Evaluation Society. The four concepts are: (i) […]
How might the quality of an action research initiative be evaluated? — begin paste — We have linked our five validity criteria (outcome, process, democratic, catalytic, and dialogic) to the goals of action research. Most traditions of action research agree on the following goals: (a) the generation of new knowledge, (b) the achievement of action-oriented […]
After 90 minutes on phone and online chat with WesternUnion, the existence of the canton of Ticino in Switzerland is denied, so I can’t send money from Canada. TicinoTurismo should be unhappy. The IT developers at Western Union should be dissatisfied that customer support agents aren’t sending them legitimate bug reports I initially tried the […]
An online version of a special issue of Paunch (1980) on "Root Metaphor: The Live Thought of Stephen C. Pepper" has been preserved on the internet Archive
