Distractions, reflections
David Ing, at large … Sometimes, my mind wanders
2017/07 Moments July 2017
Toronto, Ontario (summer, all within bicycling distance of home)
Pho House: Casual Canada Day dinner out in neighbourhood resto, at leisure. Sons used to eat lunch at this location in high school days. The business across the street moved in, when the other Viet business moved out. (Pho House, Gerrard Street East, Toronto) 20170701
Wong’s Ice Cream: Took home vegan coconut mango sticky rice ice cream + vegan lemongrass lime sorbet, after we sampled a variety of flavours. Wanted to take a packed pint of the former, but small daily production lots meant two scoops of two flavours instead. New business only opened in neighbourhood in the past few months. (Wong’s Ice Cream, Gerrard Street East, Toronto, Ontario) 20170701
Nathan Phillips Square: Universal Breaking League on the Pond Stage for Battle for the North two-on-two competition, as part of Canada Days celebration. Big screen alternating with musical acts on the Main Stage. Large crowds out for Sunday evening, statutory observance will be on Monday. (Nathan Phillips Square, Bay Street West, Toronto, Ontario) 20170702
daviding August 1st, 2017
Posted In: moments
2017/06 Moments June 2017
Toronto, Ontario
Muzda Bakery: “What kind of bread is that?” “Just bread”. Shop touting Gujarati specialities and Indian biscuits offers fresh western style wheat loaves in a flat boule shape. Toronto east side scene of Chinese bicyclist in shorts asking for 3 loaves, a South Asian visitor dressed in white robes suggesting to buy 4, so I acquiesced to take home 4 loaves. (Muzda Bakery, Danforth Avenue, Toronto, Ontario) 20170607
Vicky Keith Point: Long route to Toronto Harbour Lighthouse, southmost tip of Tommy Thompson Park via the endikement road on the lakeward side of headland by bicycle, since the bridge on the more direct path is out. Loop road is ringed by rubble. some stacked in artistic ways by other visitors. CN Tower and bank towers of downtown Toronto across the water. (Toronto Harbour Lighthouse, Vicky Keith Point, Tommy Thompson Park, Toronto, Ontario) 20170608
Fabian’s Cafe: Tidy German pastry shop serving wiener schnitzel and crepes for lunch, an out-of-the-way meeting place with friends further out on the east end. European style in a strip plaza with many South Asian varieties nearby, on the major suburban street. (Fabian’s Cafe, Markham Road, Scarborough, Ontario) 20170613
daviding July 1st, 2017
Posted In: moments
2017/05 Moments May 2017
Fairfield, Iowa; Iowa City; Iowa; Coralville, Iowa; East Moline, Illinois; Chicago, Illinois; Evanston, Illinois; Kerwood, Ontario; Toronto, Ontario
Fairfield, Iowa: Mock duck with spinach, mock abalone curry with coconut milk and avocado, successful experiments with canned Chinese vegetarian glutens. Rainy day with everyone falling into afternoon naps in the house by the farm, recovery from long travel yesterday. (Fairfield, Iowa) 20170501
Visual Arts Building, U. Iowa: Striking central atrium with ramps spiralling multiple levels upward. Arts installations still in progress, with end of term nearing. Walking tour of campus on a clear spring day. (Visual Arts Building, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa) 20170502
Coralville Center for the Performing Arts: Iowa City Girls Choir spring recital in an opulent venue. Our block of seven sent upstairs to the balcony, as ground floor space was packed. Experiencing the American lifestyle, as foreign visitors. (Coralville Center for the Performing Arts, Coralville, Iowa) 20170502
Maharishi University: Collection of instruments in the Maharishi Vedic Observatory, to observe and align with natural law. Walked around campus with a local resident who has friends who studied in the school, providing some explanations of the contrasting belief system. (Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa) 20170503
Deere & Co. World HQ : Combine has 14-foot wide wheelbase, so can be legally driven on the road, if the corn header is removed. Impressive front entrance display for a Fortune 100 company. (Deere & Company World Headquarters, East Moline, Illinois) 20170504
Deere & Co. World HQ : Henry Moore (1973) Hill Arches, on island beside water fountain, in landscape designed by Eero Saarinen and Kevin Roche. Crossing on small bridge over koi pond, swan approached as threatening, mate on other side nesting. (Deere & Company World Headquarters, East Moline, Illinois) 20170504
daviding May 31st, 2017
Posted In: moments
Tags: chicago, coralville, east moline, evanston, fairfield, iowa city, kerwood, Toronto
2017/04 Moments April 2017
Toronto, Ontario; Shanghai, PR China; Kalamazoo, Michigan
Pearson Airport T1: Between Gates E77 and E78, colorful glass cylinders enclosing light bulbs, suspended from overhead arches. Design by Norr Architects for OTG, a company operating high-end restaurants at the airport, including Hemant Bhagwani’s Marathi Indian. (Terminal 1, Pearson International Airport, Toronto, Ontario) 20170401
Shanghai Pudong Airport: Whimsical rooster themed installation on middle of airport, lightens the spirit on the long walk from the airplane, through immigration, to the Maglev train. Impressed on short ride hitting 430 km/h peak, before slowing down at western terminus. (Pudong International Airport, Shanghai, PR China) 20170402
Zhangwu Sichuan: Dinner for Qingming Tomb-Sweeping Day, since public holiday on a Monday still has most people off work. Chose Sichuan resto near Tongji University, left half of dishes filled with red peppers too spicy to eat. (Zhangwu Sichuan, Shanghai, PR China) 20170403
People’s Park Pond: Father with small net skimming somethings from top of pond, and placing into small bucket for son. Game players involved in own activities in the background. Tuesday is still an extended Qingming weekend holiday, the park was popular with families. (People’s Park, Shanghai, P R China) 20170404
Shanghai Gallery of Art: Yin Xiuzhen 2005 TVT-Rocket installation of three cloth towers, extends from third floor in light well up to 6th. Gallery is open to public, and closer to the Bund, but maybe the Whampoa Club upstairs enjoys less traffic. (Shanghai Gallery of Art, Three.on the Bund, Shanghai, P R China) 20170404
Rockbund Art Museum: Song Dong 2017 Back Image, screen plus 50 benches. Extensive show covering long career over 6 floors. Well curated contemporary art venue, building walls show a sense of humour with dimensions marked everywhere. (Rockbund Art Museum, Huangpu Qu, Shanghai, P R China) 20170404
daviding April 30th, 2017
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2017/03 Moments March 2017
Toronto, Ontario; Santa Clara, California; Milpitas, California; San Jose, California; Oakland, California; Hayward, California; Mountain View, California; Palo Alto, California; San Francisco, California; Mountain View, California; Half Moon Bay, California, Pescadero, California; Santa Cruz, California; Tokyo, Japan
Woodgreen Church: Rear view of facade facing Queen Street shows steeple and stained glass windows as last to be demolished in lot from Booth Avenue to Logan Avenue. Our laneway that dead ends to the north is usually still open, with a hazard tape strung across the path periodically. (Woodgreen Church, Queen Street East, Riverside district, Toronto, Ontario) 20170307
Fu Yao: Found Job’s tears, definitively marked as coix seeds, in bulk quantities at my local Chinese supermarket. It’s a gluten-free substitute for barley, packaged in small quantities labelled as “barley” or “pearl barley” as 薏仁 / 薏米 (yì rén / yì mí). Job’s tears are rounder than barley, and have a brown groove on one side. The bulk bin correct labelling was more reassuring. (Fu Yao, Gerrard Street East, Toronto, Ontario) 20170307
OCADU Richmond: Warmup @redesign @OCADU_SFI Understanding Systems & Systemic Design class. I lectured on “Service Systems Thinking: Reflecting on acts of representation” for 90 minutes, covering 4 of 5 sections to the full-time cohort. Same slides tomorrow for the part-time cohort, we’ll see if we cover more (or less). Slides at http://coevolving.com/commons/20170308_ocadu_service-systems-thinking, audio recording should be uploaded in a few weeks. (OCAD University, 205 Richmond Street West, Toronto, Ontario) 20170308
OCADU Richmond: Intro by Jeremy Bowes @OCADU_SFI Understanding Systems & Systemic Design class. Sames slides as yesterday, part-time students challenged me for more clarity, took break for full brains after 75 minutes. Another 20 minutes to finish up 4th section, and then a few questions. Class would have benefited by stepping through some real-life use of the structured form for service-systems thinking, we’ll have to think about more workshop time in future presentations. (OCAD University, 205 Richmond Street West, Toronto, Ontario) 20170309
AC759: Seat 17D on an Air Canada Airbus A319 is behind a jump seat, and doesn’t have a screen to watch movies. Since the flight arrives at SFO at 2:30 a.m. Toronto time, maybe this is a signal that I should sleep. (AC759, Toronto Pearson International Airport) 20170310
Santa Clara Produce: Down-to-earth greengrocer, sampling local apples and pears by walking around offering slices off a knife. California produce, Lebanese packaged goods, Vietnamese baguettes. We chose flatbreads: lavash, and flour tortillas. AHI bought a whole jackfruit for an afternoon barbeque with a new Latin dance group, he’s sure to make an impression. Store ownership changed hands in fall 2016, renovations were noticed. (Santa Clara Produce, Scott Boulevard, Santa Clara, California) 20170311
daviding March 31st, 2017
Posted In: moments
Tags: bay area california, tokyo
2017/01 Moments January 2017
Toronto, Ontario.
Nathan Phillips Square: Afternoon traffic jam amongst skaters on the rink, while roads are empty and most businesses closed for New Year’s Day. Pedestrian volume high in the Eaton Centre across the street, more browsers than buyers enjoying an indoor stroll. Temperature above freezing and sun encouraged bicycle ride, bundled up with winter wear. (Nathan Phillips Square, Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario) 20170101
Roberts Library: When the e-version isn’t available, a quick trip to the library stacks works. University is still quiet after holiday season, yet there’s still some people on computer terminals after 9 p.m. When I was an undergrad, I visited this section frequently. (Robarts Library, 11th floor, St. George Street, University of Toronto, Ontario) 20170103
Toronto Public Library, Queen Saulter Branch: Neighbourhood walk to pick up book and DVD, chest cold having discouraged leaving the house in a week. Neo-classical building was designed by E.J. Lennox, serving as Postal Station G from 1914 to 1975. Renovated in 1979, the library and community centre is a landmark in South Riverdale. (Toronto Public Library, Queen Saulter Branch, 765 Queen Street East, Riverside district, Toronto) 20170114
OCADU: Systems Thinking Ontario first meeting of New Year discussing some topics looking forward, reviewing the format of sessions in history. Repeated contextual presentation from 2012 including the map of ignorance, postnormal science, and the design in inquiring systems. (Lambert Lounge, OCADU, McCaul Street, Toronto, Ontario) 20170118
India Paan: Sugar cane and grilled corn outside, but server inside on grey above-freezing January Sunday. Pedestrian traffic light, with a few families coming out after lunches. (India Paan, Gerrard Street East, Toronto, Ontario) 20170122
daviding February 2nd, 2017
Posted In: moments
Tags: adp sales competition, Robarts-library, systems thinking ontario
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