Category Archives: Reflections

The Power of Open Space

Posted on by
Reply


I was asked to bring something a little different to a planned meeting – something that would create more engagement and the opportunity for more decisions.

The meeting started traditionally enough with a series of presentations providing the common information base for the issue at hand. We held off on much discussion after the presentations.

At the end of the presentations, we invited people to propose topics for discussion and built the agenda for the rest of the meeting.

It was not a familiar process to some of them but it was fun to see the results. Some long standing issues were confronted in a collaborative way yielding what appear to be some breakthroughs for them.

Open space is a very powerful method in group facilitation.

Scotch Tasting

Posted on by
2

Last night, my partner and her friends engaged in the 9th annual squeak tournament. A couple friends and I engaged in an alternate activity – a scotch tasting.

We travelled through a few brands – starting with those lightest in colour first. A Glenfiddich was first up. Described in the Whiskey Bible as a real “40 watt bulb”, it was a good start to the evening. I had a little Glen Breton left – a whiskey made in Cape Breton that has been involved in a number of court cases. Whether something happened to it sitting in the bottle, it performed very poorly last night. Very sharp indeed and not an enjoyable drink. Funny that I have enjoyed the rest of the bottle over time.

Next, we went to a 12 year blended bottle – Chivas Regal. It demonstrated that a blend can in fact stand up to and be better than a single malt. It was nicer than either of the prior two choices.

The competition stepped up a bit then with a 16 year old Lagavulin, an Amrut and a whiskey maker’s edition of a Macallan. The Amrut was cask strength so just over 60% alcohol vs. The 40% more typical of whiskey. For me, the strength of alcohol was too much and took away from my enjoyment. It really is a very nice sipping whiskey. The other two were just fine and a very enjoyable end to an evening.

Photo:

The photo was taken in a flower pot in my back yard this afternoon. With a lens baby and a macro ring, I like the strong graphic imagery of this one.

Movie: Exit through the Gift Shop

Posted on by
4

Photo: Taken in downtown Edmonton, AB in 2006; image of graffitti on a wall.

I went to the the movie Exit through the Gift Shop tonight at the Garneau Theatre.  A fascinating film.  With a subtitle of `The World`s First Street Art Disaster Movie,`you know it won`t be a run of the mill film.  It tells the story of a French guy who stumbles into the world of street art — and stumbles into it with an endless amount of film and time.  He participates with and films many rather famous street artists.  This film is actually made by one of the more famous — Banksy.

I was most struck by how little (i.e. essentially nothing!) I knew of this whole movement of street art.  I was struck by how it was possible to miss completely the significance of some of the artists.  They have a very real recognition that there are is different than most other art in one significant way at least — their art is transient; it will be defaced and destroyed as people clean the graffitti up.  And yet, it is truly art.  I was struck by the recent statements by Edmonton`s police chief (as reported in this story in the Edmonton Journal) that graffiti is a crime.  Maybe it is … but maybe we need to find a way to include such `transient art`within a community that wants to be world class.

After the movie, we went to Dadeo`s for a bit of dinner.  It is most certainly worth a visit if you haven`t been there.  Sweet potato fries are now on many menus in the city …  but theirs are still the best to my taste.

Liberty and Licensing

Posted on by
Reply

Lorne Gunter‘s article in Sunday’s Edmonton Journal caused me reflect on the concepts presented in Nudges.

To adapt their thoughts, the Alberta Government could have chosen a nudging vs. Regulation strategy.  As a nudge, we could establish 2 classes for the advanced driver’s test that is now required of new drivers.  The ‘normal’ advanced test and the ‘distracted’ test.  For the distracted test, the driver would be handed 3 to 5 random short printed messages during the test — requiring a correct answer about rules of the road.  The driver would also receive 3 to 5 cell phone calls with the same question/answer format.    A pass mark would be set for the questions while the road test would be done as normal — except the driver would be performing it while occasionally distracted.

We thereby protect Mr. Gunter’s interest in liberty — people can still choose to have a license that permits them to drive while distracted.  But, they have demonstrated they are skilled in doing this.  Insurance companies could potentially offer different insurance policies to holders of distracted vs. regular licenses.  We might learn that holders of these licenses are actually better drivers and deserve lower rates.  And, as now, individuals could choose whether to stay with the initial license they get, the advanced license or the distracted advanced license.  My son, for example, has not done the advanced test — he doesn’t want to spend the money on the exam and he doesn’t find the restrictions inhibit him.

The debate on licenses is likely done in Alberta but this ‘nudge’ concept is really valuable — preserving choice and liberty for individuals in manners that encourage good choices — choices that appropriately reflect individual and societal risks and costs.