Michael Herman sends along a great find to the OSLIST. It’s an interview with Paul Stamets on the lives of mushrooms. Jensen: In your book you say that animals are more closely related to fungi than they are to plants or protozoa or bacteria. Stamets: Yes. For example, we inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide; so do fungi. One of the big differences between animals and fungi is that animals have their stomachs on the inside. About 600 million years ago, the branch of fungi leading to animals evolved to capture nutrients by surrounding their food with cellular sacs – …
I work a lot with chaordic process and language. Dee Hock, the founding CEO of VISA International (the credit card) coined the word “chaord” to describe the form of an organization that brings just enough order to flow through chaos. Chaordic design, a cornerstone of my practice these days, invites teams of people to bring just enough structure to get work done without closing down the creative and generative elements that come from interaction with constantly changing dynamics. In short, self-organization at work. Trying to tell people about this kind of work is really difficult, but luckily …
From Mushashi’s Book of Five Rings, the way of strategy: Do not think dishonestly. The Way is in training. Become acquainted with every art. Know the Ways of all professions. Distinguish between gain and loss in worldly matters. Develop intuitive judgement and understanding for everything. Perceive those things which cannot be seen. Pay attention even to trifles. Do nothing which is of no use. What if strategic planning was like that?
The two most important women in my life Jack Ricchiuto: In my work with a new hospital north of Denver yesterday, one of the senior managers commented that one of the things that struck him most was the idea that people do not feel an authentic sense of accountability simply because we place on them demands that take away their freedom of choice. We feel this when people have faith in us. Would you rather be accountable to a friend or a contract? Is it friendship or paper that binds two people’s integrity together? My modus operandi in the world …
Just back from a qucik trip to Victoria. Flew Harbour Air, sat up front in the co-pilot’s seat with my new friend Brad, who is an aspiring musician, autodidact, and all round curious dude. I’ve flown with Brad a couple of times now and we have great conversations about technology, susbistence, land, First Nations, community building, music and culture. It’s always a full 40 minute flight. I snapped a few cool photos on the way: Brad’s office: the cockpit of HA309 a Turbo Otter (and an outside view) “Freighters on the nod, on the surface of the bay, one of …