Disqus - Latest Comments for kallan

Re: Does The Frame Make It Art?

changeforge — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:46:40 -0000

Ken, so good to hear from you again. Your "voice" is always welcome here. Great observation, and I'm glad this (ahem) struck a chord.

Re: Does The Frame Make It Art?

kallan — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 22:11:32 -0000

Kia ora e Ken!

You have broached a long and celebrated idea in Art, that of constraint.

I studied photography at a time when b & w was the rage. A fashionable practice was what was known as composing in camera or 'in frame'. Such practice yielded a number of advantages among which was better definition promised in the finished product, for the maximum area of photographic plane was used thereby reducing grain (if it was unwanted) and also ensuring a sharper focus effect. But photographers in general found that this also helped them get better, more artistically 'framed' shots.

But the virtue of constraint isn't restricted to 2 dimensional Art. John Keats, at the beginning of the 19th century, wrote a sonnet on the sonnet, extolling the virtue of constraint:

If by dull rhymes our English must be chained,
And, like Andromeda, the Sonnet sweet
Fettered, in spite of pained loveliness,
Let us find, if we must be constrained,
Sandals more interwoven and complete
To fit the naked foot of Poesy:
Let us inspect the Lyre, and weigh the stress
Of every chord, and see what may be gained
By ear industrious, and attention meet;
Misers of sound and syllable, no less
Than Midas of his coinage, let us be
Jealous of dead leaves in the bay wreath crown;
So, if we may not let the Muse be free,
She will be bound with garlands of her own.

Catchya later
from Middle-earth

Re: Pleasure and Pain Don’t Offer Perspective

changeforge — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:26:39 -0000

I think you actually reference perspective in this case... allow me to explain.

A child's perception of a parent leaving is typically traumatic at first as they have to adjust their understanding that the parent is in fact coming back. As a pattern develops, the child matures in their understanding that when a parent leaves, they are indeed coming back. When you hear people reference separation anxiety, this would be an example of how a child is forced to rationalize this, and it can appear very traumatic.

Speaking from first hand experience, when I would deploy in the Marine Corps, I might be gone for a week or a month. Upon my return, my wife and I were happy to see each other. My absence from my wife and my wife from me certainly made our hearts long for one another. But this is a more mature version of pleasure and pain, and the way in which we cope with the pain of absence is having what I term as perspective (or understanding) that the loved one is coming back.

I do not know if I explained this very eloquently, but hope this helps explain my perspective.

Re: Pleasure and Pain Don’t Offer Perspective

kallan — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 04:52:38 -0000

Kia ora e Ken!

Pleasure can bring its own pain though. They say absence makes the heart grow fonder. The pain of absence is as a direct result of the cessation of pleasure. Could not change be brought about by this pain, caused through pleasure being experienced in the first instance?

I can see several avenues to change by this agent, that may be as radical as change brought about through pain alone.

Catchya later

Re: The Cruelty of, “I Wish …”

changeforge — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:35:46 -0000

Ken, the subtext to this post is highly spiritual and religious - for me personally. I purposely wrote this much more open as I understand and support everyone's opinions regarding the subjects of spirituality and religion.

As a boy, growing up, and now as a man, I often found that I relied upon myself. I thought it helped me survive as a teenager and as a Marine, but as I came closer to my religious roots I found that the only decision I was able to make was whether to believe or not... to profess faith or not. There was no middle ground, and all other things were a gift given to me.

Now I understand that this comment is most certainly religious in nature, and I do not intend to pass judgment or convert anyone. That is not my purpose nor intent in the least. In point of fact, your writing underscores that this post was effective in communicating a broader topic and opening the door to a discussion which was my only true intent.

Thank you for sharing, and in grander picture, I completely agree that THE ultimate decision was given to us to make - within.

Warmest Regards,
K

Re: Rants, Resources, Reflections, and Revelations

changeforge — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 09:28:28 -0000

It most certainly is. I find it a great way to reflect upon thoughts and really chew on the ideas behind them. I have "met" people like yourself whom I thoroughly enjoy interacting with even though you are a world apart.

Warmest Regards,
K

Re: Rants, Resources, Reflections, and Revelations

kallan — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:55:35 -0000

Kia ora e Ken!

Glad you took up the challenge. You have an interesting group of posts, with comments, that I've spent the last half hour reading and enjoying, all for the second time at least.

Isn't blogging enjoyable?

Catchya later

Re: The Cruelty of, “I Wish …”

kallan — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:39:37 -0000

Kia ora e Ken!

This is an interesting post that I passed without comment the first time I read it. The things you talk of here are to do with a combination of conscience and moral (or ethical) practice in the face of changing circumstances which may also involve a changing relationship. It can relate as much to a marriage as it does to a relationship one has with a pet. On a different plane it may even relate to how one feels about some precious possession. Though some things that influence undoubtedly come from without, my feeling is that the ultimate decisions, whether made consciously or not, have to come from within.

Catchya later

Re: Stressed Out? Unplug and Sweat It Out!

changeforge — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 12:48:36 -0000

Very well said, Ken. I think we often forget that our time is finite and no not realize the end to which our "yes" might take us in the moment of commitment.

Warmest Regards,
K

Re: Stressed Out? Unplug and Sweat It Out!

kallan — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:48:57 -0000

Kia ora Ken!

I've scattered this one before in the blogosphere. One sure way of avoiding stress is to learn how to say NO.

It's not just a case of saying it. It's important that it is also said carefully and correctly. Turning down an opportunity is one thing, but shutting the door on future chances of opportunity is another - it doesn't exactly reduce stress. Knowing that by saying NO appropriately you are not locking the gate on future options releases stress too.

Catchya later

Re: Your First Mistakes Could Lead To A Second Wind

kallan — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 21:01:08 -0000

Kia ora e Ken!

The difference between manager and leader:

One issue that precipitates opportunities to show the distinction is when a leader is given a position (in employment) by appointment. While the function of a manager appointed to such a position carries a certain likelihood of success based on prior experience in management and other faculties of human performance, a leader who is appointed on the same criteria is less likely to achieve to the same extent if true leadership is what's required.

As you allude to in this post, managing is not the same as leading.

Indeed, the appointment of a leader should throw a different complexion on what the position requires. The adage, "do as I say, don't do as I do", used by a manager may well have been appropriate, but it is certainly not much use to a leader.

Catchya later

Re: Doing More With Less Can Be Your Loss

changeforge — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:31:51 -0000

You are quite correct, and so the saying goes in business, "Do more with less!" However, I find that many are not afforded the proper training in the areas they manage as to effective use of time, nor are their priorities very often clearly communicated as many managers feel they "should just know" or are bad communicators themselves. Thus, if the "certain optimal ways" are not uncovered and clearly communicated there is no synergy, and in point of fact this becomes destructive.

In essence, the shortcuts many take (including myself at times) often leads to more pain in the end... It is my observation that only experience and painful lessons in doing it write tend to be the most effective teachers. However, if we focused on communicating our experiences to our teams, then wisdom could be a shared experience rather than a continually, vicious cycle of self-centered learning.

Re: Doing More With Less Can Be Your Loss

kallan — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:45:11 -0000

Kia ora Ken

"The whole is greater than the sum of its parts".

I'm a firm believer in this adage when it comes to the power of people. Synergy is a relatively new word that applies here.

One of the properties of synergy is that it is mobile. It's like a toy puzzle that can be put together any number of ways - a transformer. Some combinations are greater than others.

Optimising synergy means that the biggest gains are achieved when the parts come together in certain optimal ways. Doing more with less so that it's your gain rather than your loss means getting the combination right.

When it's optimal you have synergy.

Catchya later
from Middle-earth

Re: Don’t Break It Trying To Fix It.

changeforge — Sun, 17 May 2009 22:04:21 -0000

So true, Ken. When taking on new responsibilities - specifically new areas I am tasked to manage without much prior knowledge my first and foremost mission is simply not to screw up what IS working... then evaluate what I need to fix to take it to the next level of performance. As in this case, better is often a meandering path I have found ;-)

Re: Don’t Break It Trying To Fix It.

kallan — Sat, 16 May 2009 05:56:13 -0000

Tēnā koe e Ken!

Too much store is put by 'if it's new it's gotta be good'. The same can be said for, 'change and move forward'. Sometimes the 'new' is created out of a drive to change, without enough or any thought given to the 'how'. New is not necessarily better.

I have often found that the basis for change that's put forward is simply, 'there's a need for change'. But like you've said, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Catchya later
from Middle-earth

Re: Four Reasons Why Poor Service Wins

kallan — Fri, 15 May 2009 06:16:17 -0000

Kia ora Ken!

If the service says it provides beauty, and beauty is in the eye of the beholder, then the consumer decides if the service is met.

Catchya later
from Middle-earth

Re: Community Building

Ken Allan — Thu, 07 May 2009 04:40:50 -0000

Kia ora Darren.

I applaud the direction here. It's the means to get there that's hard to master.Communities are more akin to forests than cities.

Think growth rather than build. It's easier and probably more productive.

Catchya later

Re: The End of Silence: ChangeForge Launches OdioGo Integration

kallan — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 05:02:38 -0000

Kia ora Ken!

I installed Odiogo for a period last year, but uninstalled it some months later for a number of different reasons. But I found it was very good for some purposes though pronunciation of some words seemed odd - Odiogo may have improved since then though.

Good luck with the sound!

Catchya later

Re: In Praise of Praise

Ken Allan — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:42:00 -0000

Kia ora Chris!

Good you are enjoying Middle-earth.

Nice post title :-)

Catchya

Re: Just as Difficult as it Seems

Ken Allan — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 06:54:36 -0000

Kia ora Chris

And welcome to Middle-earth. I recognise the venue used by the juggler as Manners Mall, Wellington. I take it from your Flickr updates that you are here for Easter.

Enjoy! Wellington is a wonderful city.

Catchya later

Re: How Not to Learn

Ken Allan — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 02:46:18 -0000

Kia ora Chris

Thanks for this. I guess it goes with putting aside other feelings and emotions so that we each can also assist others to learn. Ridicule displayed by the knowledgeable for the ignorant can be a huge impediment to learning what went wrong. The ridiculed may well be aware that something went wrong, but having the empathy and courage (lets not deny it) to help someone in such a situation is a remarkable and salutary quality.

Catchya later
from Middle-earth

Re: Computers Suck At Giving Hugs

darrendraper — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 15:23:50 -0000

Very interesting ideas, my friend. Thanks for keeping me thinking!

Re: Computers Suck At Giving Hugs

Ken Allan — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 03:22:49 -0000

Kia ora Darren!

I have a theory (shades of 'I have a dream' - no disrespect intended).

Western civilisation has lived through a great time of change and plenty. Plenty of new things to find and wonder at. Plenty of new prosperity for prospectors to go look for. Lots of change. And that prosperity brought the opportunity to buy, change and discard.

We now have a pollution problem, and most of that is because we continue to buy, change and discard. Shirts, pens, paper, microwave ovens, TVs, mobile phones, computers, cars are all use once throw away items. The deluge of things discarded fills our land but we still do the buy, change and discard.

The past prosperity is a juggernaut that's hard to stop even when it's bound for the warm global wall. It's because of the habit that it's bound to crash. But few will think about it till it happens.

They will think about turning to other things to buy, change discard. The 'book' is such an item. The 'teacher/tutor/instructor' is another. It's funny that the two should be so closely connected, given that one definition of education is 'the ability to learn from a book'.

The progression along that line is even scientific. It follows the pattern that everything else has. We chuck our shirts, pens, paper, microwave ovens, TVs, mobile phones, computers, cars.

Even the educated are touting that we should get rid of the 'book'. So why not the teacher/tutor/instructor too?

Yeah! Okay! Now let's group hug on it! Second Life style!

Doh!

You're right!

Catchya later
from Middle-earth

Re: Sometimes I ONE-der

darrendraper — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 11:22:25 -0000

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Re: Sometimes I ONE-der

kallan — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:49:40 -0000

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