If I had a hammer…
I like refurbishing old things – why just look at Mr. Wry! Ha ha, I kid. He was more of a renovation.
Seriously, I do enjoy taking old furniture and, to the best of my limited abilities, making it fresh again. I love the combination of old with new and am always on the look out for an interesting piece of furniture that needs some love.
So it was to Mr Wry’s great relief that our friends G&E had a baby, as it meant that I could rid the shed of one more odd item of furniture.
I took an old wooden school desk, and turned it into a modern, martian-accented desk fit for a newborn!
BEFORE
DURING
AFTER
As it turns outs, the child will not grow into this in the next couple of months. She is “far too small and floppy”. I say that her mother is very sporty and can surely put her on some sort of weightlifting program that will assist her in using this. Also a booster seat. We’re going to need a booster seat. And possibly some straps. Whatever. I just saw an old cupboard on the side of the road, so I have to go.
Read MoreHalifax Seaport Market – disappointing news and some thoughts on this.
Contrary to my previous announcement about the sweet, sweet harmony the Seaport Market and I would be making, I received news yesterday that they have now decided they do not require any more paper goods vendors at this time. The product is not the issue, just the space for types of vendors. They’ll let me know when space opens up.
Sad news, but I understand that markets need to keep a balance in what they offer.
What I don’t understand, however, is their process.
The application was received, approved and I was notified. I double checked by calling the person in charge of vendors. Confirmation was received, information exchanged and I got to work preparing the displays etc.
So naturally, I was curious as to how their process worked to reverse a decision after that. If there was an issue around a surplus of paper goods vendors, why was the application approved in the first place? If there is a second step to the process, why not wait and inform the vendor after all the checks have been made?
But my intention is not to gripe at the market. Rather, I am taking this opportunity to consider the purpose and value of transparency, especially when your company or group needs processes for decision-making.
I don’t talk much about my day job here, but I will for a moment. I work in research, a field where we are constantly working with, and applying to, decision-making groups.
As a result, I am often responsible for applications that are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars of potential funding. Without the funding agencies having transparent, systematic processes in how that money is applied for and how they come to their decisions, they (and we) would be in chaos. It is not enough that the granting agencies have rules and a system, they must – and they do – offer them to us in great detail.
Why? Transparency allows people to manage expectations.
Yes, I'm invoking Dilbert.
When we apply for grant funding, we know the parameters our application must fall within, what the agency expects from us, when we must have the application to them, and when we can expect to hear from them. When we are notified of a decision, we are given a full accounting how they came to this. We know if there is recourse to the decision and we know how to engage that process if we need to.
Should all groups or companies be expected to have such stringent reporting processes? Of course not. But they should have a commitment to transparency. Saying “We’ve made a decision” and “We’ve made a decision and here’s how we reached it” are two very different conversations.
If you fail to communicate the ‘how’ (or choose not to), you communicate another set of messages:
1. Decisions are arbitrary.
2. Applicants cannot know if they are preparing adequately for this process.
3. After a decision has been made, they cannot know how best to proceed.
Transparency for decision-making offers the applicant an assurance that you have considered them and respect the time and effort they bring to the process, and allows them to see who you are and how you work.
What failed for me in the Seaport Market process? Without a clear understanding of their decision making process, I operated on expectations that had no solid foundation (and expended time and money in preparing).
So, what did I do to respond to their decision? I called the person in charge of vendors and explained that I understood the issue of types of vendors needed, but would like more information about their application approval process. No one wants to be the person who takes that call and has to deal with someone who has been disappointed; however, if your company has a transparent process, it’s a much easier call than the one I had yesterday. Not being able to clearly explain your processes is generally a good indication that you need to work on them. Or create them, if that be the case.
Will this posting impact how likely I am to get a call from the market telling me they have space? Maybe, but I’m OK with that. It’s given me pause to consider processes around me and how I might think about improving those.
OK, that’s it folks. Back to the creepy videos and poorly drawn out sexual innuendos.
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Together, at last!
If you are in the Halifax area, or even considering the trip of a lifetime to beautiful Nova Scotia, Canada, then get your ass down to the Seaport Farmer’s Market – not least because for the first time ever, Wry & Ginger will be making weekly appearances there.
Yes, I’m taking the show on the road every Saturday until they toss me out. 
So come on down and browse to your heart’s content. While you’re there you can stuff your face with sausages, pasties, pastries, apple cider, cupcakes, waffles….ohh my! I think it’s time a smorgasbord celebration video!
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Validation.
“Alarmist!” you said.
“Cuckoo!” you mocked.
Well Daniel Wilson, PhD (Robotics) has my back.
Read MoreMy jaw is suitably slack.
Just hit play.
What. The. Actual. Fuck?
I was by turns amused, concerned, possibly offended, and then scared.
Without translation, the mind boggles. And let’s be honest, we all think that when the camera is off, that guy is terrifying. He rolls into town in an massive limo (which could, in fact, be a mid-sized town car – he’s the size of a wood sprite) and immediately begins blowing through the local supply of hookers and crystal meth.
The soundtrack to my nightmares is now accompanied by yodelling.
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Reason # 6 Why I Do Not Have Chilrdren
I not only giggled hysterically at this,but I would take the baby back dressed in a variety of outfits (a small zebra, a leg of lamb, or what have you) to gauge their effect on the lioness’ reaction.
In fairness to the lioness, the zoo staff really ought to hurl a small goat dressed in a little hoodie into the enclosure.
Read MoreWry & Ginger cards & notes
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