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Vocabulary - Team Definitions:
This page is a compiled list of vocabulary words from each person on the team. IRIS has entered into a new phase as of April 1st, 2007 and this list is one medium for documenting our collective process:
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Brett Boyette (Animator and Creative Writer):
1. Animation: To me, this is basically bring the illusion of life to 2D
artwork, where each frame, each scene is a work of art in itself.
2. Creative: I believe that everyone had some creativity in them, and there
are many ways of expressing it. For me, I express my creativity through my
drawings and my writings. Its a form of expression.
3. Determined: I am a very determined person. If it is within my power to
get something done, then i don't let anything stop me from doing it. This is
especially true when getting something done for a deadline.
4. Artistic: This is very similar to my definition of creative, only i
think most people believe that being artistic only applies to the
traditional forms of art. Therefore, they think that if they can't draw or
paint, then they are not artistic. However, being artistic can be expressed
in many different ways, from the architecture of a building to organization
of a parade.
5. Macromedia Flash: this is a computer program that i used to help animate
my 2D drawings. Usually, i will do the pencil paper animation first, then
ink them and scan them into my computer, and import them into Flash. With
flash, I can color the drawing and get the timing for the animation down
very easily. It is a vector based program.
6. Writer: One of my goal in life is to write a novel. While this goal is
still a long way from being realized, i do enjoy writing shorter works. I
also believe that the purpose of a story or a poem is for it to be read and
shared, so i don't understand people who write poems or stories in a diary
and never share them. Poems and stories are meant to be read, and i enjoy my
readers' reactions to them.
7. Squash and Stretch: this is a common animation technique. In animation,
you are not drawing real life exactly, you are drawing the ILLUSION of life.
Sometimes, to make things LOOK more realistic in an animation, you need to
draw the character or object unrealistically. When the animation is put
together, the finished piece wont look weird because the squashed or
stretched frame goes by so fast that it doesn't register to the eye, only
the overall affect.
8. critique: I believe critiques are a very important artistic tool. Almost
all artists are too close to their work to view it objectively. Therefore, we
need outside input to help improve the piece. This inputs should usually be
in the form of polite suggestions that the artist and consider and use (or
not use) as they see fit.
9. creative fiction: this is basically a genre of writing. I personally
find non-fiction very boring. I am already living my life, so why would i
want to read about someone else's? With creative fiction, the entire plot can
be shaped by the author and doesn't need to rely on actual facts.\
10. motivated: I try to succeed in whatever i put my mind to. I want to get
things done in my life. Truthfully, this is most people's goal in life too.
However, a large majority of the population will procrastinate and aren't
motivated to help themselves reach their goals. I don't want to be one of
those people.
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Aaron Wood (Managing Partner) [The quotes are taken from my M.A. Thesis, Emerging Paradigms of the Early 21st Century. You can view it at: emerging-paradigms.wetpaint.com]
1. co-create and collaboration: Working together. Combining our efforts, possibly for the same outcome or for different mutually beneficial outcomes. Collaboration tends to be non-hierarchical and recognizes each individual contribution while utilizing forms of shared leadership. This happens when something is created through a collective effort. Co-creation is working together. It is not negotiation or compromise. It results in a collective outcome caused by the collective input.
2. sustainability = sustenance = self sufficiency: The United Nations’ Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future (1987), defined sustainability as, “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (p. 54). The United Nations’ definition encompasses a range of meaning, which is further explored by Kari Lende (2000), throughout the following lines:
This definition is the one used the most often throughout the world. It incorporates five key concepts:
1) The needs of the future must not be sacrificed to the demands of the present.
2) Humanity’s economic future is [inextricably] linked to the integrity of natural systems.3. participatory development: Developing through participation.
3) The present world system is not sustainable because it is not meeting the needs of many, especially the poor.
4) Protecting the environment is impossible unless we improve the economic prospects of the Earth’s poorest peoples.
5) We must act to preserve as many options as possible for future generations, since they have the right to determine their own needs for themselves. (p. 4).
4. humility and vulnerability: Humility and vulnerability are interlocking concepts, consistent with letting go of selfish motivations and truly being open to other’s feedback. They contrast ego driven motivations and the need to be right, or in the spotlight.
5. creativity: What comes out. Passion. Making something out of nothing. Beautiful. Creation and emotion. Energy within the design of something.
6. systemic and holistic: A systemic overview allows for a more holistic understanding of the system in focus. Fritjof Capra (1996), a physicist and systems thinker explains in the book, The Web of Life, “the great shock of twentieth-century science has been that systems cannot be understood by analysis. The properties of the parts are not intrinsic properties but can be understood only within the context of the larger whole”(p. 29).
7. value systems: Value systems inform our decisions and our actions.A value system is the container of our individual or collective values and is the basis for our decisions. Values tend to include the ideas of right and wrong and good and bad, but they do not have to imply judgment. Our values help us understand how we should behave, what is important to us, and what our priorities are. “Values as such, represent the ideas that people have about how things ‘ought to be’” (Dahl, 2006, Towards the different layers of culture section).
8. mechanism of change: Agents of change engage various mechanisms to create successful transformations. Through the utilization of media messaging, community organizing, educational programs or other social or political strategies, social movements seek to gain leverage to tip the scenario in their favor. By effectively maneuvering these strategic mechanisms, a tipping point can be enacted, enabling the success of a social movement.
9. paradigm shifts: A paradigm is a template, or set of factors, of a particular system. It can also be defined as a set or pattern of dominant beliefs or worldviews. Marilyn Ferguson, author and propagator of cutting edge theories about the brain and other aspects of consciousness, explains what a paradigm shift is, in the book, The Aquarian Conspiracy: Personal and Social Transformation in Our Time (1980). We found that the earth only seems flat, the sun only seems to circle the earth, matter only seems solid. . . .Each of these discoveries is properly described as a “paradigm shift,” a term introduced by Thomas Kuhn . . . . Kuhn’s ideas . . . help us understand how a new perspective emerges but also how and why suc h new views are invariably resisted for a time. A paradigm is a framework of thought . . . . A paradigm is a scheme for understanding and explaining certain aspects of reality. (p. 26).
. . . Eben Eldrigde described paradigms as having the following qualities:
- Mental
- Emotional
- Spiritual
- Metaphysical
- Physical (personal communication).
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Marco Hendratmo (Socially Conscious Finance Research Intern)
1. Creative: People can be creative in anything. Creativity arises especially when the person is an expert of something, and he wants to do something beyond imagination.
2. Perfectionist:Someone who likes to have everything in a perfect way. The person usually plans everything ahead.
3. Finance: Increase the value of something with the minimum risk possible.
4. Analysis: Being a finance person, I like to analyze everything, not just numbers. I like to analyze everything before making a decision, I recommend people to do that, by doing so you’ll make a better decision.
5. Faith: have a faith in everything you do will make you getting the impossible outcome.
6. Teamwork: Using individual skill to work together with others, and help/complete each other to achieve the team goal
7. Love: When you feel something about someone/something that you can’t describe with words
8. Time management: As time is important in this life, managing it will make life easier. I like to schedule everything I will do; it makes my life near to a “perfect” point.
9. DuPont method: It’s a finance method to analyze a company’s financial performance, especially the profitability of the company. This method uses the data on net income, sales, equity, etc to analyze the financial performance.
10. Responsibility: It’s one of the characters that are important in everyday life. Dare to take action if something needs to be fixed, and dare to take the blame if it’s one’s fault.
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Teri Derr (Director of Sales, Marketing and Communications)
1. Work: To produce results and breakthrough accomplishments. Creating a flow to life that produces results that are earth shattering, focused, passionate and impacts others positively.
2. Breakthrough: Creating something beyond what can be seen intellectually or spiritually. Unlimited, ground breaking. You can operate as you usually do, with all existing conditions to create a breakthrough or you can operate by acting differently to create a breakthrough.
3. Compassion: Seeing past what is being presented to you. Not enabling, but empowering. Non judgmental, unconditional love and caring beyond your own needs.
4. Music: Love, compassion, global. Music builds communities and teamwork, and opens hearts. Music creates relationships where there were none. It is a voice that can still be heard even when ears get deaf.
5. Community: every person on the planet.
6. Fear: Something we live with and that gets in the way. It can be like a cement wall or a smoke screen. We like to pretend it doesn't exist and in reality, it colors everything.
7. Money: A means to an end.
8. Paradigm shifts: Inventing new structures of thinking and new ways of operating that will impact our planet in a positive, life altering way. Changing behavior intelligently and collectively
9. Marketing: Presenting something in a way that shows value. Showing the correct audience to be able to attain momentum and strength in value. Understanding how something will be perceived. Creating desire.
10. Selling: An ultimate lifetime relationship. Being responsible for what many do not want to be responsible for. Trust. Building trust and then being responsible for that trust. Making sure people get what they want. You make sure you can clearly articulate what someone really wants and you make sure that a person knows what they really are asking for. Clarity. Clear reality and facts. No smoke screens.
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Sebastian Ramos (Animator and Modeler)
1. Animation: Animation is about letting go of the laws of physics. As animators, we have the ability to create the impossible. So let go and animate … free your mind!
2. Creative: There are many ways to be creative. For me, it is not just about drawing or animating. It is about using those skills to help make a difference in the world or someone’s life.
3. Humor: My supervisor said it’s my humor that keeps me sane. With all the stress we deal with on a day-to-day basis, you could always turn to your humor to help guide you through it.
4. Story: A great story means anything. You could have the coolest looking characters or environments, but without an emotional connection between the story and the viewer, you have nothing.
5. Universal: When working on an animation, “universal” always comes to mind. Universal is something that appeals to everyone or the majority of the population.
6. Respect: If we only had more of this in the world! Respect is love, understanding, and caring. The world could be a better place if we all had more of this.
7. Passion: This is what drives us. This is what makes us creative, what makes us want to live and do the things that we do.
8. Music: Music is like a timeline of our lives. Music helps me remember parts of my life that I otherwise would have forgotten. It takes me back to that specific time in the world. Music is awesome!
9. Idea: Ideas are all around you, just pay attention.
10. Patience: Don’t worry, be happy! Patience fixes everything, even when things are at their worst.
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Ryan Todd (Systems Designer Associate)
1. Context Markers: Physical and verbal markers that help develop a level of appropriate context.
2. Politics: "The art of the impossible." The art of bringing people together to agree on a specific course of action. The interaction of individuals brought about by social, geographical and intellectual constraints.
3. Pragmatic Philosophy: The unperceived personal and social deliberation of conflicts, projects, ideas and methodologies. Related to the ideas of scholarly pragmatic philosophy and philosophical counseling.
4. Project Mapping: The use of systems concepts to visually perceive the growth, importance,connection and higher level change in business projects.
5. Self-organization: A systems structure and function is not imposed (determined) by the environment but is established by the system itself.
6. Self-renewal: The ability of living systems to continuously renew and recycle their components while maintaining the integrity of the overall structure.
7. Self-transcendence: The ability of a system to reach out creatively beyond physical and mental boundaries in the process of learning, development and evolution.
8. Social Exclusion: Exclusion of all populations and territories that are of no value or interest to financial gain.
9. Teleology: Philosophical study of design or purpose in natural phenomena.
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Debbie Cherniak (Marketing and Communications)
1. heterosexism: lacking awareness of queerness.
2. gender dichotomy: the assumption that the world is made up of two genders and that it is always important to know "what" a person is.
3. ageism: the mistaken belief that wisdom grows as one gets older. Lack of trust in young people.
4. respect: I suppose it begins with listening and continues with a realization that each of us has our own reality.
5. reclamation: taking words like "dyke" away from people using it for bad and making it a word of power.
6. colonization: I'm not sure I feel I have the right to define this word. I just know it is important to me.
7. mainstream education: a belief system that everyone learns in similar ways and within large communities that lack personalization (on the whole).
8. educator: someone who facilitates a learning process for another person, themself, or a group of people.
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Rob Wachtler (Managing Partner)
1. sustainability: a system or process designed in such a way that it will not cease due to an expiration of resources used by the system.
2. team: a group formed temporarily in order to accomplish a particular task.
3. digital interface: what occurs at the machine/human boundary.
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Brittain Boswell (Character Concept and Design Artist, 3D Modeler)
1. Character: This can be defined as a few different things.
1) An object upon which one’s focus is drawn to, this could be anything, from a person, or an animal, to a logo for example, that may be the direct or indirect part of a story.
2) This can also be the emotion or what drives the object. Their temperament for example could be construed as their character.
2. Design: This is the process by which art is made. Design can also be a word to describe art as a whole. For me, this is what I usually call the finished product of my work, such as the “design of the character” or the “design of the logo”.
3. Animation: This is a term that has a few different ways that it could be interpreted.
1) This is what it is called when an inanimate object is given motion through film medium.
2) Animation can be for characters. It can be for Environments. It can be for Motion Graphics, such as a color stripe moving across the screen. When speaking of animation, it is important to know what is being animated, and to know who is better at which kind. Someone who is good at Motion Graphics may not be good at Character Animation, so it is important to find out which area of animation one may be proficient in.
4. Anime: This is the term that Japan has designated for cartoon animation. It is important to note however, that the term in the last 15 years has mainly switched to represent only cartoon animation that is made in Japan. Anime should not be confused with Manga, which is different.
5. Manga: This is the word that Japan calls their Graphic Novels, or Comic Books. Manga is not animated. When a story is taken from a Manga, and made into a cartoon, it then becomes Anime. Most Anime begins as Manga beforehand. However, many Anime stories are also continued in a Manga after it is through airing. Both however, are an important influence in many American stories today, due to the popularity of these art forms in American society.
6. Sailor Moon: This pertains mostly to me, as this Manga turned Anime has influenced my drive to become an artist. I draw a lot of strength from this story of a 14 year old girl and her friends becoming super heroes and protecting the universe from all forms of evil. It is a bit cheesy sometimes, but there is nothing quite like a little girl power, and a positive attitude that can motivate me, also a girl that was 12 when she first saw it. For this reason I look to Sailor Moon for inspiration when I am in an artistic slump. She is my heroine. And anyone who knows me, should know how important this Anime is to me. I hope there are others like me, that can relate to a childhood memory for a bit of help.
7. Modeling: This is the process by which a concept is built in 3D. This could be done with any medium, such as wire, foam core, wood, etc. But for my work, I use the term to describe my work in a computer program, such as 3DS Max, or Maya. It is through this medium that I bring many of my characters to life, and build environments with.
8. J-Pop/K-Pop: This is pop music from either Japan (J-Pop) or Korea (K-Pop). I use a lot of this music for inspiration as well. Since I cannot understand the lyrics completely, it lets me listen to the music itself before what may be the actual meaning. Many stories and images have flooded my mind when listening to this music. I also really love it for its wonderful use of emotion added to the sounds of the music. Something that I think is lacking in American music today. That is not to say however, that I dislike American music. I just happen to breed more creativity when I listen to J-Pop or K-Pop.
9. Creativity: This means something different for everyone. I believe creativity is everywhere, from a person who designs art pieces, to someone who builds homes. It is the breeder of design, of ideas, and of the future things that do not exist yet. It doesn’t matter where you find it, it just matters that you use it; that you push it to new directions, and see where it leads you. It can never be wrong, which is what makes it so great.
10. Future: The future is indeed in the present. Whatever we contribute to society today, affects the future tomorrow. This is why we need to begin planning today.
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Tyler Estes (Multimedia Designer and Video Producer)
1. Hope: Optimism is an important tool in dark times. It facilitates a directed action and a belief in favorable outcomes.
2. Guardian: It is not known what makes some stand up on behalf of the less-fortunate and/or powerless demanding equality and justice. Guardianism can be taught as it is often a direct result of compassion.
3. Elucidating: into the light, i.e. the mainstream or collective conscious that which is misunderstood or unfairly perceived.
4. Sustainability: A preparation of the worlds values and resources for the world of ones great-grandchildren and on.
5. Now-or-Never: As you approach a cliff (or a fork in the road) you are presented with a decision; do you decide to turn away or do you fly off the cliff; which is an acceptable action?
6. Interconnection: The greatest lesson of the internet age is that everyone is connected, the internet makes it visible and real. With our interconnection we can act together to bring about change.
7. Passion: Passion is what TRULY drives people. Its the fuel in the car. It lets all else which does not matter become secondary to ones goals. If money is what drives peoples minds then passion is what drives their hearts.
8. Genius: Genius is sort of like the name for the person or idea which causes a paradigm shift.
9. Facilitation: Facilitation is the ball-bearing or the wd4 within the machine; a catalyst within a cell; that which makes things possible, often making a connection or a process between two opposing or dissimilar things possible, if only for a brief time.
10. Monument: A creation that when witnessed conveys immense achievement and acts as a lesson to the future that truly great things are possible with extreme creativity and determination.
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Stanley Florek (Web Developer, Business Adviser)
1. Human Computer Interaction: The field of study centered around developing effective interfaces between people and machines built to serve their needs.
2. Interface: The connection point between a person and a machine, a person and a media channel, a person and a corporation.... an artificial interface tends to mediate the relationship between the people and channel the characteristics of that relationship in a narrow range of possibilities.
3. Sustainability: A mindset that proposes the present is not always the most important timeframe, the next generation is equally as valid as the current one, that what we do individually has downstream and upstream effects, and that one's lifestyle and society structure should be able to last 100 to 1000 years without depleting resources that future generations of living creatures will need to sustain their lives in a quality way.
4. Web server: A computer with software installed that responds to requests from remote Web Browser and provides web pages for display in a browser.
5. Social Justice: The idea that although a society's rules may provide the possibility of an equitable outcome for every individual, inequality does exist and it presents a threat to stability society that must be addressed through proactive action.
6. Software: A written set of instructions that is eventually translated into basic mathematical operations in order to accomplish practical tasks on a by a computer processing chip.
7. Computer Processor: An electrical circuit that uses "gates" to perform a few simple math operations, primarily addition & subtraction, that can be chained together to produce amazing feats of near human intelligence and interaction when integrated with input and output interfaces.
8. Commons: A shared resource that is actively "owned" by a group of people, and managed for the benefit of all of those people. Not always a tragedy, when your trustees understand their mission and carry it out with honor.
9. Open Source Software: Software applications that are jointly developed by individual programmers and self-interested corporations under a legal contract that permits any present or future software developer to use and extend the code, so long as they contribute the code they write back to the Commons. A potlatch for computer applications - those who give the most get the most prestige in the community.
10. Intellectual property: Intangible assets that have economic value due to a patent or copyright legal regime that permits the person or organization that originated the idea to limit and control its use in return for a fee.
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Jim Raftery (Attorney)
Paraphrased from Black's Law Dictionary (6th ed. 1991) where noted.
1. Commons: At common law, part of the demesne land of a manor which, being uncultivated, was used for public roads and common pasture for the lord and his tenants. See Black's at 190. For a more modern definition, see Stanley Florek's above!
2. Common law: As distinguished from statutory law created by legislatures, the common law comprises the body of principles relating to the government and security of persons and property, which derive their authority solely from the usages and customs of immemorial antiquity, or from judgments of courts recognizing, affirming, and enforcing such customs. Black's at 189. Hence, the customs of society give rise to the law, rather than the other way around. American law is still dominated by evolutionary, common-law decision-making in the fields of contract law, torts, property, and -- most controversially -- constitutional law.
3. Partnership: An association of two or more persons who agree to carry on a business as co-owners for profit. For a common-law partnership, the agreement need not be in writing, but may be inferred from the conduct of the parties. Legislatures have added specialized forms of partnership by statute, including the limited partnership and limited liability partnership, which may only be created in writing. Legislatures have also created the corporation and, more recently, the limited liability company (LLC), a hybrid of corporation and partnership. As creatures of statute, like the specialized forms of partnership, corporations and LLCs may only be created in writing
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Marcus Young (2D and 3D Artist)
1. 3D: This pertains to the three dimensions X, Y, and Z or length, width, and height. Digital art created in this fashion is modeled in the computer, textured and lit to create images. Most people associate this form of art with movies such as Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and Shrek.
2. 2D: Unlike 3D, 2D lacks a Z axis leaving only the length and width. 2D art is generally thought of as drawings, paintings, and old fashion cartoon animation.
3. Model: This refers to the digital sculpture of an object or character.
4. Texture: Textures are also known as materials. This is what is applied to the surface of the model to provide the color and surface properties of a model.
5. Map: Maps are sub objects of textures. There are many different types of maps that govern the surface properties of the model. These range from the diffuse that controls the color all the way to specular highlights and reflection values.
6. Polygon: All digital models are broken up into triangular pieces called polygons. When a model is referred to as low or high poly, it is in reference to the number of triangles used to create the model. The amount of polygons in a model has an effect on the smoothness of the model. A high poly count takes more processing power and is normally seen in movies due to the fact that the frames are not rendered in real time. Video games utilize lower poly counts due to the fact that the 60 frames a second are rendered to create the illusion of smooth motion.
7. Frame: This is a single image in a sequence of images used to create the illusion of motion. These are used in film, animation, and video games.
8. Render: Rendering is the process of computing an image from a digital scene. In traditional art, rendering is often used to describe the act of shading an image, so it's no wonder that rendering a digital scene largely consists of generating accurate lighting based on the lights in the scene.
9. 3D Studio Max: More often called 3DS Max or simply Max, this is a program used to create and animate 3D art.
10. Adobe Photoshop: Photoshop is by far the most widely known and powerful 2D image manipulation software. Photoshop is also the most common program used to create the various maps for textures.
11. Teapot: Only the most useful and amazing of the primary objects in Max.
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Kari Lende (Collaborating Movements Towards Sustainability)
1. Genuine: Integrity of one's deeds, thoughts and relationships.
2. Interdisciplinary: Multiple issues, methodologies, practical applications and diversity of thought.
3. Intergenerational: All ages embraced in the paradigm struggle for a sustainable planet, including future generations.
4. Dormant: Unengaged, disenchanted, disconnected and one's inner core is un-activated.
5. Catalyst: Spark or fire starter.
6. Time/Transition Lag: From the dormant stage to the catalystic moment of change will require inspiration, patience and determination.
7. Inspiration: Inspiration is the spark needed to engage the catalyst while generating any type of movement.
8. Deliverance from Denial: Accepting the truth, reality and largeness of scale concerning the planetary crises.
9. Sacrifice: Sacrifice for an opportunity for all. Less self-absorption and transition to collective caring and activation of individual actualization.
10. Capacity to Care: Our capacity to care has to expand to a larger sphere of concern, other than our own self, immediate family, village and ideological bubbles of thought.
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Ellen Lende (IRIS Adviser)
1. Compassion: Striving so intently to understand another's issue/pain/situation that you can actually feel it yourself, to your very core, as if it happened to you.
2. Belly laughs: I believe it is possible to work at making the world a better place while also having a blast. Sometimes we "do-gooders" can be SO serious.
3. Hierarchy: Understanding that even within a pyramid or pecking order, each and every contributing level has EQUAL value to the whole.
4. Being present: Truly, deeply looking and listening both to self and to others. My sister wrote a play called "Future Wisdom Passed" and in it there is this great line: "If we aren't present. Where are we?" Indeed!
5. Old paradigm: Shoving those old paradigms out the door each and every chance we get - old paradigm education, old paradigm agriculture, old paradigm politics, old paradigm dysfunctional relationships...
6. Intensity: I find many Europeans embody my personal definition of this word: ALIVE in conversation, feeling, being and knowing - without apology and yet with no offense.
7. Quiet stillness: The more time we spend practicing quiet stillness, the more beneficial we become to ourselves, to others and the world around us (in terms of fewer resources expended and so forth). Where and why are we going-going-going all the time?
8. Genuine: I swear my sister stole this one from me! In this culture, and I say this with a tone of witnessing vs. judgment, I observe so many folks striving to "be" - intelligent, articulate, hip, spiritual, etc., resulting in an affected underlying presentation to the world (think car salesman or schmoozer, know-it-all in the classroom or a trying-to-hard new-ager). Hence, I often can't seem to see another's truest self underneath all this trying.
9. Assumption: Make no assumptions regarding another's words or actions without understanding her/his.
10. Intention: It is a person's intention behind the word or act that defines the person. Not your assumptions.
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David M Mills (Research & Design and Conference Planning)
1. Learning:To learn is to change.
2. Conversation:To 'converse' originally meant to 'turn around'. Thus a conversation is a phenomenon in which two parties (usually, sometimes less or more) take turns offering meanings. As the conversation continues, both parties modify their own meanings and thus 'learn' - and thus, change.
3. Learning Conversation: An intentional process in which observation of how one learns is folded into the learning. It is a reconstruction of personal meaning.
4. Transformation:A learning process in which the change is so thorough that the very structure of the learning entity is altered. The person, system etc. can be said to 'learn' a new form.
5. Infrastructure: The supporting structures that make various functional activities possible. For instance, the activities of communication, transportation and use of machines requires systems of telephones, roads and electric power grids.
6. Transformation Infrastructure: Transformation to a new kind of society or economy or general way of thinking and acting in relation to the environment will not occur in practice without the support of an appropriate infrastructure. These infrastructure needs have not yet been articulated, much less built.
7. Interface: A semi-permeable boundary between two active agents. In many cases one is natural and one artificial. An interface can be viewed as an intelligent tool for engaging in complex interaction.
8. Free Market:A system of economic interactions in which every transaction is fully voluntary and fully informed from the viewpoint of both parties. When both parties are free to make their own value assessment on that basis, every transaction increases the total “value” since each party exchanges something of lesser value for something of greater value. A fully voluntary and fully informed transaction, and thus a true free market, places not restrictions on the kinds of factors that either party can consider a “value.”
9. Least Action: An old principle in physics stating that in any natural process, the path taken will be the one that involves the least action—which was defined as the product of energy and time. To generalize, we can do things quickly, requiring large amounts of work, or we can do them with little work, requiring a long time. The most “natural” approach is the one that finds the minimum balance of the two.
10. Mobius Dialog: A dialog which, like a Mobius strip, appears to have two opposing sides, but in which if the participants continue long enough they discover that there is in fact only one side. Similarly, there seem to be two ways of going wrong and falling off the edge, but in fact they are both the same edge.
3. Hierarchy: Understanding that even within a pyramid or pecking order, each and every contributing level has EQUAL value to the whole.
4. Being present: Truly, deeply looking and listening both to self and to others. My sister wrote a play called "Future Wisdom Passed" and in it there is this great line: "If we aren't present. Where are we?" Indeed!
5. Old paradigm: Shoving those old paradigms out the door each and every chance we get - old paradigm education, old paradigm agriculture, old paradigm politics, old paradigm dysfunctional relationships...
6. Intensity: I find many Europeans embody my personal definition of this word: ALIVE in conversation, feeling, being and knowing - without apology and yet with no offense.
7. Quiet stillness: The more time we spend practicing quiet stillness, the more beneficial we become to ourselves, to others and the world around us (in terms of fewer resources expended and so forth). Where and why are we going-going-going all the time?
8. Genuine: I swear my sister stole this one from me! In this culture, and I say this with a tone of witnessing vs. judgment, I observe so many folks striving to "be" - intelligent, articulate, hip, spiritual, etc., resulting in an affected underlying presentation to the world (think car salesman or schmoozer, know-it-all in the classroom or a trying-to-hard new-ager). Hence, I often can't seem to see another's truest self underneath all this trying.
9. Assumption: Make no assumptions regarding another's words or actions without understanding her/his.
10. Intention: It is a person's intention behind the word or act that defines the person. Not your assumptions.
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David M Mills (Research & Design and Conference Planning)
1. Learning:To learn is to change.
2. Conversation:To 'converse' originally meant to 'turn around'. Thus a conversation is a phenomenon in which two parties (usually, sometimes less or more) take turns offering meanings. As the conversation continues, both parties modify their own meanings and thus 'learn' - and thus, change.
3. Learning Conversation: An intentional process in which observation of how one learns is folded into the learning. It is a reconstruction of personal meaning.
4. Transformation:A learning process in which the change is so thorough that the very structure of the learning entity is altered. The person, system etc. can be said to 'learn' a new form.
5. Infrastructure: The supporting structures that make various functional activities possible. For instance, the activities of communication, transportation and use of machines requires systems of telephones, roads and electric power grids.
6. Transformation Infrastructure: Transformation to a new kind of society or economy or general way of thinking and acting in relation to the environment will not occur in practice without the support of an appropriate infrastructure. These infrastructure needs have not yet been articulated, much less built.
7. Interface: A semi-permeable boundary between two active agents. In many cases one is natural and one artificial. An interface can be viewed as an intelligent tool for engaging in complex interaction.
8. Free Market:A system of economic interactions in which every transaction is fully voluntary and fully informed from the viewpoint of both parties. When both parties are free to make their own value assessment on that basis, every transaction increases the total “value” since each party exchanges something of lesser value for something of greater value. A fully voluntary and fully informed transaction, and thus a true free market, places not restrictions on the kinds of factors that either party can consider a “value.”
9. Least Action: An old principle in physics stating that in any natural process, the path taken will be the one that involves the least action—which was defined as the product of energy and time. To generalize, we can do things quickly, requiring large amounts of work, or we can do them with little work, requiring a long time. The most “natural” approach is the one that finds the minimum balance of the two.
10. Mobius Dialog: A dialog which, like a Mobius strip, appears to have two opposing sides, but in which if the participants continue long enough they discover that there is in fact only one side. Similarly, there seem to be two ways of going wrong and falling off the edge, but in fact they are both the same edge.
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Ivon Waters (Creative Writer, Political Campaigner)
1. dualism: dualism is useful in order to understand one aspect of a person, place, or idea. Because almost everything has more than one dimension, it is very helpful to move beyond polarization in order to understand the way that something really is.
2. interaction: we all see the world through our own eyes. In order to cooperate with someone else we must first understand ourselves. Very hard, but it can be done. Then, we must work to really understand the person that we are working with. Only after we have accomplished these two challenges, can we begin to interact with one another.
3. active listening: active listening involves engaging all of our senses (including our mind) in order to understand what is really happening in the world around us. Active listening is most often used in reference to personal interaction. I think it is easier to start with something more simple, like ourselves or nature.
4. creative: Being creative allows what many call "God" to flow through you without interruption. I like the Taoist expression or example of a laborer who is essentially working and meditating simultaneously. I think being creative is ultimately anything you do without your ego being in the same room.
5. focused: I like the image in the Gary Larsen cartoon where the kid is holding a magnifying glass to the sidewalk in order to cook an egg. If a person is determined enough to accomplish a task, he/she will be like the magnifying glass but without the fire. Maybe I'm saying that focusing is more of a process controlled by unconscious forces than a conscious effort?
6. awareness: In order to be aware of what is going on in the world, I think that a person has to really care. IRIS helps to develop compassion for others showing how related we already are and how to become even more connected, involved.
7. time management: it helps me to do math at night. I can do it in my sleep. I also like to do house chores while talking on the phone with my mom. It's also important to schedule time for yourself. Good time management really just helps you be more productive each day.
8. rhythm: I like to have a rhythm for each day. Start slow and work to a fervor. Find a good time to meditate. I can't just go, go, go all day. Yoga helps me go slow.
9. timing: Timing is trying to coordinate my rhythm with other people's. Collaborating works best when everyone is excited to make it happen. I learned this best in music. Bracken, a guitar player I used to play with, simply couldn't find his groove until he had 2 cigarettes and 2 beers. Egging him on before then was really just a waste of time. Right now is a great time for people to get together and collaborate in IRIS.
10. mutually beneficial: This is something that neo-cons are incapable of. They have this theory that private interests (them) are always better than social interests (us). In other words, mutually beneficial means sometimes taking one for the team. But hopefully, it really just means doing what helps everyone involved.
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Carrie Clark (Socially Conscious Finance Research Intern)
1. commitment: if I’m not fully invested in something, then I better not do it at all.
2. nourishment: everything needs some form of sustenance, something to keep it going, be it a person or a change.
3. family: whether you were born into it or gathered one along the way, its nice to know that you have someone to fall back on when you don’t have the strength to stand.
4. respect: something one must find in ones self before being able to bestow it upon others.
5. music: the back-bone of my life, always in the background, energizing me.
6. jump in: sometimes you just have to close your eyes and jump, wading in can often be infinitely more difficult.
7. patience: my mom used to sing me a song, the heart of which is “don’t be in such a hurry! When you get impatient, you always start to worry!…So think of all the times when others had to wait for you!”
8. cultural sensitivity: having grown up overseas, I always try to see things from different perspectives. I may not agree with the perspective, but I try to be aware that others may see things differently than I do.
9. learning: trying to get everything you can from every experience, there’s a lesson to be learned everywhere you look.
10. enjoyment: is life really worth living if you can’t take some pleasure from the little things?
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Kristiana Brix (Socially Conscious Finance & Grantwriting Intern)
1. Consciousness: Being aware of what is going on in your community and the world and how you are tied to and contribute to these on a greater and interpersonal level, considering what you do in the greater context.
2. Imagination: Seeing things differently and creating through introspection and observation. Imagination shows hope.
3. Human rights: For me, human rights are the things we believe to have rights to and thus, if we can have them, other people should be able to have those rights as well - whether it's the right to love or the right to a 40 hour work week without abuses.
4. Money: The abstract, dynamic, undeniably powerful force that drives the capitalist world. In many ways, the way you spend your money is just as powerful, if not more so than your vote.
5. Economics: Generally defined as the study of how humans make decisions, usually associated with business and money. It offers a look into how the world works and doesn't work and helps create tools to change.
6. Collaboration: Realizing the biggest of issues are only impossible to those who refuse to see the power in working together with many diverse interests, opinions and ideas. Being willing to be wrong and to continue to work for the greater good.
7. Diligence: Doing the task at hand completely and well. Like leaving a campsite better than when you found it.
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Mike Krisel (Graphics & Multimedia Designer)
1. Rationale: The reasoning or principle that underlies or explains a particular course of action.
2. Imagination: Imagination is the precursor to invention. Without imagination, how can we create new ideas?
3. Time: Most everyone takes this in consideration before beginning that something.
4. Color: The property of objects that depends on the light that they reflect and that is perceived as red, blue, green, or other shades.
5. Joke: Anything said or done to make people laugh. I feel so much better after a good laugh.
6. Font: Important consideration for design. An incorrect font can lessen the message’s power.
7. Kerning: The horizontal spacing between the letters in a word. A text is easier to read when spaced equally.
8. Goal: Without a goal, it becomes very difficult to accomplish anything.
9. Concept: An idea or solution for a person. Many concepts are made so the best resolution will be found.
10. Crop: Trimming an image to smaller size. This enhances the image or makes the image fit into a space.
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Eva DeLoach (IRIS Adviser and Proprietor of The Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie)
1. Restoration, Reclamation: “Of people and land and spirit and hope and traditions.”
2. “Minglemint”: This is the name of our tiny neighborhood organic store named by Michael Meade, poet, storyteller and activist. Minglement est.1979 is what this place has become. Here is how we describe “The Minglement”: To blend or bring together in close association; To join or take part with others; An amalgam of diverse elements.
3. Local: When I first started our business we were asked one day if it was my policy to “contribute to or buy from, local businesses and individuals. My response was..."Yes of course we support local endeavors, but to me the Earth, when compared to the Universe.....is my local community. When people in distant lands and all of life is valued and free from war and poverty and despair and exploitation we will then be able to truly buy local and come home to wherever we are”.
4. Dreamers: Wake up!
5. “Beyond Organic": When the US government officially approved standards for organic food, a number of farmers dropped their organic certification because they felt the organic label had been co-opted by big business. There is a burdensome amount of paperwork that they could not keep up with and organic, wholesome, and humane food is not a guarantee. Many of these farmers raise their animals and crops using methods that are even stricter than the USDA organic standards. There has been an effort to categorize these farmers, so some people are now calling these types of farms “Beyond Organic”. Isn’t it time to trust the “self regulating” fellow farmer and discern the truth for ourselves? Dishonest farms won’t stay in business long if they cheat.
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Christine Ryu (Grantwriting Intern & Co-Director of Website Development)
1. Humility: An understanding that despite an individual’s socio-economic, orientation, gender, race or ability to acknowledge there are greater things than you out there. This should be a positive reminder to motivate an individual to become better in everything they do.
2. Compromise: A fusion of ideas or goals. A corner stone to teamwork success.
3. Responsibility: To expect and overcome the positive or negative consequences as a result of an individual’s actions or situation.
4. Open Mindedness: A positive attitude towards the ideas of others, not necessarily accepting, but fully understanding the idea.
5. Understanding: To fully know a situation, concept or idea.
6. Effective Communication: A bridge which connects two people to exchange ideas with understanding.
7. Usability: To utilize a product, whether it be a cell phone or website.
8. Enthusiasm: A positive attitude which embodies excitement towards a cause; usually compelling an individual to act upon this excitement.
9. Human: A funny and paradoxical creature, that is logical and emotional, peaceful and violent, and content and restless. An imperfect being which anyone has yet to understand.
10. Gift: A token given out of compassion or duty which is usually beneficial to the recipient. In the North American culture, it is usually perceived as rude or conceited to ask for gifts. However as a grantwriting intern this summer for IRIS, I will be breaking that rule.
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| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | |
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| DanSchu | Disambiguation | 0 | Sep 7 2007, 7:49 PM EDT by DanSchu | |
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Thread started: Sep 7 2007, 7:49 PM EDT
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Verb: to Dis-ambiguate. Computer Science term. Related to term "uniquify" (to make unique.) Often design problems in software require disambiguation. The motto of my company, Abstract Engineering is "Providing excellence in dis-ambiguation since a really long time ago". This is partly in jest but dis-ambiguation is truly my life's work. Contemporary software essentially tolerates no ambiguity (people on the other hand live in a world chock full of it.) Making software the people can use is largely a dis-ambiguation problem.
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