Storm Pax Effects

The power went out at 7:45AM as I was prepping for the work day and just returned a few minutes ago.  I spent a good 15 minutes just looking out the window.  I can’t remember the last time I just sat, watched and listened without a million thoughts running through my head.  It was peaceful.

I could hear the persistent dropping of rain hitting the gutters, the chattering ice encrusted trees blowing gently.  The wind picked up and I could hear the crackle of branches trying to twist free of the icy layers that surrounded the limbs.  A loud crack of branches snapping, falling victim to the weight of the ice.  Even an old tree gave up the fight to be upright, crashed with a thud in the neighbor’s yard.

Even though it may be inconvenient to be home bound by the storm named Pax, there is something majestic about watching and listening to it all.  The next wave is blowing through, this go around it’s sleet, bouncing off the ground, sounding like pouring of sugar into an empty container.  The tree branches continue to bend under the  weight, to snap, to fall.

I’m hoping I can listen from a distance and be spared of a closer encounter.  Time, weather and trees will tell the story soon enough.  In the meantime, I’ll go collect my flashlights, get the extra blankets on the bed, if the power goes out, we’ll be ready.

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pax (pæks) n1. (Roman Catholic Church) RC Church

a. a greeting signifying Christian love transmitted from one to another of those assisting at the Eucharist; kiss of peace

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Don’t Complain About Farmers With Your Mouth Full

Buy organic or not to buy organic, now there’s a deep question!    The subject is heavily debated, especially given the cost of organic being more expensive.   As for my house, most recently we have more organic products in our shopping cart and we feel better for it. 

Of course it makes sense that in order to produce an organic product it requires more of an investment, unfortunately, that cost has to be asorbed somewhere, and often it’s by the consumer.   We enjoy the organic products, therefore I’ve vowed to not complain about the farmers with my mouth full.

My sister, I consider to be an Urban Farmer – and chuckle everytime I think of her little plot of land in the middle of the city of Atlanta.  She started square foot gardening last year – took off like gangbusters!   She’s also invested in a 1/4 slab of ‘organic’ beef for her freezer and is adding chickens this year for both eggs and food. 

So now I have a gardening box in my yard, and bags of dirt ready to prepare the magic soil mixture.   The beauty of square foot gardening is that you build above ground (no digging) and it’s literally in square foot sections, versus row gardening.  It’s compact, and should require little to no weeding.  (I was sold with the words of no digging and very little weeding).

I purchased ‘organic’ seeds as to inspire healtier plants, chocked with extra nutrients and care, to not stunt their ability to provide awesome results later.   I actually have my seedlings growing.  I’m excited and optimistic.  I have a nagging little voice in my head that keeps saying I’ll be successful provided I don’t forget to water them or harvest them before they go to seed.   I have a second nightmare about a giant bunny eating all the goods.

I have big plans for Arugula, Romaine, Salad Bowl Lettuce, Jalepeno, Red Pepper, Eggplant, Zuchinni, Yellow Squash, Pumpkin, Green beans, Watermelon, Sunflower, Cilantro, Basil, and Tomato (grape and big boy).  

In preparation, I bought two books: 

1.  The Square Foot Garden, by Mel Bartholomew  http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

2.  A book on Home Preserving –  yes, I’m absolutely feeling lucky, the bad news is that my ‘crop’ isn’t your typical preservable food.  

I’ll do my best to be an ‘organic grower’, my backup plan is to beg my sister to feed us OR better yet, I’m exploring the location of local growers to buy from.  http://www.localharvest.org/

My ultimate goal for the summer is to avoid the produce aisle at the grocery store.    I’ll try to grow it myself or visit some of the local farms for our produce. 

Just an FYI, we didn’t go in on the beef – we simply don’t eat a lot of beef.  We’ll forgoe the chickens, I have a strong feeling, I’d just name them and then not be able to kill and prepare them.  I know my limits.

For more information about Organics for beginners:

http://www.myrecipes.com/recipes/article/0,28747,1815651,00.html?xid=outbrain-mr-1209

 http://www.cookinglight.com/eating-smart/smart-choices/how-to-buy-best-organic-foods-00400000042865/1

http://featuresblogs.chicagotribune.com/features_julieshealthclub/2010/03/is-organic-better-making-sense-of-organic-choices.html

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Little pitchers have big ears.- John Heywood (c.1497-1580)

I’m curious, more than I probably have time for.   I was looking up ‘sayings’, just out of pure curiousity.  I came across the following:

Little pitchers have big ears

Of course I had to find out what the heck that meant. 

LITTLE PITCHERS HAVE BIG EARS – “Children hear and understand more than you think they do. The play here is on the resemblance of the ear to the handle of a pitcher. It is an ancient saying, having been recorded by John Heywood in 1546: ‘Auoyd your children, smal pitchers haue wide eares.'” From “The Dictionary of Cliches” by James Rogers (Ballantine Books, New York, 1985).

I must say that John Heywood had some good lines to share, from way back in the day 1542-6!!  No doubt still used today.  Now knowing that they’re from 464 years ago, makes you wonder the context in which they were delivered.

In any event, I’m sure that my big ears as a child, helped me remember some of these gems that I could still use today.  464 years of ‘big ears’ all around keep them alive.  Amazing.

Beg’s the question, what old sayings do you still throw out to your friends and family?  Have you checked to see the origin?

Just for fun try these Heywood’s on:

Haste maketh waste. (1546)

Out of sight out of minde. (1542)

When the sun shineth, make hay. (1546)

Two heads are better than one. (1546)

Love me, love my dog. (1546)

Beggars should be no choosers. (1546)

All is well that ends well. (1546)

The fat is in the fire. (1546)

I know on which side my bread is buttered. (1546)

One good turn asketh another. (1546)

A penny for your thought. (1546)

Rome was not built in one day. (1546)

Better late than never. (1546)

An ill wind that bloweth no man to good. (1546)

The more the merrier. (1546)

You cannot see the wood for the trees. (1546)

This hitteth the nail on the head. (1546)

No man ought to look a given horse in the mouth. (1546)

Many hands make light work. (1546)

Wolde ye bothe eate your cake and haue your cake? (1562)

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Killer Whales – A Captain Obvious Study

I just watched the video clip from CNN, where Occupational Safety and Health Administration warned in a 2006 report that “swimming with orcas is inherently dangerous and if someone hasn’t been killed already it is only a matter of time.” This all based upon a video and incident occuring in SeaWorld Park in SanDiego.

The CNN clip seems to imply that if people had read the report, it could have saved lives and that Seaworld had issue with the original report. I took a look on the OSHA site, couldn’t find standard guidelines for working with live animals but did find the General Duty Clause.

Section 5(a)(1) of the OSH Act, often referred to as the General Duty Clause, requires employers to “furnish to each of his employees employment and a place of employment which are free from recognized hazards that are causing or are likely to cause death or serious physical harm to his employees”. Section 5(a)(2) requires employers to “comply with occupational safety and health standards promulgated under this Act”.

OSHA appears to be set up to conduct an ‘audit’ against guidelines. Likely the audit response being directed by specific audit criteria is in my opinion could be a reason why Seaworld had issue with the initial report (18 pages). Thus the final report being 10 pages long, removing those pieces that could not scientifically prove their points or were considered opinion. I can’t fathom Seaworld would dispute the dangers of working with Killer Whales, if they did then they wouldn’t have the protocol at all.

Here is an accident/tragedy that has occured. Inspectors (auditors) come out to investigate and write up a findings report. In order to inspect you have to have some pre-determined criteria to inspect non conformance against. So we went from tragic event to audit mode. As a person who is often asked to provide audit responses, I likely would have refused the report findings based upon their interjected opinion, not against the criteria that would demonstrate non- conformance with standards.

As an auditor it’s critical that you base findings on fact, not opinion, and not offer any recommendation to changes in behaviour. The action to correct behaviour is owned by the business who is executing the processes. An auditor however, can make recommendations to modify the standards, or create a governance model for future incidents. In this case there isn’t a ‘marine life’ oriented guideline that I was able to find.

Per Seaworld provide information – Killer whales are opportunistic predators, they eat 3-4% of their body weight daily; They eat fish, and marine animals, or other animals they get get ahold of such as polar bears and moose.

SeaWorld has done the research, I’m certain they shared the results with their trainers.  They created specific protocol that was to be followed just for trainer safety. I don’t believe anyone shrugged their responsibilities in informing instructors. Seaworld may need to spend more time ensuring that protocol is followed.

I think that, as anyone can become “comfortable” in their responsibilities, that it’s very possible that a Killer Whale Trainer could lay down their guard a bit, but certainly not with the intention of being harmed or killed.

I don’t need an archived OSHA study, delivered a week after Dawn Brancheau was killed by a Killer Whale (Tilikum), to tell me the dangers of the whales. Seems like every news report surrounding Dawn’s unfortunate death, clearly indicated that she was aware of the dangers, perhaps didn’t act within protocol, and wouldn’t think about blaming Tilikum for behaving like a Killer Whale.

Here’s my Captain Obvious Report:  

If I’m a Killer Whale Trainer and pop myself near or into the water with a Killer Whale with big teeth, and think that I’ll be fine every time I do this…. I’m stupid.  As an informed trainer, I know the inherent dangers of my job, I’m also aware that accidents can occur at any time.  If I’m not comfortable with the risks then I should find something else to do.  If I love my role, I perform with caution and understanding that an incident is always possible, without warning.

Killer Whales are intended to be wild. In captivity, it is not outside the realm of reason that Killer Whales should behave as they would in the wild. Unless we find a talking Whale that can explain what triggers each tragic incidents (which I attribute to natural instinct), all we can do is continue to study them and take the necessary precautions. If the animal has been taken out of their natural environment, we are responsible for it’s care until it dies of natural causes.

There have been accidents with Killer Whales in captivity, Dawn Brancheau being the latest tragic victim. So instead of the media pointing out the obvious; and activists priming the pump to argue about the whale’s future; we take a few minutes to honor a woman who loved what she did for a living, knew the risks and did it anyway.

Rest in peace Dawn Branchaeu.

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Olympic Clockwork

As I’m watching the Olympics I not only see some of the world’s best athletes setting records and wowing the world with their incredible fitness and endurance. I’m also noticing a pretty common theme, either performing within a given timeframe or beating the clock.

I’m sure some creative mind has thought of ways to “beat the clock” without flawless performance, however the Olympics have provided specific guidelines for each sport, ranging from required elements of performance, approval of equipment, and limits to the time of allowed for execution. There are rules and guidelines, there are approvals, synchronized clocks and judges. There are defined start and stop positions. The Olympics, in essence has provided a means for a level playing field. Requiring athletes to focus on flawless performance to win gold. It’s definitive, results are final, close to real time, and based upon a given timeframe or best time.

I enjoy watching the team sports such as Hockey (USA, USA, USA!) and the creativeness of Singles skating. My real admiration falls to the sports that primarily requires flawless execution. An example is Sven Kramer’s 5,000 meter speed skating in Vancouver which not only won him the gold medal but also broke an Olympic record. His success measured by his following the standard rules and beating the competitions time. It’s amazing to watch, and note, how the smallest of errors can cause a disruption in winning gold or in completely removing the athlete from an opportunity to compete for a podium position.

Sports and business both use time and other metrics to define success, as an example;

Singles skating, the skater must perform both short (maximum 2 minutes 50 seconds) of required elements and a long program (4 minutes for women, 4 minutes and 30 seconds for men), set to music. The clock is in motion but even the judging is calibrated to assure subjective results are fair. Time is a factor but the elements executed take a primary position.

Speed skating, is measured to the one hundredth of a second and is regarded as the fastest human powered, non-mechanical aided sport. The rules pretty simplistic, repeatable and predicable. Skate counter-clockwise, change lanes once per lap, outside lane has right of way. Time is the primary factor but not the only element.

So how is it that in business, we seem to disregard the need to provide a level playing field? Have we provided our colleagues with the standard, global guidelines, expected required elements, approved equipment, start and stop positions, and cycle time oriented performance goals? I would imagine an Olympic athlete spends years of training to beat records, they’re not trying to just do better than last year, they want to be the best. Best in elements executed, and time.

Year to year performance improvements are important, but to win gold, you have to all the right elements in place and have goals that beat records of the benchmarked champions. Pulling together business standards, guidelines, and supporting metrics to compete does take a great deal of effort, but if the payoff is to win the gold medal, why wouldn’t you make the effort? I often hear “cost” as an issue, but counter with “loss” as the potential alternative.

Would your business lose out on revenue if it didn’t work quickly? What performance improvements can you think of within business that would yield a more flawlessly executed process? Of these improvements what are the cycle time metrics to apply? What are the start and stop positions of the clock? Do the guidelines indicate the primary execution objective as being within a specified timeframe or do they incent the individual to beat the clock?

If you had to judge your business or even personal goals, are you fit enough to compete for a medal?

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