I am soul-weary of hearing always about "the cost of living" - as though living is the problem that we are overspending on. Imagine if , instead, we spoke instead about "the cost of profit"? How might our economists measure that?

Free speech gives me the right to express my unearned opinion. It doesn't make my unearned opinion worth anything, though.

Turning Toward the “Wokeness” of Repentance And thinking again with the heart - an Australian point of view Not a writing exercise this time; but a reflection on reclaiming moral imagination - something that is drawing my attention as I read Vigen Guroian's "Tending the Heart of Virtue: How…

“Show Train” A Josip Novakovich exercise in scene development. Task: Describe a train ride... Objective: To show the experience of travel. Novakovich, Josip. Fiction Writer's Workshop (p. 41). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. Once the year, for few days in August, they’d open the…

Workplaces #2: “Labourers for the Kill Floor” Warning: explicit and graphic detail - meat processing. This is the second of two scene development exercises: The Task: Describe places where you have worked …Describe how the people handle their tools and machines. Objective: To concentrate on the…

WORKPLACES #1: “CIVIL DAWN” The Task: Describe places where you have worked ...Describe how the people handle their tools and machines. Objective: To concentrate on the details and energy of a workplace. Workplaces make perfect story setups because they make it easy for you to integrate the place…

“Three Places: 1965” The Task: "Describe three places you have been. Don’t worry about pretty words; mention the important and some unimportant details you remember." Novakovich, Josip. Fiction Writer's Workshop (p. 40). Penguin Publishing Group. Kindle Edition. “Braeside” 1965 There were only two…

“Three Ordinary Objects…” ...with just a touch of the unusual. A Josip Novakovich exercise from "A Fiction Writer's Workshop". Espresso Saucer A scarlet espresso saucer sits, without its cup, on my writing table. It is of soft, thick china that shines, reflecting the late afternoon sun as a small…

“Little Jim and Old Harry” A Josip Novakovich exercise in describing the setting for an event connected to an item in a home in which I grew up. The item I've selected is a Jarvis Walker 'Little Jim' fishing rod. For readers not familiar with fishing Queensland's Gold Coast in the late 1950s,…

In our reading of Lainey Feingold's (2021) Structured Negotiation 2nd ed, we are discovering that “the Right Thing to Do” may be established in relational rather than in legal space. open.substack.com/pub/andrew26... @lflegal.bsky.social #StructuredNegotiation #ADRDesign

Structured #negotiation has been used to advance digital #accessibility and #Disability Rights for 30 years. @workaccord.bsky.social in Australia is reviewing the book chapter by chapter. Chapter 9 below. book link here. Thx Andrew Wood! #ADR #a11y www.lflegal.com/book/structu... #bookSky

“Beaton” A writing exercise in giving one intense emotion I’ve experienced to a fictional character. I had to make sure the character is not me, but the emotion should be mine. The task required me to create a scene employing the fictional character and the emotion and to involve another person as…

“Deborah” An exercise in using history to create fiction. "After all, the history we get is reconstructed from letters, hearsay, newspapers, archaeology, and so on—sounds like writing fiction from multiple sources!" Novakovich, Josip. Fiction Writer's Workshop (p. 23). Penguin Publishing Group.…

“Written in Captivity at Betaris” An exercise in interpreting scriptures through filling in gaps in stories. I have taken, for my subject, Joseph Barsabas who is also called Justus - the one passed over in Acts 1:21-26. This is the testimony of Joseph son of Saba, written in captivity at Betaris…

“My Mother Never …” Another Novakovich "Fiction Writers' Workshop" Exercise Silver cup filled with raspberries and a loaf of bread - photo via Canva My Mother never went down to the end of the town without consulting me. But as you may know—if you have read Mr A.A. Milne’s poem—James’ Mother did.…

“We Are Life Savers!” Le Père de Christy Est Mort. Photo by Brian A Jackson / Getty Images, via Canva. Filter applied by A.C. Wood. Another Novakovich exercise. This time the task is to "think about an incident that you avoid remembering—or can’t clearly remember—and write about it. School was…

“Schooled” Another Novakovich exercise. This time, I am sourcing a story from a memory of a childhood fight. Some elements are true; some are made up or altered. photo from Anchalee via Canva Pro There was no reason why it happened. At least, no reason that I knew. Though in later years I…

“You Can Dunk If You Like” An exercise in sourcing story from youngest memories. Christy invited me into his kitchen and began to make us both a cup of tea. Will here do?” he asked jiggling the tea bag in the small pot. “This will be great,” I replied. “OK. If I put this cushion on the table?”…

“Fish Again!” Photo by Maglara/ Getty Images, via Canva. Text and design: A.C. Wood. In this exercise, I had to write a set of three paragraphs - each from a glimpse of a scent in a cafe - that held the possibility of a story. Here's a couple of of them. You can find the full set of three with our…

Couplets from the Old Card Table A #smallwriting exercise I set up at the old card table To write such lines as I am able. 2. Across the yard on sunny morn The wattle-scented breeze is borne. 3. Grevillea in gold and green Against blue sky is gladly seen. 4. Herb or hemlock here is grown And which…

“Small News” Written as an exercise from Josip Novakovich’s Fiction Writer’s Workshop (2nd ed., 2008), Chapter 1, Exercise 1 Suburban Brisbane, in the lead up to Christmas, surrenders to expectation. The air grows heavy ahead of the late afternoon storms that sweep in from the West as shoppers…

“Mangoes at Mataranka” A backpacker hostel this time. A step up from the caravan parks and campgrounds. Halloran dumped his pack on the rusty, steel-framed bed. Walked downstairs to check the notice board. "Mangoes. Three days at Mataranka." "Money looks good," he thought. "But how much for the…

“Interchange” They never really seem to dry out, these places. You can't get away from the damp. The driveways squeak and glisten with rain spilling from the busses. The air is stale with the sweat of travelers and the acid stink of diesel and cold cement. The walls are finished in joyless tones…

“Precious Gifts” This week I was able to polish a song lyric that had sat with me for almost 50 years. Over those years, I had promised myself that I would complete the lyric ... some day; but had never gotten round to it until I put in a determined effort over two days - all to complete just…

In moments as Despair & Despondence bind us shadows deep In a gentle moment care unconditionally offered we recall our tether to Celestial Divine ________ Inspired by remembering our connexion to source Divine … #MicroPoetry #140Characters #UCCan #ShineOn adeaconsmusing.ca

I listened to Peter George @indy4franklin.bsky.social speaking, last night, about the need for our Australian politicians (and electors) to develop the skill, sophistication & imagination to work with minority governments. Some of the most insightful political commentary I've heard in a long while.

When our education systems produce #SignificantLearning - the ability to appreciate the human dimension of the subject, to care about it, and to learn how to learn - they may begin to produce greatness once more. - Acknowledging L. Dee Fink (2013) "Creating Significant Learning Experiences".

Lately, I've been reflecting on my #DisputeResolution work as something closely related to #LearningDesign, allowing us to bring the human dimensions of a dispute to light and to create space for collaborative and care-full attentiveness, response, and redress. open.substack.com/pub/andrew26...

It's not easy to model the trust expected of others when drafting an invitation to negotiate. Often, it goes against instinct and training. It might also set up the need for an internal negotiation with your own client. www.linkedin.com/pulse/readin... @lflegal.bsky.social #StructuredNegotiation

#StructuredNegotiation and a moment of synchronicity ... perhaps? Reflections on Ch.5 "Write an Invitation to Negotiate" in @lflegal.bsky.social "Structured Negotiation: A Winning Alternative to Lawsuits - 2nd edition", 2021.

Revisiting past reflections as I've been working, this week, with the topic of #fairness in the context of public sector conflicts & disputes in cases where there may be no legal claim to support a cause of action - only a hope of fairness following moral injury. open.substack.com/pub/andrew26...

In our reading of Lainey Feingold's (2021) Structured Negotiation 2nd ed, we are discovering that “the Right Thing to Do” may be established in relational rather than in legal space. open.substack.com/pub/andrew26... @lflegal.bsky.social #StructuredNegotiation #ADRDesign

The Spark we bear is a holy pilgrimage As the Universe learns through our choices & experiences revealing a fundamental truth that Love persists _________________ Inspired by the Soul’s unique & sacred journey … #MicroPoetry #140Characters #UCCan #ShineOn adeaconsmusing.ca

#writing #lit #books #camus

#LeoXIV #catholic #woke

I used to think we were mediating disputes; but perhaps we are mediating peace. open.substack.com/pub/andrew26...

The latest in my series of 'Field Notes from Post-Law Peacemaking' delves further into the ways in which mediation and structured negotiation might work together to serve the requirements of relational justice. open.substack.com/pub/andrew26... #mediation #structurednegotiation #VeteranSupport

Lately, I've noticed people sheltering behind the mantra, "Our god is a vengeful god" - as if that were enough to justify, excuse, or god-wash all manner of egregious inhumanity. But what if God's vengence is reserved for those who have not loved their neighbours as they should? #changeofheart

Watching the replay of the Eurovision 2nd semi-final. Maybe Australia will do better tonight.

When we tested our Veterans' Mediation model we discovered that "Mediation is more than an event." From:"Wicked Problems and Institutional Courage - Testing Relational Justice in Veteran Entitlement Offsetting." andrew267.substack.com/p/wicked-pro... #Mediation #VeteranSupport #CareEthics

This latest Field Note is not a critique. It is a mapping. We are not yet asking what ought to be done differently. We are first asking: What exactly is the space we are being asked to enter as mediators? andrew267.substack.com/p/holding-sp... #Mediation #CareEthics #VeteranSupport

"It's Not Fair!" I’ve been reflecting on what we're saying about “fairness” in our design for a veterans' mediation program. But it’s not so much about what we're saying. It’s more about what we're hearing. And to hear, we have to listen attentively. #justice open.substack.com/pub/andrew26...

#auspol #election2025 #dutton #welcometocountry

Thinking of Canadian friends and hoping for a safe and civil election, with an outcome all can respect.

Binding chains not initially unshackled by force nor coercion Freedom neither slogan nor jingoism Liberation begins when denied dignity we reclaim ____________________ Inspired by freedom beginning from within … #MicroPoetry #140Characters #UCCan #ShineOn adeaconsmusing.ca

Towards a Theory & Practice of Relational Justice in Veterans’ Mediation “A mediation program that is not well calibrated to a coherent theory and practice of justice may be little more than a platform for care-less deal-making.” #Mediation #CareEthics #Veterans open.substack.com/pub/andrew26...

 ON DESIGNING A VETERANS’ MEDIATION PROGRAM… “I had to ask whether [that] kind of settlement … a compromise that leaves everyone feeling just a little diminished, a little bit “less”—might, in some contexts, do profound harm.” open.substack.com/pub/andrew26...

There may be a time to love; and a time to hate. And they may be the same time. If now is our time to hate, let us be sure about "WHAT" we hate and never confuse it with "WHOM".

I'd like to see these leaders debates start out with each person having 50 points. Lose points for cheap shots or avoiding the question. Get points for saying something honest or sensible. Lose all your points - you go home and the winner gets to speak for the rest of the segment.

This week's Field Note from Post-Law Peacemaking: How might we design a #mediation program that could hold disappointment—maintaining and continuing our world, even in the absence of repair— in a way that might allow participants to live in it as well as possible? open.substack.com/pub/andrew26...