Finds

№ 16 | Beautiful Trouble Cards, Conversation Styles, Damaging Communication Patterns, Defensible Moats, and E-ink Playing Cards!

Stephen P. Anderson

Dec 9, 2022 — 2 min read

A social activism card deck and game? (6 games, actually!) The Beautiful Trouble card deck is pitched as a collection of “key strategies and tactics that have inspired centuries of people-powered victories… now in a deck of 100+ cards that you can play!” I'm sold!

“Interviewer or Volunteer?”

Does your conversation style veer toward that of an “Interviewer” or a “Volunteer?” Here's an interesting framework for thinking about conversation styles and roles we (hopefully) switch between. Though after reading through this, there’s an implicit third role I’d add, that of the Researcher—one who leans into and digs deeper into what is said or suggested. Actually, I’d also add a fourth role: Catalyst. One who builds upon and transforms what is shared, leading to more a comfortable back and forth dialogue. 🤪

Speaking of conversations…

10 potentially damaging communication patterns...

I love John Cutlers visual thinking. This graphic representation of 10 potentially damaging communication patterns doesn’t disappoint.

[SRC]

Defensible moats

Defensible moats as part of a company strategy/business model are one of those ideas that both make sense, and have also been seriously disrupted by advances in technology. For these reasons, I like this article on “The New Moats. Why Systems of Intelligence™ are the Next Defensible Business Model,” as it does a good job recounting the history and evolution of this idea, before leading you into what is, or might be, the new defensible moat for modern businesses.

E-ink playing cards

Yes, you read that right. Introducing Wyldcard—“Physical playing cards which can change!” So. Many. Possibilities. 😲+🤩

№ 83 | Stop Project 2025 Comics, Future for All: A vision for 2048, eyeConnect Cards, The Rule Book, and the Effects of Geography on Voting

This edition of the newsletter comes a couple days later than usual, but for a wonderful reason—I spent 5 days last week playing board games with my friends at BGG Con. 🎲 🤩 Next issue will resume the normal Sunday schedule! 🥸Reminder: If you're participating in the Create A

№ 82 | Pebble Talk, The Mood Meter, 3 Styles of Play, A Convection Simulation, an Electoral College Simulation, and What If America Had 6 Political Parties?

📍In case you missed it… Throughout November, I’m hosting another Creative Challenge: Create A Real Life Character Sheet. About 15 people have signed up so far, and there’s space for a few more folks—you should join us! Pebble Talk Here’s a way to avoid awkward small

Creative Challenge #3: Create A Real Life Character Sheet

Welcome, new readers. From time to time, I organize “Creative Challenges,” that fit with the whole “playful things to think with” theme. Previously, there was a One Card Serious Game Challenge, followed by the Make a Zine Challenge. I hadn’t planned on doing another Creative Challenge until next year

№ 81 | Scientific Papers as Comic Strips, 52 Things About Cards, Thermodynamics Cards, Collaborative Place Futures Toolkit, and Why The Work is Never Just “The Work”

✉️Look for 2 extra special emails heading your way, later this week! 1/ The promised print-and-play Zombie Leadership cards. 2/ An announcement about our next Creative Challenge… Scientific Papers as Comic Strips Yes! Comics as things to think with. Here’s an interview with Kanaka Rajan, who uses “narrative illustrations

A social activism card deck?