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LET'S BE FWENDS ISSUE #73:

THE 2020 SCRUM GUIDE, MAPS WITH A MISSION, AND CREATING NEW POINTS OF VIEW

"A map is not the territory"
~ Alfred Korzybski

The 2020 Scrum Guide

The authors have updated the Scrum Guide and introduced a couple of changes, mostly in phrasing.
The interesting thing is that it seems like they these changes are not prescriptive, but (finally) reflect what has happened in applied Scrum for a couple of years already.

Most notably, the “Development team” is no longer mentioned, replaced with “Scrum team”. This finally acknowledges that Scrum is successfully used outside of software engineering (and in functions that have nothing to do with technology or “products” in the traditional sense, either. I know financial departments implementing Scrum).

The other thing that struck me was that the role of the Scrum Master (ugh, that word …) is slightly redefined, giving them a more active role as “true leaders who serve the Scrum Team and the larger organisation”.

This does two things: First, it acknowledges servant leadership as the de facto standard of how to lead in modern organisations by no longer mentioning it.
Second, it allows the Scrum Master to take more responsibility for the product the team is building.

It’s an interesting update, and the new version should make it more obvious for people new to Scrum that it can be applied more broadly than just software engineering.

A Critical Tourist Map of Oslo

The function of many maps is to drive home a point. Most obviously, maps that (also) act as guides, like tourist maps. Every country and city want to present themselves in the best light, and tourist attractions are filtered through that need for showing only positive things about yourself.

What would happen if you created a city map with only the bad things in it? A critical tourist map? Norwegian artist Markus Moestue tried to find out and created such a map for his hometown Oslo.

Fantastical cellular landscapes

I don’t know about you, but in my head, cells are always these kind of empty, watery structures that consist mostly of nothing, and a couple of tiny glops that do some magical stuff.
The company Digizyme took image data from multiple sources and techniques to provide us with a much better view of cells, how they really look like, and how they work.

It’s so crowded in there!

How disinformation campaigns work - a handy chart

The important thing when thinking about disinformation campaigns is to remember, and really, really, really understand that it is never about the issue at hand. It is always about creating discord and division.

Nobody cares that deeply about pine apple on pizza. It’s just a useful way to make people fight each other on the internet.

Check out the chart made by the US Department of Homeland Security (maybe with some input from their own people) for a more detailed perspective. Something that might help starting a conversation with your Meme-sharing Facebook relatives?

(Hat tip to Joe Moe)

(And for the record: Pine Apple on Pizza or Toast is an abomination)

Forensic Architecture - the Beirut Explosion

Forensic Architecture have reconstructed the explosion of tons of ammonium nitrate art the port of Beirut - with the help of images and videos taken from the explosion itself, and the years before, to get a better understanding on how the material was stored.
The resulting video is a fascinating glimpse into what level of understanding can be created by diligently compiling and cross-referencing evidence.

Also, check out their website, but be warned that the reality they re-create is very grim.

What is Dorking - and how do you do it?

Dorking is the art of using search engines to find very specific data. And here is an introduction, guide, inspiration and handy cheat sheet all in one page.

Planning a million meals - In Advance

You think you got it tough in the supermarket thinking about what to cook over the next three days? Here are some people being responsible for feeding over 900 scientists where nothing grows and everything is difficult to transport to. The result: They plan a million meals, 18 months in advance to make sure that the local seal and penguin population doesn’t fall victim to very, very people.

Their secret: Just add cheese.

Earn $20k every month while being your own Boss

Brian David Gilbert makes $20k a month at home while being his own boss. Watch to video to find out how you can get rich, too, all while working out of your home and being your own boss.

That’s it for this edition of Let’s be Fwends. High-fives to whoever is their own boss of their own life. Making 20k a month or not. 🎩