Evaluating the Claims of Taoism and the Art of Productivity

In the age of abundant information, it is crucial to critically evaluate the content we encounter, regardless of the source. In this blog post, I will be analyzing an article titled “Taoism and the Art of Productivity” by Scott H. Young. While Young’s article aims to draw parallels between Taoist philosophy and productivity, it overlooks several important aspects and presents a rather narrow perspective. By examining the logic, biases, and omissions in the article, we can gain a more comprehensive understanding of the topic.

First, Young oversimplifies the subject of Taoism by reducing it to a set of principles solely focused on individual productivity. In contrast, Taoism is a rather complex philosophical system that encompasses much more than just efficiency and personal accomplishment.

Second, the article primarily emphasizes personal productivity and individual growth, neglecting the social dimension of Taoism. Taoism places importance on harmonious interactions and relationships, not just personal achievements. By disregarding this aspect, Young fails to acknowledge the impact of community and collective well-being on productivity. Productivity is not solely an individual pursuit but is influenced by the environment and the dynamics of relationships.

Third, it overlooks alternative perspectives by dismissing other philosophical approaches to productivity. While it is valid to explore the potential connections between Taoism and productivity, it is important to acknowledge that by disregarding alternative viewpoints, Young limits the depth and richness of the discussion and potentially alienates readers who resonate with different belief systems.

In conclusion, the lack of acknowledgment of cultural context and the neglection to address the cultural context and origins of Taoism, risks the misrepresenting or oversimplifying of its principles. Furthermore, the oversimplification, and exclusion of viewpoints of cultural context weaken the overall argument of the article. It is essential for readers to critically engage with such articles, questioning the presented viewpoints and seeking a more nuanced understanding of complex subjects like productivity and philosophy.

Breast Exams

Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. Breast cancer is the most common cancer for women in the United States. Every woman in her lifetime should get a breast exam. As a woman I didn’t know the importance of having a breast exam until my teenage years. I started to find out what diseases are hereditary in my family and to find out Breast cancer is the leading cause of death of African American women. When I very first went for my physical exam in my teenage years, I had my first breast exam. The breast exam consists of a doctor placing their hands on your breast through your hospital gown and they check for lumps or bumps in your breast. Some other Breast cancer signs I learned about from my visit were breast or nipple pain, nipple discharge and swelling of all or part of your breast.

There are community groups and walks that get the awareness out for Breast Cancer. One advertisement that is popular with its commercials is the Susan G. Komen, “Race for the Cure”. Here is the link to learn more about its involvement and what you can do. https://www.komen.org/

My grandmother is a Breast Cancer survivor and one year I did participate in the walk for Breast Cancer which was an enlightenment to my life. You meet people who do the walk for their mother, sister, family or themselves and it’s a real eye opener. A reason for you to care about breast cancer is because women are an important part of life. That woman could be someone you know or someone you may have heard of but never actually got to meet. I care about Breast Cancer because when you learn and know more of what it is, you are able to save a woman’s life.

The Things I Love Most About Knitting

A WIP (Work In Progress)

I have been knitting for about seven years (I learned from my mom when I was about 10 years old, but didn’t pick it back up until I could afford to buy my own yarn). I’ve made scarves, mittens and hats for friends and family over the years, and have enjoyed collecting instructional books and stitch dictionaries to learn new patterns. During the pandemic, it has been a way for me to stay safe (by having something productive to focus on while maintaining social distancing), and has also connected me with others who are curious about knitting and sharing techniques.

Ravelry

Technology has been a miracle in helping me expand my techniques, organize my stash (yarn collection), make connections with other fiber art enthusiasts around the world and plan my projects for Christmas and birthdays. Ravelry is one of my favorite websites because it helps me keep track of so much of this information, and I can view/interact with others around the world who have created projects I’m interested in or have questions about. There are forums, paid and free patterns, yarns, and tools to use for managing yarn inventory, patterns, needles, projects and more.

Stitch Fiddle

Another one of my favorite knitting-related websites is Stitch Fiddle, a free website you can use to create graphic charts for knitting, crochet, cross stitch and more. The chart seen above is a quick sample I made for a scarf my niece had requested for Christmas a couple years ago:

Maggie and Jack!

As long as you don’t need written instructions created (that will cost you), you can design all sorts of pictures and graphic designs for your own projects or to sell.

StevenBe in South Minneapolis

Shopping at local yarn shops over the years has helped me feel more connected to a larger global fiber arts community; it’s easy to talk to staff and owners about what I’m working on, what they’ve been working on, and many of them also feature classes on techniques I haven’t been able to master just by watching YouTube videos.

My mom and her cat Oscar

I love making things for my family not just because it saves money I would otherwise spend on other gifts, it also makes me feel happy to see something I worked hard on be admired by the people I’m closest to. I especially love making things for my mom, since she is the one that first taught me!

Save a Life / Make a Difference

Organ donation – I know – not the easiest topic or a fun one to discuss. It means you or a loved one has passed away. Despite that depressing thought, if we don’t talk about organ donation, then people may not consider donating. It’s easy to say, ‘I’ll take care of it later’ or ‘I’ll sign up the next time I renew my driver’s license, and then never get to it or forget to check that box on the renewal form for your driver’s license.

Of course, it is each person’s own choice to become an organ donor, or to not become one, and I am not here to tell you that you should. Nevertheless, I do hope you will consider becoming an organ donor.

It is amazing to think that one person’s organs can be given to eight different people, changing the lives of receivers and their loved ones. Along with the eight organs (discussed below), other recipients in need can receive corneas, skin, heart valves, bones, veins, blood vessels, and several other body tissues. I was not even aware that some of these could be donated. What an amazing gift to give someone: fighting for their life, a burn victim, restoring someone’s sight, and others in need.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CcvwWcsu3yn/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

The 8 organs that can be donated are:

1. Heart – approx. 3,500 heart transplants are done each year around the world.
2. Lung (2) – double lung transplant is typical, but one lung transplant can also be done. Living donors can also be used.
3. Kidney (2) – either a single or double transplant can be done. Living donors can also be used.
4. Liver – a liver can be divided into two and be given to two different recipients. The liver regenerates itself so a living donor can donate a portion of their liver.
5. Pancreas – has a success rate of around 80-95%.
6. Intestines – the Cleveland Clinic performed 17 transplants at their Cleveland location in 2021.

“As of February 2021, the number of patients on the national transplant waiting list was more than 107,000”; over 1,900 of them are children. It is difficult to not only find a match due to organ type, but organs are limited. A surprising fact I read, “only three in 1,000 people die in a way that allows for organ donation after death”; that is an amazingly small number. I would have thought the number would be much higher. Another fact I read, is that “More than half of all people on the transplant waiting list are from a minority group.” Why is this important? Per Donate Life Midwest’s fact sheet, “Although organs are not matched by race and ethnicity … all individuals waiting for an organ transplant will have a better chance of receiving one if there are large numbers of donors from their racial or ethnic background. This is because compatible blood types and tissue markers—critical qualities for donor and recipient matching—are more likely to be found among members of the same ethnicity.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ccvxu2dO_ku/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

If you decide that you want to be an organ donor, please:

1. Sign up at organdonor.gov,
2. Talk it over with your family so they know your wishes,
3. Encourage your family and friends to become donors,
4. As difficult as it is to think about, if you child wants to register to be on the organ donor list, please give them your blessing, and permission, which is needed in most states. “The size of the body and the organ matter when matching donors to receiving patients. That’s why very small children most often receive donations from other young people.”

I hope you consider being an organ donor, you may save a life.

Stop Waiting For The Next Best Thing

We waste so many days waiting for the weekend. So many nights wanting morning. Our lust for future comfort is the biggest thief of life.
– Joshua Glenn Clark

I feel satisfied and content Friday evenings after a full week of work, the weekend is finally here. Saturday flies by and, before you know it, Sunday evening is already here. I’ve watched my favorite shows, read a good book, saw friends and family – but now, I’ve entered a state of depression with the anticipated Monday, aka Monday blues. Can you relate? I believe many of you can. 

How many of us are living for the weekend? How many of us are living for summer? How many of us are living for the next vacation? “If I could just get through this work week – it will be better.”  It’s unhealthy to keep waiting for things to come. And not just Saturday and Sunday – waiting for the next trip, waiting for the next night out, waiting for something to break you out of the daily routine of life.

I used to do this a lot – still do – from time to time and I have to catch myself and change my mindset. Is this going to be the story of the rest of my life? What I realized is that it’s vital to live in the present moment. Without waiting for the weekends to be happy, be present and enjoy today.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CcYqKS4uLzv/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

That “next thing” will be here before you know it

Life shouldn’t be about moving forward to something, dragging dully along. Of course, we make goals and those are important. It’s also necessary to have things to look forward to, vacations, achievements to celebrate, milestones to await. But as we wait, and as we rise, it’s important also to not get so caught up in getting somewhere that we completely miss the journey, that we pass our lives.

How often do we sit there impatiently waiting for the next thing to come, for the next event to happen?

How many moments have we already lost just waiting and hoping for the next thing, the next week, next year?

There are ordinary and extraordinary times in our lives, but the ordinary ones still shouldn’t fall so dimly that we only see them as openings to something greater. Every moment in our lives should be something we look forward to and feel blessed to have. Every day should count for something – it should bring us closer together, closer to our goals – it should be as full of life as it can be. Even the days where work feels so endless, and our free time is cut short, we should cherish all of it so much so that seven days from now, you’ll wonder where the time had gone and find that the time came much sooner than you expected.

Stop waiting for the next best thing.

Live your moments here and now.

-April

A Cure for Type 1 Diabetes On the Horizon?

Recent developments in stem-cell-derived therapy signifies a breakthrough in the treatment of Type 1 diabetes, a disease with no known cure as of yet that currently afflicts 1.6 million Americans. The disease affects the body’s ability to produce insulin, making insulin injections and multiple daily blood sugar checks a necessity to live with the ailment.

A recent article from USA Today details a clinical trial conducted by the company Vertex Pharmaceuticals on one man who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes over 40 years ago. As part of the trial, the patient was given an infusion of stem-cell-derived treatment known as VX-880. Given that this was the initial test, he received only half of the target dose. 90 days following the trial, the results were overwhelmingly positive. The patient reacted well to the dose, and it “resulted in a 91% decrease in the patient’s daily insulin requirement and a restoration of insulin production.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXQf9vlrp5g/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Vertex, the company behind the groundbreaking trial.

Dr. Bastiano Sanna, executive vice president and chief of cell and genetic therapies at Vertex, claims the results are “unprecedented,” as this could be a major breakthrough in the way that Type 1 diabetes is treated, potentially a huge step forward in the quest for a cure. The patient did experience some “mild to moderate health events” during the study, including a few instances of severe low blood sugar and a rash. Vertex claims these were not the result of VX-880, however.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CXVqJDoL0_O/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

While Vertex would like to acknowledge that many more trials need to be conducted, and that these results are not to be taken as indicative of a cure just yet, they are very hopeful for the future of diabetes management, especially given this major milestone.

It’s Time to Stop Plastic Waste.

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The pollution of plastics is a growing concern.

Laura Parker states the following facts in this article “The world’s plastic pollution crisis explained” published in National Geographic:

The manufacturing of half of all the world’s plastics has occurred within the last 15 years. From the years 1950 to 2015, the production of plastics has increased by 445 million tons. This production is expected to DOUBLE in amount by 2050. Parker claims, “That’s the equivalent of setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world.” Additives added to make the plastics product more flexible and durable also extend the life of the products, taking at least 400 years to break down.

Parker states that 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the ocean each year.

Plastic pollution is harmful and deadly to marine life.

Due to plastic pollution, millions of animals are killed every year. The animals effected are: seabirds, fish, marine turtles, large cetaceans, seals, whales, and even zooplankton.

Ingestion of plastics, entanglement, and strangulation by plastics are common ways marine animals suffer and/or die from the pollution.

“Marine Debris on Kure Atoll” by USFWS Pacific is licensed under CC BY 2.0

The Solution

Scientists and conservationists state the solution of plastic pollution is to PREVENT plastic waste from entering rivers and seas in the first place. Laura Parker continues in the National Geographic article that prevention “could be accomplished with improved waste management systems and recycling, better product design that takes into account the short life of disposable packaging, and reduction in the manufacturing of unnecessary single-use plastics”. In Britannica, Charles Moore offers another preventative solution in the article “Plastic Pollution” which involves prohibitive measures such as fines for littering and bans on single-use plastics. Moore advocates for the increase of biodegradable plastics and the embracing of a “zero waste” philosophy.

It’s Time to Demand the End of Plastic Pollution

The environmental organization of Green Peace is declaring that major corporations must take responsibility for the solution. Major corporations must not exceed its current plastic waste production, set reduction target dates, and invest in reusable systems.

Green Peace is a leader in the Reuse Revolution, and it is time for us to join them.

Image from breakfreefromplastic.org

Add your name to the “Break Free From Plastic” campaign to help stop plastic pollution.

Sign the petition now.

https://www.britannica.com/science/plastic-pollution

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/plastic-pollution

Is This Housing Market Right For You?

I did it. I have no idea how, but I did it. Many rejected offers and a few tears later, in the craziest market I could have possibly imagined, I managed to buy a house! The process was grueling, often leaving me feeling like I took on a 40-hour a week position just to stay on top of the market. If you also find yourself looking for a home in this unfortunate market for buyers, you should be aware what you’re getting yourself into.

https://www.instagram.com/p/COWlcEghwKr/

It is incredibly important to be prepared by knowing what the market is like in your city. For example, in Minneapolis the market is on fire, which is raising all sorts of concerns around the city. This article, from The Associated Press, discusses the lack of homes in supply, high demand on materials for new builds, and skyrocketing prices. These are problems being faced by most major cities all around the United States right now, but you should do your research to find if anything different is happening where you are. If you happen to be looking in a suburb or even somewhere more rural, the market could be more volatile or more calm, depending on location.

It also important to consider the future when deciding if this is the right time to buy. The article linked above mentions how buyers are often being pitted against each other through insane tactics, which is driving prices higher and higher. However, the market will not always be this way, leading many to believe that prices on houses have inflated too quickly. If you are someone looking to stay in a house long-term, right now might be an alright time for you to buy. Prices will even out overtime and you likely won’t end up losing value. If you are looking to live in the home for a short amount of time and quickly resell though, you run a higher risk of losing money.

https://www.instagram.com/p/COWnTVfhPiG/

What the decision ultimately comes down to, however, is what is best for you. I am just a person on the internet who decided to make the crazy jump into this market at a very weird time. If you think you want to, and you can handle it, you should do whatever is best for you. Just make sure to do your research first!

A Homecook’s Secret Weapons

Many may be entering in to a moment of cooking fatigue after a year of lockdowns and limited access to restaurants, however many are also invigorated by the revolution that eating at home is enjoyable. Here are five secret weapons this homecook uses to make life easier while raising a family in no particular order.

1. Homemade Stocks and Broths

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Homemade Chicken Stock

Using whole and homemade ingredients gives us all the homestead vibes. It adds flavor and texture to dishes. And an added benefit is it reduces food waste. Making these elements from scratch allows the cook to know exactly what is going into their food and the ability to adjust based on preference or health need. To make this broth I didn’t measure anything as I have been doing this for 15 years and just know what to do. But it I just add the bones from a whole roasted chicken, a yellow onion, a bulb of garlic, 3 ribs of celery, 3 carrots, salt and pepper, then covered with water. I brought that to a boil then reduced to simmer and let cook for 3-4 hours before cooling and straining flavor elements from the broth.

2. Preparation

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Homecooks prepare their ingredients and display them beautifully making easier and more appealing to use when it is time to make the next meal. From washed and ready to serve greens to a mason jar with fresh parsley to a table that is dressed with a table and fresh flowers homecooks love to set a feeling to everything which make the tasks of feeding yourself, friends, or family more desirable.

3. Flavorful Elements

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Yellow and red onions, garlic, and red bell pepper

Aromatics deepen the flavor of any dish that you make. Onion, garlic, and pepper are commonly used in most cuisines these add an additional punch of flavor to any dish. Many of these flavor enhancers can store for awhile on your counter which make them easy to keep on hand.

4. Quick Pickles

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My personal favorite quick pickle is pickled red onions. To make I chop a red onion and place it in a jar with fresh cracked black pepper. Then in a saucepan I add 1 cup water, 3/4 distilled white vinegar, and 1 tablespoon salt (sometimes I use a little less than that) and bring to a boil. I pour that over the red onion in the mason jar and let cool before placing in the refrigerator when that stays good for at a month. This not only adds deep flavor it provides needed acidity to any dish.

5. Fresh Herbs

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Basil grown from seed that will be going into my herb garden soon

An easy way that homecooks bring freshness and the homestead vibe to their dishes is by incorporating fresh herbs into the meals they are making. Fresh herbs can be expensive if adding them to your grocery budget weekly. So keeping a small garden with herbs is fully easy and can be maintained yearly if you have window stall in your home. The pop of color and freshness herbs bring to dishes makes them a winner in my book.

The IOC will not Allow Athletes to Protest at Tokyo Games

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) recently announced that athletes will not be allowed to protest on medal podiums or field of play. I’m not convinced that Olympic officials have the right to make this decision. When the decision pertains to the health of athletes and the organization of events, then their word is the law. However, freedom of assembly has nothing to do with sports.

Many countries have freedom of speech, but less specify freedom of assembly. There are over 20 countries that have this particular right and all of them participate in the Summer Olympics. The officials made this decision, seemingly, in response to Black Lives Matter protests, which have grown significantly in the last year. However, consider the fact that in the last year there have been massive civil rights protests worldwide.

For example, the women’s strike protests in Poland. Since October 2020, women in Poland have been at the forefront of the fight for their bodily autonomy. I won’t say that no one in the United States is talking about this, because that’s not true. However, understandably, the strike has not been top news. When you compete at the Olympics, you’re given a rare chance to address the entire world. Think of the support that could be generated for important civil rights issues if people were allowed to use this world stage.

On a recent episode of The Right Time with Bomani Jones, Bomani Jones had this to say about the IOC’s decision, “You guys are setting yourselves up for disaster. You have decided that you are going to create martyrs.” Bomani goes on to make the point that, after someone has won the gold medal, there isn’t much for them to lose. The IOC could take the physical medal away from the athlete, but the entire world would already know that you’ve won. People are going to stand up for what is right and what is important to them regardless.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CON6_FQjtNH/

If the Olympics are being held in a country that does not allow freedom of assembly, then they can deal with their own athletes, and other countries can deal with their athletes in accordance with their laws. I recognize Olympic officials have a tough job. It has to be difficult setting rules when you’re trying to accommodate over 200 countries with different laws. I am simply suggesting that they make their lives easier and keep the decision making to athletics.