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anangkaaa · 1 year ago

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Understand the impact of civilization through the generation of translation

Translation is a process that has become an important part of human civilization. In its history, civilization has experienced extraordinary developments, and translation plays an important role in facilitating the exchange of ideas, cultures, and knowledge among different communities. Through the generation of translation, we can understand the impact caused by civilization and how this affects the relationship between nations in this world. In the context of globalization that is growing rapidly, translation plays a very important role. Through translation, ideas and works from one language can be accessed by people who speak other languages. Thus, translation allows the spread of culture, knowledge, and ideas throughout the world. Without translation, we will be limited in access to various advances and innovations that have been achieved by human civilization. Translation also plays a role in broadening our insights about various civilizations. Through translation, we can learn and understand the culture, history, and values that underlie other society. This opens the door to more in-depth knowledge and understanding of differences and similarities between cultures in this world. By understanding civilization through the generation of translation, we can build a better tolerance, appreciation, and understanding of other communities. In addition, translation also plays an important role in the world of business and international trade. In this globalization era, many companies operate in the global market and have employees from various cultural backgrounds. Translation is the key in facilitating effective communication between these individuals. Through translation, businesses can expand their reach and reach a broader market, as well as building better relationships with business partners from various countries. However, in the translation process, there are challenges and impacts that need to be understood. One of the challenges faced by the translator is to maintain the original meaning of the source text. The translator must have a deep understanding of the source language and the target language in order to be able to express meaning accurately. In addition, translators also need to pay attention to the cultural context in order to convey messages in accordance with the intended culture and avoid unwanted mistakes or interpretations. In the context of the impact of civilization through the generation of translation, we also need to pay attention to changes in technology that has occurred for years. The development of technology has influenced the translation industry with an automatic translation machine such as Google Translate. Although this machine can simplify the translation process, but they have not been able to replace the role of human translators completely. The ability of humans to understand the context, nuances, and culture remain an important aspect in accurate and effective translation. In conclusion, translation plays an important role in understanding the impact of civilization through the generation of translation. Through translation, we can broaden insight about culture, knowledge, and ideas from different society. Translation also facilitates international communication, helps businesses develop in the global market, and build tolerance and understanding between cultures. However, challenges in translation and the influence of technology also need to be considered. Therefore, it is important for us to continue to pay attention and appreciate the role of translation in strengthening the relationship between human civilization in the future.

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romi-suryanto · 1 year ago

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Exploring the role of translation in maintaining civilization: Denny Ja Speak

Translation has an important role in maintaining civilization. In an increasingly connected world, translation becomes a bridge that connects various cultures and languages. One of the characters who really understand the importance of translation in maintaining civilization is Denny JA. In this article, we will dig deeper about the role of translation in maintaining Denny JA's civilization and view of this. I. Introduction In this globalization era, communication becomes very important in maintaining civilization. However, with a variety of different languages, communication becomes more complicated. This is why translation is very necessary. Translation acts as an important tool in overcoming language and cultural barriers. In this case, Denny JA, an Indonesian translator and culturalist, has a unique view of the role of translation in maintaining civilization. II. The role of translation in maintaining civilization Translation plays an important role in maintaining civilization. Through translation, literary works, philosophy, and thoughts from various cultures can be accessed and studied by people from different cultures. Translation also allows the interaction and exchange of knowledge between various civilizations. With the translation, language limits are no longer a barrier to cultural exchange and thought. III. Denny Ja Expertise in Translation Denny Ja is one of the famous translators in Indonesia. He has translated many literary works from various languages into Indonesian. His expertise in translating not only is limited to the ability to replace words for word, but also in capturing the nuances and meanings contained in the work. Denny Ja also has a deep understanding of culture and history, so that its translation is able to reflect the original essence of the work. IV. Denny Ja's view of the role of translation in maintaining civilization In an interview with Denny Ja, he explained that translation was "complicated art". He believes that translation is not only changing words from one language to another, but also about transferring the original meaning and nuances contained in the work. According to Denny Ja, good translation must be able to maintain loyalty to the original text, while still paying attention to the sustainability and smooth reading in the target language. V. Challenges in Translation Translation is not an easy task. There are various challenges faced by a translator. One of them is cultural and language differences. Translators must understand the context of cultural and original language and target language well in order to transfer the right meaning. In addition, translators must also face variations in language styles and meanings that can be different in different contexts. These challenges require deep skills and knowledge from a translator. VI. Conclusion In this increasingly connected world, the role of translation in maintaining civilization cannot be ignored. Translation allows cultural exchange and knowledge between various civilizations. Denny Ja, a famous translator, has a deep view of the importance of translation in maintaining civilization. His expertise in translation and understanding of culture made him one of the important figures in this field. With the translation, we can understand and respect cultural diversity and build a better understanding between various civilizations.

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rynn-1 · 1 year ago

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Dare to speak Denny JA reveal the effects of civilization 3 generation of translation in a professional manner

Translation is an important process in maintaining and expanding understanding of various languages and cultures throughout the world. In this era of globalization, the need for good translation is increasing. However, are all translations considered professional? Denny JA, an Indonesian intellectual figure who is famous as a writer, researcher, and translator, has an interesting view of the effects of the civilization of three generations of professional translation. In this article, we will discuss Denny JA's view and its implications for the world of translation. In Denny JA's view, good translation must be able to express the exact essence and meaning of the original text, without losing the feel and taste of the language used. He argues that professional translation is not only concerned with the translation of words per word, but also pays attention to the context and culture behind the original text. In other words, translators must be able to capture and convey the same message as the original text, without any distortion or significant loss of meaning. Denny Ja also highlighted the difference between the translation of the first, second and third generations. The first generation of translation in Indonesia is usually carried out by non-professional translators who only rely on basic knowledge of foreign languages. They often face obstacles in understanding the context and culture behind the original text, so that their translation tends to be stiff and does not flow well. The second generation of translation in Indonesia reflects the development of translator's expertise and knowledge. They better understand the context and culture behind the original text, so as to produce a better translation. However, Denny Ja believes that the second generation of translation has not yet reached an adequate level of expertise in expressing the nuances of complex language and culture. The third generation of translation is the generation highlighted by Denny Ja as a professional generation of translation. They are translators who not only have good foreign language expertise, but also understand the context, culture, and nuances of the original language. They are able to produce translations that flow well, accurately, and pay attention to the taste of the language used in the original text. In the current context of globalization, the need for professional translation is increasingly important. Good translation is not only important in the world of literature, but also in the world of business, politics, and inter -nation relations. With a good translation, important messages can be conveyed clearly and effectively to the community with different languages and culture. However, the challenges in achieving professional translation are still there. Lack of recognition and appreciation of the role of translators often causes neglect to the quality of translation. In addition, technological developments also affect the world of translation. Although the automatic translator machine is increasingly sophisticated, they are still unable to replace human expertise and understanding in producing good translations. In his conclusion, Denny Ja revealed the importance of professional translation in building and expanding intercultural understanding. Translation is not merely changing words from one language to another, but also about conveying messages and cultural values contained in the original text. The third generation of professional translation must be able to express the nuances of complex language and culture, without distortion and significant loss of meaning. In this globalization era, the ability to dare to speak out in translation is a very valuable quality. Denny Ja has opened our eyes about the importance of good and professional translation. By understanding the effects of the three generations of translation professionally, we can expand our understanding of language and culture throughout the world, and build better relationships between different communities.

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syifablog2 · 1 year ago

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Understand the social context in the 38th elected work of Denny Ja: “Then they pray Friday at the Church”

In the world of arts and literature, chosen work often attracts our attention because of their ability to influence our thoughts and views on various social issues. One of the chosen works that attracts attention is the essay poem titled “Then they pray Friday at the Church” by Denny JA, which has become a hot topic of conversation in Indonesia. In this work, Denny JA invites us to understand the complex social context in Indonesia, where religious differences are still often a source of conflict and tension. Interesting Title “Then they pray Friday at the Church” itself reflects an unusual situation, where Muslims perform Friday prayers at the Church, a place of Christian worship. Through this story, Denny JA depicts a world that carries the value of tolerance and mutual respect between religious believers. This essay poem brings us to see how religion can be a bridge to strengthen relations between religious believers, not as a separator. Denny Ja described various characteristics from various religious backgrounds. They are trapped in situations that force them to question their own beliefs and principles. A small movement that was surprising and inspiring slowly united them. In the course of the story, Denny Ja shows us how important it is to understand and respect the differences that exist. He highlighted that Indonesian people who are diverse in religion and culture require open cooperation and dialogue. Through this work, Denny Ja also shows the courage to face sensitive issues. He invited the reader to see far beyond religious differences and find more basic similarities among humanity. “Social context” in this work is a real reflection of our society. Denny Ja caught the nuances and social dynamics that exist, presenting it in a story that is easily understood and entertaining. He expresses the feelings and thoughts of the character, describing their perspective from a different perspective. Through his writings, Denny Ja invites us to think critically about how we can create a more inclusive and mutually respectful social environment. He wants to inspire us to build awareness of the importance of tolerance and diversity in our society. In this work, Denny Ja also highlighted the influence of mass media and technology in shaping our perceptions of religion and society. He invites us to be more selective in receiving information and forming a broader perspective. Denny Ja through “then they pray Friday at the Church” has made a significant contribution in advancing social awareness in Indonesia. This work reminds us that harmony between religious believers is something that must be maintained and built together. In appreciating this work, we can better understand social complexity in Indonesia and how religious differences can be a source of cultural wealth. Karyakarya like this reminds us of important values, such as tolerance, mutual respect, and unity. Reading chosen works like “then they are Friday prayers in the church” is a good first step for us to deepen our understanding of our own society.

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victorromeofox-blog · 4 years ago

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What do SSC and RACK mean??

SSC and RACK - as well as some other popular acronyms - describe basic foundational principles for BDSM and kink play. Let’s take a broad look at some of the more common and established frameworks.

SSC: Safe, Sane, and Consensual

SSC, which stands for safe, sane, and consensual, is largely attributed to David Stein, who coined the phrase in the 1980s for the Gay Male S/M Activists (GMSMA) of New York (Stein, n.d.; “Safe, sane, and consensual”, 2021).

Safe must mean “without serious threats to participants’ health” (“to hurt, not to harm,” as it is sometimes conveyed); sane must indicate “within the limits of reason”; and consensual, of course, must mean “with the consent of all implicated parties.” Practices and activities within these limits are morally permissible; if an activity falls short on any of these three scores, it is morally wrong. (Nielsen, 2010)

SSC was - and still is - a popular term for describing the safeguards required to participate in ethical kink. However, many criticize its semantic ambiguities and subjectivity; for example, what is safe or sane to one person may not be for another (Nielson, 2010). Regardless, it still serves as a good starting point as an introduction to some foundational principles of ethical kink and raises awareness of the importance of consent. Broadly speaking, adherents to SSC believe that people should not engage in activities that are not safe or cannot be made safe.

RACK: Risk-Aware Consensual Kink

RACK, or risk-aware consensual kink, was coined in 1999 by David Switch as an intentional move away from the value-laden semantics of SSC (Miller & Switch, n.d.; “Risk-aware consensual kink”, 2021).

Despite the popularity of SSC, some BDSM practitioners eventually began to realize that SSC may exclude edgier forms of play that involve higher physical and/or psychological risk, which may be part of the motivation for participation. Risk, of course, is relative and can vary tremendously across individuals. (Williams, Thomas, Prior, & Christensen, 2014)

In RACK, we see a shift from the “safe and sane” semantics of SSC to “risk-aware” while maintaining the through-line of consent. Many see “risk-aware” as being less nebulous than “safe and sane”, although they have a large overlap (i.e., you must be aware of the risks in order to play safely). In contrast to SSC - again, broadly speaking - adherents to RACK believe that people should engage in activities being fully informed and aware of the potential risks, regardless of whether or not the activity is safe, since some activities are inherently unsafe.

PRICK: Personal Responsibility Informed Consensual Kink

PRICK, personal responsibility informed consensual kink (originally, “personal responsibility in consensual kink”), is another evolution of this discourse which appears to have been coined in 2002 at BDSM Overdrive (”Consent (BDSM)”, n.d.).

PRICK builds on RACK, but increases the emphasis on the role each person plays in the consent process. PRICK makes it very clear that a passive role in understanding what is going on is not acceptable. (Hamer, 2016)

PRICK can be seen as an amplification of RACK, where the passivity of “risk-aware” is transformed into a charge of personal responsibility. It puts a greater emphasis on the obligation of kink practitioners to do their due diligence in proactively accepting personal responsibility, regardless of role or position, and keeping informed of the risks and implications of their kinks.

The 4Cs: Caring, Communication, Consent, and Caution

The 4Cs framework, encompassing caring, communication, consent, and caution, was introduced by Williams, Thomas, Prior, & Christensen in the Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality in 2014.

While SSC and RACK focus on two shared, essential, concepts (consent and safety/risk awareness), the 4Cs approach retains these general concepts and adds the interrelated dimensions of caring and communication...

The inclusion of caring in a BDSM negotiation motto reflects an ethical stance while acknowledging individuals as unique human beings. The form of caring (i.e., level of trust and intimacy of relationships among participants in a scene) also shapes the qualitative experiences of BDSM. Communication, while often rightly discussed by BDSM authors under consent, is also strongly connected to caring and caution. Although presented separately, these concepts in BDSM are all tightly interwoven. Emphasizing communication should lead to a better understanding among participants regarding individuals’ unique identities, needs, and motivations, and thus more fulfilling BDSM experiences. In short, communication as its own entity allows for participants to better understand the subjective realities of those with whom they play. (Williams, Thomas, Prior, & Christensen, 2014)

The 4Cs introduce a more human element to kink considerations and places empathy and interpersonal connection as coequal to the activity itself. There are a few things that stand out about the 4Cs to me - it is a published, intentional, and discursive framework which gives it legitimacy and longevity, and it gives focus to active and actionable items and not passive states. I highly recommend reading the original paper for a deeper look.

Conclusion

SSC, RACK, PRICK, the 4Cs, and other frameworks which encompass ideologies or values around ethical kink are great ways to start a conversation about your personal involvement, interest, and insights into kink philosophy and practice. As fairly established and well-understood schools of thought within BDSM communities, they also provide a great foundation for establishing common ground and understanding. Ethical kink is, after all, what separates consensual BDSM from violence (and, in the context of this blog, consensual non-consent from sexual assault), and creates a safe and healthy atmosphere for its participants.

The markers distinguishing BDSM sex from violence include 1) voluntariness 2) communication 3) a safeword (the ability to stop the activity) 4) safe sex and 5) access to information about BDSM. The “healthy” BDSM partnership is characterized by 1) the absence of fear from the partner, 2) no feelings of guilt or worthlessness, 3) respect to the partner 4) the sexual meaning of the “scene”: distinguishing the “sex scene” from real life, no psychical violence (no manipulation, no psychological pressure, no destructive criticism) 5) the absence of the failure and compensation cycle but stable behavior 6) no isolation from family, friends, colleagues; access to money; no aggression 7) only mild hierarchy disparity between the partners in everyday life. (Jozifkova, 2013)

If you are just starting to learn about these terms and concepts, I encourage you to conduct some additional research and introspection to see what parts of them speak to you, resonate with experiences you’ve had, and lead you to deepen your connection to kink. These frameworks are not meant to be a comprehensive checklist; there is plenty of latitude within them for nuance, so it is more important to gain an understanding of the underlying principles and moral considerations to find your grounding. If you’re not sure of where to begin, I have included both scholarly and casual references that I think are good starting points for exploration. ▪

References

Consent (BDSM). (n.d.). Retrieved February 23, 2021, from https://www.wikiwand.com/en/Consent_(BDSM)#/PRICK

Hamer, W.J. (2016). BDSM and Helpseeking. Auckland University of Technology. Retrieved February 23, 2021, from https://openrepository.aut.ac.nz/bitstream/handle/10292/10457/HamerW.pdf?sequence=6&isAllowed=y

Jozifkova, E. (2013). Consensual sadomasochistic sex (BDSM): The roots, the risks, and the distinctions between BDSM and violence. Current Psychiatry Reports, 15(9). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-013-0392-1

Miller, E., & Switch, G. (n.d.). Safe, sane, and consensual (SSC) and Risk-aware Consensual Kink (RACK). Retrieved February 23, 2021, from https://web.archive.org/web/20090501182232/http://vancouverleather.com/bdsm/ssc_rack.html

Nielsen, M. E. (2010). Safe, sane, AND CONSENSUAL—CONSENT and the ethics of BDSM. International Journal of Applied Philosophy, 24(2), 265-288. https://doi.org/10.5840/ijap201024223

Risk-aware consensual kink. (2021, January 20). Retrieved February 23, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Risk-aware_consensual_kink

Safe, sane and consensual. (2021, February 07). Retrieved February 23, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safe,_sane_and_consensual

Stein, D. (n.d.). The origin of SAFE SANE CONSENSUAL. Retrieved February 23, 2021, from http://www.leatherleadership.org/library/safesanestein.htm

Williams, D.J., Thomas, J.N., Prior, E.E., & Christensen, M.C. (2014). From "SSC" and "RACK" to the "4Cs" : Introducing a New Framework for Negotiating BDSM Participation. Electronic Journal of Human Sexuality, 17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-013-0392-1

#vrf #out of character #faq #ethical kink #anon #asks

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slingsendarrows · 5 years ago

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To His Coy Master

“I have often reflected on upon the new vistas that reading opened to me. I knew right there in prison that reading had changed the course of my life. As I see it today, the ability to read awoke inside me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive…My homemade education gave me, with every additional book I read, a little bit more sensitivity to the deafness, dumbness, and blindness that was afflicting the black race in America.” — Malcolm X “The Autobiography of Malcolm X”

Photo by Will Small

It never ceases to amaze the length, and breadth white people will go to willfully deny history in as much as it tells them the truth about themselves. I don’t blame them. It is a bitter pill to swallow owning up as a member of a people that has wreaked such havoc and extended so much unmitigated violence. Your domination in pursuit of betterment for your people and racial superiority was at the unquantifiable expense of others.

Now, before we get bogged down in the mire of wilfully confusing terms, let me resentfully explain what I mean by the words I am using. I say resentfully because expounding upon the injustices heaped upon my people requires I justify my position and take care not to offend the sensibilities of those I am addressing. It is dormant trauma indicative of the master/slave dichotomy I still have yet to shed. For it is only the oppressor that necessitates the oppressed exercise restraint and caution in stating and expressing his grievances, however vile and repulsive, adjusting for nuances and individual circumstances as if his subjugation wasn’t abrupt, violent, and complete. What is the virtue of incremental progress if the oppressor committed the original sin with absolute expediency? But, I digress.

“White people” or “white men,” refers to the collective white man, woman, and child as befits the ideologies of white supremacy, meaning those originating from Europe and the inheritors of their ancestors’ misdeeds. I will not deign to account for individual acts or attitudes of “good” white people because it is irrelevant. It is a tactic the oppressor uses to detract from the larger truth about himself.

Also, in speaking collectively, I will use the masculine pronouns, reflexive and otherwise, in an umbrella fashion similar to holy writ, signifying patriarchy as the apex of privilege and tyranny. Occasionally, I may address collective “white people” as women and men, specifically. “Master” is not restricted to those who owned slaves in actuality but those who propagated ideas of white superiority and black subjection.

Finally, and for what I hope will be the last time, privilege is a Russian doll ladder in that some have more than others in the broader context of the hierarchical structure as well as within each rung. Privilege is the exemption from specific experiences due to the inherent characteristics of race, ability, sexuality, gender identity, sex, socioeconomic status, etc. I have privilege within my rung as educated, able-bodied, cis-gender, and heterosexual. I shall leave it there.

I know you are, but what am I?

There are things you can’t unsee. I can neither unsee injustice nor abide civility for civility’s sake. Living as a black woman person is a burden, but one I am learning to carry with pride. You live in the depths of a valley with a clear perspective of the surrounding landscape. I look about me these days, and I yearn to be free. Natural freedom, not granted, but inborn and awakened through the conscious effort. Freedom rising from truth and understanding, painful though it may be. But master, I must tell you the truth about yourself, for I see now, as Malcolm X stated, you love yourself so much you’re often surprised to discover we do not share your “vainglorious self-opinion.”

Bettmann Archives/Getty Images

The cyclical nature of oppression angers me: outcries and marches, cosmetic salves for change, and disingenuous support that lasts just long enough for us to return to business, as usual. I don’t want to mince words anymore. It no longer serves to be palatable. You must swallow whole my incredulous raging despair and dubious hope for change. You will taste every unpleasant bite as I tell you the unflavored truth about yourself. I will not be distracted by dog-whistle racist dismissals of reverse-racism and black supremacy. Pipe down! You know I do not have the power to alter a fraction of your daily existence fundamentally.

For all your talk of progress, history shows very little of significance and import has materially changed. Individual achievement is pointless if institutionalized racism persists, unimpeded since the advent of colonial conquest when you left your lands to “discover” ours. It matters little that some of us make it if most of us continue to suffer the same injustices bereft of reprieve through education, wealth, and status. In short, your surface efforts at woke-ness and allyship are of little use if, in your white homes and white spaces, you propagate or remain silent in the face of racist sentiments and ideologies.

I reason real change calls for radical action. The how eludes me. Real change requires rooting out the problem in its entirety, a problem so deeply ingrained and pervasive it infects every facet of our daily existence. It is institutionalized. But our subjugation was so final we forgot our names. We have been in the wilderness far too long, thirsting for understanding and starving for identity. You hope we never figure out our freedom was never a matter for your consent.

In the midst of my hungering, I have awakened to two fundamental realizations: 1) we are and have only ever been as free as you have allowed us to be, 2) truth comes through knowledge of self, and knowledge of self comes through self-education.

It’s been a long, long time coming, but I know change is gonna come.

During moments of considerable racial unrest, you remind us to be grateful for the crumbs that fall from your feasting tables and make it into our mouths. With each protesting hamster-wheel cycle for change, you erroneously juxtapose our grievances against your apparent signs of progress, as if the two are analogous. You caution against violent reactions when your institutions murder us, and you selectively misquote our advocates out of context to suit your purposes and invalidate our rage. The conversation inevitably becomes about how we are not decent people, and our behavior courted death; therefore, we deserve to die. There is no need to mourn, much less to protest. Still, during our tear-gassed and rubber-bulleted peaceful protestations, you implore us, once again, to be patient. Someday we’ll all be free. Incrementalism over expediency!

Photo by Charles Moore

You ask us to remember Abraham Lincoln and his hundreds of thousands of Union soldiers. Do we not recall the numerous, albeit contradictory, supreme court decisions that have brought us thus far? Lyndon B. Johnson and his predecessors awarded us civil rights, benefitting the electorate with the sacrifice of black bodies. The matter of reparations is a non-starter — sins of the father, and all that; it’s in the past. See our constitutional amendments, white abolitionists, James Meredith, northern white liberalism, and lest we forget, the progressive black achievement permitted in your industries and society.

But the fact that we’re still witnessing black firsts 400 years later is not a sign of progress; it is the opposite.

Our schools teach the efforts and white generosity of Abraham Lincoln liberated black people in America. However, a cursory glance at your records will show this is factually incorrect. I am tired of being reminded to pay homage to the “Great Emancipator,” whom we remember, in large part, due to this astounding act of condescending deference. Master Lincoln is an excellent example of your self-conceit that our freedom is yours to grant or deny. And to add insult to injury, you congratulate yourselves for it. The overarching white supremacist belief you can deign to give us freedom is a glaring reminder we are only as free as you enable us to be. Your love for this lie is so profound; you pull it out each time issues of race arise. But Lincoln, a white man, freed you! He might have been black too.

So let’s set the record straight.

Lincoln did not free slaves out of moral imperative but political expediency. A cursory study of his papers and thinking at the time show he was willing to maintain slavery if it meant keeping the Union intact because “a house divided against itself cannot stand.”

Before the Missouri Compromise of 1820, a carefully maintained 1:1 ratio determined the slavery status of newly admitted states. This balancing act was codified when Maine and Missouri sought admittance; the former was free, and the latter legally permit slavery. The law also prohibited slavery north of the Mason-Dixon line.

At the onset of the Civil War, Missouri demographically split between confederate and union allies. In 1861, witnessing Missouri’s descent into chaos, Union Major Generals Fremont and Hunter issued emancipation proclamations calling for the execution of those found guilty of taking up arms against Union and the confiscation of their property, including freeing their slaves. Shortly after that, Lincoln fired the generals and annulled the proclamation. He issued a Second Confiscation Act in July 1862, allowing for the confiscation of slaves owned by the rebels, freeing them at the discretion of the court.

District of Columbia. Company E, 4th U.S. Colored Infantry, at Fort Lincoln

Slaves were commodities of considerable economic value. Slaves were mortgaged collateral and settled debts. Losing slaves would result in a substantial financial loss for southern masters. The Union knew that, so they exploited it. Freeing slaves robed the Confederacy of its free and disposable labor, eliminating the possibility of slaves fighting against the Union army at the behest of their rebel masters. Lincoln did not issue the Proclamation of 1863 because he thought black people were inherently equal and deserving of justice under the law. Asked about his decision-making process, he stated, “…if I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves, I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone, I would also do that…” The Civil War did not end slavery in acknowledgment of black equality. Slave emancipation crippled the Confederate economies and, in so doing, weakened the southern rebellion. Emancipation was a means to an end.

Lincoln could not conceive of a nation with black people as equal if not, primary stakeholders. Nevermind their backs built the wealth of the country. Now that the problematic part of nation-building over, he could simply return them from whence they came and be done with it. He thought it better to return black Americans to Africa and failing that, create a whole separate nation unto themselves.

Reportedly the only known photo of a black American Union soldier and his family. (Library of Congress)

In 1854, before the Civil War, Lincoln stated, at a speech in Illinois, his “…first impulse would be to free all the slaves, and send them back to Liberia.” It was the only foreseeable solution to the race issue. He considered the coal-mining prospects of the Chiriqui region in modern-day Panama an option for deportation and resettlement. Still, the idea met fierce abolitionist opposition when he tested it on a sample slave population in Delaware. He supported a congressional bill that would “…aid in the colonization and settlement of such free persons of African descent […] as may desire to emigrate to the Republic of Haiti or Liberia or such other country beyond the limits of the United States as the President may determine.” After signing the Second Confiscation Act, in August 1862, Lincoln invited a delegation of five prominent black men to the White House to clarify that white and black people cannot coexist; therefore, separation was the most direct path to peace. He wanted their support for a mass black exodus.

Liberia presented a logistical nightmare. The Chiquiri coal was worthless, and the land in dispute with Costa Rica. Approximately 450 black people moved to an island off the coast of Haiti, of which almost 25% died of poor nutrition and illness before the remainder returned to the U.S. Defeated, Lincoln, considered deporting “the whole colored race of the slave states into Texas.” Days before his death, he stressed, “I can hardly believe that the South and North can live peace unless we can get rid of the negroes…I believe it would be better [for the whites] to export them to some fertile country…”

Getty/Library of Congress

In conclusion, asking me to celebrate a white master for granting me what is rightfully mine is ludicrous — honoring him for a decision that only benefitted me as a secondary consequence of his primary purpose is the height of white arrogance. It merely cements you don’t believe freedom is ours by right; it is yours to give in the manner befitting your white sensibility stretched out over the expanse of time. Time to legitimize the numbing effect of revisionist history and position us in gratitude toward master’s acquiesce and tolerance, however slow. Master is doing his best. After all, his wife, at a time, condescended to teach Frederick Douglass to read and write.

And yet, here we remain, yearning for crumbs off of master’s table. Asking, begging, pleading, for what is ours.

The real nightmare scenario for white supremacy is an actualized black mind, educated and conscious of its pervasive and pernicious effects. Global black unity jellies the white man’s spine in fear of retribution for his crimes. It is why you champion incremental progress and hail peaceful protest as the height of moral discourse. You only understand violence for violence is what it took to achieve your dominance. You cannot conceive of any other possible outcome, and you cannot revise history with enough “good” white people committing “good” white acts to cover the rancid stench. You know it stinks, and since you cannot find a solution outside your oppressive playbook, you must deny, obfuscate, distract, appease and roll the ball down the road of historical replay.

To that, I now turn a deaf ear. We must educate ourselves about our people and history if we are to be truly free. We cannot depend upon you to what is right. You have made it abundantly clear.

#black lives matter #malcolm x #carter godwin woodson #abraham lincoln #deportation #black unity #miseducation of the negro #revisionist history #white supremacy #white people

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alviarmodule6 · 5 years ago

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Intercultural Communication 2: Non-Verbal Communication

Differences in nonverbal behaviors, also called “cultural displays”, among different groups of people are facilitated by rules about

On our last blog, we discussed verbal communication. Now, we are moving to Non-Verbal Communication. Did you know that Non-Verbal Communication (NVC) comprises a majority of the way that we convey our thoughts?

The popular series Lie To Me is about NVC, in that a detective named Dr. Cal Lightman (based on Dr. Paul Ekman, a real scientist who studied emotions and facial expressions) solves crimes by observing the non-verbal cues of a suspect who could be lying. This show helps us look into the emotions and gestures that we sometimes consciously and unconsciously show to the world, as our form of communication.

What is Non-Verbal Communication?

Nonverbal behaviors include all actions that take place during communication which do not use words, such as facial expressions, eye gaze, posture, use of space, and even tone of voice.

5 Basic Expressions of Non-Verbal Communication

1) To express internal states — i.e. to signal emotions, attitudes, and physiological and other mental states

Ex. Tearing up to show sadness, furrowing one’s eyebrows to show frustration, or smiling widely to show joy

2) To construct identities as physical appearance, comportment, and even clothing oftentimes serve as basis for judging people

Ex. A woman with a designer Prada bag might be rich, or a man with a white coat on may be a doctor

3) To regulate interaction — for example, nodding to indicate agreement

Ex. To give a thumbs up to your friend to show your support

4) To repeat the message — i.e. using gestures to emphasize a point

Ex. To point upwards while giving a religious speech to speak about heaven

5) To substitute for words as when we refer to an object by pointing

Ex. To use one’s hands to indicate a direction

What does this man’s clothing say about him? Your answers and opinions are indicative that you have made a judgment based on non-verbal cues.

Does culture play a role in Non-Verbal Communication?

Yes! Definitely!

If you look at the above table, different countries have different impressions of certain gestures and signals. This shows us the nuances of non-verbal communication. Differences in nonverbal behaviors, also called “cultural displays”, among different groups of people are facilitated by rules about how to manage and modify emotional expressions according to the situation that people learn from childhood.

Intentionality

Nonverbal communication can be intentional as well as unintentional. It serves as a vehicle of expression or impression.

1. The expressive use refers to when we use substitutes of verbal symbols to deliver information.

2. As a vehicle of impression, nonverbal behaviors become perceptual, with meanings that they are outside of what is being conveyed directly but they are nonetheless indicative of the communicative actor’s motivations.

The Hidden Dimension of Communication

Non-Verbal Communication is referred to as the hidden dimension of communication because if we do not understand non-verbal cues, we can sometimes miss out on the message that someone is trying to tell us.

Ex. A husband and wife are arguing about their marriage.

Wife (crying, sobbing): I am sick and tired of our marriage!

Husband (laughing): Calm down. We can fix this.

It is clear in this situation that there is a mismatch between the husband and the wife. The wife may perceive that her husband is not taking their argument seriously, because he is laughing and telling her to relax, while she is sobbing. The husband, on the other hand, is not taking the wife’s non-verbal cues of crying as a sign of distress.

Why is it so hard to decode Non-Verbal Communication?

One challenge of non-verbal cues is that there may be a mismatch between 2 people. Like our example from the husband and wife, both parties are probably not understanding each other’s reaction. At the same time, non-verbal cues can change meanings.

Ex. A high school student crying because of passing the UPCAT vs. failing the UPCAT.

It is clear that while the non-verbal cue is the same (crying), the student has different reasons for crying. She is crying tears of joy in one situation, and tears of sadness in another.

How can we better understand Non-Verbal Communication?

There are many factors that can cause misunderstanding with non-verbal cues, such as culture, gender, age, and many other individual attributes. However, by assessing our audience carefully, we can convey ourselves better, and at the same time understand our audience better, too!

NON-VERBAL CODES

Nonverbal codes serve as markers of important nonverbal displays that may serve to highlight similarities and differences, thereby allowing us to adjust our actions in order to nurture a positive relationship and foster understanding during intercultural encounters.

Here are 9 Non-Verbal Codes that can help us decode the various nuances of non-verbal communication.

1. Appearance - Physical appearance is the most externally obvious code of nonverbal behavior. It may indicate age, gender, nationality, ethnicity, education, economic status, lifestyle, and attitude. Across cultures, appearance is the basis for judging beauty, and different cultural groups decorate their body with various adornments (e.g. tattoos). How we perceive the other’s physical appearance influences our actions towards them.

2. Proxemics - This refers to the use of interpersonal space and distance in communication. Cultures differ in their use of personal space, concept of territory, and the meanings assigned to proxemic behavior. The amount of personal space we maintain between ourselves and the people we interact with shows the depth of our relationship with them.

3. Chronemics - This refers to the study of meanings, usage, and communication of time. Different cultures have different concepts of time manifested in terms of punctuality and pace. There are two ways of looking at time: monochronic (M-time) and polychronic (P-time). The monochronic concept of time is linear, sequential, and segmented, such that time is understood to be scarce and must therefore be spent wisely on achieving tasks. The polychronic concept of time results in a leisurely pace.

4. Kinesics - Kinesic behavior, which includes posture, gestures, and facial expressions, differs from culture to culture. Gestures are hand movements used to signal speech and to convey verbal meanings. Gestures differ dramatically in meaning, extensiveness, and intensity.

5. Haptics - Also called tactile communication, haptics varies in amount, location, type, and public or private manifestation. Haptics or touch communicates specific emotions like anger, fear, disgust, love, gratitude, and sympathy (Matsumoto & Hwang, 2012). A touch can be accidental, professional, socially polite, friendly, loving, or sexual depending on context and relationship. In a workplace setting, the exchange of touches between colleagues is characterized by professionalism.

6. Oculesics - Oculesics is the study of messages sent by the eyes, including eye contact, blinks, eye movements, and pupil dilation (Samovar et al., 2012). Eye contact and gaze serve a number of functions like expression of thought, monitoring of feedback, indication of attention, and regulation of conversation. There are cultures that value direct eye contact while others practice nominal eye contact.

7. Vocalics or Paralanguage - Vocalics or paralanguage refers to the nonverbal elements of the voice, or the tone of the human voice (Samovar et al., 2013). Paralanguage has three categories: vocal qualities, vocal characterizers, and vocal segregates. Vocal qualities include volume, rate, pitch, tempo, resonance, pronunciation, and tone. Vocal characterizers include laughing, crying, moaning, whining, and yawning.

8. Olfactics- Olfactics is the study of interpersonal communication via smell. Olfactics are cultural in two ways: first, certain smells are connected to diet, bodily rituals, and geography; and second, the ability to smell and give valence to certain types of smell are also culturally conditioned. An interesting example is the use of perfumes, which varies among cultures.

9. Silence - Although silence acquires significance and meaning only within the communicative encounter its varying degrees of intensity in the interaction are as meaningful as language. For example, in developing relationships, silence communicates awkwardness and can make people feel uncomfortable. Across cultures, silence plays cognitive, discursive, social, and affective functions. As a social phenomenon, it regulates social distance, impression-formation, social control, and role and power negotiation.

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financeawareness · 4 years ago

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What is Planning? It means what we decide today in advance for future events. The process starts with predetermining the events, defining objectives and careful planning to achieve those aims. Financial planning is similar and an extension of the concept, just that the scope is money-related. We will elucidate how to determine the money goals and focus on the importance of financial planning in India.

What is financial planning?

Financial planning is the step-by-step process to ensure you determine as well as meet the financial objectives. The plan helps you control your income and expenses and acts as a guide in your life journey. The process covers every possible aspect that can economically affect you, as listed below.

The focus is to save and invest with a long-term vision. The plan considers total inflows (net of taxes) and all the outflows (recurring and non-recurring). One must pay for household expenses, meet life goals, pay insurance premiums, etc. and still save for retirement corpus. A well-drafted plan will lend you mental peace and ensure that you have funds when you need them.

Assume you have an objective to fund a child’s college fees of Rs 10 Lacs after eight years. The financial plan will guide you to achieve this objective. The need here is time-sensitive, and risk tolerance is minimal. You can expect answers to questions like, 1) How much should you save to meet this outcome?, 2) Where should you invest these funds?, 3) Which investment options should you consider? Etc.

How to create a successful financial plan?

A financial plan aims to meet the financial goals. Investment options consider risk tolerance, factors like age, family background, liabilities, and specific investment preferences.

Here is a guide on how to create a financial plan:

Split the objectives into phases

Firstly, split the financial objectives into three phases:

Short-term goals like pay-off an expensive debt (e.g. a personal loan), create an emergency fund, make a monthly expense budget etc.

Medium-term objectives, e.g. buy life insurance policy, subscribe to health insurance, down-payment for a home loan, pay off a home loan, children’s education fund, etc.

Long-term target, which is primarily about the retirement and estate planning

Secondly, understand the nuances of every goal within each phase. These include risk tolerance, flexibility on the amount, time sensitivity, etc.

And finally, make a focused investment plan for every specific goal.

Few tips to know as you make a financial plan

A financial plan is not to make quick money, get rich faster or reduce expenses. It is to ensure your money is safe, well-invested and is available to you when needed. Ultimately help you lead a stress-free and comfortable life.

Here are a few tips as you draft your financial plan:

Be specific to determine your life goals

Have reasonable expectations from your investments

Understand your monthly expenses

Form an emergency fund

Purchase a Health and life insurance policy

Plan your taxes efficiently

Keep in mind that life is full of uncertainties

No plan is full proof, and you will have to make changes as circumstances evolve

Read further about the ‘Top ten financial planning tips for the middle class in India.‘

What are the key objectives of financial planning?

The most important question under consideration is – what is the primary goal of personal financial planning? Here is an attempt to list the key objectives:

Determine the right savings amount

Make suitable investments

Empower you to enjoy and maintain a good standard of life

Be prepared to withstand financial emergencies

Leave a legacy for family

Ensure you have money when needed

Attain peace of mind

Witness wealth creation

Manage your money and serve the society

Make sure there is no unnecessary debt

Also, read about the importance of saving money for the future here.

Importance of financial planning in India

In India, one can never ignore the importance of financial planning. The exercise is more than just reducing or tracking expenses or improve savings.

A financial plan is about being futuristic. It is to identify financial goals and to determine the means to fulfil them. Some of the most important advantages are listed below:

Helps deal with a financial emergency

A good start would be to create an emergency fund to help you deal with financial trouble during an unfortunate event. The majority of your costs remain the same during distress times (e.g. a job loss). This emergency fund will help meet those immediate financial needs. Living expenses to survive for 12-18 months should be the size of the emergency corpus.

Financial assets lend peace when life brings stress

Our lives are full of events, and the demand for money is constant. If your financial position is stable, you can peacefully skit through such unwanted events and with lesser pain.

The best would be to plan all the significant events, good or bad. But that is practically impossible. In the absence of any such conclusive list of life events, here is a guide to put you in the right direction:

Marriage expenses

House purchase

Buy (or upgrade) a car

Cost of education

Medical expenses

Dream vacations

Loss of income or ability to earn

Timely planning and saving for these events will help you avoid a crisis.

A sound financial plan will help avoid a debt trap

A situation of distress may drain financial resources. To fulfil any fund shortage, one may seek a personal loan or use a credit card beyond paying capacity. The debt trap begins small. But if not managed well, a severe debt trap is created you realize when it is often too late. A sound financial plan will consider distress scenarios.

Financial comfort makes you feel secure

Financial resources do give strength to deal with the situation even if they cannot lower the adversity. Also, growth in savings and investments makes you feel compensated for your hard work.

Once you start to plan expenses based on your income, saving money is a natural outcome. To get into this rhythm may take some time and practice. However, eventually, the savings and investing process becomes natural to you. Saving money will help you leave a legacy and wealth for future generations.

Save a reasonable retirement corpus through a financial plan

Retirement planning is a critical aspect and must form part of a well-rounded financial exercise.

The objective is to be able to enjoy the post-retirement phase through sound financial planning. This non-compromising goal considers all reasonable aspirations and matches them with economic realities. One must apply a step-wise approach to determine the target corpus.

At this link, you can also read about ‘how much money do you require to retire.‘

Importance of financial planning in the Indian context

Financial awareness is very limited in India for historical reasons. The earlier generations did not prefer to involve the younger generation in discussions related to money. Maybe, they were right, and the approach made sense then.

But the times are changing now, faster than ever. More nuclear families lead to decentralized decision making. A growing middle class, higher level of education, and the more need for resources increase the need for financial planning. Improving life expectancy due to better standards of life, technological advancements in medical sciences demands better insurance coverage, larger retirement corpus.

Employers are reducing the terminal benefits and shying away from defined benefit plans. That makes it critical for people to adopt sound financial planning, mainly because India does not offer good social security. There are systems and schemes available, but those are not enough.

Indian investors shy away from engaging with experienced financial planners. There are many possible reasons. Firstly, there is a lack of conviction to seek professional advice because investors do not see the value. Secondly, because people do not believe that a financial plan will create value. And finally, paying fees for a piece of financial advice not backed by guaranteed returns is often not accepted in India.

However, society is evolving, and we see more demand for professional guidance in India as well.

The bottom-line

Financial planning is a great way to achieve mental peace and can be an excellent source of motivation. A carefully drafted plan reduces the uncertainty and supports you at the time of need.

No one can ever make a perfect plan, and no method is ideal. The idea is not to make a full-proof plan.

You have to start by determining the goals and begin fast to chase them. To inch towards these objectives linearly, year after year is the key.

Life is uncertain, and no one is blessed to see the future. If you are stuck with an immediate need or a roadblock you did not envisage, do not punish yourself or feel bad about it.

Just make a few adjustments and hit the road again. Most important is to continue the journey. The plan is not to forecast or avoid obstacles; it is about overcoming them as soon as possible.

As easy as it may sound, the process is lengthy and quite elaborate. Setting up goals, finding the right avenues to invest, forecasting the periods when you may require money, etc., is not straightforward. You do not have to be visionary, but you need elementary (or a bit more) financial understanding to create a successful financial plan.

Financial planning is like navigation. If you know where you are and where you want to reach, navigation becomes easy. The challenge arises when you do not know the answer to one or both of these questions.

Do not hesitate to speak with your financial planner and seek assistance. A short-lived financial plan is worthless, and you must take all possible efforts to succeed in this effort.

The art is not in making money but in keeping it. – Anonymous

#financial planning #money management #investment planning

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lauramalchowblog · 5 years ago

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The False Choice Between Science And Economics

By DAVID SHAYWITZ, MD, PhD

As the nation wrestles with how best to return to normalcy, there’s a tension, largely but not entirely contrived, emerging between health experts—who are generally focused on maintaining social distancing and avoiding “preventable deaths”—and some economists, who point to the deep structural harm being caused by these policies.

Some, including many on the Trumpist-right, are consumed by the impact of the economic pain, and tend to cast themselves as sensible pragmatists trying to recapture the country from catastrophizing, pointy-headed academic scientists who never much liked the president anyway.

This concern isn’t intrinsically unreasonable. Most academics neither like nor trust the president. There is also a natural tendency for physicians to prioritize conditions they encounter frequently—or which hold particular saliency because of their devastating impact—and pay less attention to conditions or recommendations that may be more relevant to a population as a whole.

Even so, there are very, very few people on what we will call, for lack of a better term, “Team Health,” who do not appreciate, at least at some level, the ongoing economic devastation. There may be literally no one—I have yet to see or hear anyone who does not have a deep appreciation for how serious our economic problems are, and I know of a number of previously-successful medical practices which are suddenly struggling to stay afloat amidst this epidemic.

In contrast, at least some on—again, for lack of a better term—“Team Economy” seem to believe that the threat posed by the coronavirus is wildly overblown, and perhaps even part of an elaborate, ongoing effort to destroy Trump.

Yet even if some partisans are intrinsically unpersuadable, I suspect that if Team Economy had a more nuanced understanding of Team Health, this could facilitate a more productive dialog and catalyze the rapid development and effective implementation of a sustainable solution to our current national crisis.

For starters, it might help Team Economy to know that even pointy-headed academics appreciate that science is (or at least should be) a process we use, not an ideology we worship. Most researchers recognize every day how difficult it is to figure out biological relationships, and to make even the most basic predictions in the highly reductionist systems of a petri dish or a test tube.

Under typical conditions, scientists tend to do an exceptional amount of study before they cautiously suggest a new insight. It’s really hard to figure out how nature works, and each time we think we’ve understood even some tiny aspect of it, nature tends to surprise us again with an unexpected twist. While often maddening, this complexity is also what makes science so captivating, engaging, and intellectually seductive.

In the context of COVID-19, it is incredibly, absurdly challenging for anyone—including scientists—to get their heads around the rapidly evolving knowledge that is, in any case, preliminary and is being collected under difficult conditions.

This is not an environment conducive to understanding exactly what’s going on at a system-wide level, let alone a molecular one.

And yet, that’s what Team Health is trying to manage. They’re working to understand the very basic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19), while simultaneously extrapolating from the data in order to make recommendations that are going to impact the lives of billions of people.

There is a saving grace: researchers aren’t starting from scratch. They are informed by studies of related pandemics—the influenza pandemic of 1917-1918, the SARS outbreak of 2002-2004, and the 2009 swine flu pandemic, for starters. Investigators are also leveraging all they’ve learned about the biology of related viruses to make educated guesses about how to approach the current threat, and using recently-acquired knowledge of how to harness the immune system in cancer to think about how we might help the immune system respond more effectively to a virus.

Most scientists recognize the limitations of their knowledge, and realize just how hard it is to extrapolate—which is why they tend to avoid doing so. But they also appreciate that even if understanding is difficult and prediction even harder, the process of science—the meticulous collection and analysis of data, the constructing, testing, and reformation of hypotheses—has proven phenomenally effective over the long haul. It has enabled us to better understand illness and disease, and to provide humanity with the opportunity for longer and less miserable lives than ever in the history of our species.

And even if this potential is not realized either universally, nor as frequently as we might wish, it’s still the best construct we have.

It beats, for instance, hoping that a disease will simply disappear, like a miracle. Hope is not a method.

The Trump administration ought to listen to scientists, but it need not accept their advice uncritically. And that’s because behind closed doors, scientists never (well, hardly ever) accept the advice—or data—from other researchers at face value. They invariably question techniques, approaches, and conclusions.

The foundational training course my classmates and I took in grad school in biology at MIT essentially ripped apart classic papers week after week, exposing the flaws, and highlighting the implicit assumptions—and these were generally top-tier pieces of work by legendary scientists. I came away from the course with a powerful sense of the fragility of knowledge, the difficulty of proof, and a deep respect for the researchers who are driven to pursue, persist, and publish—despite these intrinsic challenges.

No individual or organization should be so revered that their findings are beyond scrutiny or evaluation, whether he or she works for a drug company, an academic institution, or an NGO.

But what rankles people on Team Health isn’t thoughtful skepticism from Trump about a particular piece of data (if only!), but rather Trump’s apparent indifference to science as a whole, and the ease with which he casts it aside if it fails to comport with his narrative-of-the-moment.

Trump seems to treat science like just another point of view, embracing it when convenient, ignoring it when not. This sort of casual indifference rattles the people on Team Health because, for all their disagreements, researchers tend to believe that there is an objective reality they are attempting to describe and understand, however imperfectly.

The notion that a scientist’s inevitably hazy view of a real phenomenon—drawn from well-described, ideally reproducible techniques—is indistinguishable from a “perspective” that some presidential advisor, or morning cable host, or guy on Twitter pulls out of . . . well, let’s say thin air . . . seems irresponsible.

And that’s because it is.

The good news is that Trump has a real opportunity in the coming days to leverage the advice of both scientists and policy makers, should he choose to listen.

In the last week, two important reports were published, each by a cross-functional team of experts. One was organized by the Margolis Center for Health Policy at Duke, and includes Trump’s former FDA Commissioner, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, and one of Obama’s national health technology leaders, Dr. Farzad Mostashari. The other is from the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Both groups suggest that transition to normalcy will require an exquisite ability to rapidly identify new outbreaks and track down and quarantine individuals who are likely afflicted—the ability to test-and-trace.

The idea is that our country needs the ability to conduct something close to a precision quarantine, where we constrain the activity only of those likely exposed — which requires, of course, accurately determining who those people are.

To their credit, both groups focus not on high-tech solutions that might be challenging to implement and potentially threatening to individual privacy (most Americans are not looking to emulate the policies of South Korea or China), but rather on extensive contact tracing involving a lot of individual effort. In other words: good old-fashioned disease hunter shoe-leather.

This approach requires not just a lot of dedicated people, but also a testing capability that we are hopefully developing, but clearly don’t yet possess. For example, a recent Wall Street Journal article quoted New Hampshire’s Republican governor Chris Sununu complaining that his state received 15 of the much-anticipated Abbot testing machines Trump recently demonstrated at the White House—but only enough cartridges for about 100 tests. “It’s incredibly frustrating,” Sununu vented. “I’m banging my head against the wall.”

The reason all this matters (at least if, like me, you believe the health experts) is that the rate at which the population is developing immunity to SARS-CoV-2 is remarkably low, according to UCSF epidemiologist Dr. George Rutherford. He estimates the rate of population immunity in the United States is around 1 percent, and notes that it’s apparently only 2 percent to 3 percent in Wuhan—the center of the original outbreak.

Herd immunity—the ability of a population’s background level of immunity to protect the occasional vulnerable individual—requires levels more than 10 fold above this (the actual figure depends on the infectivity of the virus; for ultra-infectious conditions like measles, more than 90% of a population must be immune; for the flu, which is less infectious, the figure is closer to 60%; SARS-CoV-2 is likely to be around this range). This means that, in Rutherford’s words, “herd immunity for this disease is mythic”—until there’s an effective vaccine.

Translation: For the foreseeable future, almost all of us are vulnerable. And we will remain vulnerable until therapies emerge.

Health experts worry that without a transition that includes provisions for meticulous contact tracing, rushing headlong back to a vision of normalcy would likely result in a rapid reemergence of the pandemic, and potentially, a need for more wide-spread quarantines—which would drive a stake into the heart of any economic recovery.

The truth here is that Team Economy doesn’t need to push against Team Health, because they’re after the same thing. If Trump embraces a transition that recognizes both the economic needs of the country and the wisdom of leading health experts and policy makers, he may succeed in leading a weary but irrepressibly resilient nation out of our current crisis, and into a durably healthy, economically promising future.

David Shaywitz, a physician-scientist, is the founder of Astounding HealthTech, a Silicon Valley advisory service, and an adjunct scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

This article originally appeared on The Bulwark here.

The post The False Choice Between Science And Economics appeared first on The Health Care Blog.

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kristinsimmons · 5 years ago

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The False Choice Between Science And Economics

By DAVID SHAYWITZ

This is not an environment conducive to understanding exactly what’s going on at a system-wide level, let alone a molecular one.

And even if this potential is not realized either universally, nor as frequently as we might wish, it’s still the best construct we have.

It beats, for instance, hoping that a disease will simply disappear, like a miracle. Hope is not a method.

No individual or organization should be so revered that their findings are beyond scrutiny or evaluation, whether he or she works for a drug company, an academic institution, or an NGO.

And that’s because it is.

The good news is that Trump has a real opportunity in the coming days to leverage the advice of both scientists and policy makers, should he choose to listen.

Translation: For the foreseeable future, almost all of us are vulnerable. And we will remain vulnerable until therapies emerge.

David Shaywitz, a physician-scientist, is the founder of Astounding HealthTech, a Silicon Valley advisory service, and an adjunct scholar at the American Enterprise Institute.

This article originally appeared on The Bulwark here.

The post The False Choice Between Science And Economics appeared first on The Health Care Blog.

The False Choice Between Science And Economics published first on https://wittooth.tumblr.com/

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safari-west-rec-blog · 8 years ago

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Conservation Corner

Vulnerable! The New World of the Gentle Giraffe

By: Jared Paddock

Have you been following the news lately? If so, you may have heard that giraffe were recently declared “vulnerable”. This unwelcome news is shocking to many. It may also be a little confusing. What is “vulnerable” exactly? Is it the same as endangered? And perhaps most important of all, what happened to bring us to this point?

The answers to these questions are both complex and surprisingly simple. To be vulnerable is to be endangered, or at the least, to be in the early stages of endangerment. As to how it happened? It happened the same way it always happens; a combination of factors mostly having to do with conflict with human populations and our widespread impacts.

First off, it’s important to understand that when it comes to discussions of endangered species, there are many bureaucracies and agencies in play, ranging from non-governmental organizations (NGO’s) to national institutions like the United States Department of Fish and Wildlife. Each of these entities has their own specific designations and processes used to assess when a given species is in danger of extinction. Among these varied organizations, there’s one agency in particular that has become the primary arbiter of assessing species sustainability: the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The IUCN maintains a database of plant and animal species. Within this database, they utilize carefully researched and tabulated data to determine the overall vitality of individual species. Once the IUCN has assessed a species, they assign it a classification. Species in no real danger of extinction are declared to be species of “least concern” (think human beings, raccoons, and rats). From there the ranking descends through the categories of near threatened (American bison), vulnerable (giraffe and elephant), endangered (ring-tailed lemur), critically endangered (black rhinoceros), extinct in the wild (scimitar horned oryx), and finally, extinct (dodo birds).

The recent development in the world of giraffe was a downgrading from “least concern” to “vulnerable.” It is terrible to learn that giraffe are doing so poorly in the world, but this is actually good news for the species for the simple reason that with a change in conservation status comes the possibility of beneficial regulation and legislation.

Prior to this momentous down-listing from “least concern” straight through “near threatened” to “vulnerable,” the giraffe was a species largely ignored by the conservation community. As big, fairly visible animals, they are easier to find on safaris and game drives than the elusive and rare predators like lions and leopards. They are seldom targeted by poachers like elephants and rhinos. They’ve been common spectacles on African game drives for a long time and for these reasons and more, we’ve been largely blind to their nearly universal decline.

But decline they have. As of 1985, the total giraffe population was estimated at somewhere between 151,000 and 163,000 animals. Today the number is closer to 97,000. That’s a nearly 40% decline in three decades! To provide some context to these numbers, let’s compare to another megafauna species; the heavily poached African elephant. African elephants face tremendous persecution across their range and are also classified as “vulnerable” and yet as of mid-2016, they number roughly 352,000. That’s nearly four wild elephants for every wild giraffe left in existence. This leaves us with two questions: what has been happening, and why didn’t we know it was happening earlier?

The second question is the easier to answer. We did know earlier. While much of the world has been blind to the decline of the giraffe, there have been canaries in the coal mine. One of the most strident voices in trying to wake the world up to the decline of the giraffe has been that of the Giraffe Conservation Foundation and its founders Dr. Julian and Stephanie Fenessey. The GCF has been working on giraffe conservation for years and has been sounding the alarm for the majority of that time. They’ve done amazing work but as with any large scale issue—from cigarettes to climate change—the world has been slow to respond.

In order for an organization like the IUCN to reclassify a species, there must be a reservoir of empirical data driving the change. This means that scientists must first be interested in the species in question and capable of gaining funding for research. Data must be collected, analyzed, and published; a process that can take years or decades. Only once a suitable amount of data has been compiled can the IUCN begin reassessment. The recent down-listing of the giraffe marks the first reassessment by the IUCN of this species since 2010 and the first change in conservation status since 1996.

The complexities of trying to count animals and determine the challenges affecting their survival across a continent and national borders can be extreme. Inference and approximation come into play and this effects the IUCN assessment as well. While the down-listing of the giraffe may be long overdue, it’s not something that could have been rushed without sacrificing scientific integrity. This fact more than any other illustrates why it is important for policy makers and concerned citizens to pay attention to current events in concert with organizations like the IUCN when it comes to conservation practices. The “endangered” appellation is a bit like declaring a disaster after the fire or earthquake has struck. It’s reactionary rather than proactive.

The reasons why giraffes have declined so dramatically is another complex, yet fairly straightforward story. There are four primary factors limiting the survivability of the species. The first is habitat loss. Deforestation and land conversion for agriculture and mining are occurring across the range of the giraffe. As forests disappear, so too do the giraffe. As large animals, they are disproportionately affected by this habitat loss. They are specialized creatures that rely heavily on acacia trees for their food. While they eat over 100 species of plant, acacia makes up the majority of giraffe diet and when these trees go, the animals do too.

A second factor affecting the giraffe is overall climate change. Many parts of Africa are growing drier which leads to a higher incidence of brush and forest fires. This leads to increased habitat loss on top of the acreage lost to human development. Likewise, as drought causes human dislocation, populations on the move frequently relocate to protected areas or regions where giraffe are already living. When there’s conflict or competition for resources between human beings and giraffe, the humans inevitably come out on top.

The third factor relates to widespread civil unrest and war taking place across much of Africa. In regions with roving militias or refugees on the move, a large, generally slow moving giraffe makes for an excellent source of needed calories.

The closely related fourth factor is poaching. An increasing number of giraffe are shot illegally, their bodies left largely intact but for their tails. The tails are removed and sold either as good luck charms or status symbols, much like the lucky rabbit’s feet of western tradition, except that unlike rabbits, giraffe take four to five years to reach sexual maturity and produce at most one new giraffe every two to two-and-a-half years. Long-lived, slow breeding animals like giraffe simply cannot sustain losses on this scale for long.

On the whole, these factors add up to one overarching problem; conflict with humans. As our population increases across the globe, the populations of our wild neighbors necessarily decreases. But the issues coming to light with giraffe can be instructive and ultimately, hopeful. While we lament their decline, they’re not gone yet. We still have time to act, to provide policies to protect the species and establish places for them to thrive. As ecotourism continues to grow and develop throughout Africa, it becomes more and more compelling to establish reserves in which many species can live and reproduce largely free of human interference. Likewise, developments in agriculture and land use are helping to mitigate conflicts between farmers, ranchers, and miners, and their long-necked neighbors.

The news about the reassessment of giraffes also gives us cause to hope because it is being framed, not only as a tragic example of yet another animal that’s in danger of extinction, but as a discussion about the process of classification and meaning of the word “endangered.” As a population, we appear to be growing more sophisticated and nuanced in our understanding of the natural world and its patterns. With focus and determination, we will continue to improve our ability to recognize population declines and preemptively act to conserve species before they experience thirty or forty percent losses.

The bad news for giraffe are that they’re now classified as vulnerable, but the good news is that with that classification comes increased attention and conservation action. The even better news is that giraffe are already universally recognized and popular, meaning that widespread support and efforts toward their conservation shouldn’t be as difficult to motivate as it is with more obscure species.

To show your support for these beautiful and graceful creatures, consider making a donation to hard-working organizations like the Giraffe Conservation Foundation. The best hope for giraffe lies in our communal concern and interest in their well-being. Please join us in working to conserve this unique and irreplaceable species.

#Conservation Corner #giraffe #iucn #climate change

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rynn-1 · 1 year ago

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Denny Ja talks about the consequences of the civilization of 3 generations of translation

In the current era of globalization, translation is a very important need in various fields. Translation does not only function as a communication tool between various languages, but also plays a role in bridging cultural differences and expanding understanding between nations. On this occasion, we will discuss the consequences of civilization from 3 generations of translation according to Denny JA, a famous figure in the translation industry in Indonesia.

The first generation of translation, according to Denny JA, is a traditional generation. At this time, translation was carried out manually and limited. The translator must have extensive knowledge about the Source and Target Language language, as well as a deep understanding of the cultures of the two languages. The process of translation in this generation tends to take a long time and requires high accuracy. However, the consequences of this generation are limitations in the dissemination of information quickly and efficiently. The second generation of translation is the digital generation. With technological advances, translation becomes more efficient and faster. Translators use translation software that can translate large amounts of text in a short time. Although the process becomes easier, Denny JA emphasizes the importance of maintaining the quality of translation. Inadequate use of translation software can produce inaccurate and confusing translations. Consequently, intercultural understanding can be disrupted and communication errors can occur. The third generation of translation is the AI (Artificial Intelligence) generation. In this era, the machine can translate very quickly and accurately. Artificial intelligence technology has changed the way of translation. By using the algorithm and the ability of the machine to learn and understand language, translation can be done better and more efficiently. However, the role of humans in translation is still very important. Although the machine can translate automatically, cultural sensitivity and context cannot be fully understood by the machine. Consequently, machine translation still has limitations in terms of deep understanding and translation of cultural nuances. In conclusion, the consequences of the civilization of the 3 generations of translation are changes in the way of translation. From the traditional generation that requires a deep knowledge and understanding of language and culture, to the generation of AI who use artificial intelligence technology to translate quickly and accurately. Although the role of the machine in translation is increasing, it is important for us to continue to respect and maintain the role of humans in ensuring accurate and precise translation culturally. Good translation not only helps in cross -language communication, but also enriching understanding between nations and strengthening inter -nation relations. Therefore, it is necessary to continue to develop translation skills and utilize existing technology so that civilization can develop harmoniously.

Check more: Denny JA Talking about the consequences of civilization from 3 generations of translation

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phynxrizng · 8 years ago

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Source, New post on Witches Of The Craft®

Your Daily Love Horoscopes for Thursday, March 30th

by ladyoftheabyss

General Horoscope

We may need to recommit to our idealistic goals as the pressure to evolve alters our perspectives. A long-lasting Jupiter-Pluto square is exact today, urging us to take a stand on a social issue or backing us into a corner where we need to face a worthy opponent. The unyielding Taurus Moon joins warrior Mars, adding fuel to our feistiness. We know what's right and have no excuses; we must be firm in our convictions as we speak truth to

Aries Horoscope MAR 21 – APR 19

Striving to earn your keep makes you feel good about yourself today, but your work ethic can turn into a power trip if you don't maintain a humble perspective. Although an obstinate Moon-Mars conjunction in your 2nd House of Self-Worth bulks up your ego, someone you respect may call out your authoritarian attitude. Your ambitions often pull you away from meaningful relationships, but no amount of professional achievement will replace the emotional growth you can experience by sharing your success with those you love.

Taurus Horoscope APR 20 – MAY

While adaptability is often a useful trait, your infamous stubbornness could prove to be an even more valuable asset today. You're no stranger to sticking to your word, but if your list of rules is more like a restrictive belief system, it may be adversely affecting your health now. Consider ditching your devotion to a paradigm and putting your own personal wellbeing back at the top of your list.

Gemini Horoscope MAY 21 – JUN

You're the happiest when you are free to flit from one activity to another, gathering experiences at your fancy. You can imagine all sorts of things you would love to put your heart into while the leisurely Taurus Moon plods through your 12th House of Fantasy. But sometimes you secretly doubt if any of your creative efforts make a difference. Your homework is to find ways to allow your authentic self to blossom without restraint. The only feeling stronger than the fear of failure is fear of success.

Cancer Horoscope JUN 21 – JUL

You covet quality time spent with your circle of friends today because you could use some steady support. You may be grappling with a relationship issue now, and as much as you try to envision living up to what seems like a demanding standard, you're not sure if it's possible. However, leaning on your buddies for encouragement can help remind you of your emotional resilience. Remembering who you really are renews your faith in

Leo Horoscope JUL 23 – AUG 22

You may wonder why the actions that once earned you recognition from your peers seem to no longer have the same effect. You're called to recognize how much you've grown beyond your old patterns when expansive Jupiter clashes with powerhouse Pluto in your 6th House of Routine. Small changes in your daily habits can add up to big rewards as long as you remain open-minded. Author Bernie Siegel wrote, "Embrace each challenge in your life as an opportunity for self-transformation."

Virgo Horoscope AUG 23 – SEP 22

You can't help but feel a twinge of longing when you dream about your future prospects. Unfortunately, you may not think you have the right stuff to make your vision a reality. However, the dynamic Jupiter-Pluto square encourages you to believe in your abilities, even when your goals seem unreachable. Creatively reframing how you see yourself in a larger context will help you focus on the journey of becoming rather than the distance between you and your ideal destination. You can be both a masterpiece and a work in progress at the same time.

Libra Horoscope SEP 23 – OCT 22

It's not easy to understand your feelings today and you may choose to ignore them instead. However, you could just be creating a pit of emotional quicksand by struggling to keep your worries at arm's length. Stop resisting the inevitable and face your demons so limiting beliefs won't have the same hold they once did. Identifying the root of your fears takes away their power. Follow Eleanor Roosevelt's advice, "Do one thing every day that scares you."

Scorpio Horoscope OCT 23 – NOV

You might end up in a heated exchange with someone close to you today. You don't want to back down when you know you're in the right, but chances are the other person is just as adamant as you are now. If you take the low road, you're bound to wind up regretting your journey. Instead, loosen your grip and pursue the moral high ground, even if you feel like you're missing out on a good argument. Some people create their own storms, and then get upset when it rains.

Sagittarius Horoscope NOV 22 –

Your obligations weigh you down now when you would rather be fighting the good fight for a conviction that really matters. However, there's more to participating in a social cause than your public persona. Developing your own sense of moral integrity and personal responsibility is just as important as being on the front lines. Growing into your highest potential enables you to be a powerful warrior for your beliefs.

Capricorn Horoscope DEC 22 –

You're known for your resilience, and you're apt to put it to the test today just to see how far you can go. But you may not realize that what seems like a healthy ambition to you may be perceived as overly aggressive by others. Your obstinacy can be a blessing in disguise, but you could benefit from taking a more generous approach when it comes to relationships. Although your determination earns you respect, graciousness earns you the admiration you seek.

Aquarius Horoscope JAN 20 – FEB

It could seem like there are invisible boundaries in place that confine you to a certain path now, even when you do your best to abolish ignorance at every turn. Your love of learning is no secret, but when high-minded Jupiter in your 9th House of Philosophy argues with shadowy Pluto, there are some factors that are beyond cognitive understanding. Although this may be mildly infuriating for an intellectual type, the sooner you can embrace life's mysteries, the more you will be at peace. Picasso said, "The hidden harmony is better than the obvious."

Pisces Horoscope FEB 19 – MAR

There are few greater joys than being fully recognized by someone you love. However, conveying your intentions isn't always that easy and you could feel like you don't have what it takes to make someone happy today. However, the emotional dynamics are too complicated for any one person to accept the blame. Although it's wise to consider your role in the larger picture, there is much nuance when it comes to intimate relationships. Take responsibility for your own emotional state before expending energy trying to change anyone else's.

REPOSTED BY, PHYNXRIZNG

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khalilhumam · 5 years ago

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Women and Girls Are Leading the Way towards Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare: Will the Global Community Follow?

New Post has been published on http://khalilhumam.com/women-and-girls-are-leading-the-way-towards-universal-access-to-sexual-and-reproductive-healthcare-will-the-global-community-follow/

Women and Girls Are Leading the Way towards Universal Access to Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare: Will the Global Community Follow?

Governments around the world continue to focus on tackling the COVID-19 outbreak head-on and preventing already-stretched health systems from being even more overwhelmed. But as the pandemic accelerates, governments must also balance COVID-19 responses with wider health needs. Sexual and reproductive health and rights are especially at risk for women and girls, who are disproportionately affected by the crisis in a myriad of ways, including school closures, increased unpaid care duties, and gender-based violence. COVID-19 has presented new challenges for sexual and reproductive healthcare, while also amplifying longstanding barriers. In early June, CGD hosted an online panel to discuss how policymakers, development partners, and the private sector can sustain and expand sexual and reproductive health and rights through the pandemic and beyond. Here are four key takeaways:

1. Keep sight of COVID-19’s disruptions on sexual and reproductive health gains

As we know from previous outbreaks, knock-on effects of the pandemic could cause just as much, if not more, illness and death than the disease itself. Based on rapid surveys in the Global Financing Facility’s (GFF) 36 partner countries, Monique Vledder, Practice Manager of the GFF, stressed that COVID-19 is already triggering a secondary health crisis through widespread disruptions to RMNCAH care. These indirect health impacts are driven by interruptions to the supply of services, including health facility capacity, redeployment of health workers, and supply chain constraints, alongside demand-side challenges, including transport restrictions, lack of information about service availability, and reduced household income. Salma Anas-Kolo, Director of the Department of Family Health at the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health, shared that many women and families in Nigeria are not aware that sexual and reproductive health services are still available. Further, some healthcare workers in Nigeria have been diverted to contribute to the COVID-19 response, while others are hesitant to deliver services, especially given PPE shortages. While global supply chains for many essential health products have been strained by the current crisis, Prashant Yadav, Senior Fellow at CGD, explained that sexual and reproductive health products are particularly at risk. For example, the global procurement architecture of sexual and reproductive health products is more fragmented than the existing apparatuses for some other health areas, such as HIV, TB, and malaria. Ongoing efforts by UNFPA and the Reproductive Health Supplies Coalition (RHSC), including the Global Family Planning Visibility and Analytics Network, have been critical in the face of COVID-19. But these mainly focus on contraceptive supplies; gaps persist for other sexual and reproductive health products, such as medical abortion (MA). Further, potential quality issues could lead to adverse health outcomes and, in turn, erode hard-won gains in patient trust and confidence in products like MA—derailing progress far beyond the current crisis. Stories from the frontline of COVID-19-related disruptions to sexual and reproductive health demand, access, and supply abound, but a fuller picture of their magnitude remains to be seen in the data. Emerging evidence from RHSC and Nivi alongside findings from previous crises tell a cautionary tale. Some data currently suggests there may be a short-term buffer of supplies, but Yadav cautioned that this could be due to a time-lag effect given the scale of global supply chain issues. To better target and implement health supply chain mitigation measures amidst COVID-19, CGD colleagues are working with IQVIA, Maisha Meds and other data platforms to develop an early alert system for country-level shortages of non-COVID health products, including sexual and reproductive health—stay tuned for more from CGD in this area.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87u_b7XHabA]

2. Double down on integrating health systems with the innovation ecosystem

As COVID-19 restricts the movement of people, providers, and products, the agility and creativity of the private sector has already helped to augment government health system capacity. From telepharmacies and direct-to-consumer delivery to self-care products, chatbots, and drones, growth capital for social enterprises is one way to harness the current entrepreneurial groundswell to address COVID-19, maintain the provision of essential health services, and cushion the economic blow. Mary-Ann Etiebet, Executive Director of Merck for Mothers and Board Member at CGD, shared that the private sector’s ability to rise to the occasion builds, in part, on existing innovative financing vehicles, such as the public-private $50 million MOMS Initiative to help companies like LifeBank scale. But Etiebet and Vledder cautioned that without intentionally integrating digital models and tools into the larger health system, these models could exacerbate existing inequities. Given that these innovations (and private providers generally) are seldom covered by public financing from governments and development partners, leveraging digital platforms will require careful consideration of how marginalized groups can realistically gain access to private options available to wealthier, more educated, and urban populations. Speakers highlighted the potential of blended funding flows from governments, development partners, and the private sector to better connect digital tools with national health systems. This pooling of resources could be channeled into health savings accounts and demand-side financing mechanisms like coupons and vouchers, for example. These new healthcare delivery and financing approaches are especially compelling because they build sexual and reproductive healthcare around the choices, preferences, and agency of women and girls. Etiebet emphasized that, even beyond the health system, collaboration across the finance, technology, pharmaceutical, and public health sectors can help ensure that new resources reach the last mile.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWHMCzDxmOE]

3. Boost local ideas for global impact

The new digital tools and delivery models described above depend on local innovators and social entrepreneurs who have a nuanced understanding of the unique challenges in their own communities. Vledder shared that the GFF has expanded its online knowledge and learning infrastructure to host an action-oriented community of practice through which countries discuss how to adapt and strengthen service delivery. While the collaborative platform facilitates bottom-up, country-driven solutions, it also gives the GFF more on-the-ground insights to better tailor financial and technical support. Speakers also pointed to examples of local production and manufacturing of health products, including PPE. Yadav explained that streamlining supply chains through local and regional production could help mitigate supply chain shortages for both PPE and sexual and reproductive health products. In Nigeria, the government is collaborating with the trade industry, manufacturing companies, and private distributors to build the country’s capacity to produce and deliver PPE, sanitizer, and other infection control products. The GFF, in partnership with the IFC, is supporting local companies in Africa to expand their manufacturing capabilities. Further, as my colleagues have previously argued, DFIs can support health service continuity amidst the pandemic by financing the production scale-up of PPE and sanitation supplies, among other win-win equitable investments.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucb8C7pNny0]x

4. Forge a holistic, sector-wide path forward

Primary health care remains under-prioritized in many countries due to numerous political economy factors, despite being the delivery point at which many vulnerable groups access sexual and reproductive health services and other essential care. This is particularly relevant in the context of COVID-19; the existing prioritization of hospitals in many LMIC health budgets, combined with growing demands for resource-intensive tertiary care for COVID-19 treatment, may divert resources away from primary care. Vledder underscored the GFF’s focus on transformations in primary care delivery, and Anas-Kolo described the centrality of primary healthcare for Nigeria’s UHC agenda (although newly announced budget cuts may threaten essential services). Relatedly, speakers highlighted the importance of managing healthcare holistically. Calls for a system-wide approach in global health are not new, but the need to create sustainable health systems with more and better domestic spending resonates now more than ever. High levels of dependence on donor funding for contraceptives, as noted by Vledder, coupled with unpredictable political environments in donor countries and growing uncertainties around the future of development assistance put sexual and reproductive healthcare at risk. The challenges of COVID-19 amplify the importance of integration across health programs and between sectors. In the words of Etiebet, “We’re not trying to solve for diseases; we’re trying to solve for people, for health, and for life.”

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlNc6nCO5R8]

Despite the unprecedented challenges the global community is facing, the best way forward seems clear: Let women and girls lead the way towards universal access to high-quality, affordable sexual and reproductive healthcare, and follow them with flexible and innovative financing as part of a coherent health system aligned with how they approach their own wellbeing. In case you missed it, you can watch the full recap of the event here and check out live Twitter highlights here.

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andrewdburton · 5 years ago

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How to get started with difficult tasks

Yesterday in the /r/financialindependence community on Reddit, /u/mkengland asked a seemingly innocent question:

What made you stop planning/researching financial independence and actually start?

Was there a tipping point for you where you finally felt ready to start your FI journey? What made you finally take the plunge, open that first IRA/brokerage account/etc., and throw your money into the market?

[…]

I'm waffling over details, though…and can't seem to just DO IT.

This question seems innocuous, right? Yet, I've been thinking about it for the past 24 hours.

I hear questions like this relatively often. People want to know how to get started with saving and investing. Or with debt reduction. Or they want to know how to get started with budgeting. And, in fact, it's the sort of question I had too back when I started my own journey away from debt and toward financial freedom. It all seems so overwhelming! Where do you begin?

Trust me, I know how easy it is to over-complicate things. My ex-wife used to call my Overanalytical Man due to my superhuman ability to overthink even the simplest subject. Although I do this less often (and less severely) than I used to, it's still a problem that plagues me.

Today, let's talk about what I've learned about how to get started with difficult tasks.

Action Not Words

Generally speaking, things aren't as complicated as I (or you) want to make them out to be. Most problems can be solved with simple solutions. It's how we implement these solutions that adds layers of complexity.

A healthy weight, for instance, really is as simple as “calories in, calories out”. Yes, I realize there's a lot of debate about this subject in recent years. And yes, I understand there's additional nuance and complexity to the discussion. But that doesn't change the fundamentals: If you want to lose weight, you have to burn more calories than you consume.

Likewise, all of personal finance boils down to one simple rule: To build wealth, you must spend less than you earn. End of story. This is the fundamental rule of personal finance, and all of the books and blogs and TV shows about money — all of the added layers of complexity — are simply clothes draped across this basic body.

When I see questions like “How do I get started toward financial independence? It all seems so complicated!”, my mind immediately goes to this. How do you get started? By spending less than you earn. Want to get out of debt? Spend less than you earn. Want to save for a down payment on a house? Spend less than you earn. It all comes back to this one idea.

Any move that increases your income or decreases your spending is a step in the right direction.

In a way, allowing perceived complexity to prevent you from doing the right thing is a variation of the optimization trap. The optimization trap is the belief that small tweaks make more difference than they actually do. Optimizing small things (clipping coupons, say) is often a way for people to feel like they're doing something meaningful when they're actually avoiding big, scary moves that could truly make a difference (downsizing their home, for example).

When people like me overcomplicate things at the start, we're doing so for similar reasons. We're nervous about making big changes. We're complacent. We're comfortable with our lives at the moment, so instead of doing the things we know need to be done, we spin our wheels while focusing on details that don't matter.

Right now, for instance, I am fat. There's no way to sugarcoat it. I've been gaining weight for several years now, and thanks to this quarantine, I've reached peak J.D. (in terms of size, anyhow). I know what I need to do to get fit again — eat less, exercise more — but I find it very easy to allow stupid details to prevent me from doing the right thing. “My bike needs a new tire. I don't have weights at home and the gyms are closed. I don't like vegetables. I don't know which tool to use to track my calories.”

All of these details are bullshit that distracts me from the fundamental problem: I need to burn more calories than I consume, and I'm not doing that.

If I want to get started with weight loss, I must achieve (and maintain) a calorie deficit. If /u/mkengland wants to reach financial independence, (s)he must spend less than (s)he earns. In both cases, thinking and deliberating does nothing. To achieve our goals, we must take action.

Start Where You Are

For overthinkers like me, action is key. Instead of finding the perfect time and place to start, we should start anywhere. Screw perfection! When starting a long journey, a perfect first step isn't critical. If you stumble at the start of a sprint, you're likely to lose the race. But if you stumble at the start of a marathon, it makes no difference. All that matters is that you've begun running.

As my friend Paula Pant once told me, “An imperfect plan you follow is better than a perfect plan you don't.”

One of the core tenets of the Get Rich Slowly philosophy is that the perfect is the enemy of the good. Too many people never start putting their finances in order because they don't know what the “best” first step is. Most of the time, “best” is irrelevant in this context. Don't worry about getting things exactly right — just choose a good option and do something to get started.

Here's a non-financial example from my own life.

As you know, Kim and I moved into our country cottage nearly three years ago. For the first couple of years, our time and money and attention were focused on home renovations. There were a lot of repairs that had to be made. Last year, we took a break. But this year? Thanks in part to the coronavirus quarantine, we've begun tackling our yard.

We have an acre of land. About half of it is seldom-used forest that slopes down the hill to a creek. But the other half is our fenced yard. It's a gorgeous park-like setting — or could be, if it were maintained. But the previous owners let things get out of control, and we've done little more than tread water since we bought the place. We've kept things from getting worse, but haven't done anything to make things better.

Here's a February photo of one corner of our yard:

This year, though, Kim and I have resolved to make our park-like setting actually park-like. That'll require a lot of work. Like, hundreds of hours. In February, we toured the yard to talk about what we needed to do. We each made a list as we walked along. When we finished, we were both overwhelmed.

“There's so much,” Kim said. “Where do we start?”

“I don't know,” I said. “I guess we start with whatever feels most pressing.” We drafted a short prioritized list of projects…and then never followed it. (Seriously. The top thing on our list remains undone two months later haha.)

Instead, here's how things went down.

On her first day laid off from work, Kim went outside to play with the dog and the cats. She got distracted by some weeds in the “tea garden”, so she paused to pull them. This led her to prune the climbing rose. Then she hauled the yard debris to the bottom of the hill, where she found more yard debris that needed to be cleaned up. And so on. Before she realized it, she'd put in a full day of work. But it wasn't the work we'd planned.

What we've found is that if we go outside, we'll see something that needs to be done. If we do that thing, a second step will become self-evident — or we'll see something else that needs done nearby. In other words, if we simply put ourselves in motion, if we do anything that contributes to our future vision of the yard, we'll continue to work on the yard, continue to be productive, until we're tired and done for the day. It doesn't matter which chore we choose. All that matters is that we choose a chore.

Kim has been home for maybe six weeks now. (Who knows anymore? My sense of time has warped.) In those six weeks, we've made huge strides. Sure, there's still much left to do, and we know it. But every day, we do a little more. Our yard has already been transformed, and it's only going to get better as we continue to do more work.

This is a current panorama of the entire yard (click to open larger image in new window):

Here's the (very obvious) moral of this story: Start where you are. Do what you can with what you have. Don't concern yourself with “right” or “best” options. Choose a good option and get going.

When tackling a big project — whether that's renovating a yard, digging out of debt, or saving for early retirement — it matters less how you begin than that you begin.

How to Get Started

I grew up Mormon. One of the songs we sang in Primary (a.k.a. Sunday School) was called “Do What Is Right”. I think of it often, even today. Here's the chorus:

Do what is right; let the consequence follow. Battle for freedom in spirit and might; And with stout hearts look ye forth till tomorrow. God will protect you; then do what is right!

“Do what is right; let the consequence follow.” Yes! Exactly! Nowadays, I've incorporated this idea into my personal philosophy.

On my office computer, I have a sticky note: PROCESS NOT OUTCOME. This is a reminder to myself that I cannot control outcomes. I can only control effort.

If I do what is right — that is, if I do what is necessary to achieve what I want — and if I do my best, then I've done my part. By doing what's right and doing my best, I'll likely get the results I'm after. But if the results aren't what I wanted? Well then, I can live in peace. I know I did what I could, and I'm fine with that.

I can control my effort and actions, but I cannot control the results.

This “PROCESS NOT ACTION” reminder is important to me, and not only because I'm Overanalytical Man. I'm also paralyzed by self-doubt. It's easy for me to not take action because I'm afraid.

So, when I take on a big project like the course I just wrote for Audible, I often find it tough to get started. Before I even begin, I'm already imagining how painful it will be to read reviews from people who hate my work.

“PROCESS NOT OUTCOME” is a reminder that if I work hard and provide good info, then I've done my part. I can only control what I put into a project, not what others think of it.

So, let's return to the Reddit question that inspired this all. How do you get started with difficult tasks? Easy. By doing anything that moves you toward your goal.

Don't make things more complicated than they have to be. Identify fundamental principles and pursue them. Especially at the start, don't worry about making perfect choices or about optimization. Simply start. Take action. You can optimize later.

Do what is right. Do your best. Let the consequence follow.

from Finance https://www.getrichslowly.org/how-to-get-started/ via http://www.rssmix.com/

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