What significance would you attribute to chimps "making tools"?
The observation of chimps making spears to hunt with is significant in that it shows us another link to our cousins, as well as a link in our evolution. I find it significant, also, that most often it is the females wearing the inventor's hat. It makes sense that they are the teacher since they are the primary caregivers, but I would have thought they'd be too busy and tired to create stuff. Looking at it from the perspective of efficiency clears up my misconception. Of course they wouldn't want to be chasing after prey, and then having to bash its head in, before bringing home dinner. Sitting outside a tree hollow, spearing for bush babies, maybe with one eye on the kids, would save energy. Maybe we should move back to a matriarchal society. Although, it did also seem a pretty violent way to "catch" dinner. Maybe not when you compare it to chase and bash, though.
Giant Toads and Colossal Squid, What next?
I loved 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. Thinking of giant, pre-historic type creatures living in the deep ocean is exciting and terrifying. The unknown is usually scary, but it is nice to think that there are some creatures who have avoided contact with us and are doing just fine. I wonder if we will ever find a unicorn? Probably not pure enough for that...
Friday, August 1, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Week 11
Laughter, the best medicine!
I believe it. Happiness and joy have to be great for you. Laughter rejuvenates the spirit, moves stagnation, allows the clear yang to rise, and calms the spirit when you're through. I'm adding it to my family's diet!
Carbon Offsets
These seem weird to me. So, you let someone keep polluting because someone else isn't? How do we decrease pollution, then? We don't want to maintain the place we are at now. I guess it's nice for the non-polluters because they can make some scrilla offsetting the baddies. This is definitely a short-term solution. The polluters need to reign it in.
The Global Crisis in Diet
I think hydrogenated oils should be outlawed, as well additives like MSG. I don't think companies that make unhealthy foods should be allowed to direct advertising towards children. Nor should they be allowed to sell those foods at schools.
Aura
wow, colors!
my overall color sign was green/yellow. Green is the color of healing and yellow is the color of the intellect. My closest planet is Mercury, whose vibration is analyzing and observing. I have a predominance of yin, though not by much.
green/yellow crown, third eye, right side (expression), and solar plexus: growth, change, healing, joy, intellect, warmth and sunshine, optimistic, thoughtful, practical, transformational process, spontaneous, playful
turquoise left side/future: communication, intuition, change, new learning, peaceful receptivity
gold throat: joyful expression, contagious/inspiring excitement, felt by others around me
yellow/green heart: balanced, compassionate, caring, desires the best for everyone, fun, charming, optimistic, humorous, powerful and commanding presence, proud heart, desire to be looked up to.
yellow sex, root: happiness, sense of humor, need fun and creativity, carefree, lucky
wow, i sound pretty good, don't i?
I believe it. Happiness and joy have to be great for you. Laughter rejuvenates the spirit, moves stagnation, allows the clear yang to rise, and calms the spirit when you're through. I'm adding it to my family's diet!
Carbon Offsets
These seem weird to me. So, you let someone keep polluting because someone else isn't? How do we decrease pollution, then? We don't want to maintain the place we are at now. I guess it's nice for the non-polluters because they can make some scrilla offsetting the baddies. This is definitely a short-term solution. The polluters need to reign it in.
The Global Crisis in Diet
I think hydrogenated oils should be outlawed, as well additives like MSG. I don't think companies that make unhealthy foods should be allowed to direct advertising towards children. Nor should they be allowed to sell those foods at schools.
Aura
wow, colors!
my overall color sign was green/yellow. Green is the color of healing and yellow is the color of the intellect. My closest planet is Mercury, whose vibration is analyzing and observing. I have a predominance of yin, though not by much.
green/yellow crown, third eye, right side (expression), and solar plexus: growth, change, healing, joy, intellect, warmth and sunshine, optimistic, thoughtful, practical, transformational process, spontaneous, playful
turquoise left side/future: communication, intuition, change, new learning, peaceful receptivity
gold throat: joyful expression, contagious/inspiring excitement, felt by others around me
yellow/green heart: balanced, compassionate, caring, desires the best for everyone, fun, charming, optimistic, humorous, powerful and commanding presence, proud heart, desire to be looked up to.
yellow sex, root: happiness, sense of humor, need fun and creativity, carefree, lucky
wow, i sound pretty good, don't i?
Friday, July 11, 2008
week 10: Bison and Breasts
How would I prioritize the reintroduction of the American Bison?
Well, the Mid-West sure would be more exciting if it were filled with bison. Of course, more tourism means more impact. It seems very important to give them a large area to roam free in. I could see the highway signs, now: CAUTION: Bison Crossing. A switch from beef to buffalo seems healthier; I just wouldn't want them to turn into another victim of factory farming.
Also, giving Native Americans an integral piece of their history back is important. Poverty and malnutrition are common hardships on reservations. Bison would provide income and food, as well as history, spiritualism and pride. Supporting these values and lifestyles may be important for teaching the rest of our community how to live with our environment sustainably.
"New Pill Promises to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk"
Not having a period is not natural. If there is one thing I've learned in this graduate program, it's that women need to have their periods. Having this cycle allows us to move out stagnation monthly. TCM views breast cancer as a form of Qi, Phlegm, and Blood stasis and stagnation. Stopping periods may alter the hormone axis, but will not help regulate our Qi and Blood. Better off having women get weekly acupuncture and practice Qi Gong. What is the big deal with getting your period, anyway?! I realize there is PMS, cramps, etc. But, TCM can help with all of that. Let's not have periods, then wonder why we have trouble getting pregnant, and then get the epidural or the c-section, etc. Let's disconnect from our bodies the way we have from the environment, our food, our communities, etc. Yes, great idea.
Well, the Mid-West sure would be more exciting if it were filled with bison. Of course, more tourism means more impact. It seems very important to give them a large area to roam free in. I could see the highway signs, now: CAUTION: Bison Crossing. A switch from beef to buffalo seems healthier; I just wouldn't want them to turn into another victim of factory farming.
Also, giving Native Americans an integral piece of their history back is important. Poverty and malnutrition are common hardships on reservations. Bison would provide income and food, as well as history, spiritualism and pride. Supporting these values and lifestyles may be important for teaching the rest of our community how to live with our environment sustainably.
"New Pill Promises to Reduce Breast Cancer Risk"
Not having a period is not natural. If there is one thing I've learned in this graduate program, it's that women need to have their periods. Having this cycle allows us to move out stagnation monthly. TCM views breast cancer as a form of Qi, Phlegm, and Blood stasis and stagnation. Stopping periods may alter the hormone axis, but will not help regulate our Qi and Blood. Better off having women get weekly acupuncture and practice Qi Gong. What is the big deal with getting your period, anyway?! I realize there is PMS, cramps, etc. But, TCM can help with all of that. Let's not have periods, then wonder why we have trouble getting pregnant, and then get the epidural or the c-section, etc. Let's disconnect from our bodies the way we have from the environment, our food, our communities, etc. Yes, great idea.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
week 9: Deep Ecology's 8 point platform
yes, hallelujah! and because i believe, i need to keep acting and spread the word!
Week 9: The End Goals of Social Ecology
Social Ecology sees humankind's treatment of the environment as a direct result of our belief's about ourselves, our values, our laws, our ideas, and our technologies. The desire for world domination (mwaahahaha) and the drive to populate it, conflicts between races, countries, genders, the capitalistic drive for cash monies above all else, etc., all lead to our problems in the environment. The solution or end goal would be to have humankind have an epiphany and start treating each other with respect and love. By caring about one another, we would naturally also take care of our home.
Week 9: Ecosystems are both strong and fragile
The strength of an ecosystem, generally, comes from the many and varied elements that compose the system. It is the strength of a web. The fragility comes from the fact that each strand relies on its neighbors/co-workers. If one strand is out of balance, it puts a strain on the rest of the system. Sometimes that strain can be born until homeostasis returns. Other times, the structure must go through radical change, which can mean the destruction of many of its elements, as well as the possiblity of new ones.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
week 8
Can TCM strengthen our immune system?
I think everyone knows the answer to that: yes, in many different ways. Acupuncture reduces stress and regulates qi and blood. Since stress suppresses our immune function, this is one way the system can be brought back up to do its job. Also, we can strengthen the Wei Qi/Protective Qi, with acupuncture and formulas such as Jade Windscreen/Yu Ping Feng San. I have helped several people with hay fever reduce their symptoms by more than half with this formula. Also by focusing on a person's constitutional weakness, or the root of their ailments, we can strengthen the overall system. One general way that is good for most people is direct moxa on either ST36 or LI4.
The Western Approach to HIV/AIDS
My feelings about the Western approach to HIV/AIDS is similar to my feelings about Western Medicine, generally. I think that there are people who are trying to figure this thing out, diagnostically and pharmaceutically, and there are people who want to make money from it. There are always going to be those doctors who don't recommend TCM or other alternative modalities, but more and more, we are seeing patients come to us for help. Sometimes, it's because of a doctor recommendation and sometimes they are seeking help through their own volition. I have a friend, as I said in class, who lived in a village in Botswana for two years doing outreach, prevention, and education about HIV/AIDS at a clinic, with the focus on women's health. She was trying to educate, but it sounds like mostly it was about handing out meds. I also have another friend who is finishing her training to be a (volunteer) test counselor for HIV/AIDS patients at a local clinic. The links she suggested:
http://www.thebody.com/
http://www.berkeleyfreeclinic.org/hivPrevention.html
Saving the Whales
This story reminds me of one I just read about in my Lonely Planet Laos book. In the village of Ban Na (600 people), the farmers switched from rice and vegetables to sugar cane (a more profitable crop). A herd of wild elephants came down from the mountains and started eating their tasty crops, along with the bananas and pineapples they found around Ban Na. The farmers went back to rice and vegetables, but the 30 or so elephants didn't leave. And their presence was negatively affecting the environment and finances of the village. Rather than shoot the elephants, the villagers decided to make them pay their way. Ecotourism. Tourists can take a guided trek to an observation tower near a favorite salt lick of the elephants and stay overnight in hopes of spotting the herd. Making animals pay their way, an interesting concept...
I think everyone knows the answer to that: yes, in many different ways. Acupuncture reduces stress and regulates qi and blood. Since stress suppresses our immune function, this is one way the system can be brought back up to do its job. Also, we can strengthen the Wei Qi/Protective Qi, with acupuncture and formulas such as Jade Windscreen/Yu Ping Feng San. I have helped several people with hay fever reduce their symptoms by more than half with this formula. Also by focusing on a person's constitutional weakness, or the root of their ailments, we can strengthen the overall system. One general way that is good for most people is direct moxa on either ST36 or LI4.
The Western Approach to HIV/AIDS
My feelings about the Western approach to HIV/AIDS is similar to my feelings about Western Medicine, generally. I think that there are people who are trying to figure this thing out, diagnostically and pharmaceutically, and there are people who want to make money from it. There are always going to be those doctors who don't recommend TCM or other alternative modalities, but more and more, we are seeing patients come to us for help. Sometimes, it's because of a doctor recommendation and sometimes they are seeking help through their own volition. I have a friend, as I said in class, who lived in a village in Botswana for two years doing outreach, prevention, and education about HIV/AIDS at a clinic, with the focus on women's health. She was trying to educate, but it sounds like mostly it was about handing out meds. I also have another friend who is finishing her training to be a (volunteer) test counselor for HIV/AIDS patients at a local clinic. The links she suggested:
http://www.thebody.com/
http://www.berkeleyfreeclinic.org/hivPrevention.html
Saving the Whales
This story reminds me of one I just read about in my Lonely Planet Laos book. In the village of Ban Na (600 people), the farmers switched from rice and vegetables to sugar cane (a more profitable crop). A herd of wild elephants came down from the mountains and started eating their tasty crops, along with the bananas and pineapples they found around Ban Na. The farmers went back to rice and vegetables, but the 30 or so elephants didn't leave. And their presence was negatively affecting the environment and finances of the village. Rather than shoot the elephants, the villagers decided to make them pay their way. Ecotourism. Tourists can take a guided trek to an observation tower near a favorite salt lick of the elephants and stay overnight in hopes of spotting the herd. Making animals pay their way, an interesting concept...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)