#efficiently

He died at 37 with empty pockets and no monument.

But every time you put on shoes, you’re stepping into his mind.

Right now.

As you read this.

On your feet.

Most people will never hear his name. And that silence is not accidental.

Because if history told this story honestly, it would have to admit something uncomfortable: that a poor Black immigrant solved one of the greatest industrial problems of the 19th century, changed daily life for millions, and was then allowed to die exhausted, sick, and forgotten while others built fortunes on his brilliance.

This is the story of Jan Ernst Matzeliger—and why his absence from our collective memory says more about America than his invention ever could.

THE PROBLEM NO ONE COULD SOLVE

In the late 1800s, shoes were not cheap necessities. They were luxuries.

A single pair could cost more than a working family earned in a week. Children went barefoot not because leather was rare or because cobblers were greedy, but because shoemaking depended on one brutal bottleneck that no one on Earth had been able to mechanize.

It was called lasting—the process of attaching the upper part of a shoe to its sole.

This step demanded extraordinary precision. Only highly trained craftsmen could do it. They worked from sunrise to sunset and produced about 50 pairs a day. They knew their skill made them untouchable.

Inventors all over Europe and America tried to replace them with machines.

They all failed.

The task was too delicate. Too complex. Too human.

And then a young Black immigrant who barely spoke English decided the problem wasn’t impossible.

A BOY FROM SURINAME WHO LOVED MACHINES

Jan Ernst Matzeliger was born in 1852 in Suriname, then a Dutch colony. His father was Dutch. His mother was Black Surinamese. From a young age, he worked in machine shops and became fascinated by how gears, levers, and cams could be made to work together.

He proved that “impossible” often just means “ignored.”

He came to America with no English, no wealth, and no protection. He taught himself engineering. He outworked skepticism. He solved what the world’s experts could not.

And he paid for it with his health and his life.

His name should be as famous as Edison.

As celebrated as Ford.

As taught as Bell.

It isn’t.

But now you know it.

And once you know, every step feels different.

Jan Ernst Matzeliger.

1852–1889.

We give BVS Lex a lot of shit (mostly with good reason) but I think sometimes people forget he was smart enough and dedicated enough to out think both Batman and Superman, almost to the end.

In fields such as physics and engineering, partial differential equations (PDEs) are used to model complex physical processes to generate insight into how some of the most complicated physical and natural systems in the world function. To solve these difficult equations, researchers use high-fidelity numerical solvers, which can be very time-consuming and computationally expensive to run. The…

Are you feeling overwhelmed with anger? Does it feel like you need a way to release it? Have you ever considered turning that anger into something creative, like writing blog content? It can be a great way to free up your mind and make use of your emotions in a productive way. Whether you’re a professional writer or just starting out, channeling your anger into content writing can be a great way…

source: me <3 (@writingwithacutlass ) please don't copy/repost without permission! :)

hi people! i'm alive! i think! school has been really stressful and time-consuming but midterm exams are over and i have a 3-week break so hopefully I'll be able to post more consistently during that time. moving on from the little life update— here are some tips to help you write more efficiently! i use these methods myself all the time too!

writing sprints

Writing sprints can be a very efficient way to write quickly in short periods of time. Set a timer for anywhere from 5 minutes to half an hour, and write continuously until time is up. Even if you don’t know what to write, write down everything you can find in your mind. You can always take out unnecessary bits later. These sprints can be stressful but they also force your creativity and inspiration. Set attainable goals for yourself, both long-term and short-term!

routine

Create a routine that works for you. If you are most productive from 8pm to 10pm, use that time wisely. Of course most of us have schoolwork and other priorities, so complete the most important responsibility during that time. You might have time left to write, but you probably won’t so you have to make time yourself. Use all your little slots of free time, such as bus rides, to write. Time isn’t gonna make itself, so you have to do it intentionally.

use an outline

Have an outline to guide you as you write. Even pantsers should have some form of outline to guide their story. You’ll need to know the beginning and ending of your story. If you think you’ll be okay without one because you’ll remember it, no you won’t. Write every single detail down somewhere. This includes scene ideas, character details, and important plot points.

don’t edit as you write

This is a common “fatal flaw” when it comes to writing efficiently. Editing as you write slows you down so much, and isn’t actually productive at all. You just get stuck in the same few chapters forever because you’re constantly editing the same few scenes. You’ll be unmotivated to write and won't get anything done. Remember you can edit in the second draft!!

write out of order

Although you shouldn’t wait for inspiration to strike before you write, you should make the best of it when it does happen! Got a random boost of inspiration to write a scene that happens 5 chapters after the chapter you’re currently at? Go ahead and write it. You don’t have to write chronologically! Write scenes whenever you want to and piece them together later.

take care of yourself