No Day Shall Erase You from the Memory of Time
~Virgil~
On the way to visit the Memorial and Museum at the World Trade Center site in lower Manhattan, I thought back to where I was and what I was doing at the time of the attack. Ironically, I was waiting for my financial adviser to arrive for an appointment to review my investments.
I had little idea what to expect when I arrived at the memorial. The last image I had seen of the site was years ago when the building foundations were still being excavated. On a recent trip to New York, I saw the top of the 1 World Trade Center building rising from the skyline in the distance.
I recalled my last visit to the site in the 1980's. I attended a psychologist training session on the 43rd floor overlooking the Hudson River, The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. The drapes had to be closed so we could concentrate on the proceedings rather than the view.
When I arrived at the site, I had my first glimpse of the reflecting pools surrounded by many beautiful trees. I knew of only one woman who died in the attack and found her name inscribed in a bronze parapet surrounding one of the pools along with the names of all the others who died in the attacks or as rescue workers.
The museum reception building stands near the reflecting pools while the exhibits lie below them in the original footprints of the two towers. The museum shows the retaining walls as they have been since the towers were erected. Graphic reminders of the intensity of the destruction abound including a fire engine melted in the blaze. Throughout the museum are photos, videos and audio recordings of building the World Trade Center, the plots to attack the towers, the Pentagon and the fate of Flight 93, diverted by passengers from attacking a site in Washington.
Most poignant to me were recordings of workers trapped in the two towers and passengers on Flight 93. I imagined how I would feel in their position. I wonder whether I would be able to formulate any meaningful words in their situation.
The recordings I heard were all calm and considered. They consisted of phone calls to loved ones and assured those they cared for of their gratitude for their time together and that they would always be loved. I found this the most touching part of my visit. Before they died, I think that all of them knew that terrorist attacks had brought them to the point of death. Yet I did not hear one word of anger or blame. Instead they spent their last moments cherishing their thoughts of their loved ones. I will always keep this as the most treasured memory of my visit.
Life Lab Lessons
What do you think will be your last thought before dying?
What has been wonderful about your life so far?
Who are the people you most treasure?
Have you told them why they are so special to you?
If not, what are you waiting for
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8793515
Thursday, 3 March 2016
5 Practical Tips to Survive Cyberbullying Without Breaking Up With Social Media
Last Friday I got a call from a friend in tears, apparently someone has made a fake Facebook account using her photos and has been sending sexually explicit messages to her friends on Facebook. We later contacted Facebook help center and got it resolved. I was wondering if this is the new form of bullying. Bullying via Social Media?
We all remember Amanda Todd, the British Columbia teenager who was sexually exploited online and cyberbullied who ended up killing herself at the age of 15. Everybody has experienced some form of bullying in their lives; most people used to encounter bullying in high school or at the playground. Today, with the rise of the Internet and the Social Media era, people are being bullied and often sexually exploited online. Many of these cases go unheard and many end with self-harm. Cyberbullying could range from minor annoyances to life threats or sexual harassments.
Cyberbullying: Bullying in the Social Media Era
How many friends do you have on your personal Facebook /Instagram /Twitter /Google+ accounts? How well do you know them? Anyone of any age or gender can become a victim of cyberbullying.
So, here are some safety measures for all the Social Media Aficionados out there:
It's time to change your privacy settings
Social Media channels like Facebook has billions of users, who are actively sharing photos, videos and posting updates. That selfie you took in the bathroom could reach everyone on the internet and be used in despicable ways unless you limit the audience. For instance if you have set your Facebook information to "public", anything you may share can reach anyone online.
Here are the 4 privacy settings available on Facebook
Public: Anyone on or off Facebook (Not recommended)
Friends: Your Facebook friends
Only me: Only you can see what you have posted
Custom: Gives access to a selective audience of your choice.
Who are you connecting with?
Having 500+ friends/followers is not considered COOL anymore, Quality triumphs Quantity.
Keep in mind that the quality of your social connections rather than the quantity of connections will make your online experience a pleasant one. That stranger that added you on Facebook last week may look harmless and friendly, but apart from that what do you know about them? Fake profiles are mushrooming on Social Media as you read this. That cute guy you added the other day could be a 60 year old ex con! So be smart and make sure you know the person well when you are befriending them online and YES your mum was correct "Don't speak to strangers". Take some time to unfriend those suspicious accounts that you added some time ago. Remember if you're being bullied by an online friend, go ahead and block them or delete them from your friend's list.
Who are you sharing with
YOLO (You Only Live Once) right? But things that you post online will stay there forever. It will be a too little too late when you realize that posting personal pictures and information was a bad idea. You have all the right to post whatever you feel like on your profile. But use your common sense and make sure that what you post is not going to haunt you later on. Make use of the privacy settings and select the best audience you wish to see your updates.
People are willing to help.
You may feel that you are all alone on this, and perhaps too embarrassed to tell anyone that this is happening to you. Cyberbullying could go on forever if you keep your mouth shut about it. Talk to someone who can help you, they may have some valuable advice that could support you. After all it's good to have someone to back you up.
Social Networking is fun but... Remember
If you are a victim of cyberbullying:
Take a screenshot of all the messages, comments and posts.
Keep all the details and timelines of the bully.
Talk to someone about it, you are not alone.
Most importantly do not get into any arguments with them online, and do not reply to their messages.
Social Media has become one of the utmost important parts of our day today activities as it facilitates us to communicate and build our online presence across the world. However the outcome of using social media with no safety measures could cost someone their life. Being cyberbullied is painful, often embarrassing and you may even think it's not a big deal, but it is important to remember that you are not alone and you have the power to put a STOP to it.
What are you doing to ensure your safety online? Please take time to address these safety measures just like you would do to protect your own home from intruders.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8789831
We all remember Amanda Todd, the British Columbia teenager who was sexually exploited online and cyberbullied who ended up killing herself at the age of 15. Everybody has experienced some form of bullying in their lives; most people used to encounter bullying in high school or at the playground. Today, with the rise of the Internet and the Social Media era, people are being bullied and often sexually exploited online. Many of these cases go unheard and many end with self-harm. Cyberbullying could range from minor annoyances to life threats or sexual harassments.
Cyberbullying: Bullying in the Social Media Era
How many friends do you have on your personal Facebook /Instagram /Twitter /Google+ accounts? How well do you know them? Anyone of any age or gender can become a victim of cyberbullying.
So, here are some safety measures for all the Social Media Aficionados out there:
It's time to change your privacy settings
Social Media channels like Facebook has billions of users, who are actively sharing photos, videos and posting updates. That selfie you took in the bathroom could reach everyone on the internet and be used in despicable ways unless you limit the audience. For instance if you have set your Facebook information to "public", anything you may share can reach anyone online.
Here are the 4 privacy settings available on Facebook
Public: Anyone on or off Facebook (Not recommended)
Friends: Your Facebook friends
Only me: Only you can see what you have posted
Custom: Gives access to a selective audience of your choice.
Who are you connecting with?
Having 500+ friends/followers is not considered COOL anymore, Quality triumphs Quantity.
Keep in mind that the quality of your social connections rather than the quantity of connections will make your online experience a pleasant one. That stranger that added you on Facebook last week may look harmless and friendly, but apart from that what do you know about them? Fake profiles are mushrooming on Social Media as you read this. That cute guy you added the other day could be a 60 year old ex con! So be smart and make sure you know the person well when you are befriending them online and YES your mum was correct "Don't speak to strangers". Take some time to unfriend those suspicious accounts that you added some time ago. Remember if you're being bullied by an online friend, go ahead and block them or delete them from your friend's list.
Who are you sharing with
YOLO (You Only Live Once) right? But things that you post online will stay there forever. It will be a too little too late when you realize that posting personal pictures and information was a bad idea. You have all the right to post whatever you feel like on your profile. But use your common sense and make sure that what you post is not going to haunt you later on. Make use of the privacy settings and select the best audience you wish to see your updates.
People are willing to help.
You may feel that you are all alone on this, and perhaps too embarrassed to tell anyone that this is happening to you. Cyberbullying could go on forever if you keep your mouth shut about it. Talk to someone who can help you, they may have some valuable advice that could support you. After all it's good to have someone to back you up.
Social Networking is fun but... Remember
If you are a victim of cyberbullying:
Take a screenshot of all the messages, comments and posts.
Keep all the details and timelines of the bully.
Talk to someone about it, you are not alone.
Most importantly do not get into any arguments with them online, and do not reply to their messages.
Social Media has become one of the utmost important parts of our day today activities as it facilitates us to communicate and build our online presence across the world. However the outcome of using social media with no safety measures could cost someone their life. Being cyberbullied is painful, often embarrassing and you may even think it's not a big deal, but it is important to remember that you are not alone and you have the power to put a STOP to it.
What are you doing to ensure your safety online? Please take time to address these safety measures just like you would do to protect your own home from intruders.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8789831
Why Values Change As We Age
Values can and do change. They are shaped by our lived experiences, changing and evolving as we age, gain experience and are exposed to new situations.
A variety of factors can impact our values, including age, family, friends, culture, media, education, career, peer groups, and social movements. Each of these factors can and do shape, mold and change our individual values over the course of a lifetime.
Evolution is natural and this applies to values, too. Though many of our core values remain stable over time, shifts in thinking and therefore in values can occur based upon historical events, culture, experience, and the life stages through which we all must pass.
Historical Events and Values
The time frames in which we were born and live impact our values. Historical events, economic climates and technological trends can each dramatically impact values not only during adolescent years, but also throughout our lifetime. People who grew up during the same eras often share similar values.
People raised during the Great Depression, for example, may well have placed more emphasis on minimizing waste, while focusing on saving money, often giving more attention to the extended family than later, more consumer-oriented generations. Those who have lived through dramatic shifts in government leadership or wars may place greater emphasis on freedom and democracy.
Exposure to such global events or shifts in values may not always impact on a person's values; however, shared values and shifts in values among people who lived during specific time frames or global events are often noticeable.
Cultures and Values
Where we were born and live can and does impact our values. Geography, religion, and cultural background can each impart a set of individual values at birth and throughout our lives. Travel increases our exposure to new cultures and fresh ideas. As we age and gain exposure to new environments and cultures, our value system may automatically shift.
Life Stages and Values
Throughout our lifetime, we pass through a variety of 'life stages': infancy, childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, mid-life and later years/retirement. As we age, our lifestyle changes; friends, relationships and even the environment in which we live all may alter. Each of these changes contribute to shifts or modifications in our value system.
In early adulthood, we are often focused on building our careers and finding our place in society. Demands for achievement, both professionally and personally, may well be substantial during this time frame.
During the mid-life years, emphases on family often takes precedence as children age and are potentially having children of their own. We may be nearing or have reached our peak earning years professionally and are often shifting our focus on preservation rather than accumulation. We may well find ourselves taking fewer risks during this life stage.
As we get older, many of the things that we previously placed importance on become less important. Likewise, things that we did not recognize as important can take on greater relevance, becoming more important over time.
During the later years and in retirement, our focus often shifts to preservation, security, family and legacy planning. These golden years can see a burst of leisure activities, as well as periods of reflection and meditation.
Our perception and our values are influenced and modified during each of these life stages.
Life Experiences and Values
The experiences we pass through influence our values, strengthening, weakening or modifying them. The friendships and relationships we establish, the delights and difficulties we encounter, all play their part in this process.
Religious organizations, professional groups, and other organized shared institutions can increase the importance we place on particular values; sense of community, giving to others, shared connections.
Extrinsic motivations can be strengthened through participation in organized sports during childhood or adolescence and competitive work environments throughout adulthood.
Continued exposure to marketing methods and advertizing can impact on our sense of materialism, lending an enhanced attachment to physical objects and affecting our values.
An over dependence on technology (i.e. smart phones, tablets, computers, television, video games) can weaken the value we place on our connections with others.
Our value systems are not static. They are dynamic. While not all of our fundamental values will see dramatic changes or shifts over the course of our lifetime, life experiences, the environment in which we reside, cultures that we are exposed to and our general course of life can all contribute to shifts in our core values.
Recognizing that our values can and do change, and understanding this process, may well be key to living the balanced, meaningful life that is the birthright of each one of us.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8805281
A variety of factors can impact our values, including age, family, friends, culture, media, education, career, peer groups, and social movements. Each of these factors can and do shape, mold and change our individual values over the course of a lifetime.
Evolution is natural and this applies to values, too. Though many of our core values remain stable over time, shifts in thinking and therefore in values can occur based upon historical events, culture, experience, and the life stages through which we all must pass.
Historical Events and Values
The time frames in which we were born and live impact our values. Historical events, economic climates and technological trends can each dramatically impact values not only during adolescent years, but also throughout our lifetime. People who grew up during the same eras often share similar values.
People raised during the Great Depression, for example, may well have placed more emphasis on minimizing waste, while focusing on saving money, often giving more attention to the extended family than later, more consumer-oriented generations. Those who have lived through dramatic shifts in government leadership or wars may place greater emphasis on freedom and democracy.
Exposure to such global events or shifts in values may not always impact on a person's values; however, shared values and shifts in values among people who lived during specific time frames or global events are often noticeable.
Cultures and Values
Where we were born and live can and does impact our values. Geography, religion, and cultural background can each impart a set of individual values at birth and throughout our lives. Travel increases our exposure to new cultures and fresh ideas. As we age and gain exposure to new environments and cultures, our value system may automatically shift.
Life Stages and Values
Throughout our lifetime, we pass through a variety of 'life stages': infancy, childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, mid-life and later years/retirement. As we age, our lifestyle changes; friends, relationships and even the environment in which we live all may alter. Each of these changes contribute to shifts or modifications in our value system.
In early adulthood, we are often focused on building our careers and finding our place in society. Demands for achievement, both professionally and personally, may well be substantial during this time frame.
During the mid-life years, emphases on family often takes precedence as children age and are potentially having children of their own. We may be nearing or have reached our peak earning years professionally and are often shifting our focus on preservation rather than accumulation. We may well find ourselves taking fewer risks during this life stage.
As we get older, many of the things that we previously placed importance on become less important. Likewise, things that we did not recognize as important can take on greater relevance, becoming more important over time.
During the later years and in retirement, our focus often shifts to preservation, security, family and legacy planning. These golden years can see a burst of leisure activities, as well as periods of reflection and meditation.
Our perception and our values are influenced and modified during each of these life stages.
Life Experiences and Values
The experiences we pass through influence our values, strengthening, weakening or modifying them. The friendships and relationships we establish, the delights and difficulties we encounter, all play their part in this process.
Religious organizations, professional groups, and other organized shared institutions can increase the importance we place on particular values; sense of community, giving to others, shared connections.
Extrinsic motivations can be strengthened through participation in organized sports during childhood or adolescence and competitive work environments throughout adulthood.
Continued exposure to marketing methods and advertizing can impact on our sense of materialism, lending an enhanced attachment to physical objects and affecting our values.
An over dependence on technology (i.e. smart phones, tablets, computers, television, video games) can weaken the value we place on our connections with others.
Our value systems are not static. They are dynamic. While not all of our fundamental values will see dramatic changes or shifts over the course of our lifetime, life experiences, the environment in which we reside, cultures that we are exposed to and our general course of life can all contribute to shifts in our core values.
Recognizing that our values can and do change, and understanding this process, may well be key to living the balanced, meaningful life that is the birthright of each one of us.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8805281
Civic Education, Politics, and an Uninformed Populace
Certain dates are standouts, like February 14, October 31, and December 25. But what about September 17? It should be a standout, too, but it's not. In fact, most of us don't give the date a second thought; we certainly should, though. That's because it's not just another day; it's Constitution day, set aside by Congress back in 1952 to foster civic engagement.
To institutionalize the day, back in 2005, Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia promoted legislation that would mandate recognition of Constitution Day in all schools and colleges that receive federal monies. Unfortunately, six years later, Congress stripped civic-education funding, and that, says Education Week's Ross Brenneman, sent the message that civics is important, but not worth federal dollars.
And so it goes.
As a people we are sorely uniformed about American history and the workings of our government. Indeed, many are not even sure who our current leaders are--with one exception. Not surprisingly, Obama enjoys big name recognition, since he's been president for almost six years and frequently crisscrosses the country campaigning and fundraising. Moreover, our new health care program's nickname bears his name.
But what about second-in-command Joe Biden?
That's exactly what late-night show host Jimmy Kimmel recently asked some folks on Hollywood Boulevard. One girl suggested he might be a man; a few others said they'd seen him in movies. Another identified him as a Republican who is set to run for president, while a couple more seem to think he's a governor. It went downhill from there.
Afterward, The Huffington Post responded with the headline, "Jimmy Kimmel Hilariously Proves Americans Don't Know Who Joe Biden Is." Laughable and shameful, too. Meanwhile, a 2010 Pew Research Center found that only 59% of us know he's the vice-president-a failing grade if ever there were one.
As for the Constitution, in September, theAnnenberg Public Policy Center asked 1,416 adults questions about the government. The result:
36% could name all three branches of government; 27% couldn't name any.
27% knew it takes a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate to override a presidential veto.
21% incorrectly thought a 5-4 Supreme Court decision goes back to Congress for reconsideration.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. One glance at the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress civics exam suggests that our children are clueless, too, constitutionally and governmentally speaking. Here you go:
27% of 4th graders scored at the proficient level orbetter;
22% of 8th graders scored at the proficient level or better;
24% of 12th graders scored at the proficient level or better.
Explains retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor: "Knowledge of our system of government is not handed down through the gene pool. The habits of citizenship must be learned... But we have neglected civic education for the past several decades, and the results are predictably dismal."
That sentiment is seconded by Citizen First's Robert Pendiscio who says, "We send kids to school not just to become employees and entrepreneurs, but citizens capable of wise and effective self-government in our democracy. The public dimension of schooling was a founding principle of American education. We have all but forgotten it in the era of education overhaul."
That, too, is the reason Justice O'Connor founded iCivics.org. Its purpose: "Reinvigorating civic learning through interactive and engaging learning resources. Our educational resources empower teachers and prepare the next generation of students to become knowledgeable and engaged citizens."
Meanwhile, in 2013, the Civics Education Initiative was formed with support from Justice O'Connor, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and even actor Joe Mantegna. Its mission is to get all 50 states to require that their high schoolers take and pass the 100-question U.S. Naturalization Test. And they're starting to gain some ground.
So far, seven states are considering legislation that, though not a requirement, would reward students who take the test. As it stands, those scoring at least a 60% would see a yet-to-be-determined uptick in their grade point averages. Those states are:
Arizona
Louisiana
Missouri
Oklahoma
South Carolina
South Dakota
Vermont
FYI: 91% of those seeking citizenship pass the exam. Here are a few sample question to test your own civics knowledge:
What is the supreme law of the land?
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
How many U.S. Senators are there?
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
We elect a United States Representative for how many years?
To check your answers, go to the Naturalization Test on U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services website. And then do one better. Get yourself a copy of the Constitution; you can pick one up at your local bookstore or head to Amazon or Barnes & Nobel online. Then read, learn, and talk it up with your kids, friends and neighbors, too.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8811469
To institutionalize the day, back in 2005, Senator Robert C. Byrd of West Virginia promoted legislation that would mandate recognition of Constitution Day in all schools and colleges that receive federal monies. Unfortunately, six years later, Congress stripped civic-education funding, and that, says Education Week's Ross Brenneman, sent the message that civics is important, but not worth federal dollars.
And so it goes.
As a people we are sorely uniformed about American history and the workings of our government. Indeed, many are not even sure who our current leaders are--with one exception. Not surprisingly, Obama enjoys big name recognition, since he's been president for almost six years and frequently crisscrosses the country campaigning and fundraising. Moreover, our new health care program's nickname bears his name.
But what about second-in-command Joe Biden?
That's exactly what late-night show host Jimmy Kimmel recently asked some folks on Hollywood Boulevard. One girl suggested he might be a man; a few others said they'd seen him in movies. Another identified him as a Republican who is set to run for president, while a couple more seem to think he's a governor. It went downhill from there.
Afterward, The Huffington Post responded with the headline, "Jimmy Kimmel Hilariously Proves Americans Don't Know Who Joe Biden Is." Laughable and shameful, too. Meanwhile, a 2010 Pew Research Center found that only 59% of us know he's the vice-president-a failing grade if ever there were one.
As for the Constitution, in September, theAnnenberg Public Policy Center asked 1,416 adults questions about the government. The result:
36% could name all three branches of government; 27% couldn't name any.
27% knew it takes a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate to override a presidential veto.
21% incorrectly thought a 5-4 Supreme Court decision goes back to Congress for reconsideration.
And that's just the tip of the iceberg. One glance at the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress civics exam suggests that our children are clueless, too, constitutionally and governmentally speaking. Here you go:
27% of 4th graders scored at the proficient level orbetter;
22% of 8th graders scored at the proficient level or better;
24% of 12th graders scored at the proficient level or better.
Explains retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor: "Knowledge of our system of government is not handed down through the gene pool. The habits of citizenship must be learned... But we have neglected civic education for the past several decades, and the results are predictably dismal."
That sentiment is seconded by Citizen First's Robert Pendiscio who says, "We send kids to school not just to become employees and entrepreneurs, but citizens capable of wise and effective self-government in our democracy. The public dimension of schooling was a founding principle of American education. We have all but forgotten it in the era of education overhaul."
That, too, is the reason Justice O'Connor founded iCivics.org. Its purpose: "Reinvigorating civic learning through interactive and engaging learning resources. Our educational resources empower teachers and prepare the next generation of students to become knowledgeable and engaged citizens."
Meanwhile, in 2013, the Civics Education Initiative was formed with support from Justice O'Connor, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and even actor Joe Mantegna. Its mission is to get all 50 states to require that their high schoolers take and pass the 100-question U.S. Naturalization Test. And they're starting to gain some ground.
So far, seven states are considering legislation that, though not a requirement, would reward students who take the test. As it stands, those scoring at least a 60% would see a yet-to-be-determined uptick in their grade point averages. Those states are:
Arizona
Louisiana
Missouri
Oklahoma
South Carolina
South Dakota
Vermont
FYI: 91% of those seeking citizenship pass the exam. Here are a few sample question to test your own civics knowledge:
What is the supreme law of the land?
The idea of self-government is in the first three words of the Constitution. What are these words?
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution?
What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment?
How many amendments does the Constitution have?
What stops one branch of government from becoming too powerful?
Who is in charge of the executive branch?
How many U.S. Senators are there?
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years?
The House of Representatives has how many voting members?
We elect a United States Representative for how many years?
To check your answers, go to the Naturalization Test on U.S. Citizenship and Immigrations Services website. And then do one better. Get yourself a copy of the Constitution; you can pick one up at your local bookstore or head to Amazon or Barnes & Nobel online. Then read, learn, and talk it up with your kids, friends and neighbors, too.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8811469
Everything You Believe Is Wrong!
This house of cards we refer to as our society's current belief system is crumbling. The cloak of deception upon which that belief system is based is unraveling. Everything you've been told, believe and accept to be true about many aspects of reality is being challenged and exposed as simply false and wrong.
Priests are being exposed as predators. Politicians are being exposed as agenda-driven individualists rather than selfless public servants. Everything we believe is "progress" is unsustainable and is propelling our planet towards extinction. Everything you believe is "medicine" is often a set of untested drugs that unbalance the body's natural systems and cause more side effects than the illnesses they purport to cure.
Everything you believe is "food" is a concoction of chemically laden substances that are unusable by the body, deprive it of nutrients and its natural ability to heal.
Everything you believe is "economic growth through capitalism" is actually a money-grab that benefits only a select few at the expense of everyone else.
Everything you believe is "justice" is a punitive, revenge-focused, violence-based system of thought and action that support a prison industry designed to enrich its owners.
Everything you've been told are the "random" events of history might actually have been orchestrated.
Everything you believe to be "news" is opinion and, in many cases, completely contrived and staged.
Everything you're told to strive for in pursuit of success and freedom actually leads to failure and servitude.
Everything you've been told, and believe to be good, normal and necessary, desirable, ethical and moral are being revealed to be their exact opposites.
At the same time, everything you've been told and thus believe to be "evil sinful, impossible, absurd and abnormal" might actually be good, ethical, plausible, logical, quite normal and, in fact, in your best interest to explore, once truth is revealed.
The list goes on. Our beliefs about science, democracy, religion, government, education, the causes of war, the reasons behind assassinations, the existence of life on other planets, the origin of mankind, sexuality and various other concepts, ideas institutions and world views-all are being subjected to the onslaught of new questions and analyses and activism as people discover them to be other than what they've been led to believe.
They realize in many instances, that what they believe to be true is nothing more than a set of subjective ideas put forth by people who really don't have a handle on truth, don't know what they're doing, or worse, don't have your best interests at heart-people who are playing by a faulty rulebook or, worse, with no rule book at all.
Advertising = Education
Uninformed ideas, blind assumptions and outright lies underlie much of the education you received and advertising you are subjected to. In some instances, of course, education and advertising are one in the same. Take, for instance, the "education" you received in school about health and for instance the benefits of a meat-centered diet. These typically come from pamphlets created by a meat council-a conglomeration of meat producers-with a financial interest at stake (or at steak).
I'm sure you're familiar with many of these assumptions: that milk does a body good; that meat is real food for real people; that cancer can't be cured; that the common cold is inevitable; that allergies can only be relieved not ended; and that drugs these companies are pushing heal and aren't, in fact, more dangerous than the ills they claim to cure, given the extensive list of (sometimes fatal) side effects warned of in the disclaimers.
The sales pitches for these products start with these assumptions and are never challenged. As a result, people buy into them (key word "buy"), and continue a vicious cycle perpetuating the very lifestyle that caused their ills.
The end result: Why all this matters
"Every day, people are attempting to influence your purchases, sway your allegiance, stoke your emotions and win your vote, using numbers and "facts" that are simply not true. Without the correct information, you will be their victim."
Why is this important? Well, without the correct paradigm for your body and how it operates, you will find that health eludes you despite your best efforts at eating healthy and living a healthy lifestyle. Without the correct paradigm for health and how to achieve it, you will find that as you "cure" one ailment you create another.
If I believed, for example, that "milk does a body good," and then acted on that belief (by drinking lots of milk) in an effort to improve my health, I might find myself experiencing colds, mucous, allergies, weakened bones and cancer, and eventually become frustrated in my efforts without ever knowing the real reason why: that the dairy products we've been told are beneficial, are, in fact poison to our systems (and the numbers prove it)!
When you live in a world where everything you believe... is wrong, then without the correct information, facts and numbers, you will compromise your health, your safety, make generally poor decisions and put yourself and others at risk and in harm's way.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8822836
Priests are being exposed as predators. Politicians are being exposed as agenda-driven individualists rather than selfless public servants. Everything we believe is "progress" is unsustainable and is propelling our planet towards extinction. Everything you believe is "medicine" is often a set of untested drugs that unbalance the body's natural systems and cause more side effects than the illnesses they purport to cure.
Everything you believe is "food" is a concoction of chemically laden substances that are unusable by the body, deprive it of nutrients and its natural ability to heal.
Everything you believe is "economic growth through capitalism" is actually a money-grab that benefits only a select few at the expense of everyone else.
Everything you believe is "justice" is a punitive, revenge-focused, violence-based system of thought and action that support a prison industry designed to enrich its owners.
Everything you've been told are the "random" events of history might actually have been orchestrated.
Everything you believe to be "news" is opinion and, in many cases, completely contrived and staged.
Everything you're told to strive for in pursuit of success and freedom actually leads to failure and servitude.
Everything you've been told, and believe to be good, normal and necessary, desirable, ethical and moral are being revealed to be their exact opposites.
At the same time, everything you've been told and thus believe to be "evil sinful, impossible, absurd and abnormal" might actually be good, ethical, plausible, logical, quite normal and, in fact, in your best interest to explore, once truth is revealed.
The list goes on. Our beliefs about science, democracy, religion, government, education, the causes of war, the reasons behind assassinations, the existence of life on other planets, the origin of mankind, sexuality and various other concepts, ideas institutions and world views-all are being subjected to the onslaught of new questions and analyses and activism as people discover them to be other than what they've been led to believe.
They realize in many instances, that what they believe to be true is nothing more than a set of subjective ideas put forth by people who really don't have a handle on truth, don't know what they're doing, or worse, don't have your best interests at heart-people who are playing by a faulty rulebook or, worse, with no rule book at all.
Advertising = Education
Uninformed ideas, blind assumptions and outright lies underlie much of the education you received and advertising you are subjected to. In some instances, of course, education and advertising are one in the same. Take, for instance, the "education" you received in school about health and for instance the benefits of a meat-centered diet. These typically come from pamphlets created by a meat council-a conglomeration of meat producers-with a financial interest at stake (or at steak).
I'm sure you're familiar with many of these assumptions: that milk does a body good; that meat is real food for real people; that cancer can't be cured; that the common cold is inevitable; that allergies can only be relieved not ended; and that drugs these companies are pushing heal and aren't, in fact, more dangerous than the ills they claim to cure, given the extensive list of (sometimes fatal) side effects warned of in the disclaimers.
The sales pitches for these products start with these assumptions and are never challenged. As a result, people buy into them (key word "buy"), and continue a vicious cycle perpetuating the very lifestyle that caused their ills.
The end result: Why all this matters
"Every day, people are attempting to influence your purchases, sway your allegiance, stoke your emotions and win your vote, using numbers and "facts" that are simply not true. Without the correct information, you will be their victim."
Why is this important? Well, without the correct paradigm for your body and how it operates, you will find that health eludes you despite your best efforts at eating healthy and living a healthy lifestyle. Without the correct paradigm for health and how to achieve it, you will find that as you "cure" one ailment you create another.
If I believed, for example, that "milk does a body good," and then acted on that belief (by drinking lots of milk) in an effort to improve my health, I might find myself experiencing colds, mucous, allergies, weakened bones and cancer, and eventually become frustrated in my efforts without ever knowing the real reason why: that the dairy products we've been told are beneficial, are, in fact poison to our systems (and the numbers prove it)!
When you live in a world where everything you believe... is wrong, then without the correct information, facts and numbers, you will compromise your health, your safety, make generally poor decisions and put yourself and others at risk and in harm's way.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8822836
Life and Times at Lake Conroe 2
Monday, April 6, 2009, changed the course of my life, here in the Lake Conroe area. And it really opened my eyes to the realities of the workplace. I had been sick with the common flu that was going around, at the time, and had taken a few days off work. I was surprised that I'd gotten over it so quickly. Others had come down with pneumonia, after that flu went around. But I, like my mother before me, have a bad habit of pushing myself and ignoring discomfort. If I were able to get out of bed, I would be at work. No matter what. I had noticed that I'd been rather tired, lately. I hadn't quite bounced back from the flu. I had been sleeping more than usual and got dizzy at work. I found myself breaking into a strange sweat at odd times. The kind of sweat that said a fever had broken. But I was unaware that I'd been running a fever. I only knew I got hotter than other people did. Working six nights a week gave me little time to think about it. And not a whole lot of time for rest or getting other things done. During those first few days in April, I noticed pains in my chest and realized I was having trouble breathing. I attributed it to pollen in the air and my smoking habit. I tried to quit smoking, but managed only to cut back to lights, and less than a pack a day.
On April 6, I was halfway to work, when my left arm went to sleep on me, while I was driving. Then my chest started cramping, and I felt a little dizzy. I thought, for a short while, that I was going to have to pull over. My only thought, though was I HAVE TO GET TO WORK.
I pulled in right at 6:00 pm. Just as I shut off the engine, those cramps in my chest became sharp pains. The dizziness was worse. I felt completely out of it. I took a deep breath to steady myself, and went on inside and clocked in.
Karim and Raj were doing price changes on the wines, and had put me in charge of collecting the bottles from the shelves and returning the ones that had been changed. I couldn't quite see. Things were going blurry on me. Dizziness swept over me, but I simply grabbed the counter to steady myself until the moment passed. Raj thought I was just tired and was joking with me about lack of sleep. I simply smiled and continued. I tried to ignore what I was feeling, but my legs began to feel weak.
At 6:15, I was hit with severe chest pains that doubled me over. At the same time, my left arm went completely numb, and everything went white. I felt the floor move. I couldn't breathe. I fell back against the counter and developed tunnel vision. I was aware of only what was right in front of me. And barely even that. I allowed myself to sink slowly to the floor, to avoid simply hitting it hard. I fought to keep from passing out. I was only vaguely aware of Raj asking me, "Melissa, are you okay? Should I call 9-1-1?"
"I think you should," I answered.
Then Karim ran in, from the office. He'd seen it on the cameras. "What's going on?" Raj explained, just as a customer rush hit. Karim immediately turned to the register and he and Raj began taking customers. I was ignored. I vaguely remember Raj reaching for the phone, and Karim pulling him back to the register. I heard several customers ask if they were going to call 9-1-1. Karim kept saying he would. But then he'd go on to the next customer.
I was, by then, lying fully on the floor, staring at the white tiles. Karim was stepping over me and around me to get cigarettes for the customers. I thought I was having a heart attack. The thought entered my mind that I could die right there, literally at the feet of my boss, and no one would even know, until my body was being carried out. My thoughts turned to Sedona. I saw her face so clearly in my mind. All I could think was: She's expecting me to come get her, at the end of the school year. What will she do, if I died? She lost her real father at the age of two, and never really knew him. If I died, she'd be an orphan. She'd have to be raised by someone else. I thought of the bond between my daughter and me. A bond no one else really seems to understand. And many don't really believe there is one. I wanted to cry, thinking I was about to die, and would never see my Sweet Pea again. Thinking she hadn't seen me, since January 10th, and the next time she sees me will be in a casket.
That was the moment I heard a voice I recognized. One of my regular customers, whose name I cannot remember. "Are you gonna call 9-1-1?"
Karim responded, "I'll call them. What can I get for you?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he said, "What's the address here? I'm calling for her."
Karim's voice sounded worried, as he responded, "We will call."
"When?" came the question.
"In a moment."
Again, that customer, said, this time more firmly, "What is the address here? I'm calling for her RIGHT NOW!"
I heard Raj give him the address. A moment later, I heard this customer making the call. I couldn't move. I had no strength. When the customer came around the counter to approach me, still on his cell phone, I saw Karim move to intercept him. Customers are not supposed to be behind the counter. This man, who, at that moment, I saw as my saving grace, shot Karim a deadly glare and kept walking toward me. He knelt beside me. Vaguely, I was able to answer the questions asked. When he got off the phone, he took my hand. "I'm staying right here with you, Melissa, until they get here. Okay?" I saw him glance angrily up at Karim, then back at me. "Okay?" he repeated, when I didn't respond. I could only nod. He kept me awake and aware, until the paramedics arrived, about five minutes later.
At 6:32 pm, I was in the ambulance, hooked up to heart monitors, oxygen, and a fluid I.V. drip. On my way to Conroe Medical Center. At the hospital, they took blood samples, and did an EKG on my heart. I only vaguely remember it.
6:50 pm, a sharp pain hit my chest, and I got the shakes so bad, the nurses thought I was having a seizure. I heard one nurse report, "Her heart-rate just jumped from 88 beats-per-minute to 166! Her temp is 106!" I started to hyperventilate. "Oh my God!" that nurse shouted. "She's going into shock!"
I don't remember that next hour in the ER. I only remember suddenly opening my eyes and looking at the clock. It was 7:45 pm. My fever was down to 99 degrees, and I was back to some semblance of normality. They had run other tests, during this hour. And had discovered that I had not had a heart attack, and it wasn't a stroke. Apparently, they'd thought that, as well. I managed to send a text message to my brother's friend, Bobby, explaining the situation. So that he could go by the house to get David, my brother. Then he could take David to the store to pick up my van.
After another hour, they did another EKG, just to make sure nothing had changed with my heart. Another precautionary measure to ensure it wasn't even a mild heart attack. Then they sent me into X-Ray. And by 10:15 pm, they finally determined what my problem was. I had a bronchial infection so severe it was about to become pneumonia. The consequence of not paying attention to my body, and pushing myself too hard. They gave me some medicine and a strong breathing treatment, and sent me home at 10:45 pm with a prescription for antibiotics.
The eye-opener for me, on that day, was the knowledge that I am completely disposable. Not just dispensable, but disposable. I could have died, right there on that floor, not six inches from Karim's feet. And all he could think of was the customer rush. Money to be gained. If it had been a heart attack, I would be dead. And it would not have mattered, at all. I would have been replaced, the very next day. I began to wonder where my life is going. What have I done with my life? Have things really gotten better? How could I have found myself working for someone for whom the quality of life means absolutely NOTHING?
I spent the next few days at home, in bed. Karim wouldn't let me return to work, even with the doctor's note. My fever kept spiking to over 104, and I spent many sleepless nights, soaking my head in cold water, and bathing my face with a cold washcloth. I started taking Nyquil to reduce my fever, so I could get some sleep. During a time when I should have been resting, I was using my energy trying to keep my fever from rising too high. I made another realization: I am more alone than I thought. I had gotten so used to helping others and taking care of others, and I forget about myself. There is no one to stand by me. No one to take care of me, if something happens. How did I end up so alone?
By the end of the week, my thoughts began to turn to my customers. I knew no one else took care of my regulars like I did. No one else would stay open a little later, while a customer decided which beer he wanted, or which bag of chips his pregnant wife craved tonight. No one else cared about the customers as people and individuals. I wasn't totally well yet, and already I was back in the "service mindset".
I found things changed, when I went back to work. Suddenly, in Karim's eyes, I could do nothing right. He started watching me on the security cameras at his house, and calling me at odd times, to complain about something I hadn't done. Even if I had a line of customers, from beginning of shift, to end, it didn't matter. I wasn't busy enough. I wasn't selling enough. I had stopped doing the extras that helped the girl who opened in the mornings, because Karim was putting extra pressure on me, to do more on my shift. When I stopped doing her job for her, she began to complain. Suddenly, those "extras" I had been doing were now part of my job list. Yet when Raj closed, he didn't have to do them. Only I did. The printer began acting up, making closing more difficult, adding an extra 10 minutes to my time. Karim complained that I wasn't closing early enough to account for it. Then he began complaining in front of customers, berating me, humiliating me, in front of customers.
Finally, on May 14th, things came to a head between Karim and me. He started in on me, as soon as I clocked in. Ignoring the line of customers, he began berating me over something I didn't do, the night before. Something that was supposed to be done on opening, not closing. I can't even remember what it was now. But I got so angry, I began to tremble. I had grown tired of his verbal abuse, and lost it. I began arguing back. This surprised him, because I got right in his face. I can't even remember what was said, because I was so angry I blanked out. I only remember that I caught myself drawing back to punch him. And stopped. I told him, "You know what? I'm leaving!" And walked out.
I was nearly out of the parking lot, when he stopped me. "If you're leaving and not coming back," he said, "I need your keys."
I didn't even look at him, I removed the store keys from my keychain and removed my nametag from my shirt. He looked at me, surprised. I reached out to hand these to him. He only looked at my hand, then back at me. Instead of taking them, he asked, "What's the problem?"
I looked him in the eye, my rage still boiling beneath the surface. He stepped back. "YOU'RE the problem, Karim!" I shot at him. My barely-controlled rage was so all consuming that even my voice trembled. I realized, in that moment, how much I had come to hate this man. "Ever since I collapsed that day, lying there AT YOUR FEET, you've done nothing but nit-pick at me."
So he began, again, pointing out everything I was doing wrong. I simply nodded, and pushed the keys and nametag toward him. He looked at them, then stood up. "Come back in, if you want," he said. Then he went back inside.
I sat there and thought about it. I knew I had to keep this job, until Sedona came back. If I got another job, right then, I wouldn't be able to take the time off to go get her. I gritted my teeth, parked the van, and went back inside.
Raj didn't look at me or speak to me. He didn't even say goodbye, before he left for the day. He only looked at me in fear. None of them had ever seen me THAT angry.
I simply took my faux-military "at-ease" stance by the register. Acknowledging no one, except my customers. But, to them, I was as friendly as ever. I heard Karim in his office, speaking in Urdu on his cell phone. I knew, from what little I understood, that he was telling someone about what just happened. I refused to look at him, when he came back in.
It took a good hour for me to begin to calm down. But, when I did, I decided to apologize to Karim. Not for what I said. Nor the fact that I'd stood up for myself. But for the way I had handled it. Because that wasn't like me, at all. He apologized, as well. Then he told me, "Raj is putting in about 10 hours a day. I'm going to have him work nights. You will be floating between this store and the other one. Three days here, and three days there. I don't know what your schedule will be or when it will start."
I smiled at him for the first time, in weeks. He looked confused. "That'd work out," I told him. "The other store is a bit closer than this one. I won't have quite so far to drive." He looked shocked, then relaxed. That's when we discussed my taking off at month's end, so I could go get Sedona. He actually seemed relieved, then relaxed more. For the next few days, I was actually courteous to Karim, and began laughing and joking with Raj again.
Then Karim surprised me again. He actually gave me a choice: I could be a floater, with my shifts rotating, or I could just take the night shift at the other store. I was elated! Continue with the same company, but not have to deal with Karim, at all? Yeah, buddy! And I started at Quick Mart Exxon on Monday, May 18th.
The first thing I noticed, when I first got to work, that night, was no one else was in uniform. It was casual-dress. The manager there is Ali. And the first thing he said to me was, "You will find I am not like Karim." I liked him, immediately.
"Karim said I could keep my Tuesdays off," I mentioned.
"Yes," he said. "Is this what you want?"
I nodded, then talked to him about my days off to get Sedona.
He agreed, then asked, "Is there anything else you need?"
"No," I said quietly.
"You will find I am amendable," Ali said, with a friendly smile. "If you need something, let me know." I nodded. "You know you will get less pay, here." I looked at him, questioningly. "I can pay you $7.50 per hour."
"Okay."
Ali smiled at me, again, putting his hand on my shoulder. It was a genuinely friendly smile. "You will find it easier, here." I remembered this man had been in the hospital, just under a month before, after a mild heart attack. Brought on by the stress of his job. But so many people had told me he was friendly and easy-going. I only smiled back.
The man who would train me came in, right then. Michael. Oddly, the same age as my nephew named Michael. Strangely, after being around him, I realized he reminded me a lot of my nephew. But when Michael first came in, and Ali introduced us, he added, "But do not make her mad." Then he laughed. "Karim said she has a temper."
I looked at him. "He told you about that, huh?"
Ali laughed again, patting my back. "We will not make you mad, Melissa."
Michael shook his head, laughing,. "My ex-wife is a redhead. I know all about those tempers." I liked him, immediately, too. I felt at home at Quick Mart.
Thursday, May 28th, David and I left to meet our cousin in Jackson, Mississippi, to pick up Sedona. That, though is another story. I was back at work on Tuesday, June 2nd. But on Wednesday, June 3rd, I got grim news.
Aftab, the true owner of both stores, was there, when I came into work. He informed me that money is tight, and they were having to make cutbacks. That meant cutting out the middle shift, and putting Michael on closing. This left the floater position. It was a choice between me and the girl who was floating. Aftab had left the choice to Ali. Ali chose to keep me. This meant my entire schedule had changed.
Open at Lake Conroe on Saturdays. Open at Quick Mart on Sundays. Afternoon shift at Quick Mart on Mondays. Tuesdays off. Close at Lake Conroe on Wednesdays. Close at Quick Mart on Thursdays. Afternoon shift at Lake Conroe on Fridays.
And I was informed that same day that changes were about to take place. Karim would be taking over Quick Mart, and Ali would be taking over Lake Conroe. The Lake Conroe crew would move to Quick Mart and the Quick Mart crew would move to Lake Conroe. I shrugged it off. I didn't think it would affect me, one way, or the other. Boy, was I ever wrong!
On Wednesday, June 17th, when I went into work at Lake Conroe Exxon, Karim introduced me to a Pakistani man named Jay. He told me Jay was in training, and I would be helping to train him on closing. Later, I watched Jay sifting through paperwork in the office, and asked Karim, "So, who IS he?"
Karim gave me one of those self-satisfied smirks. "He came from Chicago. He's going to be taking over this store. I'm training him how to run it."
I looked at him in confusion. "I thought Ali was coming here. You and Ali were going to trade places."
Karim only shrugged with that smirk, and said nothing more.
I stood back, after Karim left and the rush was over, to watch Jay handle the register. I went about doing my side work. It was easier to get it all done quickly, since I wasn't dealing with the customers. Jay told me, at one point, "I'm going to rely on you to teach me about things around here."
I looked at him. "I don't know how much help I'll be. I'm floating between the stores."
He and I talked a bit. That "getting to know you" chitchat people do, when they're new. Close to the end of the shift, he mentioned the fact that Quick Mart does better business than Lake Conroe Exxon. "Why do you think that is, Melissa?"
"The other store is closer to the best access to the lake. People naturally come in there, when they're heading to the lake, and when they're coming back from it."
Jay chewed on that thought a moment. Finally, he asked me, "What do you think would make things better, here?"
Without even having to think, I responded, "Better customer service."
He looked confused. "Explain, please."
I shrugged. "I've listened to so many customers complain about the customer service they receive here. These people end up becoming customers of Valero." I stepped to the window. "Look at what surrounds this store, Jay." I glanced at him. "We have Walgreen's right behind us. Walmart right across the street. Valero just down the street. All of them offer better prices. Lower prices, than we do. But they keep coming here only at certain times of the day. That's because they will pay a little more for better customer service."
He looked at me thoughtfully. "Who are they complaining about?" I only looked at him. "Off the record," he added.
I glanced up at one of the cameras, knowing that Karim was probably watching. "Off the record?" I gave a little sarcastic chuckle, and shook my head.
Jay looked up at the camera, then back at me. "Ah," was all he said.
On Saturday, June 20th, I opened Lake Conroe Exxon. Karim was a little late coming in, that day, and let me leave at 11:30 am. The last thing he said to me, as I was leaving was, "Jay is going to be changing your schedule. He'll call you, to let you know."
Odd, I thought, but put it out of my mind.
Sunday, I opened at Quick Mart, and when Michael came in, I asked him about the changes that were coming. "Have you met Jay, yet?"
"Who's Jay?" he asked.
"He's the guy that's taking over Lake Conroe Exxon."
Michael stared at me. "Ali's taking it over."
"That's what I was told, until I met Jay on Wednesday," I told him. And we talked about Jay. Since he's the man who will be Michael's boss, I figured he needed to know. Obviously, I knew more than he did. So, when I came in on Monday, for my afternoon shift, I asked Ali about it all.
Ali only looked at me. "Why is this Jay changing your schedule?"
I shrugged. That didn't matter to me. "Where will YOU be going, Ali?"
He stared at the desk, but didn't answer.
Later in the shift, I had a problem with the gas pumps, so went to the office to consult Ali. He was on the phone with someone, and speaking Urdu. From what little I understood, it sounded to me like Ali had not been informed of this change, either. I wondered about that. But, when I asked him, again, later, "Where will YOU be going?", he only said, "I don't know."
Tuesday was my day off. It was around 6:00 pm, that I got a call from Jay. "We're not going to need you tomorrow night. I need to try and close, on my own."
I had a sinking feeling. "What about Friday?" I asked.
He consulted with Karim, then asked, "What was your schedule here?"
"Open Saturday, close Wednesday, 4:00-9:00 pm on Friday."
"We won't need you on Friday, either. In fact, not for the rest of the week. I'll call you about next week."
"Uh-huh," was my response. As I hung up the phone, I knew my time was up at Lake Conroe Exxon. This is Karim's way of letting someone go. I immediately called Ali, to make sure I was still closing on Thursday.
"Yes, please," was his response. "Why you ask me this?"
I explained what I'd just been told. He told me to keep my schedule there at Quick Mart.
I spent Wednesday putting in applications around Willis.
On Saturday, June 27th, I went into Lake Conroe Exxon to collect my little one-day check. Jay and Karim were both extra-nice to me, but neither would really look at me. Karim stayed in the corner behind the register. I stood there, after collecting my pay, waiting for one of them to say something about the store keys. Neither would say anything. Karim kept backing away, glancing at me. Jay barely spoke. I knew, if I headed for the door, one of them would ask for the keys, as if it were a last-minute thought. I'd seen Karim pull this before. So I chatted with Karim about the weather, smiling and being friendly. Finally, I outright asked him, "So, do you want the keys or not?"
Karim stepped behind Jay, looking away from me, as he said, "Yes, I think so."
I smiled, as I handed them over. Both of them seemed surprised that the keys were already off my keychain. "I knew you wanted them." Karim stepped back again. I shrugged and smiled, "Well, I knew you didn't need me here, anymore."
Karim quietly asked, "You're still at the other store?"
I nodded. "For now."
He gave me that self-satisfied smirk, as he said, "You know I'm about to take over that store."
Again, I nodded. "I know. That's why I said 'for now'."
He looked slightly confused. "If we need you, we'll call you. We still have your number."
I smiled, thinking: I won't hold my breath.
I stopped at Quick Mart, to collect my pay, there. I asked Ali, "Am I still working here? Because they let me go at Lake Conroe."
He looked upset for a moment, then said, "Continue your schedule here."
So my adventures at Lake Conroe Exxon have ended. My short job at Quick Mart will soon end. And I search for another job.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8832626
On April 6, I was halfway to work, when my left arm went to sleep on me, while I was driving. Then my chest started cramping, and I felt a little dizzy. I thought, for a short while, that I was going to have to pull over. My only thought, though was I HAVE TO GET TO WORK.
I pulled in right at 6:00 pm. Just as I shut off the engine, those cramps in my chest became sharp pains. The dizziness was worse. I felt completely out of it. I took a deep breath to steady myself, and went on inside and clocked in.
Karim and Raj were doing price changes on the wines, and had put me in charge of collecting the bottles from the shelves and returning the ones that had been changed. I couldn't quite see. Things were going blurry on me. Dizziness swept over me, but I simply grabbed the counter to steady myself until the moment passed. Raj thought I was just tired and was joking with me about lack of sleep. I simply smiled and continued. I tried to ignore what I was feeling, but my legs began to feel weak.
At 6:15, I was hit with severe chest pains that doubled me over. At the same time, my left arm went completely numb, and everything went white. I felt the floor move. I couldn't breathe. I fell back against the counter and developed tunnel vision. I was aware of only what was right in front of me. And barely even that. I allowed myself to sink slowly to the floor, to avoid simply hitting it hard. I fought to keep from passing out. I was only vaguely aware of Raj asking me, "Melissa, are you okay? Should I call 9-1-1?"
"I think you should," I answered.
Then Karim ran in, from the office. He'd seen it on the cameras. "What's going on?" Raj explained, just as a customer rush hit. Karim immediately turned to the register and he and Raj began taking customers. I was ignored. I vaguely remember Raj reaching for the phone, and Karim pulling him back to the register. I heard several customers ask if they were going to call 9-1-1. Karim kept saying he would. But then he'd go on to the next customer.
I was, by then, lying fully on the floor, staring at the white tiles. Karim was stepping over me and around me to get cigarettes for the customers. I thought I was having a heart attack. The thought entered my mind that I could die right there, literally at the feet of my boss, and no one would even know, until my body was being carried out. My thoughts turned to Sedona. I saw her face so clearly in my mind. All I could think was: She's expecting me to come get her, at the end of the school year. What will she do, if I died? She lost her real father at the age of two, and never really knew him. If I died, she'd be an orphan. She'd have to be raised by someone else. I thought of the bond between my daughter and me. A bond no one else really seems to understand. And many don't really believe there is one. I wanted to cry, thinking I was about to die, and would never see my Sweet Pea again. Thinking she hadn't seen me, since January 10th, and the next time she sees me will be in a casket.
That was the moment I heard a voice I recognized. One of my regular customers, whose name I cannot remember. "Are you gonna call 9-1-1?"
Karim responded, "I'll call them. What can I get for you?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he said, "What's the address here? I'm calling for her."
Karim's voice sounded worried, as he responded, "We will call."
"When?" came the question.
"In a moment."
Again, that customer, said, this time more firmly, "What is the address here? I'm calling for her RIGHT NOW!"
I heard Raj give him the address. A moment later, I heard this customer making the call. I couldn't move. I had no strength. When the customer came around the counter to approach me, still on his cell phone, I saw Karim move to intercept him. Customers are not supposed to be behind the counter. This man, who, at that moment, I saw as my saving grace, shot Karim a deadly glare and kept walking toward me. He knelt beside me. Vaguely, I was able to answer the questions asked. When he got off the phone, he took my hand. "I'm staying right here with you, Melissa, until they get here. Okay?" I saw him glance angrily up at Karim, then back at me. "Okay?" he repeated, when I didn't respond. I could only nod. He kept me awake and aware, until the paramedics arrived, about five minutes later.
At 6:32 pm, I was in the ambulance, hooked up to heart monitors, oxygen, and a fluid I.V. drip. On my way to Conroe Medical Center. At the hospital, they took blood samples, and did an EKG on my heart. I only vaguely remember it.
6:50 pm, a sharp pain hit my chest, and I got the shakes so bad, the nurses thought I was having a seizure. I heard one nurse report, "Her heart-rate just jumped from 88 beats-per-minute to 166! Her temp is 106!" I started to hyperventilate. "Oh my God!" that nurse shouted. "She's going into shock!"
I don't remember that next hour in the ER. I only remember suddenly opening my eyes and looking at the clock. It was 7:45 pm. My fever was down to 99 degrees, and I was back to some semblance of normality. They had run other tests, during this hour. And had discovered that I had not had a heart attack, and it wasn't a stroke. Apparently, they'd thought that, as well. I managed to send a text message to my brother's friend, Bobby, explaining the situation. So that he could go by the house to get David, my brother. Then he could take David to the store to pick up my van.
After another hour, they did another EKG, just to make sure nothing had changed with my heart. Another precautionary measure to ensure it wasn't even a mild heart attack. Then they sent me into X-Ray. And by 10:15 pm, they finally determined what my problem was. I had a bronchial infection so severe it was about to become pneumonia. The consequence of not paying attention to my body, and pushing myself too hard. They gave me some medicine and a strong breathing treatment, and sent me home at 10:45 pm with a prescription for antibiotics.
The eye-opener for me, on that day, was the knowledge that I am completely disposable. Not just dispensable, but disposable. I could have died, right there on that floor, not six inches from Karim's feet. And all he could think of was the customer rush. Money to be gained. If it had been a heart attack, I would be dead. And it would not have mattered, at all. I would have been replaced, the very next day. I began to wonder where my life is going. What have I done with my life? Have things really gotten better? How could I have found myself working for someone for whom the quality of life means absolutely NOTHING?
I spent the next few days at home, in bed. Karim wouldn't let me return to work, even with the doctor's note. My fever kept spiking to over 104, and I spent many sleepless nights, soaking my head in cold water, and bathing my face with a cold washcloth. I started taking Nyquil to reduce my fever, so I could get some sleep. During a time when I should have been resting, I was using my energy trying to keep my fever from rising too high. I made another realization: I am more alone than I thought. I had gotten so used to helping others and taking care of others, and I forget about myself. There is no one to stand by me. No one to take care of me, if something happens. How did I end up so alone?
By the end of the week, my thoughts began to turn to my customers. I knew no one else took care of my regulars like I did. No one else would stay open a little later, while a customer decided which beer he wanted, or which bag of chips his pregnant wife craved tonight. No one else cared about the customers as people and individuals. I wasn't totally well yet, and already I was back in the "service mindset".
I found things changed, when I went back to work. Suddenly, in Karim's eyes, I could do nothing right. He started watching me on the security cameras at his house, and calling me at odd times, to complain about something I hadn't done. Even if I had a line of customers, from beginning of shift, to end, it didn't matter. I wasn't busy enough. I wasn't selling enough. I had stopped doing the extras that helped the girl who opened in the mornings, because Karim was putting extra pressure on me, to do more on my shift. When I stopped doing her job for her, she began to complain. Suddenly, those "extras" I had been doing were now part of my job list. Yet when Raj closed, he didn't have to do them. Only I did. The printer began acting up, making closing more difficult, adding an extra 10 minutes to my time. Karim complained that I wasn't closing early enough to account for it. Then he began complaining in front of customers, berating me, humiliating me, in front of customers.
Finally, on May 14th, things came to a head between Karim and me. He started in on me, as soon as I clocked in. Ignoring the line of customers, he began berating me over something I didn't do, the night before. Something that was supposed to be done on opening, not closing. I can't even remember what it was now. But I got so angry, I began to tremble. I had grown tired of his verbal abuse, and lost it. I began arguing back. This surprised him, because I got right in his face. I can't even remember what was said, because I was so angry I blanked out. I only remember that I caught myself drawing back to punch him. And stopped. I told him, "You know what? I'm leaving!" And walked out.
I was nearly out of the parking lot, when he stopped me. "If you're leaving and not coming back," he said, "I need your keys."
I didn't even look at him, I removed the store keys from my keychain and removed my nametag from my shirt. He looked at me, surprised. I reached out to hand these to him. He only looked at my hand, then back at me. Instead of taking them, he asked, "What's the problem?"
I looked him in the eye, my rage still boiling beneath the surface. He stepped back. "YOU'RE the problem, Karim!" I shot at him. My barely-controlled rage was so all consuming that even my voice trembled. I realized, in that moment, how much I had come to hate this man. "Ever since I collapsed that day, lying there AT YOUR FEET, you've done nothing but nit-pick at me."
So he began, again, pointing out everything I was doing wrong. I simply nodded, and pushed the keys and nametag toward him. He looked at them, then stood up. "Come back in, if you want," he said. Then he went back inside.
I sat there and thought about it. I knew I had to keep this job, until Sedona came back. If I got another job, right then, I wouldn't be able to take the time off to go get her. I gritted my teeth, parked the van, and went back inside.
Raj didn't look at me or speak to me. He didn't even say goodbye, before he left for the day. He only looked at me in fear. None of them had ever seen me THAT angry.
I simply took my faux-military "at-ease" stance by the register. Acknowledging no one, except my customers. But, to them, I was as friendly as ever. I heard Karim in his office, speaking in Urdu on his cell phone. I knew, from what little I understood, that he was telling someone about what just happened. I refused to look at him, when he came back in.
It took a good hour for me to begin to calm down. But, when I did, I decided to apologize to Karim. Not for what I said. Nor the fact that I'd stood up for myself. But for the way I had handled it. Because that wasn't like me, at all. He apologized, as well. Then he told me, "Raj is putting in about 10 hours a day. I'm going to have him work nights. You will be floating between this store and the other one. Three days here, and three days there. I don't know what your schedule will be or when it will start."
I smiled at him for the first time, in weeks. He looked confused. "That'd work out," I told him. "The other store is a bit closer than this one. I won't have quite so far to drive." He looked shocked, then relaxed. That's when we discussed my taking off at month's end, so I could go get Sedona. He actually seemed relieved, then relaxed more. For the next few days, I was actually courteous to Karim, and began laughing and joking with Raj again.
Then Karim surprised me again. He actually gave me a choice: I could be a floater, with my shifts rotating, or I could just take the night shift at the other store. I was elated! Continue with the same company, but not have to deal with Karim, at all? Yeah, buddy! And I started at Quick Mart Exxon on Monday, May 18th.
The first thing I noticed, when I first got to work, that night, was no one else was in uniform. It was casual-dress. The manager there is Ali. And the first thing he said to me was, "You will find I am not like Karim." I liked him, immediately.
"Karim said I could keep my Tuesdays off," I mentioned.
"Yes," he said. "Is this what you want?"
I nodded, then talked to him about my days off to get Sedona.
He agreed, then asked, "Is there anything else you need?"
"No," I said quietly.
"You will find I am amendable," Ali said, with a friendly smile. "If you need something, let me know." I nodded. "You know you will get less pay, here." I looked at him, questioningly. "I can pay you $7.50 per hour."
"Okay."
Ali smiled at me, again, putting his hand on my shoulder. It was a genuinely friendly smile. "You will find it easier, here." I remembered this man had been in the hospital, just under a month before, after a mild heart attack. Brought on by the stress of his job. But so many people had told me he was friendly and easy-going. I only smiled back.
The man who would train me came in, right then. Michael. Oddly, the same age as my nephew named Michael. Strangely, after being around him, I realized he reminded me a lot of my nephew. But when Michael first came in, and Ali introduced us, he added, "But do not make her mad." Then he laughed. "Karim said she has a temper."
I looked at him. "He told you about that, huh?"
Ali laughed again, patting my back. "We will not make you mad, Melissa."
Michael shook his head, laughing,. "My ex-wife is a redhead. I know all about those tempers." I liked him, immediately, too. I felt at home at Quick Mart.
Thursday, May 28th, David and I left to meet our cousin in Jackson, Mississippi, to pick up Sedona. That, though is another story. I was back at work on Tuesday, June 2nd. But on Wednesday, June 3rd, I got grim news.
Aftab, the true owner of both stores, was there, when I came into work. He informed me that money is tight, and they were having to make cutbacks. That meant cutting out the middle shift, and putting Michael on closing. This left the floater position. It was a choice between me and the girl who was floating. Aftab had left the choice to Ali. Ali chose to keep me. This meant my entire schedule had changed.
Open at Lake Conroe on Saturdays. Open at Quick Mart on Sundays. Afternoon shift at Quick Mart on Mondays. Tuesdays off. Close at Lake Conroe on Wednesdays. Close at Quick Mart on Thursdays. Afternoon shift at Lake Conroe on Fridays.
And I was informed that same day that changes were about to take place. Karim would be taking over Quick Mart, and Ali would be taking over Lake Conroe. The Lake Conroe crew would move to Quick Mart and the Quick Mart crew would move to Lake Conroe. I shrugged it off. I didn't think it would affect me, one way, or the other. Boy, was I ever wrong!
On Wednesday, June 17th, when I went into work at Lake Conroe Exxon, Karim introduced me to a Pakistani man named Jay. He told me Jay was in training, and I would be helping to train him on closing. Later, I watched Jay sifting through paperwork in the office, and asked Karim, "So, who IS he?"
Karim gave me one of those self-satisfied smirks. "He came from Chicago. He's going to be taking over this store. I'm training him how to run it."
I looked at him in confusion. "I thought Ali was coming here. You and Ali were going to trade places."
Karim only shrugged with that smirk, and said nothing more.
I stood back, after Karim left and the rush was over, to watch Jay handle the register. I went about doing my side work. It was easier to get it all done quickly, since I wasn't dealing with the customers. Jay told me, at one point, "I'm going to rely on you to teach me about things around here."
I looked at him. "I don't know how much help I'll be. I'm floating between the stores."
He and I talked a bit. That "getting to know you" chitchat people do, when they're new. Close to the end of the shift, he mentioned the fact that Quick Mart does better business than Lake Conroe Exxon. "Why do you think that is, Melissa?"
"The other store is closer to the best access to the lake. People naturally come in there, when they're heading to the lake, and when they're coming back from it."
Jay chewed on that thought a moment. Finally, he asked me, "What do you think would make things better, here?"
Without even having to think, I responded, "Better customer service."
He looked confused. "Explain, please."
I shrugged. "I've listened to so many customers complain about the customer service they receive here. These people end up becoming customers of Valero." I stepped to the window. "Look at what surrounds this store, Jay." I glanced at him. "We have Walgreen's right behind us. Walmart right across the street. Valero just down the street. All of them offer better prices. Lower prices, than we do. But they keep coming here only at certain times of the day. That's because they will pay a little more for better customer service."
He looked at me thoughtfully. "Who are they complaining about?" I only looked at him. "Off the record," he added.
I glanced up at one of the cameras, knowing that Karim was probably watching. "Off the record?" I gave a little sarcastic chuckle, and shook my head.
Jay looked up at the camera, then back at me. "Ah," was all he said.
On Saturday, June 20th, I opened Lake Conroe Exxon. Karim was a little late coming in, that day, and let me leave at 11:30 am. The last thing he said to me, as I was leaving was, "Jay is going to be changing your schedule. He'll call you, to let you know."
Odd, I thought, but put it out of my mind.
Sunday, I opened at Quick Mart, and when Michael came in, I asked him about the changes that were coming. "Have you met Jay, yet?"
"Who's Jay?" he asked.
"He's the guy that's taking over Lake Conroe Exxon."
Michael stared at me. "Ali's taking it over."
"That's what I was told, until I met Jay on Wednesday," I told him. And we talked about Jay. Since he's the man who will be Michael's boss, I figured he needed to know. Obviously, I knew more than he did. So, when I came in on Monday, for my afternoon shift, I asked Ali about it all.
Ali only looked at me. "Why is this Jay changing your schedule?"
I shrugged. That didn't matter to me. "Where will YOU be going, Ali?"
He stared at the desk, but didn't answer.
Later in the shift, I had a problem with the gas pumps, so went to the office to consult Ali. He was on the phone with someone, and speaking Urdu. From what little I understood, it sounded to me like Ali had not been informed of this change, either. I wondered about that. But, when I asked him, again, later, "Where will YOU be going?", he only said, "I don't know."
Tuesday was my day off. It was around 6:00 pm, that I got a call from Jay. "We're not going to need you tomorrow night. I need to try and close, on my own."
I had a sinking feeling. "What about Friday?" I asked.
He consulted with Karim, then asked, "What was your schedule here?"
"Open Saturday, close Wednesday, 4:00-9:00 pm on Friday."
"We won't need you on Friday, either. In fact, not for the rest of the week. I'll call you about next week."
"Uh-huh," was my response. As I hung up the phone, I knew my time was up at Lake Conroe Exxon. This is Karim's way of letting someone go. I immediately called Ali, to make sure I was still closing on Thursday.
"Yes, please," was his response. "Why you ask me this?"
I explained what I'd just been told. He told me to keep my schedule there at Quick Mart.
I spent Wednesday putting in applications around Willis.
On Saturday, June 27th, I went into Lake Conroe Exxon to collect my little one-day check. Jay and Karim were both extra-nice to me, but neither would really look at me. Karim stayed in the corner behind the register. I stood there, after collecting my pay, waiting for one of them to say something about the store keys. Neither would say anything. Karim kept backing away, glancing at me. Jay barely spoke. I knew, if I headed for the door, one of them would ask for the keys, as if it were a last-minute thought. I'd seen Karim pull this before. So I chatted with Karim about the weather, smiling and being friendly. Finally, I outright asked him, "So, do you want the keys or not?"
Karim stepped behind Jay, looking away from me, as he said, "Yes, I think so."
I smiled, as I handed them over. Both of them seemed surprised that the keys were already off my keychain. "I knew you wanted them." Karim stepped back again. I shrugged and smiled, "Well, I knew you didn't need me here, anymore."
Karim quietly asked, "You're still at the other store?"
I nodded. "For now."
He gave me that self-satisfied smirk, as he said, "You know I'm about to take over that store."
Again, I nodded. "I know. That's why I said 'for now'."
He looked slightly confused. "If we need you, we'll call you. We still have your number."
I smiled, thinking: I won't hold my breath.
I stopped at Quick Mart, to collect my pay, there. I asked Ali, "Am I still working here? Because they let me go at Lake Conroe."
He looked upset for a moment, then said, "Continue your schedule here."
So my adventures at Lake Conroe Exxon have ended. My short job at Quick Mart will soon end. And I search for another job.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8832626
Royal Mail: The End of Daily Deliveries?
Royal Mail has warned that its six days a week deliveries are potentially at risk due to intense competition from across the industry, from the likes of Amazon, which now delivers its own parcels, as well as smaller companies.
The Royal Mail, which can trace its roots back almost 500 years to 1516 and the reign of Henry VIII, and was floated on the Stock Exchange just over a year ago, has seen its profits fall by around £74m. In the six months to late September, profits plunged by a shade over a fifth from £353m to just under £279m. Now it says rivals are 'cherry picking' highly profitable business contracts which could threaten its daily delivery service, potentially making it no longer financially viable.
Parcels make up half of RM's turnover, and it fears that Amazon alone could cut growth in this market from 4 to 5% a year to 1 to 2% annually.
This month, shares in Royal Mail dipped by more than 8% to 43op, although when the FTSE-100 listed postal service company floated they were priced at 330p.
Unlike the competition, and under the Postal Services Act 2011 which allowed it to be privatised, RM is obliged to deliver to everyone across the UK for the same price, and this universal service was protected under the Act until at least 2021. Royal Mail Chief Executive Moya Greene has described this obligation as 'precious.' But now it is urging Ofcom, the industry regulator, to re-assess the rules.
Potential changes could mean RM only delivers five days a week, or gets given a subsidy. In many areas, last collections of the day are already being made at earlier times.
In particular, arch rival Whist, previously TNT, could see Royal Mail's revenue plummet by £200m in as little as three years. It now delivers to doorsteps in some bigger cities, but not in rural parts of the country or on a daily basis.
To add to Royal-Mail's woes, in the first half of the year, the volume of letters sent fell by 3%, although this was better than the expected 4-6% decrease, and revenue from letter deliveries rose by 1% as increased prices offset the fall in volume.
At the same time, Ms Greene insisted (RM) was "fully prepared" for Christmas, clearly the busiest time in Royal Mail's year, following heavy investment in new technology over the last three years.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8836985
The Royal Mail, which can trace its roots back almost 500 years to 1516 and the reign of Henry VIII, and was floated on the Stock Exchange just over a year ago, has seen its profits fall by around £74m. In the six months to late September, profits plunged by a shade over a fifth from £353m to just under £279m. Now it says rivals are 'cherry picking' highly profitable business contracts which could threaten its daily delivery service, potentially making it no longer financially viable.
Parcels make up half of RM's turnover, and it fears that Amazon alone could cut growth in this market from 4 to 5% a year to 1 to 2% annually.
This month, shares in Royal Mail dipped by more than 8% to 43op, although when the FTSE-100 listed postal service company floated they were priced at 330p.
Unlike the competition, and under the Postal Services Act 2011 which allowed it to be privatised, RM is obliged to deliver to everyone across the UK for the same price, and this universal service was protected under the Act until at least 2021. Royal Mail Chief Executive Moya Greene has described this obligation as 'precious.' But now it is urging Ofcom, the industry regulator, to re-assess the rules.
Potential changes could mean RM only delivers five days a week, or gets given a subsidy. In many areas, last collections of the day are already being made at earlier times.
In particular, arch rival Whist, previously TNT, could see Royal Mail's revenue plummet by £200m in as little as three years. It now delivers to doorsteps in some bigger cities, but not in rural parts of the country or on a daily basis.
To add to Royal-Mail's woes, in the first half of the year, the volume of letters sent fell by 3%, although this was better than the expected 4-6% decrease, and revenue from letter deliveries rose by 1% as increased prices offset the fall in volume.
At the same time, Ms Greene insisted (RM) was "fully prepared" for Christmas, clearly the busiest time in Royal Mail's year, following heavy investment in new technology over the last three years.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8836985
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