Christmas is a time of peace, yet it’s the time when people get upset, insulted, outraged, and argumentative about two words. Yes, we’re into the debate of “Merry Christmas” vs. “Happy Holidays.” The priest in this video takes an approach (which I heartily agree with) that the Reason for the Season Himself would probably take. It’s something to consider before we start issuing the greeting in question to everyone we meet.
We’re getting into the season of love, when we feel the urge to give and share and make the lives of others brighter. We buy gifts for loved ones and give money to charities. We may even break our long-standing rule and give a buck to the homeless person standing outside the grocery store.
But we can also personalize and humanize our help. Someone who knits or sews for relaxation can make items for a specific charity (new, handmade items are a treat). When you cook your specialty, double up and take the extra to someone who is sick or living alone. Bake your favorite cookies, muffins, or scones to take to a shelter. Go to the movies often? Brighten the life of someone on limited income by treating him sometime, explaining that you’ll enjoy it more in his company. Like gardening? Help an elderly or disabled person plant a small, manageable garden at her home, then stop by often to admire its progress. If you unwind by doing auto repairs, volunteer to help get that laid-off neighbor’s car into running order.
The key is this: figure out what you do as a hobby, then share. You’ll find it more enjoyable—and more fulfilling—than ever before.
Thoughts are fleeting things–or are they? In today’s Thursday Thought quote, Gandhi challenges this idea.
What he thinks, he becomes.”
Ever been a restaurant server? If you or a loved one has, you know how hard the work is and that this is one of the worst-paid professions–often below minimum wage. You wouldn’t be able to make ends meet if you didn’t have tips.
Take away those tips and give them to the owners. That’s what wealthy restaurant owners, represented by the National Restaurant Association, has been trying to do for many years. And this year–in time for Christmas!–they have a good chance of success.
Why should we care if we aren’t part of that working group? Because the majority of restaurant workers are women and people of color who put up with frequent sexual harassment. Because of where the practice of tipping started–after emancipation, it was a way to avoid paying Black workers.
Only since 2012 has it been law that tips belong to the workers themselves. Now, though, the Dept. of Labor is pushing to give tips to the owners to keep or “pool” (meaning they dole out however much to whichever workers they choose).
Tell the Dept. of Labor that you think this is unfair and would hurt people who are struggling to make a living already. There’s a petition at https://act.credoaction.com/sign/tiptheft?t=7&akid=26387%2E7078302%2EA0Dubn
It’s a phrase that has recently become popular, although it is, by no means, new. It goes back to 1955, when the Quakers used it to urge our country to stand up to all forms of totalitarianism, especially fascism. (It was the title of one of their pamphlets.)
Today, it refers to holding a deep belief in what you say about injustice and using all nonviolent means to have people hear you. It’s standing up and speaking up, often (but not always) to government. “Speak truth to power” takes the courage of your convictions.
Too often the phrase is used to justify saying something to Authority that people in authority don’t want to hear.
But, for many, it’s intention is the same today as it was in the 1950s: to change our old thinking about violence and injustice; to reject both; and to embrace peace and justice. I like that idea very much.
Unneeded items in your suitcase add extra weight which affects your car’s gas mileage (and your plane-ticket price). There’s an iPhone/iPad app that facilitates smart packing for your family’s long or short trip. See https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/packing-pro/id312266675?mt=8. It will help you save money and help the Earth at the same time.
[For more easy, money-saving, Earth-friendly tips, download a FREE copy of Green Riches: Help the Earth & Your Budget. Go to www.Smashwords.com/books/view/7000 or your favorite e-book seller and download to your computer or e-book device. Totally free, with no strings attached.]
I’m sensitive about this because I come by all my reviews honestly, and a recent report by Chris Chmura of NBC Bay Area News Responds reminded me of how much this bugs me: the multitude of fake online reviews.
He pointed out that, according to Yelp, one quarter of their reviews are either biased or fake. That Facebook keeps trying–and failing–to solve the problem. And that Google is tight-lipped (but seemingly unsuccessful) about their attempts at curbing these bogus reviews. Yet, most of us continue to check to see what others have to say about a company we’re considering hiring.
Ah, the companies. Seems like it’s not just reviews from individuals with a grudge or promoting their relative’s business. Businesses hire people to do reviews for a specific company or even for a bunch of companies in the same line of work, in order to enhance that industry’s image (and revenue).
What can we do? Chris Chmura suggests looking at a reviewer’s profile. Don’t trust them if all their reviews are 5-star positive or very vague. Watch for brand-new reviewers, too, who are suddenly online posting a good number of reviews (maybe they’ve just been hired to do this?). Or people who seem to review only companies in a particular industry but in different cities and states (also hired?).
The government is suing these fakers when they can find them, but there are so many that it’s an uphill battle.
One more thing: you can file a complaint, find out about the latest fraud, and–only if you want to–sign up for fraud alerts at www.fraud.org.
Today’s Thursday Thought quote is a cost-free idea that is priceless.
“When you see something beautiful in a person, tell them. It may take seconds to say but for them, it could last a lifetime.” — The Purple Flower
Airbnb FINALLY realized that people with disabilities like to travel, too! And that we aren’t all the same–many of us need more than what they currently provide as “wheelchair accessible.”
They’ve just acquired a company specializing in accommodations for disabled travelers and will be including that company’s listings in their own, including indicating whether there are such barriers as steps or insufficiently wide doorways. Plus, they’re giving hosts a checklist of “accessibility needs” and making their service easier to use for the visually impaired.
Good move, Airbnb–for your bottom line and for millions of travelers with disabilities.
I hate to say it, but these guys being accused of sexual assault and misconduct MAY have a defense strategy, saying it was acceptable behavior “back then.” I’m talking about accusations of events happening decades ago, not ones in the relatively recent past (but someone would have to define that). It definitely isn’t right or moral, but that could very well be set aside.
It happened to me—the butt pats, uncomfortable arm around me, “accidental” breast-brushing, off-color comments about my appearance. But who could I complain to? Our male boss or his male boss? The men who observed and laughed about it? It wasn’t illegal, so the police would tell me it was just boys being boys, that they were showing their affection for and acceptance of me as a colleague, and I should be a good sport. Problem is, the attitude I attribute to the police was, in general, society’s attitude at that time.
I’m not trivializing what any woman has gone through. As I said, I’ve been there and know how it feels and the awkward, even professionally precarious position it puts a woman in. But I foresee lawyers arguing their clients’ cases, with the spin they’ll likely put on it. And the greater the number of older men who are accused, the easier the spin.
Let this be a warning to all “good old boys,” which, thankfully, are no longer the majority of men: times have changed, so be a good sport about it and change your ways.