Archive for December 18, 2017

A Different Look at “Merry Christmas”

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.

 

Expand Your Hobby this Season

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.

 

Thinking is Becoming

Thoughts are fleeting things–or are they?  In today’s Thursday Thought quote, Gandhi challenges this idea.

“A man is but the product of his thoughts.

What he thinks, he becomes.”

                                 Mahatma Gandhi

A Tip About Tips

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

Child Predator Grooming

Because we never know for sure who’s a sexual predator, it’s important that we know the signs of when one is “grooming” a child. Parents, grandparents, guardians, teachers, parishioners, neighbors–any of us adults who have children we care for and want to look out for…we all need to know the signs so we can keep our children safe.

Here’s a list of the basic steps a predator takes in the grooming process.  For an explanation of each, read the single-page fact sheet Behaviors of Sexual Predators: Grooming.

  • Targeting the victim.
  • Gaining the child’s trust.
  • Filling a need.
  • Isolating the child.
  • Sexualizing the interaction.
  • Maintaining control.

Six steps. That’s all it takes to ensnare a child.

One step–our intervention–is all it takes to save a child.

What the Heck Does “Speak Truth to Power” Mean?

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.

Save on Car and Plane Trips

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.]

Did You Review that Review?

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.

 

Thoughts from a Purple Flower

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

Silly? I Think Not!

My brain is tired of trying to solve big political, geo-political, environmental, and social problems.  So, today I invite you to join me in contemplating questions that some might think trivial–yea, even silly.  But don’t all questions deserve at least attempted answers?

[Thanks to Linda Younts for these.]

 

Do twins ever realize that one of them is unplanned?

What if my dog only brings back my ball because he thinks I like throwing it?

If poison expires, is it more poisonous or is it no longer poisonous?

Which letter is silent in the word “Scent,” the S or the C?

Why is the letter W, in English, called double U? Shouldn’t it be called double V?

If 2/2/22 falls on a Tuesday, can we just call it “2’s Day”?