This Needs To STOP

    Been real lax recently; sorry about that. 

    Had two people leave my work; I was going to talk about that, but decided to bypass that right now, due to the recent incident at Michigan State University.

     On February 13, 2023 three students were killed and five others injured by a gunman in two buildings on the campus of Michigan State University in East Lansing. One, John Hao, a student from China, is paralyzed from the waist down. The other survivors conditions right now are unknown. Hao's family, who do not speak English, have been devastated financially due to the Covid lockdowns, but are still coming to Michigan to see him. Luckily, a GoFundMe has been started to help. Hopefully, it goes well.

      As of this writing, there have been 67 school shootings in the U.S. since Jan.1, 2023. Look at the date of this post. 67 school shootings, in less than 60 days. Do the math.
       Why? Simple. Because the people who could help stop this madness, operate under a simple plan:
"If it's not MY problem, it's not A problem!" Until they know of the same loss that these other families feel personally, nothing's going to change. They don't want it to, because it interferes with their bank accounts. They don't want to lose whatever cred they think they have with their 'Base', no matter what. It will go on, and nothing will be done.

        By the way, arming the staff in school will NOT help. Why? Because as any smart gun owner will tell you, some people should just not have them. Someone WILL drop it, lose it, leave it out, forget it - and someone will be hurt needlessly by it. It's a near-guarantee.
         Want to know the best way to help stop this from happening, or at least make it more difficult for it to happen? STOP THEM FROM ENTERING THE BUILDING IN THE FIRST PLACE. Lock the doors, keep them closed, use badges to enter - you know, actual security measures. Hire  security people to keep an eye out. And don't tell me, "We don't have the money!" FIND IT. Push the severity of the situation during school board meetings, elections, anytime and anywhere you can, to get the point across. "But, my taxes!!" So? Which is more important to you, being able to go out to eat a couple more times a week, or children's lives? Not the kids? Justify your decision. Tell a grieving parent why your buying a large ice cream is more important than the child they lost. I dare you.

          A representative from Michigan, Rajeev Puri, released an official statement concerning the MSU incident. I agree, 100% percent.
          (By the way......guess what part of the letter, people had the most issue with...?

Last of 2022. Just a quick one.

   My last post of 2022. Well well well. :)

   I know I've been lax - things come up, and time gets short. In fact, I had several ideas I was going to talk about, but they were somewhat 'seasonal' and it's too late now (no one wants to hear about Christmas stuff after it's over. Maybe next year...). However, I *can* talk about...
   Resolutions. As in, New Year's.
  As in, I don't do them.

   Now, I get the whole 'New year/New Slate' thing; people sometimes need a little push to get themselves to do something: get a new job, lose weight, quit smoking, etc. They see the start on the new year as a fresh start - something to get them up and running! To get them energized! To Get Things DONE!!
   Not me.
   For me, I don't need an excuse to start (or end) something around January 1st. If I want to do it, I do it. I don't need a calendar to decide that for me. If the mood strikes me in July, well then, that's good enough. If I have to wait a bit before I can get it started (say, because of weather), then I'll wait until I can do it as soon as possible. You see, I'm a bit of a procrastinator; I need to get motivated to do something as soon as I can, so I can get it finished. Otherwise, who knows how long it's going to take? Plus, if I start something, then stop at a  certain point, it might take me a bit to pick it up again. And when that happens, I feel the need to rush it, which isn't always good. I'm a lot better about things now, though. Maybe because I'm older, and make myself plan my time better. But, sooner started, sooner finished.

  That's one of the reasons why I pass on resolutions. I put stuff off enough without them. Who knows how long I'd put them off with them?
 

Ho Ho NO!

  As I write this, it's early November in 2022. Hallowe'en just ended, midterm elections are coming up, Thanksgiving is in a few weeks, and (no real surprise) Christmas things are a-happening.
   
   Like just about every kid, there was a time when I loved Christmas; time off from school, the lights, snow, and of course, presents! It's great when you're younger. But, as you get older, things change somewhat. Work might let you have some time off (retail, not so much; and with the ability of working from home, you "don't need time off!"), you have to hang the lights yourself (after untangling them, of course), you have to shovel the snow yourself if you can't make or pay anyone to do it, and you have to buy and wrap the gifts. Not as much fun as it was in the past, is it?

   I'm not that into Christmas anymore...I don't hang lights, I don't really shop, and I find that it's just not as 'magical' as it once was. Maybe because I don't have children...or maybe because I once worked in retail, and have seen some things.
   Here's two examples of what I mean:

   In the early '80s, I worked in a local toy store. That in itself wasn't an issue. What was, was that the Cabbage Patch Kids first appeared. It was INSANE! Moms fighting other moms, people hanging around the loading dock to try and get us to "accidentally" drop a doll or two into their car...just unreal. If you've thought Tickle Me Elmo was madness, read this.
   
   The second, isn't so much something I've experienced, but always happens happens every damn year.
   There is a coffee establishment that is known for various specialty coffee drinks. For a while, they would have 'festive holiday cups' with MERRY CHRISTMAS written on the sides. People make it a point to get these things just to show off. "Look at me! I'm FESTIVE!!!" Well, goody for you. I'd have never guessed...what with your Christmas sweater, Christmas leggings, Christmas novelty hat, Christmas light-up necklace, Christmas details on your car, etc. And now, you've got the cup! Congratulations! You've completed the Holiday Voltron!
   And then.....the writing on the cups stopped. They ended up with designs: trees, ornaments, reindeer, snowflakes (much like the Holiday people). But no holiday greetings. Madness! Insanity! How will we know if someone is festive or not? How will someone know that *I* am festive, without the cup?!?! NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
   So, what did they do? Just drink the coffee in the non-festive cup, and be happy they have coffee? Why, no! "Boycott!" "Law suit!" "Protest!" And my favourite? "When you get a drink, tell them your name is 'Merry Christmas'! That way, they'll have to call out 'Merry Christmas'! GENIUS!!!" Morons.
 
   Look, as long as the cup isn't racist, homophobic, or sexist, I don't care what's on the outside. It's on the inside that counts. Much like people. Lead by example during the Holiday season. 'Peace on Earth, good will towards men (or humanity, if you prefer)' shouldn't be just a saying. Live it all year round.

   It's what the cups would want us to do.

Yes, another thing about work.....

 Well well well. Yet another work post. Will they never end? :)
Probably not...

   Recently, we've had yet another person let go. Just your standard No Call No Show. Seems that on a Wednesday, he called to say that his car wouldn't start. Okay, fine. But on Thursday and Friday, nothing. Not a call or text; just silence. Shows up on Monday, with no explanation. Seems that the contract service he belongs to (yes, we contract people for work, with the object to hire them eventually) didn't let him know not to come back, since there was no explanation at all for the absence. Our supervisor contacted them, and told them what was up, and to call him to tell him. They did, and he's gone.
   Now, another contract person - our last one, by the way - has pulled a few attendance 'tricks' as well: last minute call-ins, "Oh, I forgot to tell you", and the latest one: "I'll be there later. No, I don't know when." Followed up by: "I'll be there around 8:30." Then: "Nine o'clock." Then: "Stuck in traffic. When I get there I'll get there." Which he did. At 9:45.
   At the moment, he have someone out for medical issues; they should be back soon. But when people pull stuff like this, it screws us up and pushes other things back that we need to do.It doesn't help that these two still live at home, and don't need too much money it seems. The second person will probably be gone next week (just a thought). Which would not surprise me, but still screws us over. Attendance is IMPORTANT, people! just saying...
   
   Speaking of which...

I've mentioned before about our gift card program(which is currently on hold because of whining); it was just something our shop was doing. Now, though, the company has one in place that awards good attendance. Surprise, huh? The idea is, every quarter the names of people with good attendance are put together, and one is drawn. That person gets a $250 gift card. I've been in it the two times it's been done; missed out on the first, but won the second. It's company-wide, so you would think that with over 100 names, it would be difficult. But you'd be wrong.
   The first time, only 6 were eligible.
   The second time, 4.
   Now, this takes into account approved days off (like say, for a vacation). You'd be eligible for it for that. Call-ins, for being sick or otherwise, no. It's not that hard, people: show up, and you'd get a chance. But even then, people have a hard time at it.


   Some would fall back on the old "No one wants to work anymore!!!" thing, but I think it's more like "I want to earn money, but I want to do it my own way, without rules! You're lucky to have me here at all!" Well, no, we aren't. YOU'RE lucky we decided to give you a chance. Yes, there are rules, but they're there for a reason: to make sure you show up, and do the work you're here to do. You don't like it? Fine. Don
't be here then. Yes, it will inconvenience us, but we'll make it work. Just remember that eventually, you'll have to work *somewhere*. And follow their rules. Yes, it will be a pain, but if you're lucky, you'll benefit from it. Trust me.


   Failing that, good luck winning the lottery someday....