FACEBOOK CAN COST YOU A JOB

Be careful what you post on social media. We’ve been hearing that for years—ever since Facebook began. And yet, some people still haven’t got the message. I have a friend who hires young people for jobs that don’t require a college degree. So how does he check them out? First, he’ll do a routine background check. But he doesn’t stop there. Before he’s even received that first report, he’s already googled the job seeker’s Facebook. There’s hardly a twenty something alive who doesn’t have an account. And he always turns down candidates with what he considers offensive posts.

What’s offensive? First and foremost, young women who post provocative pictures of themselves. It’s amazing how many do. “Hot” pictures of a woman in underwear with her tongue hanging out may attract a person hiring pole dancers. But for an ordinary position like a restaurant server or office clerk, it’s usually a deal breaker. You have to wonder what these girls are thinking. Are they hoping to attract a man? If they do, it’s going to be the wrong type. Like maybe an abuser or sex addict or even a serial killer.

The second worst turnoff is vulgar, four letter words or posters—especially if they’re accompanied by hostility. Who wants a potty mouthed, outspoken angry person working in their organization?

Political rants and raves may offend an employer who doesn’t share your views. Best wait until you’re safely retired to express your opinion about elected officials.

Sometimes, a job candidate won’t have a Facebook page. Or if they do, they don’t show their picture, and don’t post.. That’s not a good thing either. The person may or may not have something to hide. Actually, they could simply be a private person who isn’t comfortable posting on Facebook. But that doesn’t help a prospective employer at all. If he can’t find out a little bit more about you, he may hire the person who has a “good” Facebook page.

What attracts employers? Family pictures are always appealing. You love your mom and dad and brothers and sisters. You enjoy holiday gatherings. All of which means you’re a normal, caring human being. Next are sports and school pictures. Anyone who plays volleyball or tennis is probably in good health, and well disciplined. Vacation pictures show that you are well rounded and like to relax. Just don’t show yourself at a nude beach.

Be careful what you post on social media apps like Instagram, too.

Remember: Facebook can cost you a Job.

August 28, 2021August 28, 2021

WILL AMERICANS REALLY FORGET?

The horrifying explosion at the Kabul airport on 8/26/21 took the lives of 13 American servicemen and hundreds of Afghan citizens. Those of us living in the United States of America are viewing the evacuation of Afghanistan more like an abandonment. However, the politicians advising the president have publicly stated that they’re not worried at all, because “people don’t vote on foreign policy.” When several Afghanistan men fell to their death from an airplane while trying to escape, Biden shrugged and said , “that happened yesterday.” They’re betting that voters care more about the size of their 40lKs than the misguided evacuation of Afghanistan as we exit the war. But you have to wonder. Will Americans really forget?

The president’s advisors are comparing the Afghan withdrawal to the evacuation of Saigon at the end of the Vietnam war. However the two events cannot be compared.

According to Wikipedia ” the capture of the city was preceded by Operation Frequent Wind, the evacuation of almost all American civilian and military personnel in Saigon, along with tens of thousands of South Vietnamese civilians who had been associated with the Republic of Vietnam. A few Americans chose not to be evacuated. United States ground combat units had left South Vietnam more than two years prior to the fall of Saigon and were not available to assist with either the defense of Saigon or the evacuation. The evacuation was the largest helicopter evacuation in history. In addition to the flight of refugees, the end of the war and the institution of new rules by the communists contributed to a decline in the city’s population.^”

There was no Operation Frequent Wind when Biden announced we were withdrawing from the Afghanistan War by August 31. In fact, he turned over the names of Americans and Afghan helpers to the Taliban, actually believing that would insure the safety of those fleeing the country. It’s hard to believe that anyone with an ounce of common sense would be so gullible. Much less the President of the United States and his Generals.

Biden has threatened : “We will hunt you down and make you pay.” But how is he going to do that without continuing the war in Afghanistan? They launched a drone strike Friday night against some Isis stronghold, but it seems like a tepid move than doesn’t compensate for the horrific loss of life at the Kabul airport.

What will happen in the next election? Consumer sentiment has dropped to its lowest point since 2011. Will Americans really forget the administration’s bungled evacuation plan when exiting the Afghan War? Will we care more about the size of our bank accounts, than the tragedy of August 26? Are we really that materialistic and shallow? It remains to be seen.

August 25, 2021

FARMERS MARKETS HELP WEIGHT CONTROL

Farmers Markets Help Control Weight — Farmers Markets Help Weight Control. Summer is the best time to lose weight.

We Hoosiers have been blessed this summer. Lots of rain, and abundant crops. Which means farmers markets have a lavish array of fresh produce. Vine ripened, red and yellow tomatoes. Sweet, juicy cantaloupe and watermelon. Fresh picked corn. Peppers. Some are even selling colorful bouquets of coxcomb flowers to decorate your living room and take your mind off food. Now is the best time of year to try and lose weight. Farmer’s markets help weight control by providing us with the best “diet” food on earth.

There are a few unfortunate people who don’t like tomatoes. I’m not one of them. I keep a basketful in my kitchen. When you get the hungries, slice a tomato, add a little salt, and any cravings for high calorie snacks disappear. Here’s the good news: One small tomato has only 15 calories. Tomatoes are a source of the antioxidant lycopene, which has been linked to many health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. They also provide vitamin C, potassium, folate, and vitamin K.

Sweet corn is a great substitute for potatoes. A baked potato has 161 calories vs. 59 calories for an ear of corn. Butter will add extra calories to both. Caution: Do not overcook corn. If you do, it will taste tough and starchy. Boil for no more than 15 minutes.

Some folks are allergic to watermelon, but most aren’t. One problem is that they’re so big, it’s a challenge to consume the whole melon while still fresh. But as I mentioned in my blog last month, it can be frozen in chunks to use in smoothies. There are only 49 calories in a cup of watermelon, but it has a high water content, which makes you feel full. And it has beneficial nutrients like Vitamins A and C.

Zucchini squash isn’t one of my favorite veggies, but it’s colorful and crisp.. When serving dip to guests, substitute zucchini slices for potato chips. Did you know that 10 potato chips have 100 calories, while 10 zucchini slices have almost none?

Thank heaven for local farmers help with weight control. Fill your tummy with fresh fruits and veggies, and you’re bound to lose a few pounds.

August 23, 2021August 26, 2021

POVERTY’S FACE IN A COLLEGE TOWN

Educated people have higher incomes and better health habits, statistically speaking. Therefore, in a town with 5 colleges or institutions of higher education, our city should be thriving. But we’re not. The poverty rate is 26%, and according to the latest census, our population is dwindling. The juxtaposition of highly educated people with the poor and homeless continues to puzzle our leaders. If you drive through the city, you will see poverty’s face in a college town:

Walking past the library is a man holding a can of pop in his left hand, and a cigarette in the other. Across the street, a woman puffs away while wandering aimlessly. You turn the corner and drive into the inner city. There’s been a lot of effort to restore old properties, and government subsidized housing in run down neighborhoods. But it’s not enough. You’re still seeing deteriorating houses, porches filled with ripped , moldy furniture. Stray shopping carts. Homeless folks squatting outside the CVS store. People walking on crumbling side walks or through alleys filled with pot holes. Where are they going? Walking to the Dollar Store, maybe. Or perhaps to a church soup kitchen. Many are on some type of government assistance. They’re either too sick to work, or too uneducated or unskilled to hold any type of job. Some have mental health or drug addiction problems.

A few movers and shakers have made a valiant effort to improve our city’s optics. They’ve commissioned outdoor sculptures, and implemented a back- to -the- river project to enhance the area around the Wabash River—our most underutilized asset, at this point. They’ve even built a new convention center.

Put lipstick on a pig, and it’s still a pig. . There’s something wrong. Possibly it starts with the attitude of the “old guard.” People who’ve lived here all their lives, comfortable with their lovely homes, club memberships, and closed circles of family and friends

And then, there’s the CSX railroad terminal, which pollutes the city with high levels of diesel fuel. The town has 40 railway crossings, and none of them are pretty. There’s nothing aesthetically appealing about waiting while a long, ugly freight train rumbles by, or even decides to stop and regroup, creating mile long traffic stalls.

Our city is about to receive 38 million dollars in post covid-19 stimulus money, but the politicians haven’t decided what to do with it. Seems to me that if we want to improve our quality of life, we should start at the bottom and work our way up. Maybe open a center in the city’s core where the wandering smokers and pop drinkers can find some respite or free, walk-in counseling. Offer healthy snacks (no pop machines, please). Show videos on nutrition and smoking cessation. In a town full of educated people, we have to stop turning a blind eye to the misery right under our noses.

Poverty’s face in a college town in unfathomable.

August 21, 2021August 21, 2021

EXISTENTIAL IS BIDEN’S FAVORITE WORD

Lawyers and politicians are often accused of “blowing smoke.” Which means they talk in circles or use words that sound erudite, but no one really understands. All with the hope of diverting the listeners attention away from a serious concern. Sometimes, they like to explain away difficult situations by saying something is an “existential” crisis. Existential is Biden’s favorite word. But does anyone know what it actually means ?

Why couldn’t he simply say, “The Afghan people are scared to death they’re going to get killed by the Taliban? ” Yeah, they’ve got an existential crisis, all right. Many of us have existential problems. Like, when your house goes up in flames, or you get hit by a train. You start to wonder if you’re going to keep on living. If you survive, someone may ask how you’re doing. Would you say you’re going through hell? Or simply respond that you’re having an existential crisis?

Actually, I think Biden copied the expression from Obama. As an example, in a 2014 speech to West Point Graduates. Obama said “We don’t face an existential crisis, We don’t face a civil war. We don’t face a Soviet Union that is trying to rally a bloc of countries that could threaten our way of life.”

That sounded fairly impressive. Very intellectual –calm, cool and collected. It must have been reassuring to the people in the audience. . Only things didn’t turn out so well, since our country has been on the brink of a civil war for the past few years.

Overall, I think the expression is used in an effort to gloss things over. We unenlightened human beings are admonished not to worry—it’s just an existential crisis. Which means there’s nothing can be done. The ultimate cop out.

Existential is a pretty hi-falutin word . If you look it up on the internet, you’ll see it has different meanings. While it’s defined as a concern about existence, it’s also described as: ” a chiefly 20th century philosophical movement embracing diverse doctrines but centering on analysis of individual existence in an unfathomable universe, and the plight of the individual who must assume ultimate responsibility for acts of free will without any certain knowledge of what is right or wrong or good or bad.”

Confused? No wonder existential is Biden’s favorite word.

August 18, 2021August 20, 2021

FEELING THOSE AUGUST BLUES?

Have you been feeling more than a little anxious lately? Or maybe a bit depressed? What’s wrong, you wonder. You look out the window and see flowers blooming, and the sun shining. That’s should make you happy, but it doesn’t. Take comfort in the fact that you’re not alone. You’re feeling those August Blues.

Psychologists have various explanations. First of all, you’re sick and tired of the heat and humidity. The hot weather was fun at first. You could walk through the park, go on picnics, and watch the fireworks on the 4^th of July. But come August, there’s nothing much to look forward to, and Labor Day seems a long way off. Many people are posting pictures of their wonderful vacations. But you’re stuck at home for various reasons. Everyone seems to be having fun but you.

Worse yet, in the middle of August, fall allergies start to kick in. Sneezing, and feelings of fatigue are dragging you down. The various antihistamines offer some relief, but all come with side effects. You’re either groggy or wired, depending on what you decide to take. All you can hope for is the first frost, which kills the nasty pollen. But with global warming, that day may not come until November. So you’re facing a couple of months of taking meds and feeling woozy.

August is also a time for going back to school, which may trigger bad memories. That was often a difficult time for many of us who dreaded the routines, the interaction with “mean girls,” and the loss of freedom that comes with in-person schooling.

This month, the outlook for the Covid-19 epidemic seems dismal. Last summer, we thought it would all be over by now. But it’s getting worse with the delta variant that’s caused a surge in hospitalizations.

And now, there’s the bad news coming out of Afghanistan. No matter how you felt about our involvement in the war, you can’t help but mourn the way it’s turned out. The abrupt withdrawal, with men falling to their death from airplanes while trying to escape. The cruel fate awaiting women. The executions and beheadings. This is like reading The Diary of Anne Pfrank. How can this be happening in our modern world?

According to psychologists, summertime depression often brings insomnia, loss of appetite, weight loss and feelings of agitation or anxiety.

Like any other form of depression, you can use various coping mechanisms. Meditation. Yoga. Distractions. Self Care. You might even seek counseling. Meanwhile, you’re feeling those August Blues.

August 16, 2021August 16, 2021

CROSS COUNTRY MEET INSPIRES HOPE

According to recent polls, nearly 80% of Americans are feeling fearful and angry. The issues that provoke these feelings are the coronavirus pandemic, the economic downturn, the Afghanistan retreat, and civil unrest spreading across America’s cities. Last year at this time, we thought things would be better by the summer of 2021. But they’re not. We thought the vaccine would take us back to normal. Trouble is, half of our citizens refuse to get vaccinated, so we’re back to the crisis level. Hospitals are filling up once again with cases of the delta strain. After a year and a half of misery, we’re discouraged, and worried how it’s all going to affect our grandkids . But yesterday, I felt an emotion I hadn’t experienced for a long time. Seeing my grandsons running their hearts out at cross country filled me with optimism. Attending a state wide cross country meet inspires hope.

These boys and girls have been in lockdown at a time when they should have been going to class, attending parties, seeing their friends and having a carefree teenage life. The only thing I can compare it to is my own teenage years following World War II. Although we weren’t so isolated, we grew up scared. I remember waking up at night, hearing the sound of a distant train, worried that the Germans were coming. Our brothers, fathers, uncles and cousins went to war and often didn’t come back.. Some of them endured torture in Japanese prison camps. No wonder we became the “silent generation.”

Silent generation characteristics included interpersonal respect, self sacrifice, determination and most importantly, resilience. Those same characteristics are required to participate in cross country.

Cross Country Meet Inspires Hope. Our children are resilient. — Cross Country Meet Inspires Hope. Our children are emerging from the pandemic strong and resilient.

Yesterday, thousands of boys and girls throughout Indiana raced across the grass , and returned covered with sweat. Some of them did very well and came in close to the top. However, others came in toward the end. But here’s the thing. I was in a place where I could watch them returning from the race. There was an incredible camaraderie and affection in the air. Slower runners congratulated those who’d made better time. There didn’t seem to be many winners or losers. Kids walked with their arms around each other. Parents and grandparents glowed with pride. The sun was shining, It was a beautiful day filled with the joy, love, and hope.

I predict the “covid” generation will share some of the same characteristics of the silent generation. The previous “me” generations had everything handed to them, and didn’t have to worry about going to war. Generally speaking, they were spoiled and unappreciative of what they had. My grandchildren know that life is unpredictable, and they have learned to deal with that. In some ways, they are more mature than their parents were at the same age. These are the children who will grow up to lead our country in the years to come. And the lessons they have learned will serve this nation well.

Want to feel hopeful again? Come out for a high school cross country meet.