Passing it on, paying it forward

Sorry for the delay, I've been discussing several things in online forums this past week. One person, I do not know if they were male of female, put forth the idea that deaf people felt a sense of entitlement. I spent the better part of my Sunday morning blasting their argument out of the blogosphere. Part of me wanted to show what I wrote. I still might, but the person who owns the blog might be offended if I simply posted all of that thread here. The writer in me is saying; 'plagiarism=bad'.
Yes, I can't plagiarize myself, but it was for a different audience.
 Instead, I'll give you snippets of a different post I wrote. What's surprising is how much of it can be universally applied.

When I had a job interview, they fell into one of two categories. The first one is where my hearing came up, If I had to ask them to repeat the question, or I misinterpreted a word, the game was up. (and yes, it was a game.) The second category is where I lip read the interviewer successfully. Guess which one I got called back on? Every potential employer will say the same thing: Discrimination is against the law. Speeding is also against the law, but people do it anyway. Unfortunately, proving they discriminated is almost impossible. It boils down to their word against yours. It's no surprise the unemployed deaf are bitter. Another observation is that it is very easy to fall into the trap of blaming your disability. 'Oh man, they didn't hire me because I was deaf!'
No, the reason they didn't hire you was because of your poor performance in the interview. First impressions are critical!
Yes, I'm the smartest man for the job, and here's why:
Yes, I am the hardest working employee you will ever have. (and here's why!)
Keep in mind: employers are always looking at the bottom line. Does it cost a few dollars more? They won't go for it.
I've said it elsewhere, being deaf doesn't define me. There is so much more to me than this little hiccup of a thing. That's the way I had to play it.
Yes: I had to trick the interviewer by passing myself off as a hearing person. It took a lot of practice. In hindsight, they may have said; 'There's something about him... I can't place it.' But I showed them that I was more than capable of doing the job.
Never late, worked harder than my hearing co-workers. Made the extra effort (especially when the boss was looking.) I had to go the distance just to prove I was as good as everyone else.
Those first nine points that were covered in the original post are worth printing out and taping it to your mirror before the interview.
Are they going to hire you because you're deaf? No.
They will hire you because you are friendly, positive, smart and an interesting person.
I know it's tough. I've been in your situation. If you want the situation to change, be the person who can bring about that change.

These are the nine points I mentioned in my rant. They apply to everyone.
 
1. Dress professionally & behave appropriately in front of the hiring managers.
2. Be positive & energetic.
3. Try to put your problems aside & show them what you can do for a job.
4. Never, ever demand anything from them like asking for an ASL interpreter.
5. Always be kind & smile...a lot!
6. Believe in yourself. If you don't, no one else will.
7. Always be prepared to answer why they should hire you or why you're a better candidate.
8. Use your common sense & think about what they look for in an applicant.
9. Be strong & aggressive but not in a mean way!

Tony Robbins couldn't have said it better.
 

Short post

This won't make the news, but it did cross my computer screen. They spotted another asteroid. 2003 DZ15 whizzed by Monday night. The closest approach was about 8:30 eastern standard time. Here read the whole article, I'll wait...
Yes, we're getting better at spotting these near earth objects. The 2003 in the name was when we first noticed it. Like the article says, we're safe... this time. More than likely we will be safe the next time it passes us in 2057. Odds are something will hit us sooner or later. The question is what are we going to do about it? Face it, we're living in a cosmic pinball machine. Eventually we're gonna get smacked.
The Chelyabinsk meteor was chump change by comparison. If a meteor the size of DZ15 hit us, it wouldn't be an extinction level event, but it would sure as hell make life tough for us. The herd would definitely be culled. I'm not going all gloom and doom here, but we need to get off our collective butts and do something. And if we're talking about putting our money where our mouth is, then yes, our tax money would be well spent if we came up with a plan to turn an asteroid away from Earth. Better now than before it's too late. Oh, and whatever it is, leave Bruce Willis out of the plan. I just want to say it now:
Called it.

Try not to have a headache

It is my deepest belief that we can consciously control our bodies at the cellular level. Hear me out, please.
Subconsciously our body knows what nutrients it needs. A long time ago, I heard a story concerning a woman with a new born baby. The baby was crying very hard and no amount of holding, feeding, or rocking would satisfy the child. One of the nurses asked the mother if she had any cravings during pregnancy. The mother replied without hesitation. "I had to have Avocados," she said.
The nurse obtained some guacamole from the hospital cafeteria and dabbed a fingerful of the mashed vegetable into the baby's mouth.
The child immediately stopped crying.

I believe we need mental nourishment as well as physical sustenance.
We've all heard about monks practising meditation who can slow their heartbeat down. Doctors have told us about high blood pressure correlating to stressful lifestyles and situations. When someone says, 'It's all in your head.' They're not that far off from the truth. Stress and pressure are self imposed. A person can be under a lot of pressure, be it from a stressful job or or demanding too much of themselves. We've all done this, myself included. Wigging out from a situation that we have little control over. Sorry, the world does not revolve around you.

One of the biggest things we can do to alleviate stress is to simply decide to let it go. We tell ourselves different things, but it amounts to the same thing. 'Give it up to God.' is one of my wife's favorite sayings. I prefer letting things be. Karma. 
It's not the same as not caring. There are things I can and can't control. Just by keeping an open mind and a positive outlook, one can eliminate 90% of your personal problems.
A lot of my friends and family attend church. Many times in the past, I've confessed to the fact I'm not religious. However, I do feel spiritual. We are not the highest rung on the evolutionary ladder. You can make the argument about humans being in the top five. I'll go along with that.
The concept of pre-defined roles: 'You are who you are, and will never be more than that.' My mind rejected that idea back when I was a kid.
I don't need religion to tell me right from wrong. My moral compass is stronger than it's ever been. Deep down, we all can tell right from wrong. We can grow and mature as a sentient beings. To be more than what people perceive. That's why we need morality plays and stories. We can see the human drama unfold on a stage and make the decision to be better than that in our lives.
Some where deep inside of us, resides a spark... A god particle... A soul... We need to listen to that which is inside of us. Daily, weekly, How ever often we feel the need to do so. Turn your attention to what matters in your heart. Be the best person you can be. To thine own self be true.

The code

How we behave is a good indicator of what kind of person you are. Do you act outgoing and friendly? How is your handshake? Where are your eyes looking when you talk to someone. What does your body language say to others? I want to tell you about a man I just read about. James Owens is a public speaker and he's published a few books on the cowboy way and how it applies to modern life. How many of the following guidelines do we follow in our day to day life?

• Live each day with courage
• Take pride in your work
• Always finish what you start
• Do what has to be done
• Be tough, but fair
• When you make a promise, keep it.
• Ride for the brand
• Talk less and say more
• Remember some things are not for sale.
• Know where to draw the line.

A lot of us live our lives by these rules and don't think twice about it. Some of those rules are harder than others, it's all situational.
Even getting out of bed and facing the day can take all kinds of courage. Always face your fears. You may face them on your own terms, but face them nonetheless.
People can say you have a strong work ethic because you take pride in your work, even if that job is bagging groceries. Do it and do it well. Don't leave a job half-assed.
You may not enjoy it, but there are unpleasant things that will always have to be done. Those grease traps aren't going to clean themselves.
If you are a parent, you know all about being tough, but fair. I said something to my oldest child before she left this morning. My wife thought it was uncalled for, perhaps it was. I'll stand by what I said though and try not to look like a hypocrite. That means I'll be doing some chores around the house this weekend.
When I say I'm going to do something, I make an honest attempt to accomplish it. If for some reason I'm unsuccessful, I usually find my way back to the person I spoke with and explain what happened. You'd be surprised at what happens when you do that.
The first time I read the sentence about 'riding for the brand', I had to think about that one. My take on that one is about being loyal. Part of my speech to new people I work with goes something like, 'If you are going to work here, then work.'
We could all do with talking less and saying more. I've touched base on that other times, but it is worth repeating.
I could fill a whole blog post on things I can't put a price on, and so could you if you think about it.
Knowing where to draw the line depends on the situation. When I find myself saying, 'Enough!' that is where the line gets drawn. No more of this wishy-washy stuff. Tell yourself: Here, Now. That is when things get done.
  
 

Second wind kicking in

Got a vaccination today. It seems I run a higher than average chance of getting pneumonia than the next guy due to my implant. Something else I wasn't aware of. At least it's not an oil change or transmission leak...
Minion #1 is heading to Nebraska to visit her best friend. Seems like my kids are doing all the travelling this summer and dear ol' Dad gets to stay and guard the secret base. When did that start happening? Whenever I start talking like Dr. Evil, my wife rolls her eyes and says, 'Get that pinky away from your mouth.'
Ah, the dog days of summer are upon us. I've got those passes to the movies around here somewhere. Perhaps it's time for the wife and I to have a date.
I can't imagine it being any other way.
Did you know last week was the 44th anniversary of the Apollo 11 landing on the moon?
Earlier in the year they found something on the ocean floor. Part of an engine from a Saturn V rocket. Guess what mission? 
I'm not upset that we are discovering history here. All of our astronauts are heroes in my book. My question is: Why did we stop?
I'm not alone in asking that question. There are people who are doing there own thing about exploring and colonizing the solar system.
Jeff Bezos, the CEO at Amazon is doing something.
Let's not forget to mention the folks over at Virgin Galactic and their spaceport.
The people behind SpaceX have been busy as well.
My point here is we need to be focusing on these private enterprises. Share their victories and celebrate the triumphs... and yes, console them in the setbacks that are part and parcel of this monumental undertaking.
Gentlemen, I salute you.
Being a pilot or astronaut may not be in the cards for me, but I will do my part to encourage others to join in your reach for the stars.

In a completely unrelated event. One part of my job is I have to take used appliances out to be recycled. Today I had to run over a fiberglass ladder with the forklift. Maybe it's just me, but hasn't anybody wondered what running over something on purpose would be like?

Answer: It was cool.

 

Cure for the summer time blues

I wrote a post last night. Before I hit the publish button, I gave it a last read. It was a little long winded, especially for me. For the most part the rant was about all the negative and bad stuff I was dealing with. While it seems therapeutic to get it out of my system, I didn't need to burden you guys with it.
We all have trouble paying our bills. We all have to stretch the money to the breaking point. Every last one of us has an evil pointy haired boss to deal with. In some cases, several clueless managers.
I'm not wasting my energy on those people, they are not worth the stress. So I hit delete and decided to focus on the good stuff.
I got a rejection letter from Strange Horizons. While some people may see that as a bad thing, I don't. Someone read my story. It's one person's opinion. There are roughly 7 billion other opinions out there. People have used their rejection letters as wall paper. There are rumors of letters having been used as toilet paper. I'm not that desperate or spiteful, but I do appreciate the irony.
One thing my Clark Kent job is useful for: The job is fairly monotonous and I use the spare brain cells to come up with new stories. The trick is to write them down before the idea gets lost in the mental paperwork bureaucracy.
Somewhere in my budget I'm going to get a t-shirt with the following printed on it.
I'm filling in until Bradbury gets back.
Will that upset people when I show up at the con wearing that? Are folks going to accuse me of having an ego? More than they already are? No one is going to toot your horn for you. If it hasn't already been proven, I don't listen to critical naysayers. They're trying to bring me down to their level. Excuse me while I go out and make my own luck.
 
   

Damned if you do, damned if you don't

Two years ago, the water pipe in our front yard sprang a leak. Like any DIY homeowner, I dug up the faulty pipe and connected the appropriate length of PVC to it. I'm up to my elbows in water and mud when a car approaches. It was the friendly city ordinance people. She wrote me a ticket for my vehicle parked in my driveway. Having my car block the side walk was against the rules of the ever-so-helpful neighbourhood ass-ociation. Try to imagine that scene. I've got an unwanted fountain in my front yard surrounded by a water filled hole. A decent layer of mud coating me, including my arms. And there is the meter maid fairy writing me a ticket.
Now if I started to cuss her out she'd tune me out while she put the ticket on my truck. My temper is something I have to keep in check constantly, and although this would be a perfectly acceptable time to vent my anger, I instead attacked her psyche with sarcasm and mental warfare. Starting with 'You have got to be kidding me.' and working my way up to 'Why are you here? Are the real crooks too hard to catch? I work for a living, you ought to try it sometime.'
Not nice things to say, but I was pissed at someone who's nit picking when I'm on my knees getting filthy.
Bottom line: If I'm paying the fine, I should get to chew the lady out. Getting singled out and punished like that, I'm gonna get my ten dollars worth. 
To avoid incidents in the future, I now park in the street. This morning I noticed broken plastic near my truck. My front light was smashed in. No apparent damage to the body, just the light. Now I'll have to get that fixed before the month is out, I'd never pass inspection now. No matter where I park, eventually something bad happens. I need to talk to my neighbours. I'll be nice, but the bigger chunks of my headlight are spread out near their driveway.

Headlight works...

Turn signal doesn't

Well now that I look at it, that dent above the light is new. Seems I need to talk to someone. One more thing I have to deal with. Once, just once, I'd like somebody to own up to the hit and run accidents.
My mailbox gets hit on average once a year. I wake up one morning to bricks scattered across my front yard. I've called the police and filed reports.
Currently I'm on mailbox 4.0. 
The first time, they dragged my trash can that had been left out the night before. Never did find it. The next time the police found a hubcab belonging to a Toyota.
The next rebuild I did involved a metal pole in cement, lots of dirt and gravel. My logic being they take my mailbox, I'm taking their axle. I figured they forfeited their breathing privileges when they jumped the curve. That sounds callous, but the cops couldn't do anything. My neighbourhood ass-ociation is only good for shaking their heads and saying, 'you got hit again?'
As always, Carol got me around to her way of thinking. I took out the pipe and gravel and rebuilt it so it was hollow. Good thing too, because a few months later some dude smashes into it with his Harley. A friend was staying with us and saw the whole thing out the kitchen window. So stunned was this fellow he came up and rang our doorbell to apologize. (I'll give him points for that.) His mistake was trying to leave when my friend called the cops. My friend happened to be a black belt and prevented him from taking off before the cops got here. I so bought him lunch for that.
Last neighbourhood ass-ociation meeting I went to I told them point blank: Let me turn my mail box into an asshole trap. It will only have to work once.
I've said it before: It's time to thin the herd. Let stupidity be lethal.