24.2.06
my tiny little opinion on Wal-Mart
Wal-mart at least feigns to do right by their employees and loosen health care restrictions.
Part of me is happy.
Another part of me is enormously suspicious...
Part of me is happy.
Another part of me is enormously suspicious...
21.2.06
My very own Johari window
Arena(known to self and others) bold, intelligent, spontaneous | Blind Spot(known only to others) accepting, complex, dependable, friendly, helpful, independent, knowledgeable, loving, mature, patient, reflective, responsive, searching, self-assertive, sympathetic, trustworthy, warm, wise |
Façade(known only to self) adaptable, ingenious, witty | Unknown(known to nobody) able, brave, calm, caring, cheerful, clever, confident, dignified, energetic, extroverted, giving, happy, idealistic, introverted, kind, logical, modest, nervous, observant, organised, powerful, proud, quiet, relaxed, religious, self-conscious, sensible, sentimental, shy, silly, tense |
All Percentages
able (0%) accepting (50%) adaptable (0%) bold (33%) brave (0%) calm (0%) caring (0%) cheerful (0%) clever (0%) complex (50%) confident (0%) dependable (33%) dignified (0%) energetic (0%) extroverted (0%) friendly (16%) giving (0%) happy (0%) helpful (16%) idealistic (0%) independent (16%) ingenious (0%) intelligent (50%) introverted (0%) kind (0%) knowledgeable (16%) logical (0%) loving (33%) mature (16%) modest (0%) nervous (0%) observant (0%) organised (0%) patient (16%) powerful (0%) proud (0%) quiet (0%) reflective (33%) relaxed (0%) religious (0%) responsive (33%) searching (16%) self-assertive (16%) self-conscious (0%) sensible (0%) sentimental (0%) shy (0%) silly (0%) spontaneous (16%) sympathetic (16%) tense (0%) trustworthy (33%) warm (16%) wise (16%) witty (0%)
Created by the Interactive Johari Window on 21.2.2006, using data from 6 respondents.
You can make your own Johari Window, or view sarahgh's full data.
You can make your own Johari Window, or view sarahgh's full data.
15.2.06
Aren't there better things for our lawmakers to be doing?
On my daily lunch perusal of the Star Tribune, I came across this article which sort of makes me want to run through the corridors of our state capital head-butting certain state lawmakers.
Basically, some farm-boy dipshit from Marshall has passedthis law targeting MPR -- saying that they cannot have a particular funding grant unless they disclose the salaries of certain employees. MPR is standing their ground, saying that they already disclose salaries as IRS regulations dictate -- and shouldn't that be enough?
So, as a taxpayer and lifelong resident of this state, I have to say: what the f_ck?
1) Whether or not you like it, Mr. Republican-pants, the state gives away a LOT of money to FOR-PROFIT organizations who ridiculously overcompensate their top-level employees. Believe you me... I work in the for-profit sector in this state. People everywhere make PLENTY of money.
2) MPR doesn't rely on soullessmoney-grubbing advertisers to stay afloat; they are instead funded in large part by their membership base (myself, my husband, and several close friends included...). By the way -- those members? Citizens of the state. Don't you think we'd pipe up if we thought our money (dontations!) was going to inappropriate uses?
3) I seem to remember the state being sortof a crappy watchdog for non-profit misappropriation of taxpayer funds in the first place -- didn't some massive insurance companies just get in trouble not so long ago? Wasn't it our state's Attorney General who nailed that little conspiracy? I'm not too trusting here.
4) Has anyone compared what the for-profit radio station execs make compared to the non-profit? Just a guess, but I'd stake money and reputation that there's a wide chasm between what the head of MPR makes and what the head of Cities 97 puts in the bank.
5) Hey, has anyone asked the EMPLOYEES how they feel about having the world know their take-home pay? I'm sorry... If I wanted someone to know how much I made (profit, nonprofit, whatever...) I'd let them know. I'm pretty much an open book... but come on, there are some things that need to remain private.
Honestly: when it all boils down to it, we're bickering about less thant $400,000. Now, that IS a lot of dough, certainly more than I see in any given decade... that being said: MPR's salaries paid and $400,000... is this really the most pressing issue this numnuts from outstate has to deal with? I wonder, does the burgeoning meth problem in this state keep him up at night? How about the farmers who are starving and going bankrupt in his consituency (remember, I spent some serious hard time outstate in a previous life...)? What about the report that came out yesterday that said low-income families in our state are spending 28% of their income on childcare, on average, often sacrificing the safety of their children to cut childcare corners (due in large part to Pawlenty's 2003 childcare budget cuts)? What about the shrinking education budgets? Roads in dire need of repair? If you want to be revolutionary, then let's focus on mass transit, if you really need to get involved in what us city folk care about.
How about this, idiot: Drop your personal vendetta, go back to Marshall, ask your consituents what they are really concerned about, come back to the Capitol with a REAL agenda... and in the meantime, let MPR be. I would guess that MPR is really low on the "what we'd like to see happen at the Capitol in 2006" list of southern Minnesotan residents.
*Dismounts Soapbox*
Basically, some farm-boy dipshit from Marshall has passedthis law targeting MPR -- saying that they cannot have a particular funding grant unless they disclose the salaries of certain employees. MPR is standing their ground, saying that they already disclose salaries as IRS regulations dictate -- and shouldn't that be enough?
So, as a taxpayer and lifelong resident of this state, I have to say: what the f_ck?
1) Whether or not you like it, Mr. Republican-pants, the state gives away a LOT of money to FOR-PROFIT organizations who ridiculously overcompensate their top-level employees. Believe you me... I work in the for-profit sector in this state. People everywhere make PLENTY of money.
2) MPR doesn't rely on soullessmoney-grubbing advertisers to stay afloat; they are instead funded in large part by their membership base (myself, my husband, and several close friends included...). By the way -- those members? Citizens of the state. Don't you think we'd pipe up if we thought our money (dontations!) was going to inappropriate uses?
3) I seem to remember the state being sortof a crappy watchdog for non-profit misappropriation of taxpayer funds in the first place -- didn't some massive insurance companies just get in trouble not so long ago? Wasn't it our state's Attorney General who nailed that little conspiracy? I'm not too trusting here.
4) Has anyone compared what the for-profit radio station execs make compared to the non-profit? Just a guess, but I'd stake money and reputation that there's a wide chasm between what the head of MPR makes and what the head of Cities 97 puts in the bank.
5) Hey, has anyone asked the EMPLOYEES how they feel about having the world know their take-home pay? I'm sorry... If I wanted someone to know how much I made (profit, nonprofit, whatever...) I'd let them know. I'm pretty much an open book... but come on, there are some things that need to remain private.
Honestly: when it all boils down to it, we're bickering about less thant $400,000. Now, that IS a lot of dough, certainly more than I see in any given decade... that being said: MPR's salaries paid and $400,000... is this really the most pressing issue this numnuts from outstate has to deal with? I wonder, does the burgeoning meth problem in this state keep him up at night? How about the farmers who are starving and going bankrupt in his consituency (remember, I spent some serious hard time outstate in a previous life...)? What about the report that came out yesterday that said low-income families in our state are spending 28% of their income on childcare, on average, often sacrificing the safety of their children to cut childcare corners (due in large part to Pawlenty's 2003 childcare budget cuts)? What about the shrinking education budgets? Roads in dire need of repair? If you want to be revolutionary, then let's focus on mass transit, if you really need to get involved in what us city folk care about.
How about this, idiot: Drop your personal vendetta, go back to Marshall, ask your consituents what they are really concerned about, come back to the Capitol with a REAL agenda... and in the meantime, let MPR be. I would guess that MPR is really low on the "what we'd like to see happen at the Capitol in 2006" list of southern Minnesotan residents.
*Dismounts Soapbox*
9.2.06
redline
I don't have a ton of time to post today -- deadlines at work, unfinished homework, doctor's appointments every day this week. I just want to take this redline moment to remind myself of a few things:
1) The Garden State soundtrack can calm me down in very nearly any situation.
2) It's totally OK to eat a cheeseburger at 10:30 in the morning if you are hungry.
3) Don't ever -- EVER -- give me too much time to think, or I will inherently overthink it.
4) I have wonderful, amazing friends who are thoughtful, considerate, and love me. Yay!
5) Everyone gets crabby -- even almost-3-year-olds. And it's OK, and it passes.
6) Karma is alive and well. Glad today, I'm on the good end.
7) There's a tired even dark roast won't fix.
8) 10 minutes in the dark with a sad CD can do amazing things for your mental health.
9) I am so thankful that my job allows me to sit when I need to, flex my life when I need to, and write even when I feel stuck.
10) Eventually, I'm getting out of the country this year (yay).
1) The Garden State soundtrack can calm me down in very nearly any situation.
2) It's totally OK to eat a cheeseburger at 10:30 in the morning if you are hungry.
3) Don't ever -- EVER -- give me too much time to think, or I will inherently overthink it.
4) I have wonderful, amazing friends who are thoughtful, considerate, and love me. Yay!
5) Everyone gets crabby -- even almost-3-year-olds. And it's OK, and it passes.
6) Karma is alive and well. Glad today, I'm on the good end.
7) There's a tired even dark roast won't fix.
8) 10 minutes in the dark with a sad CD can do amazing things for your mental health.
9) I am so thankful that my job allows me to sit when I need to, flex my life when I need to, and write even when I feel stuck.
10) Eventually, I'm getting out of the country this year (yay).
7.2.06
Why I'm glad I am now an outsider in the world of retail
A recent story in the Star Tribune details how retails are suing the state of Maryland after their legistlature passed a law that would mandate large corporations (AKA Wal-mart et al) to afford health insurance coverage to their employees.
I'm sorry, but how socially irresponsible do these companies want to appear when they are suing the very governments who are attempting to look after the best interests of their constituents (and tax dollars -- those who work but aren't covered for medical insurance through their employer most often fall on taxpayers as a state or federal medicaid burden, right?) Honestly... health care is expensive. We live in America, where this stuff isn't socialized... its a part of doing (good, ethical) business... a practice in which Wal-Mart & co. is obviously not interested in engaging.
This is maddening to me in every sense of the word. At a time in my life when, in my master's program, all the articles and books I read tout how "companies who want a competitive edge need to realize that their people are their most important asset."
Why, then, does the giganto-retail industry not see that? I worked retail in varying aspects for many years. I have full knowledge and recognition that without the down-on-his luck guy with a couple of kids who pushes the carts back into the store, the immigrant woman restocking toothbrushes, and the teenagers unloading the trucks, those stores don't run. Customers get real pissed off. That spells lower profits. Now we're talking a language these corporate buffoons might understand.
This is a shameful time for me to say that I once thought I could make an impact in the retail industry -- that I could change that corporate infrastructure, could help these massive industry giants see the error of not valuing even the most miniscule contribution at the store level. But the absolute disregard of concern toward health care in the recent past is staggering to me. It absolutely blows my mind.
My only hope is that, as the 21st century rolls on the nature of our business culture ebbs out of a process economy and flows into a knowledge economy, grassroots initiatives, smart legislation, and external change agents like my peers and I can affect the kinds of change so desperately needed in the retail giant so ripe to be deflated.
I'm sorry, but how socially irresponsible do these companies want to appear when they are suing the very governments who are attempting to look after the best interests of their constituents (and tax dollars -- those who work but aren't covered for medical insurance through their employer most often fall on taxpayers as a state or federal medicaid burden, right?) Honestly... health care is expensive. We live in America, where this stuff isn't socialized... its a part of doing (good, ethical) business... a practice in which Wal-Mart & co. is obviously not interested in engaging.
This is maddening to me in every sense of the word. At a time in my life when, in my master's program, all the articles and books I read tout how "companies who want a competitive edge need to realize that their people are their most important asset."
Why, then, does the giganto-retail industry not see that? I worked retail in varying aspects for many years. I have full knowledge and recognition that without the down-on-his luck guy with a couple of kids who pushes the carts back into the store, the immigrant woman restocking toothbrushes, and the teenagers unloading the trucks, those stores don't run. Customers get real pissed off. That spells lower profits. Now we're talking a language these corporate buffoons might understand.
This is a shameful time for me to say that I once thought I could make an impact in the retail industry -- that I could change that corporate infrastructure, could help these massive industry giants see the error of not valuing even the most miniscule contribution at the store level. But the absolute disregard of concern toward health care in the recent past is staggering to me. It absolutely blows my mind.
My only hope is that, as the 21st century rolls on the nature of our business culture ebbs out of a process economy and flows into a knowledge economy, grassroots initiatives, smart legislation, and external change agents like my peers and I can affect the kinds of change so desperately needed in the retail giant so ripe to be deflated.
1.2.06
A Beautiful Insult
As I walked out of the grocer's last night, I was confronted by the most beautiful insult: after a month-long warming trend (in January, in Minneapolis...), massive, fluffy, perfect snowflakes, like spoonfuls of whipped cream with peaks coated in powdered sugar, floated to the ground at a brisk pace, chasing this historically balmy January away.
It was ridiculously beautiful as I drove home -- and I'm not one for the drive from the store to home -- but honestly! These giant snowflakes plopped themselves carelessly on my car like someone, somewhere, was making miniature snowballs and tossing them over their shoulder in hopes that it would hit something with a right good smack.
I found myself admiring the beauty in winter in spite of my impending springtime restlessness. At no other time in the year does the world become so pristine, hushed, and at equilibrium than during a late-evening snow.
It also reminded me that those perfectly round dollops of snow drifting in around my coat and scarf, dancing on my eyelashes, frosting the bare branches of the black walnut sprawling naked in the backyard -- that's the reason I just cannot live without seasons. Apologies to my daydreams of tulips, but I think I have found a little more romance in winter, in spite of myself.
It was ridiculously beautiful as I drove home -- and I'm not one for the drive from the store to home -- but honestly! These giant snowflakes plopped themselves carelessly on my car like someone, somewhere, was making miniature snowballs and tossing them over their shoulder in hopes that it would hit something with a right good smack.
I found myself admiring the beauty in winter in spite of my impending springtime restlessness. At no other time in the year does the world become so pristine, hushed, and at equilibrium than during a late-evening snow.
It also reminded me that those perfectly round dollops of snow drifting in around my coat and scarf, dancing on my eyelashes, frosting the bare branches of the black walnut sprawling naked in the backyard -- that's the reason I just cannot live without seasons. Apologies to my daydreams of tulips, but I think I have found a little more romance in winter, in spite of myself.
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