Marco Rubio generalizes liberals as freeloaders
Following its disastrous campaign for the last presidential election, the Republican party has faced some bouts of self-examination, with many within the party calling for reform and greater acceptance of minorities if it wishes to be the party of the people it once flattered itself to be. Rand Paul himself recently said “The Republican Party leadership is stale and moss-covered.” Yet, if a recent Conservative Political Action Conference speech given by Marco Rubio, famous for guzzling water in the middle of his rebuttal to the President’s last State of the Union address, is any indication, those realizations are being ignored [...]
Common mistakes managers make – and how to fix them
Managing others takes particular aspects of character, presentation and experience to do well. Sometimes, however, it is instructive simply knowing what not to do. Here are some of the most common mistakes managers make, wringing every drop of malaise and misery from what should be an energetic, collaborative workplace – as well as some tips for making things right.
Common mistakes managers make No. 1 – As clear as mud
If a manager is unable to deliver clear instructions, it becomes impossible for the group to work toward a satisfactory common goal. Employees without clearly defined goals are more prone to whiling [...]
South Dakota to allow teachers with guns
The public outcry over school shootings has remained at a fever pitch since the Dec. 14, 2012, tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. Increased gun control has been on the minds of many, but South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard appears to have something else in mind. On Friday, Daugaard signed into law a bill that will allow teachers to carry guns in the classroom. Legal experts believe that this makes South Dakota the first U.S. state to allow teachers to carry firearms. Some states already allow armament, but not guns.
Guns in schools miles from emergency response
Policy experts assert [...]
How to deal with debt collectors and resolve credit trauma
Many people have had the displeasure of dealing with debt collection agencies. You know how you got to this point – thank you, credit cards, car payments, medical bills, depressed wages and low impulse control – but you don’t necessarily know how to navigate your way out of the mess. Here are some tips for how to deal with debt collectors that do not necessarily introduce bankruptcy into the equation.
How to deal with debt collectors No. 1 – Remain calm
Among the chief weapons of debt collectors are guilt and intimidation. What you debt delinquent must remember is that no debt [...]
Viral video depicts Wealth Inequality in America
A video went viral of over the first weekend of March. It’s title, “Wealth Inequality in America,” says it all. It lays out, in clear, accessible graphics, that the gap between the wealthiest and the poorest Americans is far more vast than most people have even imagined.
Wealth inequality hinders saving
The mantra of personal finance gurus is “save, save, save!” Yet, statistics, surveys and reports continue to tell us that U.S. consumers still haven’t gotten the message. That they continue to save at a much slower rate than people in other industrialized nations. According to Daily Finance, the average American family [...]
What not to do in a cubicle if you value your job
If you are an office worker, you may be spending most of your waking life inside those sardine cans of woe known as cubicles. If you’re stuck in a cubicle can and depend upon the income you receive for stewing in corporate preservative juices, conduct yourself like a good little fish and display admirable workplace behavior. Here are some not-so-obvious tips for what not to do at your cubicle (because sexual activity, illicit drug abuse and criminal faux pas are obvious to eagle-eyed employers). Avoid these things because you fear unemployment and drowning in debt.
What not to do in a [...]
How to negotiate and save a bundle
Everything is negotiable, from salary negotiation to what constitutes cut-off time for breakfast at the drive-thru. Unfortunately, most people are too afraid to ask. As such, they have no idea how to negotiate. Here are some negotiating tips you can put into use immediately, whether the game is saving money or making money.
How to negotiate tip No. 1 – Take a win-win stance
Negotiation isn’t about begging, it’s about being assertive. If you’re negotiating the price of an item in the store, approach talks from the standpoint that everyone wins if you can agree on a price, provided you’re fair and [...]
The basics of hyperinflation
Some people may have seen the word “hyperinflation” and are regaled with stories of doom, gloom and other bad economic tidings for the United States. Hyperinflation is basically regular inflation writ large and while technically a possibility, isn’t guaranteed to happen.
What is this hyperinflation you speak of?
A few might have seen the term “hyperinflation” being bandied about. These days, what’s meant by it is possible hyperinflation in the U.S. Usually one hears it in conjunction with cries for returning to the gold standard – incidentally a great idea, if under conditions similar to Bretton Woods – along with ranting about [...]
Horse meat scandal has sentimental underpinnings
Several reports of horse meat in products sold as beef has sparked a red hot controversy in the European Union. The practice is fraud, as food packagers try to cut corners with the less-expensive horse flesh. The problem no doubt needs to be addressed. But is the controversy so heated simply because of consumer duping?
Horse meat where cow meat should be
Earlier this month, DNA tests proved that the so-called “beef” in European-sold Findus brand lasagne was actually 100 percent horse meat. That sparked an investigation into all the beef products sold in Europe. It is even now being learned how [...]
There is such a thing as libertarian environmentalism
A lot of people believe libertarianism is espousing the idea of letting people do whatever they want, especially if money is involved. That isn’t necessarily the case and there is, believe it or not, a basis for libertarian environmentalism.
Libertarian environmentalism is not let the loggers cut it all down
Not everyone understands the libertarian political philosophy. That’s understandable, as it is fractious. Many groups with differing attitudes assert to be “libertarians.”
Saying one group truly is and one group truly isn’t is idiotic; religions do that and the evidence is incontrovertible as to how stupid people act when convinced they are the [...]
Elizabeth Warren grills regulators over big banks
Senator Elizabeth Warren spoke up recently at a meeting of the Senate Banking Committee, blasting federal regulators for not prosecuting more banks for the criminal activity that drove the collapse of the nation’s economy in 2009. Her words raised the hackles of many big banks. But these questions are long overdue, and I, for one, am grateful to have at least one politician firmly and fiercely on the side of consumers.
Elizabeth Warren ‘Valentine’ to Banking Committee
“I want to ask a question about supervising big banks when they break the law,” Warren said on Valentine’s Day. “We all understand why settlements [...]
Valentine’s gifts for real men
Every year around February there’s a bunch of stuff going around about Valentine’s Day gift ideas for men, mostly a bunch of sissified crap. Instead of that boring garbage, here is a small tidbit of Valentine’s gifts for real men.
Valentine’s gifts for real men are useful
A bunch of websites usually have lists of “Valentine’s Gifts for men” and it’s usually a bunch of sissy, fru-fru crap. Not always, but usually. So, cutting through the BS, here is a list of Valentine’s gifts for real men, the kind of man who likes to do something useful, doesn’t use hair product and [...]
Let the U.S. Postal Service dinosaur live
Some of my friends believe it’s time to let the U.S. Postal Service go, that it’s a dinosaur that has outlived its time. The USPS’s recent announcement that it will cease delivering mail on Saturdays beginning in August has re-sparked such rhetoric. But I for one can’t imagine an America without a post office. Besides, I always thought dinosaurs were pretty cool.
Hurdles for the U.S. Postal Service
The USPS has faced many challenges in recent years. The obvious, of course, is that most people now send texts, emails, IMs, Tweets, status updates and Skypes instead of letters. Not to mention that [...]
NLRB social media decision a correct one, but really, people…
A recent decision by the National Labor Relations Board pertains to how employees can talk about their bosses, co-workers and/or place of employment on the social media. The decision takes New Deal legislation into the 21st Century. But that the case came up at all makes me scratch my head, wondering why people are so self-destructive as to post personal or sensitive things about themselves on social media in the first place. Don’t they know that, after they hit that “Post” button, it’s out there in the ether, for the world to see?
Labor relations and the social media
First off, the [...]
It’s about time they allowed women in combat
For those that haven’t been following the news, the Pentagon has reversed course of several centuries of American tradition, and thousands of years of military tradition, and allowed women in combat. It’s about time, too.
Women in combat roles given the go-ahead
Contrary to popular belief, female members of the armed services are already in combat roles. They are serving overseas, in forward areas, and are in just as much danger. They just aren’t in the most forward of infantry units.
However, the Pentagon has lifted the ban on women in combat roles in the armed forces, paving the way for female personnel [...]
Valentine movie releases put testosterone over romance
Valentine’s Day is coming up so I checked out the movie releases coming out on February 14 to see what Hollywood is targeting lovers with this year. What I found was a whole lot of testosterone.
Romantic movie releases?
In the past, when I was younger (weren’t we all?) it seemed to me there were plenty of movies in theaters on February 14, courting the romance ticket buyer. Generally, these were movies that, any other day of the year, would be pitched to female audiences. Guys didn’t look forward to seeing the “chick flick,” but they were pleased with themselves for showing [...]
Athletes doping should be allowed
No one in the news media, who aren’t creditable with an abundance of brains, seems to be capable of shutting up already about Lance Armstrong doping. It isn’t the first doping scandal and quite frankly, athletes doping has been a benefit to sport that should be allowed.
Athletes doping ought to be allowed
Apparently Lance Armstrong was using steroids. Pardon me if I don’t care.
So was Manny Ramirez. Again – didn’t care.
Neither did I care about Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Sammy Sosa, Marion whats-her-face from the Olympics, her ex-husband, Olympic sprinter Ben Johnson, and so on. I also didn’t give a crap [...]
Recent Conversations