Happy New Year 2015!

Farewell 2014 here comes 2015!

New Years resolutions? I'm not making any resolutions. 

Keep chasing your dreams and goals.

A Filipina Cinderella in China

Right now there is a girl living in the land of industry and power. She is a domestic worker for a wealthy Chinese business owner. She had to leave her home country the Philippines to support her children and mother because of the high unemployment and low wages in her country. She has some college, but did not finish. Her jerk husband left her and provides no support for the children.

A real life Cinderella living in her employer's luxury residence. She receives what I call a monthly salary that pays more than other countries. Her duties are nanny, cook, housekeeper and whatever the family throws at her. It's not a 9-5 job. She works long hours everyday and gets a few days off in the month to do personal business.

Imagine being separated from your children and family. That is the ultimate sacrifice a person can do. She does it to give her children and mom a good life by sending her salary home and just keeping a small allowance for herself to survive in China. She is allowed an annual vacation to visit her family.

She is hoping to meet a modern day Prince one day to be her soulmate and rescue her from this modern day slavery. China does not regulate domestic work. In America you would be fined and go to jail for labor law violations.

Cinderella is a beautiful and sweet woman making it clear to any suitor that she will still work to support her family if they get married one day. She is not looking for a sugar daddy. She is looking for true love like in a fairy tale, that's why I call her Cinderella. She is a strong proud woman with class.

Lost in the Mall

I remember the day I lost my granddaughter in the mall. She was less than two years old and disappeared in the crowd in seconds. We were looking at dinosaurs exhibits. I briefly took my eye off my granddaughter and she was gone. I assumed she went to her mom and older sister that were nearby. No luck with that so my heart just dropped into my stomach. My daughter and I look at each other in disbelief what happened where did she go? Your life is flashing by you imaging will I ever see her again. I found a security guard nearby and gave my granddaughters description to the guard and he called it in on his walkie talkie.

When you lose a child it is the most horrific feeling in the world. You search the logical area that you think she could have wondered off too. Sometimes the logical is not your best bet. Time seems like an eternity when you are looking for your lost child, your heart is beating fast and you keep thinking that some pedophile has abducted her and fled the mall with her and you will never see her again. You are just going out of your mind, but need to maintain your composure to deal with the situation.

We continued the search by splitting up and searching the areas of the mall she disappeared into with hopes of someone holding her hand looking for her family. I see in the distance a small group of teenage girls holding her hand walking in my direction. I notice my granddaughter is enjoying their company and seems not phased at all being separated from her family. I approach the teenage girls and she comes to me as I thank the girls for taking care of her. 

The moral of the story is never give up and kids can disappear in seconds in a crowded mall.  

The Holiday Season December

Why do we have holidays in December? It's all about Christmas the birth of Jesus Christ we celebrate or don't celebrate. No one is forced to celebrate Christmas, but everyone is shopping for gifts like wild dogs on a hunt. We have company parties exchanging gifts removing the reference of Christmas. What is the purpose of exchanging gifts? It started with the Three Kings from the East who visited Jesus after his birth delivering gifts to show respect. If you don't believe in Christmas why would you participate in exchanging gifts that is a Christmas tradition that Christians continue to follow in remembrance of the first Christmas.

No one complains about getting a holiday day off from work. We replace "Merry Christmas" with "Happy Holidays" to not insult or impose religion on anyone. We call a "Christmas Tree" a "Holiday Tree" to not offend anyone. We have become a society that seriously needs a re-boot. 

We have taken the meaning of Christmas out of our schools to not offend anyone. When will the madness stop on the attack of Christmas? 

I'm offended that it's getting to the point that I have to celebrate the true meaning of Christmas from a closet so I don't offend  anyone. I have no problem respecting other traditions so leave Christmas alone and let me celebrate it without worrying about offending anyone. 

Merry Christmas!

The American Thank$giving

America celebrates a great national holiday on the fourth Thursday of November. This day is set aside to give you a day off from work if your employer observes the holiday. Those who have to work might get the holiday as a floating holiday or extra pay.

The intent of the holiday is to reflect on the blessings in your life being thankful for what you have. Spending quality time with family and friends.

The evolving new Thank$giving is becoming the malls and shops are open with bargain sales. I'm not satisfied. I want more more more. Keep my dinner warm I'm out of here mall bound till I drop.

I love sales too. They have this great invention called a website. Buy online at home and send a message to all the greedy retailers making their employees work and disrupting family quality time by tempting people with bargains to leave the house and shop on this special holiday.

I dedicate this blog post to my two special friends that are working overseas faraway from their families. One is in Shanghai doing domestic work and the other is in Kuwait working as a seamstress. They both have no choice because they can't find decent employment in their country to adequately help support their families. They are tough and survivors that will make sacrifices and be abused by employers in these countries with no enforced labor laws. They are the modern day salves.

The next time you leave your place of employment be thankful that you can leave for the day and not have to ask permission to leave. These two women work around the clock and have only time to sleep and then it's back to work. They only get a little time off to do personal business.

I Have Power!

What is power? It's used for good and bad. When you receive power it should come with an instruction manual on the proper use of power. Power is temporary or it can last for years. How you use power defines your character. Most times power is not earned the right way. Earning power and using it in a responsible way is a self discipline to not let your ego get the best of you. 

I have had the fortune of meeting many people with power and they are just like a regular person they have nothing to prove, but be a responsible nice person with power. I have had the experience of ego maniacs that received power and it became a drug addiction to feed off the power.

When your time comes to have some form of power use it in a responsible respectable way. Treat everyone the way you would like to be treated. Always keep that in mind.

A Serendipity moment on YouTube

Is there a minimum age to experience serendipity?  Maybe not!  A four year old girl playing with her mom's smartphone likes to play videos from YouTube.  She loves the movie Frozen.  She can't spell to good yet so she would need her mom's help to type in keywords for the videos she is searching for by pressing the magnifying glass symbol on the YouTube app.  She learned how to retrieve previous searches by typing in the letter "F"  in the search box to pull up her favorite Frozen video's.  One day she discovered the microphone symbol after she pressed the magnifying glass symbol on the app.  A white microphone in a red dot at the bottom of the phone appears and it's radiating rings of circles calling your attention to it.  She speaks into it and it searches for videos she is requesting.  Hey mom I don't need you anymore.

This is just an example of how technology savvy a four year old who is attending preschool can be.  They ask for help and take it to the next steps in the quest for independence.  It's proof that early education makes and impact in a child's life and exposure to technology at an early age stimulates the brain to develop.

Just make sure technology does not consume the child.  They need to go offline just like us adults.

Is it hard to be a nice person?

Why are some people so mean, rude and full of drama when they interact with co-workers and people. They must be unhappy and insecure to behave that way. In a way we need to feel sorry for them. We can return the same attitude back at them that will yield no results. Take the high road instead and show them how to act. Yes, bite your tongue it's not easy. Live Aloha by treating everyone with respect and kindness. We can't change everyone, but we might get through to some people. Never bring yourself down to the level of mean people. It's sad how some people perceive you as weak when you are a nice peaceful person. If you can't get them to be nice and show respect and you tried everything then it's ok to take the gloves off and time to take them down.

The Minimum Wage Debate

We all need to make a living that earns a decent wage to provide for our family or ourself to survive. Every time there is a proposal to raise the minimum wage we see support and opposition. Both sides have supporting arguments.   

Minimum wage should be viewed as an interim wage until you find a better job not a long term living. In a perfect world that would be fine. The sad fact is that we do not live in a perfect world. 

The short term gains in minimum wage increases will be lost in job cuts and higher cost of living due to businesses passing on the increased minimum wage cost to the consumers.

It all goes back to eduction. You need more than a High Schools education and some do not even graduate from High School. Lack of education a recipe for failure and a hard minimum wage life ahead of you.

Chasing minimum wage increases is not the solution because it's a moving target. Yes, we do need to periodically review minimum wage and increases it prudently.

Minimum wage and the homeless are issues with no easy answers. We elect useless politicians that only care about themselves instead of look at issues that face our society. 

To give some perspective on what people have to do to survive in other countries. I know people that have to leave their country and send money home because the pay in their country is not enough to support their family. These are people with a college education and have to work in countries that pay better with lame labor laws that borders slavery. I have so much respect for these people who make huge sacrifices for the well being of their family. The next time you you think you have it hard. Think about what if you had to go overseas to work in a country with lame slave labor laws that take advantage of you.

Destiny

Some advice to dream chasers, goal setters and anyone that is ambitious to make an achievement in life. Don't count on anyone but yourself to keep the eye on the prize. You are the sole person to control your destiny and when you factor in others helping you it can give you a false sense of security. Only you know how important that prize is to you. You can still seek out assistance, but do not let if affect your tenacity on your quest for the prize.

Facebook vs Google+

The two social media platforms appeal to different audiences. Some of us use both of them for the different type of experience you get on them.

Facebook has good FB pages that business setup for you to interact with and learn about them. Google+ also has pages for business to setup. Both platforms offer good content.

Now for the personal accounts on Facebook. It's a mixed bag. I like it for basic communication, sharing moments with family and friends. I plug my blog posts on it. Facebook can be drama book at times. I still use it because most of my connections on it have not embraced Google+ yet.

Google+ personal accounts offer a different interaction from Facebook. The interaction on Google+ is awesome. I meet people from all over the world and you can do the same on FB but it seems easier on G+. It's a diffent feeling on G+ for me. All those bogus reports of G+ being a ghost town that I read are full of crap because I must be a ghost communicating with other ghosts then.

Sharing content to specific groups of people I find easier on G+ using their circle feature to group people in specific circles to post too and monitor feeds. The FB lists to group your friends in specific lists to post too and monitor feeds is Ok.

I did not forget about Twitter. You cannot compare Twitter to FB and G+ because it's use is so different. Twitter is in a class all by itself. 

Proposals for solutions the three options way

Present your solutions with the three options approach. When you are on a budget and faced with a problem that needs to be addressed you need to look at various options to address the problem. 

1) Look at the short term cheap fix solution if it will meet your needs until a long term solution is implemented in the future. 

2) When you are uncertain when a long term fix will be implemented you need to look for a solution that has the capability of going the distance without all those bells and whistles. 

3) The long term solution with all the bells and whistles that will address all your needs into the future. 

It's all in how you present the options to management. You need to upfront commit to your first pick and hard sell it. Management will have a chance to see the three options and decide to just fork out the money to address a permanent fix or select one of the two cheaper solutions to buy time to get that permanent solution in the budget.

The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States under attack

All Americans that love America will recite "The Pledge of Allegiance of the United States" without question.

"I  pledge allegiance to the Flag

of the United States of America,
and to the Republic
for which it stands,
one nation
under God,
indivisible,
with liberty
and justice
for all."

Read this story from @FOXNews. New Jersey school sued over 'under God' in pledge: 

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2014/04/22/humanist-group-sues-nj-school-district-over-under-god-in-pledge-allegiance/

We have a national humanist group suing a New Jersey school district. A family believes the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance is discriminatory for atheist children. My response to these nut cases is move to Russia or North Korea  and you will not have to worry about reciting "under God". The Pledge of Allegiance is not promoting any religion so it should not offend anyone. If your an atheist request your child to be excused from reciting "The Pledge of Allegiance". 

Taking one for the team

Project Management requires thick skin and controlling your emotions. You are in the spotlight all the time. How you react to a situations defines you in front of everyone.

Once upon a time years ago I was verbally assassinated and yelled at by an IT Director at a monthly Project Management Office Stoplight meeting. I was going to explain a major change in a project that postponed a phase of an implementation to a later stage in the project. Earlier in the the day before the status meeting the Senior IT Director called me and my core team to meet with him. He asked me to defer implementing a phase of the project requiring me to rework the project plan. We all agreed that this would not delay the overall completion of the project but allow focus on other areas of the project that would deliver a better solution.

The Stoplight meeting was held in a conference room and if you could not attended in person a bridge line was setup to call into. The Senior IT Director called into the bridge line and the IT Director attended the meeting in person. Once I started to explain the change in the project the IT Director just unloaded on me not giving me a chance to explain why the project is changing to deliver a better solution. She turned red with anger raising her voice at me with the attendees in the room in shock. The Senior IT Director in a calm voice asked the IT Director many times to let me speak. I just sat down and could not get a word in and just looked at her as she insulted me. She then stormed out of the room slamming the door. The Senior IT Director asked me to leave the meeting and go back to my office so he could call me. I was not shaken up but disappointed that a person that I knew for a long time would behave so unprofessional in a meeting. I received the call from the Senior IT Director and he told me "thank you for taking it for the team". I will speak with her he said. Sadly that IT Director was terminated a week later.

The project was delivered on-time and a big success.

The Flaming Email

I had an experience of a flaming email years ago from a contractor Mr. PMP type. He was an arrogant you know what. That contractor sent out an email to a distribution after hours to slam me on something. I was out of the office already having dinner. I had a smartphone and was composing a response and before I could send my response out I received an email from a team member responding to that flaming email defending my position on the issue. She slammed Mr. PMP with facts that put the arrogant Mr. PMP in his place. She made it easy for me, all I had to do was thank her and concur with her email and case is closed. By the way Mr. PMP did not respond back. Silence is golden. When you gain respect from your team and have a reputation people will defend you and stand by you. It's a priceless good feeling that you are making an impact on your team.

Mr. PMP never spoke to me again and avoided me. What a cry baby he can only dish it out, but when he is proven wrong he won't admit it. We don't need Project Managers that behave this way to discredit the profession by acting arrogant and unprofessional. Mr. PMP was an older gentleman that should have known better on how to exercise people skills. 

Casual marijuana use safe?

Why am I not surprised by a new study on marijuana use. I have seen the affects of marijuana on classmates when I was growing up not good. All they wanted to do was get stoned and go surfing.

The use of marijuana will result in brain abnormalities and that's not good. How do you develop your  brain? 

The states that have legalized marijuana to tax it are going to eventually realize that it's not worth the revenue it brings to the state when they realize the effects on the state. Just give it time they will regret it.

Marijuana for medicinal use is another story and best left up to your doctor to decide if it will help you.

See this article for more information and you be the judge.

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2014/04/15/casual-marijuana-use-linked-with-brain-abnormalities-study-finds/

A quote to live by if you're a real leader

The First Cousins Club

I have a lot of first cousins. We used to have many family functions when I was growing up as a kid and young adult so I was able to see my cousins frequently.

Time has gone by with everyone busy raising their families just seeing each other at funerals, weddings, birthdays and graduations. These type of events would give us a chance to catch up with each other.

One of my cousins called me and said we need to get all the first cousins together for lunch periodically to just talk story. That is a great idea having a first cousins lunch with no agenda just talking to each and reminiscing the good times and updating everyone.

We did it and it was so much fun seeing each other and just talking story. We will make an effort to continue getting together.

Let's do a One on One

Staff vs Manager it's all good. I'm talking about a manager scheduling one on one meetings with their team members once a month to make sure everyone is on the same page. Bring up issues and concerns and make recommendations. This type of practice will help managers keep staff on track to get any needed feedback to them to improve their annual evaluations. Staff can make adjustments along the way not waiting for an annual review to receive a critique of their performance because that is too late.

I recommend a minimum of 15 minute meetings to start out with and you can vary the meeting length on staff that needs more time or less to just lay it out on the table no holds barred. This is a valuable time for managers and staff to get to know each other better.

The Project that Nobody Wants

This happens all the time. You get asked can you take on this project. It's a project that no one want's and it finally comes your way. You are aware of that project and you know why no one has taken ownership of it yet. Just take it and show those lazy Project Managers how it's done.

We don't always have the luxury of being involved at the inception of some projects to have input defining the scope and budget. The budget that can support the cost of the project is important to nail down if you want it done right.

It's not a perfect world that's why we have good Projects Managers to bring order out of chaos from projects with vague definitions. Start to organize all the information that you can get your hands on. Be a detective to sort though all that information to understand the deliverables. Locate key staff that you will recruit for the project team. Assemble the team and brief them on the deliverable and ask them for input on it. Write the Project Scope how you and the team see it. You need to propose a budget based on all the information that you have.

Present the project to the stakeholders and fill in any gaps. The objective is to get everyone on the same page. You might have to meet a few times if there are a lot of gaps that need to be filled in.

Keys to your success is communication, organization, leadership and detective work. 

Our digital friends

Have we become so in love with our smart phones and tablets that we are losing out on social interactions and not smelling the roses along the way. We should have seen the digital evolution coming. When phones were still dumb with only texting capabilities we would text up storms instead of calling a person. Now we still text,  but also post to social media sites and have video chats. We have come a long way in a short time.

Technology is good if you find a balance in it and don't let it control your life. I have to admit my phone and tablet are devices that I need now and can't part with them. My phone is an extension of me to the cloud where most of my data lives.

Our children are becoming technology addicts too. My young granddaughters have android tablets and have no problems using it. They know how to to install apps and remove apps. 

It's all about being connected to everything. We wait for text messages, social media posts or a call. Call? Oh yes, I guess we still call each other if we have too. We share our life on social media sites, some times with way to much information. Let's try to keep the drama to a minimum, we all have enough drama in our own life. 

One good and bad thing is that built in camera on our phones. Used properly it captures precious moments that we can share and remember. The bad thing is all those selfies and stupid pic posts to social media sites. I like a good selfies and pics, moderation is the key.

Watch your shopping cart

I was shopping at a Sam's Club with my family. We had a cart containing items that will be purchased. The cart also contained some of our personal items that we put in it. I was on cart duty and walked a few feet away from it to look at something and as I turned around to get the cart a guy was trying to walk away with the cart like it was his. I stared at him thinking what is he doing did he confuse my cart with his cart? After the brief stare down he let go of the cart and said "my bad" and disappeared. I realzed at that moment he was after my cart because that was the only cart in the area at the time and he was so bold to try that stunt with my family in the area too.

We lost nothing and reported it to Sam's Club that took the matter seriously. Lesson to the story do not put any personal items in the cart unless you have an eye on it all the time. Thieves are getting bolder these days and nothing is safe now. This can happen anywhere.

People in the Spotlight

President Barack Obama compares marijuana to alcohol claiming both are the same. Right on! Hey man I got the munchies and how do I sign-up for that ObamaCare dude?

  

First Lady Michelle Obama considers actress and activist Jane Fonda once known in the Vietnam War era as "Hanoi Jane” a role model. She insulted our Armed Forces by socializing with the Viet Cong our enemy at the time. Someone must have been sleeping in History class.

Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman shoots off his mouth in rage after his defensive skills won the game for Seattle in the NFC Championship against San Francisco. Seattle is going to the SuperBowl after Sherman denied San Francisco wide receiver Michael Crabtree a game winning touchdown with less than a minue left in the game. Sherman said in good sportsmanship "Hell of a game" to Michael and extended his hand to him and received a disrespectful slap on the helmet instead. Hey Richard was on an adrenaline rush caught in the moment of excitement and Michael caught in the agony of defeat and poor sportsmanship.

He is in the news again Justin Bieber a Canadian citizen. His latest troubles are DUI, street racing and resting arrest in Florida. Just deport this idiot and send him to Toronto Mayor Rob Ford. I think the two will hit it off.

Project Management - Qualities of a leader

Leaders are born and made, they rise when they have the calling. A good leader will embrace the respect of the team not having to force their leadership skills on the team. The bad leaders are the ones that try to force their leadership and just do not connect with the team wasting everyone's time with a dog and pony show they put on to call attention to themselves. 

Something to remember on how you conduct your leadership. Put yourself in your teams shoes and step back and look at yourself and see if you like that person.

Qualities of a good leader:

1) Vision - Have enthusiasm conveying to your team what we are going to undertake and deliver.

2) Good listener - Let others speak their view point to get a good understanding of them.

3) Approachable - Create an atmosphere that you can be contacted anytime.

4) Confidence - Believe in yourself without portraying an arrogant attitude.    

5) Credibility - You must have the trust of your team.

6) Keep one's word - Deliver what you promise.  

7) Accountability - The Buck Stops Here. 

8) Charisma - Inspire your team.

The Wild Wild West

Three shootings in a week across America. Do we need to look at gun control more seriously? I do not believe in taking away the the right to bear arms. Well what do we do? Let's wear a bullet proof vest when we leave our homes and make sure our guns are loaded in case we are confronted by another gunman. Does that sound good. If we get in a shootout we can apologize later to the bystanders that get hurt or killed in the shootout.

A shooting in a Florida theater over a dispute of cellphone use resulted in one dead man and injured a woman.

A student at a New Mexico Middle School shot and wounded a boy and girl, they had to be hospitalized.

A man shot and killed two women at a Indiana grocery store.

The answer is stricter laws and holding the legal owner of the firearms accountable when someone else uses it. Long prison sentences. Control the use of legal assault weapons limiting it's use to firing ranges only and requiring the firing range to lockup the assault weapon after the owner is done playing with it.

Texting can be fatal at the theater

Warning don't text and watch a movie at the same time it could be your last movie.

A man was shot and killed during an argument over texting and a woman wounded by a gunman. This all happened in a Florida movie theater. 

People need to chill out. Make a complaint after the movie to the manager of the theater that you were not able to enjoy the movie due to a rude person texting. Request a refund for the movie. It's not worth doing something stupid. You have your whole life ahead of you don't ruin it for just a movie.

Theaters you need to periodically monitor the moviegoers and make your policies clear so you can take action before someone else does.

Libya-Gate aka Benghazi

I smell rats and see them scurrying around the White House when the word Benghazi is mentioned.

It's obvious already that it was a big cover-up to salvage the big presidential election in 2012 for Mr. Obama. A terrorist act by Al-Qaeda was executed against the American diplomatic mission in Benghazi on September 11, 2012, selecting the September 11th anniversary date of the horrific terrorist attack on America on September 11, 2001.

I remember president Richard Nixon stepping down to avoid getting impeached. I think someone needs to step down or face possible impeachment too. I think Hillary Clinton's 2016 run for president is toast.

I dedicate this song to the White House. http://youtu.be/v6cn0mLJVZY Enjoy!      

A Bridge Closure vs Benghazi

Wow a bridge closure that implies the New Jersey governor Chris Christie had knowledge on it to get back at a democratic mayor that does not support him. This is still under investigation and democrats looking into impeachment already. Yes, it was a major traffic gridlock and I would be very upset if I was a commuter in that jam.

Americans in Benghazi get slain after requesting help from our US Goverment and not getting it. We lost four Americans: U.S. Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens; information management officer Sean Smith; and two former Navy SEALs proving security, Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty. Secratary of State Hillary Clinton at the time is responsible for covering up this act of terrorism on Americans to protect herself and the President. We would have a different president today if this scandal was made public during the election campaign period.

You decide who should be denied a run for President in the next election. Who should be impeached the Governor or the President?

Goodwill Basketball

Dennis Rodman former NBA star is making a fool of himself in North Korea again with that kid ruler that was dropped on his head at birth. Kim Jong-un and Dennis Rodman are publicly hounds that need attention to justify their existence.

Kim Jong-un is a criminal that needs to be taken down. Amercian citizens not on official business should not be socializing with that tyrant.

I wonder how much Dennis and his entourage of former NBA players are getting paid for playing an exhibition basketball game on Kim Jong-un's birthday?  People in North Korea are starving and the tyrant ruler rewards himself with a birthday basketball game.

Dennis Rodman is embarrassing the USA on his stupid visits to North Korea.

The Unemployed and Politicians

Over a million of long term unemployed Americans ran out of extended unemployment benefits on December 28, 2013. Can you imagine the stress of not having a job and losing a paycheck to support your family.

Vacation time for Congress, Senate and a warm 17 day Hawaii vacation for the President. All the finger pointing needs to be put aside to work for the people in need. How can anyone with a conscious go on vacation and have a good time when millions of Americans have no income to live on.

I have to concede that we have some people that just want a free check as long as they can milk it out. What about the legitimate people who depend on a check to provide for their family.

Our President is setting a bad example by going on an exotic vacation in these troubled times. The First Lady did not fly back with the family on January 4. Why? The President gave her a Birthday present of some extra time in Hawaii to celebrate and spend time with her friends. Mrs. Obama turns 50 on January 17th. What a lavish gift at an estimated cost of $800,000 to pickup her up and fly her back. Factor in the additional cost to provide protection for her. Well wouldn't you give that gift to a loved one if the taxpayers pay for it.

We all should be entitled to vacations if we can afford it and don't abandon responsibilities. In the case of the President it was in bad taste to vacation in Hawaii when so many Americans are unemployed trying not to become homeless. A slap in the face is Mrs. Obama extended Hawaii vacation. The President could have improved his image by leading by example by canceling the Hawaii vacation to make a point to Congress and the Senate. Staying in Washington DC until the extended unemployment benefits bill passed would have sent a message to Congress and the Senate to stop thinking of themselves and take care of your fellow Americans in their time of need. 

A Fatal Dental Visit

Make sure you take your child to a qualified pediatric dentist. Parents need to ask a lot of questions when a questionable procedure is recommended by a dentist for your child. If you question the procedure get a second opinion.  

A three year old girl went into a coma after a visit to the dentist in Hawaii. The dentist was not a certified pediatric dentist. The parents of the child said numerous procedures were performed and most unnecessary. The child was given strong drugs to sedate her and did not receive proper monitoring. The child passed away at a Hospice. She was able to hang on one month after the dental visit.

Checkout the credentials of a dentist before you put your child in their care.

The Daily Work Journal

Do you have a work journal? Consider starting a journal to track your daily activities and making note of important activities you encounter through the day. A journal will come in handy when you need to recall the events of a specific day.

No matter what you do give it a try if you are not journaling already. 

Legalized Marijuana

Washington State and Colorado legalized marijuana for recreational use. So if you are 21 you can dope in the comfort of your home legally, but not in public.

The lawmakers in those states want to generate revenue by legalizing a popular drug at the cost of health and social behavior. We have here a big can of worms. All eyes are watching how this plays out.

Just an FYI for you people that are planning on lighting up you better check with your employer before you inhale because it's a State law not a Federal law so you could lose your job.