Anatomy of Warfare on Facebook

 

So much nastiness and meanness on Facebook. I am not referring to differences in opinions, but to the viciousness of folks. Its almost just like war. It so ugly and unnecessary. Here is what I blog as the "Anatomy of Warfare on Facebook".

Anatomy of Facebook Warfare

1. Surveillance: Those who sit back and watch your every post, but never clicks a reaction.
2. Espionage: Those who spy THEN they run and tell folks who do NOT have a Facebook account (or even a computer) about your posts.
3. Ambush: An act of sharing from your timeline without first clicking "like".
4. Propaganda: When someone disagrees with your posts, create a meme negating your post, then posts that antagonizing meme on their own timeline.
5. Provocation: Subtle, nasty replies to your comments/posts.
6. I.E.D.: Nasty "hidden" chain letters sent by insincere fiends to your Messenger
7. Ambush: When an unexpected "unfriend" action occurs.
8. Proclamation of War: When a block occurs.
9. War: Direct, outright posts and comments of hate.
10. Nuclear War: When the online spats extends into the real world.

 

Listen Facebook folks - Keep this stuff decent. If you see a post you don't like...just scroll on!

My Thoughts on Retirement

I early retired some years ago, but continued to work full time in the private sector. In the recent 2 years, I have reduced my hours to where I am semi-retired.  This is an ideal situation for which I shall now blog.

I now go into work 1 day a week. That is sufficient. I am very careful about my time and expenses as a semi-retiree.  Here are some pointers...

Time:

• I have essentially retired from all volunteer duties. These days,  I only do small reviews for 1 nursing association.  It is sad that younger generations are incompetent. Hence, many things that I have done will never be performed by others.  Many places have followed the "lynchpin" approach to management.  When that 1 vital person is gone, everything collapse. So sad.
• I give my grateful thanks be to God every day for his blessings bestowed onto me.
• My big focus now, is daily powerwalking for the health benefits.  This has been great, but, after 10,000 steps, an older person can do little else. Ha!
• I continue my learning by going to conferences.  I need to stay up-to-date as I continue to teach weekly.  I have always loved conferences.
• I look forward to my quick getaways to Las Vegas. So much fun. May try to do monthly.  This is only doable for retirees.
• I enjoy attending wine-pairing events in my general and surrounding area.
• I absolutely love the social media stuff including Facebook and Instagram. I just love creating memes and getting on my soapbox to espouse my views and passions.
• My son loves to dine out, so we do this once a week. I also make time for dining with my neiece and nephews.
• I love cooking, watching cooking shows, collecting and sharing recipes. Holidays are family events at my place where I can strut my stuff.
• I visit my sister weekly and enjoy that sisterly time together.
• When relatives have gatherings, I make it a point to attend and celebrate.
• I especially enjoy the casinos.  But, I am very controlled and cautious. Its the fun, the lights and just being around folks that I really enjoy in the casinos. Ain't gonna be any winnings and ain't gonna be any big losses at the controlled penny slots. I am very careful with this type of fun.
• When I go to work on campus, I am in and out.  I have no interest in socializing. I am dedicated to quality teaching and investing my time to ensure my students receive excellent education from me.  Co-workers are users and I have no time or interest with them.

Expenses:
I keep this as low as possible!!!! I am very careful about expenditures. I like being retired, because when fiends approach me to donate... I tell them, I am now retired.  When I worked full time, fiends from the workplace and church always approached me to buy tickets or something.  Good riddance to that bullshit!

Recommendations - 10 Points:
1. I strongly recommend that folks carefully plan out retirement early in their careers.  I have no advice on financial planning.  But, just try to enhance your skill so that when retired, you can find something to supplement your income.

2. Focus on that supplemental job BEFORE you retire. Try not to have any gaps in employment.  Part-time is ideal.

3. Learn about computers programs.  Mainly Office, Word, Excel, and Outlook.  If a retiree knows nothing about these important computer tools, that person is shit out of luck.

4. What will you do for recreation? You got to keep your brain active!!

5. In your older years, how will you get fit and stay fit? I recommend a fitness tracker and 10,000 steps per day.  The health benefits are awesome.  Its hard to exercise AND work.  So, retirement days are the best.

6. I never encourage folks to retire.  So folks post on Facebook they are planning to retire.  I ignore them.  They are just having a hard day at work and retirement is the only way out of that stress.

7. Get a cheap laptop to stay connected with the real world.... at a safe distance.

8. Consider the freebies!!  This is so doable in Chicago. So many FREE things to do... if you are smart.

9. Don't bother contacting co-workers.  Remember, those were co-workers and not friends.

10. Be wary of volunteering! Don't do it!  Folks will feel that you have time to do work.  DO NOT DO IT!!  Enjoy your later years of retirement.

The Awful Truth About Road Rage

I'm just waking up to news reports of another shootout on the Dan Ryan expressway here in Chicago. Incidents of road rage seem to be increasing.  It is absolutely out of control in Chicago. Every month, a major Chicago expressway is shut down for hours due to a crime scene investigation caused by a shooting incident.
 
I am thinking these incidents are a bit more than road rage.  Sometimes shootings continue from local side streets and are then carried onto major expressways.  I do not know. But, I do have thoughts on road rage.  Here goes....

Drivers enter their cars irritated.  Folks are bombarded with bad news from the Internet, TV, radio... everywhere.  We have NEVER witnessed such viciousness in national politics as we have witnessed ever before in this once great country.  So, it does not take a lot for drivers to erupt behind the wheel.

Motorists are distracted.  Cellphones, texting, emailing, music playing now is the rule while driving.  So, folks are no longer able to focus on driving.   When the light goes from red to green, well, drivers do not notice and delays result.

Drivers are self-centered.  They are discourteous, viciously cut off others and do not give a shit about safety.

Folks simply do not know how to drive!  Turning signals not used. Changing lanes without checking.  Ignoring stop signs. This causes safety concerns for others.

Folks do not plan time to reach destination.  So the already irritated driver is now rushing to go from point A to point B.  This is not going to work.

Here's my driving experience from yesterday. I simply drove a routinely very short distance to a grocery store.  This is what happened:

1. Road construction and partial street closure on Michigan Avenue, so many lanes merged into just 1 lane.
2. A distracted driver at the light. So motorists angry, blowing horns and cutting into lanes without checking.
3.  A slooooow truck driver did not know where he was going, so he held up all other drivers.
All of this in a 5 minute period on a hot Thursday morning.  It just makes me so mad!!!!

This is how I plan my driving to avoid raged drivers:
1. Leave extra early. 
2. Give others the right of way... even when they are wrong.
3. Check my route BEFORE leaving home using Google Maps or Waze.
4. Never make eye contact with other motorists.  Folks are just crazy.
5. I limit my driving to before noon... as much as possible. Stuff happens in evening and at night.
6. Follow the Rules of the Road as I learned so many years ago.

Stay Safe

Timelines and Pages and Groups... Oh My!

Facebook’s timelines, Pages and groups are the platforms for communicating. Each platform is distinct and different. There are rules that should be followed to have a happy Facebook life.

Timelines:

This is YOUR personal soapbox. You can espouse your epistemology on life, your political views and whatever you like. Because Timelines are personal soapboxes, they need to be respected as such. No one has any business encroaching and challenging personal views on a Timeline. When you see a view that opposes your perspective, just click an appropriate emoji and move on. You can also simply read the post, then just scroll on.  When notifications from anyone becomes excessive and annoying… just UNFOLLOW that person.  If worse comes to worse, just “UNFRIEND” that person.  Finally, you can always BLOCK an offensive person.

Pages:

Facebook Pages are promotional platforms for your brand. Pages are configured to make it easy for folks to “LIKE” and stay up to date with whatever is being promoted. Folks can reply to your posts.  However, folks are limited in posting to a Page. Folks are considered “visitors” and their posts show up in a separate area off of the main Page.  You have control of your Page. You can remove posts and visitors from your Page.

Groups:

Facebook groups are EXCLUSIVE platforms.  Groups are configured as “open”, “closed” or “secret”.  In all instance folks have to be APPROVED to be a member.  Group administrators have a lot of control. Groups are topic-based.  Most group administrators will not allow members to go
“Off-Topic”. Administrators have varying degrees of tolerant. Some will simply remove the off-topic posts.  Some administrators are totally intolerant and will remove the post, delete the member or BAN the offending member.  So, read the rules and stay on topic.  Do the "do's' and don't do the "don'ts"!

Other relevant stuff…

Messenger:

I believe the word is out about posting chain letters on folks’ Timeline.  So now these vicious low-life folks have resorted to sending chain letters via Messenger.  They are ashamed and have resorted to this sneaky stealth-like approach.

Stay out of folks Messenger!!!!  The Messenger application is ONLY to send immediate messages of a private nature.  It is not for sending those damn, vicious chain letters!!!  The standard operating procedure is that when someone sends a chain letter, simply forward it back to the sender, then BLOCK the sender from your Messenger.   

Finally….

If you do not know how to BLOCK, BAN, UNFRIEND, UNFOLLOW, and REMOVE TAGs, you have no business on Facebook. So GIT!

On Call Flight Crews

In one of the Facebook Groups, someone stated their flight was delayed for 3 hours due to unavailability of flight crew.  This is inappropriate and extremely vindictive of that airline in the wake of the Dr. Dao incident.

Listen up... Airlines make big big money and the profits are HUGE.  Remember, the airline industry was bailed out during the economy plunge in 2001. Is this the thanks Americans get?  Awful and unnecessary. Here's why...

I have worked in healthcare for over 40 years. Workers cannot be overworked. But, they are needed in certain emergency situations.  Hence, we have "on-call" protocols.  It works for us.  I am sure the trillion dollar airline industry can indeed afford on-call crews at major airports. Yes, airlines will have to pay for these teams, but, it would be a drop in the bucket for these ultra rich fat cats. Ultimately, the costs will be passed on to passengers... whatever!

Here's how to do it:
1. Position on-call teams at the major hubs that would consist of 4 pilots and 8 flight attendants. They may or may not be called in to work, but they are valuable back ups.

2. On-call teams would have to be housed in hotels in or near the airport thereby prepared and arriving within 30 minutes.

Hence, delays would be no longer than 60 minutes. 

The on-call protocol works in healthcare.  It will work for airlines. YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!

My Thoughts on Air Travel

I fly a lot and I enjoy the air-travel experience.  These days, I mainly travel by air for leisure and conferences, so I know of that which I blog.

April is spring break. So, lots of folks are traveling by air. Currently there is a lot of chatter this month about air travel.  Travelers  have been complaining about the big southern carrier Delta Airlines. They cancelled many flights during spring break due to horrible weather, Folks- please give Delta Airlines a break! There have been so many tornadoes in the south during April.  Delta had to reschedule flights. Safety First!!!  Listen up... you really do not want to fly in severe turbulence. That is a nasty experience!  Remember... Safety First!!!!!! 

Apparently spring break has United Airlines busy.  Right now, there is a viral video of a passenger being dragged off a flight due to overbooking.  Has United Airlines lost there minds?????? I have never witnessed a passenger being forced off a flight due to overbooking.  United Airlines messed up this situation BIG TIME!  Southwest Airlines has never done this before.

I have no issue with overbooking. Air travel is expensive, so I know, ever seat has to be filled.  I cannot recall any recent travel on Southwest where flights were not 100% filled. So, I understand why flights are overbooked.  But, overbooking should be managed BEFORE the boarding process.  No passenger should ever have to deplane due to overbooking!

Southwest Airlines offers nice incentives for passengers to give up a seat BEFORE boarding starts. There have been instances where I consider grabbing such an offer, but usually others grab it before I can get to it.  If I am traveling for leisure, no problem.  But, the early birds... usually have strategically  positioned themselves right at the Gate Desk... grabs the offers fast.  But that is the right way to manage overbooking.

United Airlines has a LOT TO LEARN about the business of air travel.

Las Vegas January 2017

This is a short and sweet trip report on my Las Vegas Quickie Getaway for January 2017.

I had not been to Las Vegas since October 2016, so this was an exciting trip, especially since storm system Decima resulted in my December 2016 trip being cancelled.  I was lucky because with this trip to Vegas, I was able to travel in between storm system Jupiter without any problems.  Thank goodness!!

I departed on Sunday via Southwest with  no delays. On arrival to McCarran, I used the Airline Shuttle to MGM Grand. I have used them since they arrived in Vegas and this shuttle service is excellent.

MGM registration desk had a long line at 9am , but it moved super fast!!!  MGM knows the business of hotels!!!! I got my room keys immediately!!  Nice queen room, no problems.  I spent the day super-slot hopping. MGM to NYNY to Mandalay Bay.

Monday- I had to first check-in for my next day flight back home (so soon!) then to Planet Hollywood, Cosmopolitan then back to MGM Grand.  I got a good nap at noon, then back up at midnight on the casino floor!!!

Tuesday- MGM has a super efficient TV checkout.  Airline Shuttle very dependable as usual.  Nice flight back home.

What about food??? Well, I no longer do the buffets.  As a solo traveler, the 2 for 1 buffet deals will not work for me and most places have super sized portions, which will get wasted.  So, I just do something cheap, simple and boring.

I really needed this quick 2 night Las Vegas getaway.  I got my full fill of casino fun. I am now re-energized!!!

Beating the Winter Blahs in Chicago

Yes, winter can be "Polar Vortexing" bitter in Chicago. We have to endure 3 freezing months of bitter cold, snow, ice, slush, winter storm systems, and hawkish cold winds!  Folks cannot hibernate indoors for 3 long months.  Folks cannot simply jet off to warm climates.  So, what are the options for surviving Chicago's winter months ON A SHOESTRING budget?  Is this possible????

Yes!!!!! This is the great city of Chicago and so many wonderful FREE and FUN winter options are available.   There is no need for succumb to the winter blahs!  That is NOT an option.

Start your winter plan EARLY in the season. Write out your plan on the first day of winter... December 21st, then plan for 12 activities.... 1 thingy each week.

Here are my suggestions and every activity is absolutely free....

Always get a free newspaper- Reader, RedEye, or Gazette,  then bundle up and head out!

#1: Go to a reading center:

• Harold Washington Library.

• Go to the Chicago Cultural Center.

• Go to your favorite Chicago Public Library branch.

#2- Spend a day at Macy's mothership on State Street:
Start at the top floor, then walk then browse and make your way down to the lower level. At lower level, purchase a beverage,  pull out free newspaper and read it and people watch.

#3- Spend a day at Block 37:
Start at top floor, then browse and walk each floor.

#4- Spend a day at The Shops at North Bridge:
Start at the top floor, then browse and walk each floor.

#5- Go hiking in Chicago's downtown Pedway:
Chicago’s downtown pedestrian way system, the Pedway, lies in the heart of the city. This system of underground tunnels and overhead bridges links more than 40 blocks in the Central Business District, covering roughly five miles. The Pedway is a safe, quick and convenient way for pedestrians to travel downtown—especially in the winter and during times of rain or snow. The Chicago Pedway is a network of tunnels, ground-level concourses and bridges connecting skyscrapers, retail stores, hotels and train stations throughout the central business district of Chicago, Illinois. With a length of more than 40 downtown blocks, it contains shops, restaurants and public art and helps pedestrians in inclement weather. Most connections to the pedway are commercial or government buildings, including hotels.

#6: On the free Tuesdays, exercise PATIENCE and go to:

• Planetarium

• Museum of Science and Industry

• Field Museum

• Museum of Contemporary Art

• Shedd Aquarium

Now its your decision.... either have some fun and face the winter blah!!!!