Thought #19 January 30, 2009
Posted by namahottie in Uncategorized.Tags: Abe Lincoln, Blagojevich, Dale Carnegie, Friends, Illinois, politicians
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So Blago got the boot. Quite fitting the Illinois state clowns did it during a recession. As I listened briefly to Blago appeal to his fellow crooks in nature
I got the full sense of his aria, the song of a dying pol’s career. He knew he was going down, as he conceded to in a post kick-out press conference, but rightfully so, I thought, not without a fight.
Listening to all the politicians give their various “reasons” for kicking out of office brought back to mind a passage I once read in “How to win friends and influence people” by Dale Carnegie. He writes about Abe Lincoln before his presidential days. See, once good ole Abe became a practicing lawyer in Springfield, Illinois, he took the time to attack his opponents openly in letters published in the newspapers. Of course, you can only do this so much, before someone comes along and calls you on your stuff.
So Abe, criticized the wrong politician. A politician Carnegie describes in the book as “pugnacious.” Well, Abe taunted him in an anonymous letter and of course the politician’s hubris was wounded. When he found out Abe was the author, he challenged Abe to a duel. (Should be brought back.Cheaper for the taxpayer’s) Lincoln didn’t want the duel but couldn’t get out of it. So, he trained and on the appointed day met with the politicians. But fate, would have it and the duel never went on. This taught Lincoln the power of the tongue, perhaps Karma, and never again did he go on to criticize anyone, at least in public that I am aware of.
Blago seemly avoided blaming anyone in his “speech/swan song” to the Senate, yet, continuously tried to hammer in the fact that his fellow pols could be setting themselves up for a similar situation. Of course, when you’re safe and watching the most popular bully/kid/hated on personality go down in flames, you aren’t thinking of that. Each Senator/Rep had their own personal agenda in impeaching Blagojevich, ones we won’t see until the next election day.
It should all be interesting to see what the new Gov revokes (free bus rides for old people is on my bet list 2 to 1) and how the vultures in Springfield swarm around for scraps.
Thought #18 January 27, 2009
Posted by namahottie in Political, Thoughts.Tags: Chicago, CTA, Obama, Walgreens
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After braving the Windy City cold to do some Saturday bargain grocery shopping, I walked to the bus stop to go to my cold home. The bus had hardly pulled off when 3 youths ran beside it, banging the doors to get on. They got on, didn’t pay their fares and proceeded to push their way to any open seat, the smallest one cutting me off from taking the seat I had my eye on.
I stink-eyed the little fart, who had taken that sorely-needed seat and observed him pulling out several packs of Orbit gum from his three-sizes too big and dirty winter coat. Not only was he good at jacking seats, but gum from the local Walgreens. Breathless, they began their loud bragging to strengthen their comradery.
“You see how she tried to grab my sleeve. I was gonna tell her back off me beetch!”
“You know, you know, I was gonna jack somethin but she…”
“Youse wasn’t gonna take nuthin.’”
Laughter. A seat directly from the gum snatcher opened up and I sat, continuing to observe and be subjected to their conversation. My IPod had died an hour earlier. The little one began to unwrap a pack of gum, he tossed the wrapping on the floor. Pissed, I told him to pick it up since he had the nerve to steal it. He paused and looked at me as if I were the fool.
“Ohhh, she crackin’ on you. Whatcha gonna do?
“You picked up too.”
“I’m gonna leave on the floor next time. [She] Talkin’ to me like that.”
Of course, the only problem here was that I had broken the unspoken rule of reprimanding someone’s problem child as if we still lived in a society which gave a fuck. Other passengers were zoned out, with the requisite “too tired to care” expression for CTA.
I got to my stop and shook my head with irony. Here, four days after an African-American had been elected to the highest office in the land, three young boys seem to be oblivious to what’s possible. And,yet, in the mist of the American love fest, the destiny to eventually do time was still alive and kicking for these three black youth.
I talked with a male relative about it.
“Human behavior is hard to change,” he said. “Everyone is having this major orgy. And you know it’s like bustin’ a nut.”
“Um, I’ve never ‘bust a nut’,” I said.
“Well, my point is– You’re still the same person with the same problems after the glow has worn off.”
I wonder if Prez O is aware of that….
Thought #17 January 13, 2009
Posted by namahottie in Uncategorized.add a comment
Quite a few blogs and faux websites are out there giving plagiarized advice on how to stay positive and reinvent yourself during these times. Most are crappy ad-filled ones that have the seizure-induced flashing ads of “can you kick the paper through the two fingers” ads. Or my favorite, OH MY GOD!!! in that auto-tune voice that sounds like a computer on helium which blasts through your speakers and surprising you. (Hopefully, you aren’t drinking coffee when it comes on). It’s going to take some creative measures to find work during these times. And creative thinking, also.
On ehow.com, lilj, an eHow Member, posts a couple of good ideas. This is one that stood out for me:
Step 1: Have a party. Call it a “get me a job” party. It really doesn’t need to be that formal, just a get together with friends. Whatever you are comfortable with. Start a list of all your good and marketable qualities. Use this information to create a resume. Put together a cover letter too, and tailor them to each job you apply for. Have several local papers lying around and invite the others to see what they think you would be good doing. Ask your friends to look on the internet for you and email you job possibilities. It could be a game, a contest. Suggestion: The one who picks the job you get, wins a lunch on you when you get your first paycheck.
This is pretty good and hopefully you have a group of serious-minded friends who can not let the alcohol consumption out pace the advice giving. I can only imagine writing “a great” cover letter for a position you’re dying for under the influence, firing it off, and only waking up the next day to re-read it and it’s more like your postings on Facebook about a night out on the town. Safe to say, drinking and writing is about as dangerous as a DUI.
Also, hopefully you have a few friends who are good with the adjectives and know your work. Sometimes it helps to hear what others see about your contributions, abilities and gifts. It’s easy to forget some of the “smaller” gems as you try to sell the ones that will make you stand out in the crowd. No friends? The bust out the thesaurus and do it yourself. It could give you some moments of brevity from the job hunt, as you have a few chuckles while trying on new descriptions of yourself.
As you try to revive yourself, try CPR: Cheerful, Positiveness, Resuscitation. You’re familiar with this if you’ve had to look for work before. Exercise, eat right, keep a clean house/space, network, etc. But what I like about this blog post are the three little words. It’s like you could create your own mantra from it, perhaps even incorporate it into your cover letters.
Dear Hiring Manager,
I’m doing CPR on my career-Calling People (to) Respond. Will you?
There’s always enjoying the time given to you by your pink slip to explore all those career avenues you didn’t have before. I found this to be a rather luring job promise: living six months free in the Great Reef and blogging about it.
The successful candidate will be asked to keep a blog and photo diary in exchange for six months rent-free on Hamilton Islands part of a $150,000 salary package that includes return airfares and travel insurance.
Blogging while on the beach sounds delicious, but hopefully you’re not the only one there. As they say, if it’s too good to be true then you’re gonna be working harder than you ever imagined.The key I’ve found to positive thinking, is that it’s not always “positive”. But rather an expansion of how you see things. During this time find creative ways to shop, to interact with loved ones, or do what you love to do but didn’t have time to do it before. Explore your world with new eyes using your skills and hopefully it will strengthen you, leading you to new adventures.
Thought #16 January 13, 2009
Posted by namahottie in Life.add a comment
In the summer of 2008, I attended the UNITY conference in Chicago. It had to be serendipitous that the largest minority conference for journalists was being held in my city as I was attending j-school. For four days, I only saw and heard opportunity, even as the field has been shrinking (UPDATE: 10,092 jobs since Sept 15 according to UNITY’s newsletter). The best advice I walked away with, was from managing editor at a high-profile magazine, who told me that graduating in December would actually work to my advantage, as I wouldn’t be competing with May grads.
December rolled around and the bottom of the economy fell out.
It was about Dec 12 when I really had to laugh hard as I watched CNN report on the unemployment numbers and recount the advice I had been given six months earlier. There are things one can do in times like this. Have about a couple of weeks of “oh woe is me” and hit the career.com, monster.com and craigslist.com boards. Or begin planting some seeds of hope.
To plant seeds of hope, I’ve taken out several nice suits and hung them within view of my kitchen. I have to pass by my kitchen to get my bathroom, and each time I pass I say “Thank God, I have an interview with XYZ on it’s way.” Having the suits in sight are a visual affirmation that this too shall pass. Giving praise to God about it, gets me out of a “victim” mentality(begging God for something) to a “victory” mentality(knowing God will grant it). It preps the mind for focusing on what I do want rather than what I don’t have.
I’m looking forward to this new beginning this time. And to see how my garden grows.
