#and take an active role in helping humiliate their employers in a way that was socially acceptable

[musical-chick-13]

“Ugh, but opera’s so bORiNg, it’s not about anything”

I am, at this point, BEGGING you. To watch/listen to a modern opera. Something made this century, or the end of the last one. It is no longer a request, it is a demand.

[sentrient]

How To Identify, Prevent, And Respond To Psychological Harassment In The Workplace

Psychological harassment in the workplace, also known as psychological violence, can take many forms, but at its core, it is any behaviour that harms an employee’s psychological well-being. This can include verbal abuse, threats, intimidation, bullying, and discrimination. It’s important to be aware of the signs of psychological harassment to take steps to prevent it and respond effectively if it does occur.

Identifying Psychological Harassment

It’s important to be able to identify psychological harassment to take steps to address it. Some common signs of psychological harassment include:

Verbal abuse or insults

Threats or intimidation

Bullying or aggressive behaviour

Discriminatory or biased behaviour

Isolation or exclusion from work activities

Sabotage or malicious gossip

It’s important to note that psychological harassment is not the same as a single isolated incident of rudeness or disagreement. Instead, it’s a pattern of behaviour that is intended to degrade, humiliate, or undermine the victim.

Preventing Psychological Harassment

Preventing psychological harassment in the workplace is the responsibility of both employers and employees. Employers should have clear policies in place that define what constitutes psychological harassment and provide a mechanism for reporting and addressing it. They should also conduct regular training for employees to raise awareness about the issue and provide guidance on how to prevent it.

Employees can also play a role in preventing psychological harassment. They can:

Speak up when they witness behaviour that constitutes psychological harassment

Set boundaries and assertively communicate their expectations to others

Refuse to participate in or tolerate behaviour that is harassing

Seek support if they are experiencing psychological harassment

Respond to Psychological Harassment

If psychological harassment does occur, it’s important to take steps to address it as soon as possible. The first step is to report the behaviour to the appropriate person or department, such as a supervisor, HR representative, or manager.

If an employee feels uncomfortable with the reporting process, they can also reach out to an Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for support and guidance.

Victims of psychological harassment should also be provided with support, including counselling and other forms of assistance to help them cope with the impact of the harassment.

Employers should take all reports of psychological harassment seriously and take prompt action to investigate the situation and take appropriate measures to address it. The harasser should be held accountable for their behaviour. This can include disciplinary action, up to and including termination of employment.

Conclusion

Psychological harassment in the workplace can have serious consequences for both the victim and the organisation. It’s important to be aware of the signs of psychological harassment, to take steps to prevent it, and to respond effectively if it does occur. Employers and employees both have a role to play in creating a safe and healthy work environment, free from psychological harassment. By identifying, preventing, and responding to psychological harassment, we can create a more positive and productive workplace for all.

If you are looking for a way to educate your workforce and make your workplace a safer place, contact Sentrient for a free demo today.

This blog post was originally published here.

[slytherdaddy]

h e r o e s  always get remembered                                                 but y’know legends never die

𝖖 𝖚 𝖔 𝖙 𝖊 𝖘

”Purity will always conquer.” ”The decay will feed the bloom.” ”These violent delights have violent ends.” ”He wore his hatred like a cruel second skin.” "You can romanticize me all you wish, but the devil wrapped in silk is still the devil.”

𝖇 𝖆 𝖘 𝖎 𝖈

NAME: Lucius Abraxas Malfoy NICKNAMES: Lucius Malfoy has never been given a pet name in his entire life, because he is not well-liked by, well, anyone. Occasionally, when he did something flawlessly and earned praise from his father in his youth, he would get called ‘son’ affectionately. It’s happened four times, and they’re part of his top five happiest memories.  AGE: 28 BIRTHDAY: December 20th GENDER: Male PRONOUNS: he / him

𝖋 𝖆 𝖒 𝖎 𝖑 𝖞

MOTHER: PRISCILLA ERIDANI MALFOY ( deceased ) FATHER: ABRAXAS CEPHEUS MALFOY ( deceased ) SIBLINGS: none

𝖕 𝖍 𝖞 𝖘 𝖎 𝖈 𝖆 𝖑 𝖆𝖙𝖙𝖗𝖎𝖇𝖚𝖙𝖊𝖘

FACE CLAIM: Hunter Parrish BUILD: Broad shoulders but otherwise slim; takes care of his body only to the capacity as he has to. HAIR: Short, as it should be; it is tradition for the patriarch of his family to cease cutting his hair as soon as they learn they have received a male heir to the name.  HAIR COLOR: Golden blond EYE COLOR: Emerald green SKIN COLOR: Pale white DOMINANT HAND: Left ANOMALIES: None; his skin is flawless, and he doesn’t bear a single scar aside from the garish black snake & skull tattoo on his left forearm. Lucius uses numerous illusion & glamour charms to hide the hideous thing at all times, and as a result, it always itches.  SCENT: Whatever cologne Narcissa has bought him for this season; usually trendy and... masculine? He would reek of clove & tobacco if he didn’t actively glamour charm away the smell each time he burned a cigarette. ACCENT: British, no local inflection ALLERGIES: None DISORDERS: Lactose intolerant; he takes a draught from the family Healer to supplement the calcium, his family riddled with a history of brittle bones FASHION: The most luxurious robes, all custom tailored fits to accent his shoulders; he prefers decadent silks & velvet, lace as an accent, all the buttons and snaps guilded with expensive precious metals. He has an expansive collection of rings and brooches, rare and ancient gemstones glistening from the box he keeps in his study, away from prying eyes. NERVOUS TICS: None; Lucius is in perfect control of his mind & body at all times. Any physical nervous tic would’ve been beaten out of him in his youth, anyway... He may have light OCD tendencies if he’s losing his shit, but it’s incredibly rare for a Malfoy to risk their impeccable reputation for composure in such a way.  QUIRKS: He’s got an addiction to nicotine that no one saw coming. The second investment of his ludicrous inheritance was into a tobacco plantation across the sea, where Lucius gets all his cigarettes hand-rolled by some dusty old wizard farmers making a literal killing off him. It’s worth it though, to be free of the shame of a Muggle vice by ensuring it’s decidedly not Muggle. The tobacco is mixed with Jobberknoll feathers & Mandrake leaves, an old wives’ tale that allegedly counteracts the effects of truth serums. Lucius just likes the taste.

𝖑 𝖎 𝖋 𝖊 𝖘 𝖙 𝖞 𝖑 𝖊

RESIDES: Yorkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom BORN: Yorkshire, again RAISED: despite being “raised” in Yorkshire, Lucius never actually spent any time with the common people, and he rarely even resided in Malfoy Manor until a year after his father’s death. He had always been abroad or at boarding school until he turned of age, and was in Myokonos when he received the news. He hasn’t left the manor since, the patriarch of the name never abandoning his stronghold. PETS: he doesn’t really consider the peacocks “pets,” as much as they are moving displays of his wealth. The closest thing to a pet he has are the house elves, although that’s too affectionate a term. 

CAREER: Advisor to the Minister for Magic, Public Relations; the position was held by his father at the height of his power in the Ministry, before his retirement. Although the Rosier patriarch wasn’t ready to follow suit, Harold managed to convince him it was for the best before giving the coveted title to the burgeoning Malfoy heir, following his 25th birthday.  EXPERIENCE: None; a very powerful last name & a more powerful father who called in a few favors, the least he could do for his son during his dying hour... or whatever. Although honestly, Lucius’ entire life is experience enough; he’s been manipulating others since he was in diapers, such was the art of his illusion.  EMPLOYER: The Minister For Magic; he was personally appointed, as it were, and Lucius answers to nobody in the Ministry other than him, so he doesn’t really believe himself included in their workforce as much as Minchum’s.

POLITICAL AFFILIATION: Death Eaters BELIEFS: Traditional, conservative pureblood values - what more needs to be said? MISDEMEANORS: Nope. FELONIES: Nope.  DRUGS: Don’t be a prude, but don’t get caught. It’s a fine line to tread. SMOKES: Habitually, obsessively, constantly - use whatever adjective of choice, he feels no guilt for his only vice ALCOHOL: Publicly, he limits himself to one or two at functions; after he turned of age, Lucius had a bit of a problem, and the only regrets he bears are those two years until he sobered up. If he is drunk, he becomes affectionate, giggly, rosy cheeked.... It’s a terrible look on him, and he avoids it all costs. His father, however, had a sizable investment into a extravagant, private winery tucked away in Bordeaux, and several shipments sit waiting in the basement of the manor. It is the only wine he allows on the estate. DIET: A creature of habit, Lucius maintains the same diet seven days a week, the house elves on a strict schedule to adhere to unless alternative plans are made for parties or unexpected guests. It helps him remember

LANGUAGES: Ancient Runes, Latin, Greek, French, Italian - languages were an easy skill to pick up when he was always traveling or studying abroad

PHOBIAS: Irrelevancy, public shame or humiliation  HOBBIES: Lucius is well-versed in the classics, as expected of him by various boarding schools and his hard to impress father - painting, piano, & poetry were always his forte. The only hobby he enjoys for himself is reading, reading, and more reading; he enjoys the history of wizarding kind and his father has a vast library, filled to the brim and largely untouched still. All of Lucius’ free time is spent locked in the patriarch’s study, having a glass of red and pouring into anything he can before bedtime. The problem is he doesn’t have a lot of free time.  TRAITS: { + }: composed, calculative, confident, dependable, observant { - }: vengeful, manipulative, haughty, disingenuous, self-serving

𝖋 𝖆 𝖛 𝖔 𝖗 𝖎 𝖙 𝖊 𝖘

LOCATION: France - the countryside, the cities, it doesn’t matter. He enjoys their flair for the dramatic. SPORTS TEAM: Montrose Magpies - he cares about Quidditch as much as he has to just to get by in polite conversation, and they’re the local team of his youth.  GAME: Wizard chess MUSIC: Abraxas was ever the elitist, and a near obsessive collector of all the finest things. The Malfoy Manor’s library has an entire vinyl section filled to the brim of ancient classical Wizard composers, musicians, and singers; his favorites were obviously inspired by the Baroquean era, but Lucius was always more swayed by the Romantics, and has contributed much time and effort into cultivating that part of the collection.  MOVIES: He does not know what those are. FOOD: Confit de canard BEVERAGE: A glass of Malfoy Merlot, if he must COLOR: White

𝖒 𝖆 𝖌 𝖎 𝖈

ALUMNI HOUSE: Slytherin WAND (length, flexibility, wood, & core): 11 inches, stiff, elm & dragon heartstring; the wand is passed down to the male heir the night after his father’s death, and the son’s previous wand is destroyed to represent his ascension as the patriarch. It is to be kept inside a fabricated black casing with a snake head handle that measures at 18 inches & is capable of being placed in a cane, but the Dark object has long been lost to history. It’s Lucius’ deepest desire to locate the relic of his heritage one day.  AMORTENTIA: The smell of burning firewood & an unknown array of spices, with a hint of coffee. He doesn’t go near the bloody shit because he’d recognize that scent anywhere, and it often induces a blush only Firewhiskey can achieve.  PATRONUS: Cannot and will never be able to produce a Patronus BOGGART: Bellatrix, dead, corpse warped and reanimated as an Inferni

𝖈 𝖍 𝖆 𝖗 𝖆 𝖈 𝖙 𝖊 𝖗

MORAL ALIGNMENT: Neutral evil MBTI: INTJ-A MBTI ROLE: The Architect ( assertive ) ENNEAGRAM: Type Three ENNEAGRAM ROLE: The Achiever TEMPERAMENT: Melancholic WESTERN ZODIAC: Sagittarius CHINESE ZODIAC: Rabbit PRIMAL SIGN: Sugar Glider TAROT CARD: The Chariot TV TROPES: Classic Evil Villain, Billionaire Boys Club, Enemy In Plain Sight SONGS: Emperor’s New Groove - P!ATD, Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Lorde, Kings - Tribe Society

IDEOLOGIES: History & time have both proven the validity of blood purity & its direct relevance to the power of a family’s bloodline. Love is weakness. Nothing fancy, nothing poetic - it’s just another attempt of man’s to qualm the suffering of the human condition. A distraction that only makes one vulnerable. No game worth playing is worth being exposed over. The best players exist in the shadows, without getting their fingerprints anywhere near the guilty party. There has never been a loyalty to Lord Voldemort; Lucius’ loyalty is confined to the Malfoy name alone. Fame, fortune, power, honor - anything to ascend the Malfoy name to the highest standard it deserves. The Dark Lord exists as a stepping stone, a revolving door, a temporary fix. As all great men do, he will eventually fall victim to his own hubris.  If you plan to ask for a favor, you better be able to look him in the eyes; if you plan to ask for forgiveness, you better already be on your knees. Lucius does not take kindly to insubordination nor disrespect. 

[talabib]

Top 10 Qualities Smart Companies Value In Employees

Employers look for two things when hiring or promoting people: knowledge and skill. They rarely, if ever, consider character. Yet character is the key to extraordinary business success. The Good Ones by Bruce Weinstein presents 10 crucial qualities of high-character employees, qualities that enhance employee satisfaction, client relationships and the bottom line.

Using stories from managers and employees across the U.S. and beyond, ethics expert Bruce Weinstein reveals how honesty, courage, loyalty and patience have helped organizations maintain an edge over the competition. 

1. Honesty. All of the 10 qualities are hallmarks of high-character employees, but honesty is the most important one. No matter how knowledgeable or skilled a person may be, if he or she is fundamentally dishonest or doesn’t value honesty, that person is detrimental and possibly even dangerous.

Honesty is above all a feeling, a disposition, an orientation toward the truth. Honest employees cannot tolerate lying, fudging data, misrepresenting themselves or their companies, or other conduct that displays contempt for the truth. Falsehood in all its forms is a poison to an honest person. A company’s power, influence and integrity are a direct function of the honesty of its employees. Obstacles to honesty include success through dishonesty, lying to save money and lying to save trouble. 

2. Accountability. Accountable employees do four things consistently: 

They keep their promises.

They consider the consequences of their actions.

They take responsibility for their mistakes.

They make amends for those mistakes.

3. Care. Care, like honesty, is first and foremost a strong feeling or passion. Where honesty means having a passion for truth, care means having a deep concern for people’s well-being and flourishing. The passion for making a difference in people’s lives has a profound implication in the business world.

In this context, caring is almost always discussed with reference to other people. But if you are a caring person, consider the following syllogism: Care is the application of your passion for helping people. You are a person.Therefore, care means applying your passion to yourself as well as to others.

A caring employee is, above all else, a servant, not in the way that suggests exploitation, obsequiousness or a harsh imbalance of power. Caring employees serve their organizations, their clients and their team members while taking care of themselves, too. 

4. Courage. Courageous employees have the strength of character to say and do things that need to be done. In most cases, this courage has nothing to do with physical strength. Courageous employees are willing to

tell managers things they need to know, even though they might not want to know them

fight for their clients and business

do unpleasant but necessary things

ask for help

Obstacles to courage include fear of being fired, fear of bodily harm, fear of damaging a relationship, fear of humiliation and fear that nothing good will result. 

5. Fairness. To be fair is to give to others their due. Fairness is sometimes discussed in terms of justice. Fair employees have a commitment to justice, especially economic justice (paying employees fairly), social justice (ensuring that the rights of employees, such as freedom from discrimination, are respected) and procedural justice (resolving disputes).

6. Gratitude. Gratitude isn’t merely a nicety of doing business. It’s a powerful character trait, and although it’s hard to discern, it’s worth looking for in prospective and current employees. Through their generosity of spirit, grateful employees benefit clients, colleagues and the business itself. They’re more satisfied, more productive and nicer to be around. It’s time to recognize how important gratitude is in the life of an organization and to the people who practice it.

7. Humility. There’s a lot of misunderstanding about what humility is. The Oxford Dictionaries website defines humility as “a modest or low view of one’s own importance.” No wonder, then, that some people have a low view of humility itself.

But humility shouldn’t be regarded as a low view of one’s importance. It is, rather, an accurate view of it. It’s a view of oneself that is based on reality rather than the distortion that occurs when we look at ourselves uncritically or through the fog of our own ego. We can all do without coworkers who take the credit when a project is successful. On the face of it, this behavior simply seems rude. It’s not polite to blow your own horn, we’re taught. Let others praise you. Keep your victories to yourself.

The problem, however, isn’t that such coworkers are impolite: It’s that they’re mistaken. We don’t accomplish great things all by ourselves. We have help every step of the way. Some of that help is behind the scenes, but it is help nevertheless.

If humility is a crucial quality of high character employees, what happens when it is in short supply? Some of the consequences may include damage to one’s reputation, being passed over for jobs and having difficulty accepting criticism. 

8. Loyalty. Hiring loyal people and creating a culture that sustains this loyalty provides a strong return on investment. According to the Great Place to Work Institute, businesses whose employees are deeply satisfied (a key indicator of loyalty) have lower turnover, better safety records, superior job applicants and stronger marketplace performance than other businesses do. Let’s take a look at each of the characteristics that define loyal employees.

Loyal employees have strong emotional ties to their employers: Loyal employees are devoted to their employers, but that devotion has and should have limits. Loyalty is devotion, but not blind devotion.

Loyal employees represent their employers honorably: A second way that high character employees evince loyalty to their organizations is through their conduct outside work. A member of an organization is a de-facto representative of that group on and o the job. Loyal, high-character employees recognize this, even if their employer does not or cannot explicitly state it.

Loyal employees stand by their organizations... up to a point: Loyalty to an organization need not mean making a lifetime commitment to it. It can simply be an alignment of one’s behavior with the organization’s values for however long one is employed. Sometimes loyalty must give way to other concerns, such as protecting clients from harm and opposing illegal or unethical activities by an employer.

9. Patience. High-character employees keep pushing on with their mission until they prevail. They don’t allow themselves to be diverted from their path by external forces, and their persistence pays off . Here are the four elements of patience:

Acceptance: There are some things we can change and some things we can’t. To be patient is to know the difference and to act (or not act) on it.

Flexibility: An essential element of patience for Cara Lemieux, a former network news producer and digital communications strategist, is flexibility. Becoming more flexible in her personal life has helped Cara become more flexible in her professional role. This sometimes means taking over for colleagues who have to tend to their own personal lives.

Persistence: In the Journal of Finance, Steven N. Kaplan, Mark M. Klebanov and Morten Sorensen reported that in their study of over 300 CEOs of financial investment firms, the most successful ones were also the most persistent.“Persistent leaders don’t give up,” Kaplan writes. “They stick with assignments until they are done.”

Delaying Gratification: High-character employees are adept at restraining the impulses we all have for immediate satisfaction. They recognize that sometimes our impulses have to be subordinated to a higher good.

10. Presence. Given the reality of today’s world, as well as our need for breaks from time to time, I propose the following definition of presence in the workplace: Presence is being committed to doing one’s work by focusing on a single task for a reasonable period of time. A “reasonable” period varies according to the task at hand and the stakes involved in completing that task.

You probably don’t want the surgeon performing your cardiac bypass to be checking her smartphone. On the other hand, if the job isn’t a life-or-death matter, it’s humane to allow an occasional respite from the steady stream of work. At the heart of presence is focus, the ability to concentrate on one thing at a time. Employees who are focused devote themselves to a single activity in a given period, resulting in more efficient work with fewer mistakes

The 10 character traits are qualities that smart organizations value in their job candidates, employees and managers. Doing so won’t guarantee that the people who work for a company will always make the best decisions, but it increases the likelihood that they will. It’s time to place character front and center in our thinking about business in the 21st century. 

[bountyofbeads]

Trump Allies Target Journalists Over Coverage Deemed Hostile to White House https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/25/us/politics/trump-allies-news-media.html

Trump Allies Target Journalists Over Coverage Deemed Hostile to White House

By Kenneth P. Vogel and Jeremy W. Peter's | Published August 25, 2019 Updated 2:46 p.m. ET | New York Times | Posted August 25, 2019 5:21 PM ET |

WASHINGTON — A loose network of conservative operatives allied with the White House is pursuing what they say will be an aggressive operation to discredit news organizations deemed hostile to President Trump by publicizing damaging information about journalists.

It is the latest step in a long-running effort by Mr. Trump and his allies to undercut the influence of legitimate news reporting. Four people familiar with the operation described how it works, asserting that it has compiled dossiers of potentially embarrassing social media posts and other public statements by hundreds of people who work at some of the country’s most prominent news organizations.

The group has already released information about journalists at CNN, The Washington Post and The New York Times — three outlets that have aggressively investigated Mr. Trump — in response to reporting or commentary that the White House’s allies consider unfair to Mr. Trump and his team or harmful to his re-election prospects.

Operatives have closely examined more than a decade’s worth of public posts and statements by journalists, the people familiar with the operation said. Only a fraction of what the network claims to have uncovered has been made public, the people said, with more to be disclosed as the 2020 election heats up. The research is said to extend to members of journalists’ families who are active in politics, as well as liberal activists and other political opponents of the president.

It is not possible to independently assess the claims about the quantity or potential significance of the material the pro-Trump network has assembled. Some involved in the operation have histories of bluster and exaggeration. And those willing to describe its techniques and goals may be trying to intimidate journalists or their employers.

But the material publicized so far, while in some cases stripped of context or presented in misleading ways, has proved authentic, and much of it has been professionally harmful to its targets.

It is clear from the cases to date that among the central players in the operation is Arthur Schwartz, a combative 47-year-old conservative consultant who is a friend and informal adviser to Donald Trump Jr., the president’s eldest son. Mr. Schwartz has worked with some of the right’s most aggressive operatives, including the former Trump adviser Stephen K. Bannon.

“If the @nytimes thinks this settles the matter we can expose a few of their other bigots,” Mr. Schwartz tweeted on Thursday in response to an apologetic tweet from a Times journalist whose anti-Semitic social media posts had just been revealed by the operation. “Lots more where this came from.”

The information unearthed by the operation has been commented on and spread by officials inside the Trump administration and re-election campaign, as well as conservative activists and right-wing news outlets such as Breitbart News. In the case of the Times editor, the news was first published by Breitbart, immediately amplified on Twitter by Donald Trump Jr. and, among others, Katrina Pierson, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, and quickly became the subject of a Breitbart interview with Stephanie Grisham, the White House press secretary and communications director.

The White House press office said that neither the president nor anyone in the White House was involved in or aware of the operation, and that neither the White House nor the Republican National Committee was involved in funding it.

The Trump campaign said it was unaware of, and not involved in, the effort, but suggested that it served a worthy purpose. “We know nothing about this, but it’s clear that the media has a lot of work to do to clean up its own house,” said Tim Murtaugh, the campaign’s communications director.

The campaign is consistent with Mr. Trump’s long-running effort to delegitimize critical reporting and brand the news media as an “enemy of the people.” The president has relentlessly sought to diminish the credibility of news organizations and cast them as politically motivated opponents.

Journalism, he said in a tweet last week, is “nothing more than an evil propaganda machine for the Democrat Party.”

The operation has compiled social media posts from Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and stored images of the posts that can be publicized even if the user deletes them, said the people familiar with the effort. One claimed that the operation had unearthed potentially “fireable” information on “several hundred” people.

“I am sure there will be more scalps,” said Sam Nunberg, a former aide to Mr. Trump who is a friend of Mr. Schwartz.

Mr. Nunberg and others who are familiar with the campaign described it as meant to expose what they see as the hypocrisy of mainstream news outlets that have reported on the president’s inflammatory language regarding race.

“Two can play at this game,” he said. “The media has long targeted Republicans with deep dives into their social media, looking to caricature all conservatives and Trump voters as racists.”

But using journalistic techniques to target journalists and news organizations as retribution for — or as a warning not to pursue — coverage critical of the president is fundamentally different from the well-established role of the news media in scrutinizing people in positions of power.

“If it’s clearly retaliatory, it’s clearly an attack, it’s clearly not journalism,” said Leonard Downie Jr., who was the executive editor of The Post from 1991 to 2008. Tension between a president and the news media that covers him is nothing new, Mr. Downie added. But an organized, wide-scale political effort to intentionally humiliate journalists and others who work for media outlets is.

“It’s one thing for Spiro Agnew to call everyone in the press ‘nattering nabobs of negativism,’” he said, referring to the former vice president’s famous critique of how journalists covered President Richard M. Nixon. “And another thing to investigate individuals in order to embarrass them publicly and jeopardize their employment.”

A. G. Sulzberger, the publisher of The Times, said in a statement that such tactics were taking the president’s campaign against a free press to a new level.

“They are seeking to harass and embarrass anyone affiliated with the leading news organizations that are asking tough questions and bringing uncomfortable truths to light,” Mr. Sulzberger said. “The goal of this campaign is clearly to intimidate journalists from doing their job, which includes serving as a check on power and exposing wrongdoing when it occurs. The Times will not be intimidated or silenced.”

In a statement, a CNN spokesman said that when government officials, “and those working on their behalf, threaten and retaliate against reporters as a means of suppression, it’s a clear abandonment of democracy for something very dangerous.”

The operation is targeting the news media by using one of the most effective weapons of political combat — deep and laborious research into the public records of opponents to find contradictions, controversial opinions or toxic affiliations. The liberal group Media Matters for America helped pioneer close scrutiny of public statements by conservative media personalities.

The conservative operative James O’Keefe has twisted that concept in ways inconsistent with traditional journalistic ethics, using false identities, elaborate cover stories and undercover videos to entrap journalists and publicize embarrassing statements, often in misleading ways, to undercut the credibility of what he considers news media biased in favor of liberals.

In the case of the pro-Trump network, research into journalists is being deployed for the political benefit of the White House. It is targeting not only high-profile journalists who challenge the administration, but also anyone who works for any news organization that members of the network see as hostile to Mr. Trump, no matter how tangential that job may be to the coverage of his presidency. And it is being used explicitly as retribution for coverage.

Some reporters have been warned that they or their news organizations could be targets, creating the impression that the campaign intended in part to deter them from aggressive coverage as well as to inflict punishment after an article has been published.

Trained as a lawyer, Mr. Schwartz has endeared himself to members of the president’s family by becoming one of their most aggressive defenders, known for badgering and threatening reporters and others he believes have wronged the Trumps.

He has publicly gone after Republicans he views as disloyal, including the former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus, about whom he admitted spreading an unsubstantiated rumor. He has called himself a “troll on Twitter,” which is where he has boasted of being aware of, or having access to, damaging information on dozens of journalists at CNN and The Times that could be deployed if those outlets ran afoul of Mr. Trump or his allies.

The operation’s tactics were on display last week, seemingly in response to two pieces in The Times that angered Mr. Trump’s allies. The paper’s editorial board published an editorial on Wednesday accusing Mr. Trump of fomenting anti-Semitism, and the newsroom published a profile on Thursday morning of Ms. Grisham, the new White House press secretary, which included unflattering details about her employment history.

One person involved in the effort said the pro-Trump forces, aware ahead of time about the coverage of Ms. Grisham, were prepared to respond. Early Thursday morning, soon after the profile appeared online, Breitbart News published an article that documented anti-Semitic and racist tweets written a decade ago by Tom Wright-Piersanti, who was in college at the time and has since become an editor on the Times’ politics desk. The Times said it was reviewing the matter and considered the posts “a clear violation of our standards.”

Mr. Schwartz tweeted a link to the Breitbart piece before 7 a.m., which Donald Trump Jr. retweeted to his 3.8 million followers — the first of about two dozen times that the president’s son shared the article or its contents. Other prominent Republicans, including Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, joined in highlighting the report.

Breitbart’s article quoted several people or groups with close ties to Mr. Schwartz, including Richard Grenell, Mr. Trump’s ambassador to Germany, and the Zionist Organization of America. It was written by the site’s Washington political editor, Matthew Boyle, whose relationship with Mr. Schwartz started when Mr. Bannon ran the website.

Mr. Boyle’s article included a reference to the Times profile of Ms. Grisham, which it characterized as “attacking White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham.” Mr. Wright-Piersanti was uninvolved in the editing of the article about Ms. Grisham.

The tweets revealed in the Breitbart article quickly spread to other conservative outlets favored by the president and his allies, including the radio shows of Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin.

Mr. Wright-Piersanti apologized on Twitter on Thursday morning and deleted offensive tweets. Mr. Schwartz then issued his warning that he had further damaging information about Times employees.

Mr. Wright-Piersanti, 32, said the tweets, posted when he was a college student with a Twitter following consisting mostly of personal acquaintances, were “my lame attempts at edgy humor to try to get a rise out of my friends.”

But he said “they’re not funny, they’re clearly offensive,” adding, “I feel deep shame for them, and I am truly, honestly sorry that I wrote these.”

He said he had forgotten about the tweets as he started a career in journalism.

“For my generation, the generation that came of age in the internet, all the youthful mistakes that you made get preserved in digital amber, and no matter how much you change and mature and grow up, it’s always out there, waiting to be discovered,” Mr. Wright-Piersanti said.

Like Mr. Wright-Piersanti, other targets of the pro-Trump network have been young people who grew up with social media and wrote the posts in question when they were in their teens or early 20s, in most cases before they became professional journalists.

A week after a White House reporter for CNN sparred with Mr. Trump during a news conference, Mr. Schwartz highlighted a tweet by the reporter from 2011, when the reporter was in college, that used an anti-gay slur. Other similar tweets quickly surfaced, and the reporter apologized, though Mr. Schwartz has continued to antagonize the reporter on Twitter.

In recent months, Mr. Schwartz highlighted a nearly decade-old tweet in which a reporter for The Post had repeated in an ambiguous manner a slur used by a politician.

In March, Mr. Schwartz tweeted a link to an article from Breitbart, written by Mr. Boyle, about a reporter from Business Insider whose Instagram account included anti-Trump references and a photograph of the reporter demonstrating against the president.

In July, around the time CNN published an article exposing old posts by a Trump appointee spreading suggestions that Barack Obama was a Muslim whose loyalty to the United States was in question, Mr. Schwartz resurfaced anti-Semitic tweets from 2011 by a CNN photo editor. Mr. Schwartz suggested that a CNN reporter who specializes in unearthing problematic archival content should “look into the social media activities of your employees.”

The tweets became the basis for several articles in conservative news outlets and hundreds of tweets from conservatives targeting the photo editor, Mohammed Elshamy, which did not stop even after he resigned under pressure from CNN and apologized.

“It felt like a coordinated attack,” said Mr. Elshamy, who said he had received death threats. “It was overwhelming.”

Mr. Elshamy, who is now 25, said he posted the tweets when he was 15 and 16 years old, growing up in Egypt, when he was still learning English and did not fully grasp the meaning of the words.

“I was repeating slogans heard on the streets during a highly emotional time in my nation’s history,” he said. “I believe that my subsequent work and views over the years redeems for the mistakes I made as a kid.”

While he said he understands “the severity and harm of my comments,” he questioned the motivation of the campaign that cost him his job. “It is a very dirty tactic that they are using to cause as much harm as they can to anyone who is affiliated with these media outlets,” he said. “It actually feels like a competition and every termination or vilification is a point for them.”

Mr. Bannon, at the time the head of Breitbart, oversaw the site’s efforts in 2015 to attack Megyn Kelly, then of Fox News, after she called out Mr. Trump for tweets disparaging women as “fat pigs,” “dogs” and “slobs.” In an interview, he said the work that Mr. Schwartz was undertaking should be seen as a sign that Mr. Trump’s supporters were committed to executing a frontal assault on news media they considered adversarial.

“A culture war is a war,” he said. “There are casualties in war. And that’s what you’re seeing.”

[friendlyneighborhoodeldergo-blog]

Credit Counseling In Special Finance

One of the most important roles a unique finance manager can have is that of "Credit Counselor'. Most of the time, we speak about counseling your "no income" or turndowns, to be able to preserve on to them and in all likelihood promote them a car afterward, once they have "refreshed" their credit score. A proactive approach to this concept is taking up the function of credit counselor if you want to sell these customers a car now, in the course of the income presentation. Doing so will assist you manipulate the technique, preserving the customer targeted on the "credit selection" and away from the "product choice" until you're ready to do so. Taking a credit counselor demeanor with those clients may even help set and keep their expectation affordable.

 While bad credit score can be apparent to a person who appears at credit score reviews all day, typically a client won't realize what their credit score troubles can be. Credit counseling is an effective manner to preserve manage of the unique finance sales technique. If the system is performed correctly, an applicant's expectations might be stored at a reasonable stage.

 So to begin with, what exactly is horrific credit score? Numerous styles of credit record troubles are considered a sign of horrific credit and will purpose a lender to reject an software for a loan. Such problems consist of: missing a credit score card charge, defaulting on a prior mortgage, submitting for financial ruin within the past seven years, or not paying taxes. Other black marks on a credit score document consist of a judgment filed (perhaps for non-charge of spousal or baby support) or any collection activity. To many unique finance customers, these can be normal occurrences which they do not don't forget to be horrific credit score.

 The credit counseling procedure starts offevolved with the purchaser interview. The credit application must be reviewed during the consumer interview. Take the time to find out if there are any capability pitfalls. Look for gaps in residence or employment. Find out the details concerning the patron's dwelling preparations. Do they lease or own; is the month-to-month rate split with anyone else? Is the profits effectively said and is it verifiable. This process starts the communication in a non-confrontational way. Not best do you get to realize your client higher, but this procedure receives customers speakme freely about themselves.

 Once the utility has been fully reviewed, it's time to move onto the credit score report. Remember the goal here is to keep the customer targeted at the "credit decision" and away from a "product choice". Take the time to explore their credit score file to peer if there's an explanation for any issues which may additionally present themselves.

 All too frequently, reviewing a credit document with a client consisted of surely marking all derogatory facts with a huge, purple magic marker. Raise all of the purple flags possible and beat the patron into submission. Public humiliation turned into purported to get customers to well known their bad credit score, and lead them to accept that reality. All this is the name of big profits!

 Effective credit score counseling entails getting a customer to renowned their credit troubles without the humiliation. Review the whole credit report, mentioning not most effective the derogatory information but the nice accounts as nicely. Look for a tremendous credit score reference which may be used to construct a case to give to a lender. A preceding automobile loan paid fairly well, or even an automobile mortgage that became paid well for lengthy time period before it was repossessed may be used as a wonderful reference. Look for styles of top credit which can have preceded their present day credit score troubles.

 Ask your purchaser if there has been some thing that took place to them that led up to their credit score issues. A catastrophic event, along with a chief infection, an company remaining or going out of commercial enterprise, a military call-up, or any range of personal tragedies can lead to credit issues. Now is the time on your customers to inform you their story, so that you can relay it on your creditors. Review each line at the credit report with the purchaser. Ask for explanations and make notations where appropriate.

 This may also take a touch longer than you are used to but it allows set the stage for affordable expectations from your client. It also suggests them how much paintings you have beforehand of you to get a mortgage permitted for them.

 Take some time to give an explanation for the manner. After the credit overview, provide an explanation for how a lender determines whether to approve an application. Review the S.A.W. Principle maximum lenders use to remember an applicant. - Stability, Ability and Willingness to Pay. Remember that many "D" tier lenders study more than simply the credit score score of an applicant, and in lots of cases, these lenders do not recollect the FICO rating of an applicant of their approval method. Marginal lenders take a look at the overall applicant photo to determine if the need approve a deal. An applicant with a stable employment and house records and a decent income stands a better chance of having authorized for a mortgage, in spite of a spotty credit score bureau, due to the fact the lender is aware of they may be able to acquire the bills, even supposing they're a bit past due each month. For more information visit here https://loginguide.net/myccpay-login/

[boxofscarabs]

“I’m just saying, if you don’t do it now, it’s not likely you’ll make time for it at some imaginary later perfect moment.” There was more of an edge to her voice than I was used to. I really hate it when there’s even a hint of anger in someone’s voice, yet more so when it’s someone that I’ve been being polite to. She went on. “This is something that we’ve been talking about — making plans is one step. Acting on those plans is the next step. At this point,” and she splayed the fingers on both her hands out in front of her, each one pointing at the present moment. “We have made plans to make plans. In our sessions earlier this year, we made the specific determination that you would benefit from doing this, uh, uh, ‘concretizing’ of your goals. ‘If you want something, you do something about it.’ Remember? That’s the kind of person you wanted to explore being. You forsee stability — and I concur here — in taking a more active role in your life.” I couldn’t help but nod along. I felt as if I had laid a trap for myself and was watching the mechanisms engage. She went on. “We made plans to make plans, so acting on those plans means making different plans.” I had stopped looking at her when she said ‘remember,’ and was counting the horizontal lines of the patterned carpet that ticked the space between her chair and mine.

“I guess I hadn’t realized that — Well, I mean guess I thought it would come more naturally?”

“Do you mean ‘automatically?’” She said. I felt my face become hot. There it was again. That special something that, as yet, I had no way of referring to or understanding except that it surfaced in the delivery of a word or phrase when she was becoming dissatisfied or frustrated. Each word thus delivered was like a little piece of an awful tableau displaying my past sessions, and therefore my past humiliations. Acknowledging my history with taking things for granted — for assuming things happened and happen automatically based on interior, invisible choices that the entire world adjusts to — had been an especially painful defeat. I felt, as I often do, doomed. She had helped me construct a device of terrible, inescapable cruelty. The arms and teeth of my snare crisscrossed all escape routes but one, so I stood up and averred:

“I would never purposefully withhold sex from my wife!” this had become my mantra of late. It gave me comfort mostly for the reason that it still left me room to stand if I withheld sex by accident or something. My mantras were useful, powerful tools that I could employ in response to persecution. Though she often chose to ignore them or dissuade my using them, they give me incredible comfort. After I had unleashed my mantra, the room was quiet except for the hum of the air conditioner. She looked at me briefly, then attended to something on her phone. She was waiting for me to sit back down, so I did. She then launched out of her chair and delivered a terrifying rocket kick to my sternum, which exploded with astounding violence — by which I mean she quietly stated, carefully maintaining the level of hostility in her voice:

“You are not and have never been married, Tobe.”

This was a masterstroke quite unexpected. I tipped my chair backwards and screamed out, “My hypothetical wife!” but it was no use. I had been defeated once more. Some minutes passed while I lay curled up in the fallen chair. I finally surrendered: “My plan is to apply for gainful employment.”

“That’s great, but let’s be slightly more specific.”

“I will be a dishwasher again at the Denny’s across the parking lot from my apartment building.”

She didn’t say anything to that.

( originally posted may 2021 )

[newscheckz]

Isaac Andabwa: The Union Has Elevated Kenyan Guards Management Globally

New Post has been published on https://newscheckz.com/isaac-andabwa-the-union-has-elevated-kenyan-guards-management-globally/

Isaac Andabwa: The Union Has Elevated Kenyan Guards Management Globally

“Poor payment, treatment and discrimination of private security workers, having experienced firsthand of its worse,  made me come out of my comfort and use my intelligence, ideas and solutions to form private  security workers’ union that will spearhead and fight for workers’ rights.”

Being a man of his words and determination, full of experience in the private security sector, Isaac GM Andabwa, the CEO and founder of the Kenya National Private security workers Union (KNPSWU), believes that the private security sector plays a big role in both the local and international security.

Over the time, the son of a Chief who was crowned by Nabongo Mumia; has overcome the dark world of hierarchy, fierce power, cartel hurdles and test of life to form a very strong and promising Union that has given the private security officers new hope of life after serving as a security guard just like any other profession, unlike in the past where anytime they were subjected to humiliation, discrimination and poor payment without any reference.

KNPSWU has gained strong authority, trust and civilization to the Kenya private security sector that has seen it become affiliated to COTU (K) and Uni-Global Union to cement its power, hence giving workers more bargaining strength to speak for their rights, conditions of work and privileges.

Since its inception, the Union has achieved tremendous ground and achievements including hiring more than 100 workers, serving at different union offices, across the country.

The Union has set proper structures and facilitation that has enabled it register up to 200,000 active members out of possible 500,000 registered private security officers in the country.

Besides, through collective bargaining (CBA), the union has addressed the workers most challenges with their employers like improved working hours, over time payment, sick leave, annual leave, due process of hiring and termination of workers contracts, discrimination, insurance covers among other good terms and conditions of engagement, whose fruits will be felt as time goes and CBAs gets more effective, and progressive.

Nevertheless, the private security union boss says the journey of compelling employers to sign CBAs has not been easy considering that different employers with different financial strengths and muscles, conditions, clients and preferences employ his members.

“Achieving hundred percent CBA is not easy, and cannot be be achieved overnight, but I assure you, we are heading in the right direction considering where we started from up to now.

We just need persistence, patience and steady improving strategies.”

Insecurity and emerging tactics being used by terrorists, has created an urgent need to discuss and implement laws that will allow private security officers to be armed instead of using the renown “Rungu” and “metal detector gadgets” that will never enable them to confront any danger or terrorist(s) before receiving back up from other security forces.

“In most of time, for example in the case of Dusit2, private security officers (guards) were the first people to be confronted by the terrorists.

I believe if these officers were armed, they could have clogged the terrorist from entering the premises or even killed them before they caused severe damage.

Arming guards isn’t a security menace but beneficial to the country to enhance security.

In some developed nations, security guards are highly trained just like police and highly respected as well armed to tackle any threat that comes across.

This is what we want to see in Kenya,” Bro. Isaac suggests.

CEO Africa heaved a misuse fear factor of the guns if granted, but the Union boss insisted that through their regulators office, they will come up with measures and condition in which a guard can be given a gun to carry among other precautions and therefore there is no need to worry.

However, the suggestion has not gone unchallenged, it is facing opposition from some quarters who thinks the move is pro-reactive than a solution making which might not be the right solution to insecurity.

Only time will tell which way the Government will take concerning arming the private security officers.

Many people may think the vibrant Trade Unionist is a fresh guy in the private security sector, but Mr. Andabwa worked as a guard since he cleared his secondary education in Kakamega high school.

In 1998, Bro. Isaac joined US embassy private security team, after thorough training.

During his service at the embassy, he learned and gained a lot of experience both work wise and lifestyle, including differentiating the feel of working in the embassy and being employed by the Government as the security officer.

Also during this time, he witnessed many police officers abandoning the Government service and join private security service, because the US embassy was paying better at the time; about Sh. 10,400 basic salary compared to Government GSU officers who used to get about Sh. 3,400 basic salary per month without any allowance.

The same year, terrorists bombed American Embassy in Kenya where most lives were lost as well injuries witnessed.

After the bomb blast dark day, the embassy saw there was dire need to train and improve its security personnel as well and equip them enough to easily tackle any security threats.

Bro. Andabwa was among the lucky few security guards that were given trained by the US Security experts as an SDT specialist focused on detecting terror activities, disarming, detecting suspicious activities and objects, safety measures among other intensive security training that later has helped him so much in understanding security, its vulnerability, expectations as well finding solutions.

In 1999, Mr. Andabwa felt that his vast experience in the security sector and leadership gift, will go to waste if he will not do something to improve lives of private security officers who at the time were famously known as “watchmen”, something he felt was not only foul but job inequity that was meant to weaken security officers as lesser beings and useless; yet they were guarding and protecting very valuable goods, services and people who neither appreciated their job or did discriminately.

Same year, the Kenyan Guards’ Union secretary General post was contested. The post attracted 12 contestants of which most of the leadership contestants were drawn from other business sectors who knew nothing or very little about guards and their welfare.

Mr. Andabwa was among the contestants and luckily he was elected unopposed twice during the election by delegates, while still working with KK Security at the US Embassy.

Conversely, over time, greed and corruption saw the guards suffering swell with no one to hear or fight for them.

This devil appetite saw internal leadership wrangles as well guard’s trust to the union tremendously decreasing hence creating space to exploit the guards, leaving them at their God’s mercy.

Being one of the affected guards, Mr. Isaac decided to mobilize guards in the year 2006, against mistreatment and exploitation by the greed leadership which proved to be just money minting organization with no will to support and stand by the guards to better their lives.

Securiy Guards on their internal meeting

Upon registration of the new Kenya National Private Security Workers Union (KNSWU) for the private security officers, he was given temporary registration certificate that was strongly opposed both by the sector players and some few impunity beneficiaries in the government who didn’t like the idea that proved a big threat to their career and Union. By the time of registration, the company registrar Mr. William Langat was on leave and as soon as he resumed he immediately revoked the certificate awarded earlier.

Luckily, good connections from the former President Kibaki’s daughter, Miss. Judy Kibaki’s intervention saw them awarded the certificate once again in 2007.

This was his happiest moments that only lasted shortly. In 2008, KK Security, the company that contracted him as security guard, expelled him from his job that was the only source of income under the ground that he was using the position to campaign and do politics instead of concentrating to his job.

Things got more harder and hot when same year, he was arrested under allegation that he stole money from the guards kitty, but according to him, this was a move to warn him by ensuring that he will not contest for the union leadership.

He is grateful to God he was able to overcome all the hurdles and made it out stronger.

For the entire time after he was sacked, he remained jobless until he was able to secure a temporary where he was paid Sh. 300 per month.

A salary that was not able to sustain his family considering the city life where everything talks by money.

In 2010, Bro. Isaac saw the light of the day after hard work, pain and determination not to succumb to pressure, but give the best fight for a better tomorrow.

He took over the leadership and immediately embarked in making tremendous changes in the Union including disbanding a one-region branch based in Nyanza and replaced with new branches based across the country to ensure services are brought to the people on the ground unlike before.

This saw the Union gain more strength, support and trust from the members who are the private security officers. Also the same year, the union was affiliated to the country’s giant workers movement, COTU (K).

Since then, the rest is history. Over time, the Union is gaining ground across the country, fulfilling its agenda and mission to ensure private security officers gain more respect, justice, fair payment, treatment, over time payment, fair hearing ( in case of misconduct at work), insurance covers, leave and sick-leave among others.

, Isaac GM Andabwa, the CEO and founder of the Kenya National Private security workers Union (KNPSWU), during media address

At the moment, they have already recruited over 200,000 members out of possible 500,000 security guards in the country.

In addition, they are planning to come up with Kenya Private Security Training college where any person interested in security jobs, can join, get trained and equipped with security skills then awarded a certificate when they graduate; that he or she can use to be recruited as a private security officer across the globe.

This training will include gun handling, safety at work, workers job rights, job ethics, savings and empowerment among others.

The caliber of training will be something similar to Police College in Kiganjo according to the KNPSWU boss, with a Government accredited curriculum.

The Union has actively participated in agitating for reforms in the private security sector.

Through active partnership with like minded stake holders, the Union lobbied for the enactment of the Private Security Regulations Act of 2016.

The process was rigorous but ultimately H.E The President Uhuru Kenyatta accented to the act.

The Act establishes the Private Security Regulatory Authority, which will focus on offering regulations to the private security industry in Kenya.

MR., Isaac GM Andabwa, the CEO and founder of the Kenya National Private security workers Union (KNPSWU)

CEO Andabwa believes that the Authority will ensure sanity is restored in the murky private security industry.

He concludes that the battle ahead is still huge, in ensuring the Act is fully followed, and all the private security workers in Kenya reach their desired “canaan”.

He clinches his fist as a solidarity signal of the trade unionists, with the words “Pamoja Twasimama” signifying unity among all private security officers in Kenya.

[guide-philippines-blog]

HOW TO WRITE A RESUME: FORMATS, SAMPLES, & TEMPLATES | guideph.com

Applying to work? Think of a resume as an instrument for marketing yourself.

Resume showcases your background, your skills, and your education so that a potential employer can quickly and easily able to see how your individual experience can contribute to a company’s success.

Here’s what you need to know about writing a resume, the step-by-step procedure, samples, and tips to help you create an impressive one.

WHAT IS A RESUME?

A resume is a concise written account that summarizes an applicant’s personal, educational, and professional qualifications and experience written when applying for a job. It is probably one of the most important tools in assisting you for a job whether in the private or public sector.

Resume vs. Curriculum Vitae

These two documents differ mainly in terms of what each is used for, the length of it, what details are included, and how it is formatted.

HOW TO WRITE A RESUME?

Writing a resume shouldn’t be that complicated. Make it as simple as possible. Below are the tips and procedures you must consider.

INFORMATION YOU NEED TO INCLUDE IN YOUR RESUME:

Here are the important elements you must consider in writing your resume:

NAME – Your true and full name.

CONTACT NUMBER – Your contact number should be the active one – so that the employer can contact you easily when you got the job.

E-mail Address – Other employers send an update about the application in E-mail Address. As much as possible your E-mail address should be the combination of your first name and surname.

HOME ADDRESS – The employer should consider how far you’re away from the workplace.

OBJECTIVE – What is your objective in applying for the position you are looking for?

WORK EXPERIENCE – Include your past work experience so that the employer will see what you are capable of and what you’re already good at.

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT – This is important especially for those who are fresh graduates that don’t have any work experience. Believe it or not, other employers consider the school you graduated from.

Steps in Writing an Effective Resume

Since your future career depends on the quality of your resume, it is important to make the most out of it. Make it simple and concise.  Provide a clear structure so it satisfies your recruiter in the beginning.

STEP 1: Find the right resume format.

Resume formats differ in the qualifications they emphasize. So choose a format that highlights whatever you want recruiters to notice on your resume.

You may consider your work experience, skillset, career goals, and the job you’re applying for.

Here are the different resume formats you can choose from:

a. Reverse-chronological. This classic resume format that highlights career progression by listing work experience in reverse-chronological order, starting with the latest and working back through past jobs.

b. Functional.  It emphasizes an applicant’s skills rather than work experience.

c. Hybrid. It is a combination of both reverse-chronological and functional formats. This format consists of two parts: the first part highlights relevant qualifications and skills, while the second part lists your work history.

d. Infographic. This format uses graphic design elements such as colors, illustrations, icons, charts, and font styling instead of just basic text.

STEP 2: Type in your header.

Always put your name and contact information at the top regardless of the resume format you use.

Must-have information on a resume header:

Full name

Location

Telephone number/Mobile number

Email address

Optional information on a resume header:

Professional title (e.g., “Marketing Professional,” “Web Developer,” etc.)

LinkedIn profile URL

Website/Blog URL

Link to an online portfolio

STEP 3: Write the introduction.

The introduction highlights the candidate’s most important qualification and it’s placed somewhere at the top of the page.

There are different ways to present a resume introduction. The right option depends on the job applied for, as well as the candidate’s skillsets and work experience.

a. Qualifications Summary. This is a list of key career accomplishments with four to six bullet points. Use this type of intro if you have a great list of work experience with quantitative achievements and distinct skill sets.

b. Career Objective. This field states in two to three sentences why you want a specific position in the company. This introduction is ideal for fresh graduates, entry-level candidates, and career-switchers with little or no relevant work experience.

c. Professional Profile. This introduction combines the qualifications summary and career objective and its perfect if you are applying for a position in the same industry, have particular expertise in your field, and have a major career achievement to highlight.

d. Professional Summary. This section highlights the top skills, experience, and achievements in your career. You can also mention the job title and years of experience.

STEP 4: Make a list of your relevant work experience.

The work experience section is your chance to prove your qualifications to possible employers.

Just choose up to three to five experiences that are most relevant to the job you’re applying for instead of listing your entire career.

How to list work experience on your resume.

The standard format for listing work experience includes the following information:

Job title

Company name and location

Employment dates

Key responsibilities and achievements

STEP 5: Add-in your Educational background.

The education section shows that you meet any academic requirements for a specific role, such as a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field.

How to list education on your resume.

List your education by starting with your highest degree. Follow this format:

Degree

School name

Location (city/province or country, if you studied abroad)

Graduation date (month and year)

Honors and awards received (e.g., cumlaude, dean’s lister, leadership excellence, scholarship, etc.)

If you have a college degree, no need to add your high school and grade school information.

STEP 6: Male a list of your hard and soft skills

Your resume should have a good mix of hard and soft skills because employers are looking for both in a candidate.

Hard skills are qualitative abilities that get a job done like a video editing, bookkeeping, and social media management.

Soft skills are personality traits such as leadership, professionalism, teamwork, initiative, persistence, and self-motivation.

How to list skills on your resume.

Select five to eight of your hard and soft skills that are most important for the position you’re applying for.

If you have a long list of hard skills, group them into categories. For example, if you’re a virtual assistant, you can categorize your skills into administrative, email management, social media management, etc.

For each hard skill, include your proficiency level if you are a beginner, intermediate, advanced, or an expert.

STEP 7: Personalize your resume with additional sections.

Include a personal touch to your resume. Depending on your profession or industry and what you prefer to highlight, here are the optional sections you may list on your resume.

a. Certifications/Licenses. If you’re in a profession with certification or licensing requirements (such as nursing, medicine, and engineering), make sure to include any relevant information in your resume.

b. Volunteer Work.  Your volunteering experience is worth adding to your resume. Studies find that listing volunteer work raises a candidate’s chance of getting hired. By showing that you help the community, you give the impression that you’re a loyal, committed employee.

For this section, the typical format lists the name of the organization, inclusive dates of volunteer work, achievements, and a short description of volunteer experience.

c. Languages. The ability to communicate in two or more languages is a valuable asset especially in fields such as translation, ESL teaching, writing, and customer service.

d. Hobbies and Interests. The hobbies and interests section may be the least important section, but it can boost your resume if it’s related to the position you’re applying for.

STEP 8: Review your resume multiple times.

Save yourself from possible humiliation and rejection due to obvious mistakes. When you’ve finished writing your resume and cover letter, edit and proofread them multiple times to catch and correct errors.

Remember these pointers when proofreading your resume and cover letter:

Read the document slowly from the beginning. Then read it backward per phrase. Pay close attention to every phrase.

Proofread your resume several times at different times of the day.

Run a grammar and spelling check on your computer. You can install online tools like Grammarly to help you spot errors you missed from your manual proofreading.

Ask a friend or family member for help. Take note of their feedback and suggestions for improvement.

TIPS IN PREPARING YOUR RESUME

Below are the tips that might help you in preparing your resume:

Select the best 2×2 photo that you have – you should look presentable and pleasant to the eyes of the employer. To make it simple, you should look professional. Remember that the first impression lasts! The background of your photo should be plain white.

Choose a font that is readable and looks formal – Arial, Calibri, and, Times New Roman. Also, consider that your font size shouldn’t be that too small or too large. Font size 12 is the standard size that you must consider.

Make sure that your layout must be neat and clean because it reflects your personality. What does it mean by a clean/neat layout? Don’t use multiple font styles.

Print on a short bond paper – it depends on the size required by the employer. Don’t use specialty paper and scented paper. Don’t impress your employer too much.

A resume is not noble – make it as simple as possible. The employer only needs the important information that he/she will get from you.

To finalize, ask for help! Let one of your family members or friends, to read and proofread your resume.

If you want to know HOW TO WRITE AN AUTHORIZATION LETTER, CLICK HERE!

[rebeccacclarke-blog]

Y3/S1/ Week 1: Internet Research: Understanding our topic areas

Drinking culture, Drugs and Health and Safety:

Drug use and Drinking Culture:

https://www.drugfoundation.org.nz/policy-and-advocacy/drugs-in-nz/

“Alcohol and other drugs have been used by human beings throughout history, and New Zealanders are no different. 44% of adult New Zealanders will try an illicit drug at some point, and 93% will try alcohol.”

“$1.8 Billion: Estimated annual social cost of illicit drug-related harm”

Drugs are used in society for many different aspects in life they range from “pleasure and recreation, spiritual discovery, physical or mental performance enhancement, experimentation, peer pressure, or to medicate physical problems or emotional pain”. An unexpected discovery I have found is that Alcohol and cannabis are the largest drug use in New Zealand. Research conducted over 2007 and 2008 stated that Party pills and other related drugs were not very widespread “between 0.6-3.2% of the population had used these drugs in the past year”.

Drugs not only harm individuals, they harm society, with $350 Million spent on direct drug relations in 2016.

Drug use in our local community:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11948664

A study conducted by NZ Herald in 2017 showed a rapid increase in MDMA (Ecstasy) use in Auckland from “265g of the drug showed up in Auckland's wastewater testing in November” which had risen “from 85g back in June”. Cocaine also had another large finding with “the total grams detected per week having jumped from 36g in June, to 95g in November”.

Alcohol as a drug:

https://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/alcohol.html

Alcohol is classed as a drug, the reason for this is because alcohol slows down the vital functions of a human body, this can result in physical and mental distortment.

Alcohol is created using a natural process called fermentation. This is where grains and fruits are fermented causing yeast to act upon ingredients in the food to then produce ethanol (alcohol).

Alcohol at events:

http://drinktank.org.au/2014/07/alcohol-and-the-festival-culture/

Pre drinking before an event has become a cultural norm, as many who do not want to wait in bar lines and pay large expenses for drinks do so before entering the event grounds.

This cultural norm created a fast paced drinking session where people need to “pre-Load” before attending an event, this event usually consists of peer pressure.

Festival goers often try to sneak alcohol in past the security checks, in very dramatic ways such as filling little plastic pockets and hiding them in their bra or shoes ect.. This desperate attempt to bring alcohol into festivals shows the desperation this generation has around being part of the culture. “The way in which people drink for festivals can lead to high rates of alcohol harm”.

Drug Use at festivals / Nightlife:

https://www.drugfoundation.org.nz/info/drugs-in-bars/festivals/

Drug checking is now the topic of debate in New Zealand. Substances have and will always occur so being able to prevent harm with these free services has the potential to save lives, it’s better to be educated rather than not.

A study from Otago University noted that the largest drug use was alcohol with 94 percent of the sample having used it at some stage. The second largest drug used was tobacco, with 51 percent of the study having used it.

World Drug use:

“Zealand differs from some countries in "hard" drug use such as heroin, morphine and cocaine. Only 2.9 per cent of those surveyed in New Zealand say they have ever used opioids, and only 4.2 per cent cocaine. European countries have a lower use of cocaine (1.0-1.9 per cent) except for Spain (4.1 per cent). The US is the country with by far the highest percentage of people who have used cocaine (16.2 per cent), much higher than Colombia or Mexico (4.0 per cent for both).”

Date Rape drug:

https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/date-rape-drugs

“Date rape drugs are illegal and are sometimes used to assist a sexual assault. Sexual assault is any type of sexual activity that a person does not agree to. Date rape drugs often have no colour, smell, or taste, so you can't tell if you are being drugged. The drugs can make you weak and confused — or even cause you to pass out — so that you cannot consent to sex. Both men and women can be drugged with date rape drugs.”

The main date rape drugs are Ketamine, GHB and Rohypnol. These drugs often come in small pills which are easily dissolvable in drinks. Many of the drugs have no smell, colour or taste so you will never know if you are being drugged. These drugs often have an effects very quickly between 15-30 minutes. These drugs cause a person to lose control of their senses and body causing them to often look drunk. Alcohol makes the effects of these drugs lot stronger meaning the person doesn’t need a large amount to be drugged.

Health and safety at events:

http://www.majorevents.govt.nz/resource-bank/health-safety

When it comes to events and large gatherings there are many risks which need to be considered, taken control of and resolved. As an event manager they must work under the New Zealand Health and Safety Act in order to regulate harm. All people attending the event such as organisers, staff and attendees all must be considered.

“As an event organiser you have obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and associated regulations. The Act and regulations provide for the management of health and safety in relation to both paid staff working at your event, to event-goers and to those in the vicinity of your event.”

“It is important that you fully understand your obligations and have systems and plans in place to meet them at all stages of event planning and delivery.”

“There is a wide range of resources available to you to help with health and safety planning for your event. Consider employing the services of a health and safety expert and/or taking legal advice to make sure you meet all your obligations.”

http://www.majorevents.govt.nz/resource-bank/health-safety/crowd-management-planning

“Venues are large, complicated spaces.  The management of crowds within them requires:

Excellent teamwork

Clear communication

Coordination between those responsible for the overall organisation and those dealing with the crowds face to face.”

Developing the crowd management plan:

“A key responsibility of the Event Safety Management Team is to gather core data to inform the development of the crowd safety management plan. The team must:  

Research the types of visitor that are expected and anticipate likely crowd behaviour

Collate and assess information (if available) about the health and safety records of previous events at the same venue

Liaise with outside organisations such as the Police and emergency services, which have extensive knowledge and experience

Conduct a risk assessment to determine the adequacy of arrangements for controlling crowds, and change them if necessary

Inspect the venue and review crowd safety arrangements at regular intervals

Set targets for crowd management (for example, if queues extend past a particular point, specify that another service point should be opened).”

In order to prevent harm, risk management plans should be put in place throughout extensive planning before the event.

“Conducting a risk assessment might seem like a daunting prospect, but it doesn’t have to be a big, bureaucratic process – it’s ultimately about being conscientious and applying common sense”.

Health and Safety:

https://worksmart.org.uk/health-advice/health-and-safety/employer-duties/what-health-and-safety-work-act

The health and safety work act had reports that it was failing in 2013, as a result the act was reconsidered and changed and came into effect on the 4th of April 2016.  

What the work act aims to do:

In order to gain well functioning health and safety, great teamwork, leadership and participation is a must. The HSWA explains the duties workers and workplaces must take.

“The health and safety work act holds everyone accountable and states that everyone has a role to play.”

“If you create the risk, you manage the risk”

Events health and safety guide: Things that all need to be considered at events:

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/blog/guide-health-and-safety-for-events-ds00/

When starting to plan an event, organisers must start off by focusing on the venue, they must take into consideration the size and demographic of the people attending i.e. family friendly event or an R18 event. The reason for this is because different demographics will have different needs. They then must focus on the venue with Capacity, Access, Hazards and Facilities in mind. They should then draft a site plan for all the staff working on this event.  

Risk assessment:

A risk evaluation assessment is a large aspect to be put in place to prevent risk. The hazards should be noted down and what will create these hazards. Hazards are things such as equipment, crowd, crew, first aid, weather, environmental, fire, catering and children. Each event will have different hazards and all must be taken into account.  

Create an emergency plan:

To be prepared for an emergency requires a lot of attention. Staff must be briefed on the procedures that will need to be carried out in order for the best possibility. Aspects which need to be considered are raising the alarm and how you will do this, informing the public, emergency response both onsite and offsite, crowd management, traffic management, first aid and how to handle casualties.

Sexual Harassment:

Sexual Harassment at Festivals

https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/how-common-is-sexual-violence-at-music-festivals/10425454  

What is sexual assault/harassment? 

Sexual violence “includes everything from sexual behaviour that makes a person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated (sexual harassment), to inappropriate touching and rape (sexual assault).”

500 festival goers were surveyed and it was discovered that:

90.5% felt safe either usually or always at festivals

Men more consistently said they felt safe compared to women and LGBT people

61.3 %  of people believed sexual harassment happened often or very often

Most people said sexual assault happened only sometimes or not very often

People tended to feel safer when they were around friends

Drugs and alcohol use and overcrowding often made people feel unsafe

Mosh pits were the most common places people believed sexual violence could happen

So even though people generally feel safe with friends in a festival environment, it is still well known and people are aware that sexual harassment occurs, which leads me to wonder if sexual harassment has become more socially accepted and overlooked by the majority of people, with people not looking out for others around them that maybe in bad situation?

"Most of the time people are going there having a good time with mates and generally feeling pretty safe," Dr Bianca Fileborn, a lecturer in criminology at UNSW and a co-author of the study, told Hack.

"This is important to say, especially in the current climate where there's a lot of concern and moral panic (feeling of fear) around drug use at festivals.”

She said the statistics from the survey were backed up by the types of experiences spoken about by the interview participants.

"The most common experiences were things we might classify as harassment - groping in the mosh pit, unwanted verbal comments, unwanted touching.”

"The most common perpetrators were men in the audience, in really crowded spaces.

"We know that sexual violence or harassment in general is often perpetrated by someone known to you - either a partner, a friend or an acquaintance.”

Most of the time people feel safe with their friends at a festival even though they are large events, with multitudes of people from all kinds of backgrounds and drug and alcohol use present.

Festivals can be a very vulnerable environment for people however, friends can get separated, lost, young people can can drink way too much and loose control or have a altered sense of safety amongst a large amount of people or new found festival friends.

People push their limits, with young people embracing an invisible mindset, trying new things and ending up in situations where they are vulnerable and not in control.

Most of the time people hold a certain sense of respect with other festival goers and feel like they are safe environments however it is still well known that sexual harassment is present with a lack of consent and little action done when such harassment occur mainly in mosh pits, with men being the main predators.

So what is being done to prevent this?:

“At Falls Festival last year, there were more reports of sexual assault, and police charged a man with grabbing a woman's breast in the mosh pit.”

“The festival took action - announcing plain clothes police would be in the most pit, and they put up posters and stickers about consent and sexual assault.”

“‘The triple j What's Up In Your World survey’ of thousands of young people almost one in five women felt unsafe at festivals. In the UK, a survey found two in five young women had experienced sexual harassment at festivals in that country.”

“Dr Fileborn told Hack a lot of the Australians surveyed said they had been blamed or dismissed when they reported sexual violence to staff, police or security.”

"It needs to be really clear to patrons where they can go to get assistance,” she said.

“Some [of the people we interviewed] did want a dedicated space where you know you could go, and other people wanted to be able to go up to any member of staff and tell them what had happened.”

That suggests we need a variety of responses. This type of police involvement is great, however it only works to detect some incidents and another common issue is people who are assaulted not knowing what to do and where to go/ who to ask for help.

Jim Beam Homegrown:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/103079736/allegations-of-sexual-misconduct-at-homegrown-music-festival

Sexual Abuse Prevention Network general manager Fiona McNamara said they had been in touch with the event organisers this week.

"I think it's concerning that there's been a number of complaints," she said.

"Certainly if there are multiple complaints from the same event, that absolutely has to be addressed."

However, there could be more incidents unreported, she said. Next year, the event organisers could take advantage of the Sexual Abuse Prevention Network's training programmes and support, she said.

After Homegrown 2018 a number of sexual harassment complaints had been made and this is concerning.

“Crowds of people drinking alcohol and attendees aged 15-24 – the age group most likely to report sexual assault – made the event susceptible to sexual abuse, she said.”

“There are about 186,000 sexual offences committed in New Zealand annually.”

https://www.georgefm.co.nz/home/shows/george-breakfast/2018/08/a-shocking-7-out-of-10-women-feel-unsafe-at-festivals--so-here-s.html

University in the UK - 30% of women saying they have been assaulted at a festival.

https://www.helpauckland.org.nz/sexual-abuse-statistics.html

“1 out of 3 girls may be sexually abused before she turns 16 years old. Most of this abuse (90%) will be done by someone she knows and 70% will involve genital contact”

“1 in 7 boys may be sexually abused by adulthood”

“Young people are statistically at the highest risk of being sexually assaulted; the 16 – 24 year old age group is four times more likely to be sexually assaulted than any other age group”

“People who are vulnerable in some way are also a more common target for sexual abuse, especially those with physical disabilities”

“Only about 10 out of 100 sexual abuse crimes are reported and 3 of those get to court. Sadly, only 1 of those is likely to get a conviction.”

https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/ywmmeg/theres-a-rape-epidemic-at-music-festivals-and-nobody-seems-to-care

In 2013, a UK Festival Census asked more than 3,000 people what they loved most about festivals. 'Music' and 'escaping normal life' topped the list; the report explained that the mix of escapism and the 'sense of community' built around events was what made them compelling for visitors. But it also might be the same sense of suspended reality that makes sexual assaults and rape seem unexpected. "I think there definitely is an idyllic view of festivals, Sarah says. "But in reality, they're just like society downsized--there are going to be the same pockets of people who are okay with doing harm to others."

[willowgraceroke]

Internet/ Article Research

Drug use and Drinking Culture: 

https://www.drugfoundation.org.nz/policy-and-advocacy/drugs-in-nz/ 

“Alcohol and other drugs have been used by human beings throughout history, and New Zealanders are no different. 44% of adult New Zealanders will try an illicit drug at some point, and 93% will try alcohol.” 

“$1.8 Billion: Estimated annual social cost of illicit drug-related harm”

Drugs are used in society for many different aspects in life they range from “pleasure and recreation, spiritual discovery, physical or mental performance enhancement, experimentation, peer pressure, or to medicate physical problems or emotional pain”. An unexpected discovery I have found is that Alcohol and cannabis are the largest drug use in New Zealand. Research conducted over 2007 and 2008 stated that Party pills and other related drugs were not very widespread “between 0.6-3.2% of the population had used these drugs in the past year”. 

Drugs not only harm individuals, they harm society, with $350 Million spent on direct drug relations in 2016. 

Drug use in our local community:

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11948664 

A study conducted by NZ Herald in 2017 showed a rapid increase in MDMA (Extacy) use in Auckland from “265g of the drug showed up in Auckland's wastewater testing in November” which had risen “from 85g back in June”. Cocaine also had another large finding with “the total grams detected per week having jumped from 36g in June, to 95g in November”.

Alcohol as a drug: 

https://www.drugfreeworld.org/drugfacts/alcohol.html 

Alcohol is classed as a drug, the reason for this is because alcohol slows down the vital functions of a human body, this can result in physical and mental distortment. 

Alcohol is created using a natural process called fermentation. This is where grains and fruits are fermented causing yeast to act upon ingredients in the food to then produce ethanol (alcohol).

 Alcohol at events: 

http://drinktank.org.au/2014/07/alcohol-and-the-festival-culture/ 

Pre drinking before an event has become a cultural norm, as many who do not want to wait in bar lines and pay large expenses for drinks do so before entering the event grounds. 

This cultural norm created a fast paced drinking session where people need to “pre-Load” before attending an event, this event usually consists of peer pressure.

Festival goers often try to sneak alcohol in past the security checks, in very dramatic ways such as filling little plastic pockets and hiding them in their bra or shoes ect.. This desperate attempt to bring alcohol into festivals shows the desperation this generation has around being part of the culture. “The way in which people drink for festivals can lead to high rates of alcohol harm”.

Drug Use at festivals / Nightlife:

https://www.drugfoundation.org.nz/info/drugs-in-bars/festivals/ 

Drug checking is now the topic of debate in New Zealand. Substances have and will always occur so being able to prevent harm with these free services has the potential to save lives, it’s better to be educated rather than not. 

A study from Otago University noted that the largest drug use was alcohol with 94

percent of the sample having used it at some stage. The second largest drug used was tabaco, with 51 percent of the study having used it. 

World Drug use: 

“Zealand differs from some countries in "hard" drug use such as heroin, morphine and cocaine. Only 2.9 per cent of those surveyed in New Zealand say they have ever used opioids, and only 4.2 per cent cocaine. European countries have a lower use of cocaine (1.0-1.9 per cent) except for Spain (4.1 per cent). The US is the country with by far the highest percentage of people who have used cocaine (16.2 per cent), much higher than Colombia or Mexico (4.0 per cent for both).”

Date Rape drug:

https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/date-rape-drugs 

“Date rape drugs are illegal and are sometimes used to assist a sexual assault. Sexual assault is any type of sexual activity that a person does not agree to. Date rape drugs often have no color, smell, or taste, so you can't tell if you are being drugged. The drugs can make you weak and confused — or even cause you to pass out — so that you cannot consent to sex. Both men and women can be drugged with date rape drugs.”

The main date rape drugs are Ketamine, GHB and Rohypnol. These drugs often come in small pills which are easily dissolvable in dinks. Many of the drugs have no smell, colour or taste so you will never know if you are being drugged. These drugs often have an effects very quickly between 15-30 minutes. These drugs cause a person to lose control of their senses and body causing them to often look drunk. Alcohol makes the effects of these drugs lot stronger meaning the person doesn’t need a large amount to be drugged. 

Health and safety at events: 

http://www.majorevents.govt.nz/resource-bank/health-safety 

When it comes to events and large gatherings there are many risks which need to be considered, taken control of and resolved. As an event manager they must work under the New Zealand Health and Safety Act in order to regulate harm. All people attending the event such as organisers, staff and attendees all must be considered. 

“As an event organiser you have obligations under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 and associated regulations. The Act and regulations provide for the management of health and safety in relation to both paid staff working at your event, to event-goers and to those in the vicinity of your event.”

“It is important that you fully understand your obligations and have systems and plans in place to meet them at all stages of event planning and delivery.

There is a wide range of resources available to you to help with health and safety planning for your event. Consider employing the services of a health and safety expert and/or taking legal advice to make sure you meet all your obligations.”

http://www.majorevents.govt.nz/resource-bank/health-safety/crowd-management-planning 

“Venues are large, complicated spaces.  The management of crowds within them requires:

excellent teamwork

clear communication

coordination between those responsible for the overall organisation and those dealing with the crowds face to face.

Developing the crowd management plan 

A key responsibility of the Event Safety Management Team is to gather core data to inform the development of the crowd safety management plan. The team must:  

research the types of visitor that are expected and anticipate likely crowd behaviour

collate and assess information (if available) about the health and safety records of previous events at the same venue

liaise with outside organisations such as the Police and emergency services, which have extensive knowledge and experience

conduct a risk assessment to determine the adequacy of arrangements for controlling crowds, and change them if necessary

inspect the venue and review crowd safety arrangements at regular intervals

set targets for crowd management (for example, if queues extend past a particular point, specify that another service point should be opened).”

In order to prevent harm, risk management plans should be put in place throughout extensive planning before the event. 

“Conducting a risk assessment might seem like a daunting prospect, but it doesn’t have to be a big, bureaucratic process – it’s ultimately about being conscientious and applying common sense”.

Health and Safety:

Health and safety at Work Act:

https://worksmart.org.uk/health-advice/health-and-safety/employer-duties/what-health-and-safety-work-act 

The health and safety work act had reports that it was failing in 2013, as a result the act was reconsidered and changed and came into effect on the 4th of April 2016.  

What the work act aims to do: 

In order to gain well functioning health and safety, great teamwork, leadership and participation is a must. The HSWA explains the duties workers and workplaces must take. 

“The health and safety work act holds everyone accountable and states that everyone has a role to play.”

“If you create the risk, you manage the risk”

Events health and safety guide: Things that all need to be considered at events 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/blog/guide-health-and-safety-for-events-ds00/ 

When starting to plan an event, organisers must start off by focusing on the venue, they must take into consideration the size and demographic of the people attending i.e. family friendly event or an R18 event. The reason for this is because different demographics will have different needs. They then must focus on the venue with Capacity, Access, Hazards and Facilities in mind. They should then draft a site plan for all the staff working on this event.  

Risk assessment:

A risk evaluation assessment is a large aspect to be put in place to prevent risk. The hazards should be noted down and what will create these hazards. Hazards are things such as equipment, crowd, crew, first aid, weather, environmental, fire, catering and children. Each event will have different hazards and all must be taken into account.  

Create an emergency plan:

To be prepared for an emergency requires a lot of attention. Staff must be briefed on the procedures that will need to be carried out in order for the best possibility. Aspects which need to be considered are raising the alarm and how you will do this, informing the public, emergency response both onsite and offsite, crowd management, traffic management, first aid and how to handle casualties.   

Sexual Harassment at Festivals

https://www.abc.net.au/triplej/programs/hack/how-common-is-sexual-violence-at-music-festivals/10425454  

“What is sexual assault/harassment? Sexual violence “includes everything from sexual behaviour that makes a person feel offended, humiliated or intimidated (sexual harassment), to inappropriate touching and rape (sexual assault).” 

 “500 festival goers were surveyed and it was discovered that:

90.5% felt safe either usually or always at festivals

Men more consistently said they felt safe compared to women and LGBT people

61.3 %  of people believed sexual harassment happened often or very often

Most people said sexual assault happened only sometimes or not very often

People tended to feel safer when they were around friends

Drugs and alcohol use and overcrowding often made people feel unsafe

Mosh pits were the most common places people believed sexual violence could happen”

So even though people generally feel safe with friends in a festival environment, it is still well known and people are aware that sexual harassment occurs, which leads me to wonder if sexual harassment has become more socially accepted and overlooked by the majority of people, with people not looking out for others around them that may be in a bad situation? …

"Most of the time people are going there having a good time with mates and generally feeling pretty safe," Dr Bianca Fileborn, a lecturer in criminology at UNSW and a co-author of the study, told Hack.”

"This is important to say, especially in the current climate where there's a lot of concern and moral panic (feeling of fear) around drug use at festivals.”

“She said the statistics from the survey were backed up by the types of experiences spoken about by the interview participants.”

"The most common experiences were things we might classify as harassment - groping in the mosh pit, unwanted verbal comments, unwanted touching.”

"The most common perpetrators were men in the audience, in really crowded spaces.”

"We know that sexual violence or harassment, in general, is often perpetrated by someone known to you - either a partner, a friend or an acquaintance.”

Most of the time people feel safe with their friends at a festival even though they are large events, with multitudes of people from all kinds of backgrounds and drug and alcohol use present. 

Festivals can be a very vulnerable environment for people however, friends can get separated, lost, young people can drink way too much and lose control or have an altered sense of safety amongst a large number of people or new found festival friends. 

People push their limits, with young people embracing an invisible mindset, trying new things and ending up in situations where they are vulnerable and not in control. 

 Most of the time people hold a certain sense of respect with other festival goers and feel like they are safe environments however it is still well known that sexual harassment is present with a lack of consent and little action done when such harassment occurs mainly in mosh pits, with men being the main predators. 

So what is being done to prevent this? 

“At Falls Festival last year, there were more reports of sexual assault, and police charged a man with grabbing a woman's breast in the mosh pit.”

“The festival took action - announcing plainclothes police would be in the most pit, and they put up posters and stickers about consent and sexual assault.”

“The triple j What's Up In Your World survey of thousands of young people almost one in five women felt unsafe at festivals. In the UK, a survey found two in five young women had experienced sexual harassment at festivals in that country.”

“Dr Fileborn told Hack a lot of the Australians surveyed said they had been blamed or dismissed when they reported sexual violence to staff, police or security.”

"It needs to be really clear to patrons where they can go to get assistance," she said.”

"Some [of the people we interviewed] did want a dedicated space where you know you could go, and other people wanted to be able to go up to any member of staff and tell them what had happened.”

"That suggests we need a variety of responses.”

This type of police involvement is great, however, it only works to detect some incidents and another common issue is people who are assaulted not knowing what to do and where to go/ who to ask for help... 

Sexual Harassment/ Homegrown Festival

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/103079736/allegations-of-sexual-misconduct-at-homegrown-music-festival 

“Sexual Abuse Prevention Network general manager Fiona McNamara said they had been in touch with the event organisers this week.”

"I think it's concerning that there's been a number of complaints," she said. 

"Certainly if there are multiple complaints from the same event, that absolutely has to be addressed." 

However, there could be more incidents unreported, she said. 

Next year, the event organisers could take advantage of the Sexual Abuse Prevention Network's training programmes and support, she said. 

After Homegrown 2018 a number of sexual harassment complaints had been made and this is concerning. 

Crowds of people drinking alcohol and attendees aged 15-24 – the age group most likely to report sexual assault – made the event susceptible to sexual abuse, she said.

There are about 186,000 sexual offences committed in New Zealand annually. 

George FM: Festival Promoter, sharing facts and talking to RnV 

https://www.georgefm.co.nz/home/shows/george-breakfast/2018/08/a-shocking-7-out-of-10-women-feel-unsafe-at-festivals--so-here-s.html

University in the UK - 30% of women saying they have been assaulted at a festival. 

RnV, implementing a contact number for help. 

More Stats

https://www.helpauckland.org.nz/sexual-abuse-statistics.html 

1 out of 3 girls may be sexually abused before she turns 16 years old. Most of this abuse (90%) will be done by someone she knows and 70% will involve genital contact

1 in 7 boys may be sexually abused by adulthood

Young people are statistically at the highest risk of being sexually assaulted; the 16 – 24 year old age group is four times more likely to be sexually assaulted than any other age group

People who are vulnerable in some way are also a more common target for sexual abuse, especially those with physical disabilities

Only about 10 out of 100 sexual abuse crimes are reported and 3 of those get to court. Sadly, only 1 of those is likely to get a conviction.

https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/ywmmeg/theres-a-rape-epidemic-at-music-festivals-and-nobody-seems-to-care

In 2013, a UK Festival Census asked more than 3,000 people what they loved most about festivals. 'Music' and 'escaping normal life' topped the list; the report explained that the mix of escapism and the 'sense of community' built around events was what made them compelling for visitors. But it also might be the same sense of suspended reality that makes sexual assaults and rape seem unexpected. "I think there definitely is an idyllic view of festivals," Sarah says. "But in reality, they're just like society downsized--there are going to be the same pockets of people who are okay with doing harm to others."

[opportunities0]

Help With Paying Apartment Rent For Free: The Samurai Way

According to federal real estate guidelines, any type of family members that places more than 30% of their revenue toward rent are “expense burdened.” This indicates they might have trouble affording other needs.

She included that there are people that invest upwards of 40 or 50% of their income on rental fee. “It leaves them at risk if their cars and truck breaks down, or their youngsters get ill.

That held true for Mandy. When they had to obtain her automobile repaired, she as well as her partner had actually already exhausted their financial savings for their relocation. Mandy estimates that they were paying near 50% of their shared earnings toward lease.

” We didn’t have any savings to fall back on,“ Mandy states, adding that saving even $20 per income (as Scherler advises) was incredibly tough for the couple at the time.

Financial challenges prevail Only 39% of Americans can spend for a $1,000 monetary emergency out of their savings, according to a current study from Bankrate.

The very same Bankrate study located that of those that can not spend for a $1,000 monetary emergency situation out of cost savings, their service is to:

Money with a bank card (19%). Lower their investing on other things (13%). Obtain money from friend or family (12%). Take out an individual car loan (5%). There are many reasons that someone might be in need of short-term help and would wish to know exactly how to get aid with lease. Volunteers of America (VOA) is a national not-for-profit company that helps people find economical housing, particularly experts, elderly people, households as well as people with disabilities. VOA has actually recognized these factors for the increase in requirement:.

Salaries are not enhancing at a symmetrical rate to the consistently increasing residential property worths and low job prices. Residential property values as well as lease continue to raise at a rate that tenants can’t stay up to date with, resulting in fight with paying lease. Significantly long waiting checklists for subsidized housing. Waiting lists of 2-3 years for low-income family members and singles make paying rental fee in higher rentals harder. While the problem might be on the rise, there are methods to elevate cash for lease.

Exactly how to get help with lease. 1. Review your lease. Figure out your legal rights as a renter. Aim to see what takes place if your repayment is late or if you miss out on a month, and when expulsion process would certainly start.

Usually, it takes 90 days before expulsion proceedings begin, Scherler says, so there is a long time to collaborate with.

” If you miss out on one lease repayment, yet make your complying with month’s repayment, you may not be forced out,“ Scherler says.

2. Speak to your property owner. They might be willing to function with you if you are a good renter and also have an excellent partnership with your property manager. Ask if they will approve a late repayment or if you can pay your rent in installations.

3. Reach out to nonprofits. Not-for-profit organizations can load the need for assistance when the federal government can not. Both Catholic Charities and The Salvation Military might be able to supply reserve to pay your lease and energy expenses. Get in touch with your local Salvation Military or Catholic Charities to learn if you satisfy their requirements for economic support. With The Redemption Military, candidates meet with a caseworker as part of the procedure.

An additional option is calling 2-1-1, a 24-hour helpline administered by United Manner in which connects individuals seeking aid to sources in their communities.

Of the 15 million emails and calls asking 2-1-1 for aid in 2017, 4.4 million were for housing as well as energy aid. That telephone call quantity was the highest possible portion of any category, Scherler states.

” I think, unfortunately, real estate is a difficult one,“ Scherler claims. "That is a big difficulty in a great deal of areas.”.

Another national nonprofit organization that supplies aid is Modest Needs, which gives grants for an one-time emergency situation cost.

People need to obtain a grant through Modest Needs. The not-for-profit posts the give request on its internet site and also enables donors to examine as well as sustain the grant demands that matter most to them if approved. When the organization funds a grant request, they remit settlement straight to the vendor received the applicant’s documentation. Many requests obtain satisfied within two weeks, Taylor claims, and much of the grant applications concern covering living costs that candidates can’t manage as a result of a short-term monetary emergency.

4. Explore other income sources. Ask your family and friends participants for a lending or see if you can obtain a payroll advance from your employer. Some firms might likewise have a hardship fund for workers.

5. Take into consideration crowdfunding. Crowdfunding is an excellent solution. A good way to sharp loved ones to your circumstance is by beginning a fundraiser on GoFundMe. They offer free fundraising so you get to keep more of the funds you raise.

6. Rental assistance for experts. The UNITED STATE Division of Veterans Matters gives help for homeless experts if you’re a veteran. Nonprofit organizations like Veterans Inc. may additionally have the ability to help those who need help with rent through its real estate program. The federal government has a program to offer funding to develop and also support reduced earnings rental housing for grownups with disabilities if you’re disabled.

7. Government aid. Regrettably, the federal government offers only limited assistance to pay emergency rent costs. The government department of Housing and Urban Advancement provides help through its housing choice vouchers program, but there are commonly long waitlists, Scherler says.

The government does supply some emergency funding. It’s generally carried out through the state agencies, but unless you’re facing expulsion, the help is hard to obtain.

“ You practically need to specify of dilemma prior to you have the ability to obtain assistance,” Scherler states.

A rent dilemma can signal a much deeper demand. By having a look at the large image when faced with a single, emergency situation expenditure, individuals can stay clear of years of financial battle.

For Mandy, her rental fee battle was a sign that she and her companion needed even more aid to manage than they wished to admit. They had been considering looking for Supplemental Nutrition Help Program (frequently described as SNAP), yet their monetary dilemma created them to seek assist right away.

“ We really felt terrible,” Mandy states. “We desired so badly to be self-dependent, but we just couldn’t make it function.”.

There are a number of free resources offered if you are in a situation like Mandy’s, as well as many remain to supply help after the situation has actually passed.

Volunteers of America has the adhering to suggestions if you need assistance paying your rent:.

Take an active role in developing an action plan to end your crisis circumstance with long-lasting and temporary services. Avoid ignoring the trouble up until the eleventh hour. Don’t make or stress rash choices, as there are area resources and also supports in position to obtain you via this scenario. Think about taking totally free budgeting courses to determine just how to pay your lease, or if you need to discover a less costly area to live. “ If you have this slipping uncertainty that following month you might not make the rent, you require to start looking now,” Taylor says. “It’s important to be positive as well as really get out there.”.

There’s no shame in requesting for help. No matter if you’re asking for assistance with a not-for-profit organization, friends or household, or crowdfunding, do not really feel humiliated.

“ Everyone falls on difficult times,” Mandy claims. “It happens to more of us than individuals recognize.”.

If you’re battling and also need to elevate cash for rental fee, take a deep breath. Occasionally we all require a little aid.

There are lots of factors that someone can be in need of temporary assistance and would certainly desire to understand how to get aid with lease. Volunteers of America (VOA) is a nationwide nonprofit company that assists individuals locate economical real estate, especially experts, senior residents, households and people with handicaps. Nonprofit companies can fill up the need for assistance when the government can not. Nonprofit organizations like Veterans Inc. might likewise be able to help those that need help with rental fee with its real estate program. Sometimes we all require a little help.

[financials0]

Help With Paying Apartment Rent For Free: The Samurai Way

According to federal real estate guidelines, any type of family members that places more than 30% of their revenue toward rent are “expense burdened.” This indicates they might have trouble affording other needs.

She included that there are people that invest upwards of 40 or 50% of their income on rental fee. “It leaves them at risk if their cars and truck breaks down, or their youngsters get ill.

That held true for Mandy. When they had to obtain her automobile repaired, she as well as her partner had actually already exhausted their financial savings for their relocation. Mandy estimates that they were paying near 50% of their shared earnings toward lease.

” We didn’t have any savings to fall back on,“ Mandy states, adding that saving even $20 per income (as Scherler advises) was incredibly tough for the couple at the time.

Financial challenges prevail Only 39% of Americans can spend for a $1,000 monetary emergency out of their savings, according to a current study from Bankrate.

The very same Bankrate study located that of those that can not spend for a $1,000 monetary emergency situation out of cost savings, their service is to:

Money with a bank card (19%). Lower their investing on other things (13%). Obtain money from friend or family (12%). Take out an individual car loan (5%). There are many reasons that someone might be in need of short-term help and would wish to know exactly how to get aid with lease. Volunteers of America (VOA) is a national not-for-profit company that helps people find economical housing, particularly experts, elderly people, households as well as people with disabilities. VOA has actually recognized these factors for the increase in requirement:.

Salaries are not enhancing at a symmetrical rate to the consistently increasing residential property worths and low job prices. Residential property values as well as lease continue to raise at a rate that tenants can’t stay up to date with, resulting in fight with paying lease. Significantly long waiting checklists for subsidized housing. Waiting lists of 2-3 years for low-income family members and singles make paying rental fee in higher rentals harder. While the problem might be on the rise, there are methods to elevate cash for lease.

Exactly how to get help with lease. 1. Review your lease. Figure out your legal rights as a renter. Aim to see what takes place if your repayment is late or if you miss out on a month, and when expulsion process would certainly start.

Usually, it takes 90 days before expulsion proceedings begin, Scherler says, so there is a long time to collaborate with.

” If you miss out on one lease repayment, yet make your complying with month’s repayment, you may not be forced out,“ Scherler says.

2. Speak to your property owner. They might be willing to function with you if you are a good renter and also have an excellent partnership with your property manager. Ask if they will approve a late repayment or if you can pay your rent in installations.

3. Reach out to nonprofits. Not-for-profit organizations can load the need for assistance when the federal government can not. Both Catholic Charities and The Salvation Military might be able to supply reserve to pay your lease and energy expenses. Get in touch with your local Salvation Military or Catholic Charities to learn if you satisfy their requirements for economic support. With The Redemption Military, candidates meet with a caseworker as part of the procedure.

An additional option is calling 2-1-1, a 24-hour helpline administered by United Manner in which connects individuals seeking aid to sources in their communities.

Of the 15 million emails and calls asking 2-1-1 for aid in 2017, 4.4 million were for housing as well as energy aid. That telephone call quantity was the highest possible portion of any category, Scherler states.

” I think, unfortunately, real estate is a difficult one,“ Scherler claims. "That is a big difficulty in a great deal of areas.”.

Another national nonprofit organization that supplies aid is Modest Needs, which gives grants for an one-time emergency situation cost.

People need to obtain a grant through Modest Needs. The not-for-profit posts the give request on its internet site and also enables donors to examine as well as sustain the grant demands that matter most to them if approved. When the organization funds a grant request, they remit settlement straight to the vendor received the applicant’s documentation. Many requests obtain satisfied within two weeks, Taylor claims, and much of the grant applications concern covering living costs that candidates can’t manage as a result of a short-term monetary emergency.

4. Explore other income sources. Ask your family and friends participants for a lending or see if you can obtain a payroll advance from your employer. Some firms might likewise have a hardship fund for workers.

5. Take into consideration crowdfunding. Crowdfunding is an excellent solution. A good way to sharp loved ones to your circumstance is by beginning a fundraiser on GoFundMe. They offer free fundraising so you get to keep more of the funds you raise.

6. Rental assistance for experts. The UNITED STATE Division of Veterans Matters gives help for homeless experts if you’re a veteran. Nonprofit organizations like Veterans Inc. may additionally have the ability to help those who need help with rent through its real estate program. The federal government has a program to offer funding to develop and also support reduced earnings rental housing for grownups with disabilities if you’re disabled.

7. Government aid. Regrettably, the federal government offers only limited assistance to pay emergency rent costs. The government department of Housing and Urban Advancement provides help through its housing choice vouchers program, but there are commonly long waitlists, Scherler says.

The government does supply some emergency funding. It’s generally carried out through the state agencies, but unless you’re facing expulsion, the help is hard to obtain.

“ You practically need to specify of dilemma prior to you have the ability to obtain assistance,” Scherler states.

A rent dilemma can signal a much deeper demand. By having a look at the large image when faced with a single, emergency situation expenditure, individuals can stay clear of years of financial battle.

For Mandy, her rental fee battle was a sign that she and her companion needed even more aid to manage than they wished to admit. They had been considering looking for Supplemental Nutrition Help Program (frequently described as SNAP), yet their monetary dilemma created them to seek assist right away.

“ We really felt terrible,” Mandy states. “We desired so badly to be self-dependent, but we just couldn’t make it function.”.

There are a number of free resources offered if you are in a situation like Mandy’s, as well as many remain to supply help after the situation has actually passed.

Volunteers of America has the adhering to suggestions if you need assistance paying your rent:.

Take an active role in developing an action plan to end your crisis circumstance with long-lasting and temporary services. Avoid ignoring the trouble up until the eleventh hour. Don’t make or stress rash choices, as there are area resources and also supports in position to obtain you via this scenario. Think about taking totally free budgeting courses to determine just how to pay your lease, or if you need to discover a less costly area to live. “ If you have this slipping uncertainty that following month you might not make the rent, you require to start looking now,” Taylor says. “It’s important to be positive as well as really get out there.”.

There’s no shame in requesting for help. No matter if you’re asking for assistance with a not-for-profit organization, friends or household, or crowdfunding, do not really feel humiliated.

“ Everyone falls on difficult times,” Mandy claims. “It happens to more of us than individuals recognize.”.

If you’re battling and also need to elevate cash for rental fee, take a deep breath. Occasionally we all require a little aid.

There are lots of factors that someone can be in need of temporary assistance and would certainly desire to understand how to get aid with lease. Volunteers of America (VOA) is a nationwide nonprofit company that assists individuals locate economical real estate, especially experts, senior residents, households and people with handicaps. Nonprofit companies can fill up the need for assistance when the government can not. Nonprofit organizations like Veterans Inc. might likewise be able to help those that need help with rental fee with its real estate program. Sometimes we all require a little help.

[buildbusiness01]

Help With Paying Apartment Rent For Free: The Samurai Way

According to federal real estate guidelines, any type of family members that places more than 30% of their revenue toward rent are “expense burdened.” This indicates they might have trouble affording other needs.

She included that there are people that invest upwards of 40 or 50% of their income on rental fee. “It leaves them at risk if their cars and truck breaks down, or their youngsters get ill.

That held true for Mandy. When they had to obtain her automobile repaired, she as well as her partner had actually already exhausted their financial savings for their relocation. Mandy estimates that they were paying near 50% of their shared earnings toward lease.

” We didn’t have any savings to fall back on,“ Mandy states, adding that saving even $20 per income (as Scherler advises) was incredibly tough for the couple at the time.

Financial challenges prevail Only 39% of Americans can spend for a $1,000 monetary emergency out of their savings, according to a current study from Bankrate.

The very same Bankrate study located that of those that can not spend for a $1,000 monetary emergency situation out of cost savings, their service is to:

Money with a bank card (19%). Lower their investing on other things (13%). Obtain money from friend or family (12%). Take out an individual car loan (5%). There are many reasons that someone might be in need of short-term help and would wish to know exactly how to get aid with lease. Volunteers of America (VOA) is a national not-for-profit company that helps people find economical housing, particularly experts, elderly people, households as well as people with disabilities. VOA has actually recognized these factors for the increase in requirement:.

Salaries are not enhancing at a symmetrical rate to the consistently increasing residential property worths and low job prices. Residential property values as well as lease continue to raise at a rate that tenants can’t stay up to date with, resulting in fight with paying lease. Significantly long waiting checklists for subsidized housing. Waiting lists of 2-3 years for low-income family members and singles make paying rental fee in higher rentals harder. While the problem might be on the rise, there are methods to elevate cash for lease.

Exactly how to get help with lease. 1. Review your lease. Figure out your legal rights as a renter. Aim to see what takes place if your repayment is late or if you miss out on a month, and when expulsion process would certainly start.

Usually, it takes 90 days before expulsion proceedings begin, Scherler says, so there is a long time to collaborate with.

” If you miss out on one lease repayment, yet make your complying with month’s repayment, you may not be forced out,“ Scherler says.

2. Speak to your property owner. They might be willing to function with you if you are a good renter and also have an excellent partnership with your property manager. Ask if they will approve a late repayment or if you can pay your rent in installations.

3. Reach out to nonprofits. Not-for-profit organizations can load the need for assistance when the federal government can not. Both Catholic Charities and The Salvation Military might be able to supply reserve to pay your lease and energy expenses. Get in touch with your local Salvation Military or Catholic Charities to learn if you satisfy their requirements for economic support. With The Redemption Military, candidates meet with a caseworker as part of the procedure.

An additional option is calling 2-1-1, a 24-hour helpline administered by United Manner in which connects individuals seeking aid to sources in their communities.

Of the 15 million emails and calls asking 2-1-1 for aid in 2017, 4.4 million were for housing as well as energy aid. That telephone call quantity was the highest possible portion of any category, Scherler states.

” I think, unfortunately, real estate is a difficult one,“ Scherler claims. “That is a big difficulty in a great deal of areas.”.

Another national nonprofit organization that supplies aid is Modest Needs, which gives grants for an one-time emergency situation cost.

People need to obtain a grant through Modest Needs. The not-for-profit posts the give request on its internet site and also enables donors to examine as well as sustain the grant demands that matter most to them if approved. When the organization funds a grant request, they remit settlement straight to the vendor received the applicant’s documentation. Many requests obtain satisfied within two weeks, Taylor claims, and much of the grant applications concern covering living costs that candidates can’t manage as a result of a short-term monetary emergency.

4. Explore other income sources. Ask your family and friends participants for a lending or see if you can obtain a payroll advance from your employer. Some firms might likewise have a hardship fund for workers.

5. Take into consideration crowdfunding. Crowdfunding is an excellent solution. A good way to sharp loved ones to your circumstance is by beginning a fundraiser on GoFundMe. They offer free fundraising so you get to keep more of the funds you raise.

6. Rental assistance for experts. The UNITED STATE Division of Veterans Matters gives help for homeless experts if you’re a veteran. Nonprofit organizations like Veterans Inc. may additionally have the ability to help those who need help with rent through its real estate program. The federal government has a program to offer funding to develop and also support reduced earnings rental housing for grownups with disabilities if you’re disabled.

7. Government aid. Regrettably, the federal government offers only limited assistance to pay emergency rent costs. The government department of Housing and Urban Advancement provides help through its housing choice vouchers program, but there are commonly long waitlists, Scherler says.

The government does supply some emergency funding. It’s generally carried out through the state agencies, but unless you’re facing expulsion, the help is hard to obtain.

“ You practically need to specify of dilemma prior to you have the ability to obtain assistance,” Scherler states.

A rent dilemma can signal a much deeper demand. By having a look at the large image when faced with a single, emergency situation expenditure, individuals can stay clear of years of financial battle.

For Mandy, her rental fee battle was a sign that she and her companion needed even more aid to manage than they wished to admit. They had been considering looking for Supplemental Nutrition Help Program (frequently described as SNAP), yet their monetary dilemma created them to seek assist right away.

“ We really felt terrible,” Mandy states. “We desired so badly to be self-dependent, but we just couldn’t make it function.”.

There are a number of free resources offered if you are in a situation like Mandy’s, as well as many remain to supply help after the situation has actually passed.

Volunteers of America has the adhering to suggestions if you need assistance paying your rent:.

Take an active role in developing an action plan to end your crisis circumstance with long-lasting and temporary services. Avoid ignoring the trouble up until the eleventh hour. Don’t make or stress rash choices, as there are area resources and also supports in position to obtain you via this scenario. Think about taking totally free budgeting courses to determine just how to pay your lease, or if you need to discover a less costly area to live. “ If you have this slipping uncertainty that following month you might not make the rent, you require to start looking now,” Taylor says. “It’s important to be positive as well as really get out there.”.

There’s no shame in requesting for help. No matter if you’re asking for assistance with a not-for-profit organization, friends or household, or crowdfunding, do not really feel humiliated.

“ Everyone falls on difficult times,” Mandy claims. “It happens to more of us than individuals recognize.”.

If you’re battling and also need to elevate cash for rental fee, take a deep breath. Occasionally we all require a little aid.

There are lots of factors that someone can be in need of temporary assistance and would certainly desire to understand how to get aid with lease. Volunteers of America (VOA) is a nationwide nonprofit company that assists individuals locate economical real estate, especially experts, senior residents, households and people with handicaps. Nonprofit companies can fill up the need for assistance when the government can not. Nonprofit organizations like Veterans Inc. might likewise be able to help those that need help with rental fee with its real estate program. Sometimes we all require a little help.

[grimoiregrove]

Spotlight + Interview: A Nanny for Christmas by Christina George

A Nanny for Christmas

Harper’s Corner Book Two

by Christina George

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Holiday

Summary

Willa O’Rourke knows the true story, the story that doesn’t sell magazines. In less than 8 hours Willa went from being a behind-the-scenes nanny for one of the hottest A-list celebrity couples, to having her picture splashed all over every magazine in the country. Caught in the arms of her sexy employer, Johnny Blaze. No one cares that Johnny hit on her, and she repeatedly told him no. The world thinks Willa O’Rourke is more interesting as the slutty, home-wrecking, opportunistic nanny. She even has a hashtag trending on Twitter. #dirtynanny Humiliated and desperate to get away from the harsh eyes of Hollywood, she decides to take a short break from her suddenly not so glamorous life and head home for the holidays. But a quiet Christmas to recoup before heading back to LA wasn’t in the cards. She immediately runs into Jack, her seriously hot, fireman ex-boyfriend. Despite Willa’s attempts to keep a low profile, she and Jack are thrown together for a Christmas charity project — making her wonder if she’s meant for a simpler life in Harper’s Corner after all.

Add on Goodreads

Amazon

Author Interview

Are there any authors, genres, or works of literature that have influenced your writing? I adore Jill Shalvis and Kristan Higgins – their writing styles are similar in that they infuse some humor, a smattering of fun but flawed characters – and they’re great storytellers! But honestly, I think they key is to read in your genre, regardless of who you love and follow. Yes, those two are my fav and often go-to, but it’s important to read other authors and see how they tackle issues, storylines, etc. What is your creative process when bringing your worlds or characters to life? You know it’s funny, I like to sort of “sit” with characters for a while and get a feel for them, before I write about them. Because I feel like you kind of have to get inside their head – and being inside someone’s head when you’re trying to put them on paper is hard for me. That’s not to say that the character doesn’t change and grow as I’m writing the story, but I like to really spend some time with them before I put them on paper. Oddly (or maybe not, since I’m a writer ☺) sometimes I’ll try to figure out what type of music they like. This played a heavy role in my forthcoming book, where the main character liked country music, and it became a tiny bit of the backdrop and tapestry to getting to know him. But often music isn’t mentioned at all, it’s just a way of defining who they are. When I was creating the girl-tribe I call “the coven” I looked at music choices for each of them, to see what they might most resonate with. That’s also a fun way to help further develop a character! What was your inspirations behind A Nanny for Christmas? Funny you should ask. So I’m a big fan of Jennifer Garner and a few years ago, when she had that nanny debacle with her than husband Ben Affleck, I thought “I wonder what that must be like, being a celeb nanny” as it happens, I happened to meet someone who knew this nanny, not well – but had gone to school with her. Though no part of the character is based in fact, you’ll a bit see Jen Garner in the wife of the male star, I think. Is there a character from your work(s) that you feel a special connection with? I would say that would be Kate, from my first series: The Publicist. In my day job, I’m a publicist, so I really resonated with her and many of the challenges she faced! What lead you to writing and later publishing your first book? Funny story: The Publicist was actually a diary of mine – many (most) of the stories in that book are true. The names have been changed to protect the odd, or sometimes nutty people I’ve worked with and for in this ever-changing industry. Is there any advice you would like to give to writers who are just starting out? YES!! Write what you love to read! That’s a big, big deal. Be a fan of your genre first and foremost. I speak to a lot of authors in my day job who aren’t fans of what they write. I don’t at all get that. You’ll do a much better job with your books if you’re a fan and read in your genre. Spoiler alert:  you need to read a lot in your genre. The more you read the better you’ll be an author.

About Christina George

I’ve worked in publishing for twenty years and I sincerely love books and authors. I started this journey with my own books planning to write just one, and then well – all I can say is the stories kept coming. My original series The Publicist, follows Kate, Mac, Nick, Vivienne and a host of other awesome characters as they make their lives in New York, amidst the chaos that publishing often brings with it. I am now exploring a fictional small town called Harper’s Corner. This series is so fun, because there are so many characters in this town, from sexy firemen and hot Army guys, to an awesome group of women that I affectionally call “the coven.” These books will explore each of these characters, and their journey to finding the loves of their lives. I love writing, and I love reading and if I’m not actively writing a book, I’m probably dreaming of what I’ll write next.

Website | Amazon | Goodreads

[sylvestersrpg]

BASICS.

full name: kurt elijah hummel.  face claim: chris colfer.  gender + pronouns: cismale, he/him. orientation: homosexual, homoromantic.  hometown: roanoke, va. united states.  occupation: business owner.  employer: diamond designs.  birthday + zodiac: may 31st, gemini. 

HEADCANONS.

For as long as he could remember, Kurt’s life had always been a bit of a façade in one way or another. His father, Burt Hummel, had made a name for himself in Washington as a prominent, career politician; the man fought for progressive bills and legislation that most people hadn’t had the resolve to fight for until that point. Bills that might have been seen as controversial. He began his career as a state representative from Virginia, fighting for the arts and other less-than-conventional rights; eventually his work ethic and strong moral stance gained him a position as a Senator. Katherine Hummel had made a name for herself along another avenue years before Kurt had been born; she had built her own fashion house from the ground-up, and by the time he was born her name was as widely known as that of Vera Wang, Coco Chanel, and Stella McCartney. The fashion-house began in a small town just outside of Roanoke, with a small shop in the city as well, but the company was moved to Los Angeles after Katherine fell ill. When Kurt was just thirteen years old, his mother was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer – adenocarcinoma to be specific – and Kurt’s entire world was rocked to the core; she had ignored most of the symptoms of the disease in favor of devoting more time to her company and family until it was too late, blaming the pain and wheezing and shortness of breath and everything else she felt on her work ethic. Instead, she tried to lighten her work load a little; it wasn’t until she found herself coughing up blood one night that she finally conceded to getting help, but by then it was too late. Katherine had been the biggest role model and the brightest light in Kurt’s life; losing her was like losing a piece of himself.

With his father constantly away for work in his younger years, Kurt had grown up inside the walls of his mother’s fashion house; it was no surprise when he started developing his own flare for designing clothes, wanting to follow in the older woman’s footsteps. The hardest part for him, though, was when he lost not only his mother but the one place he had felt most connected to her: the fashion-house. Katherine had done what she could to run the company from her hospital bed, but soon enough she had to sign over ownership of her company to the board. The board decided to move the entire company across the country, and there was nothing Kurt could do about it; even the boutique his mother had once owned never the same. Without his mother’s presence in his life and without the haven he’d once had in the shop, Kurt felt lost – even at a young age. 

In an attempt to give his family a fresh start, Burt moved his entire family from Virginia to Rhode Island. For a time, Burt stepped away from his work to be with his family. He was nearing the end of his six-year Senate term and moving to a new state meant he wasn’t eligible for re-election anyway. Their family moved to Providence, and life was okay for a short time; the problem was that after a short while, roughly a year, the campaigns for the second Rhode Island senate seat began, and Burt threw his hat in to the ring. Given the success of his career before, he easily won the election in place of the other candidates that the state had offered, and life soon began to return to the way it had been before. There was one major difference, though. Katherine wasn’t there anymore; there was a housekeeper there in Burt’s stead, but for all intents and purposes – in his mind – Kurt was on his own.

Growing up, Kurt’s parents had been actively in the eye of the media in one way or another, and he often found himself putting on one face for the media and another in private. Without his mother there and his father spending a majority of his time in D.C. once more in a time when Kurt really needed someone to help guide him – the Senator seemed to only come home every other weekend – the teenager felt torn. Outwardly, he was the perfect, straight son that his family expected, but behind closed doors he was a mess of confusion – trying to figure out who he really was. High school had passed in a bit of a blur; he joined a few clubs, kept up his school work, and made some friends, but his focus was his future. He chose to keep his sexuality to himself, for both himself and his father’s sake; he’d seen the way some of the other openly gay students were treated, and even though his father was a Senator, he feared it wouldn’t stop them from treating him the same way. 

Publicly, he dated more than a few girls who ran in the same circles as he did, but privately the short-lived relationships had never felt right. The attraction, on his part, had never truly been there. This behavior carried into his life when he went away to college in New York City, but now he was in a big city; now, people were starting to notice a pattern. He had developed a penchant for not holding a relationship for more than a few weeks – a month at best – and after a while, this gained him a bit of a reputation in the tabloids for being a “playboy”, though the stories soon shifted to questioning whether he really was a “playboy” or if there was something more going on with the young man; given the fact that he also happened to be seeing other men behind the curtain, they certainly weren’t wrong, though it wasn’t something he was going to acknowledge publicly. He had come to terms with his own sexuality, but he didn’t know how his father would handle it; it was one thing for his father to support the LGBT community and legislature, but it was quite another to find out his son was actually a member of it.

For the first few years he was in New York, following his mother’s footsteps and studying fashion at Parsons School of Design, Kurt had dealt with the slightly extra attention on him from the tabloids just fine. That was, at least, until one anniversary of his mother’s passing came; in previous years he’d been able to go to Virginia, spend time with his mother’s family, and visit his mother’s grave. Two and a half years into his time in New York, though, Kurt hadn’t been able to go back to Virginia, and his emotions started to get the better of him. He managed to keep his grades up, but he began to let the friendships he’d made slide, and he started developing a nasty habit of lashing out at the pseudo paparazzi whenever they were around him – breaking cameras and shoving journalists who might have asked anything even remotely personal. This did nothing to help the reputation he’d accrued in his time in the city, but things didn’t really escalate until one particular tabloid managed to get their hands on photos showing Kurt in a less-than-desirable situation with a professor (who happened to be married, but Kurt hadn’t known that bit). For the supposedly ‘straight’ son of a Rhode Island Senator, who was rumored to be in the running for a seat in the President’s cabinet, these pictures were a publicity nightmare which publicly forced him out of the closet. Life changed for Kurt after being forced out of the closet, but it wasn’t for the worst like he had thought it would be. No one seemed to hate him for his sexuality like he had worried about over the years, but the biggest relief had been his father’s acceptance of him. Sure, he was a little awkward around his son sometimes, but for the most part he was incredibly supportive – Kurt hadn’t expected that; Burt had even made a comment that he and Katherine had seen that particular avenue of Kurt’s life from a young age. The hardest part for Kurt, though, came in the scandal with the school. He couldn’t have gone back to Parsons, even if he wasn’t entirely humiliated, but in a lucky break one of his professors took pity on him. She had always admired the talent she’d seen in him, and she submitted his portfolio to ESMOD (l’École supérieure des arts et techniques de la mode) in Paris without him knowing. 

Once more, Kurt had started to feel lost; he took a job at Vogue magazine in an attempt to keep with his fashion avenues, but life still felt a little empty. It wasn’t until his old professor had asked him to meet her one day and presented him with their acceptance package that he started to see a clear future again. This time, though, he would be studying in the city of his dreams – Paris. With a combination of his own savings and a small inheritance his mother had left him, Kurt spent the next four years in France. Kurt decided to move back to the states in an attempt to, once more, follow in his mother’s footsteps. Initially, he had fought to work for his mother’s company, but after Katherine’s passing the ownership had changed hands many times; the people who owned the company now had no desire to hire someone they feared might try to take the company from them. 

Moving to Whatever, Rhode Island had been a chance matter of sorts; he’d heard about the town while he was home in Providence, and he couldn’t help but feel a little intrigued. The name alone amused him. Moving to a smaller town like Whatever was a better financial option for him than moving to a metropolis like New York City like he had initially been thinking; he was trying to live on his own, without help from his father who had helped him in his last year or so in Paris, and while Whatever wasn’t exactly small – it also wasn’t New York City. Seeing an opportunity to follow his dreams, he moved to the city and opened a small fashion boutique of his own a few months later in honor of his mother. Diamond Designs. He’s proud of the work he’s accomplished since he started the company, proud of the success he seems to be having with both the shop and the online counterpart. He only hopes that his mother would be equally proud of him.

OTHER:

player: michelle.  age: twenty-nine.  timezone: cst.  blog link: (x)