#i was scheduled for 31 hours and as it stands ive worked like 2 hours more than that. so.

[orcelito]

Unsure if I've lost the thread for ladue or if I'm just exhausted

Probably more the latter tbh. I hope.

[mageofcolors]

reasons i hate my job:

1. a job in sales is super manipulative of the customers just so you can get some money. ive seen people straight up encourage abusive behavior in order to make a sale

2. typical shift is 11 hours long

3. we have 4 people working in our store but only two tablets. so even if we have 3 people working at a time, not all 3 of us can hepp customers at once

4. schedules are made super last minute, and sometimes i have tp remind the manager to give us the schedule

5. at least one of my 2 days off in a week my manager will ask me to come in anyway

6. manager is irresponsible tbh. i asked her one favor once and she didnt do it and bc of that im not getting the money for my sale

7. manager once went to wisconsin dells and swam in a pool DURING THE PANDEMIC and then didnt take the time to quarantine after. the district manager knew this and didnt do anything to stop it. when i encouraged all my coworkers to get tested after she came back and the store ended up getting closed for 2 weeks, the district manager called it us "wanting to take a 2 week vacation" instead of a safety precaution we had to take because HE AND THE MANAGER didnt take the proper precautions first.

8. our company is two companies that just merged and there are so many errors in the systems ALL THE TIME

9. i just got a 3/10 review from a customer bc i was coughing the whole time, even though i explained to the customer that it's not covid and it's not contageous. this was also my very first review so that's great /s

10. half of the customer service and sales support people we need to call practically every day dont know what theyre doing

11. since the merger they took away our stools and now we have to stand for 10 hours in a day

12. our air conditioning is broken right now and i am overheating

13. they sometimes supply us with water, but usually not. so i have to bring enough water from home to last me 11 hours

14. none of my coworkers voted and im pretty sure theyd vote for trump anyway

15. one coworker is just. super annoying in everything he does. i cannot stand close to him without being uncomfortable

16. oh yeah we cant even stand 6 feet apart when we do our jobs

17. i got written up once because i was in charge during a couple days but the mistakes weren't even made by me

18. my first manager literally believed in stupid questions and it got to the point that i was scared to ask him anything

19. it took 4 months for me to become commissionable for some reason (that being them refusing to teach me), while everyone else becomes commissionable after a week

20. when stores in this company were closed bc someone was tested positive for covid (which happened multiple times), then closed it for one day and had it deep cleaned, then the next day they forced people from other stores to work overtime at that store, instead of just letting the store be closed temporarily

21. when the stores were closed during the quarantine at first, people had to use their paid time off in order to get paid at all

22. my coworkers would put insurance on people's devices without even asking them, which charges them an extra $15 a month

23. everyone here is cishet and i'm just. really uncomfortable talking about anything i like or do bc cant relate

24. one of my coworker doesnt do shit outside of selling. he literally tells me im better at it and leaves it at that. he doesnt even TRY

25. almost every single customer asks me about my cough and i am EXHAUSTED

26. my manager dumps a lot of her work on me and instead of taking the time to work on it herself, half the time she's just talking to people on the phone and getting distracted

27. one time my manager went on her lunch break (we get one hour) and then came back to the store 1 1/2 hours later, and then went to the back room to eat. i'm like??? did you not have time to eat in that 1 1/2 hours???? you know what she said? "oh i was shopping"

28. ive told every one of my coworkers my pronouns. none of them use them. they dont even notice when i try to correct them

29. my manager also randomly deadnames me. like you didnt call the other guy his legal name??? you called him by his preferred name completely fine when he's not even trans??? but this enby you gotta "forget" to call by their chosen name, even though that's all anybody else calls me??? actually, my district manager calls me by my legal name sometimes too thats probs where she got it, but he knows my preferred name too so fuck them

30. when i finally got my log in information to sell things, they misspelled my last name. i had to get it corrected. this prevented me from being able to sell things for a longer time. when the companies officially merged and i got new logins??? they fucking did it again

31. when they gave me my name tag it had my deadname on it so i asked them if i could get one with my preferred name on it. district manager said he'll order one. it's been over a month.

32. two of my coworkers smoke and then i have to stand next to them when they come back in and smell the fucking smoke. im sorry im trying to breatheover here

33. we have to say this long-ass intro when answering the phone and it's so awkward and annoying

thats all i got for now

[michartdesign]

Women’s Health is Important, My story. (Part I)

Let this be a cautionary tale to all the ladies out there who don't see the need to have checkups regularly. I am by no means telling what you should or shouldn't do, but I hope if there is something to take away from this, is to value your body and give it the respect and care it needs to keep healthy. 

All this started back in 2016 when at work, I suddenly became violently ill and had extreme lower left abdomen pain. I drove myself home and continued to roll around the floor just outside the bathroom in case I needed to throw up again. I have a history of painful periods, so I thought this was just a very bad PMS episode. After withstanding the pain for a couple of hours, I decided to go to the ER, by the time I got there the pain had subsided some, but every time I got up or walked, it got worse.

The intake nurse took my vitals and asked what my pain level was on a scale from 1-10, I said 8 and I were moved back to the waiting room, without even a painkiller. Now, I have an immense pain threshold, so I didn't look like I was struggling. After about an hour, they called me back in so I could be seen by a doctor. I explained my symptoms to her and she looked visibly concerned, she went on to check my belly, ordered an ultrasound and back to the waiting room I went. Again, no pain killers. I never saw the same doc again.  

I had my ultrasound done and it was so painful, I was shaking as the nurse scanned the area where it hurt and told me she couldn't see anything, she then proceeded to ask “why are you overreacting like this?”. I was appalled!. After almost 9 hours in the ER and shift changes, they finally call me in, I get some Tylenol and they let me stay in a little room with other ladies awaiting their results. 3 more hours pass until finally get an answer, they dismiss it as being PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome) prescribe some Metformin, which ‘should’ help and some more Tylenol for the pain. I get discharged. I thought I was safe.

A week later, the same thing happens, I feel horribly sick, I'm throwing up and rolling around in pain again. I show up in the ER extremely concerned, I get dismissed as being an opioid addict and attention seeker, because “records show they already checked me an found nothing, plus, you have to give the pills time to take effect”. I spend another full day in the ER at a teaching hospital, where I have student after student check me and try to figure out which diagnosis best fits me. It was frustrating, to say the least! I get sent home with stronger painkillers and a diagnosis of depression. I couldn't believe it!

A month goes by, nothing happens, I finish my treatment thinking it had worked, I was beyond happy. When again, very suddenly the same pain, in the same area with the same symptoms come back with a vengeance!. This time I at least make it to the acute wing, where the nurse in charge orders an MRI test. I finally get told, that I have PCOS but nothing can be done surgically as there is no risk of complications. Then he asks me “Will you leave if I write your discharge papers?”, I say no, I need to leave with an answer, this pain is killing me and I'm missing work because of it. I should have kept my mouth shut because he thought I was there just as an excuse to not go to work!. I'm dying in pain here, this is NOT made up, open me up and check me!, I was extremely frustrated, as I get sent home with a note to excuse my absence from work.

Over the next few months, I have follow up after follow up with the OBGYN and the Gastrointestinologist and nothing is figured out, again I am a guinea pig for all the students. I get sent home with no answers, because ‘the pain I'm in is not indicative of the symptoms you are showing’. My emergency medical expires and I don't qualify for the regular medical because I earn too much. I fall into a medical limbo, where I cant neither qualify for Obamacare or Medical, so I let it go. I don't get the pain again and I am grateful to be healthy for the following couple of years.

Fast forward to June 19, 2019. I have moved back home to L.A and I'm happily dropping off my sister at school when BOOM, it hits me again, very suddenly. This time I can't even walk from the pain and I'm throwing up every liter of water I have in my body, the pain is well above a 10. I try to compose myself to drive home, but I am in such pain and so weak, I have to call my parents for help. As I wait in the car, I take some Tylenol. They arrive and are immediately worried at how sick and pale I look, as we drive home, every bump in the road makes me wail in pain. Dad suggests I go to the ER, I am apprehensive because of what happened last time. Because the pain had gone away the last time, I thought I could do away with some Advil, to reduce the fever also. Maybe the doctors were right, maybe this was bad PMS again. 

I get home, drag myself up the stairs and promptly sprint to the bathroom to throw up, parents leave for work and I try to take more painkillers because the pain won't stop. I throw those up to, I am getting more dehydrated, I start feeling clammy and look paler as the time passes. Over the course of 4 hours, the pain just keeps on getting worse, at this point, I can't even keep down water. I call my cousin for help and she drives me to the ER, this time to a different hospital of her suggestion, Valley Presbyterian. During the drive, I kept running different scenarios in my head, thinking about how I was going to convince the doctors that this time, the pain is serious. I needed them to listen, I needed answers. 

We arrive in the ER at noon, thank god is relatively empty. I get checked right away by the intake nurse, everything is elevated and I am told to come inside immediately. I tell the transport nurse that it is extremely painful to walk, can I please get a wheelchair and he scoffs and says “The room is right across that door”. Great, here we go again. I insist, my cousin insists and we get a wheelchair. A nurse comes in promptly to check me, I explain my symptoms, explain what happened in 2016, she proceeds to check my abdomen and I wince as soon as she touches me. She is visibly concerned as she notes that my stomach is very swollen as well. She says she will get a doctor.

The doctor comes in, asks me the same questions, checks me the same and I am given a bed as they run more tests. I am in the ER, inside and have a bed. I think, Victory! I am given IV fluids because I am extremely dehydrated and also IV painkillers, which they thought would help. They didn't, an hour passes by and my cousin is worried as I am visibly getting worse, I can't hold it anymore, I feel like someone is repeatedly stabbing and twisting my insides with a hot sword. I begin to cry. I tell my cousin to get the nurse, they ignore us for another 30 minutes, I ask for more painkillers, again ignored. An hour and a half pass, I am about to burst, my cousin tells me to just let it out, to wail and scream if I have to. 

I do, I can't hold it anymore, I am sobbing and screaming in pain. The doctor pokes her head out of her office at that same time, my parents return, she is told my family is here and promptly says “Oh I was waiting for her family to show up before we moved her.”. I am 31 years old, she needed to inform no one. I realize they were going to keep me in that bed until the pain went away, I worry that the next nurse or doctor will be dismissive as well. I ready for battle, despite being barely able to speak at this point. I am so weak, I can't even walk, they decide to move my bed to the acute unit. Once there, I finally meet my savior. 

I've been in the hospital for 4 hours now, they give me stronger painkillers, I am so thirsty but am unable to drink water as one of the nurses says “She might go for surgery, we need her to fast.”. At this point my mother is with me, holding my hand and I break down, the painkillers aren't working, I go into shock and repeatedly say ‘Please help me, it hurts’ for what seems like hours. I am deteriorating. The attending nurse comes in and is visibly concerned, he stays by my door as I continue downhills, he orders ultrasounds and Xrays. Here we go again.

I am taken to the ultrasound room, I am crying as the pain of the machine is unbearable, I begin to shake, the technician freaks out. Her superior comes in and does the test himself, pressing way too hard. I can't stand the pain and then he says the magic words “What is this? there a big mass on her left ovary”.I am relieved, finally an answer!, little did I know the seriousness and extent of the issue. I go back to my awesome nurse, he says they need a clearer image of what's going on, at this point, I'm so high, I hardly process what he is saying. He orders an MRI.

After 2-3 hours, I finally get wheeled out to the MRI, I have had so many different bags of painkillers IV, the pain dulls. Cue MRI, the pain soars to new heights again due to the heat the rays. I am back in my room, blood work comes back, I am in Diabetic Ketoacidosis, I'm immediately put in insulin and am so unstable at this point that the nurse request I am moved to the ICU to await the results of the MRI and keep my blood sugars under control. Everything is a whirlwind at this point, it's almost 2am, I haven't slept or eaten but the pain is somewhat controlled and for that I am grateful.

My family is tired and they leave, I am so thankful for their support. The OBGYN doctor shows up, she says “You have a severe ovarian torsion caused by an 8cm tumor in the left ovary. I have never seen anything like this, it is also hemorrhagic and necrotic, we need to remove it.”FINALLY! so it wasn't in my head, this wasn't a pain I could meditate away. This wasn't something that I was exaggerating. I am scheduled for surgery at 5:00am. RELIEF.  

[arplis]

Arplis - News: Good value, but not much more: A review of TAP Air Portugals A321LR in business class, Porto to Newark

TPG Rating

70 100

Pros

Fresh new cabin with comfy throne seat. Tasty food and drink.

Cons

Very poor ground experience and the service could have been more polished.

10 Ground Experience

25 Cabin + Seat

10 Amenities + IFE

14 Food + Beverage

11 Service

Since joining TPG at the start of the year, Ive been fortunate to do an eclectic mix of reviews. From my first time flying Virgin Atlantic to the shortest scheduled flight in the world, Ive had unique and unforgettable experiences. On a recent trip to the States for work, I was looking for an interesting route, aircraft or airline that I could take that had never been reviewed before. TAPs A321LR was exactly that: The more modern, technologically advanced and fuel-efficient version of the A321 I flew back from Amman, Jordan, earlier in the year. It was a no-brainer, it had yet to be reviewed, and it meant my inner AvGeek would get to fly a new aircraft and airline for the first time. But did my experience live up to the self-generated hype?

In This Post

Booking

Another reason that this was a great product to review is the fact that a one-way in business class from London Gatwick (LGW) to Newark (EWR) via Porto (OPO) was pricing at a very reasonable $965. If youre willing to spend the night in Porto which, by the way, I highly recommend you can even find fares as low as about $780 for a one-way ticket. Considering one-way flights between London and New York routinely sell for about $8,000, the stopover is well worth it if youre looking to fly in business class without breaking the bank. Round-trip tickets booked in a similar way also save significant amounts of money compared with the nonstop flights between the two hubs.

As TAP is part of Star Alliance, there are plenty of miles and points redemptions for this flight, too. TAPs own Miles&Go program was showing the one-way OPO to EWR ticket in business class at 145,000 miles and $72. Not cheap. Luckily, though, there are programs that will allow you to book for both fewer miles and less of a cash outlay.

For example,through Uniteds MileagePlus program, if you can find business saver availability, youll pay for 70,000 miles and $45. Another great option is Air Canadas Aeroplan program, where you could use 55,000 miles for a one-way ticket. You can earn both United and Aeroplan miles very easily, as Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer at a 1:1 ratio to United, and American Express Membership Rewards transfer at the same ratio to Aeroplan.

And, right now, TPG readers can get an exclusive 150% bonus on purchasing Lifemiles, another excellent option for booking Star Alliance flights.

Ground Experience

TPG Rating

10/20

CS-TXC

Tail

17:31

Departure

7h 45m

Duration

I was scheduled to fly from Gatwick at 1 p.m, land in Porto at 3:15 p.m. and depart for Newark at 4:55 p.m. With one hour and 45 mins to transfer, what could go wrong?

I arrived nice and early, as my business-class ticket gave me access to the No1 Lounge in Gatwicks South Terminal. There was not one single person in either the premium or economy lines at check-in, which meant the process was super quick. TAPs check-in area was in Zone E, next door to Turkish Airlines, which had about a dozen people waiting in line. I had my bag checked and boarding pass in hand in no time at all. No mention of delays was made to me, either.

Related reading:Comparing British Airways and Turkish Airlines Business Class between London Heathrow and Istanbul

Walking toward the escalators up to departures, I turned around to view an eerily quiet check-in area.

I breezed through the terminals priority security, again, thanks to my business-class ticket. The terminals lounges were on the upper level of departures, on the opposite side to where I came through security.

There was a small queue of people waiting to get into the lounge. When it was my turn, the staff member scanned my boarding pass and handed me a menu. Just like Heathrows No1 Lounge in Terminal 3, the menu was la carte. As always, I did a tour of the lounge to find the seat with the best view and I quickly found this spot. I also noticed that the departures board was suspiciously showing gate displayed at 1:10 p.m., which was after my flight was due to depart. It was just the start of my troubles.

Set up and ready for some work before my flight, I headed to the bar to order something to eat. What Id forgotten is that you could only order once from the menu and had to hand it in when ordering. Breakfast options before 11 a.m were poached egg (singular) and avocado muffin, classic sausage sub and toast and preserves. I was absolutely starving and love my eggs in the morning, so it was an easy decision to make.

I actually laughed out loud at the size of the portion that was plunked down in front of me.

The saving grace was that the yolk was perfectly runny.

Two bites later, I was done and still hungry. I then received a text from the airline. Thankfully, I speak Portuguese, so could see that my flight would now depart at 2:20 p.m., which would mean I would now land in Porto only 30 minutes before my flight to New York. The plot thickens.

As I had more time to kill, I went to see what other delights were on offer.

The lounge was quite busy, so a few of the options were pretty spare and could have done with being refilled.

I dont think anyone had done a quick clean and tidy of the food service areas for a while, either.

After being rather disappointed with the cold buffet, I got back to my seat to find my neighbor had left without ordering any food, so I smugly headed straight back to the bar to order a bacon roll from the all day favourites section of the menu. It was equally as disappointingly small as my egg and avocado but tasted good nonetheless. Other all-day options were a fish-finger wrap and beans on toast. No expense spared there.

In terms of beverages, there was a soft drink, water and juice refill station.

And a coffee machine. I say coffee because it was so bad I almost spat it back into my cup.

The lounge was fairly busy and has a nice variety of different seating areas.

Thats including a cozy TV area sectioned off from the noise of the main lounge area.

I headed to my gate, where boarding was supposed to start at 2 p.m.

The gate area was cramped, and the scene resembled something akin to boarding a Ryanair flight at Stansted (STN). I didnt see any power sockets, and there definitely wasnt enough seating. It didnt help that a Norwegian Dreamliner bound for LAX was boarding at the gate next door. TAPs lounge and boarding experience were distinctly average and certainly not what I would call premium.

Once we were on board, the pilot announced a slot delay due to weather in Porto, which meant we would land at around 5 p.m. Seconds later, I received another text from TAP advising me that I had been rebooked on the flight the following day. On arrival at Porto, there was a huge queue for TAP customer services, so I figured there had been many flight issues that day. I headed straight to the front to find out if I were in the right queue, and a member of the TAP team said she had been waiting for me and that transport and accommodation had already been arranged for myself and the other two business-class passengers from my flight who were also due to fly to Newark. This finally felt like the service that a business-class passenger should receive, as it meant that I didnt have to wait in the queue with over 100 irate Brazilians who had had their flight home canceled.

After an impromptu and fun-filled evening in Porto, a car picked me up from the hotel at 2 p.m. the next day, and I headed back to the airport with the hope that my ground experience would be distinctly better than the day before. Once again, there was nobody waiting in the check-in area for premium passengers.

After a slight technical issue with tagging my bag, I was on quickly on my way toward security, where there were two Fast Track lanes for premium passengers.

Unlike at Lisbon Airpot (LIS), there was no TAP Premium Lounge at Porto. Instead, there was a business-class lounge shared by seemingly every airline with business cabins that used the airport, as well as Priority Pass, Dragon Pass and Diners Club International cardholders. My expectations were low.

Entertainment-wise, there was a sparsely filled magazine and newspaper stand by the entrance.

There was also this phone charging stand, which at first I thought was a great addition, but maybe more so in the 2000s, when portable battery packs werent a thing. Still, it would be a lifesaver if you forgot your charger.

Aside from the main room, which was pretty clinical to start with, it reminded me of a dentists waiting room.

It was a bit nicer and brighter out on the terrace.

But the view was mainly only of the terminal with a bit of the runway in the distance.

The buffet area in the middle of the main room was on the small side.

Though they were cold, I liked the variety of Portuguese and Brazilian snacks and street food. Coxinha are my favourite!

I was less impressed by the tray of sad-looking sandwiches.

And the bowls of stale pastries.

On the plus side, drinks were aplenty.

Including a Nespresso coffee machine. A slight shame, though, as Portuguese coffee is some of the best Ive ever tasted!

There was a variety of local wines.

Some middle of the the road spirits, and other assorted drinks.

After stuffing my face with coxinha, I checked the departures board before 3:30 p.m. when I saw head to gate displayed next to my flight. I thought it was quite early but did what I was told and headed to the gate. As often is the case with European airports, there was a second security area to clear before passing through into the gates area. This process took around 20 minutes.

Once I got to the gate, there was yetanother security screening to clear before I could get on the plane. It was a rather slow and arduous process where I had to take everything out of my bag, remove my shoes and have a full pat-down by a rather stale-breathed guard. Good job I left the lounge on time.

The boarding area was really full.

There were a few charging points around the space. Most were poorly located, meaning passengers sat on the floor to charge their devices.

There was no premium seating area, merely a sign pointing right for premium boarding and left for everyone else.

A day later than scheduled and after a very subpar ground experience first at Gatwick then in Porto, I finally boarded the 2-month-old CS-TXC around 4:30 p.m.

An hour later, we departed slightly later than scheduled at 5:30 p.m.

Cabin and Seat

TPG Rating

25/30

22.3

Width

80in

Bed Length

1

Lavs

I had high expectations for what I would find inside the cabin, and for the most part these were met. The throne seat was in a class of its own. No neighbor, space galore and two greatly positioned windows all to myself.

The small, 16-seat business-class cabin comprised five rows. Odd rows were in a 2-2 configuration, and even rows were in the coveted 1-1 formation arguably one of the best in the sky.

Storage was significantly less in the 2-2 rows.

The cabin was cozy but doesnt feel cramped, considering it was only a narrow-body aircraft.

I did a quick inspection of the seat area and noticed a few sloppy cleaning oversights that could easily have been rectified with a bit of care and attention.

The footwell was actually quite dirty.

The seat controls were easily accessible. The seating positions were fixed, and there was no way of altering them to your own preference.

The footwell was spacious and didnt go too narrow at the end. Perfectly comfortable for me, but not sure it would be as good for those around 6 feet or taller.

There was a shoulder-level reading light and a hook for stowing headphones once in flight.

Then there was what Id call a cupboard rather than a storage compartment.

As well as a headphone hook, there was also a water bottle holder, great for when turbulence hit.

The safety cards and inflight magazines were stored in a small pouch on the other side of the seat next to the window.

Then there was final additional storage gadget in the form of a mesh on springs. Not really sure what it was for, but it was there if you needed it.

Nope, it was not a door. It was the meal tray. It slid out from next to the storage cupboard then flipped down at a 90-degree angle then rotated another 90 degrees into the right position for eating.

The tray table itself was definitely big enough.

There was a 90-degree swivel, but I think this was just part of the stowage process, as it didnt really make leaving the seat any easier.

My 13-inch laptop fit comfortably on the table with enough space for a drink. Or two.

But there was plenty of surface space either side of the side if you wanted to continue working in an office in the sky while dining.

The seat lowered nice and easy into a fully flat bed. The blanket was basic, but I liked the thickness and quality of the pillows. So much so that I asked for a second, which was brought to me with no problem.

There was nothing premium about the single lavatory in the business-class cabin. It was rather small.

And it didnt even have any special amenities.

Due to the narrowness of the plane, the bathroom was almost cut in half diagonally by the wall of the fuselage. It was definitely not the most comfortable of spaces.

Amenities and IFE

TPG Rating

10/15

101

Movies

No

Tailcam

Yes

Headphones

About 10 minutes before takeoff, I received the TAP-branded amenity kit by Portos very own Castelbel. From what I could gather, there were two or three different designs that were handed out at random to passengers.

Inside, there were all of the usual suspects: eye mask, lip balm, earplugs, pen, comb, toothbrush and toothpaste, some body lotion and a pair of socks. Admittedly, the eye mask felt pretty cheap, but I liked the colorful on-brand design of the flight socks.

I was pretty impressed with the size of the inflight-entertainment screen. The picture was crystal-clear, and the tough screen very responsive.

I rarely pay attention during the safety video (naughty, I know) as there are usually far more interesting views to be had out of the window. But not with TAP. I was completely engaged by the airlines fresh, unique and emotive use of expats who have moved to Portugal and learned Portuguese to explain the safety briefing.

In total, there were 101 films, plenty by anyones standards. I liked that there was a selection of Brazilian and Portuguese films, too.

The earphones did not appear to be noise-canceling at all, despite being advertised so.

There was also a wine experience included in the entertainment section, which I thought was pretty cool. But when I asked the crew member serving me if all of the displayed wines were available, she didnt seem to know what I was talking about it. She then explained that there was only the selection of two red and two white wines that she had on the trolley.

The Wi-Fi was the biggest letdown. There were prices ranging from free for messaging to Total Wi-Fi for 24.99 euros, which would mean being connected for the entire flight or so I thought.

Once I had connected, it was immediately clear that it would only be for 200 MB of data. Needless to say, it was less than 30 minutes before I had run out.

Food and Beverage

TPG Rating

14/20

2

Meals

Yes

Champagne

No

Dine on Demand

The focus of this review the Porto-to Newark segment of this trip, but I had such a great food experience on the short flight from Gatwick to Porto that I thought it deserved a mention.

Drinks on that first flight were served pretty much as soon as the seat belt signs went off.

A full meal was served with sizable starter, delicious main course and dessert. The main course was a thick, juicy and perfectly cooked veal tenderloin. I would go as far as to say that it was the best intra-European business-class meal I have ever eaten.

Back to the main event, Porto to Newark. For some reason there was no preflight drink offered before takeoff. About 45 minutes after takeoff, the first drinks were served note the Coke Zero and gin and tonic theme. I rate airlines that serve full fat Coke, Diet Coke and Coke Zero. I wasnt a massive fan of the Sunbites, though.

Around half an hour after that, dinner was served. There was only one starter: codfish carpaccio with Algarve salad topped with a random sprinkle of olive shavings. The soup was not cream of pumpkin and beetroot mousse, as advertised on the menu, but it was delicious, nonetheless. I think this was the first time Id ever had my soup served from a Thermos, too. I was also asked at this point if Id like another drink.

The bread was really poor. If Id fed it to the ducks, it would have probably knocked one unconscious.

The main course, just as was the case on the Gatwick-to-Porto flight, was my favorite part. The heartier and more comforting the food, the bigger the thumbs up it usually gets, and this was definitely up there with one of my favorites. It was roast lamb in a crispy dough with pumpkin pure. As much as Ive pretty much cut out red meat from my diet, I couldnt resist the sound of this, and Im so glad I chose it.

Shortly after mains had been cleared, a selection of chocolate was offer to cleanse the palate before dessert.

I was given the choice of ice cream, cheese plate or fresh fruit. Naturally, I went for the cheese, which I was told was a strong local cheese, perfectly accompanied by a glass of Portos finest port.

The cheese was indeed strong.Very strong. That still didnt stop me from scraping every single bit out of the rind.

About 90 minutes before landing, I was offered the second meal service. This was no better or worse than the usual half a meal that is served on transatlantic flights before landing. It was a nice snack, but I was certainly still hungry afterward. And the bread? Probably another concussed duck. The presentation was nice, and the food itself was fresh and tasted good. It just wasnt enough to be called a meal.

Service

TPG Rating

11/15

No

Extra Pillows

No

Turndown Service

The service wasnt bad by any means, but it wasnt a particularly memorable experience. The one standout moment for me was that the ground staff at Porto were expecting me and had already arranged ground transportation and a hotel for my unexpected night in Porto. That did feel like business-class service. I thought it strange that there was no preflight drink served after boarding the A321LR to New York.

The crew made sure I had enough to drink and responded in under 30 seconds when I tested the call button, which is certainly commendable. The whole thing just lacked a certain personality not once was I called by my name, and neither did any of the crew try to establish any kind of rapport when I attempted jokes or small talk. That could simply be because Im not funny, but it definitely wasnt a language thing, as falo portugus.

Overall impression

This was by far and away the least premium-feeling premium flight experience I have had so far. But I would much rather have a long-haul flight in the comfort of a lie-flat, throne seat than in a cramped, upright economy. That being said, you really do get what you pay for. If you really want to fly business rather than economy to New York and back, then I would seriously consider this as an option. It can save almost 2,000 on the cost of a direct return flight from London to New York. The bed is flat, and the food is good, and these are probably two of the main differences between economy and business class. What TAP lacks is a real business-class ground experience and a little extra something from its staff. Fix those two things and this lesser-known route might a have a better chance against the competition.

All photos by the author.

Arplis - News source https://arplis.com/blogs/news/good-value-but-not-much-more-a-review-of-tap-air-portugals-a321lr-in-business-class-porto-to-newark

[angelbabymommy]

Where do I begin? How do I tell this story? I guess the only way I know how.

I am 32 years old, I have carried and birthed 5 beautiful babies into this world, children I am thankful for each day, even more so now. Children I am blessed to hug, laugh with, make memories, and love always.

March 7, 2020 I gave birth to my fifth child. My partner and I both agreed we didn’t want another child for some time and I made the decision to use birth control. I was using the Xulane birth control patch. All was well.

In June 2020 I realized I hadn’t started a period. Surely I wasn’t pregnant but just to be safe we took a test, imagine our surprise to see two lines! Wait! What just happened!?!

It was overwhelming. We were scared. But we accepted it. My partner and I were warming up to the idea of another baby to adore. I found a midwife, I found a hospital that would allow me to have the water birth I always dreamed of having. I was going to stay team green and have my partner announce the gender of our baby to me at birth. I also had decided this would be my last baby for good. I began to envision this life with this child. I felt strongly and deeply in my heart it was a little girl. My heart was overjoyed.

July 14, 2020 we had our first ultrasound scan. We measured 6 weeks! Our baby had a heartbeat, 108 bpm. Everything looked normal. They scheduled us for a follow up scan for two weeks later. During those two weeks I experienced some nausea, my tests were still blazing positive. I craved foods and I was tired. But I was happy.

July 31, 2020 I should have been 8 weeks 3 days. We would see an even bigger baby with an even stronger heartbeat! I couldn’t wait, I had looked forward to this day so much. But when we did the scan my heart sunk. I am not an expert by no means but I’ve had enough babies and scans to know what we should have seen and we were not seeing that. The nurse said it was inconclusive. But I knew, I knew it wasn’t inconclusive. I knew my baby was gone. Taken from me. Why? What had I done wrong? I didn’t drink or do drugs. I took my prenatal vitamins every night before bed.

I came out to the car and burst into tears. Barely able to speak. I was a blubbering mess. My boyfriend was in denial. He didn’t want to believe it. He wanted a second opinion. My body didn’t warn me. It gave me no indication that something was wrong. It still believed it was pregnant. Why oh why? By Monday I began spotting pink. I knew my body was finally beginning to realize what had happened, that we lost the baby. It’s funny people say lost the baby, as if I somehow misplaced it. I didn’t lose it. Where did it go?

Tuesday I saw my old OB who had delivered my other babies. She remained optimistic. She drew blood. She wanted to check my hcg count before proceeding. The next day, Wednesday, August 5, 2020 my Dr called. My hcg count was 2500, that’s normal for a 6 week pregnancy. I knew then my baby had stopped developing right after that first scan. My pink spotting was beginning to turn more red and a bit more heavy.

That night around 7 PM I began bleeding uncontrollably. I was getting blood all over myself and my bathroom. My four year old was scared repeatedly asking me if I was okay. I assured him I would be okay. I finished making dinner, feeding my kiddos and bathing everyone and getting them off to bed. At that point I was soaking a pad in less than an hour. I tried to shower, to get blood off me, but blood poured out of me. It was like a scene from a horror film. I began passing clots. Some were as big as my hands. I started feeling weak, dizzy and faint. Any time I stood I would see spots and darkness. I knew this wasn’t normal.

My boyfriend had to leave for work. He works the overnight shift. Fortunately my mom was here. I hadn’t even announced my pregnancy yet but I had the unfortunate experience of having to explain to her what was going on. As I crawled my way out of the shower trying to dress myself with blood still running down my legs, my mom petrified, she called 911.

The ambulance rushed me to the hospital. My blood pressure remained stable. My heart was pounding against my chest, it was in a state of tachycardia. My hemoglobin levels were low at a 10. The nurse assigned to me immediately set up an IV, took blood and urine. The ER doctor said my hcg levels were now at 1700, they were definitely going down. Another ultrasound scan confirmed the pregnancy was no longer viable. At that point the doctor felt comfortable administering me medication to help with the cramping and bleeding.

They did a pelvic exam. The ER doctor gently used a speculum to open me up and used forceps to remove clots, lots of clots. Once he believed he had gotten them all he could get to my ER nurse took wipes and began cleaning my legs and feet for me. My bleeding began to slow down. My heart rate was still high though. Even after IV fluids my hemoglobin levels had gone down another 2 points. They wanted me to stay overnight, they talked about a possible D&C and blood transfusion.

But I couldn’t stay. My boyfriend at work, my grandma refusing to help and my mom having her own health issues (osteoarthritis & fibromyalgia) I had to make it home to my other kids. I sadly had to sign myself out of the hospital against medical advice. At 2 in the morning I waited for my Uber to take me home. I sat in the backseat of someone’s car wearing the pants I came to the hospital in, soaked and stained with blood. Praying that I didn’t bleed on their seat and get charged a cleaning fee.

I made it home. Shortly afterward my four month old awakened, I went to make him a bottle, feeling weak and dizzy again, I sat on my kitchen floor trying to regain my composure and ability to walk and stand. While sitting there, my heart pounding out of my chest and sounds slowly fading out I blacked out and fainted. I awoke after smacking my forehead and elbow into the high chair and my mom jumping up as quickly as I had ever seen her move in months, crying she said “You fell, you passed out.” I laid on the floor crying and telling her I couldn’t finish making the bottle. My mom made it and gave it to my baby for me.

I forced myself to eat and drink water. Still feeling weak I dragged myself to bed and slept. I woke up the next day feeling tired, my body sore, still a little shaky and weak but somehow I survived. I was lucky. I didn’t need the blood transfusion after all. Somehow my body pulled through on its own, maybe with some help from God or my guardian angel.

I called my Dr office and informed them I miscarried. They said they were sorry for my loss. My Dr will do blood draws every week until my hcg levels return to 0. Then they will know my body did the work of emptying the uterus of all the contents of this pregnancy. My body let go, but my heart is another story.

Physically I know I will heal. This physically pain won’t last forever. There will come a day when my bleeding stops all together. My body will feel great. But my heart doesn’t know better. My heart doesn’t want to let go, it wasn’t ready to say goodbye, when we never even got the chance to say hello.

Emotionally I feel like I’m being tortured, I feel like I’m living a nightmare. I don’t know why this happened to me. I will never have answers. I’m angry with God, why would he take my baby from me? I’m angry with my body for failing me. I want my baby back, but I know that won’t ever happen.

Last night I laid on the floor of my bathtub while water streamed down me from the shower head. I wasn’t even interested in showering. It was just somewhere to go to escape. I put on a strong front all day for my mom and kids but in the shower I cry. I allow the grief to wash over me and the water drowns out my tears. Those gut wrenching, soul crushing, tears, the kind that makes your nose snot up and you feel the lump in your throat and you can literally feel your heart breaking. I prayed to God harder than I ever have before. I prayed for strength. I prayed for comfort and peace. I prayed for understanding. I prayed that God mend my broken heart.

It’s a rollercoaster of emotions honestly. I’m terrified of ever becoming pregnant again. What if this happens again? I don’t know if I can bear this pain again. This pain is unbearable. It’s a pain and emptiness I wouldn’t wish even upon my worst enemy. I know if there ever is a next time I will spend that entire pregnancy in fear. Fear of becoming attached and losing another baby. I never thought it would or could happen to me until it did and now here I am. 1 in 4 is not just a statistic. I am that 1 in 4. And it’s truly heartbreaking. My dreams are shattered. This has got to be the most traumatic experience of my life ever.

On the other side never becoming pregnant again envelopes me in fear as well. What if I become infertile after this? What if I’m never able to achieve pregnancy again? I want my rainbow baby someday. I know my heart will never fully heal until I have my rainbow baby nestled safely in my arms. The thing is I don’t know when/if that will ever happen for me. And so I sit and wait in this limbo of emotional turmoil. Even a rainbow baby would never replace this angel baby of mine. I will always hold onto this sadness to some degree. It will never just go away, I will never stop talking about and remembering my baby. There will never be another day I live that I don’t think of my baby and all the what ifs.

I’m triggered by the foods I ate while pregnant. I’m triggered by the births of healthy newborns and others announcing their pregnancies. Why do they get to keep their baby but I didn’t get to keep mine? That sounds selfish. But it feels unfair. It is unfair. Nothing about this is right or okay. I randomly cry throughout the day, silently.

I don’t even know the gender of my baby. I submitted my ultrasound scan to the Ramzi theory group; 3 boy guesses and 2 girl guesses. I will never know until someday I get to meet my baby in Heaven and hold my baby in my arms. I hope my baby is safe and healthy and happy in the arms of Jesus right now. I hope my baby knows I loved them so so much and wanted them more than anything in this world. I would do anything to have you sweet baby with me again.

This is my story. This is miscarriage. This is what it feels like. There is no simple way of explaining it. I’m part of a special group of women that now have their very own and very special angel watching over them. I will never forget you. In my heart you live forever. Until we meet again...

Positive Pregnancy Test: 06/27/2020

First Ultrasound: 07/14/2020 108 bpm 💓

My Due Date: 03/09/2021

My Miscarriage Date: 08/05/2020

It was such a short time with you but I fell in love with you from the very start and I’ll never stop loving you with every beat of my heart.

“An angel opened the book of life and wrote down my baby’s birth. Then whispered softly as she closed the book, Too beautiful for Earth.”

Fly high angel baby 👼 Mommy loves you 💕

[belphieslilcow]

What better way to decide about Cassian then to do one of my favourite things with him, filling out surveys.

[LINK]

Part I: Let's Start at the Beginning... 1. What's your name? 

Cassian. 2. Give me your full name...

Cassian Ennis, quite a interesting tone you have there... 3. Do you have a nickname? If yes, what is it and how did you come to have it?

I don’t personally have one, unless people call me something when I’m not around. I have the title of Listener if that counts, everyone in the Sanctuary calls me that most of the time. 4. What species are you? (Human, werewolf, etc? Or are you an alien?)

Bosmer, or Wood Elf, if that’s more familiar. 5. Where/when were you born? 

I’m... not actually sure. I was raised in Cyrodiil to Imperial parents, so they’re obviously not my birth parents, they never told me anything about that, though I guess I never did ask... 6. I see. And that would make your age...?

Oh~ Don’t you know it’s impolite to ask a man his age?~ In terms of how I am in human terms I’d say I’d be about... 23? 24? 7. Okay, now...are you a good guy, or a bad guy?

Hell if I know.

Part II: Tell Us More About Yourself... 8. How would you describe your personality?

In a word? Loose. 9. Would you say you're someone who can handle pressure?

Ahh... I guess as well as the average person does? 10. Do you like to read?

Indeed! I make sure to always bring a novel or two with me whenever I stay somewhere. 11. Favorite color?

Hm... I’d never really thought about it too much, but maybe purple? The way the Deathbells and Nightshade stand out in Skyrim’s bleak atmosphere, it’s nice. 12. Do you get along with others?

Depends on the person... I’d say generally, yes? 13. Do you have any enemies?

Not personally. 14. How about friends?

Quite a few, yes. 15. Are you patient?

You have to be in my line of work. Sometimes one has to follow your target for days just to learn their schedule well enough to know the best time to strike. I once waiting upwards of an hour just to wait for someone to get in just the right spot for a clear shot. Part III: Hypothetically... 16. Suppose that you could become any creature you know of. What would you pick, and why?

Some kind of bird. I love to travel and it’d make it so much easier, and cheaper...  17. One of your enemies in question 13 just complimented you. Response?

Um... I guess in line with the title this would be a hypothetical enemy? I’d just say thank you, I’d think. 18. One of your friends in Question 14 just insulted you. Response?

I’d definitely be taken aback. I’d feel bad in the moment, but ask them about it later to know what was going on.  19. If you could change anything about yourself...

I can’t think of anything at the moment. 20. About your home...

What about it? Oh, talk about it? Well it’s quite cold, being in the far North of Skyrim does that to caves. Other than that, I quite like it. It’s a place that I can really feel content staying for a long time and I’ll defend it and my family there with my life. Part IV: Now We Get Personal 21. What're your parents like?

They’re nice, raised me well. Not much to say about them really. 22. Do you have any siblings?

Not that I know of, no, 23. What's your occupation?

Listener of the Dark Brotherhood. Or in simpler terms, I’m an assassin.  24. I see, that's a good job to have. Do you like it?

Of course, I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t like it. It does sound a bit morbid, liking being a murderer... 25. Are you seeing/dating anyone?

Kind of, Cicero and I confessed our feelings to each other recently, we haven’t discussed anything official yet. 26. Thinking about getting engaged, married, other?

Not yet, I don’t want to rush him, or myself for that matter. 27. Tell us your biggest secret.

... ? 28. Your worst fear? You don't have to answer this one if you don't want to.

Truly? Everything I love being destroyed. I was devastated when the Falkreath Sanctuary was ransacked, I saw them kill Arnbjorn right in front of me, you know... If that were to happen again, with our new Sanctuary, and I had to go through with that again, seeing everyone that I love dead in front of me, and I couldn’t do anything about it... I don’t know what I’d do... 29. Favorite food?

I like savory foods, things like steaks and other meats. 30. Favorite drink? 

I’ve grown to love mead since I’ve been in Skyrim. I drank some while I lived in Cyrodiil, of course, but tasting it from where it comes from? Delicious.

31. Tell us one thing you're the most proud of.

Assassinating the Emperor? *laugh* Other than that, I’d say getting Nazir and Festus’ respect. It took a while, but was worth it. 32. Something embarrassing? You don't have to answer this one, either.

May not seem so, but I felt really bad about Anoriath, there aren’t many Wood Elves in Skyrim, and he and his brother were always nice to me when I stopped in Whiterun and I helped him on a couple hunts. An assassin is supposed to be cold and heartless to their targets, yes?  33. If you didn't answer Questions 28 and/or 32, tell me why.

I didn’t really answer the secret one, because I don’t have many secrets I don’t think. 34. Is that a good reason?

I think so. Part V: Breaking the Fourth Wall For these next few questions, I'll briefly remove the fourth wall between your world and your creator's. Try to remain calm. 35. Before I remove the fourth wall, tell me: would you be willing to accept the fact that you're actually a character?

*laugh* Yes, I’d be fine with that. 36. Now the fourth wall's gone. Response?

The fact that I’m essentially a self insert so my creator can date Cicero is kind of funny, but hey, I get to date him too. 37. This is your creator's world. What's the first thing you notice?

No elves... No magic... at least not that I can see. 38. You just met your creator! First impression of him/her?

Someone please give him a hug or something. 39. Okay, let's put the fourth wall back. See, that wasn't so bad, was it?

No. Part VI: Closing 40. Are you satisfied with your life?

At this point, yes. I can feel that there’s still more for me to do, but that’ll come when it comes. 41. Anything you feel like you have to do? It can be something long-term, like a bucket list, or something you need to do right now.

I generally take things as they come, but I do want to reestablish the Dark Brotherhood in Cyrodiil. I’m still trying to figure out how I would get contracts to them, or if they would take them in different ways... 42. Any hobbies?

The lute!  43. Quick, you get one wish! What did you just wish for? It's alright, you can tell me...

I wish I had skill in magics... I’ve never been good at them. 44. How would you describe that wish? Good? Bad? Selfish? Selfless? Other?

I’d say it’s good, maybe a bit selfish. 45. Have you been honest with these questions?

Yes. 46. Your personal quote?

I don’t have one. 47. Do you like change?

Change can be good, change can be bad. It all depends on the circumstances. 48. What's your most valued possession?

My Sanctuary. 49. Anything else you feel like sharing?

Not unless I have to. 50. Last question!...yup, that's it! How do you feel?

... More free... Like I got some things off my chest that I’ve needed to talk about without knowing so.

[thefreshcollectionheart-blog]

H. W. 10Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000216 EndHTML:0000083283 StartFragment:0000042880 EndFragment:0000083243 SourceURL:file:///C:/Users/Mrs%20Bren/Documents/Information%5eJComputing%5eJand%20the%20future%20hw%2010.docx Information, Computing and the FutureDr. J. D BerleantOctober 31, 2017Directions: This course is being used as part of the department's accreditation renewal effort. We would like students to be able to think about technology's impacts. Please answer the questions thoughtfully, but concisely (that is, briefly). Your name: Brenda L. Glover__________________ 1. For the technological topic of your choice, say what it is, give a present-day impact on individuals, and your opinion about whether it is good, bad, or whatever you think.  Cell phones has made a tremendous impact on everyone involved whether it be for business or personal.  The impact is a very positive effect.  It helps people contact their family and friends as well as employers of their workers’   immediately. This was a great technological to introduce in the world.  If necessary Homework can be done from your cellphone.  It is still breaking barriers in new technological aspects in business as well as colleges. 2. For the technological topic of 1 above, give five more present-day impacts on individuals. One of the five should relate to your career path. For each, give a good reason why the impact exists. i. Communication Tool – smartphones make it much easier for employers and their employees to keep in touch.  The reason why the impact is good is because most smart phones support instant messaging as well as several programs such as email. Networking on social network sites. (face book, twitter, etc.) Productivity ToolsMany smartphones come with a wide number of tools that can greatly increase your productivity. Maps, calendars, comprehensive contact lists with detailed information -- all are readily available at your fingertips and often are capable of being synced with your computers and any information on them. Many smartphones also support turn-by-turn GPS directions to help you on course for business travel. Applications are also frequently employed that are specific to a business, allowing employees to access information while on an off-site job, at home or in route to or from work.ii).  Innovation:As smartphones evolve, technology evolves to keep pace with them. As technology improves, new functions are added that increase the productivity capabilities of smartphones. Software engineering firms also see a boost in demand, leading to greater job creation. Smartphone manufacturers will also need companies to fabricate their products, leading other companies to increased demand and job creation.iii).  Flexibility:Using a cell phone in business allows for increased flexibility when working, which has numerous advantages. The more flexible you are, the greater the chances you can show clients your business is the one to go with. For example, if you're away from the office, clients can still communicate with you. Scheduling meetings becomes easier because you're not tied to a computer or desk. You can even conduct a teleconference via cell phone while you're on the go or traveling. Cell phones increase your ability to multitask. iv). Technology:Many cell phones today have the capability of performing many tasks that your computer can. You can access the Internet, write emails and send documents from wherever you might find yourself. This, in turn, allows you to be on top of time-sensitive issues. For example, if a client needs a proposal as soon as possible and you have already left the office for the day, you can still upload and send the document from your cell phone v). International:Good communication is essential to successful business practices. Cell phones enable you to be in contact with clients across the globe. If you have a telephone meeting with someone in Europe, the time difference is not as much of an issue with cell phones. You can communicate from home on your work cell phone rather than in the office during off hours. Also, if traveling internationally, you can still maintain contact with home because you are reachable on the same number and phone. Many cell phone plans have international calling features, which may greatly cut down on the cost of a long-distance phone call.  Personal and ImmediateShort of talking with someone face-to-face, a phone call is the best way to get a personal response. If the person you called is available, you can take care of business on the spot. With other forms of communication, such as texting or email, you leave a message and hope for a quick response. Phone calls have a vocal backup in the form of voice mail. The caller can leave a detailed voice message, without the restriction of a certain number of characters or typing a text message on a tiny cell-phone keypad.  EffectiveDr. Albert Mihranian’s 1967 study, “Inference of Attitudes from Nonverbal Communication in Two Channels,” named three components of effective communications: body language accounts for 55 percent, voice tone for 38 percent and spoken words for 7 percent. On the telephone, voice tone gives dimension and emotion to words, increasing the effectiveness of the communication. Certain body language, such as smiling and standing while talking, may come through in the conversation. Texting and emails are simply words open to interpretation by the receiver, without the benefit of voice tone or body language.( http://smallbusiness.chron.com/importance-telephone-communication-business-22150.html). i: InteractiveTeleconferencing calls bring people together from all over the organization at a fraction of the cost of travel and meeting facilities. Attendees can phone in using a toll-free number and access code to join a virtual conference room where members can interact with the moderator and other members. Conference calls can be used in conjunction with video conferencing to view presentations, ask questions via the Internet and discuss answers with all attendees.ConfidentialSome communications, such as condolences, disciplinary issues, sensitive and confidential issues, should be handled with a personal phone call. Taking the time to make a phone call carries more weight than an impersonal text or email. Without the opportunity for two-way communication, sensitive issues may be misinterpreted. Text messages and emails become legal documents and can be retrieved as evidence long after deletion. Some businesses monitor and record phone conversations between employees and customers for training purposes. Deleted voice-mail messages may not be retrieved and do not leave a record of the conversation.SafeMaking phone calls while driving may be hazardous, but Bluetooth technology makes hands-free dialing and conversation safe – freeing up travel time to provide availability for business calls. Texting and emailing while driving is hazardous and, in some states, illegal. The Impact of Mobile Phones on People’s Lives BY: AARON SMITH: To examine the broader impact of mobile devices on people’s lives, we presented cell phone owners with six separate impacts that might result from mobile phone ownership and these impacts were equally balanced between positive and negative ones. These responses indicate that mobile users see mostly positive benefits to mobile technologies — but also some drawbacks related to the constant connectivity (and mental temptations) that cell phones offer.When it comes to the positive impacts of cell phone ownership, fully two-thirds (65%) of cell owners say that mobile phones have made it “a lot” easier to stay in touch with the people they care about, while just 6% say that their phone has not improved their connections with friends and family at all. Roughly half of cell owners say that their phone has made it at least somewhat easier to plan and schedule their daily routine, and to be productive while doing things like sitting in traffic or waiting in line.When it comes to the “dark side” of cell phone ownership, roughly one in five cell owners say that their phone has made it at least somewhat harder to forget about work at home or on the weekends; to give people their undivided attention; or to focus on a single task without being distracted. Most cell owners say that their phone has had no impact at all on their life in any of these negative ways.   http://www.pewinternet.org/~/media/82969F08B5264D1EBF70BCE8192D3511.jpg5).  Compared with their elders, younger cell owners are especially attuned to both the positive and negative impacts of mobile connectivity. Low- and high-income cell owners also have divergent attitudes towards the benefits and challenges posed by ubiquitous mobility. Those from higher income households are more likely to say that their cell phone makes it easier to schedule their daily routine, and to be productive throughout the day. At the same time, cell owners with a household income of more than $75,000 per year are significantly more likely than other cell owners to say that their phone makes it harder to disconnect from the demands of the workplace. Some 17% of these high-income earners say that their phone makes it “a lot” harder to do this (compared with 7% for those earning less than $30,000 per year, 6% for those earning $30,000-$49,999, and 8% for those earning $50,000-$74,999). Overall, nearly one third (29%) of high-income cell owners say that their phone makes it at least somewhat harder to disconnect from work at home and on the weekends.6).  Information technology:  is now ubiquitous in the lives of people across the globe. These technologies take many forms such as personal computers, smart phones, the internet, web and mobile phone applications, digital assistants, and cloud computing. In fact, the list is growing constantly, and new forms of these technologies are working their way into every aspect of daily life. In some cases, such as can be seen in massive multiplayer online games (https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/it-moral-values/) ii).  iii). Impacts from human-induced climate change are already occurringThe clearest present-day impacts of climate change in Australia and elsewhere are seen in the natural environment, and are associated with warming temperatures and increases in the number, duration and severity of heatwaves. These impacts include changes in the growth and distribution of plants, animals and insects; poleward shifts in the distribution of marine species; and increases in coral bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef and Western Australian reefs. Some of these changes can directly affect human activities; for example, through the effects of changing distributions of fish and other marine organisms on commercial and recreational fisheries, and the impacts of coral bleaching on tourism.Some regional changes in Australian rainfall have been linked to human induced climate change. Southwest Western Australia has experienced a reduction in rainfall since the 1970s that has been attributed, at least in part, to enhanced greenhouse warming (Question 3). Societal adaptation to the resulting shortfalls in water supply is possible and already occurring (https://www.science.org.au/learning/general-audience/science-booklets/science-climate-change/7-what-are-impacts-climate-change).  iv).  Trying to solve any problem without assistance can be a challenge. But when trying to solve particularly complex economic and public policy problems – problems that present no obvious solution – finding the right partner is critical.For 25 years, TXP has helped clients understand and respond to their most pressing economic and public policy issues. By blending analysis and creativity, TXP crafts custom solutions that are thoughtful and straightforward. Our innovative ideas not only enable community and business leaders to anticipate and manage the economic forces affecting their region, but also show them how to define issues from the beginning.Our clients' issues are unique; so are our solutions.  (https://www.txp.com/).  Economical problems. v).  Impact of Digital Media on Individuals, Organizations and Society

 ShareThe increased use of digital media is changing people’s everyday lives and the way they connect and collaborate in the broader societal context, at work and in civil society. Much of the impact of this heightened use is beneficial to both individuals and society. It is enabling unprecedented levels of communication, social interaction and community building across boundaries of time, place and social context. It is enabling individuals and speeding up the democratization of knowledge. New learning methods are possible (as has been evidenced by the World Economic Forum’s New Vision for Education project), as are ways of working, which are providing better opportunities to people in under-served communities and regions.5858But not all the impacts of increased use of digital media are positive. Research indicates that when humans excessively use digital media it can negatively influence their cognitive and behavioural development and even their mental and physical health. Hyperconnectivity, the increasing digital interconnection of people and things, has the potential to change patterns of social interaction, as face-to-face time may be substituted by online interaction. In addition, greater technology enablement of work (and the resulting fragmentation of jobs) threatens the security of jobs traditionally considered as skilled in the developed world.Whether individuals see the impact of increased digital media use as positive or negative depends greatly on where they live. The Implications of Digital Media Survey showed that only about one-quarter of respondents from Germany and the USA think that digital media has improved the quality of their social, professional and overall lives. By contrast, about two-thirds of respondents in Brazil and China believe this. Respondents in South Africa are roughly split on the question (Table 15). However, despite believing that digital media has improved their lives, a higher percentage of respondents in Brazil and China also believes they should reduce usage (33-44%). Meanwhile, only one-fifth and one-quarter of users in Germany and the USA, (http://reports.weforum.org/human-implications-of-digital-media-2016/section-3-impact-of-digital-media-on-individuals-organizations-and-society/#view/fn-58).  respectively, think they should do so (Table 15). These country differences are enlightening, even after accounting for cultural differences in survey response patterns.   5. For the technological topic of your choice, give a present-day impact on an organization, such as business, government or others, and your opinion. 6. Give 5 more present-day impacts on organizations. Of these 5 and the 1 you just discussed above, at least one impact should relate to business, one to government, and one to some other type of organization. For each of the 5, give at least one good reason. i. ii. iii. iv.