Candid Comment-Video Edition - Mothers day

I learned a lot from 4 women who were in my life.  They are all passed away now but the legacy of their teaching has never left me.  In this video I pay homage not only to my mother, but to may Aunties, Marlene and Helen.  Happy Mothers day. 

Below are the video and a photo om my mom.

My Mother Shirley.  This photo dates back to the late 2000s in Montreal QC. Canada.  Probably around 2011.

RIP Mom, your missed and still loved.

Footnote: The aunt I speaking about with regard to creativity is my Aunt Helen.

Candid Comment - The Writers Challenge

This one is for the creators of content, bloggers, websites magazines etc.  Writing can be fun.  It can be challenging.  And sometimes it can get boring.  Then there are times when you get to place where the thoughts ideas or content just don't jive.  I have to admit that coming up with interviews and putting up content can be daunting especially when I am trying to figure out what would work on the platform I am writing for.  I have 3, this blog and Mixed Nuts, Medium and Substack.  Each have different audiences so creating content that will engage and bring back repeat readers is a bit of a challenge.  

One challenge is writers block, having an idea and not being able to express it or finding that there is nothing that grabs the writer and says write about this.  That does happen from time to time.  The other thing that can be a bit of a challenge or a lot is wanting to write about really sensitive topics.  It's one thing to have a newspaper or media organization to support you when you dive into a hot topic it's another when you are the one man band so to speak.  There are topics I really want to jump into and discuss with people and comment on  here on this blog.  I don't because writing on those hot topics can unleash some real serious blowback. So that means not touching the so called hot button or ensuring that there is coverage on all the angles possible to avoid a fight or that I can defend the point.  

I know some out there are going to read this and say dude your a chicken for not handling the hot topics.  To a degree that is true, no one likes to be bashed for what they say and yes that includes me.  That said it goes with the territory, not everyone is going to like what I put up on a blog or site or on another platform.  I am pretty sure I can handle that.  What would be far more difficult to handle is a lawsuit or criminal charge. To avoid that I have to use common sense in posting content.  That means writing content that is balanced and accurate.  These are keys to success, and I think I  have that.  knowing the subject matter means research which is what I do.  So I would like to offer up tips for those who are currently writing and those who want to do so.

1. Research research research:  For the love of God research the topic before you write about it.  I have seen a few things that are just not accurate in my time.  And it does drive me nuts.  So if you do not know the topic research so you have enough understanding before you write.

2. Bias does play a role: Bias is a thing, I write from a point of knowledge but I also have a bias and yes it does come through at times.  Just make sure to do your best to remove it as often as possible, your writing should be neutral and fair.

3. Obey the law: Copywrite, criminal law, civil law.  All apply to bloggers.  Going forward and describing a how to do a crime, copying another persons work and posting it as your own or not citing sources is a bad idea and saying someone did something they did not, ooof bad plan.  You can get sued, you can get arrested and you can be ordered to take content down.  Simply put check before you post. If you can't answer no to whether the post can lead to an offence under the law, violation of copywrite or is factually incorrect then do not post it.

4. Write for everyone: You should write at a level where most people can get your point.  The ideal level is grade 8 grammar and spelling.  Now I have to admit not my strong point.  Funny story though English was one of my better subjects.  Still I have to say that style, sentence structure, grammar and spelling can be a challenge.  That said I suggest proofing your work before posting it.

5. Writers block and no content ideas: This is a thing.  There are times you will get writers block, you will get bored writing and yes you will not find a story that fits you or the platform you are creating content for.  Step back and do something else then com back to the task.  There are times you may just have to plough through and post something especially if you are being paid for your work.  Most times though you can take a break and reboot.

The writers challenge is actually a bunch of them rolled into one but, if you want to write and even get paid for your writing you have to face it.  

Until the next post be well and stay safe.

Candid Video / Candid Comment - A New Feature

 

I am excited to announce a new feature I am rolling out.  Candid Videos.  They will come in the form of comments, interviews and soon Zoom events.  The point here is to expand.  Bringing in newer and more interactive content.  I really enjoy doing this blog it's been around since 2009 and I have seen a steady stream of visitors view the content added to it.  Even when I do not add content I still see people coming by and reading the blog.  I am very honored by the fact that people read what I post.  And some return often to see the latest update.  So to say thanks and also hopefully reach other people I am adding this new feature into the blog.

You will see a note like this one then the video just so you know what is going on.

Now here is the first video I did.

How To Be Funny At Work And Not Get Fired - A Candid Comment

I love a good pun and some dad jokes are pretty funny.  One of my buddies at work often tosses out the dad jokes and oh the puns.  Example what do you call 3 cows starring at each other?  A steak out.  LOL ya that is funny.  That said there are some things one needs to remember when it comes to being a yuckster at work.  It's all fun and games until the boss calls you into the office after you've cracked wise and then hands you a pink slip.  Now one may think hey that is not really fair.  Oh it's fair some things are really not good to do or say in a workplace.  So before you quip from the hip or prank a fellow coworker take a tip or two here and save yourself a trip to HR.

Comics try to gauge the room as they toss out the funny.  Some jokes are really a hit and others are umm just not going to pull a chuckle.  Back when I was studying Radio Broadcasting at Mohawk College here in Hamilton I saw a show where a comedian was joking about being a parent one joke about poopy diapers drew crickets.  He had misread the room.  That is the first thing knowing if you have an audience that will find you funny.  Trying to be witty can land you in serious hot water.  The comic did recover and joked about the joke, that is another tip.  Know when you have bombed and acknowledge that. We all foul up a joke and admitting that can actually be quite funny.  

Another tip is getting permission from others in the room.  Getting a buy in from people is kind of important so how do yo do that.  It's really by building some rapport with the others in the room and getting them to see you as an ally once you have them on your side you can let your humor out.  One way I get a room on my side and gain permission is to start a small chat before a meeting with others in the room or to pitch a couple of ideas n the meeting.  Even if no one bites if I have a sense they respect the attempt I can inject some humor into the mix.  Like hmm I guess I am hitting some fly balls to center field here, or oh well back to my tickle trunk I go so I can see if I have a few more ideas I can share.  The point here is to crack em up without coming off as a jerk or worse.  

As for pranks at work.  I really suggest avoiding those altogether.  There is something to be said for pulling a fast one on a colleague or the boss but, that is not really a good idea.  Bubble wrapping the bosses chair, putting salt in the sugar jar or changing the language on the computer of your colleague may sound funny but, it really is annoying and not that funny.  Most pranks are intended to make people look stupid.  In  a work place pranks are not going to end well. So I would suggest avoiding them altogether.

So to close here are the pro tips to use when trying out your humor at work.

Read the room: Make sure that you have attention of the people in the room.

Get Permission: Ensure that your permitted to be a contributor to the meeting and then make sure that the situation is not so serious or you have the space to be able to tell a joke to make others feel more at ease.

If you fail that's OK own it: Comics bomb you will too so own it and move on.

How To is a podcast from Slate. How To Crack Up Your Co-workers (Without Being Offensive) is an episode that speaks to being funny at work.  Check it out and let me know what you think about being funny at work.

See ya in the next article.

Candid Comment - Will Smith - WOW What The???

Will Smith at the Oscars with his wife Jada.  Chris Rock on stage cracks a joke directed at Jayda. Smith then saunters up to the stage and slaps Rock in the face returns to his seat then proceeds to make it clear he is not happy, telling Rock to keep his wife's name out of his Fing mouth. Wow what the? I...I...I am just like wow as I watched this. And yet at the same time I do understand the reaction. I would not be very happy if some dude decided to use my wife's physical features as material for a joke.

That said one does have to take a pause before reacting.  Hitting someone is a crime and in California it's pretty seriously taken. The penal code has in it some pretty stiff fines and jail times for battery even if there is no injury. The LAPD did make it clear that Will Smith committed a crime and that they could have arrested him for it. Rock decided not to file a report.

Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences intends to investigate the incident and will probably propose some form of punishment, fine, suspension, but will not take the Oscar Will won from him.  

Chris Rock is a comedian, right?  Right, and some of the jokes he makes are off color and cross lines.  The crack about Jada being the next G.I. Jane was probably not a smart one to make but, slapping him over it was Will Smith's error.  Looking at it from the side of Will Smith one does have to step back a bit and take a look at from the perspective of a husband hearing his wife getting dissed by a comic about a disease she has been dealing with.  Jada has Alopecia which causes hair loss.  It's not a laughing matter especially for women so a joke like the one Chris Rock told is pretty offensive.  Will Smith reacted as any husband would to defend his wife, the problem was the kind of reaction, hitting Chris Rock.   

A wife wants her husband to defend her.  I am sure that Jada wanted Will to do something about the joke but, I would also hope she would have said something like "honeykins I love that you wanted to defend me but, boo boo hitting Chris was not ok."  Cussing him sure hitting no.

Do I think Rock crossed a line, given the information out there probably yes.  Was Smith entitled to be upset?  Yes I do think he was allowed to take issue with the joke.  He had every right to stand up for his wife and say that is not acceptable.  He did not have the right to strike Chris Rock.  I can relate to what it is like to be the butt of a joke.  Years ago while in college a person referred to me in a joking manner as a nobody who would always just be a nobody.  That did not go over very well with me and I verbally let the man have it.  I lost it, and nearly put my hands on him.  Thankfully I did not because I knew I could hurt him, get hurt by him and face charges and get kicked out of school.  I reported the incident and the guy was dealt with through the correct channels.  There are channels that Will Smith could have and should have used to handle this.  Instead he chose to go it alone and now it's costing him in so many ways.  

Candid Conversations - Whitney Schwartz Whitney And Howard Design Chief Describes How Gratitude Is A Good Attitude In Business

Being grateful for what you have is something we are all taught as children. As adults we kind of tend to forget that at times. But, there are instances where people incorporate being grateful in their lives. Then some even take the step further, incorporating gratitude personally and in business as well. Take for example Whitney Howard Designs. The company founded in 1999 actually baked into it’s culture gratitude. I have never seen that until now. But, I think this is noteworthy and that is why I decided to reach out to Whitney Schwartz Chief Designer to learn more about this idea, I am grateful she is doing a Candid Conversation, and with that welcome to Candid Conversations.

Cliff T.: Miss Schwartz, this is an interesting idea, gratitude as a part of business culture. I have not heard of this idea before so can you explain how this idea works in Whitney Howard Designs?

W. Schwartz: Thanks for asking, it feels great that you noticed us for our sense of Gratitude. It is literally an automatic response for me when we receive testimonials; I just want to send them a gift of Gratitude for taking the time to share their thoughts with us about how our product touched their life. Wanting to gift gratitude is in my make up, it takes no pre thought it’s just who I am, it’s who Howard is. Expressing a grateful heart is one of the very best feelings I ever get when I get to say thank you, or I am grateful. At a recent gift show, at the last hour Howard wanted to play a game so he offered passers by the opportunity to have something free in the booth but there was a caveat, after they picked something for someone special, they had to pick out something for themselves. Howard took video of some of the people and asked what they picked and why. The videos made me cry so hard, my heart was expanding with love and appreciation. I love this story but I tell it to you because not for one second did I care that Howard was giving away product, all I wanted to do was watch the videos and the stories of why people picked what they did, it was a moment of ‘Life in Action’ combined with gifting tangible reminders…beautiful.

Cliff T.: How did this idea come about in the company?

W. Schwartz: Since we began selling Blessing Rings, we would offer passersby the opportunity to take a Blessing Ring out of the complementary bowl. People would stop; explore the bowl for a long time. Often this is how we got customers; it gave a passing by retailer the chance to experience all the heartfelt, inspiring and motivating words and quotes on the tokens. Something that always happens at shows, people walk up to Howard and I and share with us that they were offered to take a token out of the bowl, be it a year ago or years and years ago. People show us their treasured Blessing Rings on their keys or hung on a necklace chain, and we get to hear how something so small means so much to them. Our hearts could not be fuller. It was those interactions that led Howard and I into thinking; how can we ripple gratitude in the way we ripple the energy of the Blessing Rings?’ When we gift the Gratitude Blessing Rings we have a style in which we do it. First we take their hand and ask if we can place a Gratitude Blessing Ring in their hand, we hold their hands and say our Gratitude’s. If they are a new customer we say how with all the things to see at a show, Thank you for shopping with us and trusting our brand will work in their shop. If it’s a reorder customer that Gratitude is different, reorders are a tremendous win for each of us, we are both succeeding at selling goods that touch hearts. If it’s not a wholesale account, then that expression of gratitude is typically face to face at a show and the exchange of love is measurable by everyone witnessing. After we gift the Gratitude Blessing Ring we pass on another to that person and request that they pay their Gratitude forward. It is a joyous and tremendous feeling.

Cliff T.: Has the pandemic affected your business; and how has being grateful, if did helped you and the company?

W. Schwartz: 100% it affected our business. All our museum and destination business slowed tremendously, and many retailers were closed. We chose to make giving back our focus. In 2020, we donated 5000 Gratitude Blessing Rings to nurses in 6 different hospitals during Nurses Week. We could not be more grateful for the nurses who showed up to work during the pandemic. In the beginning of 2021 we gifted Gratitude Stones to the staff at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, it was our way of saying Thank You for coming to work and keeping the museum clean and cared for during the Pandemic. In Spring of 2021 we gifted 500 Gratitude Stones to the staff at West Hills Hospital to say thank you for caring for our community. Business slowed greatly in 2020-2021, but our hearts grew in size.

Cliff T.: When you explain this idea and how it is used in WHD to others what kind of reaction do you get?

W. Schwartz: We get testimonials every day. We send out goody bags to all our customers, retail and wholesale. Each goody bag is filled with stickers. A Gratitude Blessing Ring to pay forward, and other relevant goodies. People react in authentic ways, tears of gratitude, lots of hugs, handwritten notes, and emailed thankyous explaining how they payed forward the Gratitude. People react with love and surprise, they are often shocked we are saying thank you, and when we add the second Blessing Ring for them to pay forward…it is the most beautiful of moments.

Cliff T.: Miss Schwartz, what do you think the biggest benefit is for you, your staff and customers that being grateful offers?

W. Schwartz: I can go on for pages on the benefits of being grateful. I am also a teacher of ancient wisdom and meditation, from Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, all the faiths and beliefs…Gratitude is the one word that comes up in all of them as the foundation to a happy and healthy life. The benefits are totally physical, we see people tear up the minute they realize we are grateful for them. The heart is touched, the soul, the mind; Gratitude benefits the entirety of who we are.

Cliff T.: Of course we can’t just discuss being grateful. You have a business that is out there providing some unique products. What exactly does Whitney Howard Designs offer the consumer?

W. Schwartz: We offer the consumer a gift for every occasion and celebration in life. Most of us buy gifts for the typical holidays, birthdays, anniversaries, graduation, new baby, new home…but in between those are the times in life when gifting comes into play. We have gifts for those moments when you want to say, ‘I love you’, I am proud of you’, ‘you can do it, I believe in you, ‘you are going to be ok’, ‘way to go’, ‘you will get through this’, gifts for recovery, healing and new beginnings. Our collection encompasses life’s journey and placed into tangible, wearable reminders.

Cliff T.: The company has been around since 1999, congrats on that success. How do you keep it fresh what goes into keeping customer interest in your products?

W. Schwartz: We do not and have never followed trends. We always dive deep into our hearts, we say to ourselves ‘what do people need, long for, what are people inspired by?’ To design we ask questions like, ‘What is a healing way of saying something worth wearing’, what are people we know going through and what words and quotes relate to that particular journey, and we go from there. I have a friend who has a Heart of Gold; years ago I wanted to gift her something and I designed and created the Heart of Gold cuff and now the Hearts of Gold collection has many hearts to choose from. I thought to myself, who do I know with a Big Heart, Brave Heart, and so I made a ring and heart charm with ‘big heart’ and ‘brave heart’ along with other hearts of gold. Customers stay interested because as we continue on life’s journey, words, quotes and symbols change or gain meaning. We are a meaningful company, so as long as gifting meaningful gifts is on your list interest should always be present.

Cliff T.: As the Chief Designer you have a lot of ideas coming your way, what is the most interesting part of the job selecting or taking that design and creating the product?

W. Schwartz: The most interesting part is how impactful what we create has on people. The most challenging part of the job continues to be, trusting in myself. What I may sketch or find inspiring may not be to another. Trusting in myself that what I think is worth wearing is that to others. Years ago, I created The Peace Leaf, it is a leaf that one gifts to someone seeking Peace, an olive branch to repair relationships, turning of a new leaf, peace of mind, peace for the world. It was not a huge hit until recently we have had many requests for it. I trusted myself in creating this piece, which means so much to me though it is not popular in our collection, stay true to yourself, that challenge is interesting to me.

Cliff T.: Miss Schwartz if you could impart some wisdom to company leaders what would you suggest they do to make things better for the company, the staff and people they serve?

W. Schwartz: I would suggest they learn to meditate. There are so many myths around the idea of meditation but when we mediate, the best version of our self appears when we are in our lives. The practice of meditation gives us time to ourselves, when we are aware, and we cultivate awareness, our life after mediation, in work, in personal, it all changes, it all illuminates and your best version is at play.

Cliff T.: Excellent, I want to thank you again for giving us a peek into your world. I am sure more great things are coming along the way from WHD and I appreciate your taking time to share your story.

W. Schwartz: Thank you Cliff, honestly this time, your thoughtful, inquiring questions, is a big compliment to me and to Whitney Howard Designs. The fact that you think we are worthwhile to talk about, truly the biggest and best compliment.

I am grateful you took the time to get to know us.

Whitney

Whitney Schwartz is the Chief Designer for Whitney and Howard Designs. To take a look at what they offer visit https://www.whitneyhowarddesigns.com/. There is a really good article about their gratitude model which can be found at Expert Click.

Miss Schwartz wrote to us from the corporate site in Los Angeles CA.

Candid Comment - TV Shows About Police

I am not much of a TV watcher but I do like to follow a few shows.  Like you I have seen my fair share of good and not so good shows.  Among these are shows that feature policing.  There are shows that are very true to the way policing is actually done, of course there are reality shows that are also just as revealing and then there are shows that are just horrid. 

Hawaii 50 the original series.  Pretty close to the real thing.  Though more often than not Steve McGarrett and his crew would save the day.  However that was not always the case.  Sometimes they did not get their man or woman.  I would have to say this show rates 7 out of 10.  The plots are simple bad guy vs good guy and the writing is not bad at all, for it's time the show held it's own and I would say was pretty well balanced though frankly speaking quite predictable in most cases.  

Chicago PD. Until recent I never got this show but, now understanding the backstory I get the show, do I like it NO.  Ridiculously violent and unrealistic in many ways.  In real life there are dirty cops and yes they do get away with crimes up to and in some cases murder.  However more and more we are seeing that change.  There is still a long way to go to get policing that truly works for all but, it is happening, slowly.  This show is just to over the top.  Jason Beghe portrays Hank Voight a cop who is not just dirty he is nasty, in fact much of his team are also just as nasty.  Such a team in real life might be able to operate for a period of time, but eventually the deck of cards does fall and they are dealt with.  A good example of this is the Toronto Drug Squad, in 2012 five members were found guilty of attempting to obstruct police.  I will be posting an article about cops being busted for crimes in another article.  With respect to Dick Wolf this show, Chicago PD is just not that great.  

Law and Order.  Now we are talking about a good bunch of shows that show the police and the justice system at work it's highs and it's lows.  This series of shows is very well done and Dick Wolf should be proud of them as they really do a good job of reflecting what goes on on the street and in the court and clearly shows a tiered system one for the wealthy and the other for the poor.

One of my ultimate favorite police shows is Barney Miller a sitcom based in New York at a station with a rather motley crew of officers doing the job day to day.  This show really captured what it is like to be an officer.  There are some real powerful episodes in the series.  Chano a Puerto Rican officer forced to kill bank robbers comes to mind, the murder of Mr. Cotterman a store owner who dies after refusing to pay protection money.  The episode explores the failure of assigning one type of policing to different precincts detective units.  The 12th is designated as a homicide investigations team.  Cotterman preferred to work with them as the officers knew him and he knew them.  In the end having to go to another team whom he did not know or trust was his undoing but also the undoing of the special teams idea.  The end of the episode shows the team handling all calls and the return of teams that are specific to more highly trained officers to deal with things like robbery homicide.  FYI these teams are more or less headquartered at the central location of the police forces they work for.

S.W.A.T the original and the current version are not that bad.  I would say that the newer show is more hyped with a lot more gun play than what is really true.  Most officers including SWAT members rarely fire weapons but it happens and it probably is a bit more than a traditional police officer on patrol.  The story lines are interesting in both versions though I would say the original was not as indepth as the new one.  

There are so many other shows that are notable at least to me.  They include shows like Hillstreet Blues, Police Story and Adam 12.  And who could forget Dragnet.  These were very well done shows.  19-2 is a pretty good show as well it's Canadian and tells the story of Montreal police officers.  Then there are the reality shows like 999 what's Your Emergency, C.O.P.S and Live PD.  Interesting shows but they are controversial as more often than not blacks and other minorities are targeted by the officers in these shows.  In Canada Your Under Arrest a similar show is probably much better at trying to show a balance.  C.O.P.S generally speaking is a divisive show and while it is loved by many fans it's loathed by an equal number who see it as a platform for racists and people who get off on seeing officers in some cases abuse their power.

So the bottom line here is there are lots of good and just as many bad cop shows out there.  It's really interesting to watch these shows and see how good or horrid police officers are and how good or not so good at portraying police as they do their work.

I would say with most shows take a step back and realize a lot of the stuff you are seeing is fiction and unrealistic.  But, there are few real great shows that really do capture what police do very well.  

Check out this list of TV shows that are police centric via Wikipedia.  And let me know what you think is a good or not so good police TV show.