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There have been recent articles and news reports about the 996 work culture in China. Apparently, people are working from 9am to 9pm, 6 days a week. Without any overtime pay! In fact, they are often expected to be on 24 hour call! It's pretty bad. There is no way this type of schedule can be sustainable. I know there are a lot of people that work more than 40 jours a week, which is the standard in the U.S. There are jobs like healthcare, police, laywers, etc, where working longer hours may be required. But it seems that it is becoming more and more the norm, not the exception. But working yourself to death is no way to live. In Korea, delivery drivers are dying on the job because…

Sometimes we say things that we really shouldn't. What I mean by that is, we say mean things, we make jokes about people, we talk behind their backs and we put negative messages out in the world. We do all this without realizing the impact these things will have on others. In this episode I talk about how our words have power. And that is not always a positive thing. Once you put something out in the world, you can't always just take it back like it didn't happen. I think that with the vitriol in politics and the abundance of cruelty we find on the internet, we have forgotten how to be kind to each other. Let's take a few steps back and think about what we are saying…

If you are a Marvel fan like I am, then you know who Black Widow is. And you also know that for the last decade Scarlett Johansson has brought this character to life in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Whether you enjoy her portrayal or hate it, you know that Black Widow finally got her own movie, and it was released this summer in theaters and on Disney + streaming service. Recently, Scarlett Johansson filed a lawsuit against Disney for breach of contract. That's a big deal! I can't recall a celebrity suing a studio, and certainly no one really sues the House of the Mouse! In this episode i talk about the information that has come out about the lawsuit, Disney's unfortunate public response, and what I think about it.…

One of my biggest pet peeves happens to be trends. Not one trend specifically, but in general the way trends force us all to come along for the ride. Let me explain. When a new trendy thing happens, the old thing it replaces ceases to exist. Like the new cell phones not having phone jacks. I know having Airpods and earbuds are the "thing" now. But I like my wired headphones. For several reasons. You don't have to keep them charged. And they are harder to lose. That's just me being a grumpy old Gen Xer, I know. But I like what I like! Fashion is always a trend that we are forced to follow. Can we talk about women's pants not having useable pockets? Like, what is that?? I…

In the age of COVID-19, millions of people have barely kept their heads above water due to receiving unemployment benefits. When the government provided the supplemental benefits, it seemed like a godsend. And for most, it was. But it seems that there is an unintended negative consequence - job vacancies. Many people who can return to the workforce have not done so. And the trickle down is affecting small business owners the most. Restaurants, grocery stores, the post office, have all seen the employee pool tank. Getting things we need and services is getting harder because people seem to lack the motivation to go back to work. Now don't get me wrong, if there is a legitimate reason to stay home I understand. But there are those who just don't…