Inappropriate Sorry

"Sorry" doesn't always seem to be the hardest word*. Sorry seems to be quite an overused word.

The word Sorry has it's place in society.  The word Sorry is used when something is regrettable, unfortunate, sympathetic or tragic.

I've seen young women or the "good girls" (& "good boys") use the word sorry - but use it in a seemingly inappropriate way.  It tends to be used incorrectly used by those who are unassertive or those who don't want to ruin someones train of thought or when things take a tangent.  It's generally the unassertive, passive female who wants to be liked & takes on an "observer" status. I've come across this on multiple occasions especially in a professional capacity working in HR.

Sorry doesn't have a place when you feel that you're an inconvenience in a paid or professional situation.  Sorry doesn't have a place when you have a deadline & you need someone to deliver a piece of work. Sorry doesn't have a place when you need your leave (annual or other) signed off.

It's something I have been aware of when I talk or interact with others. I used to be guilty of it myself.

I will not be sorry for things that I need to get the job done. I'll ask politely but I will not be sorry that you didn't adhere to the timeline.
I will not be sorry for doing the awkward side-step when you come face-to-face with a stranger in your path. I'll smile & (eventually) move out of their way.
I will not be sorry for accessing a work related entitlements such as being paid fairly or have my leave signed off. I will ask politely, provide the necessary proof & be reasonable in my time frame for when it can be rectified.



References:
* Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word - Elton John
www.dictionary.com
http://www.thegrindstone.com/2012/10/11/career-management/apologizing-at-work-bad-369/

Equal Pay for Equal Work

The Feminist movement has pushed the "Equal Pay for Equal Work" for many years. It's still needed today with so many pay discrepancies in our work force between the genders. 

However, it's the Tennis that has got me puzzled.

A normal game of Women tennis is to play best out of 3 matches.  A normal game of Men's tennis is to play best out of 5 matches.  Last night, Novak Djokovic was the victor in an epic 5 hour match with Stanislas Wawrinka.  Would the women's matches ever reach that duration?  

No matter what round they exit, no matter if Women play 2 or 3 or the Men play 3 or 4 or 5, they get the same prize money. 

I did the maths, that's not equal pay for equal work.


References:
http://www.australianopen.com/en_AU/event_guide/prize_money.html

Zero Dark Two - Years

Australian & other coalition troops are still in Afghanistan.  We're there help create stability in the country, empower people to take democratic control of the country.  Our troops are there to ensure that the Taliban are not in control & to prevent them from resurging. 

It's been just short of 2 years since Osama Bin Laden was killed.  Since his death, 566 soldiers were killed in 2011 and last year, 405 soldiers were killed in Afghanistan, 44 of them were Australian.  As Australians, we knew& heard about every time when one was killed, it happened too often.

The movie "Zero Dark Thirty" was recently released in the US, with Australia's premier to follow soon.

My understanding of the movie & what the previews tell me is that this movie is about the lead up to & the 'capture' of Osama Bin Laden.

The 405 deaths last year tell me that something is still happening in Afghanistan. Sure, the Taliban leader, Osama Bin Laden is dead, however his followers or people who agreed with his views are still around.  Still around & causing harm to our troops. Our troops who are still there, present in Afghanistan.

To release a 'Hollywood' movie, to celebrate the capture & killing of a leader who still has clout in Afghanistan & some other Middle-Eastern countries makes me think that our troops could possibly be in more danger. It's a bit like rubbing it in their faces in it.  We also saw what happened last year when an Anti-Muslim You Tube clip was released.

I think its too soon to have a movie based on or about the whole thing. 
Our troops are still present in Afghanistan.
At present, I'm boycotting.



Acknowledgements:
Soldier deaths taken from: http://icasualties.org/OEF/ByYear.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zero_Dark_Thirty
 

 

Travel Regrets

We scrimp and save to buy our house. We want the best of the current Apple or Samsung range.  We buy that pair of shoes ... but do we buy that ticket to Crete or Uruguay? Unfortunately, we don't. 

Not travelling or not travelling enough is (generally) the biggest regret people have. It's the experiences missed out on, not the objects missed out.

I tell many of my friends who are umm'ing and ahhh'ing about their possible travel plans, that you will NEVER regret the travel you do, good or bad.  Its the stories to tell when things go awry, the tales of meeting interesting characters and the exotic food we long for after our trip is over.

I recently came back from a trip to the United States. It was never really high on my list of places to see, however, New York was up there. What happened when I was there?  Hurricane Sandy is what happened.  House bound, no access to public transport, no power. I don't regret going at that time, I don't regret being holed up in my apartment for 2 days and I don't regret all the camaraderie and bonds developed with the New Yorkers knowing that we survived!

Go book that trip, see that monument, meet those people. It's never a waste of money and you're never going to regret that trip!



Inspired by:
http://www.ivillage.com.au/our-top-10-regrets/156784?utm_source=iVillage.com.au&utm_campaign=252c1183d6-ivillage_newsletter&utm_medium=email

Welfare for Single Parents

It's hard & an expensive job raising children these days.  I can imagine it so much more difficult financially when its a single parent family.

It's not getting a lot of air-time but today legislation will be put forward by the government to reverse a budget decision that will put single parents (predominantly women) receiving Parenting Payments onto Newstarter Allowance (aka the dole) when their youngest child turns 8 years of age.

I'm all for the push to get people into employment, however, this is ridiculous.  It is unfair & a bad change considering how hard it is a) to find a job b) one that is flexible to suit the needs of primary aged children.

In my opinion, children should not be left at home alone till 6pm.  Children under the age of 12 let alone 10 should not have to be forced with the responsibility to open & lock up their home or to carry their house keys.  Children under the age of 12 should not be operating ovens/stoves/gas without adult supervision. Children of that age need someone to help them with homework, preparing snacks & someone to talk to at the end of a school day.

What would be more reasonable would be when the youngest child turns 12 or is in High School. The child is slightly older but also more mature.  They are more responsible & have more knowledge in how to handle sticky situations.
The government's plan would cost parents $60 to $100 a week & save the government $728 million over four years. This is the price they are putting on savings, not realising that in the meantime, single parents will have to pay for before & after school care & other childminding arrangements for school holidays.

Surely there are other savings that the government can obtain? Or at least push the age of the youngest child up.  We need to nurture & encourage our vulnerable children & to give single parents the OPTION to parent.



  Sources & Pics http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/political-news/mps-up-in-arms-over-wheat-and-welfare-20121008-279cp.html#ixzz28ktHncvj http://img.ehowcdn.com/article-new/ehow/images/a08/72/2t/children-child-abandonment-laws-texas-800x800.jpg

US Presidential Beers 'n' Bears

You can tell it's election time when the candidates try to relate to the common voter.

At present, there is a clear leader in this respect.  Enter US President Barack Obama.  Unlike his opposition where word has it that Mitt Romney doesn't even pay taxes on his millions.

A couple of things have caught my eye recently about Obama.

1.  Obama is not afraid of moving forward with his agenda, despite strong opposition. His Medicare plan is in and he wants all Americans to have access to basic health care.

"...The moral test of government is how that government treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children; those who are in the twilight of life, the elderly; those who are in the shadows of life; the sick, the needy and the handicapped. "  Ironically, this was said by an American, Hubert H. Humphrey in 1977.

2.  The Bear Hug.  Everyone one to be embraced like that. It's even better when you're caught on camera & seriously look like your enjoying it.  It's a pure bliss photo. No issue or judgement by the fact of who it is, Where he comes from &/or his gender.  I love it ... makes Obama feel like one of us.

3.  Obama not only brews his own White House beer, he's comparing notes & sharing his recipe with everyone. Now everyone has access to White House standard Beer.

Pour me a glass & put it on ice ... I'ma coming!


References:
http://askville.amazon.com/measure-civilization-treats-weakest-members-accurate-quote/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=4718239
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1ijPmtTHo8
http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/image/wh_beer_recipe_honey_ale_0.jpg

Rape & Society

No one asks to be raped, assault, or harassed or even robbed. 

Feminists & others say that regardless of what we wear or what we do, no one should be raped or assaulted. Agreed. This is obvious.  However, what we fail to recognise is the fact that there are people out there who will rape & harass, assault & steal, despite education & knowing right-from-wrong.

Education to change views & society wide interventions may eradicate some but not all instances.  I agree, that more education & awareness campaigns needs to occur, especially in the realm of date rape & understanding what exactly consent entails.  However, until these measures start gaining results or at least have a wider awareness through our society, it is naive to think that this will not happen.

Those who are or potentially are guilty of these crimes should know 100% what they are doing is wrong

Fact is, to a certain degree, we do need to dress a certain way to avoid leering & sexually based comments.  I feel that if you show tonnes of cleavage & wear tiny skirts, you are (to a certain extent) warranting attention of the sexual kind.  It is definitely not a signal to the world that you want to be raped or you're "up for it" however it is naive to think this will portray an asexual image of you & you will not be at least leered at.  

I like to go out, I like to explore new places, even going out at night.  However, it is naive to think that I will be safe walking through places like Hyde Park or a street in Redfern alone at night.  There are countries that it is unsafe to go to due to domestic conflict, it is naive to think that you can hold your own & walk down a street in Syria or Afghanistan without the potential of being harmed.

It's not an excuse, these issues should not be issues for us & should not be happening in our society, however this is idealist & naive.


Referenced from:
http://www.dailylife.com.au/news-and-views/dl-opinion/women-deserve-to-be-raped-20120917-260yt.html
http://www.madisonmag.com.au/assets/images/articles/blog/sexual-harassment_1.jpg
http://www.madisonmag.com.au/blogs/sexual-harassment-is-everyones-problem.htm

09/10/2012

P.S.

Its scary knowing that a few days after I wrote this that a Melbourne woman was raped & murdered on her way home from a night out.  Again, I'm not blaming the victim, I do this myself, however, it is naive to think that these things will never happen. Precautions should be taken & when travelling at night, alone as a woman.