Workers thrown under Mystic Lake

Harvey Mackay had a good but short article in the Star Tribune regarding Sam Walton's 10 Secrets to Success. Talking to my former co-workers today I realized how few my former employer adheres to. It's not like Wal-Mart is the biggest company in the world for nothing! It would be wise for employers to check out these tips that Sam left.

Speaking to former co-workers, I am thankful for no longer being there. Their "no talking rule" has become even more strictly enforced. Anyone caught speaking to another co-worker is immediately sent home. If it occurs more than 3 times in a 6 month period of time, the employee is terminated.

Another rule being strictly enforced are more changes towards the W2G tax software. It appears they have changed programs and criteria deemed critical to the Federal governent. Any deviation from 100% accuracy is grounds for punishment. Several supervisors have been fired and a few demoted for inaccuracies. Atypical of Mystic slot specialists are not being fired to the extent that supervisors are for this standard.

They are also asking employees to "watch what they say online." Any discussion of the policies I stated above are grounds for termination. Protecting the company from media scrutiny is so strict that they even put in their newsletter "be careful who you add as friends on social networking sites." Seriously? Is this a Minnesotan employer or did their policy board teleport here from Communist China? Sovereign status does not mean you can set fire to the Constitution on a daily basis.

Another myth they claim is that anything you say online stays forever. They make it sound like if you diss them in an online chat, that they will find out. Kinda gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling when your employer is digitally stalking you.

Anyone considering working for the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community better not have a life outside their job. That is, if you wish to keep it. That and you are considered the equivalent to a slave without the ability to speak working at Mystic Lake. If the secondhand smoke doesn't kill you, the lack of social interaction will.

But to be fair, I should include that Minnesota Monthly claims Mystic Lake as one of the state's best employers. The only reason it stated so was that they have a health clinic on site. They conveniently forgot to mention that they get a lot of advertising dollars from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, as well as its owners at Minnesota Public Radio. ( Ever get sick of hearing how "philanthropic" they are with giving out automatic defibrillators? )

Facebook and the myth of online privacy

As someone who lost his job because I blogged about a Green Party candidate, I think it very funny people think the internet is "private." I attacked a political candidates "privacy" online. Ooohh. Do people really think that they can just gate off their digital information and assume no one else will see it? Okay, you are a moron if you think it is.

Your "privacy" is null and void in the 21st century. Digital devices can take our photos, voices, writings, pretty much every aspect of our lives could find its way online if we choose to do so. To assume nothing "private" will get online is ludicrous.

I consider anything in life bloggable, unless I receive a written, signed, and notarized statement from an individual who wishes not be "discovered" online. Do that with each blogger and Facebook user. I bid you good luck.

Okay, I don't write about everyone, but just send me an e-mail or txt msg if you have an issue with my blog. I have even been blamed for other's comments! And unless I am aware of them, I don't delete them.

Midtown Burner

I) City Council

I woke up late this morning - at 8:50. I intended to be downtown by 9AM to meet with group opposed to the Midtown Burner. There is a possibility that the Minneapolis city council will consider adding to their agenda at the last minute a specific proposal that Kandiyohi
may need- more time to purchase the burner from the city.

I quickly cleaned up to go, got some clothes on, and then ran to the LRT station on Franklin. I got there just minutes after a train went by. Fortunately, I wasn't the only one. Jen was there with her daughter and we waited 35 minutes without a train showing up!! She decided to drive downtown and find parking, and offered me a ride since she was recruited to go to City Hall as well. Still not sure why the LRT was down, but dozens of people were late to the meeting because of it!

Even more fortunate, the council did NOT add this to the agenda. I did witness the entirety of the meeting. The city is doing nice things like Earth Hour 2008, though it is more symbolic than long-term in solutions.

They also approved some "sidewalk improvements" on Broadway Avenue in north Minneapolis. I personally think that is even more symbolic, and will assess business owners on that street excessively for little gain. I have walked on the sidewalks of Broadway in the summer, and didn't see much foot traffic to garner such an "improvement." But I don't live on north-side, so I will have to talk to others about this innovation.

It was good to see all the support against the burner show up. Greens like Farheen Hakeem were there and Phillips neighbors of all political persuasions! I am thankful we had such great organizers like Carol Pass, Dave Bicking, and others whom I should know their names! Cam Gordon ( Ward 2- Green ) and Gary Schiff ( Ward 9 - DFL ) both thanked us for being there. These two council members have shown adamant support for the people of East Phillips on this issue.

The big issues with the burner are

1) That the particulate matter in East Phillips is already excessive. Burning even wood would make things exceedingly worse
2)That there isn't enough wood in the Twin Cities to support this, and it would have to rely on more toxic treated woods, and possibly garbage in the long-term.

But we need more to contact our council members and Mayor Rybak to let them know where we stand! More info here:http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dd9thxh2_48gfvnmb8p
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II) Cavlan discussion

Last but not least, I run into Michael Cavlan ! His son's 18th birthday today and they were out and about. Michael has been heavily participating in preparation for the Republican National Convention Welcoming Committee on behalf of the Peace Movement.

He was quite thankful that Minneapolis has Cam Gordon on the city council, as he is working to stop a so-called "Free speech committee" to oversea protesters during the convention. The ordnance proposed by Mayor Rybak and Council Member Gordon, would ask any group of 25 or more to voluntarily apply for a permit any time they intended to protest anything during the RNC. Council Member Ralph Remington is opposed to this, believing no group should have to apply for a permit for "free speech."

Old work schedule

I am scanning all my old documents that remind me of the past. :D
Here's one of an old schedule and a random signature paper I found of Rochelle's ( she left it in a booth in 2004). :P

I miss this part of my past. But dang, I hated the secondhand smoke. I do not want any more of my co-workers from their to die from cancer.