Monday was opening night for the 2020 Democratic convention. Last night’s featured speaker was former first lady, Michelle Obama. In her powerful eighteen-minute speech, she took on the current president. Included among her talking points were pointing out how many Americans have been lost because of the administration’s inept Covid-19 plan, how we need to be ready to do whatever we have to do to vote and even using Donald Tump’s own words “It is what it is” against him.

But, she used her own famous phrase to set the tone for how she hopes America and its citizens will once again become:

“I know that regardless of our race, age, religion, or politics, when we close out the noise and the fear and truly open our hearts, we know that what’s going on in this country is just not right. This is not who we want to be.

So what do we do now? What’s our strategy? Over the past four years, a lot of people have asked me, “When others are going so low, does going high still really work?” My answer: going high is the only thing that works, because when we go low, when we use those same tactics of degrading and dehumanizing others, we just become part of the ugly noise that’s drowning out everything else. We degrade ourselves. We degrade the very causes for which we fight.”

That’s quite the sentiment. How great would it be if we could live our lives in that manner? I wish I could do that…really, I wish I could, but Donald Trump and his administration make it impossible, at least for me.
After watching Michelle’s uplifting talk, what was my immediate move? Where did I go? TWITTER!!!

Quite the move, right? Michelle wants us to be the best possible people we can be and in response, I head to the place where people behave totally the opposite. Excellent choice! And what did I do when I went to Twitter? I checked out the feeds of Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump. OY!!!

What did I do when I found their feeds? I responded to their crap with the hashtag, #WrongTrump. That’s the hashtag that was trending last weekend when Robert Trump, the president’s brother died. Sigh!!

I know…I know…really I do know, but I just couldn’t help myself. I guess that’s just who I am and I’m going to have to accept it. OY!

So to Michele Obama and that going high thing, I just don’t think I’m going to be able to get there before November 3rd. In fact, I know I won’t get there until January 21, 2021. You’re going to have to go high for both of us.

Related Post: In Donald Trump’s world-It is what it is

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Employee safety is something that we often find easy to overlook or take for granted — until someone gets hurt on the job. While accidents aren’t always avoidable, we need to take every possible step to reduce the chances that someone might get injured or killed while on the clock. What can you do to improve employee safety and protect your team, no matter what the circumstances are?

Create a Culture of Safety

Safety is more than just rule books and onboarding training. It’s something you should engrain in every aspect of your business. That’s why creating a culture of safety is so important. Figure out your goals, and use them to create a safer workplace. It should be everyone’s responsibility, from the newest hire all the way up to the CEO. Getting everyone involved makes it easier to maintain accountability and ensure that everyone follows protocols and doing their part to keep the team safe.

Inspect Your Workplace

A lot of simple things are overlooked and can negatively impact workplace safety. 22% of slip-and-fall accidents result in more than a month of missed work, but the majority of them could be prevented with a simple inspection. It doesn’t take much to spot garbage, dirt or water on the floor that could result in a potentially dangerous fall. Inspect your facility regularly and see what you can change to improve employee safety.

Keep Protective Equipment on Hand

The necessary personal protective equipment will vary dramatically from company to company, depending on your individual needs. In some cases, masks and gloves might be sufficient, while in others, full HAZMAT gear is required. There point here is to ensure it’s always available and well-maintained for anyone that needs it.

This is especially important for companies still operating during the COVID-19 pandemic. Masks, face shields, and soap or sanitizer are all invaluable tools for combating this pandemic. If your doors are open, make sure your team has everything it needs to stay safe and healthy.

Maintain Accountability

Turning safety into a responsibility that everyone shares is only part of the puzzle. Accountability is another piece and one that you can’t afford to overlook. If someone makes a mistake, which does happen from time to time, make sure they’re held accountable. Reinforce your rules with consequences if they’re not followed. They don’t have to be extreme — sometimes something as simple as taking an additional safety class can make a difference — but they need to be consistent. Keep everyone accountable, regardless of their position or salary.

Reinforce Communication

Keep your doors open and ensure you’ve got good communication within your company. This gives you the tools to inform your team about new rules, safety hazards, guidelines and OSHA regulations, just to name a few examples. Make sure that it goes both ways — your team might see safety issues that you’d otherwise miss because they’re on the front lines. Keep those lines of communication open, and don’t punish your employees for bringing problems to your attention.

Make Worker Safety a Priority

Workplace safety is essential to keep things running smoothly and prevent injuries or fatalities on the job. You don’t need to make dramatic changes to keep your team safe. Just make sure you’re paying attention, inspecting your facility and keeping your lines of communication open.

You might need to make some changes moving forward to deal with the coronavirus pandemic’s aftermath, but that’s only one piece of the puzzle. Always keep the big picture in mind and make employee safety a priority. After all, where would you be without your workers?

Whether you realize it or not, you have the power to influence. Your words or lack thereof, your actions and lifestyle are all being observed. You don’t have to be the most famous icon with a platform, but somebody is watching you and being inspired by you and making their next move based on what they see. They may not know your story and why you do what you do, yet they’re captivated by something they see and their decisions are based on you.

Are you talking as if someone is listening? Are you living as if you’re a book that’s being read? Regardless of your answer and your awareness, you have an audience.

Lest you think there won’t be any Indy 500 race (presented by Gainbridge) this year, think again. Most have heard, no doubt, that the race is on. Almost as usual. Perhaps the most exciting thing is that the Indy 500, for the first time in history, will be LIVE on TV, without the screeching noise and heat. Live, that is, to Indy residents. Never before has it been broadcast in its home town. Although, most fans really prefer the deafening noise and enjoy sitting in the crowded bleachers, the infield or a cool suite.

Be sure to tune in for practice, too. The drivers will have one last chance to get racing ready during the final Indy 500 practice on Miller Lite Carb Day, Friday August 21. Practice runs from 11-1:30 EST and you can catch it on NBC Sports. Legends Day takes place Saturday August 22.

The field of drivers racing in the Indianapolis 500 will have one last chance to make their cars race ready during final Indy 500 practice. This practice session will be full of excitement as drivers run in heavy traffic with lots of drafting and passing to best simulate race conditions for Sunday.

Thirty-three drivers…200 laps…500 miles. Tune in LIVE on NBC Sports Gold and NBCSN at 1 pm, Sunday and also enjoy the world-renowned U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds who will perform the pre-race flyover for the 104th Indianapolis 500 on Sunday also. You don’t want to miss that. The green flag is scheduled for 2:30 p.m.

Some of the Highlights

*U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron (Thunderbirds) will fly in their “Delta” formation over the track. Since the unit’s inception in 1953, more than 350 million people in all 50 states and more than 60 countries have witnessed the distinctive red, white and blue jets in thousands of official aerial demonstrations. Six F-16 Fighting Falcons is composed of 12 officers. Although most performances were cancelled due to the Pandemic, the Thunderbirds will be at the track.

*Performances by Rinus Veekay of Ed Carpenter Racing and Alex Palou of Dale Coyne Racing with Goh have earned positions to race Sunday. It’s been 37 years since an Indy 500 rookie won the pole. This year two have a chance to end the drought.

*Marco Andretti qualified on Sunday with the fastest 4-lap average of 231.351 speed and enters the Fast Nine Shootout on Sunday as top seed for a run to the coveted NTT PI award for pole position. Andretti drivers swept the top four spots in the first day of qualifications; Honda-powered drivers will comprise 8 of the nine participants in the Fast Nine Shootout.

*Penske’s three drivers have combined to win five Indy 500s; the other is a two-time NTT Indycar Series champion who currently holds the season crown. Team Penske is aiming for a record-tying third consecutive 500 victory, accomplished only by a team twice, most recently by Team Penske in 2003.

For more information, go to https://www.indianapolismotorspeedway.com/events/indy500

To: Donald J. Trump

From: White House Guest Services

Date: January 20, 2021

Subject: Past due invoice

It has come to our attention that before you decamped to Mar-a-Lago last November, you did not settle our invoice for supplementary services provided to you. We attach a spreadsheet. This memo serves to explain charges that you may mistakenly have believed were included in your comped stay. As a former hotelier, you should be in a position to understand that “all-inclusive” is a weasel term. Here we go:

Resort fee: Although we understand that you never set foot in the White House gym, we nevertheless had to dust it regularly. The resort fee covers the gym and other amenities that were at your disposal, so it’s time to pony up. You will be invoiced separately for the installation of one commercial salon tanning bed as well as megawatt bronzing lamps.

Early check-out fee: You are doubtless familiar with early check-in fees, but perhaps you overlooked the penalty for early check-out. Transitions of power are expensive. Attorney General Preet Bharara is overseeing an audit of these expenses.

Additional person fee: CIA Director Adam Schiff has vetted a room service fee (see below) for Stolichnaya Vodka and beluga caviar and noted that you have not been known to consume either of those items.

Wi-Fi fee: If you had read the contract you signed when you began your stay, you would have noted that Wi-Fi service is complimentary in the lobby only. Twitter rants made from your bedroom were not covered. Should you wish to avoid this mistake in the future, Secretary of Education Pete Buttigieg will direct you to remedial reading classes.

Mini-bar fee: We understand that $20 per snack bag of Doritos may seem exorbitant, but our prices are based on what the marketplace will tolerate. Should you wish to dispute this, you may want to contact Secretary of the Treasury Elizabeth Warren.

Room service: Mickey D’s doesn’t give stuff away.

Monogrammed POTUS facemasks: Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Anthony Fauci notes that had you worn the masks, you would not have been charged.

Housekeeping gratuity: Secretary of Labor Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will be in touch.