Daily Archives: September 18, 2020

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. The pandemic has made efforts to get out the vote difficult for both parties, but Democrats and Republicans are still hitting the street when they can. And using tech to get people registered and educated.

The standard, golden rule in politics is theres no substitute for door-to-door canvassing, for talking to voters face-to-face, said Gary Stark, chair of the Kent County Democrats, and we always think we can do that. But were all facing the same kinds of constraints.

Both the Democratic party and GOP have their own registration websites. Theyve been around for a while, but their importance is renewed this year with the pandemic hampering efforts to door-to-door canvass.

Were getting out how we can, obviously you have to do it very carefullyyou have to do it with masks and distance and being respectful of people who want to keep their distance, said Joel Freeman, chair of the Kent GOP. So its kind of an all-of-the-above approach this year but yes, certainly going digital and going by mail is a much bigger factor this year.

We have been reluctant to [canvass] because of the governors guidelines and the dangers of that and the uncertainty of how that would be received, said Stark. Many people dont want people strangers knocking on their door.

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Dems, GOP relying on tech to register voters this fall - Fox17

Cognitive dissonance. What is it?

It is when a person holds two beliefs that contradict one another. Cognitive dissonance causes feelings of unease and tension, and people attempt to relieve this discomfort in different ways. Examples include explaining things away or rejecting new information that conflicts with their existing beliefs.

Newborns are immune. They have no preconceived notions. They are not swayed by propaganda or fables. They enter life with a clean slate.

As people age, they acquire new information that is either factual or false. Unless they analyze the data that comes their way, they may be duped into believing false evidence appearing real. Opinions and outlooks are thus formed.

Strong personalities are often capable of pulling the wool over the eyes of many otherwise well-intentioned people. Folks hear things that strike discordant chords and thereafter abandon the precepts of the Golden Rule in favor of slick hoopla and myth put forth by silver-tongued orators.

Donald Trump did not become president because he offered rational alternatives to complex yet solvable problems in our nation. His approach was and remains aggressive, belligerent and extremely self-aggrandizing. As an example, any criticisms of the president that appear in the media are simply labeled fake news by the Trump entourage. End of discussion.

And here is where cognitive dissonance appears. Many people who voted for him in 2016 try to explain things away or reject new information that conflicts with their existing beliefs. Doing so is easier than coming to grips with the truth: Voting for him in 2016 was a mistake.

Hopefully, in the quietness of their souls, come Election Day, they will choose to remedy that error.

Richard Austin

Mount Vernon

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Letter: Voters need to accept the truth | Opinion | goskagit.com - goskagit.com

Let's get back to basics everyday ethics.

I began writing this column to take ethics out of the classroom and into the wider world. My model was Socrates, the father of ethics, who went into the city where he lived to engage in dialog with others. It was Socrates who gave us the most lasting definition of ethics how best to live.

Ethics is fundamentally a practical philosophy. It seeks to help individuals make the best decisions they can for themselves, consistent with their beliefs and values.

There are various ethical traditions that offer roadmaps about how best to live.

The early Greek philosopher Aristotle said we should seek to live a life of moderation. He called that the Golden Mean. Think of the extremes of any value, take courage as one. Courage to live is an ethical principle, but the extremes are what cause difficulty being too risky or being too shy.

Aristotle said the best way to live a good life is to practice what you believe. In other words, if you want to be a compassionate person, you need to be kind to yourself and others as often as you can.

Other world ethical systems from the East and West offer guidance on making moral decisions. The most common principle is treating others as you wish to be treated or love your neighbor as yourself. This is called the Golden Rule.

When you have time to consider a pending decision, here are three areas to consider,

First, look at any existing rules or laws. By these standards would your decision be right or wrong? For example, thinking about whether or not to cheat on a test to get a higher grade is obviously a violation of school rules.

Second, look at issues of character. Would your decision fit your values and needs and that of others? Some might consider sacrificing themselves for the good of others, but that would not be good for you.

Third, examine the situation you are in. Sometimes the context in which you make a decision weighs heavily. A friend may ask you to lie to protect himself, and though as a general rule you don't advocate telling lies, in this particular case that rule takes second to a higher one of protecting a friend.

Ethics is about making decisions, sometimes difficult ones. But a fundamental question to ask yourself is this one: Is what I am going to decide something I will regret later? Asking and answering this one, may clear things up.

John C. Morgan is a teacher and writer whose columns appear here weekly.

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John C. Morgan on Everyday Ethics: The most fundamental question to ask yourself - The Mercury

Employment attorney Gerald Maatman Jr. of Seyfarth Shaw LLP talks about how to avoid legal pitfalls during the coronavirus pandemic.

Labor and employment attorney Gerald Maatman Jr. is tasked with advising clients on avoiding potential legal pitfalls that may arise in the workplace because of the coronavirus.

However, he admits that nothing in his 40-plus years specializing in labor law has prepared him for the challenges employers face because of the coronavirus, which has infected more than 6 million people in the U.S. and killed more than 196,000 people since January.

I thought I had seen everything and then COVID-19 occurred, said Maatman, senior partner of Chicago-based Seyfarth Shaw LLP, on Thursday at the virtual American Shipper Global Trade Tech summit. Ive worked harder and longer hours to assist employers with all of the challenges and the changing playing field that they find themselves on today. Its been extraordinary times.

Businesses are already starting to see a spate of lawsuits filed by employees who were furloughed or laid off because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Maatman expects the majority of litigation is going to be filed in the first and second quarters of 2021. However, more than 1,000 COVID-19-related lawsuits have been filed across the country since March.

Companies are battening down the hatches and COVID litigation is going to be with us for the next five to seven years, he said. If you think of litigation as a bell jar curve, were just starting on the front end of the upward curve. We have a long way to go to get through it all.

In March, Maatman said his firm created a task force of lawyers from across the country to track all new laws and regulations and lawsuits stemming from COVID-19 claims. The initial one-page spreadsheet has grown to more than 800 pages in the past six months, he said.

What happened is that at the local, state level and federal levels, a series of laws and regulations were passed, Maatman said. If youre a nationwide logistics company, youve got a bit of a patchwork quilt in front of you in terms of all the duties and requirements.

Complying with employee leave laws and responding to workplace safety concerns is an incredible task for any human resources director or business owner amid the coronavirus pandemic, he said.

His firm is advising employers to follow five basic guidelines to avoid potential legal pitfalls stemming from workers complaints during COVID-19.

Remember that any personnel decision you make anything you do in this day and age has to pass the social media test, Maatman said. How does this look to your customers? How does this look to your employees? How does it look to an outsider looking in at your business? So the fundamental HR blocking and tackling of doing the right thing pays incredible dividends in this time of stress.

SUBHEAD: Diffuse the problem before it becomes a bigger issue

Addressing small disputes before they become a bigger problem is key to avoiding class action lawsuits and large payouts.

You want to make sure that an individual lawsuit doesnt turn into a giant lawsuit, Maatman said. Diffusing a problem while its small and before it turns into a big problem has lots to do with saving money and avoiding huge claims.

Employers need an understanding of various laws that shield employers from liability, he said.

While employers in the health care industry or first responders may have the greatest amount of immunity by lawmakers, the rules are different for profit companies and vary by state.

In South Carolina, theres a lot of immunity, but in California, theres virtually no immunity, Maatman said. The only way thats going to be solved is on the federal level.

However, determining if a company has immunity is complicated because of the roadblock between the Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Congress.

I think the best way to make decisions, if youre a company, is assume there is no immunity, he said. Try to make the best, most measured and sound business decisions you can on the theory that those are the best defenses if youre challenged.

Developing a sense of creativity relative to applicable legal standards is crucial for businesses to innovate and adapt amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Plaintiffs attorneys are experiencing cash flow issues right now and tend to settle their cases for less money than before COVID.

A very creative outside-the-box thinking, in my experience, has been the winning formula for these cases, Maatman said. Ive also been able to say, Well settle, but were going to pay it one month at a time over the next 10 months and stage the payments.

The old way of doing business, even in the courthouse, has changed completely, he said.

Theres been a revolution in the way in which cases are brought and defended, Maatman said.

Practicing The Golden Rule is crucial to a companys success during these unprecedented times. This can be achieved by ensuring workers know the rules and that employers interpret the rules consistently and fairly in the workplace, Maatman said.

Would you want to be heard and treated the same way if the tables were turned and you were the recipient of the employers decision? he said. Doing the right thing and doing it in a fair way tends to be, at all times, the best possible defense to these sorts of problems.

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COVID will have lasting effects on employment litigation (with video) - FreightWaves

Belleza Med Spa and Clinic Ribbon Ceremony took place on Thursday September 10, 2020 with the Chamber of Commerce of west Ridge Park. We are excited to have launched this new venture within the community and look forward to many great years ahead!!

Thank you to the Chamber of Commerce of west ridge Park and Alderman Deborah Silverstein for welcoming us into the community and being part of our new venture.

Thank you to Rohit Joshi for the religious ceremony and all the blessings, Thank you to all of the great supporters to our friends and family that made this day so special.

Dr. Rani Yousefzai:

With 20 years of experience in leading and directing thriving different healthcare companies Dr. Rani Yousefzai builds and retains high performance teams by hiring, developing and motivating skilled professionals in healthcare. She is Dynamic health care entrepreneur who creates strategic alliances with organization leaders to effectively align with and support key business initiatives.

Her academic achievement is:

Nursing, Bachelors in Architecture interior design, masters in health care administration, doctorate in wellness studies and doctorate in community development.

Her Achievement highlights are:

She has been honored as the Top 20 Women of Excellence in 2018.

She has been presented with the World Civility Award as a World civility Ambassador.

She has been awarded the 'Civility Golden Rule' Award as a human rights activist in recognition of her work to promote equality and principle.

She has been awarded the Certificate of Excellence for commitment and dedication to the Arab American Community.

She is a women's rights activist and leads organizations to secure equal rights for women and remove gender discrimination in all fields. She is also an active member of many different ethnic organizations including the St. James Armenian Church, and she sits on the committee board of Multi-ethnic coalitions of elected officials.

She believes the key to success is to keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground.

Belleza Med Spa and Clinic is a full Med Spa

Where we offer Hair laser removal with the latest state of the art laser hair machine, we do BOTOX, Fillers, Chemical peels, I-Lipo, PRP hair growth treatment and Stem Cells we also have Our own VIP room for Manicure and pedicure. We offer a weight loss program that is a monitor of an MD that is licensed to see all patients where our program is alter for each and every patient depending on the patient's needs.

"The staff was very informative and straightforward. I wanted a service for my feet and the staff was straightforward with me and advised me not to waste my money due to my particular situation. I really appreciated her honesty and did not try to take advantage of my needs for monetary gain. In addition, the doctor was friendly and informative as well. He will recommend what is best for you and not just give you anything to take your money if it won't benefit you. My results were immediate and lasted longer than he anticipated" said by Kimmiy smith.

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Grand opening of Belleza Med Spa and Clinic in the heart of Devon Avenue - Chicago Daily Herald