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Category Archives: Golden Rule
JCPenney Introduces Thereabouts Brand for Fully Inclusive Back-to-School Style – Business Wire
Posted: July 16, 2021 at 1:17 pm
LEWISVILLE, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Back-to-school season is more exciting than ever as parents prepare to send their kids back for in-person learning this fall. To ensure every kid can confidently express their style as they head into the classroom, JCPenney introduces the Thereabouts private brand, a new inclusive line of kids apparel that celebrates diversity of shapes, sizes, styles, and abilities. Designed with every kid in mind, the Thereabouts collection is available exclusively at JCPenney and jcp.com beginning July 15.
We believe all kids should feel confident and capable in the clothes they wear, and parents should feel good about the clothes they buy, says Michelle Wlazlo, executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. Fulfilling the wants and needs of our diverse customer base is the foundation of our business. Thats why we relied on research and feedback from parents and kids throughout the design process. We are proud to say that the Thereabouts collection is our most inclusive kids brand ever.
The Thereabouts assortment has all the back-to-school essentials, from basics to uniforms, sleep to outerwear, and a variety of shoe styles. Designed for all ages from toddler to big kid, the Thereabouts line is size-inclusive running from 2T22, including plus and husky.
Made with super soft fabrics, the Thereabouts collection is inspired by the latest trends in kids fashion, including sneaker dresses, head-to-toe color, and prairie cool looks. Thereabouts apparel is available with adaptive features, including easy-access openings, sensory-friendly seaming, and no tags, ensuring theres something stylish for every kid, including those with disabilities. JCPenney has also partnered with Patti + Ricky, an adaptive fashion marketplace for adults and kids with disabilities, to expand its childrens adaptive offerings via notable accessory brands PunkinFutz, BeedleBug, Max & Me, and Myself Belts. Shop all adaptive apparel and accessories on jcp.com.
In addition to offering inclusive apparel for kids who make the future bright, JCPenney is partnering with Communities In Schools (CIS) to make sure they have the support and resources they need to succeed. From July 15 to Aug. 12, JCPenney will donate $1 for every Thereabouts item sold in store or online, up to $100,000, to Communities In Schools to fund programming that empowers students to stay in school and achieve in life.
To download images, please visit the JCPenney Newsroom.
JCPenney Corporate Communicationsjcpnews@jcp.com
About JCPenney
JCPenney proudly serves customers at more than 650 stores across the United States and Puerto Rico and at the Companys flagship store, jcp.com. JCPenney is one of the nations largest retailers of apparel, home, jewelry, and beauty merchandise with a growing portfolio of private and national brands. Guided by the Golden Rule, JCPenney employs more than 50,000 associates worldwide and has served customers for over 119 years, playing a vital role in the communities it serves. For additional information, please visit jcp.com and follow JCPenney on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
About Patti + Ricky
Patti + Ricky is the adaptive fashion marketplace for adults and kids with disabilities, chronic conditions, aging seniors and caregivers. Founder Alexandra Herolds parents both worked in the New York City fashion and accessory industry. Growing up in a house full of conversations about the next fashion trend or it color of the season led Alexandra to feel like she was born into retail and that it is in her blood. Her own disabilities, her close relationship with her cousin Ricky who was unable to walk or verbally communicate, and her mothers battle with brain cancer fueled Alexandras determination to launch Patti + Ricky. Many of the designers whose products are featured on the site also have disabilities or a loved one with disabilities. Patti + Ricky strives to be the one-stop shop for people with disabilities including visible and non-visible disabilities as well as temporary and lifelong disabilities. To learn more and to shop visit http://www.PattiAndRicky.com.
About Communities In Schools (CIS)
Communities In Schools (CIS) is a national organization that ensures every student, regardless of race, zip code, or socioeconomic background has what they need to realize their potential in school and beyond. Working directly inside more than 2,900 schools across the country, we connect students to caring adults and community resources that help them see, confront, and overcome the barriers that stand between them and a brighter future. Together, we build a powerful change movement made up of peers, students, and alumni committed to building an equitable path to education for future generations. For more information visit http://www.communitiesinschools.org.
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‘Freedom’ day: Is the UK ready to lift all COVID-19 restrictions? – Medical News Today
Posted: at 1:17 pm
The United Kingdoms July COVID-19 reopening has scientists divided. Medical News Today spoke with various researchers and doctors, and they all agreed on one point: fully reopen or not, keep some restrictions such as mask-wearing in place.
As the U.K. reemerges from many months of caution, COVID-19 lockdowns, and restrictions, everyone has one question on their minds: Is it right to lift all measures at once?
Dubbed Englands freedom day or the governments Step 4 in plans to return to normal, July 19 is the date the British government seeks to end all legal, social, and economic restrictions imposed to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Previously, the U.K. had given June 21 as its grand reopening day; however, the number of newly confirmed daily COVID cases and below target vaccination rates forced the government to postpone the date by at least 3 weeks.
The U.K. government said that delaying the date would enable more people to receive first and second vaccinations against COVID-19. Its plans included offering a first dose of the vaccine to all over-18s and providing two-thirds of adults with a second dose by July 19.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his government have been reluctant to keep restrictions in place any longer, provided the data support it. This includes evaluating the success of the nations vaccination program and the impact COVID-19 cases have on the National Health Service (NHS).
Both scientists and Johnson have acknowledged that although vaccines have weakened the link between COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations, it has not severed it, which calls to attention the necessity of other types of measures.
So, could a reopening of this scale effectively erase (almost) all progress recorded so far, or has the U.K. got everything under control? Will the U.K. have, according to Keir Starmer, the leader of the opposition Labour Party, a summer of chaos and confusion. The scientists have weighed in.
Lifting restrictions includes removing limits on the number of people that can meet socially in any setting, including at home.
Nightclubs and other shuttered businesses can open, and hospitality venues, such as pubs, cafes, and hotels, can operate at full capacity.
The plans include scrapping physical distancing guidelines, and mask-wearing is likely to become optional in England; however, it may remain mandatory in public settings, such as hospitals. Companies will no longer instruct their employees to work from home.
Meanwhile, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland will be implementing their own rules and will likely not follow suit with Englands no masks plan.
In general, the government will expect people in England to make their own informed decisions after July 19.
The U.K. currently has the worlds 7th highest death toll from COVID-19 at just over 128,500.
Overall, newly confirmed cases now average around 32,000 a day in the U.K. Latest figures indicate that about 2,700 people are currently in hospital, a 50% increase from the previous weeks figures.
According to the latest weekly update from Public Health England (PHE), the number of people presenting with the delta variant has reached 54,268 within the last week and increased by 32%, bringing the total to 216,249. The delta variant currently makes up 99% of newly confirmed cases across the U.K.
A study conducted by the Imperial College London has also found that this surge of infections is most prominent in the younger population, specifically, those 5-12 years who are unvaccinated, and those aged 18-24 years who have only recently been eligible for the vaccine. The researchers said the youth were testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 five times higher than older people.
PHE has reiterated that two doses of the Pfizer or AstraZeneca vaccines remain effective against hospitalization for the delta variant at 96% and 92%, respectively.
According to Our World in Data, the U.K. has administered over 80 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines so far, and 34.2 million people have received both doses. That translates to around 51.3% of the entire population being fully immunized. This figure remains below the 6070% threshold scientists estimate is needed to achieve herd immunity.
Scientists are divided.
Some scientists believe this is the right time to go ahead with the reopening. They argue that delaying the reopening date will only lead to a bigger surge later on.
Opening up now is definitely better than in September or October when kids go back to school, Prof. Tim Spector, an epidemiologist from Kings College London, told Medical News Today.
Right now, at the height of summer, people spend more time outside, in theory, and the schools will soon be out in the U.K., which means the virus wont have as many crowds or enclosed spaces in which to circulate.
Even though the U.K. has seen its infection rates rise over the last few weeks due to the delta variant, it has not seen a spike in hospitalizations or deaths, unlike the first wave of the pandemic. This indicates that the current COVID-19 vaccines are working to prevent severe cases.
Prof. Spector said he is broadly in agreement with the July 19 date for reopening.
We need to move into a new phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have realized that we will not get rid of COVID-19, and we are moving into a clear endemic phase where there will be thousands of cases all the time, and it is never going to go away. We are going to be fighting new variants with vaccines.
Branding it a new era, Spector told MNT the reopening was a way for the government to get rid of methods and mitigating measures that are no longer working, such as contact tracing, which is no longer useful or relevant.
He said the vaccines were working and driving the pandemic toward being a case of mild flu.
In parallel, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) suggests that around 9 in 10 adults in most parts of the U.K. are now likely to have COVID-19 antibodies.
Other countries, such as Germany, lifting travel bans on the U.K. has also strengthened the sentiment.
However, Spector pointed out that he does not agree with everything about the governments plan.
I think I wouldve kept a few rules on in high-risk areas. [] It wouldnt be wise to encourage people to go on a crowded tube train without a mask, for example.
In places where recurrent infections take hold of the community and turn into hubs of infection, Spector believes, deeper investigation is needed to get the number of cases down and reduce the long-term morbidity of the country.
He says in the U.K., one of these places has been the West Midlands.
He adds, You could ask scientists in Manchester why every time there is an outbreak, it is always the same place and look into that.
He stressed that local public health authorities need to be given more decision-making power to get to the bottom of such cases.
They should be able to do what it takes to stop the harm. I would like to see more local power that doesnt hurt the people doing fine and is fair.
He was referring to nationwide or region-wide lockdowns where restrictions on a more local scale would suffice.
Spector acknowledges that there will be some adverse outcomes from this reopening. One, he says, is the inevitable rise in infections, which will occur naturally due to relaxing measures.
The U.K. Health Secretary Sajid Javid has estimated that the number of daily cases could reach 100,000 per day over summer 2021.
It will be a trade-off, Spector told MNT.
As for older people and the clinically vulnerable, such as people with immunosuppressed conditions, Spector says they will have to face this problem as they do every winter with the flu.
Other scientists say it is too premature for a reopening of this scale.
In a letter to the medical journal The Lancet, some of the worlds leading scientists have openly called on the British government to turn back on its decision to lift all restrictions and refrain from its dangerous and reckless strategy of immunity via mass infection.
As one of the more than 120 scientists who signed the letter, Trish Greenhalgh, professor of primary health care and a practicing general practitioner, believes now is not the time.
I think the rationale [behind the government decision to reopen] is to help reboot the economy, but its likely to backfire. Sick workers are unproductive, as are quarantining ones. Sick consumers dont go shopping, she told MNT.
For her and many other scientists, reopening should wait until the country has achieved adequate vaccination.
[T]he government should delay complete re-opening until everyone, including adolescents, have been offered vaccination and uptake is high, and until mitigation measures, especially adequate ventilation and spacing, are in place in schools.
Until then, public health measures must include those called for by the World Health Organization (WHO) universal mask-wearing in indoor spaces, even for those vaccinated, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ventilation and air filtration, and Independent SAGE effective border quarantine; test, trace, isolate, and support, the scientists wrote in their letter.
The British Medical Association (BMA) has also objected to the lifting of all restrictions.
As case numbers continue to rise at an alarming rate due to the rapid transmission of the delta variant and an increase in people mixing with one another, it makes no sense to remove restrictions in their entirety in just over 2 weeks time. [W]hile we were pleased to see the government react to data in delaying the easing on June 21 last month, ministers must not now simply disregard the most recent, damning numbers by rushing into meeting their new July 19 deadline.
Dr. Chaand Nagpaul, BMA council chair
The U.K.s rush to lift all restrictions has not sat well with international organizations either.
The idea that everyone is protected and its kumbaya and everything goes back to normal is a very dangerous assumption anywhere in the world. Wed ask governments to be really careful at this moment, not to lose the gains that weve made, said Dr. Mike Ryan of the WHO.
The reopening has also ignited fears about no restrictions creating a perfect breeding ground for new, potentially more dangerous variants that could evade vaccines.
My epidemiology colleagues are concerned that this virus has a high propensity to mutate, and the survival of the fittest principle will ensure that new variants are adapted to their environment better than the ones they replace, said Prof. Greenhalgh.
Preliminary modeling data has also supported this.
This would place all at risk, including those already vaccinated, within the U.K. and globally. While vaccines can be updated, this requires time and resources, leaving many exposed in the interim, said scientists in The Lancet.
Dr. Jonathan Stoye, a virologist at the Francis Crick Institute in London, reminded us that although COVID-19 vaccines give good protection, this is not absolute.
Dr. Stoye told MNT that it is not yet clear whether there is an increased risk of such variants emerging in places where those vaccinated and non-vaccinated live side by side as in the U.K., compared to countries where the majority is still unvaccinated.
In either case, the priority must be to reduce levels of virus replication. However, I am reassured by the probability that any such changes are likely to be gradual, as we see with the influenza virus, without rapid increases in susceptibility.
Monitoring virus evolution and adjusting vaccine composition should be sufficient to meet this threat, he added.
The reopening decision has received criticism for completely disregarding the lives and safety of vulnerable people.
The British Liver Trust has called for the government to reconsider its decision to end all COVID-19 restrictions in England to protect the clinically vulnerable, including those with advanced liver disease, those who have severe immunosuppressed conditions, or those who have had a transplant.
[P]atients had finally started to enjoy some normality. Now, with rising infection rates, many people with liver disease say that theyve already started reducing that precious social contact theyd been waiting so long to regain. Some are even starting to shield again. There is a real concern regarding the announcement that face masks will become discretionary and they will have less protection, the charity said in a statement.
Pamela Healy, OBE, chief executive of the British Liver Trust, said such vulnerable persons will feel let down, forgotten and that their freedom has been taken away if the government goes ahead with the reopening and lifts all restrictions on July 19.
They will feel unsafe doing simple activities, such as using public transport, going shopping, or attending functions.
Dr. Dorry L. Segev, professor of surgery and epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University, said unvaccinated people were not just a threat to the vulnerable.
[The unvaccinated] will spread this virus to each other, to vaccinated people with suppressed immune systems who are less protected, and even to vaccinated people with perfectly fine immune systems.
Hence, from an ethical perspective, the reopening falls short. Those at least risk from COVID-19 would be expected to make decisions to protect those at most risk, not endanger them further.
Whether you base it on Immanuel Kants Golden Rule do unto others as you would have done unto you or John Rawls A Theory of Justice, from an ethics perspective in philosophy, the imperative to protect others is quite established. So no, given the inequalities of how COVID-19 affects different individuals, this is not an ethical move, Dr. Sherrill Stroschein, senior lecturer in politics at the University College London (UCL), told MNT.
When the economy and peoples livelihoods enter the conversation, things also get tricky.
Dr. Stroschein said people in the U.K. have been presented a false dichotomy and made to choose between being healthy or having an economy.
And despite the government introducing an impressive furlough program but not indicating that it will continue until the remainder of the population is vaccinated also poses a problem. Dr. Stroschein adds:
The economy is made up of people and will be stronger if we manage the pandemic in sensible ways. Especially when one considers the social costs of high infection rates and the pressures on the NHS, as well as the long-term costs of long COVID.
Despite advocating for opposite sides, both Prof. Greenhalgh and Prof. Spector believe it is not smart to forgo all restrictions at once especially masking.
Like everyone, I yearn to get back to normal. I think masks would help us do that. Masks have been a symbol of the loss of freedom, but actually, if were all masked, were all better protected, hence can be more confident to do things like going to the cinema or travel by bus or train, Prof. Greenhalgh told MNT.
Pointing out inconsistencies in the U.K. governments current approach such as being told to be mindful of Hands, Face, Space but abolishing requirements for mask-wearing after July 19 Dr. Stoye said he agrees.
I would strongly favor the continued use of masks in confined spaces for at least the next few weeks, he said.
Dr. Segev also said mask mandates should be the last thing to be lifted.
Abandoning mask mandates in indoor spaces where strangers encounter strangers and vaccines are not required makes absolutely no sense. Wearing a mask isnt that difficult. [] Weve proven in the last 18 months that we can wear masks and be just fine, he told MNT.
The government also needs to work on ensuring proper ventilation.
We should also be focusing on ventilation a well-ventilated indoor space is much safer than a stuffy one. We need to use these minor changes to help achieve our freedom instead of dismissing them as oppressive, said Prof. Greenhalgh.
Spector says public transport, grounded, and unventilated areas are places that should warrant a mask-wearing requirement.
Stroschein also advocates for the practice of mask-wearing in venues, such as shops, to remain in place. She says this has two aspects: proportionality and common sense.
Wearing a mask is a minor inconvenience [contrasted] with the serious harm done if an immunocompromised person picks up the virus from someone not wearing a mask and becomes very sick. [] There is no economic benefit of removing masks. In fact, if people who worry about contracting the virus stay out of shops as much as possible, they are not spending as much money, and the economy is harmed.
Prof. Stroschein believes this shows that lifting the mask mandate is more of an ideological decision or an identity issue.
There are other problematic aspects, particularly regarding schools and isolation/ testing and children, but the mask aspect is the clearest example that something other than science or economics is driving this policy.
I think long COVID is the main issue that hasnt been addressed so far. [] There are more people waiting for cancer and heart treatments; these are chronically more important [than COVID-19], Spector told MNT.
Using U.K. Coronavirus (COVID-19) Infection Survey data, the ONS estimated that 1.5% of the population or 962,000 people reported experiencing symptoms of long COVID, with 812,000 saying that the symptoms had either adversely affected their day-to-day activities or limited them to a great extent.
However, official figures from the Department of Health and Social Care show the number of people who have had one or more COVID-19 symptoms that have lasted at least 12 weeks is closer to 2 million.
Researchers say this will put immense pressure on the economy if most of its working population and healthcare system have to deal with long-term illness and disability.
Long Covid does not only affects adults.
According to a study by researchers at UCL, the percentage of children developing long covid after having COVID-19 is over 4.5%.
Another study of long Covid in children suggests that more than half of children 6-16 years have a COVID-19 symptom that lasts more than 4 months, and over 42% say this has impaired their daily activities.
This could mean that children end up becoming the key to the pandemic.
Many believe they will be the reservoir that will keep this thing going because they are not vaccinating children, Prof. Spector said.
Prof. Chris Whitty, the U.K. governments chief medical adviser, has said he expects a significant amount more Long Covid after July 19, particularly in the younger population who are not fully vaccinated.
However, he has also warned that there is no proof whether vaccines provide adequate protection against the most common symptoms of long Covid, which are extreme fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, and muscle weakness.
Hence, now is the time to warn people of the dangers of COVID-19, not of death, said Prof. Spector.
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'Freedom' day: Is the UK ready to lift all COVID-19 restrictions? - Medical News Today
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Letters to the Editor: When the man with the gold rules … – Santa Ynez Valley News
Posted: at 1:17 pm
Americans For Prosperity (AFP) super PAC, created for and run by the Koch Brothers Industries, has won again. Americans didn't win, the AFP won.
The Supreme Court of the US ruled the donor transparency laws of California are unconstitutional in a lawsuit filed by AFP. That means large donors to charities or especially political parties need not be identified. Dark money or big money gets to control behind-the-scenes with impunity.
The rich and the minority can continue to control politics and the American people won't be able to find out who is actually in charge. This appears to me that anyone who believes this is a good thing must also believe a monarchy is a better form of government than a democracy.
Americans For Prosperity is only looking out for the Koch family fortunes and don't care about any other Americans. Who was it who said, "When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a bible?" It is me borrowing from many others who foresaw the rise of fascism in Europe decades ago.
Beware America of he who tells you he will protect you from your enemies. Enemies who don't look like you, speak like you, pray like you, act like you, who in reality are just like you with the same wants, dreams and desires. Protecting privacy is one thing, but all Americans have the right to know who our leaders are and what they stand for.
Americans or the minority with the most money? Gambler and former Horseshoe Casino owner Benny Binion said he lived by the Golden Rule. The man with the gold rules. When that happens all the rest of us Americans lose.
Stan Novara
Santa Maria
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Letters to the Editor: When the man with the gold rules ... - Santa Ynez Valley News
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Do Online Reviews Really Matter? – ForConstructionPros.com
Posted: at 1:17 pm
As a business owner, you already know how important your reputation is in your industry. For many of us, we're only as good as the last job we worked on.
What people say about your business matters, and that's especially true about what customers are saying online. Instead of a happy customer telling five of their friends how amazing your company is, they write an online review and hundreds, possibly thousands, of potential customers see it.
Sound great? It is. There is a downside to online reviews, too. If you leave a client on not-so-great terms, they can do serious harm to your reputation with a negative review.
But just how important are online reviews? How influential are they to potential clients? Is there a way for you to control what's said about you online?
You might think that online reviews dont really matter to your customers, especially if they can see your equipment in their neighborhood, visit your website showcasing photos taken by a professional photographer, all while providing the best value services. But if you have a reputation for bad service, all that isn't worth much.
The market has changed. When people are looking for a specific piece of equipment or a rental equipment business, they go online.
If you've invested in your website, it might pop up as the number one result on Google. If you've claimed and optimized your Google My Business listing, it might be the highlighted option on the right of the search results.
But what happens if Google and social media is riddled with one-star reviews of your company? All that hard work you've invested in online has to battle against a bad review from six months ago to persuade a potential customer to part ways with their hard-earned money and visit your store instead.
While online reviews may seem like a small piece of the bigger picture that makes up your online presence, people are relying on reviews more and more when deciding what companies to hire.
In the digital age,93 percent of customerssay that their buying decisions are influenced by online reviews. These reviews have major implications on many different things, including:
By the time someone is looking at the reviews of your company, they've already decided they need someone that provides your services. If they're not using Google to find their next rental business, they're going to be using a review website (Yelp, Facebook, Angie's List, etc.)
Chili Pepper Design, LLCHalf the battle is already won! They know they need the services you provide; they just need to be persuaded you're the best company to go to. The buying decision from reading your reviews and hiring you is incredibly quick. Customers typically decide yes or no almost immediately.
For many people, checking online reviews is the last hurdle for a company to overcome before they hire them. A recent study found 68 percent of people form an opinion of a company after reading between one and six online reviews. An overwhelming84 percent of shopperssaid they trusted online business reviews as much as a personal recommendation from friends or family. Now that's some serious power of persuasion.
All in all, as a small business, your online reputation can directly influence your bottom line.
Every small business owner should welcome and actively encourage online reviews. Had a great interaction with a client? Ask them to leave a review online.
If you don't ask your customers to write online reviews for your business, youre missing out on a powerful tactic to gain prospective customers trust and persuade them to visit and rent from your company.
You also run the risk of letting the few customers who do write reviews have a huge effect on what everyone else thinks of your business. If hardly anyone writes reviews, one bad review has a much bigger effect than it otherwise would.
Before you start asking customers to leave you reviews, you need to claim your business on the main review sites. There's probably already an entry for your company on the likes of Google My Business, Yelp, etc. all you have to do is follow the instructions set out by each site and claim it.
A recent study found 68 percent of people form an opinion of a company after reading between one and six online reviews.
Once you've got your profiles optimized (like adding high quality photos, opening hours, and directions to your main office), you can start directing customers to leave you reviews.
The secret to getting happy customers to leave good reviews? Make it simple and make it easy. If something is too difficult to do or takes up too much time, they won't bother. Give them easy-to-follow step-by-step instructions and link to the profile you want them to leave a review for.
Here are some tried, tested, and proven simple ways to encourage customers to write online reviews for your business:
A golden rule for online reviews:always respond. Always. Let your customers know you hear them. People like to be heard and feel like they're the only customer that matters to you.
If someone leaves you a negative review, respond to them in a positive way. Do not take a bad review as a personal insult. Ask them how you can make their experience better in the future. If needed, apologize for their bad experience, let them know it won't happen again, and you've dealt with the problem personally.
Whether the person that left the bad review will change their mind on your company is up for debate, but anyone that reads the exchange will see how professional and responsible your company is. Keeping a level-head and being polite will help turn a bad PR event into a positive advert for your company.
Once you've managed to secure a positive review from a customer, you want to use it to get maximum exposure for your company.
Getting a positive review from a customer is an amazing achievement and a boost for you and your team. So, make sure you take advantage of that boost!
Online reviews arent something to avoid; they should be embraced. Getting online reviews is a opportunity to promote your business, on so many levels, so get started today.
EDITORS NOTE: This article originally appeared in the July/August 2019 issue of GIP, and was written by Pam Haskell, owner of the website design and development company,Chili Pepper Design. It was edited for Rental by Editor Alexis Sheprak.
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Decoding the Large-Cap Recovery Rally: The golden rule is to ‘stay invested’ – Moneycontrol.com
Posted: July 10, 2021 at 3:27 am
Largecaps have been repeating performers of the recovery rally. We wanted to know what made the Largecap so special to be consistent with their returns.
We at smallcase, talked to a few of our smallcase Managers to get their perspective on the topic.
Manish Dhawan of Mystic Wealth described the stock market to a pendulum.
Markets work like a pendulum, overcompensating on either side. From unabated euphoria to sheer depressing pessimism. Even within the various market caps, the flow of money keeps changing hands.
Stock selection is overrated, and drawdown reduction is underrated.
Success in stock market investing has more to do with not falling and giving away the gains made in the bull market.
Bull market catapults every stock sector in its stride and similarly Bear market decimates everything on its way regardless of pedigree.
MWT (Mystic Wealth Tortoise) smallcase by Mystic Wealth
We also asked Dick Hosy Mody from Ethical Advisersabout what he had to say about the current picture of the investing scene in India and he was excited to share his thoughts.
Ever since I began my investment journey in 1992, markets have taught me to STAY Focussed on the BIG Picture!. 2021 is no different. Considering this, out of 195 countries in the world, India is expected to be in the top 3 (behind US, China) by 2030. The biggest BULL RUNS have occurred when GDP moves towards $5 Trillion, e.g. China, US, and Japan.
The Dependables! smallcase by Ethical Advisers
Ashwini Shami from Omniscience Capital pitched in about what makes a great portfolio according to them within the Large Cap space.
Omni Royals - SuperNormal LargeCap SIP smallcase by Omniscience Capital
Talking about Large Caps, Arun Mehra from V.E.C Investments believed in the objective of outperformance against the index on a lower cost structure.
With a high degree of research coverage in the top 100 companies, one would imagine all stocks being valued appropriately by the market. This in turn would imply that owning the index is the best way to capture the return from a large cap, not to mention the low cost that comes with an ETF.
However, contrary to expectations, the large cap index shows a great diversion of returns within the constituents and several companies giving significantly higher returns versus the index. This inefficiency can be utilized to an investors advantage.
The smallcase V.E.C Growth Explorer aims to tap into this opportunity by creating a well-structured and concentrated portfolio within the top 100 companies in India. This is accomplished by a fundamental strategy driven by a contrarian/value approach across the index. With 100 companies and several sectors available to choose from, high levels of governance, strong balance sheets as well as well-established business franchises one is spoilt for choice.
V.E.C Growth Explorer smallcase by VEC Investments
And finally, Divam Sharma from Green Portfolio, the purpose of their smallcase within the Large Cap market.
Historically the largecap stocks have returned a 14% CAGR return during the past 30 years - based on the BSE Sensex 30 index
The growth of the Large Cap stocks in the SENSEX 30 or the NIFTY 50 is a reflection of these conglomerates gaining market share and emerging stronger than they were. The forecasted influx of families to the middle-class bracket and the run-up towards a $5 trillion economy are other tailwinds propelling these Large Caps upward.
Our Large-Cap smallcase, the best of Nifty50 is curated to ride this growth. We find utmost discomfort in holding all the Nifty50 portfolio; hence we have curated the smallcase portfolio with only the top 20-25 names. These 20-25 names have been meticulously selected based on an array of factors.
Best NIFTY (Bluechip) Companies- "HQRP Philosophy" smallcase by Green Portfolio
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Legacy finalist creates The Golden Rule grant – The Shout
Posted: at 3:27 am
The Head of Bars at Merivales Ivy precinct, Adam Dow, was recently named as one of the top three bartenders at this years Bacardi Legacy cocktail competition and is aiming to make his Legacy experience go beyond the finals.
This year, with bars all over the world closed because of the pandemic, Bacardi gave each global finalists US$5000 in an El Coco Grant to help give something back to the industry. Dow has told The Shout that he is using part of that money to set up a grant aimed at bridging the gap in Australian hospitality.
Named after Adams cocktail for the competition, The Golden Rule grant will see $1000 each year for the next two years go towards helping a female in Australias hospitality industry further her career.
Adam told The Shout: This El Coco grant really came out of nowhere from Bacardi and it was a $5000 grant that went to all of the competitors who were competing at Globals as a way of giving back to the industry and giving back to the community.
I felt like I needed to do something tangible with the money, because I felt like I hadnt earned it or hadnt deserved it. And so I thought how can I give some of this back to the industry, and thats when I realised that I had to give some of it away, because it just felt like too much money.
I then thought about how I could support some parts of the industry. Why I chose women in hospitality for the grant, is that over the years I have seen women being passed up for senior roles.
Yes hospitality is probably more progressive then most industries when it comes to this, but I feel like these is still some work to do.
He added: Its no secret that gender inequality is a topical issue at the moment and some people might see this as a convenient charitable donation, but for me it was more about finding something tangible and trying to help someone in terms of their development.
So the grant is more about self-development and training rather than being a hardship fund and I am really passionate about hospitality professionals developing themselves, I feel like its something that doesnt happen enough.
Applications for the grant are now open throughThe Golden Rule Instagram pageandAdams own Instaand will close at the end of August. Adam wont be judging the applications, that will fall to Penny Sippe and Jenna Hemsworth, with Adam tellingThe Shout: They are two really influential female figures to have done incredibly well to fight against some of the barriers put up against them.
And although Adam wont be judging he did tellThe Shouthe has an ideal candidate in mind.
Its about someone who really wants to take themselves seriously as a hospitality professional, Id love the winner to be someone who really wants to take what they do seriously.
The grant is open to hospitality professionals who identify as female and there is more information onThe Golden Rule Instagram page.
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This Week In Toledo History Week of 7/12/2021 | The Press – Press Publications Inc.
Posted: at 3:27 am
This week in Toledo historyJuly 111917 - Toledo Police arrest suspected high-level German spy Baron Einrich Rolph Gersdorff at the Boody House after getting tip from Toledos German community. Police and Secret Service are investigating his frequent travels to the Willys Overland car plant.1922 - Gale force winds of up to 72 MPH blast the city of Toledo, causing more than $150,000 in damage to trees and homes.1927 - The 135-foot wooden freighter, the Clarence Lebeau, burns in Maumee River.1934 - Numerous German-American groups in Toledo file complaints about an anti-Hitler movie, Reign of Terror, showing at the Pantheon Theater in Toledo. Two days later the Ohio Governor bans the movie in Ohio.1939 - Interurban passenger service from Toledo to outlying communities is halted.1943 - Lt. Robert Craig of Sylvania is killed in combat in Italy. He was later awarded the Medal of Honor.2000 - Four-alarm blaze destroys the Vistula Heritage Apartments at Erie and Locust.
July 121844 - George Thompson hanged in Fremont for the murder of 18-year-old Catherine Hamler who had refused his marriage proposal.1892 - The grand Victory Hotel opens for guests on South Bass Island.1904 - Popular reform Mayor Samuel Golden Rule Jones dies of a heart attack in Toledo. Businesses close and body lies in state as city mourns the passing of the mayor.1893 - Fire destroys several blocks of homes and businesses in Wood County town of Luckey.1907 - Thirty-two men are convicted in Toledo for violation of anti-trust laws and get six months in jail.1927 - Freight train hits Interurban passenger trolley at the Dorr Street terminal in Toledo. Three people killed and nine are injured.1986 - Very strong magnitude-4.5 earthquake shakes much of Northwest Ohio.
July 131833 - First property transaction in Toledo as John Baldwin buys a lot in the new community of Vistula for $25 at Monroe and Summit Streets.1897 - Five waterspouts witnessed near South Bass Island.1905 - The largest roller rink in Ohio is now nearing completion at Ashland and Bancroft, measuring 175 feet by 85 feet.1911 - Seven Toledo residents are feared to be among those people trapped by raging forest fires in Michigan that have wiped out several communities in the region of the Au Sable River.1926 - The oldest man ever to be put in jail by Toledo Police is arrested for the theft of a chicken from a market on Cherry Street. The 96-year-old man, James Hughes, says that at least in prison, hell get regular meals.1931 - A & P Stores in Toledo advertise 7 -cent-a-loaf bread, 5-cent bags of brown sugar and six ears of sweet corn for 25 cents.
July 141904 - Double execution is held in Columbus for two brothers from Lucas County, Albert and Benjamin Wade, convicted in the 1900 robbery and murder of Kate Sullivan in rural western Lucas County. Minutes before they were electrocuted, both maintained their innocence. Ben Wade is reported to have said just before the switch was pulled, "Now boys, dont burn me up. I want to be a respectable looking corpse.1936 - Hottest day on record in Northwest Ohio. Toledo reports 105 degrees. Bowling Green records 110 degrees. Some highways buckle under heat stress. People are sleeping on their lawns to escape the oppressive heat.1942 - The Toledo Blade reports its new photo-sound machine that will allow them to get news photos from around the world within hours after an event occurs.1951 - At the Park Theater at Sylvania and Lewis, the movie Bedtime for Bonzo, starring Ronald Reagan, is shown.1955 - One of the grandest and most elegant homes ever built in Toledo, at 103 years of age, is torn down at Washington and 11th Streets to make way for a used car lot.1971 - A 19-year-old West Toledo woman reports to police that she had been having sex with dozens of Toledo Police officers at the Willys Park Pool after hours. Her story leads to a major investigation and suspension of numerous officers and dismissals of others.1980 - Presidential candidate Ronald Reagan visits Toledo prior to start of GOP Convention in Detroit.
July 151849 - Toledo's first cholera epidemic breaks out. Over the next two weeks more than 100 people would die including the City Marshal and Postmaster.1892 - Six men on Toledo City Council are convicted of soliciting and taking bribes from area businesses. They are sentenced to $250 in fines.1903 - Eight Toledo boys now reported to have died from tetanus and lockjaw infections as a result of toy pistol and fireworks accidents over the Fourth of July.1935 - In the wake of the 1934 Auto-lite strike, the famed Toledo Plan is implemented as a way for business and industry to settle labor disputes.1946 - Its announced that Toledo movie actress and popular World War II pin-up girl Dusty Anderson will marry Warner Brothers director Jean Negulesco. She soon retires from acting.1969 - The Princess Theater, one of the oldest in downtown Toledo, closes, leaving the Valentine and the Pantheon Theaters as the only remaining movie houses in downtown Toledo.1973 - County Executive Ned Skeldon makes his long-promised swim across Maumee River after reaching goal of substantial cleanup of the river. Hundreds turn out to watch him swim from Walbridge Park to Rossford.1983 - The first X-J Jeep Cherokee rolls off assembly line at Jeep Parkway plant.
July 161843 - The last of the Wyandot Indians leave their Upper Sandusky native tribal lands on an eventual trail of tears to new reservations in Kansas and Oklahoma.1896 - Toledo Mud Hens are born. Team plays first game as Mudhens at Bay View Park outside of the city limits so they could play on Sundays. The team earns its nickname because BayView Park was a marshy area populated by "American Coots", often called Mudhens.1936 - Dedication concert at the new Toledo Zoo amphitheater is held with the Toledo Civic Symphony, the forerunner to the Toledo Symphony. Toledo Police Inspector Charles Roth was the conductor.1940 - Fire sweeps through an upper floor attic of St. Vincents Hospital, forcing the evacuation of 142 patients. No injuries to patients reported, but two Toledo firemen were overcome by smoke while battling the blaze.1959 - Eight U.S. Navy ships and thousands of sailors and Marines arrive in Toledo as part of the St. Lawrence Seaway opening celebrations and festivities.1972 - Tigers pitcher Joe Niekro pitches a seven-inning no-hitter for the Toledo Mud Hens at the teams home ballpark in Maumee.1972 - Notorious prohibition mobster, killer and underworld character, Jacob Firetop Sulkin dies at his home in Toledo at age of 80.
July 171835 - Angry mob of Michiganders storm Toledo home of Ben Stickney to arrest his son Two Stickney in one of the first skirmishes of Ohio-Michigan War.1884 - First birth reported at what would later become Riverside Hospital. It was a boy.1932 - Five volunteer firemen from Adams Township are killed and 10 others injured when their speeding fire truck is forced off Reynolds Road near Hill. The truck went into a deep ditch and rolled three times. Killed in the crash were Archie Dennis, Orville Reynolds and Arthur Northup. Two other firemen die a day later from their injuries.. The driver of the car that forced them off the road fled the scene.1934 - A human wheelbarrow of two Toledoans, Donald Taylor and William Robb, set out from New York City on the first ever cross-country trip of a human wheelbarrow.
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Terry Mattingly: Same old, same old: U.S. Catholic bishops still can’t agree on politicos and Holy Communion – Joplin Globe
Posted: at 3:27 am
The questions that haunted the Pontifical Academy for Life conference were familiar, controversial and exhausting, because Catholics and their bishops had been arguing about them for years.
The year was 2006, but little has changed in 2021.
What should bishops do when prominent Catholics even presidential candidates defended and promoted abortion rights? What if they said they accepted church teachings on the sanctity of human life, while their actions suggested otherwise?
Would it violate the separation of church and state if bishops denied them access to Holy Communion? What if bishops asked these politicos to go to confession?
This is silly, said scholar Robert P. George, addressing that Vatican gathering. A Catholic shepherd acting on his authority as a bishop to discipline members of his flock, who commit what the Church teaches are grave injustices against innocent human beings would be exercising his own constitutional right to the free exercise of religion.
Freedom is a two-way street. No one is compelled by law to accept ecclesiastical authority, stressed George, an outspoken Catholic layman and professor of jurisprudence at Princeton University. Thus, a bishop has every right to exercise spiritual authority over anyone who chooses to accept it. There is a name for people who do accept the authority of Catholic bishops. They are called Catholics.
At that time, most debates centered on Sen. John Kerry, the Democratic Partys presidential nominee in 2004.
Cracks inside the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops widened with the election of President Joe Biden, a rosary-carrying Catholic who in word and deed has evolved into a fierce defender of abortion and LGBTQ rights. Biden quickly dropped his longstanding opposition to the federal funding of abortion after criticism from the left in the 2019 primaries.
Despite fierce opposition from several U.S. cardinals, 75% of the U.S. bishops recently voted to proceed with a document on Eucharistic coherence in an age in which many Catholics reject key church teachings including the core belief that bread and wine used in Communion become the body and blood of Jesus.
Doctrinal conservatives have continued to ask what it would take for bishops to enforce Canon 915 in church law, which states that Catholics obstinately persevering in manifest grave sin should be denied Holy Communion.
Facing withering media criticism, the bishops released a statement saying they made no decision about barring anyone from receiving Holy Communion. Each Catholic regardless of whether they hold public office or not is called to continual conversion, and the U.S. bishops have repeatedly emphasized the obligation of all Catholics to support human life and dignity and other fundamental principles of Catholic moral and social teaching. There will be, they stressed, no national policy on withholding Communion from politicians.
Asked if he was concerned, Biden told reporters: Thats a private matter, and I dont think thats going to happen.
This reference to private support for church teachings, as opposed to public actions, is another sign that little has changed in these debates over several decades.
On Twitter, George recently noted: If we take him at his word: (1) Joe Biden believes that unborn children are human beings who bear inherent and equal dignity and a right to life. (2) Joe Biden believes that this particular class of persons should be denied protection against homicide afforded by law to all others.
During his 2006 address at the Vatican, George noted that public servants attempting to combine those two beliefs violate the most basic precept of normative social and political theory, the Golden Rule. ... By exposing members of the disfavored class to lethal violence, one deeply implicates oneself in the injustice of killing them.
This raises a question, he said, that some bishops want to avoid: What should they do about those who claim to be in full communion with the Church yet promote gravely unjust and scandalous policies that expose the unborn to the violence and injustice of abortion?
While many bishops want clarity on that issue, its clear that some bishops believe it would be counterproductive to take that step, said George, reached by telephone. It wouldnt be prudent, in other words. They fear many Catholics will rebel and make it look like the bishops are tools of the Republican Party. They fear a backlash against Catholicism.
Terry Mattingly leads GetReligion.org and lives in Oak Ridge, Tenn. He is a senior fellow at the Overby Center at the University of Mississippi.
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Cocktails and Dreams: Behind the Bars of Downtown Casper – K2 Radio
Posted: at 3:27 am
Dont tell them to smile more.
The bartenders that work inDowntown Casperare pretty good examples of the range of demographics that make upCasper itself. Its an eclectic group of people, all with their own stories to tell.
Theres Alex, the single mom who has been in customer service for the majority of her adult life and chooses to stay there because she knows shes good at it.
Tessa is a transplant from Las Vegas who, despite her time in Sin City, is still surprised by some of the things she hears on any given night at the bar she works at.
Karen and Jim met and fell in love at the bar they now own and operate together
Gino has been called Caspers Best Bartender, because he takes his job as seriously as a lawyer or a doctor does. He isnt there to be your friend or to wipe your bottom. His job is to serve you drinks and he does it better than almost anybody, at least, according to his peers.
Each and every person that stands behind one of the many bars inCasper has their own story to tell. They have their own life, their own fears, and their own worries. They have their own dreams.
Chances are, youre not a part of them. But, if you mind your manners, follow the Golden Rule and dont stare for too long, youll get some of the best service in the world.
But, whatever you do, dont tell them to smile.
Tamara has been a bartender for three-and-a-half years. She worked at a handful of different establishments before finding herself working for Karen and Jim Kanelos at The Office Bar & Grill. The Office is more of a laid-back kind of place that caters, generally, to an established group of regulars. But The Office is open to anybody looking for a good time and it is Tamaras face that you usually see upon walking in.
Ive learned how to make tons of new drinks since I started working here, Tamara said. Ive learned how to properly pour beers and Ive heard a lot of stories. Its been a lot of fun.
Thats the vibe that both Karen and Jim try to create, for their patrons as well as their employees.
I definitely love my bosses, she stated. Everybody is a team player here, so thats great. Ive gotten to know quite a few people. We have a lot of regulars that come in and I absolutely love them. Everybody is really easygoing.
Naturally, because Tamara is an attractive young woman, she has been the recipient of a multitude of failed pick-up lines.
I had somebody tell me my name was exquisite yesterday, she laughed. But then he said my last name needed to be hottie.
Usually, the bartenders working inany bar will just laugh off these lines. Theyre more concerned with doing their best than about hurting your feelings. Make no mistake, though. Most of the people working behind the bars ofCasper actually do care about the majority of their customers.
Cindy, a bartender at Frostys Bar & Grill has been a bartender for 16 years. She said she has never felt more at home than when she started working at Frostys.
The people that I work with; its been the same group of people, pretty consistently, for the past 3 years Ive been here, Cindy said. We dont have a lot of turnover. Everybody really trusts each other. Everybody works well together. Customers are always good. Its a really homely, comfortable atmosphere to work in.
Comfort is important, especially in customer service jobs. Theres no telling what could happen on any given night.Downtown Casperhas had its share ofinteresting scenarios. Whether it was a girl impaling herself on a wrought-iron fence, two brothers fighting over the same girl or copious amounts of throw-up to be cleaned up, camaraderie is what keeps these workers sane.
Thats especially true in the case of The Gaslight Social. It could be argued that The Gaslight is the most popular bar in town, and its easy to see why. It definitely caters to a younger crowd and the owners of the bar are always trying to innovate. The Gaslight features arcade video games, corn hole tournaments, concerts, volleyball games, beer pong and more. Its more than just a place to sit and have a drink. The owners and employees of The Gaslight want to give their patrons an evening to remember, every time they walk into the bar.
It started off completely, absolutely nuts, remembered Tessa, one of The Gaslights bartenders. We opened right before the Eclipse and it was crazy. I dont even think we slept more than 3-4 hours a night because wed go to work [and stay] until 4 or 5 oclock cleaning the bar, and then wed have to be back here by 2pm.
"But we made so much money.
And really, thats why these people do what they do. They may act like a therapist or a parental figure or a friend, but theyre there to make money.
Sam, another bartender from The Gaslight, said she makes more as a bartender than she did in her previous career.
I was working about 50 hours a week [at my former job] and bringing home the same amount as I would here [at The Gaslight] 3 days a week.
It is that desire to get paid, that has, at least partly, contributed to the community-like atmosphere between the employees.
We rely on each other to make money, Tessa stated. Behind the bar, if somebody isnt doing well or somebody is sick and they need to go home, we all just cover each other. Its our family, and its how we make our money.
Bethanie, another Gaslight Gal, reiterated that point.
"The owners arereally supportive of their staff, Bethanie remarked. Its definitely more or less like a family environment. Theres a lot of understanding if someone is sick or cant make it- we really work together to get that shift covered.
Usually, in the bar or restaurant business, its tough to rely on anybody. Its such an ever-changing industry with extremely high turnover rates, but almost every bar inDowntown Casperhas been compared to a family. This is partly the owners doing, but its also because of the employees and, yes, the customers.
Shaye has been working at the Yellowstone Garage for 3 years. She, too, has compared her job to a family.
We arent really like a work crew here, she stated. Were more like family. John [Huff, owner] treats everybody just like were his. We all get along very well and we all communicate with each other very well.
Shaye continued, saying that when it comes to the outside world, we all hang out and call each other and deal with our problems together.
Bethanie reiterated that point as well.
Youre in it together, she said.
And thats just how it is in The Old Yellowstone District. Whether its Frostys, The Office, Yellowstone Garage, The Gaslight Social or any other place in Downtown Casper, there is a sense of community. Everybody wants to see everybody else succeed, because that means Downtown Casper is succeeding.
Being dead center in the middle of downtown and having all this competitionI dont even want to say its competition at this point, Shaye stated. Were becoming a huge group of people who can provide for everybody and make everyone enjoy downtown a lot more than theyve been able to.
Most of the bars and restaurants inthe Downtown Casper areawill work together. They will call each other to let them know about certain patrons, or situations that might affect the other.
Beyond that, every summer features a multitude of block parties and art walks. Business owners withinthe city have cultivated a sense of community between each other, and its the patrons of these places that have benefitted the most.
Our block parties are some of the best parts about summer, Sam said. All the bars come together and create a fun time. We even have an open container license during the summer. People can just walk around and I think [the block parties] have brought a whole lot of business to the community.
Alex, a bartender at a burger joint-cum-bar called The Branding Iron, said that she believes all of the businesses inthe area are more successful because they work together.
Nobody wants to see anybody else fail, she said. We all support each other and help each other. We all know each other, pretty much. Nobody knows how hard this job is, except for somebody else who is doing the same job.
That, perhaps, is why theres such a camaraderie between all of the businesses downtown. They all relate to each other. They see the same things, deal with the same issues and deflect the same creeps. They all watch out for their customers as well.
We see a lot of Tinder meets and sometimes they dont work out so great, Sam laughed. I feel like we look out for the girls to make sure theyre okay.
The bartenders downtown try to take care of their customers and of each other. Because you never know who might be sitting at the other side of the bar.
Every single night, you hear something youre not expecting to hear, Tessa remarked. I eavesdrop a hundred percent when Im bartending. Most of the time, [people] are talking to you- as a bartender and a therapist and a friend. You hear some of the worst things that you never want to hear, and they just trust you with that as a bartender.
That trust goes a long way, and its something that, ideally, would be reciprocated by the customers. Bartenders would love to trust that their patrons are actually decent people. Sometimes, however, this just isnt the case.
There was this one guy that did the whole Youre beautiful, thing, Shaye remembered. He said I know youre on your feet all day, but you always have a place to sit when you need to.
Shaye, along with most bartenders, can usually laugh off these comments. In a perfect world, however, they wouldnt need to laugh these comments off because the comments wouldnt be made in the first place.
Bethanie said that sometimes it feels like were babysitting grown adults. Sometimes you have to, more or less, get down on their level, like a child, and explain to them the rights and wrongs of communicating with people.
Its not just harassment of the sexual variety that these people need to deal with, either. Nothing ruins a day or kills a mood more than when Karen comes in with her shoes and her haircut and demands to speak to the manager about something that happened 3 weeks ago.
Were humans, Bethanie stated. Were trying to perform the best that we can. It might look like, on the opposite side of the bar, that we might not be doing much to bring you that beer right away, but in our minds, we might have 3 orders already in our head that we need to execute first.
Theyre doing their best. This is made all the more difficult when theyre trying to appease customers, all the while dealing with Brent or Trent or Kent or some other guy with anent name that thinks hes the funniest, most charming guy in the world. We hate to break it you, gents- youre not charming, strippers dont actually like you and the girl serving you a drink is not your mother or your girlfriend.
One thing that does bother me the most is when Im working and men always tell me that I need to smile more, Bethanie said. They say Id be much prettier if I smile or ask me whats wrong. Listen, Im not walking around like Im Cinderella. Its a 12-hour shift. If I smiled for 12 hours straight, I would look like a serial killer.
Despite a few bad apples, however, the community within downtown Casper has been a mostly positive one. Everybody on this side of town wants to see it succeed, from business owners, to employees, all the way down to the customers. Everybody is trying to makethis area something special, something unique and something beautiful.
Without the community, we wouldnt be the bar that we are," Tessa said. "Without the community, period,our owners wouldnt have even had the idea to create the bar that they did, with the outside events and all the concerts.
Without the community, the bars inDowntown Casperwouldnt exist. But it feels like were on the verge of something big here. Everybody wants to be a part of it and everybody wants to see it succeed. So,
Mostly, dont tell your bartenders to smile. Give them a reason to.
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How to get a foot on the City law ladder – Legal Cheek
Posted: at 3:27 am
Ahead of next weeks Legal Cheek-ULaw Summer Virtual Vacation Scheme, Legal Cheeks Will Holmes caught up with ULaws Caroline Carter, Moorgate campus dean and former City lawyer, for her take on the skills future lawyers need
In this conversation we cover four key skills listening, opportunism, networking and resilience that aspiring lawyers should aim to develop and that Caroline Carter, dean of The University of Laws (ULaw) Moorgate campus, knows from first-hand have helped her to be successful at a variety of top City law firms.
Law is a people business, says former City employment lawyer Caroline Carter. You are dealing with people all of the time that range from clients in difficult situations to incredible, delightful and highly professional colleagues. Having risen to become head of employment and senior equity partner at Ashurst, Carters experience has taught her the importance of developing good listening skills. No matter who it is, be super nice to everyone, she advises students with their eyes on a career as a City lawyer.
Indeed, Carter reflected on how she had built a successful practice around her ability to rub along well with everyone, especially fellow lawyers at other firms who she were representing the opposing side in disputes. She acknowledges that really listening to clients needs and concerns, as well as the ability to take on as much feedback as possible had helped her to develop into a successful lawyer.
And Carter certainly hasnt stopped listening in her new role as dean of ULaws Moorgate campus. She says she has spent her first weeks in the job listening to a host of different people at all levels. Although not coming from a teaching background, Carter has married together her 30 years of experience as a lawyer and her work as a non-executive director for a host of social mobility in education organisations, the post-graduate focused Cranfield University and the all-girls state school Copthall. It is her ability to continually listen and learn from others around her that has helped her to take her career down this exciting new path. Her focus is to try and share these skills with ULaw students to help them to become adaptable and well-rounded lawyers.
Carters top advice to aspiring lawyers is to get stuck in. Online events, networking, lectures, vac schemes, open days theyre all really useful ways to get experience. Her mantra is that no experience is a bad experience, adding, dont close your mind to anything. Get to all of the online sessions, it could be worth it!.
In Carters case, being opportunistic was what got her foot on the City law ladder. Having overheard that a fellow student at law school no longer wanted a training contract at Theodore Goddard (which merged to become Addleshaw Goddard in 2003), Carter applied to the firm. She modestly claims that she got lucky and was offered a training contract at the firm.
In her role at ULaw, however, Carter wants to ensure that aspiring lawyers have as many opportunities as possible. The Universitys Tech Research Academy ULTRA, employment team and educational technology is all aimed at equipping students to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible, she tells me.
Networking is an area that the pandemic has radically changed, with virtual events often dictating the opportunities students have to start building connections. On this point, Carter recommends a clear strategy: Have three things you want to hear about and one thing that you could get involved with. According to her, this targeted approach can help make the most of the exposure they get to members of the legal profession. She also recommends sending thank you emails and follow-ups or even something in the post!.
This is especially true regarding interviews. Carter, who enjoyed stints at Theodore Goddard and Linklaters before finally settling down at Ashurst, tells me shes always in contact with trainees and people she has interviewed in the past to give some useful advice. The same applies if you have not been successful. Whether you get feedback, a new connection or no response, the golden rule for aspiring lawyers is always ask.
Located a stones throw away from many top City firms, ULaws Moorgate campus should help its students with this. Carter hopes to really reinvigorate these strong City ties, as the campus reopens.
In Carters career, no two days were ever the same. Resilience and crisis management is therefore a real differentiator among junior lawyers. Carter explains that when picking between two closely matched candidates at training contract interview, she would always ask herself if the chips were down at 2am, who would you want to be there?.
So, how can trainees develop these skills? Carter tells me that doing applications is a test of ones self-reflection. She recommends that candidates reflect carefully on transferable skills and find that most will be amazed at how they can build up a picture of their own experiences when they really think about. A variety of odd jobs and different experiences working in a supermarket, as a teacher, a volunteer abroad or at home can really make the difference and shines through when the going gets tough as a junior. As the former City lawyer points out, academics are only a part of the picture.
In interviews, it is also important to be aware of how you are presenting yourself, which comes with practice. With many interviews taking place virtually at the moment, Carter suggests getting in the zone as though you were really doing the interview in a swanky City office, adding that candidates would be well-advised to avoid any suit-jacket-tie-and-underpants interviews!
Ultimately, Carters objective at ULaw is to make people feel confident about embarking on their legal careers. With a unique passion for education and bags of legal experience, her students certainly look like theyre in good hands.
Caroline Carter will be speaking at The Legal Cheek Summer 2021 Virtual Vacation Scheme, run in partnership with The University of Law, which takes place from Monday 12 July until Friday 16 July. You can apply to attend the scheme, which is free, now.
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