Jessica Wildfire's Blog, page 464

The CDC will be first people to tell you they don’t stand 100 percent behind their vital statistics…

The CDC will be first people to tell you they don’t stand 100 percent behind their vital statistics report. Robert Anderson, head of the National Center for Health Statistics, admits that this report relies on local data, which can either over or under report their gun incidents. The whole point of the Gun Violence Archive is to gather better statistics through better methods. By focusing exclusively on gun violence, they are better equipped to provide reliable data. Can you prove that they have a secret liberal agenda? How?

Either way, we know for a fact that between 400–600 accidental shootings happen every year. We also know that thousands of gun suicides happen as well. And we also know that the year 2017 has seen hundreds of public shootings — a record. These people need counseling, but they should also be restricted from buying guns.

Since you like to use the car analogy, you might be interested to know that firearm deaths have outpaced motor vehicle deaths in many states, including those with lax gun laws:

Gun Deaths Compared to Motor Vehicle Deaths

As for gun incidents on college campuses, there have been 85 between the years 2013 and 2016. That number will increase as more colleges are forced to allow guns on their campuses:

New research confirms that letting college kids carry guns on campus is a terrible idea

The American Public Health Association has found that rape victims are 4 times more likely to be shot by their attacker if they’re carrying a gun. A number of women’s health organizations have objected to the NRA’s recent ad campaigns targeting college women, encouraging them to buy guns. If your story’s even true, then what you’re describing is essentially a miracle. She could just as easily have used a stun gun, or pepper spray for the same outcome. In fact, carrying those rather than a gun would reduce her risks of having a gun used against her during a conflict. Colleges could protect women and everyone else by hiring more campus security guards and installing more emergency call boxes. I said that my original post, but you ignored it.

You keep accusing me of using bad statistics, poor reasoning, fear mongering, and conspiracy weaving. And yet every reply, you do more of that yourself. So I’m not convinced you’ll change your mind. I do hope, however, that people who read my responses to you will find this information helpful.

Thanks! ;)

Thanks! ;)

Meet the shadow boss

Behind every boss, you’ll find someone else running the show — the bad ass in the background. They know math. They can actually use programs like Excel. They keep meetings under 30 minutes. They listen and take notes, instead of talking until everyone’s eyes glaze from boredom.

While a boss obsesses over branding and logos, the shadow boss makes sure the printers have toner and paper. They focus on important things like the functionality of your website, keeping the list-servs updated, and editing the weekly schedule. Sound boring? Try running a business where none of the tech works, and nobody knows when they’ll get paid.

A shadow boss may not wear the most expensive suit, and might even show up to the office in jeans and sandals. They remain calm in a crisis, and they value action over speeches. They use as few words as possible to convey their ideas. Above all, they like to empower their employees.

I’ve had plenty of bad bosses. No place suffers from poor management like the restaurant industry. Throughout college, I waited tables and cooked pizzas under the direction of dick heads— overgrown frat boys who showed up hungover and braggadocios about the booze they consumed, only to turn around and fire people for doing the same thing.

One time, a restaurant manager forgot to order bread for the week. We were a deli-style restaurant without hoagie rolls or buns. The manager wouldn’t even accept blame. First he went on a rant about “who let this happen,” until one of us pointed out that nobody else besides him had the authority to make supply orders. Nevertheless he made us tell the patrons ourselves, who sneered at us as they walked out. Luckily, we had a shadow boss — an associate manager. While our dickhead big wig had a meltdown in his office, our shadow boss drove to a supermarket and saved the day.

A shadow boss doesn’t like the spotlight. They melt under it like vampires at sunrise. A shadow boss will never try to give a rousing speech at the start of an 8-hour company retreat. Instead, they get shit done and send out brief email announcements.

Maybe the shadow boss earns less money, and in theory enjoys less prestige. A shadow boss might be younger, quieter, and more internally confident. They don’t need the external affirmation of applause.

Every great boss starts out as a shadow boss. Nothing trains you for leadership like shadowing a bad boss and poor leader.

For a while, I worked at a bar for extra cash. The owner was a huge jerk, and also a bad businessman. He actually looked a lot like The Donald, and acted like him too. He often suspected us of stealing money from him and milking the clock. Once, he even accused some servers of vandalism when someone busted a window and spray-painted the word “Dick” on the front door. He started a fight with a customer once, and got his nose broken.

And yet the bar turned a huge profit for this asshole. Why? He had a shadow boss. The bartender was a seriously cool chick. She made excellent drinks, trained people well, and showed a lot of respect to the wait staff. The bartender managed the day-to-day finances, and even designed the drink menus. Only one or two of us ever knew how much she did to keep the place running, but she didn’t care. She just loved her job.

Eventually, the owner got busted for shady practices with his other businesses. The bar closed for 2 years. But the bartender used the money she’d saved up, got a loan, and used her connections to reopen the place. Now she’s the owner, and business is booming.

I’ve learned a lot from shadow bosses, and so you can you. The person taking all the credit may not be the real deal. Ignore the loud braggart who won’t shut up about brands and logos, the person who seems to talk a lot but says very little. Focus on the quiet associate in the corner. They’re the person to model your career on. Sooner or later, big wig bosses get their comeuppance. Their careers end. The shadow bosses of the world play the long game, and usually come out on top.

Meet the shadow boss was originally published in The Hit Job on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

What you just posted is a flat out lie.

What you just posted is a flat out lie. Most Americans oppose campus carry laws. In fact, only 19 percent of Americans support the idea of allowing guns into schools, bars, and sports stadiums:

Guns in America: Two-thirds of Americans say firearms should be restricted in most public places

Here’s the truth: You are part of a very vocal minority who uses money, manipulation, and lobbying to pressure elected officials to pass laws against the health and well-being of Americans. What you do is the opposite of Democracy.

But we do ban cars from certain locations.

But we do ban cars from certain locations. You can’t park your car wherever you want, especially not on a college campus. Only a crazy person would want to pass laws so they can park their car right outside every building they visit. You also can’t drive your car everywhere you want. So your analogy is a desperate reach.

Fake news? Dishonest liberals who want to take away your guns? Aren’t you pushing your own conspiracy theory to justify your own ends?

Look at these stats: http://www.gunviolencearchive.org/

There have been 1400 accidental firearm discharges this year. It’s updated practically in real-time.

There have been 1400 defensive uses of firearms.

You talk about rape victims, on college campuses? Give me a break. Our secretary of education is currently pushing an agenda that will make sexual assault victims far less capable of reporting rapes and seeing justice done. Look at actual cases of rape at colleges. In most cases, the aggressor is someone the woman knows, and she is drugged or inebriated first. She’s not going to have the capacity to pull a gun on the person. Guns are not the answer to this problem. The same politicians who zealously advocate for gun rights turn a complete blind eye to the systems that empower rapists on college campuses.

The truth remains: guns on college campuses is a terrible idea.

I’m so glad you found writing, and Medium!

I’m so glad you found writing, and Medium! I don’t suffer from depression (maybe the opposite — absolute fucking mania). Having an outlet for your art means everything.

Why do you and other gun rights activists routinely ignore the number of fatal gun accidents in the…

Why do you and other gun rights activists routinely ignore the number of fatal gun accidents in the U.S.? Link: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/accidental-gun-deaths-shooting-children-undercounted-cdc-ap-usa-today/

I have a right not to be around guns at my work place. You don’t have the right to jeopardize my safety by bringing guns into my classroom.

There’s only one reason campus carry laws are being passed: our greedy, power-hungry politicians are taking heavy campaign donations from the NRA to block any and all attempts to reform the firearms industry.

The New Ten Commandments

Thou shalt not talk in movie theaters.

Continue reading on Medium »

Agreed. I also try to be flexible on late work and attendance.

Agreed. I also try to be flexible on late work and attendance. There’s nothing wrong with giving someone an extension. If they still can’t turn in the work, that’s on them and at least I’ve done what I can to help them out.

Very true. Depression and other emotional issues can have an impact.

Very true. Depression and other emotional issues can have an impact.