QUESTION ‘Q’

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States “I live a dream in a nightmare world” Always Remember That The cosmic blueprint of your life was written in code across the sky at the moment you were born. Decode Your Life By Living It Without Regret or Sorrow. When I am in the wrong. I am in the wrong. I will be the first to admit it. But to be presumed wrong or in violation of any law is wrong. Since I have put my name forth to run for Mayor. It has been one obstacle after another. One agency after the other attempting to discredit me or question my integrity. Some deem it a complaint others normal inspection. The bottom line is, that it is what it is. This past week I received the following email from a staff member at City Hall that I will not disclose after I had sent in a detailed document requesting explantion on By-law 42-2014. I bring this by-law to question due to the fact that it is only applicable to city roadways and partial regional roads. Furthermore, the by-law in question favor the incumbents as it is tailored to confuse and mislead new candidates. The by-law in question is signed by the Mayor himself. This brings to question the intent. If this by-law is intended for city roadways Then why am I being made to feel like I am being harrassed. Not only that. The presumption that I have done anything wrong without proof. Is WRONG. The email read: Good morning Joe; Thank you for your email. After reviewing it, the City’s position remains the same - the signs in question (the “Signs”) are in violation of Section 3.q) of the City’s Election Sign By-law. As previously requested, please ensure the Signs are removed immediately to avoid further action being taken by the City. 1. I have not erected any signs. False accussation. 2. Threaten wirth further action. 3. The City has yet to give me explanation in reference to the detailed document presented for clarification Section ‘3q reads: (q) for a municipal election, is erected, placed, maintained or displayed before the forty-second (42nd) day prior to the last polling day for the election or after the seventh (ih) day following the last polling day for the election. I brought this to question due to the fact that the date stipulate from the date of the election only gives new candidates limited exposure on municipal roadways. I also brought to question as to who set those dates as they are not a provincial nor federally mandated. All I asked was for clearification and I am ignored and just told to comply. To almost admit to the fact that I erected ANY SIGNS as prescribed by the said by-law. In which I have not. Therefore why the demand? Why does the City want me to admit to something I am not guilty. This mentality at City Hall will STOP. Together we will bring our municipal government back to the people where it belongs. At the least before they pass judgement get the facts straight. Call me. I called numerous time and still waiting. I know you read this. Please call 905-441-2657 Thank you.

Canada and the inflation race

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East Summer is here and the hot days finally came together with some hot news from the Bank of Canada, which raised the prime rate by one entire point, using the excuse of dealing with inflation. Currently the prime rate is at 2.5%. The latest prime rate hike made by the Bank of Canada on 13th of July was the largest single increase in more than 20 years. No wonder the rate of inflation in June reached a 39 year high of 8.1%, boosted by soaring gas prices, which rose more than 50 % compared with a year ago, Statistics Canada said last week. Inflation is expected to increase further in July. As the cost of living has continued to rise, wages in Canada continue to lag, rising 5.2% in June on a year over year basis. In a common sense approach there are very few people in Canada who aren't feeling the pressures of bonkers inflation right now, with the cost of just about everything hitting sky-high levels and continuing to rise. The prices of food and gas have been hurting people's wallets the most as we hit a 40-year inflation high in June and wages are certainly not keeping pace. The crisis is only bound to get worse now that food suppliers have said that even more price increases are coming. Excluding gasoline, the inflation rate was 6.5 % in June compared with 6.3 % in May. With public health restrictions easing and more people looking to travel in June, the cost of travel-related services surged. Prices for accommodation rose by about 50 % across the country compared with a year ago. "The return of sporting events, festivals and other large in-person gatherings has resulted in higher demand for accommodation, particularly in major urban centres," Statistics Canada reports. On a month-over-month basis, the consumer price index edged higher by 0.7%, largely due to rising prices for gasoline and travel accommodations. After declining slightly in May, air transportation costs rose 6.4% month-over-month. Canadians also continued to see higher food prices, with the cost of food up 8.8% compared with June last year. Among food items, the largest increase in prices was for edible fats and oils, which rose by 28.8 % year-over-year. So let us look at who benefits most from inflation. The answer is, that governments benefit from inflation in two significant ways. First, because inflation increases the price of goods and services, the value of money effectively declines-as does the value of debt. When the value of debt declines, the cost of debt interest payments also essentially declines. Second, inflation tends to increase the nominal value of assets such as real estate, which increases the capital gains tax liabilities of Canadians who sell those assets, thereby pushing some Canadians into higher tax brackets. Consequently, government tax revenues will increase even though the "real" incomes and wealth of most Canadians may remain constant or even decrease. So in Canada our liberal government is ready to benefit from the rise of inflation. No wonder they are spending money left, right and center, on illusory projects, especially squandering it outside the country, instead of looking to the welfare of their own citizens. There is also a known link between the rise of inflation and a potential for an economic downturn. Despite reassurances from the Trudeau government that the Canadian economy is on the road to recovery, there are signs that a recession is fast approaching in Canada. A culmination of fast rising inflation, increased interest rates on mortgages, international events such as worsening relations with China and sanctions on Russian energy and a contracting US economy all point to a Canadian economy that is on the brink of recession. As the Bank of Canada continues to hike rates, the sale of homes in May 2022 fell by 9%, contributing to a 0.1% contraction of GDP. The effect of a slowing housing market is likely to take a bigger toll on the Canadian economy than on the American economy, as Canada is more than twice as reliant on the housing market for economic growth as the US. The housing market dragging Canada's GDP down could lead to a much more severe recession, causing increased unemployment and the recession to drag on longer. China's recent economic contraction is also stunting economic growth worldwide. China is Canada's second-largest trading partner, and therefore supply chain issues occurring in China have ripple effects, especially with regard to Canadian imports. Despite reassurances from Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland that the government is focused on "fiscal restraint," the Trudeau government continues to spend at an astronomical rate, causing the economy to overheat. Keeping all this in mind, be prepared for more restrains and tightening of the belt. Hopefully there are no new pandemics on the horizon. Enjoy the summer while it lasts!

Taking A Carp At The Park

By Rosaldo Russo Allow me to begin this column by thanking the Oshawa/Central newspaper for allowing me the opportunity and access to the press. Not to many if any allow an average person like me to tell the world what I see and think. In my opinion. The Editor/Publisher is a real upstanding type of guy. He shoots from the hip and hold traditional core values. My name is Rosaldo Russo. I came to this great country to make a better life for myself and my family. I thank Canada for everything it has allowed me to do and earn. I worked construction all my life. I know the value of hard work and honesty. I remember as a boy my father always telling me to work hard and buy land. So I did. I remember days when I did not have enough to eat. I go to work... but I did not wait for hand outs. I rounded up my pride my skill and my determination to succeed and went to work. In those days the only benefits we received was the fact we were employed. Before retiring I was the owner and operator of local material supply company that allowed me to retired without worry. Now that I have time to enjoy life. I look around me and have some concern for future generations. I see that the world is finished. I know you read the title and thought it was a spelling mistake... You must have wondered, has he gone insane? C.A.R.P., formally incorporated as the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, is a national, nonpartisan, not for profit association that advocates on behalf of Canadians as they age. Ok. Now that we got that out of the way. Let’s talk about taking a crap at Lakeview. Is there a by-law against that? It seems that in the City of Oshawa there is a by-law for just about everything. One day they are going to demand we all wear a methane meter up our arses so they can tax us for polluting the environment... You can’t park your own paid car in front of your own paid house... or here comes these I think I can wonna be cops and harass you...Or worst give you a ticket. Now to read all that you can’t do at Lakeview Park. It disgust me. Yet on any given day you can drive down our downtown and watch people take a CRAP right in the open. Where are the by-law Gestapo? I am embarrassed at bringing family from Europe through Oshawa. Then again from what I hear. Some museum and attraction guide their guest through Whitby down Hwy 2. What is wrong with this city. Where are our elected officials. This is why I support Joe Ingino for Mayor. Here is a guy that is honest and genuine. He has vast knowledge of the downtown core and Oshawa in general. He out of his pocket funds Oshawa’s most successful ‘SHOP LOCAL’ initiative I have ever known. You can see his name in every other store... and for those store that do not have his initiative name in their front window. I will never visit. Other people should do the same. We need to support those who support our city. Joe Ingino will be a good change for this City. He is a proven successful businessman. He does not play around. When he says something he follows through. Sometimes to much. One time I remember jokingly he made a remark. I asked him. Is that a threat. He looked at me and smiled. “No my friend, there is not place in society for threats. I am just telling you what is about to happen and giving you the option of choosing the outcome.” Mr. Ingino, I believe will put a stop to crime in our downtown. He will run out the drug dealers, the pimps and all that comes with that. No more petty crime. Mr. Ingino has a solid economic plan that will put downtown merchants back in the limelight they deserve. He will bring great opportunity as he is a master negotiator and an experience business person. His intellect is unmatched. I truly believe that he will bring industry/commerce/trade to Oshawa like it has never been seen before. His leadership qualities are one that people can entrust to work in their best interest. As it stands I can’t even take a CARP to memorial park or Lakeview in fear of being at the one mugged at the other harassed by bylaw. Come on people vote Ingino in 2022. I ENDORSE JOE INGINO FOR MAYOR OF OSHAWA IN 2022 VOTE INGINO

For Your Cover Letter to Do Its Job Don't Commit These Faux Pas

For Your Cover Letter to Do Its Job Don't Commit These Faux Pas By Nick Kossovan Not including a cover letter is lazy-employers don't hire lazy. (I certainly don't.) Regardless of how you apply for a job, whether through a referral or online, you must show how your skills, experiences, and personality set you apart from other applicants. It's for this reason, you should always include a cover letter. Including a well-written cover letter tailored to the job, and addressed to the hiring manager, offers several competitive advantages: - It shows your enthusiasm and that you researched the job requirements and the company. (You're not lazy.) - You're addressing the hiring manager directly and therefore bringing your relevant skills and experiences directly to their attention. - You're selling how you can add value to the company. - Your personality is conveyed to the hiring manager. - Your cover letter shows off your writing skills. (Employers value above-average writing skills.) Your cover letter has one job; to get the reader to read your resume. (It's your resume's job to get you an interview.) Imagine how much more likely you'd get an interview invite if you applied for jobs with a great cover letter and a resume that WOWs. Therefore, you don't want to make the following mistakes that'll hinder your cover letter from doing its job. 1. Attaching your cover letter to your email. To ensure your cover letter is read, don't send it as an attachment. Instead, write it within the email body. When the recipient opens your email, your cover letter will be immediately visible, increasing the likelihood that they'll read it. 2. Providing irrelevant information. Cover letters should be concise. Only offer details directly relevant to the job or that illustrates you have the skills and experience the employer is looking for. When I'm looking for a sales-oriented call center agent, I'm not looking for someone who's been providing "world-class" customer service or who's, in their opinion, "detail-oriented." These things don't matter in terms of reaching sales goals. A person who knows how to ask a prospect discovery questions to uncover their wants and needs and then offer them the appropriate product or service is whom I'm looking for. I'll lose interest if someone goes on and on about their customer service skills. I want them to tell me about the biggest sale they ever made, along with their passion and methodology (e.g., discovery questions they usually ask) for making sales. Hiring managers aren't responsible for connecting the dots regarding why you're a great fit for the position or how your skills are transferrable. Connect the dots in your cover letter. "Having sold life insurance for the past 15 years, I'm comfortable selling an intangible product, and therefore, I don't anticipate not being successful selling registered RESPs." (Registered Education Savings Plan) Think about what the reader of your cover letter would like to see and what'll convince them you're worth interviewing. Sentences like, "I see you need someone who's available to work nights and weekends. I enjoy working these hours and I'm available to do so," or, "Along with my resume, I've attached several samples of my writing." goes a long way. 3. Not including requested information. The most common application mistake I see is not following instructions. Based on my experience I'd estimate 7 out of 10 applicants fail to address every stipulation listed in a job posting, which indicates an inability, or unwillingness, to follow instructions. Name an employer who'd hire someone who can't follow instructions. Be sure to read the job posting in its entirety! It's common for employers to ask candidates to submit examples of their work or portfolio, link to their LinkedIn profile, their availability, a video, or their salary requirements. In your cover letter, include anything you've been asked to include or mention that it's attached (e.g., portfolio, writing sample, video, certificates). Failure to follow instructions is a sure way to get rejected. 4. Closing with a cliche statement. "Thank you for taking the time to review my resume. I look forward to hearing from you," shows a lack of creativity and hustle. (Name an employer who dislikes employees who hustle.) Conclude your cover letter with something like, "I look forward to discussing what I can bring to the Social Media Manager role at Pendant Publishing. I'll call you Thursday morning to schedule a time/date for us to meet." This shows initiative, that you want the job and aren't afraid to go after what you want. (Be sure to make the call.) I once received a cover letter that closed with, "Call today, don't delay." The closing was aggressive, which I tend to gravitate towards. It grabbed my attention. Additionally, her cover letter outlined everything she could bring to the table as an employee. Her boldness impressed me, so I called her. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send him your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com

OSHAWA DURHAM BEST KEPT SECRET

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States “I live a dream in a nightmare world” Always Remember That The cosmic blueprint of your life was written in code across the sky at the moment you were born. Decode Your Life By Living It Without Regret or Sorrow. I have been your newspaper editor for about 27 years now and I have seen them come and go. One Mayor after another. Each one with their unique way of governance. Each one slowly eroding the quality of life in Oshawa. In part we can’t blame them as we have had mayors that normally were councillors first. This only assuring us that their interest was not that of the people but that of their own pocket books. Councillors that did little or nothing and were reward to a higher position by voters that did not take the time to get to know candidates and voted primarily on name recognition. The outcome is obvious and the by-product of decades of bad governance is all around us. From the taxes being increase to pay out bad decisions to people sleeping on our streets. WE DESERVE BETTER. I have been quoted numerous times as stating that Oshawa is Durham’s best kept secret. I say this because our city has had no clear direction, it is poorly promoted and bias and prejudice as they come. Events come and go and no one knows about them. Parades close down our streets and we all assume a riot or major drug bust. Very few realize the event. Why is that? The reason is simple. Event organizers do not know how to promote. They are not marketers. In most cases they are wonna be politicians with big chips on their shoulders. Look at ‘FIESTA WEEK’. An event that has great potential. A great idea. But very poorly promoted and advertised. When the local media has no clue on timeliness and events. That says it all. But they are one of many things that happen... Look at the Peony Festival. Another great opportunity to bring people from all over Ontario. A dud when it comes to advertising and promotions... and please for those organizers reading this and thinking. “We had it on social media”. Please stop. You are embarrassing yourself with that thought. What we need in this city is a municipal task force made up of local merchants and experts in the field of event hosting, marketing and mass media. Not like that half wit Downtown Buy Local task force led by Tito-Dante Mariempietri as chair. Here is Tito a third class realtor with no real business experience leading the charge on development for the downtown core. Well, let’s not put all the weight on Tito. Derek Giberson, the City councillor responsible for our downtown. The worst excuse for a councillor. He does not return calls. No one really knows him downtown. Gold standard for failure as a politician in my opinion. This is a ward that has sat empty for four years. Giberson is directly responsible for people sleeping on the streets of our city. Tito, Giberson got to go. Don’t get me wrong I am not attacking these two councillors. I am just stating a fact and making a public plea in the best interest of our City. We need people with initiative that will promote Oshawa events properly. Oshawa unfortunately is Durham’s best kept secret. But it is 2022 and thing will change. For the sake of our future. You can make the change.

Canada - the NEW Army

Canada - the NEW Army by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East Starting this fall, members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will be able to carry purses, wear skirts and stockings, grow their hair as long as they choose and polish their finger and toenails whatever color pleases them; both males and females. In a historic reform to this nation's military dress code, Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will permit service members to have facial tattoos, dye their hair, allowed women to keep long nails and wear skirts in an attempt to make military service more inclusive. In a statement, Ottawa's Department of National Defence said that these new military dress and personal grooming regulations were aimed "to support respect, diversity and inclusiveness" and to encourage youth to join the armed forces. Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) personnel will be allowed these freedoms effective September, 2022, according to the Ministry of National Defense's press release. "The bottom line is, the Canadian Forces Dress Instructions are about fifty years old and so the policy as a whole was overdue for revision," said Department of National Defence (DND). "The appearance of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) has not kept pace with the Canadian society which it serves." Maj.-Gen. Lise Bourgon said the Canadian Armed Forces will adopt a gender-neutral dress code and relax rules banning long or colorful hair. (OP Impact/DND) Bourgon said 71 per cent of the military's workforce is made up of "white males." It seems that this new dress code will be the most-relaxed, most gender-neutral dress code of any military in the world. Frankly, this 'great accomplishment', of the general staff of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) led by the fearless new Chief of Defence Staff, General Wayne Eyre, makes me sick and ashamed at the same time. This is nothing more than another example of "woke" virtue signalling by the Trudeau government. As a former member of the Canadian Forces Engineers, who served in overseas missions in Bosnia Herzegovina and Afghanistan I am saddened to see the degrading of one of the best armies in the world. The official excuse of Canadian military leaders is bringing military culture into the 21st Century and making careers in the service more appealing to a younger generation. This again demonstrates how the general staff, preoccupied mostly with their own carriers, lives in an ivory tower. They are going about recruiting more soldiers, sailors and airmen (our armed forces are currently just about 20% understaffed) in absolutely the wrong way. It seems to me that this new approach to recruiting will have the exact opposite effect. The kin of young men and women who have traditionally been drawn to military careers will likely be put off by the weirdness of it all. It is astonishing that instead on dealing with seriously preparing our young soldiers for the realities of a new and dangerous world, the CAF leaders are focusing on a new dress code, rather than concentrating on correcting their failing recruiting process. I personally witnessed the failures of the recruiting process and mentioned it several time when I was a member of the House of Commons, being the only veteran from Afghanistan. To no avail. It seems to me that the CAF did not learn anything from similar attempts made earlier by other NATO armies, such as the German and the Dutch, which ultimately failed. In both cases, the biggest problem produced by these "modernizations" was the undermining of unit cohesion and deterioration of operational effectiveness. In other words, discipline went all to hell and those armed forces lost some of their ability to fight. Servicemen and women who don't have to wear a standard uniform or hair length, soon will begin to think it might be OK to buck other rules, too, like marching in the sun or following commanders' orders. There may be a few weird recruits attracted by this shift in DND policy, but plenty of other recruits come to the forces looking for adventure, service to country or regimentation, to make sense of their lives. These new loosey-goosey, less-effective armed forces - face tattoos, hoop earrings, ear spacers and "unnatural" hair colors - will be considerably less appealing to many more recruits than are attracted. In a quickly developing East-West confrontation, we should be more aware, and looking to increase preparedness of our servicemen instead of looking to please political masters. It is time to become serious and not bufooning around. With this new policy the DND and CAF are well on way to remaking the modern version of the "The Good Soldier Švejk". What about the leadership of the army leading by example and appearing with a ring in their nose? So in conclusion, we are looking to the new future in the Canadian Armed Forces; tattooed color locks and kitten heels. Welcome to Disney World.

An Internship Can Lay the Foundation for a Great Career

An Internship Can Lay the Foundation for a Great Career By Nick Kossovan With 2022 "graduation season" behind us, I'd be remiss if I didn't offer some advice on how an internship ("co-op" back in the day) provides an opportunity to gain transferrable skills and experience, start building your professional network and kickstart your career. An internship is so much more than memorizing coffee orders. Your internship experiences-I recommend doing several-can be immensely valuable, offering you a chance to build skills to showcase on your resume and LinkedIn profile and, most importantly, establish professional relationships with professionals in the industry you aspire to become a part of. As an intern, your goals are: 1. Learn what you want and need to know. (TIP: Create a list of what you want to gain from your internship. On your first day, share your list with the person coaching you.) 2. Make a positive impression. (Make a strong enough impression, and-fingers-crossed-you'll likely receive a job offer.) 3. Begin building your professional network. Creating a great impression starts with being relentlessly punctual. Woody Allen said it best, "Eighty percent of success is showing up." Show up on time, or better yet early. Arrive for meetings before they begin. Complete tasks by their deadlines. Employers value reliable employees. Internships are usually 3 - 4 months long, so give your internship no less than 100%. "Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence." - Ted Key, American cartoonist Take on every task and assignment you're given with an unwavering commitment to excellence. It's never beneath you to do what's asked of you. If you're asked to make coffee, make the best coffee your colleagues have ever tasted. If asked to create an Excel template, put extra effort into ensuring it's accurate, aesthetically pleasing, and comprehensive. Continually delivering exceptional results is how you create a reputation (READ: Personal brand) that advances your career forward. Act when you see a need. (e.g., sign for a package and deliver it directly to the recipient, offer to cover reception during lunch) Don't wait to be told. Checking your Instagram account while waiting to be given something to do is never a good look. Interns who never sat idle and proactively sought out where they could be of help, or pitched in without being asked, are the ones I remember. Deliver more than expected, do what no one else is willing to do, and you'll be appreciated and remembered. As an intern, it's expected you'll ask questions... lots of questions. Asking good questions is the sign of an intellectually curious, diligent person, which is a turn-on. Think-in advance-of questions to ask. Spend time formulating your questions. When meeting with a peer or superior, think of thoughtful questions you can ask to demonstrate you have prepared for the meeting. If you're in a meeting with management, don't focus on your answers but on what's missing. With me, asking the questions no one else is asking (e.g., "How does A relate to B?", "How has the company dealt with these issues in the past?") earns lots of points. Elephant-in-the-room questions often steer a group's thinking and conversation in a more productive direction-this is how you become an influencer. TIP: When you hear someone ask a great, conversation-altering question, write it down and reflect on what made it great. Ask at least one authentic question in every meeting you attend. By following this advice, you'll become comfortable asking questions in a group setting, hone your ability to ask questions that lead to real insight and reveal your intellectual curiosity. The most valuable benefit of an internship is it offers the ideal setting to establish professional relationships you can leverage throughout your career, whether job hunting or seeking advice. Since internships don't last long, interns tend to focus solely on their work and only form connections with their immediate colleagues and fellow interns. Don't be that intern! Cultivate as many professional relationships throughout the company as possible. Don't be shy to introduce yourself to Senior Managers, Directors and VPs-they were once in your shoes. Invite colleagues whom you notice management hold in high regard to lunch. Ask them questions. (Who doesn't like to talk about themselves and their successes?) Offer to help where you can. TIP: Observe great relationship-builders and learn from them. I recommend reading The Connector's Way: A Story About Building Business One Relationship at a Time, by Patrick Galvin. An internship is hard work that'll pay off. Only doing what's expected of you won't get you noticed; you'll be just another intern. Go above and beyond, from arriving on time to doing exemplary work (Yes, that includes getting coffee orders right.) and maximizing your internship opportunities. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send him your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com

RUNNING ON EMPTY CAN’T RACE

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States “I live a dream in a nightmare world” Always Remember That The cosmic blueprint of your life was written in code across the sky at the moment you were born. Decode Your Life By Living It Without Regret or Sorrow. This is a recent message released by the mayor of Oshawa in a desperate attempt to make it look like he is and has done something for the people of Oshawa. The release read: (in dark letters). Message from His Worship Mayor Dan Carter to Business Community Stakeholders, July 2022. As we enter the summer months in the great city of Oshawa, we’re seeing many residents and visitors exploring our community. Whether you’re seeking new parks, splash pads, cycling paths, walking trails, events or patios to spend time with friends and family, you will find many ways to enjoy the outdoors in our community. I would like to make the business community aware of great initiatives recently approved by Council and provide an update on events that have recently occurred. I believe these new programs and enhancements will have a positive and sustainable impact on our city. Does our Mayor know where our downtown is? “We’re seeing many residents and visitors exploring our community.” He claims. Where? People are staying away from Oshawa due to the problem with the homeless in our downtown. With the drugs and crime on our streets. You have to wonder in what dimension Carter lives in. Our parks!!! riddled with needles from his ‘Safe’ injection sites and free needle exchange program he allowed to operate downtown. Splash pads!!! yet Rotary pool sits closed. Really ‘Splash pads’... Then he goes to Cycling paths, where most of the homeless take refuge in make shift card boxes. Or in tents. People are afraid to ride their bikes in fear of being mugged. Could it be that Carter is talking about another municipality. Someone wake him up and tell him he is the Mayor of Oshawa for a little more time. Walking trails, come on... if you don’t dare ride a bike. Your going to walk it. Well, I guess the boys from Peterborough and Toronto probably would walk our trails as from police records prostitution is widely available. Carter continues in his release: Plan20Thirty Action Plan for Downtown Oshawa - Oshawa City Council has approved Plan20Thirty, a new downtown revitalization action plan. Plan20Thirty builds upon Oshawa’s previous downtown plan, Plan 20Twenty, and its successes to date, while addressing new challenges and opportunities. Plan20Thirty’s vision statement is: a lively and modern urban centre where all thrive. In other words 2030 plans more of what 2020 delivered. More homelessness, more crime, more drugs, more prostitution and higher taxes while the quality of life keeps slipping. Great forecast by Carter and his council. In other words nothing will change. Carter continues in his release: New Downtown Visual Brand Identity – DTO To better communicate the qualities that attract residents, businesses, students and visitors to our urban core, the City of Oshawa has developed a new visual brand identity for Downtown Oshawa: WHO SEES IT. HOW DO THEY MARKET IT? DTO. DTO represents the strength of the people who have built and continue to evolve Oshawa’s downtown core. The DTO shapes, inspired by the area's bold and iconic architecture, provide a flexible and adaptable canvas to showcase the creativity, innovation and humanity of our downtown. Talk about political BLAH BLAH BLAH. Can anyone translate to what that means? ‘Humanity of our downtown’....Carter wake up. People are sleeping in doorways. People are shooting drugs on our sidewalks. People die every night of overdose. He dare talks about humanity. Where is Carter’s conscious. Where are his moral value and commitment to the betterment of all citizens. The brand emphasizes photography of the people of downtown Oshawa – entrepreneurs, business leaders, residents, students, artists, and community-builders. Carter clearly has no clue where downtown Oshawa is on the map. It is like being in a sinking ship and the captain claiming we are not sinking. Look at the other end it is well out of the water and claiming we are on course. Is Carter for real? The brand is the product of a rigorous discovery phase and was developed with input from the voices and perspectives of those within and around downtown Oshawa. Like Downtown Oshawa, this brand is alive – always evolving and growing. We’re excited to share this brand with you; keep your eyes peeled in the coming months. Did he consult the this local paper that sits downtown Oshawa? The same paper that actually has been running a successful ‘SHOP LOCAL INGINO SHOP DOWNTOWN INITIATIVE’ since 2018. Did he consult all the downtown merchants. As a matter of fact did he consult any? When was the last time Carter has been seen visited any local merchant. Yet, he fills his mouth with a made up brand that is promoted no place with no one’s input. How is it he has yet to visit his local newspaper. He ends his pathetic attempt to make himself as if he has done something by bragging on how he wants to take credit for the downtown sidewalk cleaning program. A program that should have been implemented as a common sense project. He goes as far as attempt to take credit for ‘Convocation ceremonies’, a scheme design for him to use our tax dollars to campaign for the 2022 municipal election. More of the same. Is that what we want for Oshawa. By Carter’s own words. They did nothing in 2020. Now they are promising more nothing until 2030. Is this leadership? But wait. Be assure our taxes will keep going up to pay for their lack of vision or direction.WE NEED CHANGE IN 2022. I need your vote in order to bring Oshawa back to you. To stop the BLAH, BLAH politics.

My Side of the Hiring Desk

My Side of the Hiring Desk

There are two sides to every interview: Yours and the interviewer's. Here’s a pleasant truth: You and your interviewer have the same agenda: To determine if the job opportunity is right for you. Your interviewer isn't your enemy. They want to hire the right person. Job seekers never consider that their interviewer's hiring decisions are judged by their boss and their boss's boss, the team the new hire will join—essentially everyone at the company. I never want to hear: "Who hired Bob? He always comes in late, is rude, has yet to complete his assignments on time and has below-average Excel skills for a junior accountant. What was Nick thinking hiring Bob?" A hiring manager's ability to hire-their judgment skills-will be called into question if he or she makes "a few" bad hires. The same holds true if a recruiter presents unsuitable candidates to their client. It's good to be sympathetic to your interviewer's need to make a good hire; it'll help you bond with your interviewer. This is why there’s a great deal of vetting during the hiring process to minimize the possibility of hiring a liability. Your interviewer wants to know three things: 1. Can you do the job? 2. Will you like the job? 3. Will you be a good fit with the team and the company? I'm often asked how I hire. What do I look for in a candidate? I remind people there is no universal hiring process. I evaluate candidates differently than other hiring managers and vice versa. I know of candidates who weren't hired by me and went on to find a suitable employer. Truth: Human bias and gut feelings play a critical role in the hiring process, which is why a universal hiring method doesn't exist. Although you weren't hired by ABC employer, that doesn't mean that XYZ employer won't hire you. As there isn't a universal hiring method, there isn't a universal "must hire" employee either. Your interviewer doesn't owe you, a stranger, anything. Hence why networking, which many shy away from, and maintaining an extensive professional network is beneficial to your job search and career development; you become "familiar." We all gravitate towards what’s familiar. On the other hand, your interviewer is responsible to their employer, current employees and the business's customers. If you're speaking with a recruiter, they're accountable to their client. Your interviewer's objective is to judge whether you'll fit into the team, the culture (READ: Be accepted.) and contribute to the company/department's goals. With the above said, here's a holistic overview of how I evaluate a candidate, bearing in mind that I'm speaking for myself. (Remember, there's no universal hiring methodology.) • Above-average communication skills, both spoken and written, are a non-negotiable requirement. • I like—really like—candidates who have confidence in their abilities and are comfortable with themselves. • If you come across as having a sense of entitlement, our conversation will be short. • The more interest you show in the job and company, the more points you'll receive. Being interested is a powerful gesture. • If you seem burnt out or outdated (past your expiration date), I'll pass on you. Be relevant! • My focus isn't on your accomplishments or experience. My focus is on what you can do now and in the future for the company. • Show me you're listening. Refer to something I said earlier. "When you mentioned Genom Corporation was launching a new line of granola bars in mid-July to coincide with back-to-school sales, I was impressed with the strategic timing. You mentioned the company wants to capture 25% of Canada’s granola bar market by the end of 2023. How does the second half of 2022 look in terms of being on track to achieve this goal?" • Don't tell me what you want me to think of you. (e.g., "I'm a team player," "I'm detail-oriented," "I can sell.") Show me! Prove it! (e.g., "I'm part of a 20-person Inside Sales team. Daily I handle 60 - 80 calls. Last year I exceeded my quota of $1.5 million by $350,000.") • Your questions should demonstrate that you are evaluating the job opportunity, me, the company, and your fit. Connecting with their interviewer is a job seeker's foremost goal. Maya Angelou once said, "I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Before you walk into an interview, ask yourself, What do I want my interviewer to feel about me? ______________________________________________________________ Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send Nick your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com.

Canada gas prices and inflation

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East As we celebrated the 155th anniversary of the country still called Canada a lot of new, increasingly worrying trends are occurring in our country, led by a liberal government seemingly unaware or unconcerned about the meltdown of our economy. Soaring gas prices pushed the annual inflation rate in May to its highest level in nearly 40 years, as the rising cost of living increasingly squeezed Canadian household budgets and bolstered trepidations that the Bank of Canada will opt for a supersized interest rate hike soon. Credible sources say that the next interest rate hike, which is scheduled to take place on July 13, will involve an increase of 75 basis points. By the Fall, however, it should be clear whether or not the central bank's interest rate hikes have the desired effect on reducing inflation. If the annual inflation rate remains elevated, the bank will likely reconsider its target interest rate of between two and three per cent, and could aim for more aggressive interest rate hikes in the future. If interest rates increase quickly enough, they could very well result in an engineered recession. Statistics Canada reported last week that its consumer price index in May rose 7.7 per cent compared with a year ago, the fastest pace since January 1983 when it gained 8.2 per cent. That's up almost a percentage point from April's 6.8 per cent gain. The May reading came as energy prices rose 34.8 per cent compared with a year ago with gasoline prices up 48.0 per cent compared with a year ago. Excluding gasoline, the annual inflation rate in May rose to 6.3 per cent compared with 5.8 per cent in April. In the face of this staggeringly concerning data, the question is what the government is going to do to proactively deal with the galloping recession coming into full view. With the Prime Minister touring Europe on various summits and handing out tax payers' money left and right for causes far from the everyday worries of Canadians, for the moment it seems that the governing elite do not care about this very real threat. Bank of Canada senior deputy governor Carolyn Rogers said last week that inflation is hurting Canadians and making things unaffordable. "We know inflation is keeping Canadians up at night, it's keeping us up at night, and we will not rest easy until we get it back to target," Rogers said at an event in Toronto. "We've been clear all along, the economy's in excess demand, inflation's too high, rates need to go up." Once again, an official is blatantly stating that interest rates must go high, not even considering that high interest rates are an equally big worry in the lives of everyday Canadians. It must be nice to live in the Ottawa bubble. In May, Statistics Canada said the price for food bought at stores rose 9.7 per cent compared with a year ago, matching the April increase, as the cost of nearly everything in the grocery cart increased by leaps and bounds. The cost of edible fats and oils gained 30.0 per cent compared with a year ago, its largest increase on record, mainly driven by the increased prices of cooking oils. Fresh vegetable prices rose 10.3 per cent. The cost of services in May also rose 5.2 per cent compared with a year ago, up from a gain of 4.6 per cent in April, as Canadians travelled and ate in restaurants more often. Prices for traveler accommodation gained 40.2 per cent compared with a year ago, while the price of food purchased from restaurants gained 6.8 per cent. It is clear by now that the energy crisis will be a major factor in increasing inflation on a worldwide scale, especially effecting the economies of countries who rely heavily on fossil fuels, but lack their own energy resources. So what does that say about the resource management of our country? Canada is a country rich in energy resources such as gas and oil, yet still imports oil from Saudi Arabia. One has to wonder why in a country like Canada, the population has to contend with such high prices at the pump. The answer is that we lack pipelines, have a narrow minded policy perpetuated by a government that wastes taxpayers' money on futuristic, pipe-dream projects. Justifications given in an attempt to explain high prices at the pump and inflation abound, especially those blaming everything that goes wrong on the war in Ukraine. But let's be clear. We need a real plan for helping our citizens face the upcoming economic challenge, and we need it soon. Is our government ready to face and cope with this challenge? I will let you to decide.

HOW MANY MUST DIE? BEFORE CARTER WAKES UP? CRIME - OVERDOSE DO YOU FEEL SAFE?

HOW MANY MUST DIE? BEFORE CARTER WAKES UP? C

By Joe Ingino Editor/Publisher ACCOMPLISHED WRITER/AUTHOR OF OVER 800,000 Published Columns in Canada and The United States “I live a dream in a nightmare world” Always Remember That The cosmic blueprint of your life was written in code across the sky at the moment you were born. Decode Your Life By Living It Without Regret. Police report after report: ‘Firearm Seized During Traffic Stop in Oshawa.’ ‘Foot Patrol Officers in Oshawa Seize Cache of Weapons.’ ‘Firearm and Drugs Seized During Traffic Stop in Oshawa.’ ‘Police Looking for Male Wanted on Firearm Charges.’ ‘Charges Laid After Car Explosion in Oshawa.’ Firearms, firearms, firearms.... What has happened to Oshawa. Our taxes keep going up. We live in the highest property assessment values in Durham. Where are our taxes going? Surely the police services are a regional matter. But as a municipality that pays hefty amounts to the region for DRPS. We surely have a voice, why is it our mayor not using it. Well, sadly we have a voice but no direction. A voice with out direction can’t be heard. Our Mayor has sat for four years and has yet to work with Durham Regional Police to come up with a community based policing solution to the skyrocketing crime with weapons and drug related crime. We need a way to send a clear message to the criminal element in Oshawa. That Oshawa will not tolerate guns, drugs and prostitution. Not to mention the many that die every month on the streets of overdose. How is it that those numbers are not made public? People are getting killed by gun and knife violence. People are dying at a bigger rated due to drugs. Instead Carter blames the region the province.... anyone but take responsibility and do something. He has to go. Instead our mayor has allowed methadone clinics to open just about one every block. He has allowed for cannabis shops to open, one every ten feet. Do we really need 5 cannabis shops withing 1 miles of each other? Do we really need a needle exchange program in our downtown? Do we really need safe injection sites? Do we really need Simcoe St. United Church and The Back Door Mission in the downtown core. Attracting the homeless by the hundreds. We need to relocate The Back Door and the United Church services. By having these services in the downtown. Their client camp out on their property. or worst have them sleep on businesses doorways, alley ways and street. WHERE IS OUR MAYOR? WHERE IS OUR COUNCIL? We need to call for accountability. Our Mayor was quoted as stating that, “We are a lot better off than other municipalities.” or “that it is not his problem.” Well yes it is. 2022 is a very special year. It is the year for change. As it stand there are two of us in the race. Anyone else coming in the race will only split the vote and assure Carter another term. We need to do what is best for our city and lets make the right change.

Canada the NEW Reality

by Maj (ret'd) CORNELIU E. CHISU, CD, PMSC, FEC, CET, P. Eng. Former Member of Parliament Pickering-Scarborough East As we celebrate the 155th anniversary of the country still called Canada a lot of new, increasingly limiting things are happening in our society, led by a liberal government savvy in exerting more and more control over us. Just days ago in a "remarkable" disclosure, Canada's national police force, the RCMP, described for the first time how it uses spyware to infiltrate mobile devices and collect data. Their methods include remotely turning on the camera and microphone of a suspect's phone or laptop. However, the RCMP quickly added that it only uses such tools in the most serious cases, when less intrusive techniques are unsuccessful. But until now, the force has not been open about its ability to employ malware to hack phones and other devices, despite having used the tools for several years. Maura Forest of POLITICO conducted an interesting investigation on this matter recently. In her article of June 29, 2022, she raised valuable points regarding privacy issues for ordinary citizens. She said that the police agency outlined the techniques used by its Covert Access and Intercept Team (CAIT) in a document introduced in the House of Commons last week. The RCMP provided the information in response to a question from a Conservative MP about what government programs gather data from Canadians. The team, which exists to intercept communication that can't be obtained using traditional wiretaps, uses "on-device investigative tools." The RCMP defines those as computer programs "installed on a targeted computing device that enables the collection of electronic evidence" - spyware, in other words. The RCMP can use spyware to collect a broad range of data, including text messages, email, photos, videos, audio files, calendar entries and financial records. The police can also gather "audio recordings of private communications and other sounds within range of the targeted device" and "photographic images of persons, places and activities viewable by the camera(s) built into the targeted device," the document says. These tools are only used, the force says, during serious criminal and national security investigations and always require authorization from a judge. In the document the RCMP also says it didn't consult the federal privacy commissioner before launching the CAIT program in 2016. However, it says the police force began drafting a privacy impact assessment in 2021 regarding CAIT activities, including the use of spyware, and plans to consult the privacy watchdog as part of that process. "RCMP's CAIT tools and techniques are not used to conduct mass surveillance," the document reads. "The use of ODITs [spyware] is always targeted and time-limited." A spokesperson for privacy commissioner Philippe Dufresne confirmed that his office has not been notified about the CAIT program, and said the office will be following up with the RCMP. Government institutions are required to notify the privacy commissioner of "initiatives that may have an impact on the privacy of Canadians," the spokesperson said in an email. "The use of this type of technology raises important privacy considerations. We look forward to receiving a [privacy impact assessment] that describes when and how this technology will be used, and the measures the RCMP plans to take to ensure its use remains in compliance with the Privacy Act." As a way to protect the safety of our citizens and country, there may be justification for the police to use any tools they can, but the problem arises when under pressure from various levels of political power, deep state type, these tools can be misused for other, more sinister purposes of control. What I have said may only be speculation, but the latest controversy about the RCMP and liberal government pressure seems to confirm the fact that this danger exists in our current society. In news reported by the Canadian press on June 28, 2022 about a recently released, scathing letter from an RCMP communications manager, it says that RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki referred to direct pressure from the federal public safety minister Bill Blair to release firearm details in the days after the Nova Scotia mass shooting. The letter from Lia Scanlan dated April 14, 2021 - almost a year after the killing of 22 people - claims the RCMP's leader was focused on the Liberal government's agenda of passing firearms legislation when she criticized Halifax staff during an April 28, 2020 conference call. According to Scanlan, who was the strategic communications director at the time of the shootings, Lucki had come on-line, incensed that the Halifax staff hadn't released the gun details, suggesting they had let down surviving children whose parents were killed. Scanlan wrote that Lucki had informed those present during the meeting that she faced "pressures and conversation with Minister Blair, which we clearly understood was related to the upcoming passing of the gun legislation." Lucki told those present she had promised the federal Public Safety Department and the Prime Minister's Office that information on the guns used by the shooter would be released because it was "tied to pending gun control legislation." So with this said and the example of the federal government's Bill C-11 officially known as the Online Streaming Act, but probably more accurately described as the Internet Censorship Bill currently making its speedy way through the federal Parliament in Ottawa, we will be increasingly put under the watchful eye of the government. What you are allowed to see when you go online could soon be decided by the government. The Bill opens the door to regulating not just corporate media, but user-generated content too - everything from TikTok videos to podcasts, audiobooks and citizen journalism. The Bill gives authority to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to treat content creators as broadcasters and regulate user-generated content as a program. Governments rarely ignore their own sweeping powers - Emergencies Act, anyone? So even if you believe the *current* government when they say they definitely, totally, absolutely, won't ever use these new powers… do you trust that no *future* government will, either? Government control of what you see when you go online is an infringement on freedom of expression, as well as the free market. Canadians must be the sole deciders of what content they consume, not the government. In view of these examples we should get used to being watched by our big brother government and beware of false steps that can be costly to individuals in the future if things go ahead according to plan. Good luck and be safe! Happy summer.

Oogatz Customer Service

By Rosaldo Russo Allow me to begin this column by thanking the Oshawa/Central newspaper for allowing me the opportunity and access to the press. Not to many if any allow an average person like me to tell the world what I see and think. In my opinion. The Editor/Publisher is a real upstanding type of guy. He shoots from the hip and hold traditional core values. My name is Rosaldo Russo. I came to this great country to make a better life for myself and my family. I thank Canada for everything it has allowed me to do and earn. I worked construction all my life. I know the value of hard work and honesty. I remember as a boy my father always telling me to work hard and buy land. So I did. I remember days when I did not have enough to eat. I go to work... but I did not wait for hand outs. I rounded up my pride my skill and my determination to succeed and went to work. In those days the only benefits we received was the fact we were employed. Before retiring I was the owner and operator of local material supply company that allowed me to retired without worry. Now that I have time to enjoy life. I look around me and have some concern for future generations. I see that the world is finished. I am retired but still wake up every morning and work real hard. I try to contribute to society in any way I can. I love this great nation of ours. I love my city. But my heart aches when I look around me and see it deteriorating the way it is. Have you ever tried calling, Bell, Rogers or any major entity including banks? You get the usual automated voice machine. A machine that increased your blood pressure by a few points. First, to many choice. Second in some cases they are hard to underhand. They come at you to fast and my old brain can’t compute. Now you press the almighty zero. And you get some person with a heavy accent. They ask you a bunch of verification question to assure you the best customer service. BULL. Ok so I waste 10 minutes answering Rakishi’s questions only to be told I am in the wrong department. OH America, America. Only to be put on another que and wait another 20 minutes. What has ever happened to these big companies having the decency to hire people to answer the phones. I remember when I first came to Canada. Dialing zero and getting this very courteous operator. She was always very friendly and informative. She would talk to you for as long as you needed and she would enlighten you on many current event. Her main job it seemed was to serve the customer. I called Bell the other day. I got put out to some guy in INDIA. I knew it was going to be a bad day when he called me by the wrong syntax. Hallo Mr. Rosaldo. Hell, even I know that is wrong. Now don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against Indians. But what is my personal information doing in India. Then he transferred me to some woman in the carib. I could hear chickens in the background. I asked her are those chickens. She apologized and said yes. Then I think out of embarrassment she once again transferred me. 36 minutes into the call and I just about forgot what I was calling them for. Oh yea. Cancel my service with them out of sheer frustration. What is happening in Canada. Don’t even get me started on my call to Rogers or my bank. We need to bring back the customer satisfaction. We need to bring back the customer first mentality. I feel like some of these companies treat us as cattle. Then again. I can tell that many of these people working in these call centers do not have the same social etiquette or principles we have in Canada. I want my Canada customer service back. Don’t you ? I ENDORSE JOE INGINO FOR MAYOR OF OSHAWA IN 2022 VOTE INGINO

3 Reasons You're Struggling in Your Job Search

3 Reasons You're Struggling in Your Job Search By Nick Kossovan I'll get right to it; the top 3 reasons why job seekers struggle with their job search are: 1. How you talk to yourself. The most important factor predicting success isn't your situation but what you tell yourself about it. Your mind never stops talking to you. Your internal dialogue (a.k.a. narratives) determines your actions, beliefs, values, and moods. If you tell yourself, "Hiring managers won't hire me because I'm overqualified and they think I won't stay long," you aren't getting to the actual "whys" of why you're not getting interviews. Instead, you're expressing the beliefs that absolve you from being responsible for your actions. It's easier to blame being overqualified than considering your LinkedIn profile, resume, interview skills, or lack of professional network as possible reasons why you're not getting hired. Say to yourself: "I have lots of qualifications and experience. It's just a matter of finding an employer who views my qualifications as an asset, not a liability. There's an employer out there who'll hire me!" Your mental narratives can inspire you or deplete you. A slight shift in your mindset can spark a cascade of changes so profound that you'll be speechless. As a job seeker, firmly believe, "What you believe, you'll achieve." 2. Your expectations. Having realistic expectations is the key to happiness. This is especially true when job hunting. Your expectations determine your attitude. You tend to have a positive attitude when your expectations are met or exceeded. The reverse is also true: You tend to have a less-than-stellar attitude when your expectations aren't being met. Often, I see job seekers attempting to duplicate their previous position, thus prolonging their job search. 15 years ago, you won the job search lottery. In your last job, you earned a base salary of $110K, plus an annual $20K bonus, full medical coverage, stock options, 3 weeks of paid vacation time, and 10 sick days. Unfortunately, you were downsized and therefore forced to move on. Due to my pragmatic nature, I assume your goal is to get back to work ASAP. You don't want to spend all your savings or go into deeper debt during your job search. The shorter your job search, the better; therefore, look for low-hanging fruits. $75K jobs are much easier to land than $110K jobs. (You don't need to keep a $75K job forever, right now, all you need is income.) Before beginning your job search, consider the compensation you require to cover your needs (not your wants). By eliminating or curtailing your "wants spending," you'll be able to live on much less. Ask yourself if maintaining the lifestyle you've created is stressing you out. Is the effort to hold on to your lifestyle worth it? Does your lifestyle make you happy or cause anxiety? Do the benefits of climbing the corporate ladder outweigh the mental fatigue caused by constantly navigating office politics and working long hours to appear like a "team player"? Can you imagine living a simpler lifestyle, thus needing less money, making you calmer and happier? A short as possible successful job search requires having realistic expectations-realizing there's fierce competition for the few "desirable jobs." 3. Not looking for your tribe. Here's my best job search advice: Don't look for a job; look for where you belong. Look for your tribe! I know an ex-midlevel marketing executive and avid golfer who worked for a large global consumer goods company. He was aiming to become the next regional vice president. Thus, he put up with the travelling, backstabbing office politics, and dealing with department heads who had agendas of their own. A shuffle in the leadership led to a new boss. Eight months later, at 49, he was shown the door. More than once, he told me that golf kept him sane. Today he manages a local Golf Town store, says he's happier, and his golf game has improved. Is he making as much money as he used to? No, but he's in a better place than before. Isn't that worth something? I've experienced working for "the money" versus working where "I belong." Working where I belong is much more satisfying and better for my well-being than working for money and being miserable. Consider what you're passionate about. Which values matter to you most? What skills do you enjoy using? Look for companies where you'll be a natural fit. Making finding where you belong a priority throughout your job search is the best compass you can use. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nick Kossovan, a well-seasoned veteran of the corporate landscape, offers advice on searching for a job. You can send him your questions at artoffindingwork@gmail.com

Tiger By The Tail

Tiger By The Tail I need help. The woman I am seeing is the most incredible person I have ever known. We get along wonderfully, love the same things, and the sex is indescribable. The problem is after orgasm I get very sick to my stomach. This has never happened to me before…ever! What's the deal? Ken Ken, a friend once told me about a dream he had. He was standing on a beach surf casting when he felt an enormous tug on his line. He jerked his rod back hard, and his catch flew over his head and landed behind him. When he turned to see what he caught, he saw he had a tiger by the tail. The tiger advanced on him, marching him into the sea. He woke in a sweat and instantly understood what the dream meant. He was having an affair with a married woman, and he needed to end it. Somewhere in your story is a tiger, though you omitted it from your letter. Is this woman married to someone else? Are you? Is she your student, or too young, or the child of a close friend? Is she your subordinate? What tiger has your stomach twisted in knots? When you answer that question, you will have our answer. Wayne All The Lonely People Hopefully you two can give me guidance. I am a 35-year-old woman living alone, never married. But that's not the problem. I feel like I don't know how to make friends. Okay, stop laughing. I was raised in a very lonely environment and had very, very few friends as a child. Now, as I have grown, I feel like I missed some lesson about how things go. And I feel particularly stupid asking for help. I am a massage therapist and have cursory friendships with a few clients. But nothing more ever develops. When I talk to the few people who know me well, they have no answers. They say, "You need to go out and make new friends!" But they don't have an answer when I ask, "How?" I admit I am shy, but I love to do all kinds of things and go out by myself often. I've gone to concerts, museums, gallery openings, and even into New York City just to wander around. I make small talk, but people just walk away. My breath does not smell, I bathe daily, I am attractive, I smile. I can't think of anything I do to make people turn around and go. But I must be doing something wrong. I just don't know what. I'm almost resorting to having my mother send me her worn-out old copy of "How to Win Friends and Influence People." Sheri Sheri, the easiest place to start is by going where you are wanted. There are a host of organizations and causes which need your help, places where you will be missed when you are not there. All that is asked of you is your time, your personality, and your willing heart. Some possibilities include teaching people to read, reading to the elderly, or joining a book club. Hospitals are usually desperate for volunteers, and every major disease has groups dedicated to finding a cure. There are environmental groups, food pantries, political parties, and community betterment groups. The list is almost endless. There are also good books on friendship, such as Val Walker’s “400 Friends and No One to Call.” One organization we recommend is Toastmasters International. They have clubs in more than 60 countries, and they are dedicated to helping their members improve their speaking and listening skills. At a Toastmaster meeting, everyone speaks. You need not be embarrassed by your problem. When Wayne's was in Toastmasters, he knew a career army officer who was a paratrooper. This man had no fear of jumping out of airplanes, but speaking to individuals and groups terrified him. Though personally, I can't understand why anyone would want to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. Tamara Wayne & Tamara write: Directanswers@WayneAndTamara.com

Viruses Love a Weak Immune System

W. Gifford-Jones, M.D. and Diana Gifford-Jones Justin Bieber, the mega-successful pop icon, has had better days. His mental health and addiction issues are common to many superstars. He’s had Lyme disease and infectious mononucleosis. COVID infections interrupted concert dates. Now, he is suffering from a viral disease that has affected his speech and made him cancel more concerts. At only 28-years of age and all the wealth one could want, what’s going wrong? Doctors have determined his latest problem, a condition known as Ramsay Hunt syndrome. It occurs when the same virus that causes chickenpox activates in the ear and facial nerves causing facial paralysis and hearing loss in the affected ear. He is being treated and will be back on the stage soon. But Ramsay Hunt syndrome is not the main culprit. It is the result of a weakened immune system that simply doesn’t have adequate store of resources to mount a successful fight against a virus. In Bieber’s case, the chickenpox virus has likely been living dormant in his nerves since childhood. Now that it has resurfaced in a painful and potentially damaging shingles outbreak, doctors are probably treating him with a combination of anti-viral drugs, corticosteroids, anti-anxiety medications, and pain relievers. How much better off would Bieber be, however, if the obvious risk factors were heeded prior to the development of the disease? At his age, he should be in the peak of good health. But his occupation and fame come with a lot of pressure. It’s no wonder, without sufficient care, his immune health falls down. Many North Americans had chicken pox in their youth. They ensure their children are immunized, and never think of it again. But when the virus comes out of hiding in the spine where it’s been hibernating like a bear for years, a shingles outbreak never leaves any doubt that something is happening. Victims usually detect a rash occurring along the rib cage. The degree of pain varies from person to person. The majority of patients suffering from shingles often say, “I can’t even stand the light pressure of clothing touching the skin.” It also depends on where shingles strike. Shingles in the eye, for example, can be very serious – not just in terms of the debilitating pain, but also potential lasting vision impairment. The best defence is a peppy immune response when the nasty virus surfaces. That pep comes from ample supply of the ingredients the immune system needs to fight viral infections. What are the most important of these? Always remember, vitamin C is more than a vitamin. It’s also an antiviral, antifungal and antioxidant. During infections, or trauma such as surgery, when the body is under significant stress, vitamin C levels in the blood can be reduced by as much as 90 per cent! Vitamin C can help prevent infections, shorten the stay, and ease the severity of symptoms. Likewise, vitamins E, A and D are essential. A balanced diet should include these vitamins and other key minerals like iron and zinc. In addition, exercise regularly. Drink plenty of water. Get good sleep on a regular basis. And minimize stress. In Bieber’s case, it’s doubtful he can achieve the prescribed balance. All the more reason he should be bulking up on the easier ingredients, like high doses of vitamin C, and the sooner the better. Fortunately, most cases of Ramsay Hunt syndrome have a good outcome. But the stakes are high for a superstar. More focus on prevention could mean the difference between decades of artistry or a tragically early end to a career. Sign-up at www.docgiff.com to receive our weekly e-newsletter. For comments, contact-us@docgiff.com. Follow us Instagram @docgiff and @diana_gifford_jones