The initial numbers are indelible: 8:46 a.m. and 9:02 a.m. The time the burning towers stood: 56 minutes and 102 minutes. The time they took to fall: 12 seconds. From there, they ripple out, reports New York Magazine about the September 11, 2001, terror attacks. (more…)

I got stopped by a police officer today. I’m not proud of that fact, nor am I disputing whether I should have been stopped. I was guilty. The officer pulled me over for what he defined as a rolling stop – no further explanation required. However, during this stop, I received more than I needed. I received an in-depth education as to why police officers are sometimes sarcastically referred to as “Officer Friendly” – though I think a more apt term could be “Officer Unfriendly” or perhaps “Officer Having a Bad Day.” (more…)

Mine is a relatively low-risk profession. The possibility of disaster striking my cubicle is relatively low, and the odds of being shot by a disgruntled coworker fairly small (at least I hope they are).

But, I have life insurance, accidental death insurance, and I have a will.

I’m prepared for death, though I don’t think it’s just around the corner. (more…)

Last month, highway patrol officers visited 20 classrooms at Oceanside, California’s El Camino High School to deliver some horrific news: Several classmates had been killed in car wrecks over the weekend. Things quickly turned chaotic, with many of the kids openly weeping, and some becoming hysterical and inconsolable.

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You know you’re growing “older” – let’s make that more mature – when you find yourself uttering the things you promised you’d never say. For instance, my husband continually rants about the “hooligans” next door, while I echo my grandfather’s complaints about government policing and having it in for “the man.”

Now this blog is not intended to get into a political discussion – after all my parents visit this Web site too – and we are definitely not on the same political page. But here’s my problem: The Bush Administration has not been kind to law enforcement and it’s got me seeing red. I see that our government has billions available for the War on Terror, but for the war within our borders, funding falls short. (more…)

It’s no secret: hiring is not an exact science. If it were, I would have never employed someone who informed me before she quit a few months later that she didn’t realize the “hours were mandatory.” I thought it went without saying that a full-time job required full-time hours, but clearly I’d forgotten some of the wisest advice I’ve ever been given: Never assume anything… So, I guess I’m guilty as charged.

It is really impossible to know who you’re hiring from an interview. It’s a lot like dating - everyone is on their best behavior when he or she begins seeing someone new. Annoying quirks and other idiosyncrasies remain hidden until a commitment has been made. Dating’s smooth talker generally comes with an ulterior motive as does the charismatic job candidate who says all the right things but once hired seems more interested in office politics than hard work. (more…)