Happy Thanksgiving 2018

It is Thanksgiving of 2018.

I'm taking this time to share what I am thankful for, and to give an update on where my life is at the present moment.

I am thankful for the new job I got as a Customer Service rep at State Farm Insurance. I posted about this a couple of days ago. We have ended our primary classroom based training as of yesterday, and Saturday we return for the "nesting" phase of training where we take live calls under the supervision of the trainers. I'm hopeful that this phase will go smoothly and I become accustomed to the flow and procedures of taking these calls and helping the policyholders. It's been a long time since my last call center job, and I'm a little rusty, but I'm hopeful I'll do well. As I said before, the facilities are very nice, at the same level as some of the better call centers I have worked in nationally over the years.

I am thankful that we as a nation got somewhat of a "blue wave" with Democratic control of the House of Representatives in 2019 and what could be excellent momentum for the Democratic Party going into the 2020 presidential race. Americans remain highly divided politically, but as a nation we dodged a huge bullet with these midterms and made it clear we are not happy with the disturbing overreach and the ongoing "constitutional crisis" of Donald Trump and his administration. Two words for 2019 politically: "stay tuned."

I'm going to paraphrase and adapt some of my recent comments on Quora now, to let everyone know how I'm feeling at the moment on the issues.

Someone recently asked on Quora: Would you rather have free healthcare or free education?

My response to that: Why does it necessarily have to be an either/or question?

Here’s my platform:

1. Single-payer health care
1. Basic medical care is a fundamental human right which should never be denied because of lack of ability to pay for it.
2. Single-payer university
1. A bachelor's degree is the baseline standard for gainful employment in our society. An educated population is one that makes better, more sound political, economic and personal life decisions. Higher education should be available for all without the added burden of cost, either during or after the education experience. Tuition, fees, room and board should be 100% free for all admitted students of all public land-grant universities in this country.
3. Universal basic income
1. All citizens need to be provided with a basic income to cover the basic needs of life, including the costs of food and shelter. This basic income, provided without conditions, would replace many, if not most, of today’s temporary welfare benefits, which are generally given only in case of emergency, and/or only to those who successfully meet certain qualification requirements. A basic income would practically eliminate poverty in this nation and give people tremendous bargaining power in the job market.
4. Rent control
1. Basic shelter is a fundamental human right. In almost every city in the United States, it is no longer possible to rent a one-bedroom apartment for a price at or below 25 to 30 percent of one's income (the recommended standard). There is a shortage of housing in many of the largest cities, and what new rental housing there is, is almost always geared towards the higher ends of the market. Residential multifamily real estate is seen too often as a way to increase the earnings and wealth of landlords, landowners and real estate developers. This is contributing to homelessness and poverty and needs to be rectified. There are many proposals out there to do so.
5. Interest-free currency from a nationalized Federal Reserve
1. The Federal Reserve (commonly referred to as the "Fed"), the central bank of the United States which supplies our paper currency, is actually a private organization (somewhat disguised as a public agency). They charge interest on the creation of currency which leads to debt. By nationalizing the Fed, placing it under direct control of the U.S. Treasury (its constitutional job), and eliminating the "fractional reserve" method, our debt problems can be solved and we as a nation can afford to give a guaranteed basic income, as well as the social (and other) programs needed to improve the "general welfare" of all Americans.
6. Massive expansion of public transit
1. Effective and comprehensive public transit makes our cities and towns so much more livable. Access to employment, educational and other centers is critical to meet the needs of society. (I will also include major expansion and funding for Amtrak, which I covered in one of my earlier posts on this blog.)
7. Massive road/highway reconstruction
1. It is estimated that several billions of dollars are needed to improve and rehab our aging road and highway system across the nation. Many of our Interstate highways have not been significantly rebuilt in over 40 years and are at or near the end of their planned/designed service life, and must be fixed or replaced.

All of this can be done. We just don’t want to do it, for various reasons. And our nation suffers.

Someone else posed the question: Do black people want revenge for slavery, Jim Crow, lynching, and racism?

My answer: this Black person does not want revenge.

What I DO want is for me, and all Black Americans (including the descendants of American slavery, but also recent immigrants) and all “non-white” people, to be, finally, at long last, fully, completely and peacefully accepted, acknowledged and integrated into every single facet of “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” in this republic without any resistance, grumbling, whining, complaining, hesitating or push-back from “white nationalists” (or those who agree with and/or enable them) who refuse to acknowledge our common humanity.

If we are truly “taking over” this nation as ethnic and racial minorities (which I DO NOT believe is happening) then allow that process to happen without whining.

We are ONE human species. All human beings regardless of “race” are genetically and reproductively compatible. That is a matter of basic biology.

In America, we do NOT always act accordingly.

That must end if this nation is to last another 240 years.

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The Story of Michael Disclaimer
The views and opinions expressed on this forum are mine and only mine, unless otherwise indicated. They are not necessarily the views or opinions of the management, staff, shareholders, advertisers and/or customers of any of my former, current or future employers, clients, educational institutions, friends and/or family members. They are also not necessarily the views or opinions of any political party, elected official, or any agency of local, state or federal government.

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How to move to a new city with NO money

This is a repost of an answer to a Quora question. These comments are intended for readers needing answers in the United States.

Here are some suggestions based on personal experience. I have lived in six different states since my college days (Texas two separate times), all with little to no money saved up. As you look through this list, keep in mind that most areas of the country have some sort of “211” informational website and/or telephone hotline to refer and provide information about everything I have listed below, so please use the 211 number or website for the city you wish to move to as one of the first steps you take. In many areas the local United Way oversees the 211 program.

(EDIT: If you are under the age of 18 please, please, please also look at this entire thread. Many people posted excellent answers to the question that I think you will find MOST helpful:

https://www.quora.com/I-am-17-and-my-parents-are-going-to-kick-me-out-on-my-18th-birthday-in-August-to-make-me-homeless-What-do-I-do-I-don%E2%80%99t-have-a-driver%E2%80%99s-license-or-a-bank-account-My-parents-say-that-I-cannot-find-a-job-but-that-I-am-%E2%80%9Cfree%E2%80%9D-to-do-so-once-I-leave/answer/Michael-Sheldon-Reed

For a lot of people, it's simply not possible to relocate to a new city by saving a large amount of money beforehand.

1. Realize you will almost certainly need to become homeless temporarily. This means that before you leave, do your research on homeless shelters and related organizations that can help you get established as fast as possible in your new city. Many times, there are shelters and homeless services run by city or county-based government organizations, but don’t expect this in all areas of the country, and if so, the quality of such services varies widely from city to city (some cities do a better job of helping the homeless than others, and you need to factor this into your plans). Two organizations that have somewhat of a nationwide footprint are the Salvation Army and the Society of St. Vincent de Paul. See if one or both of those organizations, or similar organizations, provide food, shelter, etc., for homeless people in the city you are targeting.

1a. It is critical that you get into some kind of shelter situation ASAP. Be in a situation where you have access to storage for your belongings, a place to sleep at night, and a place to shower and change into clean clothes in the morning. In many cases they will accept mail for you, so you can have your mail delivered there (or point you to places where you can have mail delivered - try to avoid the “general delivery” route of having mail sent to a post office.) Most if not all homeless shelters can point you in the direction of services for people seeking employment, and some even require that you actively look for work as a condition of staying there. Take advantage, as applies to your needs, of employment-related services the shelter may offer. Many cities are implementing shared databases, where if you seek services and officially register at one place (for example, a homeless shelter), you are placed in a common database that several other agencies have access to - this could greatly streamline and simplify the process of getting established; the trend seems to be nowadays that otherwise unrelated and unaffiliated agencies and providers are being encouraged by cities to work more closely together and coordinate their efforts to help the homeless.

1a1. Take advantage of any and all chances to get a medical checkup and/or other no-cost medical services and/or treatment while you are homeless. It actually may be more difficult and costly to get this after you have obtained employment.

1b. Do NOT travel to a new city with more than a laptop case and a medium-sized suitcase. Many homeless facilities impose limits on how many belongings a person can bring with them. This means selling, donating or discarding most of your stuff if you have a lot of stuff. Only take the bare essentials, including your birth certificate, your university diploma if applicable, Social Security card (as potential employers may ask for these), and some limited items of clothing. In almost all cases, the homeless organizations should be able to provide clothing to job seekers for interview purposes.

2. Apply for food stamps ASAP. As far as I understand, and unless the rules have changed, if you are homeless, in pretty much all states you will be fast-tracked for food stamps (an “EBT card”) if you are homeless, and in some cases you may be able to use the food stamps for hot meals at participating fast-food places and the deli counter in major supermarkets.

3. Find out how to use the public transit system in your new city if you do not have a car. Some homeless facilities have limited parking and in some cases do not allow private vehicles, so do your homework on that aspect. Sometimes, the homeless facility, or other organizations that help the homeless, can assist you with bus passes at little or even no charge, especially if you are actively seeking employment.

4. Begin applying for jobs. Take advantage of local organizations which help people look for work. The shelter where you are staying may provide such services directly or refer you to other organizations that do. HOWEVER: You may need to use the address of the homeless shelter on your resume and applications. Unfortunately, because of the negative stigma of homelessness and the discrimination some employers have against the homeless, this might be an issue. See my point #10 below.

4b. If you don’t have a cell phone, find out how to obtain one at low cost. Look into setting up a Google Voice account. Have a way where potential employers can reach you by telephone, if only to leave voice mail messages that you can return later.

5. Find out where the main library (the flagship headquarters location as well as a couple of the biggest outlying branches) is and plan on spending time there, maybe even a couple of hours every day during the initial period you are in the new city. Most libraries in most major cities have computers where people can perform job searches, send resumes, check email, etc. An increasing number of these libraries are actually hiring outreach/social workers to connect homeless people with services.

6. In many parts of the country, Goodwill Industries assists homeless and low-income people with job searching and in some cases can provide bus passes and even clothing for interviews. Certainly worth researching. Goodwills are independently operated and their services vary from city to city, even within the same state. If the Goodwill affiliate does not provide such services in your target city, they may be able to suggest to you other organizations in that city that do provide such services.

7. If you have enough money, try and get a photo ID such as a driver’s license, of some kind in your new state. Sometimes non-profit and/or faith-based organizations will be able to assist you financially with this.

8. Obtain a pre-paid debit card, one that has an option for direct deposit of paychecks. This will suffice for the first few months in your new city. Once you get your new job, THEN open a checking account in a local bank or credit union; your new employer may even have a special relationship with a credit union which might save you money and provide certain benefits. I prefer credit unions to commercial banks, as they tend to be more public-service oriented, and are generally less likely to deny you from opening an account with them if your banking/credit history has had some challenges in the past.

9. In most areas of the country (especially places like Texas and other parts of the South), faith-based, church-sponsored organizations (including the Salvation Army and the various “gospel mission” facilities in some cities) provide many, if not most, services to help the homeless and the poor. Their “goal” is to use the power of their faith to somehow make a positive difference in the lives of those less fortunate, or those struggling with some kind of addiction, or those who are coming out of prison, etc., (people who are a large percentage of the homeless population.) Expect this and be respectful of that. This means sometimes, in order to receive services, even food and a bed for the night, you will need to participate in some kind of religious/faith-related activities even if you are an atheist, or otherwise don’t normally participate in religious activity.

10. If possible, and as soon as possible, look into temporarily living in what is called "transitional housing." This is not quite the same as a homeless shelter, but a little bit more of a home-like environment. There may be a faith-based or non-profit organization that operates such housing. Having an address from a place like this may lessen the chance your application or resume is rejected because of anti-homeless prejudice.

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On a large Caribbean island, a young professional Black woman meets a friendly, yet mysterious, stranger in town on a business trip. He cannot discuss the nature of his assignment with her. It's love at first sight and the feelings are mutually intense.


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This Black guy does not want revenge

Read Michael Sheldon Reed's answer to Do black people want revenge for slavery, Jim Crow, lynching, and racism? on Quora ========== Folks, I mentioned I would be presenting products and services on this blog from time to time. I am a part of the eBay Partner Network and here's a product I've been sharing:

the Poweradd Cell Phone Charger.

This is a LIFESAVER. I used this extensively on my recent vacation to Houston on Amtrak. It works GREAT and didn't cost a lot of money.

When you are out and about and using your cell phone, you need a charger to keep your phone charged up without having to look for an electrical outlet. It's portable, works fast and you'll be glad you got one. Or two!



Click right here to go to the Poweradd Portable Cell Phone Charger page on eBay!

Oh, by the way...I have a new job

My period of unemployment is over after being on medical leave since February.

For the past two weeks, I have been in a training class for my new customer service position with State Farm Insurance. About two weeks before, they sent me a box filled with promotional items as a "welcome" to the company:

State Farm's regional headquarters facility in the Valley is in Tempe, in an office complex they built a couple of years ago called Marina Heights. Marina Heights is an awesome facility, very modern and geared towards younger workers somewhat. Plenty of quiet seating for breaks and lunches, and excellent views from floor-to-ceiling curtain wall picture windows. There is a Starbucks on site as well as a cafeteria, small convenience stores, and a branch of the Matt's Big Breakfast restaurant which has been very popular in downtown Phoenix.

The position seems to be like most of the other inbound call center jobs I have had, and may very well be one of the better ones I will have had. If it's anything like the position I had with University of Phoenix, I might like it pretty well. We got a chance to go on the call floor, and while there are no assigned seats, the seats have ample room and give reasonable privacy.

As of this writing, we have one more week of training (actually three days), then off for two days for the Thanksgiving holiday, and back that Saturday to begin the "nesting" or transitional phase of training, where we take live calls. We have been learning a lot of policies, procedures and systems the last two weeks - a TON of information. Hopefully we'll be able to put it all together!

There are about 20 of us in the class, most of the class are younger professionals right out of college, with about 3 or 4 of us "seasoned professionals."

So far, so good. My first paycheck is Friday (the day after Thanksgiving.) Trying to make it on ZERO money right now and living off my "backup" food I stocked up on over the last few weeks. Ramen, spaghetti, rice, canned pineapple and sodas/lemonade. Very glad I got that extra food.

The medical coverage is through Banner Health/Aetna and that kicks in on December 1.

We'll see how things go!

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Caesars Palace Las Vegas Restaurants - All You Can Eat!

I'm a big fan of the YouTube channel "All You Can Vegas." Your host is a guy named Derek. He goes around to the various buffets and restaurants in Las Vegas. Worth a look if you haven't been there already. In this edition, Derek takes us to Caesar's Palace.





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