tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35953239242338934302024-03-13T10:09:33.683-07:00Dr Flavius Akerele III's The E Team Education blogOn going issues in the education world. Join the conversation please!Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.comBlogger630125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-25918524824693402972023-05-12T17:16:00.000-07:002023-05-12T17:16:02.143-07:00The Banking Industry will fine you for not having money<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGm1pyvVxuyvDn2eZO6YiZMT8kcSvKroRg3EOcXPhnsZySBtsv3BcnQRoPXpVN7bjGlLTi6HBWlmq0hzxmxr389q1ryVZr8J2AtApZ4ZcA87bAFEoJ352r_Ghl-1b7SFGJ7ISEmM_vOZ8oUHfDDIStgaEdFPmkXpXISCqj7epebWPGzJnrIyNZdYBR0w" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjGm1pyvVxuyvDn2eZO6YiZMT8kcSvKroRg3EOcXPhnsZySBtsv3BcnQRoPXpVN7bjGlLTi6HBWlmq0hzxmxr389q1ryVZr8J2AtApZ4ZcA87bAFEoJ352r_Ghl-1b7SFGJ7ISEmM_vOZ8oUHfDDIStgaEdFPmkXpXISCqj7epebWPGzJnrIyNZdYBR0w" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Monthly maintenance fees, convenience fees, check cashing
fees, teller deposit fees, overdraft fees, extended overdraft fees. Telephone
fees, fee fees fees!<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p class="MsoNormal">I just cashed a large check at the bank it was drawn from,
and they charged me $7.50. I asked a simple question about the fee: “what is the
fee for?”, and the teller could not answer it but said “I will ask my manager
to answer you’. Manager comes and proceeds to give me a paragraph on “how it
depends on how the account is set up”, blah blah blah. I politely let her know
that she did not answer my simple question, but never mind. She moves on with
no shame and does not care. Surely you can simply tell me what a fee is for?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The reason I had to go to that bank to cash the check is because
my own bank wanted to put a five day hold on the money and would not divide up the
check into my 2 different accounts like I asked until the hold was up. The hold
by the day did not include Saturday and Sunday so really it was a seven-day
hold. I have been an account holder with them for almost 20 years…<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Banks need to do better; the nickel and diming really does
hurt people who are living paycheck to paycheck, and it does not provide better
customer service in any way. Banks need to stop acting like they are doing you
a favor by charging you a monthly fee in order to use the money you own, and
before anyone shout out “credit unions!”, just know I have an account at credit
union as well and I fail to see the difference in policies; yes, I get more free
ATM access but that is about it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">No, I do not have a solution, this was more of an
observational rant, so thanks for listening.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Dr Flavius
Akerele III<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">The ETeam<o:p></o:p></p></div><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-89443643552856952332021-12-24T16:05:00.006-08:002021-12-24T16:05:48.730-08:00What I hope for in 2022<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9vFl-WAUiGg/YcZgQH6r1DI/AAAAAAAAYZk/3alobf7Q0DgzqaK-FtlkKQR6gK-X111lACNcBGAsYHQ/header-T-AAR_0.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="1000" height="172" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9vFl-WAUiGg/YcZgQH6r1DI/AAAAAAAAYZk/3alobf7Q0DgzqaK-FtlkKQR6gK-X111lACNcBGAsYHQ/header-T-AAR_0.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">#whatihopeforin2022<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The past is exactly what it is, the past. While we can learn
a lot from it, we can never really go back, and nor should we. However, I do
remember a time before social media when we did not have ability to comment on
every single thing instantly, I remember when courtesy was paramount when
sharing written words with people. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What I hope for in 2022, is that we learn to better use this
powerful tool called social media, that we recognize that the person types the
fastest is not always right, and that we stop using term like “with all due
respect” so disrespectfully. I also hope that we have learned tomorrow is never
promised, so spend the energy on being polite rather than rude.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">I hope 2022 is a successful year for you all, and I hope it
the year of RESPECT.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Dr Flavius AB Akerele III<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The ETeam<o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-51261063974169673242021-12-21T13:49:00.002-08:002021-12-21T13:49:19.616-08:00Collateral Consequences: do we really believe in rehabilitation? If so, let us show it<p> </p><p><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 12px;">"There are at least 40,000 federal, state and local restrictions across the country, known as “collateral consequences,” that prevent formerly incarcerated people from working in certain jobs and also from accessing various services and opportunities, according to reporting by <a href="https://www.themarshallproject.org/2021/12/02/banned-from-jobs-people-released-from-prison-fight-laws-that-keep-punishing-them" style="color: #ef7521; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">The Marshall Project</a>, which focuses on criminal justice issues and employs currently and formerly incarcerated reporters. Some of the laws even ban former prisoners from securing public assistance benefits or living in public housing".</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; margin: 0px; padding-bottom: 12px;">"Most of these laws—72 percent—limit people with past convictions from working in certain jobs. The most commonly restricted fields include health care, public service and education, according to a 2021 <a href="https://csgjusticecenter.org/publications/after-the-sentence-more-consequences/national-snapshot/" style="color: #ef7521; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">report</a> by the Council of State Governments Justice Center. The laws range widely, however, and bar people with a conviction history in <a href="https://niccc.nationalreentryresourcecenter.org/consequences" style="color: #ef7521; text-decoration-line: none;" target="_blank">some states</a> from becoming cosmetologists, manicurists and barbers. These restrictions can prevent formerly incarcerated people from pursuing their fields of choice by denying them licensure for specific careers, forcing them to undergo background checks or prove they’re rehabilitated, or making it illegal for certain types of employers to hire them".</p><p>https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/12/15/incarcerated-students-face-maze-legal-obstacles-jobs</p>Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-32110669068075029452021-09-22T14:44:00.000-07:002021-09-22T14:44:10.015-07:00Four pillars of an educational institution’s existence<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oSwGDfeS880/YUui6kD0dTI/AAAAAAAAXmE/wsdIhkW1ftYnp-Cldn1DWhtrUEF_WhvTACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/The%2BEteam%2Blogo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oSwGDfeS880/YUui6kD0dTI/AAAAAAAAXmE/wsdIhkW1ftYnp-Cldn1DWhtrUEF_WhvTACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/The%2BEteam%2Blogo.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Imagine the institution is a car, and I prefer the car
analogy rather than “ship” because most people will never get on a ship but
will have driven in some kind of four wheeled vehicles.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p class="MsoNormal">These pillars are not necessarily in order, but they most definitely
need to be in balance in order to steer correctly.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Financial stability<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Enrollment<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Accreditation<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Retention (of students and staff)<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">From time to time the tires must be changed; sometimes it is
one because of a flat, sometimes it is all four tires because they have
expired. You also must check the pressure and tread of each tire on a regular
basis.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Can everyone in the school answer these questions with some degree
of certainty, or at least know how to readily find the answers (students
included):<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Does the school have a strategic plan? If not,
why not?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->How do you measure the benchmarks on your
strategic plan (if you have one)?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->What is the mission of the school?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->What is the vision of the school?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->5.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Do you have enough funding to complete the
fiscal year?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->6.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->How many alumni do you have, and do you have an
alumni database?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->7.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->How many teachers stay more than 2 years?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->8.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->How many students transfer out after a year?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->9.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Are you in compliance with your accreditor and
when is your next accreditation visit?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]-->10.<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Can you name the council person of the
neighborhood where your campus is located?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Seems basic right? However, so many schools’ administrators
cannot answer all these questions (or know where to find the information), let
alone staff and students. This information should not be a secret.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XvKz_R4T290/YUujfo23qwI/AAAAAAAAXmM/jPIlTpi65Tw7u8Le1T2QfUeJocWab4_OACLcBGAsYHQ/s262/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="262" data-original-width="192" height="262" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XvKz_R4T290/YUujfo23qwI/AAAAAAAAXmM/jPIlTpi65Tw7u8Le1T2QfUeJocWab4_OACLcBGAsYHQ/s0/images.jpg" width="192" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If you can quantify everything on this one sheet of paper,
then you are in decent shape. The question is can you?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Dr Flavius Akerele III<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The ETeam<o:p></o:p></p></div><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-36513198636478268102021-07-06T08:12:00.003-07:002021-07-06T08:12:37.923-07:00Sharing an article: Aggressive Collections for Students but Not Institutions?<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KueUXyy1Kb0/YORyw4yPWmI/AAAAAAAAWik/QsGCAhjXHKMiLjRdtUC_Pf2WeIHOvPxDACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/The%2BMissing%2BBillion.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="322" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KueUXyy1Kb0/YORyw4yPWmI/AAAAAAAAWik/QsGCAhjXHKMiLjRdtUC_Pf2WeIHOvPxDACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/The%2BMissing%2BBillion.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p>"<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px;">A report by the National Student Legal Defense Network highlights how the Department of Education seeks to collect debt from student borrowers while appearing to not put the same energy into collecting debt from hundreds of institutions"</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/07/06/report-institutions-owe-12-billion-education-department?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=a998f0a486-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-a998f0a486-198173850&mc_cid=a998f0a486&mc_eid=337f2d56fa#">https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/07/06/report-institutions-owe-12-billion-education-department?utm_source=Inside+Higher+Ed&utm_campaign=a998f0a486-DNU_2021_COPY_02&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_1fcbc04421-a998f0a486-198173850&mc_cid=a998f0a486&mc_eid=337f2d56fa#</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Institutions owe
far more than students ever could…. #education #highereducation #studentdebt
#equity<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-8670911716650380672021-07-05T09:58:00.004-07:002021-07-05T09:58:52.378-07:00The problem with buzzwords<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yaq5Vr-XA9w/YOM6CCKKypI/AAAAAAAAWiI/fv-ySY3Ub_kqSzlgOmGh4CK54lyONdKrQCLcBGAsYHQ/s664/1520122482362.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="381" data-original-width="664" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yaq5Vr-XA9w/YOM6CCKKypI/AAAAAAAAWiI/fv-ySY3Ub_kqSzlgOmGh4CK54lyONdKrQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/1520122482362.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Every few years, we see new “buzz words” being promoted in
the workplace, and even more so in the education industry. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In no particular order or reason, here are a
few:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Disruptive<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->360 reviews<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Best practices<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Consensus<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Common core<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Cooperative learning<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Standards<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Efficacy<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Etc. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Right now, the current trendy buzzword or buzz phrase is “<b>diversity,
equity, and inclusion</b>”. I see many companies hiring for those positions, I
see these words being incorporated in mission plans, action plans, and so many
other areas.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Diversity, equity, and inclusion: seems like a great idea,
right? But how many companies are actually doing it? How many people can explain
it in simple terms? How many companies try and communicate the message to all
employees in ways that are clear?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Do you assign this position to the only minority (minority
is more than just skin color) in the office because you think that is what
needed? Do you post a hiring ad for a diversity director and then never fill
it? <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Buzzwords are not supposed to be just words, they are
supposed to be a major shift in the way business is done. They are supposed to
be a radical change in something we have been doing wrong or could be doing
better. There is the saying in that education has not really changed in 100
years, and while that is not entirely accurate, it is also not completely
wrong. Education is just as guilty of creating buzzwords, and then calling it a
change, even though it really is not a change from the norm.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Real change is going to make a lot of people very
uncomfortable; it really will “disrupt” lives. Real change is hard to come by,
because nobody really likes to change and even more people fear it.<o:p></o:p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vyDGnaUpBrc/YOM6QIi9QFI/AAAAAAAAWiM/PC3RGdddCGM3qzEtV0K06-bLli1hx8EzACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/buzzwords-large-msg-115096505661-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vyDGnaUpBrc/YOM6QIi9QFI/AAAAAAAAWiM/PC3RGdddCGM3qzEtV0K06-bLli1hx8EzACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/buzzwords-large-msg-115096505661-2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">We need to do better, leadership needs to do better, and
here is a radical thought: how about we start with simple courtesy. Let us use the
platinum rule and treat people the way THEY want to be treated.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Dr Flavius A B
Akerele III<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">The ETeam<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">#diverity
#inclusion #change #equity #education #hiring #leadership<o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-69421214926378105592021-06-30T12:18:00.000-07:002021-06-30T12:18:04.032-07:00Never apologize for growing older and wanting to work<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nWhqjTmBUME/YNzDTEcoPbI/AAAAAAAAWfs/FZPaHSFwkeIugrZNC0WK3maKSkg_GXW1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s640/notdeadyet-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nWhqjTmBUME/YNzDTEcoPbI/AAAAAAAAWfs/FZPaHSFwkeIugrZNC0WK3maKSkg_GXW1QCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/notdeadyet-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">There are a lot of
people and entities giving advice to people of a certain age looking for a new
job; and one thing the pandemic has shown us is that a lot of people still need
to and are trying to work.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Browsing though
various articles such as:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<h1 style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -.1pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: black; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">“</span><span style="color: #212529; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -.1pt;">Tips
for Finding a Job After 50”<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #111111; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #212529; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -.1pt;">“</span><span style="color: #111111; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">7 Tips for Getting a New Job in Your 50s”<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="background: #F7F7F7; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .5in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="color: #111111; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">“</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Job Searching Over 50: 8 Secrets for Success”<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="background: #F7F7F7; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="background: #F7F7F7; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">I realize that a common theme throughout all,
is that there is a sense that being over 50 is a negative somehow, and you need
to diminish yourself and your experience in order to get someone to hire you.<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="background: #F7F7F7; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="background: #F7F7F7; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Since when has experience become an
impediment to finding work? Since when did we have to start apologizing and placating
potential employers because we had the audacity grow older?<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="background: #F7F7F7; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="background: #F7F7F7; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Employers need to start looking at things a
different way because there is a lot of wasted talent out there becoming
discouraged, simply because society only seems to value youth.<o:p></o:p></span></h1><div><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ixRIqZ3wq3Y/YNzDYYbCgRI/AAAAAAAAWfw/VYftfzu6fpUsYjSviGtcLKVRXoxs36PeACLcBGAsYHQ/s1200/https___cdn.cnn.com_cnnnext_dam_assets_200902161444-jobless-claims-coverage-usa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ixRIqZ3wq3Y/YNzDYYbCgRI/AAAAAAAAWfw/VYftfzu6fpUsYjSviGtcLKVRXoxs36PeACLcBGAsYHQ/s320/https___cdn.cnn.com_cnnnext_dam_assets_200902161444-jobless-claims-coverage-usa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div>
<h1 style="background: #F7F7F7; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="background: #F7F7F7; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Things to think about.<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="background: #F7F7F7; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="background: #F7F7F7; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">Dr Flavius A B Akerele III<o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<h1 style="background: #F7F7F7; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;">The ETeam<o:p></o:p></span></h1><br /><p></p>Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-87831941766944254912021-03-21T17:42:00.000-07:002021-03-21T17:42:02.484-07:00Being ghosted after a professional interview<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JWJjtAYMDCE/YFfnluzGeCI/AAAAAAAAVzY/pRHlAZToJ5kjlA_V_SydxRcne_o9N43RQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1000/ghosting.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="668" data-original-width="1000" height="268" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JWJjtAYMDCE/YFfnluzGeCI/AAAAAAAAVzY/pRHlAZToJ5kjlA_V_SydxRcne_o9N43RQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h268/ghosting.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Let us assume you did everything correctly as far as
interview protocol, let us assume you were a very strong candidate for the position;
in other words, you did nothing wrong.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Something we must recognize in these phenomena of
employers “ghosting” qualified candidates after an interview, is that a lot of
the hiring managers are not professional recruiters, and sometimes professional
recruiters are bad at their job. If you think about it, there really is no
consequence to them for doing that, especially when so many people might be
vying for that one position.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">We are a in a different age where the golden and
platinum rules of courtesy are not always applied, and the advice candidates
must understand is that<b> this will happens sometimes so just move on</b>.
Sometimes it is not that easy to move on.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This is an interesting article I am sharing on “ghosting”:
<a href="https://www.vault.com/blogs/interviewing/3-things-to-do-when-you-re-ghosted-post-job-interview">https://www.vault.com/blogs/interviewing/3-things-to-do-when-you-re-ghosted-post-job-interview</a>,
and the last sentence is important. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
says: “<span style="background: white; color: #585f64;">you may never find out why
a particular company ghosted you. But why would you want to work for an
employer that shows so little consideration for candidates anyway?</span>”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LP2cMv1ECKk/YFfnuWHB3AI/AAAAAAAAVzc/dLi8Ryaw7akCnzGxKhtaygJ4iqLChiW3wCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/1263_556995_ghosting.hero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="113" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LP2cMv1ECKk/YFfnuWHB3AI/AAAAAAAAVzc/dLi8Ryaw7akCnzGxKhtaygJ4iqLChiW3wCLcBGAsYHQ/w200-h113/1263_556995_ghosting.hero.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #585f64; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Know your worth, never
give up, and for the who ghost just remember, one day this might be you.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #585f64; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dr Flavius A B Akerele III<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #585f64; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The ETeam<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: #585f64; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: #585f64; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">PS. I am not trying to
be negative, but sometimes you just must stop excusing peoples’ bad behavior</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-80364770390512151172021-03-10T19:10:00.006-08:002021-03-10T19:10:48.336-08:00Judgment in the time of COVID<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZyV_V-Sheeo/YEmJ-KSwzyI/AAAAAAAAVuo/PO80lORVTzYlCzizBYPz5-zc9nVm0mlqQCLcBGAsYHQ/images.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZyV_V-Sheeo/YEmJ-KSwzyI/AAAAAAAAVuo/PO80lORVTzYlCzizBYPz5-zc9nVm0mlqQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/images.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p class="MsoNormal">We should always be conscious of our words, even in the best
of times, because words can have a powerful affect on people, even if they were
not consciously said with spite or malice. We are not living in the best of
times, not even close. People have been out of work for over a year, they are
struggling to pay bills, as well as dealing with the mental health of their
families and themselves.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With all the various text forms of communication available,
and the growing trend of texting not speaking means that the words you type are
very easily misconstrued. Plus, we also have the phenomenon of the “keyboard
warrior” where people feel safe cyber bullying people from behind a keyboard.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You do not need to put yourselves in someone else’s shoes to
be polite, you do not have to dig deep to ask yourselves some simple questions
before you hit send (or digitally open your mouth in some way):<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Is it true?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Is it kind?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Is it necessary?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Life is tough right now, so why pick a fight when you can
have fun? Why make enemies when we all need friends?<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Choose wisely because tomorrow is never promised.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Dr Flavius A B Akerele III<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The ETeam<o:p></o:p></p><p></p>Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-43267875147197492532021-03-05T20:39:00.001-08:002021-03-05T20:39:35.693-08:00Communication and job interviews<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wqgCmkTIxbc/YEMGWsKGgEI/AAAAAAAAVss/8hQPlzNcWKwTSggjV0QmxajX1B0qvM4JwCLcBGAsYHQ/s300/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="300" height="247" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wqgCmkTIxbc/YEMGWsKGgEI/AAAAAAAAVss/8hQPlzNcWKwTSggjV0QmxajX1B0qvM4JwCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h247/unnamed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is not a personal story, just an observation, and I
have observed this happening more frequently as more people are competing for the
same job.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Are you aware that most people can take rejection, even when
it is a job that they really want? Professionals understand that rejection is
part of the story, but not the final story.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">What makes professionals truly mad, especially in today’s
world where there are so many forms of communication, is when there is no
communication after an interview.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Respect a professional’s time, you respected them enough to interview
them, and that often means you could end up working with them in the future.
There is no need to create a negative image of yourself by “ghosting” after a
professional interview. It just makes you look bad.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Practice what we teach.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Dr Flavius Akerele III<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">The ETeam<o:p></o:p></p><br /><p></p>Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-50402783301569405542020-12-24T17:58:00.003-08:002020-12-24T17:58:16.250-08:00Merry Christmas from the ETeam!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d9Yt-cYA4l0/X-VHBsl-V5I/AAAAAAAAVLQ/UskrFZTOdc0FgVszNPPK2OHfXNMcC4SwgCLcBGAsYHQ/s794/il_794xN.2654087117_b0g7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="635" data-original-width="794" height="512" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d9Yt-cYA4l0/X-VHBsl-V5I/AAAAAAAAVLQ/UskrFZTOdc0FgVszNPPK2OHfXNMcC4SwgCLcBGAsYHQ/w640-h512/il_794xN.2654087117_b0g7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-56021905510907995082020-11-10T15:45:00.004-08:002020-12-24T17:56:34.249-08:00My father often reminds me<p> Not that I have failed at anything recently, but COVID has made things dificult; for all of us. My father pulled out this gem he had us learn as kids. Thanks Dad!</p><p>Dr Flavius Akerele III, The ETeam</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IeRb_ci8J48/X6smBbFPuMI/AAAAAAAAVDU/TJODH7gsLUY6S9Yul79L-yX2q0ap9ZwJQCLcBGAsYHQ/bicycle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="463" height="197" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IeRb_ci8J48/X6smBbFPuMI/AAAAAAAAVDU/TJODH7gsLUY6S9Yul79L-yX2q0ap9ZwJQCLcBGAsYHQ/bicycle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 1; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Try Try Again</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">by
T. H. Palmer</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: rgb(249, 249, 249); line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 3;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-color-alt: windowtext; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">'Tis a lesson you should heed,<br />
If at first you don't succeed,<br />
Try, try again;<br />
<br />
Then your courage should appear,<br />
For if you will persevere,<br />
You will conquer, never fear<br />
Try, try again;<br />
<br />
Once or twice, though you should fail,<br />
If you would at last prevail,<br />
Try, try again;<br />
<br />
If we strive, 'tis no disgrace<br />
Though we do not win the race;<br />
What should you do in the case?<br />
Try, try again<br />
<br />
If you find your task is hard,<br />
Time will bring you your reward,<br />
Try, try again<br />
<br />
All that other folks can do,<br />
Why, with patience, should not you?<br />
Only keep this rule in view:<br />
Try, try again.</span><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-17624236901227893132020-08-02T10:18:00.003-07:002020-08-02T22:53:53.502-07:00Explaining what defunding the police really means<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zR7l0rLvKIA/Xyb1Igc0Q-I/AAAAAAAAU44/-0Ybo0qG1Wc4BvxNVq3Y3qe4s8_wfwyHACLcBGAsYHQ/s506/Defund%2Bmeans%2Bto%2Breform%2Bso%2Bchill%2Bout-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="506" height="327" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zR7l0rLvKIA/Xyb1Igc0Q-I/AAAAAAAAU44/-0Ybo0qG1Wc4BvxNVq3Y3qe4s8_wfwyHACLcBGAsYHQ/w405-h327/Defund%2Bmeans%2Bto%2Breform%2Bso%2Bchill%2Bout-1.jpg" width="405" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><p class="MsoNormal">First of all, defunding is not a great term, and I bet even
now some people are losing their ever-loving minds when they hear it. Please
relax and listen to logic. Also, I am not using specifics here, just general
information.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b>Reforming</b> might be a better term for now, so I will
use that, along with some other Rs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Re allocation</b> of resources and budgets
needs to occur. If the police are going to be considered professionals, then
they need training that reflects true professionals, and an average of 16 weeks
will not do it. Police need more education, training, and psychological and
drug testing before they are ever given a badge and able to interact with the
public solo. Move that money from military equipment to training officers
before they are sworn in; this would weed out a lot of the “bad apples” before
they start, and like any true profession, this training needs to be renewed on
a regular basis.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Re-imagining</b> the role of police from <b>warriors
to bodyguards and guardians</b>. Warriors are trained to kill and subdue their
enemies and the public are not the enemy. <b>The thin blue wall must come down,
and the thin blue line must be erased</b>, quotas and incentive systems need to
go. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There should be no fictitious barrier
between the public and the guardians that are supposed to protect them. Like
doctors, police should be held to a higher standard, and that should include
malpractice insurance and higher consequences for wrongdoing tied to pension or
promotions. Police currently are <b>rarely held accountable for hurting and
killing their wards</b>.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7pt "times new roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b>Respect</b> the people you are sworn to
protect, all the peoples, regardless of race, socioeconomic background, or mere
suspicion of being a criminal (hopefully training will reinforce this). In the current
form, police demand respect of people who are terrified, which to them means
absolute obedience. However, this is America, and you cannot expect a country
of people founded on rebellion to be subservient. Give respect and you get
respect! By showing respect to the communities they are supposed to protect,
they will get respect and be rewarded with trust.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><b>The stats show the police have
a failing grade in their current iteration, so it seems obvious something new
needs to happen, but Reforming police is only part one, there are at least 3
more parts.<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><b>District Attorneys</b> need to
be transformed to seekers of true justice and not statistics driven deliverers
of punishment. We are seeing real results with DAs who believe in justice not
just punishment. Justice needs to be truly blind, so that punishments can truly
fit the crime.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><b>Prison system</b> needs to
change from <b>penal to correctional and rehabilitative. </b>Prison is place of
little or no hope, it is place you try and survive like “escape from New York”
where the strong prey upon the weak. Right now, the corruption in the prison
system is the worst part of the whole criminal justice system because it is <b>profit
driven and prison guards are the most corrupt out of all law enforcement</b> <b>officers
</b>because there are few eyes on them, and <b>society does not value the
people in the prison system as people</b>. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><b>Probation and parole </b>are
also a corrupt system due to the <b>profit incentives to collect fines and fees</b>,
and the corrupt nature of these officers to exploit desperate people who are
just trying to survive. The prison and parole/probation systems recidivism rate
are so high! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their job and promotions should
be ranked based upon how few people go back to prison; the idea as that we want
them out of a job eventually.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;"><b>This would take a massive
culture and political shift in this country</b>, the lip service and small
gestures will not do it, and we must be prepared to fire a lot of people who
are not doing their job correctly, because that is what happens in <b>professions</b>;
you lose your job if you are not doing it.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in;">This is my translation of defund the
police, and if you still feel the system is doing a great job, I wish you well.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">Dr Flavius A. B Akerele III<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in;">The ETeam<o:p></o:p></p><br /></div>Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-39718992122341953252020-06-11T16:27:00.007-07:002021-07-13T09:34:59.154-07:00This is social media<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K7iN1RXvgIE/XuK9vG1fbeI/AAAAAAAAUmk/6T8lJU1WJBYAloPO8ihDgY8U-KFzWfBnwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/american-flag-wind.jpg"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K7iN1RXvgIE/XuK9vG1fbeI/AAAAAAAAUmk/6T8lJU1WJBYAloPO8ihDgY8U-KFzWfBnwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/american-flag-wind.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is social media, so I am fully aware it is not really “social”.
I am fully aware that some people behave differently in the online format than
they do in person. However, some of you have proved to me that you believe in
“selective justice”, you believe that the constitution does not protect all
people just those who agree with you, and some of you so-called Christians have
shown you do not believe in Christianity.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George Floyd is a symbol, really, he should be a symbol for
all who love freedom from oppression, and obviously many of you have never
experienced “over policing” <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and true
fear of the police like others have had, most minorities are not criminals
(different topic).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am not sure how much is true, but is possible George Floyd
was a felon and did time? Yes, but guess what? He did his time and had been
living a righteous life by all accounts. Does being a past felon mean you get
the death penalty for a so-called crime you have not been convicted of? Does
your criminal past mean you should be condemned to death?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
George Floyd is catalyst of something much bigger, something
many of you try and ignore. The United States is only 243 years old; it is a
very young country. Slavery ended 155 years ago, so guess what? It is still
within living memory! You have children whose parents fought in the civil war
still alive now, and you have people whose grandparents were slaves still alive
now as well. The scars have not healed.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We live in a great country, with great potential, and we may
not always agree with each other; and that is ok. The name calling, the
dismissing of peoples’ thoughts and feelings, the lack of civil discourse, and
the casual ignorance needs to stop! We will never be truly great until we can
be great to each other all the time on all levels, and if you cannot see this
than you are more blind than Stevie Wonder.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dr Flavius Akerele III<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
PS, I am not going to debate you on social media, that is what a
cold beer and conversation is for.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-69075473981092053462020-02-11T11:22:00.000-08:002020-02-11T11:22:10.811-08:00How to lose valuable employees<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OgIRRrynDO0/XkL-gCeIP-I/AAAAAAAAT1M/NMp7rtfGk_IX8RjuRoeFvRK8RFZv5khkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/bad-leadership-FFA9KJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="1300" height="189" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OgIRRrynDO0/XkL-gCeIP-I/AAAAAAAAT1M/NMp7rtfGk_IX8RjuRoeFvRK8RFZv5khkgCLcBGAsYHQ/s200/bad-leadership-FFA9KJ.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Step one: bad communication and lack of
communication<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "symbol"; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Step two: create cliques and surround yourself
with those loyal to you. Freeze out those you arbitrarily do not like and never
give credit or acknowledge any work they have done for you.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It does not
take much to not do this, so why do educational institutions who teach these
simple things keep making the same mistakes? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ty_qeschfs/XkL-xuwa7AI/AAAAAAAAT1U/l3rEarD6kkIGjPbe8hGKzW8lVyNcCCxrgCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/badleader.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="750" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_ty_qeschfs/XkL-xuwa7AI/AAAAAAAAT1U/l3rEarD6kkIGjPbe8hGKzW8lVyNcCCxrgCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/badleader.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-20429394501279908852020-01-21T21:49:00.000-08:002020-01-21T21:49:00.355-08:00A misconception of race topic<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h7p_Yp6dO04/Xifhl34VNMI/AAAAAAAATyw/7-491vnWEisE6Sn8sDVd5Veeua4BzFrEgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/OHA_PMO_Ethnicity_Misc_healthdisparities_full.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h7p_Yp6dO04/Xifhl34VNMI/AAAAAAAATyw/7-491vnWEisE6Sn8sDVd5Veeua4BzFrEgCK4BGAYYCw/s320/OHA_PMO_Ethnicity_Misc_healthdisparities_full.jpg" width="248" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will preface by saying I will be using the term “black”, “black
people”, etc., for reference purposes only.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Are you aware that there are more black people outside of the
United States than within?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Are you aware of the fact that there is no “black race” nor
such thing as “black culture?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Some of you are puzzled at this point, so let me break down
a few things for you:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->United States culture does have a huge impact on
how black people around the world are perceived, but it is not representative
of all black people around the world; not even close<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Contrary to popular beliefs, skin color does not
make a culture<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Identifying oneself as “black’ is a western
concept and popularized and solidified into western culture<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Most people with black skin around the world
identify themselves by their kingdom, their region, or their people. For
example: in Nigeria there are Yoruba people, Hausa people, Igbo people, etc.
(there are many more, this is just an example)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Are you aware that within the small population of black people
in the United States, that there Is not one culture either? The diversity is
vast because it is a large country with many different influences. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Are things clearer now?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do not expect you know anything about a person based upon
their skin color, do not expect someone with the same skin color to have
anything in common with you. Do not put people in boxes that fit your
narrative, reject stereotypes, and labels that are designed to make you
comfortable but not the other person.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Changing your mindset over this simple thing could open your
world to people, experiences, and life that you have never experienced.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0CaVX2DfKP8/XifiKoMOC7I/AAAAAAAATy8/vpVUB7_fTXEFPaqVODt1dtE6pjdZSVlsACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/051667cb7d1501968065853088e33c3cdb55ec.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0CaVX2DfKP8/XifiKoMOC7I/AAAAAAAATy8/vpVUB7_fTXEFPaqVODt1dtE6pjdZSVlsACK4BGAYYCw/s320/051667cb7d1501968065853088e33c3cdb55ec.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am not saying you have to change, but I am saying that you
cannot expect people to conform to your misguided perceptions, and not get push
back; we all want to be valued, we all want out authentic story to be told.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dr Flavius Akerele III<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The ETeam<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-87942984577158763182020-01-01T18:49:00.003-08:002020-01-01T18:49:50.522-08:00Too many opinions not enough facts<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sgZk1pHemSY/Xg1aLJAydsI/AAAAAAAATxg/plTX8-rOUxkSILHkzj09aXkwpOAs6wH1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/large960_blur-302fb5b47c9c286913248024d4c8fc8e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="960" height="190" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sgZk1pHemSY/Xg1aLJAydsI/AAAAAAAATxg/plTX8-rOUxkSILHkzj09aXkwpOAs6wH1gCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/large960_blur-302fb5b47c9c286913248024d4c8fc8e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Occasionally I put out a few simple facts on social media,
especially when it comes to law enforcement overreach. It is no secret I am not
a fan of the double standard of police overreach and community abuse, but I try
and express it a logical manner (most of the time).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Anyway, I digress. How does a discussion of police overreach
and victimless crimes get diverted into a discussion of illegal immigration
when that had nothing to do with it? How do you believe in justice for some but
not for all, especially simply because of skin color? How do you get to cherry pick who is subject to the protection of the constitution? How do you put out statistics
that even a 6<sup>th</sup> grader can prove wrong and call it fact?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Memes are not a political discussion, and neither is name
calling.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is very difficult to have healthy and positive
discussions with people right now, and almost impossible on social media.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How did we come so far with rudeness? How did we sink so
low?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is not a blame game, but a call to action! Remember who
we all are! Remember that we all have rights and are entitled to the same
protections equally in the eyes of the law. Also, not all laws are just.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Just a bit of a rant. #courtesy #politics #truth #civility
#education #justice<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dr Flavius A
B Akerele III<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The ETeam<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-77083777968302345022019-09-02T12:48:00.000-07:002019-09-02T12:48:13.337-07:00Mass shootings and more…<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j_gK_ZTVtJ4/XW1xvw9bsOI/AAAAAAAATQE/HuJIqiae_SQe9Vr6GED8KfHL4MOIetFPwCLcBGAs/s1600/militarystylepolice.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="168" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j_gK_ZTVtJ4/XW1xvw9bsOI/AAAAAAAATQE/HuJIqiae_SQe9Vr6GED8KfHL4MOIetFPwCLcBGAs/s320/militarystylepolice.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
This is not a political post; this is not anti-gun or
pro-gun. These are just some quick and dirty facts that anyone can look up and
everyone should be concerned about.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I will start by giving you two numbers: 388 and 5959; and I
will also tell you that these numbers are from the year 2014 until now.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mass shooting affect more than just the victims, it leaves a
scar, it makes us afraid and wonder how this can be happening in places we
consider safe. Churches, schools, shopping malls, movie theaters, etc. The
thing is, terrorism (and mass shooters are terrorist by the very definition of
the word) is something we have not experienced at the same level many other
countries or continents have. I know right there has set some people off, but
it is simple fact and we should be thankful for it. No one wishes regular
terrorism on anybody.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The two numbers should concern us, because they are both
numbers of people killed in this country (wounded would double each number).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
388 is the number of people killed by mass shooters. 5955 is
number of people killed by police, both from 2014 to current 2019.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
5959, if a profession is responsible for such a large number
of deaths of its own citizens, don’t you think it is time to reexamine that
profession? How can any profession be responsible for so many deaths and not be
help accountable? Military members must account for every bullet they fire,
they have rules of engagement they must follow lest they be court marshalled;
and most of these military members following these rules are straight out of high
school. But they still understand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We need more than a conversation, because it seems like the deadliest
thing in America right now, is the police.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dr Flavius A
B Akerele III<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The ETeam<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
PS, I would
love to be proved wrong on this, but I do not see how because those people are
still dead.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-480585693995739792019-09-01T10:20:00.002-07:002019-09-01T10:20:48.030-07:00Non-Partisan Elections<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PxB1-N-XjMs/XWv9lGrpiQI/AAAAAAAATPw/Y2cNLz8QdVEAzdS0gkHpshr-FVdRxBGeACLcBGAs/s1600/Idea-thinking-think-concept_13-512.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="512" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PxB1-N-XjMs/XWv9lGrpiQI/AAAAAAAATPw/Y2cNLz8QdVEAzdS0gkHpshr-FVdRxBGeACLcBGAs/s200/Idea-thinking-think-concept_13-512.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
There was a time at the local
level, that all elections were non-partisan, political parties were not included
at all, and quite frankly not needed. We have seen that creep away quickly over
the last 15 years, and we need to go back to that.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Let’s take it a step further and
suggest that we do that at more national levels of politics as well because
party affiliations have simply divided people into three tribe, with two of the
tribes on the verge of civil war and the third (really mixed smaller tribes)
wondering what the heck is going?!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Between 1861 to 1865 we have had
tribes fighting, and it led to a huge number of deaths, and we still have not
reconciled that fight it seems. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are still actual children of soldiers from that fight still alive today,
collecting VA benefits.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Anyway, I digress, so let me put
it in simple terms. I am tired of political parties going at each other in the
way we are seeing now, nothing is getting accomplished, and remember the
parties (tribes) are not the same now as they were after 1865, that is a simple
fact.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
People are voting the party without
considering the candidate for that party, and a lot of these candidates are
coming up short. Can you also imagine the money we could save without primary
elections? How much good could be done with those billions of dollars in saving?!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Slavery does exist still, both
literal, and in this case figuratively. Some of you are slaves to a political
system that you do not even understand, really care about (you are just
programmed to care), and it certainly does not care about you. Blind loyalty
means the blind are leading the blind. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kcuvA9mfYjg/XWv9ybAOCjI/AAAAAAAATP0/zjgObCTVYVIZhVzlh2ADBNLVIKuOVaThgCLcBGAs/s1600/LG_2019_019_Blog_1600x1084_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1084" data-original-width="1600" height="216" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kcuvA9mfYjg/XWv9ybAOCjI/AAAAAAAATP0/zjgObCTVYVIZhVzlh2ADBNLVIKuOVaThgCLcBGAs/s320/LG_2019_019_Blog_1600x1084_01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Notice how I did not mention
political party names? I know each group is going to read this the way they see
fit and understand, and that is ok because that means you have stopped posting
your rhetoric on the internet for a couple of minutes to think.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Dr Flavius A B Akerele III<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
The ETeam<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-81741269578360884072019-08-30T21:14:00.002-07:002019-08-30T21:14:23.757-07:00Old religions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7hRPMO_ttls/XWn0FdfPeoI/AAAAAAAATPY/pEwz00bfos0Vh5vRX0_Q6x2FeEYe16rnACLcBGAs/s1600/words-religion-101-on-blackboard-600w-549461569.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="420" data-original-width="600" height="224" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7hRPMO_ttls/XWn0FdfPeoI/AAAAAAAATPY/pEwz00bfos0Vh5vRX0_Q6x2FeEYe16rnACLcBGAs/s320/words-religion-101-on-blackboard-600w-549461569.webp" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
“Santería, also known as Regla de Ocha, La Regla de Ifá, or Lucumí, is an Afro-American religion of Yoruba origin that developed in Cuba among West African descendants. Santería is a Spanish word that means the "worship of saints". Santería is influenced by and syncretized with Roman Catholicism”</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
“Voodoo is a religion that originates in West Africa. In the Americas and the Caribbean, it is thought to be a combination of various African, Catholic and Native Ameri<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline; font-family: inherit;">can traditions. It is practiced around the world but there is no accurate count of how many people are Voodooists”</span></div>
<div class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21; display: inline; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px;">
“Candomblé is an Afro-Brazilian religious tradition, practiced mainly in Brazil by the povo de santo. Candomblé originated in Salvador, Bahia at the beginning of the 19th century, when the first temple was founded”</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Common thread of these religions is that they are all of Yoruba origin because of the people an the descendants who practice it, and like all religions, don’t believe all the negative hype (except believe those catholic priests have sick fucking habits). There is nothing inherently evil about these religions, in fact, quite the opposite because they are about life; but then bullshit and Hollywood films got involved and we have the idea that we have right now.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Another common thread is that all these religions were disguised under catholic saints. How is that possible? How could they have been intertwined with Christian religion? The answer is simple, and surprising to some; the Yoruba religion is monotheistic in nature. There is one big guy, “Olodumare also known as Olorun (Almighty) is the name given to one of the three manifestations of the Supreme God in the Yoruba pantheon and one and only god the Yoruba believe in”. You do not bother him for little things, that is what the helpers were for, just as saints are there to help the Christian god.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Sound familiar? Because religion is a human creation, truth is truth, and as humans, the ties that bind us are closer than we think, and sometimes closer than is convenient for some.</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Things to think about…</div>
<div style="font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 6px; margin-top: 6px;">
Dr Flavius Akerele III</div>
</div>
Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-52746753606261268052019-06-18T22:05:00.000-07:002019-06-19T07:54:22.121-07:00The law and our children<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9Z0B32RxRI/XQnCQ3-3yoI/AAAAAAAASyo/oeenMIMznswcqkfIS2DftV9TEeSyLqNoACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/62550326_2616058271739920_6270558815146475520_n.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9Z0B32RxRI/XQnCQ3-3yoI/AAAAAAAASyo/oeenMIMznswcqkfIS2DftV9TEeSyLqNoACK4BGAYYCw/s400/62550326_2616058271739920_6270558815146475520_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Policemen need to be perfect; this is a simple truth.
Imperfection in a job that can cost people their lives, has no place. Sorry but
that is absolute the truth, so if you are not hiring the best educated, the most
honest people, you are doing society a disservice. If you are not instilling
the “civil service” part and the “public safety” part, you are being criminal.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An airline pilot that accidentally crashes planes will not
be a pilot for long, a doctor or nurse that accidentally kills patients will
probably be prosecuted and certainly sued. Heck, teaching is a profession where
we acknowledge and embrace mistakes, teachers get vilified, hounded, sued, and prosecuted
for things that would not make the news if they were not teachers. Bus drivers that crash, taxi drivers that drive drunk, train conductors that derail trains;
all these people would lose their jobs and probably be in jail. How come a
police officer that kills people is exempt?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Police get exonerated because they ‘followed procedure”, we
know the procedure is wrong, but so be it. However, when police are hurting,
maiming, and killing kids; how can they be following any kind of procedure?
When we lock away a teenager for 65 years for a teenage mistake, when we treat
them as an adult when they are no where near being one, what does that say about
the value a society places on our kids?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For a supposedly ‘civilized and developed” society, we have
some very barbaric views and practices when it comes to children, because even
the most primitive cultures for the most part have a simple and sacred rule
about children. CHILDREN ARE TO BE PROTECTED!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How does a society allow police officers to hurt and kill
our children and not only face no legal consequence but keep their jobs?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Am I missing something here? What changed? Or have we always
allowed this, and we are just noticing?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Law enforcement is a job, it is not a profession, because a
profession means you have truly certified professionals doing the job. Maybe it
is time we required professionals?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Dr Flavius A B Akerele III<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
PS, there is no justification possible for what is
happening, so please do not troll and give the usual arguments.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-28717980120474473232019-04-30T13:56:00.000-07:002019-04-30T13:56:08.310-07:00Constitution for all or just the people you like and agree with?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l9ggyJ7gxhw/XMi2Qce-a0I/AAAAAAAASW0/MoDwhCW9F6sGMZvGk0wLNV01KYMh5n5cwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/Patriotism-750x270.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l9ggyJ7gxhw/XMi2Qce-a0I/AAAAAAAASW0/MoDwhCW9F6sGMZvGk0wLNV01KYMh5n5cwCK4BGAYYCw/s320/Patriotism-750x270.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Patriotism</span></b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">:
“<span class="one-click"><u><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a;">devoted </span><span data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="love" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">love, </span><span data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="support" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">support, </span><span data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="and" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">and </span></u></span><u><span style="background: white;"></span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"><span data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="defense" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; cursor: pointer; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">defense<span style="color: #3a76c3;"> </span></span></span></u></span><u><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; float: none; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">of </span><span class="one-click"><span data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="ones" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">one's </span><span data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="country" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">country; </span><span data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="national" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">national </span><span data-linkid="nn1ov4" data-term="loyalty" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">loyalty</span></span></span></u><span class="one-click"><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a;">”.</span> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nowhere in this definition does it say hate. Furthermore,
since only about 0.5 percent of the population are serving in the military,
being patriot is not just the providence of military folks. You do not have to
have been a combat veteran in order to truly have served in the military (most
military veterans have not and will not see combat)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="one-click"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="one-click"><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Showing ignorance and hatred towards a group, religion, or people
is not patriotic!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="one-click"><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="one-click"><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">People practice patriotism everyday by being good citizens,
raising good citizens, and by being kind to your neighbors. Trying to live a
good life and helping others live a good life, despite the struggles we all
have, while struggling to put food on the table, and never giving up, is about
as patriotic as you can get!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="one-click"><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="one-click"><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">If you do not have a flag in front of your house it does not
mean you are unpatriotic (most of you are breaking flag code by the way), you
can disagree (and should disagree) with your government and still love your
country, and you can dislike aspects of your country and still be patriotic. After
all, we want it to get better right?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="one-click"><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="one-click"><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">America cannot get better if you truly do not believe we
should all be treated equally. I am not saying we all have to agree all the time,
in fact healthy disagreement is good for growth; but at least disagree with the
intent to try and find common ground and not just to argue. We do not have to
believe in the same things, but we are entitled to our own individual beliefs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="one-click"><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="one-click"><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Constitution</b>:
if you do not believe <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">we are all</b>
entitled to its rights and protections, then you really do not believe in it
all.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="one-click"><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="one-click"><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Dr
Flavius A B Akerele III<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span class="one-click"><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
ETeam<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="one-click"><span style="background: white; color: #1a1a1a; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Comments and healthy debate are welcome, disrespect will not
be tolerated.</span></span><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-14794832626279048412019-03-21T13:54:00.000-07:002019-03-21T13:54:55.140-07:00Education: a funny profession we work in<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XajddOYIRg4/XJP5mLAkarI/AAAAAAAARpE/RHMSnQW-DXQXvyvaeGrFpVCVIwz7GpVaACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/mandela.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XajddOYIRg4/XJP5mLAkarI/AAAAAAAARpE/RHMSnQW-DXQXvyvaeGrFpVCVIwz7GpVaACK4BGAYYCw/s400/mandela.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
I have been fortunate to have worked in education for more
than 20 years now, but, there are some days I say to myself: WHY?!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
I have seen kids grow from teenagers to adults with kids, I
have been invited to wedding, been to some their funerals. I have been a
passenger on my students’ journey.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Along the way I have met some great people, I have also met
some horrible people who made me wonder about humanity. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
I have learned that as educators we tend to be gossipy in
nature, and not just about students but about each other. I have learned that
we must simply struggle to make ends meet sometimes, but that there is always a
way. I have been laid off more times than I care, but I have always worked. I
have worked for some wonderful institutions, and I have found wonderful opportunities
only to lose them to something completely beyond my control.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Education is a rollcoaster, and that is a pity. It is a pity
because we are supposed to always be that stable presence in the lives of our students,
we are supposed to that rock that keeps the country steady. After all, a good
education should lead to even better opportunities right? It should not be a rollcoaster,
it should be a steady train that is always on time and always reaches its
destination.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Education should not play favorites in the classroom, nor
should it play favorites to determine who gets to teach in the classroom. It
should not be who you know, but how much can you demonstrate and impart (on to
others) what you know.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What have we done to change</b>
the system we have? <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What are we allowing
others</b> (who are not qualified education professionals) to do to our
profession? Are there plans for true change? Are there plans for the for-profit
sector and non-profit/traditional sector to sit down and learn from each other?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
I could go on, as could anyone who is passionate about this
profession could; but I wish I couldn’t. I wish I had all the answers, or
better still, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">right questions</b> to
ask so we could all find the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">right
answers</b>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9EmDSxzU7eQ/XJP5z-tCl6I/AAAAAAAARpM/mwqDX4f8ylkyz_9T9LlcT3KxMaq7hYc9ACK4BGAYYCw/s1600/steady.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9EmDSxzU7eQ/XJP5z-tCl6I/AAAAAAAARpM/mwqDX4f8ylkyz_9T9LlcT3KxMaq7hYc9ACK4BGAYYCw/s400/steady.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
What are you doing to steady the ship? What are you doing to
get our profession into the 21<sup>st</sup> century? Those involved in
education policy who are not educators: what are you doing to help educators
and to work collaboratively with educators?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Share your stories, some positive news is always welcomed!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
Dr Flavius A
B Akerele III<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
The ETeam <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-59015018034738190862019-03-04T19:34:00.003-08:002019-03-04T19:34:30.408-08:00Managers need training!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TzZDiNT_Wn4/XH3uMk_jGXI/AAAAAAAAQpY/CWBYZLq0E5Eloq5o8GAkDR6T3z97qhHQgCLcBGAs/s1600/leadership-and-management-training.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="356" height="235" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TzZDiNT_Wn4/XH3uMk_jGXI/AAAAAAAAQpY/CWBYZLq0E5Eloq5o8GAkDR6T3z97qhHQgCLcBGAs/s400/leadership-and-management-training.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Managers,<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you find yourself always listening to what people around
you say simply so you can give your opinion? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you find yourself always having to give advice to other people’s
lives and things such as: the food they eat, their lifestyle choices, or their
political choices: even though nobody asked you?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you find yourself always wondering why everyone is wrong
and why you are always right?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you find yourself always looking over the shoulder of your
really good experienced employees to the point that they do not feel satisfied
with their job anymore and leave?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wouldn’t it be nice to actually feel secure about insecure
yourself and make others feel more secure and appreciated in their jobs?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do no despair! You can get help for it, it is called
training! Management training is a real thing, you no longer must keep “faking
it until you make it”. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If you are serious, feel to reach out the ETeam and we will
happily point you in the right direction! <a href="http://www.theeteamconsulting.com/contact-us.html">http://www.theeteamconsulting.com/contact-us.html</a>
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dr Flavius A
B Akerele III<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
The ETeam<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
#certification
#leadership #training #management #theeteam<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3595323924233893430.post-56444281407323740562019-01-17T14:41:00.000-08:002019-01-17T14:49:13.917-08:00Judgment, hypocrisy, and other sins in today’s world<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6V-sT6TDFso/XEEC7OdohwI/AAAAAAAAQSU/9KA1Bq7VB94odwpys0w7SMn45chVBGxMQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/judge.png" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6V-sT6TDFso/XEEC7OdohwI/AAAAAAAAQSU/9KA1Bq7VB94odwpys0w7SMn45chVBGxMQCK4BGAYYCw/s400/judge.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Are
you always the perfect one and everyone else is slacker? Do you have all the answers
all the time? Do you find yourself pushing your views on people and attempting
to make them feel guilty about not thinking like you? Do you like to announce to
the world your latest diet and then make sure everyone eats just like you? Are
you the only person in the world who cares about the environment and the downtrodden?
Then congratulations! You are probably suffering from something, and ticking
off a lot of people around you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I
know this is a sarcastic way to start an article, but sometimes things like this
need to be said. This is not about politics and political parties, and this is
not about social justice or morality. This is about how the internet has made
everyone an expert, this how social media has made people forget how to be truly
social with real people, and this how the term “IN VINO VERITAS” became a
reality due to the anonymity of mobile technology.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">We are
witnessing hypocrisy in its highest form by people who are supposed to profess Christian
values, and we are witnessing a mockery of religion from those who claim to be Christians.
Mahatma Gandhi famously said </span><span style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal;">“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your
Christians are so unlike your Christ”. This could also be said for Islam, and
Judaism; the world’s other largest religions. Hate has always been spewed in the
name of religion, but now we have to hear and see it in this never ending news
cycle.<br /><o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"> </span></span><span style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;">It is ok to believe
what you want to believe, it is ok to support whatever politics you want to support.
Whatever you believe and whatever you support, make sure you are espousing your
own thoughts and using your own words, make sure that your beliefs are part of the
authentic you; and make sure that you are consistent and not a double-standard
hypocrite</span></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-size: 12.0pt; font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-71N8sirtyd4/XEEDit4LDzI/AAAAAAAAQSk/xLNXkHT1GZIpWpAQKJgw534YEj-e3mK6QCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/judgmental.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-71N8sirtyd4/XEEDit4LDzI/AAAAAAAAQSk/xLNXkHT1GZIpWpAQKJgw534YEj-e3mK6QCK4BGAYYCw/s400/judgmental.jpg" /></a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.75pt; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;">
<span style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Dr
Flavius A B Akerele III</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal;">The
ETeam</span><span style="color: #181818; font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #181818; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #181818; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">PS, I do not claim any religious expertise,
but I though these quote from 3 religious books were appropriate</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">John
4:20: </span></b><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">“<span style="background: white; color: #333333;">If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he
that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, cannot love God whom he hath not
seen</span>”.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;">Surah AT – Tawbah – Verse 67:</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #333333; line-height: 107%;"> </span><strong><span style="background: white; color: #404040; font-weight: normal;">“The hypocrite men and the hypocrite women are as one another; they
enjoin evil and forbid good, and they keep their hands shut. They have forsaken
Allah, so He has forsaken them, (too). The hypocrites are indeed the
transgressors.”</span></strong><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Sotah 22:</b>
<span style="color: #414142; line-height: 107%;">“</span><span style="color: #414142; line-height: 107%;">What is a pious fool
like? For example he sees a woman drowning in the river, and he says: 'It is
improper for me to look upon her and rescue her'”. Piety is great but misplaced
piety is deadly<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.</b></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #414142; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;"> </span></span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<br />Flavius Akerelehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14166199281400139184noreply@blogger.com0