Kindness Meter: Eleven people, including four strangers, have performed twenty-eight acts of kindness. Eight days left to perform seventy-two more acts of kindness.
One of the acts of kindness was a stranger sending me a link to a web site about acts of kindness. I guess it is an actual movement! Here is a link with examples of seven hundred and ninety-three acts of kindness:
www.aunitedworld.org/allpifpages.asp
The answers to Friday's sample questions are: Robert Lowery, Adam West, and Michael Keaton all played Batman. “The Crooner”, “Chairmen of The Board” and “Ole Blue Eyes” are all nicknames for Frank Sinatra. Since the contest starts tomorrow there are no sample questions today. As of now eligible participants for the contest are Mary, Mary Z, Bev, Dona, Pat, DR, Kaye, Red Whistle, Kim, and Connie. If you want a chance to win your choice of a $25 Starbucks gift card, a $25 Home Depot gift card, or a stained glass angel valued at over $100 post a message anywhere on The Dahn Report between now and when the "what do these three things have in common" contest starts at 7 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time on Monday, June 17, 2009. For more about the rules of the contest read my post from June 12, 2009.
OK, did anyone notice that they no longer have analog TV? Did the switch from analog TV to digital TV go smoothly in your house and your city? Frankly, I wouldn't have noticed any difference had there not been so much news about it!
Now a couple of stores from today's Oregonian. You can always read the Oregonian at oregonlive.com
Dateline, Nicktown, Pa. "In 29 years of enforcing sewage laws in Pennsylvania. Jack E. Crislip has never faced violators more adamant or more pleasant to deal with than members of the ultraconservative Swartzentruber Amish sect." The basic story is that for over two years Crislip has trying to get members of the Amish sect to upgrade outhouses next to a school house on land owned by Andy Swartzentruber, one of five elders that guide the twenty family Amish set. Elder Swartzentruber was scheduled to be released from county prison today, after spending ninety days behind bars for failing to correct county violations at the outhouses. This Amish sect shuns all modern conveniences such as cars, television, telephones, and running water in their homes. The sect did agree to upgrade their outhouses by adding a 250 gallon holding tank and treating the waste with lime. However, they determined that the county's request of a five thousand gallon pre-cast concrete tank and allowing someone certified by the state to use an electronic meter to test the waste content as being to modern for their beliefs. In response a judge has ordered two homes and their barns padlocked forcing those two families to move in with relatives. Which side of the sewer debate do you land on? The Amish own the land that the outhouses are on, shouldn't they be able to do what they want with their own property? However, the county is worried about health issues and disease, don't they have the right to protect their residents?
Dateline, Prague. "When Petra Kalivodova, a 31 year-old nurse, was considering whether to renew her contract at a private health clinic, the offer of special perks helped clinch the deal: complimentary German lessons, five weeks vacation, free liposuction, and silicone breast implants." She stated she would rather have plastic surgery than a free car. As the Czech health care system faces a dire nursing shortage, clinics and hospitals are resorting to unusual incentives to retain talent. Health care officials have stated that they view free tummy tucks or remodeled breasts no different than one shot signing bonuses. Where Kalivodova works, as a surgical nurse, the offers of plastic surgery has increased the number of applicants by ten percent in the past three months. Supporters of the bonus plan say that the nursing shortage is hurting patient care. Critics say the offer of plastic surgery demeans what is largely a female profession. Where do you land on the issue? Bonuses of plastic surgery, rewarding or demeaning?
What is the most unusual bonus that you have received? (I've never received anything but money, a turkey or a ham.) Like the Amish going to jail because of their beliefs, do you believe in anything strong enough to go to jail for? (The only thing I can think of is I'd *probably* go to jail rather than to indict someone I love.)
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Yesterday, a friend and I went to an unusual lunch. It's in the back of a Thai/Chinese restaurant, and it's some people doing Thai "street food". The first act of kindness was done for us. We selected various items to try, and when we asked how much, they said they were samples and no charge. It turned out to be quite enough for lunch, and neither of us could have choked down any more, but we felt guilty, so we purchased some more to go, which we would not ordinarily have done. Does that count as an act of kindness? Or just an avoidance of guilt feelings? It was certainly an unusual lunch and an unusual and pleasant experience.
The switch to digital went seamlessly here for those of us on cable. Can't speak for the antenna people, but the paper said there were far fewer calls than they expected.
Opinions: 1) The Amish should get with the program when it comes to public health concerns.
2) If offers of free plastic surgery keep nurses working, I say go for it.
I can't remember ever receiving a bonus, but I may have gotten tiny ones back when I was working in medical offices. Too long ago and too small to remember.
Hi Pat
Actually I would count as two acts of kindness, they give you free food and you paying for a meal you didn't really need or want.
I kind of agree with you about keep the nurses working but I'm not so sure about The Amish. I kind of admire their spirit and they way they stand behind their beliefs.
Bill
I didn't check the website you listed, but it seems to me that maybe five years ago there was a movement for "random acts of kindness." I remember one suggetion was paying the toll for the car behind you. (Amazing, the stuff my mind stores!) As I recall, it got a fair amount of publicity at the time. Gee, maybe we should lobby for newspapers to do a weekly on it and for ministers to preach on it once a month or so, to keep the concept alive and growing.
We didn't notice anything with the analog/digital switch, but then we're on cable and rarely watch TV. The test will be the first RV trip with the converter and antenna.
I'm a little ambivalent about the Amish situation, given we don't have any details. I understand their beliefs and their determination to hold to them and I admire the elder for going to jail. In addition, they did agree to the upgrades and a treated holding tank. I guess my question would be whether there is a valid concern about polluton/
contamination/disease or whether this is a case of the politicos demanding that everyone meet certain requirements that are meant for the majority of sewage treatment issues, rather than looking at the Amish community as a different situation.
As to the nurse... again ambivalent. Given the nursing shortage, I guess I'd be in favor of just about anything that assures we have sufficient care for hospital patients. However, like you, I do wonder what it says about about self-esteem and self-acceptance. Personally, I think I'd prefer a nurse who was more interested in monetary benefits or bonuses that made her life style easier than one who's concerned about the size of her breasts or tummy. Still, as Pat says, whatever works, I guess. Let's just say I'm not real comfortable with the approach.
Unusual bonuses? Yes. I'm not sure if the first is really a bonus, but it was to me. When I worked for GMAC, a dealer with whom I worked a lot sold me a new Firebird convertible at factory invoice (I could never have afforded it otherwise). When I left Raytheon to move to AK, the office gave me a CB radio for the cross country trip, as a bonus for work done. I had an editorial client in Georgia who sent me a case of Georgia peaches, after I edited her romance. I had another client give a year's subscription to "Southern Living," after I edited several articles for her. Big bucks? Afraid not. Bonus gestures that I really appreciated? You bet. I guess the best bonus(es) I've ever received are "thank you" letters and notes from people who read my cancer book or attended some of the talks I gave to caregivers. There are some things money can't buy.
Going to jail... If I was forced to choose between renouncing my religious beliefs and adopting others I *couldn't believe in or going to jail, I believe I'd go to jail. Otherwise, I think I'd look for some possible compromise.
Hi DR
I think it may have been even longer ago that that, right after a movie called "Pay If Forward" was in the theaters.
Whether there is a valid cocern re sewage depends on which side of the sewer you listen too. Amish say no, county says yes.
I'd prefer a nurse that didn't care about either money or surgery but just cared about the patients!
Wow did a lot of people in your jobs really appreciate you!
I also got a lot of gifts when I had my own practice, gift cards for movies, chocolate covered hazelnuts, rare homegrown peanuts from Georgia.
Bill
I once worked for a medical office and the Christmas bonus was a year of housekeeping services. Needless to say everybody wanted to work for this office! When it was sold to a medical corporation and Christmas came around the first year, we got a coffee mug for a bonus.
Hi Bev
I love the idea of one year of housekeeping as a bonus!
Bet a lot of people quit after the coffee mug.
Bill
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