Or Will America Bring Back Civility?

Can we talk?
Joan Rivers made that catchphrase popular decades ago, but in 2019 the answer to the late comedian’s heartfelt query appears to be a resounding no. Whether it’s tweets on social media, pundits on TV, politicians in Washington, or parents at a youth soccer match, much of the communication we engage in today is ill-mannered, inconsiderate, vicious and sometimes downright cruel or violent. 
In short, civility is taking a beating.
“Incivility occurs because we lose sight of what it means to be an ethical person,” says Dr. Steven Mintz (www.stevenmintzethics.com), author of Beyond Happiness and Meaning: Transforming Your Life Through Ethical Behavior. 
“Ethical people do not berate others. They certainly don’t promote violent behavior. Being willing to accept the ideas of others who may not agree with you is a sign of civil behavior. It values those with opposing views as members of humanity.”
Ellen DeGeneres made that point recently when she became the target of online outrage after she was seen enjoying a Dallas Cowboys football game with former President George W. Bush. Those taking umbrage with DeGeneres didn’t understand why she would hang out with someone whose beliefs and ideals are diametrically opposed to hers.
“When I say be kind to one another, I don’t mean be kind to the people who think the same way you do,” DeGeneres told a studio audience. “I mean be kind to everyone.”
An annual poll by Weber Shandwick, a public relations firm, found that 93 percent of Americans believe there is a civility problem in the country, and Mintz says that, whether people realize it or not, we all pay a price.
“Incivility can negatively affect happiness and impact wellness,” he says. “It can harm mental and physical health, affect productivity in the workplace, inhibit civil engagement, and, taken to an extreme, cause violence in our streets, schools, and places of business.” 
Who’s at fault for the decline of courteous communication? The Weber Shandwick poll found that 57 percent of Americans lay the primary blame on social media and the internet. Other culprits they point to include behavior in the White House (50 percent), politicians in general (47 percent), news media (40 percent), political and social commentators (38 percent) and Hollywood celebrities (30 percent).
Mintz says all is not lost, though. He offers these tips for how everyone can do their part to stem the rising tide of incivility.

• Think before speaking.
• Focus on facts rather than beliefs and opinions.
• Be open to others’ ideas without hostility. 
• Disagree with others respectfully. 
• Focus on the common good rather than one’s personal agenda.

“Finally, ask yourself how you would feel if the comments you are about to make or treatment of others went viral on social media,” Mintz says. “Would you be proud of it?”
Mintz is convinced the nation could use a good public debate on civility.
“Unfortunately, our leaders don’t seem to think it’s important enough to do,” he says. “The Democratic presidential debates haven’t touched on these issues, but what better way to address gun violence, workplace harassment and bullying than openly discuss how a lack of civility is tearing apart the basic fabric of society.”
 
About Dr. Steven Mintz
Dr. Steven Mintz (www.stevenmintzethics.com), author of Beyond Happiness and Meaning: Transforming Your Life Through Ethical Behavior, has frequently commented on ethical issues in society and business ethics. His Workplace Ethics Advice blog has been recognized as one of the top 30 in corporate social responsibility. He also has served as an expert witness on ethics matters. Dr. Mintz spent almost 40 years of his life in academia. He has held positions as a chair in Accounting at San Francisco State University and Texas State University. He was the Dean of the College of Business and Public Administration at Cal State University, San Bernardino. He recently retired as a Professor Emeritus from Cal Poly State University in San Luis Obispo.
 
 

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175 million Americans celebrated Halloween last year…but how should this holiday be approached in the workplace?
 
“Countless workplaces across the country permit or even encourage Halloween costumes in the office,” says Rob Wilson, human resources expert and President of Employco USA, a national employment-solutions firm. “Some even have costume competitions. Other offices have Halloween parties and put up decorations for the holiday. But, in this day and age, it is crucial to consider how your Halloween costume could impact your employer’s opinion of you, or what legal ramifications these common Halloween practices could pose for employers.”
 
To that end, workplace expert Rob Wilson has provided the below Do’s and Don’ts for celebrating Halloween in the workplace:
 

• No Drag & No Donald. “Don’t wear any costume which mocks a certain religion, ethnicity, culture, gender or sexual orientation,” says Wilson. “For example, transgender people often find it offensive when cisgender people dress in ‘drag’ because they don’t want their identity to be seen as a joke. And, in our current political climate, it would be a bad idea to show up in the office in a Donald Trump costume or a peach costume, which is a popular choice for those who want to see the president impeached. Play it safe: Don’t dress up as any current celebrities or politicians, and avoid nun costumes, priest costumes, and certainly any costumes which would involve you making yourself over to look like a person of another ethnicity, i.e. “blackface,” or wearing Native American costumes or Geisha costumes if you are not of those ethnic backgrounds.”

 

• Don’t decorate with ghastly or gruesome décor. “It can be festive to have a brightly colored pumpkin on your desk or a collection of gourds on the office break table, but avoid things like demons, dismembered body parts and witches. Many people are offended by such imagery or others might find gruesome displays triggering,” says Wilson. “Keep it professional and tasteful. Think harvest, not graveyard.” 

 

• Do keep in mind other culture’s holidays. “Millions of people celebrate the Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos. There is cultural and religious significance to this holiday, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with this holiday and imagery as you don’t want to curtail an employee’s religious freedom,” says Wilson. “And, as an employee, you also want to remember that utilizing sugar skulls and other imagery as decorations or costumes can be seen as cultural appropriation, so tread lightly when trying to borrow from another person’s culture.”

 

• Don’t make your celebrations Halloween-based. “Numerous people find Halloween offensive,” says Wilson. “Even if you aren’t opposed to Halloween based on your religious beliefs, you might find a display of tombstones or skeletons to be disturbing, especially if you recently lost a loved one. Keep that in mind when it comes to workplace parties, and rather than have a ‘Halloween’ party, have a Harvest Festival and keep the focus on seasonal delights like apple cider, pumpkin treats and activities like Jack-O-Lantern carving, rather than having ghouls and goblins all over the place. Make it a celebration of autumn rather than death and gore.”

 

• Do send out a workplace email reminding everyone of the rules. “Employees are probably going to roll their eyes when they get an email outlining all the costumes they can’t wear,” says Wilson. “Some might even complain about ‘P.C. Culture’ and reminisce about the good old days. But, remember, it’s better to err on the side of caution when it comes to these events. A Donald Trump costume at the office is a distraction regardless of a person’s politics, so asking people to keep it simple and avoid potentially upsetting costumes is an easy choice.”

 
For more on this topic or to speak to Rob Wilson, please contact me.
 
About Employco USA
Offering human resource related solutions for small to mid-sized businesses, Employco saves companies from the complexities of managing human resource functions.  The structure allows employers to become a part of a large purchasing group, offering more control over employee costs through controlled rates.  Employco assists businesses in critical areas by providing protection from employer liabilities and reducing risk in areas such as: workers' compensation, insurance policies and compliance with federal, state and local regulations.  For more information, please visit http://www.employco.com
 

 
By Dr. Glenn Mollette, 
Syndicated Columnist 
 
A lot of us are faced with the impossible. We may have what seems to be impossible debts, physical illnesses, human relationships and vocational pressures. 
 
Too often we hear someone say, "Nothing is impossible" and we nod our heads nonchalantly in an unbelieving way. 
 
Keep in mind there is always the possibility of a breakthrough. Enough great minds working together may come up with a cure or a solution. We all have barriers that may appear difficult and even impossible. 
 
Occasionally someone will come along who pushes the mark and proves that the human spirit and body can do more than we even dared to imagine. Such a person is Eliud Kipchoge. Recently he ran a marathon in Vienna in one hour, fifty-nine minutes and forty seconds. He became the first person to run a marathon in less than two hours. 
 
Running a marathon is an amazing accomplishment and not for the faint of heart. Most people will never attempt such an endeavor nor even aspire to try. For many, jogging a couple of miles or even walking a mile or two is an accomplishment. The idea of running a mile in less than six minutes is certainly for the physically fit but what about running a mile in 4:34 minutes?
 
Who could ever imagine running 26.2 miles at an average of 4.34 minutes per mile? This is exactly what Kipchoge did in Vienna on October 12 in the unofficial Vienna run. The world record 34-year-old runner from Kenya is already a marathon record holder. In 2018, he set the world record in the Berlin marathon running 2:01:39. He also won the Olympic marathon in 2016 in Rio de Janeiro.
 
The feat will not go on the record books as an official world record because it wasn't an open competition. Also, Kipchoge was assisted by a team of rotating world class runners who ran in front and alongside him in V formation as he ran an average speed of 13.6 mph. If you are physically fit, you might try running on a treadmill at 13.6 mph for a couple of minutes to get an idea of how that pace feels. 
 
To prepare for the event organized by chemical company Ineos and sponsored by Nike, Kipchoge was reported to average running 140 miles per week at a high altitude.
 
Setting a world record is probably not on your radar for today. What about finding a job, losing ten pounds or getting your life in order?  Completing this week or just this day may be your marathon and you are aren't sure how it's going to work out. Often our greatest accomplishment for the day is making a decision, a change or showing up.  Kipchoge obviously had a goal, worked hard and organized his life to achieve it.  Keep in mind it's possible. You can do it. With God, hard work, with help, in some way, by some miracle, it's possible. Don't give up. 

Click here for -> Books By Glenn Mollette , Read his latest book Uncommon Sense
Music by Glenn Mollette through iTunes and all music dealers
  
Contact him at GMollette@aol.com.   Learn more at www.glennmollette.com   Like his facebook page at www.facebook.com/glennmollette

Immune markers and pollutant levels in the blood indicate wildfire smoke may be more harmful to children’s health than smoke from a controlled burn, Stanford researchers found.May 30 2019Children were exposed to higher air pollutant levels during a California wildfire than during a similar-sized controlled burn, and the difference was reflected by changes in immune markers in their blood, a new study from the Stanford University School of Medicine has found.
The finding suggests that using prescribed burns, also called controlled burns, to reduce fuel levels in forests may protect the health of people who live nearby.
The study was published May 30 in the European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. It was conducted in Fresno, California, a city with high air pollution levels due to its topography and other sources, including traffic and agriculture.
“This study suggests that exposure to wildfire smoke is detrimental above and beyond poor air quality,” said the lead author, Mary Prunicki, MD, PhD, an instructor of medicine. 
The study’s senior author is Kari Nadeau, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and of pediatrics and director of the Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy & Asthma Research at Stanford.
Native Americans traditionally used controlled burns to manage California’s forests, but throughout the early 20thcentury, wildfires were widely suppressed. This began to change in the 1960s and 1970s, when scientists recognized fire as a normal part of forest ecology. Recent wildfires have brought more attention to the possible benefits of prescribed burns as a way to reduce fuel levels and wildfire risk, but not everyone is enthusiastic.
Opposition to controlled burns“We know that there’s some public opposition to doing prescribed burning,” Prunicki said. “It’s our feeling that prescribed burning, because it’s so controlled, may expose people to fewer health effects than wildfires.” Prescribed burns are of lower intensity and are permitted only when weather conditions allow the fire to be contained.
In the study, the researchers compared blood samples from three groups of children, all of whom were 7 or 8 years old. One group of 32 children had been exposed to smoke from a 553-acre prescribed burn that occurred in March 2015; a second group of 36 children had been exposed to smoke from a 415-acre wildfire in September 2015. Both fires were about 70 miles away from Fresno, and blood samples were collected from the children within three months of each fire. 
The study also included blood samples from a control group of 18 children who lived in the San Francisco Bay Area and had not been exposed to wildfire or prescribed-burn smoke.
The researchers measured air pollution levels recorded at four monitoring stations in Fresno and estimated pollution levels at the children’s homes during the fires based on how far they lived from the stations. 
Pollutant exposures were higher in the wildfire group compared to the prescribed-burn group.  The air pollutants measured included nitrogen dioxide, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, elemental carbon, carbon monoxide and particulate matter.
Wildfire smoke exposure was associated with lower blood levels of type-1 T helper cells, a group of immune cells that are involved in the immune response. Among children exposed to wildfire smoke, the researchers also saw increased methylation of the Foxp3 gene, indicating reduced activity of this gene, which is broadly involved in modulating allergic and other immune responses. The finding of greater Foxp3 methylation is congruent with earlier studies of the effects of air pollution on the immune system, Prunicki noted. 
Significance of particulate matterOne important aspect of the study was that the September 2015 wildfire was confined to forested areas and did not burn any structures. 
“Particulate matter from wildfires is different from region to region and depends on what is burning,” Prunicki said. “When a wildfire is going through a town, there are a lot of concerns about what happens to the chemicals in people’s homes and cars when they go up in flames.” Smoke from wildfires that burn inhabited areas almost certainly has worse health effects than those found in the current study, she said.
The researchers plan to conduct larger, more detailed studies of the effects of wildfire smoke on health. They will be enrolling healthy people in a trial at Stanford later this summer to collect baseline data from blood samples. When future wildfires affect Bay Area air quality, the participants will be asked to provide follow-up blood samples. For more information, email Prunicki.
The scientists also plan to research the health effects of using home air purifiers during wildfires, as well as measure the protection offered by N95 masks, with the aim of developing recommendations for when masks should be used by different populations, such as healthy adults, elderly people, children and people with chronic illnesses.
The study’s other Stanford co-authors are biostatistician Justin Lee; life science researcher Xiaoying Zhou, PhD; Francois Haddad, MD, clinical associate professor of medicine; and Joseph Wu, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and of radiology.
Nadeau is a member of Stanford Bio-X, the Stanford Maternal & Child Health Research Institute and the Stanford Cardiovascular Institute. 
Scientists at The Nature Conservancy also contributed to the research.
The research was funded by The Nature Conservancy, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (grantsR01ES02092 and 3R01ES020926); the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (grant R01HL081521); and the Sean N. Parker Center for Allergy and Asthma Resea

The Center for Economic Development at California State University, Chico is working with Pacific Gas & Electric Company to increase access to safety information, so residents can plan and prepare in the event of disaster. We hope it makes the difference in keeping everyone safe. 

People are being asked to prepare a Five Minute Plan to evacuate their homes immediately and watch for Red Flag Warnings. Evacuation orders means you have to leave right away to avoid getting stuck. Preparing a Five Minute Plan gets your family ready to go quickly once you are ordered to leave.

There are steps that must be taken in order to be able to leave in 5 minutes.
·        Mark evacuation routes on map
·        Plan where to go if you can’t come home
·        Put together an emergency supply kit
·        Explain plan to children
·        Practice leaving your home in 5 minutes

For additional information and safety tips, click here.

Two California FFA State Officers accompanied Loyalton FFA on the second and third of October. California State President Carlyn Marsh stayed in the Roen household and California State Vice President Reagan Dohle stayed in the Griffin household. On Wednesday the 3rd, loyalton FFA officers took Carlyn and Reagan on a ture of the A24 Commercial Hemp Production farm here in the valley. They learned many new things about the hemp business as well as the loyalton FFA officers. After the true all of the officers had a big dinner at the roen household. On Thursday the state officers held workshops for all of the Ag classes which included SAE prep for the Freshman to help understand that an SAE and example projects. Carlyn and Regan did workshops for the Juniors and Seniors about using their skills that they learned in FFA and highschool and using them when they get out in the real world. Thank you Reagan and Carlyn for your leadership.

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​A unique opportunity for the young ladies of Plumas and Sierra Counties has returned. The PSCF Foundation and the Plumas Sierra County Fair are extending an invitation to those girls between the ages of 16 and 20 to apply to compete in the 2020 Sweetheart of the Mountains Scholarship Competition. Since its re-instatement, the competition has generated nearly $20,000 in scholarships for those that have competed for the title.
 
With roots going back over 50 years, the Sweetheart of the Mountains has evolved from a beauty pageant to the current scholarship program. Contestants still have to show off a talent, exhibit poise through an interview, represent the Plumas Sierra County Fair with public appearances and be a good example of character. However, they also have an opportunity to raise funds to benefit the fairgrounds, as well as a matching scholarship fund for themselves. Their efforts have allowed the PSCF Foundation, a non-profit corporation established for the sole benefit of the Plumas Sierra County Fairgrounds, to provide tens of thousands of dollar’s worth of improvements, from sponsoring awards to purchasing traffic barricades. The last Sweetheart of the Mountains, Grace Bristol of Portola, raised and won over $3000 for her college career.
 
The competition is planned for mid-May. Contestants are judged on a talent, their poise during a question and answer segment, and are awarded points based on how much money they have raised for the Foundation. A Sweetheart of the Mountains is crowned at the competition, as well as a First Runner Up.
 
As the modern program progresses, the committee has made small tweaks along the way. The age requirement was expanded to those young ladies between the ages of 16 and 20 years of age. This opens up the competition to those who may be in their first year of college. It is hoped this will increase the number of competitors as well as expand the interest in the program.
 
The deadline for returning applications has been extended to December 13, 2019.
 
Applications can be found in each of the high schools and FRC. They are also available on the Fair website at www.plumas-sierracountyfair.net, and the Fair office.

Great California ShakeOut prompts millions to practice what to do when the ground shakes

(SACRAMENTO) Millions of Californians will practice how to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” when the ground shakes during the Great California ShakeOut on Thursday, Oct. 17, at 10:17 a.m. This year’s drill will coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake that shook Northern California on Oct. 17, 1989.
Also known as the “World Series earthquake,” the magnitude 6.9 Loma Prieta earthquake was felt extensively in Santa Cruz, Monterey and the San Francisco Bay Area. It was responsible for 63 deaths, 3,757 injuries, and more than $5.9 billion in property damage. Strong ground shaking, liquefaction, and landslides caused significant structural damage, and approximately 16,000 housing units—almost 13,000 in the nine-county San Francisco Bay region alone—were uninhabitable after the earthquake.
“The Loma Prieta earthquake was a tragedy that caused immense suffering for thousands of California residents," said California Earthquake Authority CEO Glenn Pomeroy. “Anniversaries for big earthquakes often serve as painful reminders of why we need to know how to Drop, Cover, and Hold On when the ground shakes, and know how to financially recover from damage that may be expensive to repair.”
Most Californians live within 30 miles of an active fault. In 2015, scientists reported there was a greater than 99 percent chance of one or more magnitude 6.7 earthquakes striking California between 2014 and 2043. Magnitude 6.4 and 7.1 earthquakes struck near the Mojave Desert town of Ridgecrest in July 2019, and a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near Napa in 2014.
Now more Californians are paying closer attention to their risk for earthquakes, and their potential costs to repair shake damage not covered under a standard homeowner policy. CEA now offers a wide range of coverage options, and has more than 1 million policyholders.
“More than 10 million Californians participated in the Great California ShakeOut last year,” Pomeroy said. “The drill is easy to do. It’s also easy to have a quick conversation with your insurance agent about how to get an earthquake policy. A little preparation can make a big difference if California’s next big earthquake strikes closer to home.”
More information from CEA and other organizations about how to survive and recover from damaging earthquakes that scientists say are possible in the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and San Diego areas can be found at EQHeadquarters.com.
And more information about the Great California ShakeOut and other ways to prepare for earthquakes can be found at EarthquakeAuthority.com/ShakeOut.
A video message from CEA CEO Glenn Pomeroy to commemorate the devastating 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake is available here.
About CEA
CEA is a not-for-profit, privately funded, publicly managed organization that provides residential earthquake insurance and encourages Californians to reduce their risk of earthquake loss. Learn more at EarthquakeAuthority.com.

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By Melinda Myers
It’s time to select and decorate pumpkins for your Halloween display.  Get family and friends involved in a trip to the pumpkin farm and consider hosting a decorating party.
Whether you grew your own or plan on purchasing one at a farm or garden center, select pumpkins free of holes, cuts and soft spots for decorating.  Damaged fruit tends to rot faster, ruining your fall display.  And always carry the fruit cradled in your arms not by the stem. Once the stem breaks away from the fruit, the pumpkin is more susceptible to rot and its beauty fades.
Store carving pumpkins in a cool location until you are ready to start cutting. Extend the beauty of carved pumpkins by washing them with warm water and letting them dry before making the first cut.  Try leaving the top intact and scooping the insides out through a hole in the back. This limits water entering the carved cavity and helps extend the life of your jack-o’-lantern.
Coat the cuts with petroleum jelly or vegetable oil to seal in the moisture and prolong your display. Take it one step further and use a commercial preservative or peppermint oil to keep your jack-o’-lantern looking its best for as long as possible.
Once in place, sprinkle your pumpkin with cayenne pepper to help repel hungry animals. Avoid touching your eyes and wash your hands thoroughly after using the cayenne pepper.
Don’t give up when your jack-o’-lantern begins to shrivel. Give it a cold bath to freshen up its appearance.
Or put away the knives and break out the paint and crayons to further extend your pumpkin’s beauty.  A painted face or design can be just as impressive. And don’t worry if you have limited artistic ability; just download one of many free pumpkin templates.
Put all those broken crayons to use creating a multicolored crayon dripped pumpkin. You’ll wow guests and kids will enjoy this safer pumpkin decorating option.
Wipe the surface of the pumpkin clean and allow to it to dry before you start decorating. Remove the labels from the crayons and break them in half.
Glue the crayons to the top of the pumpkin to prevent them from rolling off the pumpkin while you work. Place one end of the crayon against the stem and the other end pointing away from the center of the pumpkin.  
Use your hair dryer to melt the crayons so they’ll drip down the side of the pumpkin, creating a colorful waxy covering. A high heat setting will speed up the process but may make a bigger mess by splashing the melted wax all over the table. 
To further dress up your landscape consider converting a few pumpkins into fall planters. Remove the top. Cut a hole large enough to accommodate the pot you’ll be inserting. Remove the seeds and flesh, cut a few drainage holes in the bottom and then set a pot of pansies, asters, mums or ornamental peppers inside. 
When your pumpkins start to rot, move them to the compost pile. They will break down into a wonderful soil amendment to use in next year’s garden.
Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses How to Grow Anything DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV and radio segments. Myers’ website, www.MelindaMyers.com, features gardening videos, podcasts, audio tips and monthly gardening checklists.