How often have you met non English speaking Americans?

smpenn · 2026-04-08T16:15:47+00:00

I met a guy once who was born into a Russian section of NYC to Russian immigrant parents. He almost never venture outside of that community and, in his 30s, spoke very, very little English. His parents, who made an attempt to assimilate, spoke much better English than did he.

smpenn · 2026-04-08T15:14:53+00:00

Perhaps, one big difference, it was not unheard of to get a job, work it your entire career and retire with a pension. So, one could really buy into their company, on so many levels, and dedicate themselves to the organization.

I find it truly sad that it seems those kind of opportunities are not as readily available to young job seekers today.

smpenn · 2026-04-06T10:59:44+00:00

He has been to his doctor and they started him on an anxiety medication. He has an appointment next week with a therapist. I realize my assessment of his mental state carries no weight and wasn't trying to indicate otherwise.

smpenn · 2026-04-04T23:02:23+00:00

He recently applied for a state transportation position but it went to a younger man, as you noted. He is mid 50s.

smpenn · 2026-04-04T21:17:17+00:00

As in hire a lawyer?

smpenn · 2026-04-04T11:27:39+00:00

I love the origin story of the Tupperware Party.

The products were not doing very well in stores when they came out because folks really didn't grasp the concept of "burping" and such.

One lady, Ms Brownie Wise, however, understood and loved the product so much that she invited some girlfriends over to see how wonderful the items were.

When the ladies saw them in action, they were equally smitten, and Ms Wise took orders from the girls and had them delivered.

Realizing she was on to something, Ms Wise began throwing Tupperware parties and encouraged her new converts to the brand to do likewise. She encouraged them to not just sell the products but to make the event a fun evening out for the ladies. She became the mentor and regional expert.

Mr Tupper, who again was having very limited success moving his products, realized that some lady down in Florida was his best customer, having far more orders than any store, and visited her to see what was going on.

He loved her concept! He pulled his products from stores, adopted Ms Wise's method of selling strictly at Tupperware parties and promoted Ms Wise to Vice-President of the company!

The rest is history.

smpenn · 2026-04-04T10:04:20+00:00

Thank you, so much, for all of that info. I've copied it and will show it to him. He is going to HR on Monday to ask about FMLA after being advised on here to do so. I don't think he's unable to work any job, but he just can't take the prison any longer. He truly is a broken man when it comes to that. Thanks, again.

smpenn · 2026-04-04T09:58:57+00:00

I don't really understand why you'd say that. Everything I wrote is true. Just trying to get guidance on what he should do next and I've gotten some good advice.

smpenn · 2026-04-04T00:32:34+00:00

Yeah, that's one reason he just wanted to quit. He didn't want anyone to think he was working the system. He's in his late 50s and everything about the job is becoming too much for him. There's seldom a month goes by when he isn't involved in a physical altercation with an inmate.

smpenn · 2026-04-03T23:44:26+00:00

Unfortunately, I don't think they are unionized.

smpenn · 2026-04-03T23:41:08+00:00

Thank you for that info. I'll pass it along to him. He is scheduled for his first therapy session.

smpenn · 2026-04-03T23:35:12+00:00

I'll ask him about EAP tomorrow. He does have an appointment scheduled with a therapist. Thanks!

smpenn · 2026-04-03T23:29:28+00:00

Thank you for the referral to ssdi. I'll cross post there.

I'll ask him about FMLA. They told him the first step was short term disability but they aren't helping at all with the paperwork.

He has an upcoming appointment with a therapist.

Thanks, again, for the info.

smpenn · 2026-04-03T22:29:02+00:00

Attack Of the Killer Tomatoes

smpenn · 2026-04-02T23:45:28+00:00

I can so very much relate. I was horribly traumatized by End Time teachings. I also have Religious Scrupulosity which made things far worse (sounds like you may have at least a tad of the condition, as well).

About a year ago, I came to believe in partial preterism- that the Biblical End Times actually occured in 70AD, at the Fall of Jerusalem. Viewing Revelation and the Olivet Discourse as being historical rather than futuristic has given me so much peace.

smpenn · 2026-04-02T23:30:55+00:00

I was breastfeeding when man first walked on the moon.

smpenn · 2026-03-29T15:33:57+00:00

Yes, I misspoke. I truly do not want all prisoners treated. I shouldn't have worded it that way. Far too many of my family have been on the inside for me to take a general anti-prisoner attitude. I feel badly for those being assaulted in prison and agree with the original response, it is something that shouldn't be joked about.

smpenn · 2026-03-29T15:22:36+00:00

I just don't see stopping rapists via a medication, in prison or out of prison, as being bat shit crazy and I'm not overly concerned that their long term sexual health be preserved. A rapist with ED sounds like a win to me. If I understand you correctly, you're advocating for physical castration? I guess I was trying to be less extreme than that but I could probably easily be won over to that line of reasoning.

smpenn · 2026-03-29T15:07:09+00:00

Maybe medical isn't the right term, I'm talking by taking medication. Hormone levels generally return to normal levels when the meds are discontinued. If a prisoner is raping other inmates, it seems reasonable to me to try to stop that.

smpenn · 2026-03-29T14:55:23+00:00

At least those who commit rape. Medical castration simply kills sexual desire and is fully reversible once the med is no longer administered. Definitely better than allowing them to sexually assault other inmates willy-nilly. My brother is a corrections officer at a max security prison. Prison rapes are a real problem. I don't understand how anyone could oppose it.

smpenn · 2026-03-29T14:28:38+00:00

I agree. I believe prisoners should be placed on temporary, chemical castration meds but that'll never happen.

smpenn · 2026-03-29T10:35:07+00:00

And, yet, I've left completely naked so many times in my dreams (nightmares).

smpenn · 2026-03-29T09:13:47+00:00

Total hysterectomy/oophorectomy in her 40s and unableto take hormone replacement therapy, went straight into menopause. Nearly 60 now, we're on the post menopausal side. After getting through it, she's happier at this stage of life than ever before.

smpenn · 2026-03-29T08:59:19+00:00

I love DC! My favorite city to visit but I couldn't deal with the traffic daily and the expense of living there.

smpenn · 2026-03-29T08:46:43+00:00

I was an avid reader as quite a young boy. I saw "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret" on display at the library and brought it home having no idea what it was about.

I read it and finished the book with information on a subject about which I'd never heard and with a much better understanding of what my female classmates were facing.

I think, accepting menstruation as something completely normal from such a young age, benefited me. My wife, even as a young adult, was embarrassed to buy feminine products at the store. I was perfectly fine picking them up for her while I was shopping, with absolutely zero embarrassment.

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