Tony Green

A quick thought on the California Water Utilities compliments of Speakin...

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 16:49:00 +0000

Lead in our water - how can this be? by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Sun, 27 Dec 2015 18:40:00 +0000

Our water sources are currently being adjusted in response to the variations in the water supply as the effects of climate change have become more pronounced. As a result occurrences of “snafus” in providing safe drinking water will become more commonplace.

Rusted Water pipes

The declaration of a water emergency

A water emergency was declared a few weeks ago in Flint, Michigan as a result of evidence of increased levels of lead in the potable water which were having pronounced effects on the health of the area’s children.

In my current position I periodically test the water used to cool HVAC systems and process equipment for lead. Why? I am verifying corrosion of the stainless steel piping is not occurring. Once piping corrodes lead is leached into the water. Even if this water is found to contain lead this water is not designed for human consumption. Potable water is designed for drinking consumption.

The City of Flint Michigan recently disconnected its water supply from the City of Detroit’s to the Flint River which was designed to save money for the financially strapped city. The use of the Flint River was intended to be temporary, set to end in 2016 after a pipeline to Lake Huron’s Karegnondi Water Authority was completed.

What “lead” to this?

Lead is a common metal found throughout the environment in paint, air, soil, household dust, food, certain types of pottery, porcelain, pewter, and in drinking water. In spite of its various uses lead can pose a significant risk to your health when ingested or inhaled.

Lead can be introduced into drinking water from the plumbing and fixtures in your house as a result of corrosion. Lead levels in your drinking water are likely to be highest if your home or water system uses lead pipes, if the house is less than five years old, or the water is naturally soft water (low level of minerals). Typically, lead gets into water after water leaves your local treatment plant.

Other ways lead enter into your drinking water include well parts made of lead, or from a nearby industrial waste facilities or municipal landfills.

Federal standards limit the amount of lead in water to 50 ppb. While the EPA sets an action level of 15 ppb initial testing from the EPA indicated many of the resident’s homes had levels in excess of 20 ppb.

I am sure the scientists will figure out the source of the lead. Without testing, I will say the end result will be either the lead came for the lead piping connecting the water supply to people homes after the water was pulled from the Flint River or the Flint River, which has a history of poor water quality due to unregulated discharges by industries and municipalities will be proven to be contaminated. For decades, the river was used as a dumping ground for untreated waste from industrial businesses and towns among these wastes were lead which seeped into ground and into the river. In both cases the testing failed to catch the increased lead levels which were being supplied to the residents of Flint.

The sad underlying truth

Regardless which one of these two scenarios will be proven perhaps the underlying truth is when utilities choose money over health of their constituents without oversight this is what happens. Perhaps I should test my water for lead. I never thought I would need to test for lead in my drinking water, then again, neither did the residents of Flint, Michigan.

Kindle for you. Kindle for me by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Tue, 01 Dec 2015 00:30:00 +0000

Image of Kindle Library

I learned to read by reading a book with a front and back cover with words printed on paper pages.

Flash forward 40 + years and with the onset of E-Book technology I am hard pressed to consume a book if I can’t read use a Kindle.

The Decline of Hard Cover Books?

What happened? Did the quality of hardcover books degrade to where they were no longer worth reading? The content in books other than trending topics had not changed. A novel which started out slow will still not be read to completion while a book which tell a captivating story will still be read cover to cover. As I have reached Middle Age I need to use my reading glasses regardless if I sat down in bookstore or if I read an EBook while relaxing on my couch on a Sunday afternoon.

Why EBooks

What gives? Well, the difference is the portability and convenience using electronic reader brings. No need to do spring cleaning on the piles of old books in your closet. There is now no need to make the trek to a conventional book store to wait in line when you can purchase and begin reading within seconds after finding the desired content via an Amazon search. No need to consume the good trees required to make the paper on which to print the words and no wasting shelf space storing these book assuming someone will buy them at all.

Fun and Easy

I enjoy reading in any fashion is provided I am reading something of interest while reading with a Kindle is fun AND easy. Why shouldn’t I take the easiest path to any desired destination including reading?

My View of America - A county in transition by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Mon, 01 Jun 2015 04:17:00 +0000

America then and now

I was raised in Philadelphia, as like many of the larger cities on the East Coast, was ethnically divided. The various races, which included African-Americans, Latinos, Whites and Asians, who resided in close proximity, worked and attended school together but existed separately within their own communities. After I joined the Navy after college many of my shipmates came from all over the country. I discovered as Americans we had a lot more in common than I thought. Upon reflection, the America I grew up in before my enlistment and the America I returned to when I began my professional career was changing drastically.

Map of the United States of America

People are people

I realized several of the problems people had co-existing in peace resulted from an absence of culture sensitivity due to lack of exposure to people from different backgrounds than yourself. People are people if they come together and get familiar with each other on a personal level. With that said, I am observing as a country we are moving toward being a more multi-cultural society.

Transition in Progress

The proof times are changing is clear, the year 2000 census provided choices for the first time for people to identify themselves as being a member of more than once race. The state of Hawaii’s minority population is greater than its non-minority and in California the Latino populace has matched the number of white residents and in a few years, will be like Hawaii, where the non-minority citizens will soon be the majority of inhabitants living in the state.

Conclusion

Our children will need to able to function in a more cultural and diverse world. How we prepare our children to navigate this changing landscape is in our hands. The challenge should be embraced.

Image courtesy of fotolia.us

Heterosexism in our workplace by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Sun, 17 May 2015 16:43:00 +0000

Image of a lesbian wedding

I attended a workshop in the City of San Francisco earlier this week. As with most workshops the facilitator directed the participants introduce themselves before the meeting. One of the attendees happened to be an accountant who also admitted to being a lesbian. Since the San Francisco Bay Area is famous for its large number of its residents who are either gay, lesbian or transgender this was not surprising.

The workshop involved addressing the challenges the participants expected to encounter while seeking employment. The facilitator asked the accountant about her challenges and when she reported her primary challenge to be homophobia and/or hetero-sexism after overhearing anti-lesbian rhetoric after working hours from the HR team at her firm. I found this surprising and alarming.

The backlash has two separate versions. The first one version, homophobia involves an unjust fear of gay/lesbians while hetero-sexism can be described as those who are dogmatic about the superiority of the traditional male/female relationship.

Our facilitator mentioned this blatant case of discrimination violated employment laws and inquired why the incident failed to be disclosed to her manager or any one else. She did not want to bother with the stigma being a whistle blower. Even more alarming was, in her view, no action could be taken against the employer due the perceived superiority of management in the legal system.

The thought which stuck in my mind was, if I am in the San Francisco Bay Area which is well-known for its tolerance and these statements are coming from HR people what is being said in other “less opened- minded” parts of our country? What does this say about how tolerant we (or aren’t depending on your perspective) toward those who are different from us.

I am not lesbian but as a minority, an African-American this makes me nervous. Does this make you uncomfortable?

Image courtesy of fototalia.us

Maintaining a blog by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Sun, 11 Jan 2015 17:53:00 +0000

Blog Key on QWERTY Keyboard

A blog can be a challenge to maintain on a regular basis. I try to keep up writing three separate blogs in my spare time. Blogs maintained for business purposes are easier to justify taking time to create, draft, edit, and polish while you are at work especially if blogging is a key part of your social media strategy.

A personal blog is another matter. These are typically maintained as a hobby or an interest the author wants to share with the blogosphere. Here are some of the reasons people often stop maintaining personal blogs on a consistent basis.

A full-time job, which is a requirement, if you are not fortunate enough to be able to make a living writing is most likely the biggest reason. If you work in an office a daily commute will be expected, on occasions will be overtime requires in addition to possible travel requirements. More ever, the mental bandwidth which is consumed in many professional position makes pushing blogs forward in your spare time a challenge.

Another reason is, which I will describe as: “life”. Emergencies arise in any family which need to be addressed from time to time, non-emergencies which require energy, in addition to cleaning and maintaining the house.

There are instances where Illness can take a huge role. The flu season is active time during the winter months which results in lost time from either getting over flu or taking care of loved ones while they get over their illnesses. We all have gone into the office to work on key deliverables while being under the weather, as this is sometimes necessary, however, is a little more difficult when using energy on tasks which are not required to be completed.

An overlooked factor is sleep. The medical profession states seven hours are needed to allow your body and mind to get the proper rest. When dealing with multiple activities a consistent night sleep can be crucial to avoid burning yourself out.

Another reality is we all need downtime. Any schedule should include time to relax.

Neither of these are valid excuses for not working on things which you believe is worthwhile, however, in many circumstances “it is what it is”.

Some of things I will try to do moving forward to post with greater frequency include utilizing technology as much as I can. Since I am on the go often my IPad with its cloud storage capabilities are wonderful tools to write when you get a few minutes.

Focusing on the benefits of what I get out of my writing this will help to keep working. I always enjoy receiving comments to by blog postings, Hint. Also, I would like to try plan effectively, for example, taking advantage of available time example time in airport in between flights. In the end, I should focus on simply getting it done.

In conclusion, many of the blogs and books from established authors who write for a living and many express being a part a community of writers. In many cases, writers, even those who write on a part time basis, are part of their community. It is, after all what we do.

Why my goal as a parent is not to produce more minority engineers by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Fri, 26 Dec 2014 18:04:00 +0000

I recently received a letter inviting my daughter to participate in Alameda County’s STEM program. STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. STEM programs, if you are not aware, are designed to identify minorities who show aptitude in the math and sciences and provide them the resources needed to transition to successful careers in these fields. Traditionally, minorities have been under represented in these fields and if the United States is going to remain competitive globally it will need ALL segments of its populace to be proficient in the technical skills needed to stay at the forefront of technology.

I recalled my participation in the Philadelphia Regional Introduction to Minorities in Engineer (PRIME) program while I was in high school and, later, in the University of Delaware’s Resources to Insure Successful Engineers (RISE) program. The programs were designed to ensure prospective engineering students are provided resources to maximize their chances of success with success being defined as graduating from an undergraduate engineering program.

I would be proud if my daughter chose to study engineering but only if she is interested. I recall during my time as an undergraduate I recalled many of my classmates who started off in engineering who did not enjoy their coursework and changed their majors to disciplines which interested them and lived happily ever after.

The part of me that used to work as an engineer for over 10 years has seen the lack of diversity in many engineering fields first hand. Particularly alarming are the scarcity of those of color and of women.

There is another part of me realizes the overall purpose of being a parent is to set your children up for success in things they are interested in and not what you are fascinated with since when I am long longer alive it will be their lives.

I am grateful her teachers believe she can study engineering or any hard science but if she is not interested in studying these subjects with the goal of making a living then what is the point? So I declined the gracious invitation from Alameda County. As much as I believe in the group’s mission and the benefits of the program. Is this the right decision?

Image Courtesy of Minority Engineer Magazine @ www.eop.com

Fireworks - past and present by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Fri, 05 Sep 2014 21:57:00 +0000

I was sitting in downtown Livermore on the 4^th of July in picnic chairs waiting as my children used their IPad’s prior to the beginning of the fireworks display. Traditionally, I attend the yearly celebration with my family when they are not visiting their in-laws in Japan. This year’s participation was, for the most part, a “no-brainer” since they were being held in the downtown area which was walking distance from my house. I looked out among the people who had gathered and the unseen others in attendance at many locations throughout the country asked the question,” How did it come to this?”

Image of fireworks exploding

Interestingly enough, Bamboo is extremely strong and grows in a series of hollow segments. You may ask what does that have to do with fireworks? Bear with me, when bamboo is dropped into a fire and the air pockets inside will heat and expand until the bamboo explodes resulting in a loud sound. This phenomenon was first discovered in China around 200 B.C.

Moving ahead to the 9th century A.D., an unidentified alchemist, mixed sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate and by accident created gunpowder. A little gunpowder in a bamboo shoot produced the world’s first firework.

As for its connection with our nation’s independence on July 2, 1776 a day after Congress voted on separating from British rule John Adams reportedly wrote in a letter to his wife,”[The day] ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more”.

Sure enough, the next year, in Philadelphia, Congress authorized a fireworks display for the first commemoration of July 4, leading the way for fireworks to come to symbolize the day.

So now you know. With the history lesson behind us, the time had come for us to get out of the crowd and make my way back to my house. I, and many of you, will in all probability not think again about how fireworks came to be, but it still does not take away from the enjoyment we get from spend time without families.

Image: Courtesy of fotolia.us

How can a man make a country cry? by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Sun, 31 Aug 2014 17:00:00 +0000

Image of a soccer pitch with Brazilian flag

During the 2014 World Cup in Brazil various programming was shown on cable television related with the theme of soccer.

ESPN produced a show called “30 for 30” which caught my attention. The program profiles certain sport stories exposing the human side of the athletes portrayed. One episode profiled the story of Moacir Barbosa who at the time happened to be one of the world’s best the goal keepers. He had been chosen to handle the goalkeeping duties for the 1950 Brazilian national team which had been favored to win the World Cup the last time the tournament was hosted in Brazil prior to this year.

Barbosa surrendered a “soft” goal in the final against Uruguay which allowed the country to win one of its two World Cup titles. The disappointment caused many people in Brazil to openly weep in despair and many others to express open hostility toward him. Despite a brilliant career the defeat followed him like a shadow for the rest of his life.

Fast forward to 2014 and the scene of Julio Cesar, the 2014 goalie of the Brazilian national team, opening crying after his interview after Brazil survived penalty kicks against Chile would seem extreme upon initial glance. However, given the history of soccer in the country and the impact of the result to a nation of millions maybe I’d fold up like a cheap tent under such intense pressure.

The ‘beautiful’ game stands as a symbol as a global celebration of culture and competition. Yet, as passionate as many fans are about their team and their countries and the game is, by far, the planets most prominent sport. The importance cannot be overstated of keeping mind that futbol is still only a game.

Not as green as I thought by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Fri, 29 Aug 2014 04:45:00 +0000

Image of grease in a cooking pan

Any new position whose technology touches any part of your everyday life is sure to change your view on some things once insider industry knowledge has been obtained.

Before I started working at a company who manufacturers equipment for the waste water treatment industry I never thought about where the cooking grease goes after I pour it down the drain. Now I know the fats, oils, and greases go into the waste water treatment system where these by-products cause massive problems once the material re-solidifies.

I usually pour my used grease down the drain after running hot water on the pan. Once down the drain the greasy substance was out of sight and, in my mind, no longer my concern. The reality was the leftover product of my cooking would become some else’s predicament. Frankly, I should have been aware that grease, and any other fatty oil, does not disappear once melted. From my studies in college I was well aware once cooled the oil would return to its gelatinous form.

Frequent readers of this blog know I am a strong supporter of alternative energy but in this instance I had fallen short of observing green living practices. In short, I was not as green as I thought.

Maybe I should reach out to my locality and ask them about recycling grease to use as biodiesel, in the same fashion plastics and organic materials are recycled.

Until then since the placing my used grease in the trash does not seem like a viable option, what should I do?

Image courtesy of fotalia.us

Why I would want a personal logo for myself by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Fri, 04 Apr 2014 18:00:00 +0000

Tony Green logo

Once in a while, entertainers have tried to describe themselves as an image or a logo. Remember when, his royal badness, Prince decided to refer to himself as “the artist formerly referred as Prince” and had a logo created which his marketing people pushed out to his listeners. Wasn't that the last we heard of Prince? But I digress.

A business logo is the symbol which represents your company's identity. Its image will, over time, become the most recognizable representation for your company. A logo is designed to bring your company to a prospect or customer’s mind. The image attempts to capture the essence of what the company is about.

Companies create logos with the help of graphic artists under the direction of the marketing department who manage their companies’ brand to ensure a constant message is communicated, which with any luck will differentiate them from their competitors.

Now think of the concept on personal level. My thinking was a person represents an image to any one he/she meets. Every person is their own brand regardless if they realize it or not. In my case, I'm technical/mathematical, but sharp, detailed and to the point with a clear creative side. Why not try to create an image to describe what I am about?

Does my decision to get a personal logo to put on my updated website as well as this blog seem a little less crazy? More importantly, how did I do?

A thought on volunteering by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 05:17:00 +0000

Image of volunteer

The reasons people volunteer for non-profit organizations include trying to find new job or taking the opportunity to give back to the community.

One of the largest obstacles for many people to volunteer as much as they would like is the amount of time required in some non-profits. If you are employed full-time or running a business, there are limits to the time available regardless of how worthy a cause might be.

Once a commendable organization is identified and the proper contacts are made after a certain period of time the volunteer activities begin. The beginning or working with a non-profit often start where you do not know anyone and, in many instances, a road-map of how to complete the required tasks does not exist.

Once the volunteer gets up to speed organizational issues similar to those at work or in a family, in many cases, needs to be addressed, such as individual agendas and personality clashes between members.

The result is that over time the volunteer become less involved. Eventually the honeymoon” ends and after less and less participation they drop out of site. Ultimately, more new volunteers are required to replace the ones who have decided to do other activities with their spare time. Why?

In my view, the primary factor which keeps volunteers motivated and involved is the feeling of being appreciated. Various methods exist for communicating appreciation to a volunteer such as buying gifts or public recognition but simplest way I have noticed is a sincere thank you.

In the long term, more folks might be led to volunteer, which in the long terms moves the cause forward, isn’t that why a person volunteers to begin with?

Image Courtesy of http://www.helplife.org

The texting world we live in by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Sun, 16 Mar 2014 04:42:00 +0000

My daughter texting as if there is no tomorrow

Texting has become a very convenient method of keeping in touch. Last year, I decided to purchase mobile phones for my children in spite of the data charges I might incur on my phone bill. I thought, as a responsible parent, I should be able to communicate with them in real-time if needed.

After one of our typical texting exchanges my daughter paid me a complement. She mentioned the text messages I send to her were, for the most part, grammatically correct. The interesting point was she was not trying to flatter me in attempt for favors to be named later.

I told her this was by design. I am of the belief that even when texting on a casual basis proper English should be used. I explained to her complete sentences are preferable regardless of if you are texting your friend, composing an email or

writing an essay for an English class.

In my view, it is too easy, especially when you are still learning the nuances of the written language, to include these abbreviations in your professional /academic written communications.

Perhaps, I am showing my age since while I view myself as being technology savvy I still did not grow up in the texting age. My only point is in the world we live in there are various methods of messaging which depending on the time and place are appropriate. The key is able to keep in mind when to use each communication method. JS. Or for those of use using proper English and not texting vernacular, just saying.

It is what it is by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Mon, 03 Feb 2014 18:02:00 +0000

Note: this posting was intended to part of a blog based on my experiences as an employee in a Japanese company which was never launched.

Image of Yen Note

In a past position my sales team and our CEO were discussing what the customer’s reaction would be to an impending price increase and how we might present our case so the higher cost was more palpable. At one point he said, “It is what it is”.

Indeed, there are instances in sales where it might be better not to try and spin the situation and just be honest and work with your customer to get where you need to go.

Most customers appreciate when salespeople are being sincere with them even though they are discussing unpleasant things. Conventional thought dictates getting the ugliness out on the table benefits both parties.

From my time as a gaijin employee the saying would need to be adjusted to be consistent with reality. The perfect phrase escapes me but some ideas I had were,” “It is what we would like it to be” or “It is what we think it should be” or “It is what wanted it to be.”

When some form of customer issue existed management wanted to ignore the issue hoping the problem will go away. Stated another way, if a direction which been established and the market place changes resulting in different tactics becoming appropriate the inclination is to start the hoping things will work themselves out.

While this works on occasion typically it makes the long term solution more difficult.

I understand the concept of cultural difference and how entrenched these can be at many companies, however, at the end of the day people are people and most folks want to know the truth and have the facts presented in an upfront fashion. This leads to identification of the true problem and begins the required dialog ultimately generate solutions agreeable for both parties. The most important party of all, our customer, would be included.

I have learned from my brief time in sales a companies’ customers are the end game. In the end, it is what it is. Isn’t that the way things should be?

ObamaCare – why are we forgetting this is about affordable health care? by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 18:52:00 +0000

Doctor examining young girl

The first portion of the Affordable Healthcare Act or ObamaCare was enacted a few months ago. As designed, Americans without access to reasonably priced health insurance can enroll with federal and state run insurance exchanges to select plans where financial assistance is available to help cover the cost. In light of bipartisan bickering people seem to overlook the reason the Affordable Health Care Act was drafted and legislated. The reality is many people cannot access to health care for themselves and their children. This, in the end, costs everyone since medical providers are required to care for insured patients and in many cases the expenses are absorbed by those who have health insurance.

Is health care a right? The rest of the world thinks so. Canada, Australia, Europe and Japan all have national health insurance programs. Interestingly enough, the exchanges which were recently rolled out are similar to the Japanese systems on providing health care for its citizens.

Japan’s National Health insurance created in 1958 by its National Health Care Act which was designed for people who are not eligible to be members of any employment-based insurance programs. All Japanese citizens, permanent residents, and any non-Japanese residing in Japan with a visa lasting one year or longer are required to be enrolled.

The program is administered by local governments. Patients are free to select physicians or facilities of their choice and cannot be denied coverage. When the insured person uses a medical facility or hospital which accepts the National Health insurance, the patient pays a portion of the cost. The medical facility will then send invoices for the remaining amount to the National Health Insurance Federation, which reviews and pays the medical facility or hospital.

Hospitals, by law, must be run as non-profit and be managed by physicians since for-profit corporations are not allowed to own or operate hospitals.

The United States is the single major power without universal basic health care for its citizens. The United States takes pride in being one of the world’s most progressive thinking nations is the rest of the world entirely off base by providing, at the least minimum health care at some for all of its citizens??

Accountability vs. Responsibility by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Sun, 05 Jan 2014 17:52:00 +0000

Note: this posting was intended to part of a blog based on my experiences as an employee in a Japanese company which was never launched.

Japanese businessman

Working for a Japanese company as a Sales Manager with American customers presents certain challenges on a daily basis. On my first day of work my boss told me I would be responsible for sales and marketing in Canada, Mexico and the United States. No problem.

The management in Japan clearly stated the expectation of meeting the goal of penetrating our company’s products in the North America where currently we had no market share. No Problem.

The problem was the folks in charge did not tell me the entire decision making and authority process would be based in Japan. The insight into the market place which I was hired to provide is appreciated, however, the team leader makes the call from the home office. Perhaps, I should have recognized a “gaijin employee” like me would never be allowed to possess any true authority. In my own defense, this was my first experience working for Japanese company.

In many companies you are compelled to take instruction/direction from management. My concern is what happens when all does not go according to plan? The foreigner gets singled out that he was not doing his job and takes the “bullet” so the team does not lose face.

I think ultimately the issue comes down to accountability versus responsibility. The expectation is you will manage our clients to where the business is profitable while maintaining a satisfied customer. As the customer representative your job is to make these activities happen. Responsible and accountable. Keep in mind you have no decision making authority in managing the specific accounts which you are responsible for. At least I am still accountable. Seems quite fair to me.

Why have I been through so many jobs by Tony Green?

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 18:32:00 +0000

Yes, my resume lists the many jobs I have had since I left the Navy over 13 years ago. I take some solace since, in many cases, I needed to move on and obtain other positions sooner than later since my family relies on me to keep the bills up to date. Through all of my professional turmoil I am current with my mortgage; own both of my vehicles and my children are finished with their braces. In another sense, I am embarrassed since, in many cases; if you are laid off someone else has been chosen to keep around rather than you. More ever when you interview for the next position no one asks the company why they let you go. You always need to explain why they should hire you.

My longest stint between positions was nine months which was during the depth of the latest recession while my shortest lapse was six weeks from leaving the previous position to my first day at the new job. I cannot blame my previous employers in every case. Can I be at fault? Perhaps, or there may be other factors out of my control.

During the interview process misrepresentations exist on both sides. The interviewee is pressed to get back to work so a strong tendency exists to tell the prospective employer what he/she wants to hear. On the other hand, if I can be honest, the reasons the employer are looking to hire is to get someone deal with tasks they would prefer not to deal with. Think of the issue this way, if a boss had a function which he/she truly enjoyed would they be thinking about bringing in someone else?

Therefore, it is of no surprise by the first ninety days on the job after the employee gains a full understanding for what they were hired for and the employer’s tactic to hide the true nature of the position has resulted in disillusionment on both sides.

I wonder if my resume would look better having longer gaps between positions and being employed at those positions for more time rather than having held more positions with shorter terms of employment.

My sister once told me she believes the career I seek is waiting for me. I think there is something out I am ideally suited for, a destiny I am not fulfilling by passing through various positions with limited possibility for growth. If only I didn’t need to pay my mortgage every month. Perhaps, I could explore my full potential without ignoring my responsibilities as a father and a husband. Will you hire me if she’s wrong and I never find the perfect position?

A trip on the bus by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 16:22:00 +0000

I was getting my car serviced on a Sunday a few months ago and since my wife was working I needed another way to pick up my car from the dealership once the maintenance was complete. Then the thought came to mind, why not use the public bus?

Open seats on a public bus

As a child in growing in Philadelphia, as in many large cities, people depended on the public buses and subways to get from one place to another. Now that live in the suburbs, which by nature is very spread out, having an automobile is almost a requirement to getting where you need to go.

At any rate, I checked on the Internet and found a bus route whose route happened to be within a block of my house which stopped within walking distance of the dealership. I walked to the bus stop well before the scheduled time of its arrival. I would later discover as a result of reading the schedule incorrectly I missed a bus and had to wait another ½ hour until the next bus arrived.

Once I sat on the bus I remembered the annoyance of riding the bus from my childhood.

I recalled instances when passengers would get on the bus with large bags of what appeared to be junk. By the time the person hauled their gear onto the bus and paid their fare – almost five minutes had elapsed only to pick up one passenger.

Another thing which boggled my mind was, in my view, if I planned to take a bus I would make sure I know what the fare would be BEFORE I boarded. First you get the clueless look and after the bus driver would inform the prospective rider what the fare would be the person would gather what available change was in the various pockets of her jacket. I almost felt compelled to give the person a dollar to cover her fare just to get the damned bus moving.

Finally, during certain portions of the bus route which went through heavy traffic. What was the end result? The bus moved at a snail’s pace along the street which the pedestrians walking on the sidewalk made better progress.

Once I returned home in my newly serviced car, after having wasted half of the afternoon, I came to the conclusion driving may not be best way of commuting in all cases but in certain instances , especially this one, the public bus may not be the way to go either.

My last Undokai by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 06:10:00 +0000

Undokai flags

For the last few years on the first Saturday in June I have participated in the traditional Japanese sports day known as undokai, For the last few years on the first Saturday in June I have participated in the traditional Japanese sports day known as undokai, 運動会. Attendance is one a requirement since my daughter attends the Hoshiko Japanese school. The school, which is held every Saturday during the fall and spring, is designed to enable its students, many of which are the children of Japanese citizens living in the U.S., to read, speak and write Japanese at a native level.

The “undokai” is traditionally held on a Saturday or Sunday morning. The children are the primary participants, but their parents and friends attend in order to enjoy the experience. During the weeks proceeding the sports day, the students practice their events with the intention of showing off their prowess to their loved ones.

Since I was not participating in the events my job was to arrive early enough to reserve the spot within close proximity field where the event would occur. In addition, I pitched a tent and ensured the box lunches (bento) are ready for lunch.

The morning events began after the opening ceremonies are completed. After engaging in casual conversation with some on the other parents I used the opportunity to brush up on some on Japanese grammar all while being immersed in the various side conversations which were taking place in Japanese. I should mention I did take a moment to observe my daughter participate in one of the races where four children are paired off and run one lap around the track, with more of a focus on competition than winning and losing.

The break occurred at lunch where all of the parties take time to eat the carefully prepared bento lunches.

In the afternoon, I finally got a chance to actively participate taking part in the tug-of-war and a race where four people, two facing forward and the other two facing backwards hold two poles and raced as a team. The key was to ensure all four people kept in step which other which is easier said than done since the two of the people are looking in the opposite directions are not able to see each other. This year the race wound up being successful since we did not fall down in a heap like last year in the grass as the other teams raced past.

After a long day of events all was well with the exception of one child who received a bloody nose during one of the competitions.

Since my daughter would be moving on to junior high next year this would be my last undokai. All told it was a long day after working all week but the opportunity to experience a true piece of Japan in San Jose all without having to endure the long flight was well worth it.

Attendance is one a requirement since my daughter attends the Hoshiko Japanese school. The school, which is held every Saturday during the fall and spring, is designed to enable its students, many of which are the children of Japanese citizens living in the U.S., to read, speak and write Japanese at a native level.

The break occurred at lunch where all of the parties take time to eat the carefully prepared bento lunches.

After a long day of events all was well with the exception of one child who received a bloody nose during one of the competitions.

Discussing Table Topics on a Monday over lunch by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 16:00:00 +0000

In order to polish my speaking skills I recently joined my local Livermore, California Toastmaster chapter. On most occasions at the beginning of the meeting the person acting as Toastmaster goes through the assignments of the roles the attendees will perform during the meeting.

Since there no formal speeches planned for this meeting the Toastmaster decided to go with Table Topics which are topics on which you speak 1 ½ to two minutes off the cuff. Today’s topics were current events and groundbreaking technologies which have the possibility to change the future.

Ribbon cutting at Livermore Lunch Bunch Toastmasters

The “current event” portion opened with the recent story of the “blade runner“, the Olympic athlete who had recently murdered his girlfriend. The next person talked about Michael Jordan’s comeback and the OSCARS while the next person spoke about Jimmy Carter in San Francisco and touched on the ARGO movie. The next participant spoke about Gun Control and the killing of Charles Doerner Nick from Seattle. The next presenter continued with the current event theme talking a subscription fee which was being implemented or a web site that he had logged regularly for free in the past. The topics changed to upcoming changes in technology which led to a discussion of space mining of rare metals and later nanotechnology. I piggy backed on the dialogue of nanotechnology by explaining about the relation nanotechnology and how the size of the particle related to the novel properties which could be created. The next speaker started her chat with the words, ”Imagine a world” and touched on quick transport ,using cargo airplane and talked about the possible impact in our lives . The last speaker was a new visitor chatted about finding a new passion. In summary, one of the more senior members stated of “practicing talking to people” is what Toastmasters was about.

We left 45 minutes after we arrived. The whole idea of Toastmasters is to use the opportunity to practice your speaking skills. The reasoning is any time you work to develop any skill on a regular basis over time improvement will occur. Mission accomplished. Every town has a local Toastmaster section. Check it out if you get the chance. You’ll be glad you did.

Photo Courtesy of http://www.toastmastersclubs.org

Riding the cable car as a resident by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Thu, 30 May 2013 16:30:00 +0000

One of the most famous tourist attractions in San Francisco are its world renowned cable cars.

Millions of tourists from all over the world a year visit the city just to get the opportunity to experience the ride through the city streets. As a long time residents of the Bay Area my family decided to pretend we were tourists and make a pilgrimage as a family. Once we got in line after purchasing our tickets we waited over an hour while being entertained by a homeless person with a saxophone.

Image of cable car

My wife and kids found open seats once the new car was ready for boarding; therefore, I rode the cable car standing up. Once I made sure I had a firm grip on the rail I was pleasantly surprised when I realized when I had the best view of all. At one point during the ride we cruised past Lombard Street (a.k.a. the crooked street). A stunning view of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island, followed which was in plain view to riders on the left side of the train, complemented by the sound of horns moving vehicles in the path of the oncoming cars out of the way. I needed to hold on tight as the left turn was made onto Hyde Street prior to passing within inches of parked automobiles and the cable car speeding in the other direction.

Finally, we arrived at Fisherman’s Wharf and the conductor announced the end the ride. After a second of hesitation everyone dismounted the cable car to continue the rest of their day. In short, six bucks a person seems like a lot to shell out for a short trip through the hills of the City of San Francisco. Riding the cable cars is more than a short ride; it is an opportunity to experience of one of the world most interesting places. Honestly, you should not have to travel around the world to check out this attraction if you live here. Especially since I have lived in the Bay Area for over 13 years; shame on me. If only my drive across the Bay Bridge to back to Livermore would be half as entertaining.

Photo courtesy of www.streetcar.org

Acoustic Guitar for me by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:25:00 +0000

Tony on his acoustic guitar

I took guitar lessons years ago at my local community center and while I have not practiced much over the years the lure to play the guitar still exists for me. Many people learn to play in order to form and join rock bands which primarily use electric guitars.

And why not? People always gravitate toward performers. How many times have you checked out a band and the guy on the guitar might not be very good looking yet all pretty ladies in attendance are eager to hang out with him?

Perhaps, I am different, since the only guitar in my closet which I intend to play is an acoustic one.

The concept is simple, a person and their instrument singing ballads from the heart does more for the soul than a group playing the latest electric/electronic equipment to a stadium of thousands.

I remember during my time in college on Sunday nights one of our favorite hangouts had an “unplugged” night where the performers completed their play sets using instruments which did not require electricity.

I thought it was fascinating to feel the experience of the sound created by a hand played instrument and a person’s voice.

I recall listening to “Songs of Freedom“ by a 4 CD-ROM compilation of Bob Marley’s greatest hits where a few of the songs sounded better with Bob signing in his trademark voice then the finished production version. How can you beat that?

I admit I probably will never play will enough to play my favorite Bob Marley songs but still get the urge to pick up my guitar and strum a few notes after a hard day at work. There is nothing more relaxing. Maybe this will motivate me to actually tune my guitar….

A Pope in image of his followers by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 16:22:00 +0000

Image of a Catholic Church

The unexpected resignation of Pope Benedict will require the voting cardinals from around the world to assemble at a conclave to vote on who the next leader of the Catholic Church will be. I describe myself as a Christian, and while I have never even attended a mass or made confession with a priest, I could not help to ponder the question of whether the Pope should reflect the face of his worshippers?”

The last two pontiffs chosen to be pope were of European descent, the recently retired Benedict XVI is from Germany and Pope John Paul II was from Italy.

This is stark contrast with the composition of the Catholic Church globally. According to the CIA Factbook, as of 2009, there were over 1.1 billion Catholics worldwide (over 17% of the world’s population) and 75% of these reside in countries outside of Europe.

These countries include the Americas (North central and South), Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. What is the possibility of the new Pope being selected from one of these locations? Is the election determined by tradition? Perhaps it is the Will of God?

As the conclave gets underway in a few weeks to elect a new Pope although I have no direct proof other then my intuition who wants to bet the cardinal which will be voted as the 266^th pope elected since 32 A.D. will be of the same ethnicity of Benedict XVI and John Paul II?

Upon further review the United States is 12% African-American according to the latest census and Barack Obama was recently re-elected as its president for a second time so who are Americans and me in particular to judge what the face of any organizations chosen leader should look like?

The value of an MBA, why are we still discussing this after 10 years? By Tony

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:01:00 +0000

Image of a MBA graduate holding his diploma

I read an article from Smart Money magazine from 2003 about whether an M.B.A. is worth the time and money. At the time, I was in the process of deciding if I wanted to go back to school since getting a graduate degree had always been a long time goal of mine and my recent layoff gave me the opportunity to seriously think about enrolling. The article spoke with about some people who forged ahead and completed their M.B.A. degrees yet found themselves no further along their career paths. In short, no guarantees existed of a rapid rise up the corporate ladder in income and status which was associated with earning the degree in the 70’s and 80’s.

This does not necessarily mean getting an M.B.A. degree does not have its value. The article stressed the importance of having a strategy for applying what you learn in the classroom.

I decided to enroll and finished my coursework in 2005 by attending classes for 22 months. I learned a lot from my classmates and instructors but I am unsure if I fared better professionally even though my goal transitioning into sales and marketing from my engineering background was accomplished.

You would think in the ten years since the writing of the article the argument would have been settled one way or the other. Where will this all be in another 10 years when current holders of bachelor degrees will ponder whether to make the leap?

Will prospective M.B.A. students be asking the same question in 2023? Will the answer be different than the answer is today or 10 years ago?

Open Book as Advertised by Tony Green

noreply@blogger.com (Tony Green) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 05:50:00 +0000

I am an open book as claimed

Multiple people have mentioned to me they noticed the amount of information I have made available about myself on my personal website. Upon reviewing www.tony green.name you will find out hordes of facts about my life history, my background and my interests. I usually respond by replying the,”open book” nature of my website comment is by design. In case I mentioned some fact about myself in a conversation why shouldn’t the on line version contain the same information?

A method exists to “my madness”. For example, a circumstance could exist where you might be examining the possibility of working with someone as a potential hire for your company, or a possible business partner or perhaps as a client in the event you are a proprietor. Why not be up front in letting people know who you are and where you come from and, most importantly, what you are about?

Does this sound odd? Think about it, do you really think anything is private in this age of FaceBook and Google? We hear all the time about picture or characterizations placed on line by other people which are either misleading or simply untrue. And worse yet, unseen Internet surfers are judging your character by the information they find on line, even if the picture depicted is unflattering.

I suppose if you wanted to accuse me with being and an “open book” then I am guilty as charged. I accept full responsibility for taking the opportunity to construct my on line image before someone shapes it for me.