Real Data on Furlough and Laid Off Wokers

White House floats no back pay for some furloughed federal workers despite 2019 law

 

Government agency furloughs

Numbers reflect temporary furloughs during the government shutdown, as detailed in agency shutdown contingency plans.

Environmental Protection Agency	15,166	13,432	89% 89% 89%
Education Department	1,700	1,485	87% 87% 87%
Labor Department	12,916	11,061	86% 86% 86%
Commerce Department	42,984	34,747	81% 81% 81%
Department of Housing and Urban Development	6,105	4,359	71% 71% 71%
Nuclear Regulatory Commission	2,665	1,837	69% 69% 69%
State Department	26,995	16,651	62% 62% 62%
Energy Department	13,812	8,105	59% 59% 59%
Interior Department	58,619	30,996	53% 53% 53%
Agriculture Department	85,907	42,256	49% 49% 49%
IRS	74,299	34,429	46% 46% 46%
Defense Department	741,477	334,904	45% 45% 45%
Department of Health and Human Services	79,717	32,460	41% 41% 41%
Treasury Department	2,714	859	32% 32% 32%
Transportation Department	53,717	12,213	23% 23% 23%
Social Security Administration	51,825	6,197	12% 12% 12%
Justice Department	115,131	12,840	11% 11% 11%
Department of Homeland Security	271,927	14,184	5% 5% 5%
Department of Veterans Affairs	461,499	14,874	3% 3% 3%

Notes

Defense Department figures include civilian employees only.

Source: Government agency websitesCredit: Tamara Keith, Saige Miller and Rahul Mukherjee/NPR

 

Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/10/07/g-s1-92363/omb-memo-shutdown-federal-worker-backpay

In this Rat Race or Work Force: Keep your cards close to your chest

 "The term "keeping information close to pocket" is a variation of the common idiom, "keeping your cards close to your chest". It means to keep your intentions, ideas, or knowledge secret from others, either to gain an advantage or because you are being cautious. 

Origin and meaning

The phrase is a reference to card games like poker, where players hold their cards close to their chest so that their opponents cannot see what they are holding. By extension, applying this to real-life situations means you don't reveal your plans or thoughts to others. 

Common synonyms and related phrases

• Keep your cards close to your chest/vest: This is the most direct and traditional version of the idiom.
• Play it close to the vest: A common American variation with the same meaning.
• Keep something to yourself: To not share a piece of information with anyone else.
• Keep something under your hat: An older phrase that means to keep something secret.
• Keep something under wraps: To hide or keep a secret.
• Guarded: An adjective to describe someone who is careful not to show their feelings or give away information.
• Behind closed doors: This phrase describes something that is done secretly or without public knowledge. "

Source: Google AI

• hold/keep/play (something) close to one's chest

  idiom. variants or US hold/keep/play (something) close to the vest. : to keep (something) to oneself. It's better to hold such inf...

  

  Merriam-Webster
• Twenty Five Idioms about Keeping and Spilling Secrets

  Apr 12, 2016 — as quiet as a mouse – silent or very quiet. behind closed doors – out of sight, in secret, without public knowledge. d...

  

  Spellzone
• What does it mean to 'keep your cards close to your chest'?

  Feb 21, 2020 — * What does it mean to "keep your cards close to your chest"? * Literally speaking it means holding your playing cards...

  

  Quora

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The Need to be Heard /La necesidad de ser escuchado

 

The Need to be Heard /La necesidad de ser escuchado   

The Need to be Heard. Oprah Winfrey (a leader I admire especially in the movie color purple which she started in before becoming form her talk show) says her religion is gratitude; this concept is an idea in my 40s have just received insight was a thing. Choose peace ahead of always needing to be right. 

   My take on this however is everyone required to express gratitude & gratefulness the same way or even verbally. I think not....

Mass Call: What’s Next After No Kings?

Your Life is Bigger than your job - Oprah!

 "Your Life is bigger than your job" - Oprah Winfrey

   Listening to an honor society presentation. What I advise is keep "balance" in perspective. USA the average worker puts in 40 hours plus. Europe its approximately 30 hours with social supports such as healthcare and a siesta. The balance is unsustainably off in my opinion regarding US economics. 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siesta

Stay Close

   Respecting to the others who do believe in God, but the notion or luxury of denying 'faith' is not ours......in the words of a respected elder....."if you don't stand for something you will fall for anything" (Malcolm X). Not to offend the bright side is that so many believe there are many towards the same light. It is scientifically and historically true in past epochs how so much lined up during the same time period. This history, facts, archeology etc in themselves are no coincidence(s). 

   An old friend (an ordained Buddhist monk) made a statements to me years ago which he could just as much posed as question, the compass is now readjusting not just form myself but the global community of mankind: "you are so far away from the church".

Advice for Leaders: Listen, Learn, Love, Observe, then Lead.

Image Citation: https://www.blackartdepot.com/products/angel-of-love-magnet-buena-johnson

https://www.azquotes.com/quote/184516

Inspiration: Luke 22:54-62

Revised St. Francis Prayer - Reposting

 Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. 

Where there is hatred, let me bring love.

Where there is offense, let me bring innocence.

Where there is conflict & drama, let me bring unity.

Where there is error, let me bring truth.

    Where there is doubt & indecision, let us bring faith.

Where there is pain, let us bring healing.

Where there is darkness, let us bring light.

Where there is sadness, let us bring joy.

    O Lord, grant I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console

to be understood as to understand,

to be loved as to love,

for it is in forgiving that one is forgiven

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned

it is in accepting Jesus, the Christ that

 one awakens to a new eternal life.

Amen.

Fall Rant 2025

     Work it out...with or without....today I choose never alone. Afraid of everything these days, some matters might not be all happy go lucky. With volunteerism and or leadership the goal is not always money.... when advised by a person they do not want to be onstage; that's not antisocial that individual is indicating a calling and motivation which is their own. My personal experience is occasionally a person will do opposite of what you express when you are clear. Is this to get a reaction or another approach? Clarity can be viewed as a gift. WE do not have time to purposely confused anyone on their path especially when based on faith, honor or integrity. Not new nor bygone ideas.  Whatever age or generation ….change or stagnation.....lets move forward. Just a fall season rant typos included. Peace, love and unity. 

Burn Down those Bridges

 Burn Down those Bridges that no longer serve your honorable goals! 

We’ve all heard it: For decades, it’s been a crux of career advice. Keep every door open. Stay on good terms. Never fully walk away. Don’t burn that bridge.

But that advice was followed during a different time and for workplaces that were designed to keep you in line, not further your career. In today’s fast-moving workforce, clinging to outdated relationships, toxic workplaces, or unfair structures isn’t loyalty. It’s self-sabotaging.

It’s time to rethink what was once considered the norm. Sometimes burning a bridge isn’t reckless. It’s strategic. It’s the first step toward building something better in your career.

"Why “Don’t Burn Bridges” No Longer Works

The original phrase came from the military: destroy the bridge behind you so you can’t retreat. In modern work life, it’s been turned into “never cut ties,” even if those ties are choking your growth.

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The reason for this advice? To protect the system, not you. To make sure you don’t disrupt the corporate hierarchy, question what was once considered normal, or hold higher powers accountable.

But when you’re trauma-bonded to bad bosses, toxic workplaces and colleagues, or exploitative industries, staying connected keeps you stuck. It prevents advancement. It robs you of the energy you need to move forward.

Let’s be clear: walking away is complicated.

Here are five ways to burn bridges and do it in a way that’s bold, healthy, and future-career focused:

1. Walk away, with both feet. If you’re constantly keeping one foot in the past and one in the present, you’ll never fully be able to march toward your future. When you make the decision to break free from a place or a person holding you back, you must commit to the ending. Any ambivalence will send mixed messages to what you no longer want in your life and to yourself.

Stop meeting your former toxic boss for coffee. Don’t “like” and comment on posts by the person who mistreated you. Block the number in your phone that sends a shiver down your spine every time you see it pop up. Cut the cord.

2. Stand for your boundaries. Create, communicate, and comply with the boundaries that you need and require that those who you allow in your life do the same. Writer, broadcaster, and podcaster Emma Gannon is known for saying, “The only people who get upset when you start setting boundaries are the ones who benefited from you not having them.” You will be met with resistance because you are no longer allowing others to mistreat you. Don’t take that pushback as a sign to retreat. It’s working. This is what it looks like.

Decide where you will spend your time and energy and who with. Is the monthly networking dinner you signed up for still serving you? What about the subscription to the organization that no longer feels aligned? It’s time to stop feeding the people and places that no longer support the life you’re designing. Cancel what’s not adding value. 

3. Protect yourself. Who is the version inside of you who wasn’t—or isn’t—safe? Now, go to them and tell them that you know a way out. Lead them there, hand in hand, and don’t stop until you get to the other side. So much of growth is about knowing better and then, doing better. You now have the power to rewrite your story. Make sure you’re the main character in this edition.

Do you remember what it felt like to be in the midst of your career chaos? It’s time to hold that emotion again and release it. Write a letter to that version of yourself acknowledging, honoring, and validating the experience. Tell them what you’re doing differently now so that it will never happen again. So much of healing and moving forward is dependent upon witnessing what was. And getting those feelings out of your body onto paper is a powerful tool in the process.

4. Build your own bridge. We spend a lot of time running to the next thing. Preparing for the next challenge. Rushing to achieve the next milestone. It’s a perfect recipe for never enjoying anything you’ve worked for. Stop. Look around. This was your goal at one point in time. And even if it’s not exactly the way you want it to be, you have achieved so much. Stand at the peak of your in-between. Look to the left at where—and who—you’ve been. Look to the right at where you’re going, at who you’re meant to be. Thank them, the you of this moment. They deserve to be celebrated.

Share what you’re doing with people you trust. Yes, they can hold you accountable, but they will also be there to celebrate these important steps you’re taking: burning the bridges to a past that no longer serves you; building a bridge to a future that is ready to fulfill you. You can’t do it alone. Surround yourself with the people who want to see you win.

5. Walk to the other side. Your new bridge is built. The decaying and diseased bridges are burned. All the planning and strategizing and vision boarding in the world means nothing unless you take action. Rewiring the conditioning inside of you that tells you “don’t burn bridges” takes effort, determination, and commitment. But the act of making a different choice—of reprogramming an operating system that at one point brought you safety, success, and solace—takes conviction. You must commit to this shift and start changing your daily habits if you want to realize this new life for yourself. No one else will do it for you. It is up to you.

This is our way forward: New system. New rules. New path.

Let’s stop asking others for directions to places they’ve never been. Let’s stop taking directions from others to places they’ll never go. Let’s build our own bridges. On our own terms.

I’ve gone back too many times—to people and places in my career that have burned me; I’ve put my hand into the fire again and again thinking that maybe, this time, it won’t be so hot. I’ve slipped back while climbing my way out of quicksand because giving in felt so much easier. I even taught myself that it actually felt good.

When we always keep one foot behind, wedged inside this mythical “door” that must remain open indefinitely, we never fully move forward.

It’s time. Close the door. Walk away. Burn the bridge. Build a new bridge. Cross it.

“Burning bridges” isn’t self-destructive. It’s an act of self-preservation. And you will always be worth saving.

The extended deadline for Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies Awards is tonight, October 14, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today."

Source: https://www.fastcompany.com/91418485/when-you-should-burn-a-bridge-in-your-career

Pets are questioned in certain situations but are far more a benefit

 The below I do believe in addition to loving ones pets while they are in your care. A topic I have written about on this blog.

How pets help redirect negative energy

• Stress reduction: Studies have shown that interacting with companion animals can reduce stress and increase positive feelings.
• Emotional buffer: Their presence can act as a buffer against the negative effects of stress, helping to keep positive feelings from being completely overridden.
• Providing comfort: When you are upset, a pet may come to you, snuggle, or offer comfort, which can help shift your emotional state.
• Encouraging activity: Taking a pet for a walk or playing with them can be a way to move and release pent-up energy yourself. 

What to do if you think your pet is absorbing negative energy

• Prioritize your pet's well-being: If you are going through a difficult time, be mindful of your pet's needs and try to provide them with routine and reassurance.
• Engage in positive interactions: Try to spend quality time with your pet through activities like petting, playing, or cuddling, as this can benefit both of you.
• Seek professional help: If your pet's behavior is extreme or concerning, a veterinarian or animal behaviorist can help diagnose the issue and provide solutions. 

Image Citation & source:

https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/mental-health-wellbeing-gm1632445060-532615577

Google AI Overview

Energy at Ibis Walk St. Pete - Reflection

Source: https://bbc.com/culture/article/20220406-the-meaning-behind-the-japanese-zen-garden

No Kings Events - The Right to Freedom of Speech and Assembly!

                         No Kings Events Take Place this Saturday October 18 2025

                              Throughout the U.S.A. ...advice be safe and keep it peaceful

No Kings events in Pinellas County on October 18, 2025

• Clearwater/North Pinellas: A "No Kings" protest is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. at Gulf to Bay Boulevard and Park Place Boulevard, near the Clearwater Mall area.
• Largo: Another peaceful demonstration will take place at Largo Central Park at 10:00 a.m..
• Saint Petersburg: A "No Kings 2" demonstration will be held at 9:30 a.m. at Tyrone Square Mall, along 66th Street North.
• Gulfport: A "No Kings, No Billionaires" protest will take place at the Gulfport Casino Ballroom at 11:00 a.m.. 

Source: https://www.nokings.org/