"Proud Wal-Mart Associate"

"Excuse me, do you work here?"

"Excuse me, can you read my nametag?"

Wal-Mart has always offered low prices on everything they sell every day, but what are those low prices really costing you? Sure, they may be low, but how is the money used? For every purchase you make, you do help pay the menial paycheck of the working poor. You also help the store "replenish" it's stock by ordering it and never stocking it back. But, most importantly, your money gets poured into the fake commercials showing how Wal-Mart is such an enjoyable place to work. Have you really asked anyone that works at a Wal-Mart, other than a manager on salary, if they truly refer to themselves as a "Proud Wal-Mart Associate?" The truth is that, when an associate speaks out against the company, they face the risk of being terminated for it. This blog is one example. Any manager can read it and know that I am talking badly about the company and can fire me for slander. However, does that really hide the truth of the matter? What's said is said, and some things cannot and will not be taken back.

The one truth about the company is the one that they hide from everyone, and that truth is the fact that Wal-Mart can do better to provide for it's associates through better pay, better benefits, and better training. However, it's not down to the situation where they are unable to do so. They simply choose not to. What does this mean to you? This means that the customers are just as unaware as the associates who work at the store and who have been with the company for many, many years. Hiding the truth from their workers and their customers is how Wal-Mart makes its money. In return, they ask for your obedience and support of the company through fun activites such as the stock purchase program and "Casual Fridays" where you can wear jeans. Does that really make Wal-Mart a better company at all? Does it make you want to quit your current job and immediately demand a job at Wal-Mart? Again, Wal-Mart can do so much more for their workers to show they truly appreciate them, but they choose not to. Instead, they bring in new ideas and new perspectives to hide the growing problems and to drown their associates in the media through their fake commercials.

An example of the company making a business decision that is guaranteed to bring more sales is the slight revamp of specific departments in several locations. If some of you are familiar with their last remodels, known as "Project Impact" and "Project Wow," then you will be very familiar with the tactics. For those unfamiliar with the previously mentioned programs, here is the summary of them. Wal-Mart moitors their competitor's layouts and methods for displaying products on their sales floors. Wal-Mart then clones, mimics, or copies their layout and adds a little Wal-Mart flair to it, usually by changing the colors or logos around to make it not look like copyright infringement. The ending result is a department or entire store that looks identical to their competitor's store, but now the low quality, low priced Wal-Mart brand is all over the place like an evil taint you can't banish.

Although this tactic is used in just about every business in the world, Wal-Mart takes it a step further down the wrong path. The major problem with the bigger and higher end stores is that they have the exquisite customer service that goes with it. For example, just about everyone at Best Buy is actually trained on their product they sell, not just trained on how to run a register and breathe oxygen for 8 hours. With Wal-Mart "borrowing" the higher end store layout and stocking the sales floor with higher end merchandise, customers will not only expect the lower prices they find there, but they will now expect to see better customer service along with the improved selection and layout. See the problem here yet?

Wal-Mart has a pretty decent CBL system for training employees on the simpler tasks, such as working without a backbone, ignoring your common sense, and how to budget on a budget. What they do not have is a system for training associates on what customers actually do ask them. For example, there is no CBL on what the differencen is between two television models are, other than one is a higher price because of the name. The majority of the Wal-Mart CBL system is so meaningless that it barely prepares an associate for the real world situations that they will encounter every day. This is the reason so many customers, and associates alike, get angry at the lack of knowledge required to answer a simple question. Most of the time it is up to the associate to do research for their product they sell while off the clock. Although this is great that someone does take pride in their work, the associate will then be target of all customer questions, regardless of simplicity. It is as if having one smart worker makes up for having a work force of other workers with a combined IQ that is on the same level as the social awareness of the typical fake house plant. Sure, it makes the place look fuller, but is it necessary?

And what of the corporate giant? What does it think about this method? Their solution is to keep that smart associate locked to their area with no hopes of advancement. They will sing praises of their outstanding knowledge and customer service abilities. They will even go as far as saying the associate "shows great potential for promotion," yet they will remain in a mediocre position at less than mediocre pay. To put the icing on the cake of the day, some will even go further to say that, due to the overwhelming knowledge the associate has and the great service they offer, they need to "underachieve" at their job. Wal-Mart could do better to properly train associates, but they choose not to.

What does the customer see on their side of the situation? The customer usually sees associates that are struggling with the simple task of answering a question, or even selling a phone card. The customer sees overworked associates trying to do 40 hours of work on a 25 hour schedule. The customer sees associates that have to depend on government assistance for everything they need. But what does the customer do? They blame the associates. It's always the associate's fault for everything. It's their fault the customer broke their phone. It's their fault the customer can't read the return policy. It's their fault the customer bought the wrong flavor cereal and they can't return it. It's their fault, no matter what happens, because they are doing their job to the best of their ability based off the training they received, and that training didn't prepare them for what really happens. The pretend scenarios and situations are what would happen in a perfect world if customers had respect for associates.

What does this all mean to you? The reality is that Wal-Mart and it's customers are two sides of the same coin, the very coin we sweat blood to earn them. Neither of them care for the well being of associates like they should care. They all just want the best service, no questions asked, for as little cost as possible. If a customer doesn't like the service you offer, they complain to management. If Wal-Mart doesn't like the service you offer, they fire you. The entire world is working against you, yet you have to remain silent and obedient. You have to be a "Proud Wal-Mart Associate."

How do you fight this? How can you change it? One of the simplest ways to get your manager's attention is to ask for their boss's information. This will scare them and they will do what they can to prevent you from going above their head. For smaller concerns this is a great method. If you feel that they cannot help, or if you have tried in the past and cannot get a solution to your concerns, go above their head and find their boss's information and just send them an email. In some cases you can even talk with the higher ups in person. I personally found my market manager's email address, emailed him, and even talked to him on the phone about my concerns. He then called my store manager and told him everything we talked about. The very same day I had a sit down meeting with my store manager and we solved a lot of issues. As you can see, taking a small bit of initiative can go a long way if you handle it the proper way.

Just remember, Wal-Mart could do so much better as a company, but they choose not to. As a "Proud Wal-Mart Associate, " would you choose to do nothing as well? Change starts with you, and without you, nothing will change.

Saving Money to Live Better? That's the REAL Wal-Mart!

Now I am sure that everyone here is familiar with the imfamous "Save Money. Live Better." quote that defines the existance of the Devil himself, but what does that saying really mean? Who is saving money? Who is living better? How can I get in on this? Well you would be surprised at the answer, not because of what the answer actually means, but the nature of the simplicity involved at which Wal-Mart has grabbed the world by the gonads. Hell, they might as well have napalm laced gloves on. (For more on that topic, check out http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/10/tech/social-media/apparently-this-matters-ice-cube-good-day-blimp/ and have a good read.) Heading back to the topic, grab a seat and a snack as we take a more realistic look at that famous trademark slogan and what it really means to save money and live better, no matter the cost.

First, let's take a detour and introduce a group that is making a difference in the modern workplace. They are known as the Organization United for Respect for Wal-Mart Workers. It is a non-profit, non-union organization created by both former and current Wal-Mart employees. The organization, OUR Wal-Mart, has fought numerous battles with the retail giant over the few years it has been around. In fact, they have uncovered several documents and stories that are purposley kept away from associates and even management about the work practices revolving within the company. Their recent victory won associates the ability to opt in for additional hours that are available in their store. These hours are actually empty shifts that the store has and they can range from anything simple, such as a cashier, all the way to more advanced areas, such as training coordinator. All in all, this sounds like a great idea on paper, and it really is. However, there is something more dark and sinister around the situation. Prepare to get angry. Grab a snack and a small animal.

In the last few months time, various Wal-Mart locations have been ordered to cut payroll hours. First of all, how can a multibillion dollar company NOT afford to pay someone for a few extra hours of work? Does that seem right to you? One example of hours being cut happens to be at my Wal-Mart location. Our store manager told me directly that he had to cut 10,000 payroll hours down to 8,700 hours, and he was not told why. When I asked him about it, he simply said that "we have to do what's right in the company to keep the shareholders happy." What about the associates who can't pay their bills this month due to budget cuts? With the hours being cut left and right, associates are also being punished for working over their scheduled hours. For example, if I worked 5 minutes extra, I have to take those 5 minutes off my work day. It is mandatory. Failure to do so will result in fewer scheduled hours for the next work week. This is true stuff right here, and most of you know it.

Alright, so they are cutting hours and not letting you work over, but there are available shifts you can take for more hours. Why not take those shifts? Here is where it gets complicated. Most of the available shifts either conflict with existing shifts, are positions in the store that most associates are not physically able to perform, or they require management approval and additional training to even accept. Let's say I want to take a cashier schedule one day. I already know how to run a register and I can do returns. Not happening, and here is why. Management says they are not allowed to give associates any more hours than what they already have scheduled, and that statement is directly from an assistant manager at my store.

So what is the open available shift program? The program is basically all the hours that have been cut from the associates that need them, and, instead of giving them back to us freely, they are making us fight over the open shifts, once we are allowed to accept them, just to try and make our ends meet. The problem is that every time we tend to make the ends meet, they get further away. Several associates, including myself, are forced to take second and even third jobs just to make the power bill and rent. What is the solution to the problem? How can we, the poor working class, make our lives worth living? Wal-Mart's answer is simple: Become a shareholder! That's right! We need to participate in the stock purchase program and earn ourselves a slice of the company. Sure, we are already sacrificing our back bones, souls, common sense, and even our health, for a tiny paycheck every two weeks that isn't even enough to bring us above the poverty line. It would only make more sense to give more of our hard earned money back to the store that worked it out of our blood and sweat. It has already been proven that Wal-Mart pays it's employees so little that they are forced to shop at the same place they work, thus putting most of the payroll expenses they spent back into their pockets. So if we all stopped complaining about being overworked and underpaid, then gave even more of what little we get back to Wal-Mart, we, too, can "Save Money" and start to "Live Better," don't you agree? If you do agree, please head to the nearest INS office and ask to have yourself deported from the planet Earth. While you are at it, see if you can take Miley Cyrus and Kanye West with you. Help keep the planet green and healthy.

If you do not agree with what Wal-Mart is doing and you do want to say something about it, but you are afraid to, why not look into OUR Wal-Mart? As a current member myself, I can tell you that the things people can do when they stand united is far, far greater than what you can do alone. We look after our own and help however we can, and you can rest assured that whatever thoughts or concerns you have WILL be heard and WILL be appreciated by us. Take if you will this quote from the movie "V For Vendetta" and imagine it referencing Wal-Mart and what people like OUR Wal-Mart want to do for you: "A building is a symbol, as is the act of destroying it. Symbols are given power by people. Alone, a symbol is meaningless, but with enough people, blowing up a building can change the world." As a side note, if you have never seen that movie, it is a must watch film. You will truly understand everyday life better after watching it.

Heading back to topic, why not offer your thoughts and opinions and join the ranks of OUR Wal-Mart? After all, if we don't stand up for ourselves, who will? Do you want to keep hiding the fact that you want to see something improve, or do you want to make a difference and get the improvement that is needed to make your work place a more enjoyable place to be? Let's face it, you can sit and think about ways to change what is wrong, or you can change it. It's up to you to make it happen, so why not today?

If you want to know more about the organization, visit their official website at http://forrespect.org and see what you can do to be a part of the change.

World of Lorecraft - A Character Interview

Let's talk a little nerd for now. I am an avid World of Warcraft player and I have been for quite a few years. One of my first types of MMORPG (Massively Multi-player Online Role Playing Game) games that I played was Final Fantasy XI. I loved that game for it's music, it's storytelling, and, oddly enough, the people I met on that game that I called my friends. Sadly, the game was taking a steady nosedive in popularity, so I swapped over to the evil cousin of sorts and made my new home there on the server Icecrown.

So what is this blog entry about anyways? Well, I have had several people ask me how I come up with the names for all my characters. Think of this: When you go make a new account or a new character or a new ANYTHING online, what is the biggest problem you have? That's right, coming up with a bitchin' name that hasn't been used yet. Unfortunately, several of the good names are already taken. You also have to consider inactive accounts as well. Since they haven't been deleted over the course of the ten years they have most likely been there, their names are still locked down for good. It really makes you wonder how you can make a good name to match your personality in all that you do. Well that's what your imagination is for, if you have one. Maybe this will help spark some brain juices.

In World of Warcraft, there are two factions constantly at war, the Alliance and the Horde. I have characters on both sides of the spectrum, but we will focus on one side at a time. First up is the ever lovable Mercodious (mer-KHO-dee-US). This is my main Horde character coming in at a level 90 male Undead Warlock. The main reason I chose this combination, other than the undead dance, is that it closely resembled the famous Summoner class from FFXI. I felt a little at home, per se, with this character. As for the name, it comes from an old, old project I was working on in a program called RPGMaker2003. I had an entire story written up for a game I wanted to design, and this was a great start to get my programming going. In the story, there was a castle named after the king of the land, Maverick Mercodious. However, his new chancellor, known as Meredith, was corrupted by an evil spirit of the underworld, known as Mitsumi. Meredith managed to corrupt the king and then report him to the autorities for practicing the dark arts of summoning armies of the undead. After the king was removed from power, Meredith was appointed the high seat on the council. It was at that point that she brought in her servent, General Rukifellth, to lead the army of the kingdom in search of a powerful artifact that would permanently seal Mitsumi into the body of Meredith so that her power would overtake the entire world. Interesting stuff, huh? I would love to continue working on this game, but sadly there is not enough time in the day to manage it.

Moving right along, we have Bravendeft (BRAH-ven-DEFT), my level 90 male Tauren Death Knight, transmogged into all gold armor. The namesake also comes from the game I was writing on the side, which happened to be named Bravendeft. It is the name of one of the main characters that you would play inside the game. You start out in your home village doing some pretty normal activities to get you familiar with the game and how some stuff works. After a while, you get tired and want to take a nap. During your sleep, you have a very vivid dream where you actually take control of three separate adventurers named Aldaris, Korvin, and Jeffery. You show up in some heavily wooded area trying to escape the coming army. Eventually, a spirit helps guide your way to an ominous looking tree in the very middle. Unfortunately, this is also a dead end. As you reach the tree, Aldaris throws something into the trunk to hide it from the mysterious shadow coming up to him. That shadow happened to be the new General of the armies, and he brought the body of Korvin with him. After a little role play, the General moves in to slay Aldaris, but at the last second before the blade strikes, you see a flash of white light, and wake up in your bed to the sound of a thunderstorm. Almost makes you want to play the game now, right? I will eventually get back to working on it, but for now, let's move on to the next character.

Coming up on the list is my male Orc Warrior. Although he is not level 90 at this time, I plan on it in the future. His name is Funkapotamus (FUNK-uh-POT-ah-MUS). Ever play any of the ToeJam and Earl games? Well, here is where the name comes from. He is an orc with a mohawk and he dances just like MC Hammer. Why would I name him anything else? The Funkapotamus, named Lamon (luh-MON), sends ToeJam, Earl, and Latisha on a mission to earth to save the power of Funk and to collect his funk albums from the being known as the Anti-Funk. Basically, it's funk vs country in this hilarious game. It's worth checking out if you want something that is fun to play and quite funky with the puns. Also, if you dislike country music, this game is a must play.

Here we have my level 90 male Blood Elf Priest, Taisaijin (TIE-sigh-JIN). This name came from a notorious monster in the game FFXI. Although it loosely translates to "grand festival god," I was trying to look for something somewhat evil sounding. The reasoning behind that is because this is a shadow spec priest. He has a dark wardrobe and a soul patch on his chin, which basically means "Satan" in some ways here and there. Other than that, nothing too special or outstanding about him.

Along with him we have the counterpart, a female Blood Elf Paladin named Leama (LEE-muh). To be honest there is nothing notable about this character other than the fact that it is a placeholder for a project I wanted to work on. The name comes from a remixed version of a song courtesy of the artist Paul Oakenfold. It is called "Requiem for a Dream (Leama's Dream Mix)" if you wanted to listen to it.

Next on the list we have my male Troll Druid named Tresduendes (Tres-DWEN-deyz). This is another name that comes from a notorious monster in FFXI, Tres Duendes. This was a bat trio that would change between three different fighting formations during the fight. To further break it down, "tres" is the Spanish word for the number three, and "duende" references a Spanish concept which refers to a creative force of energy which comes from within, fueling the drive to produce a work of art into any form. It can also be considered a force of spontaneous creativity. In the more earlier days of latin, it also referenced the spirits of art that live within. These spirits usually take the forms of more common animals that display similar characteristics to one's own personality.With the Troll being a druid, he constantly shape shifts during fights to suit his needs. I thought it was rather creative to name this character in this manner.

Taking up the rear of the Horde list, and with good reasoning, is my male Goblin Rogue, Slickmcnifty (Slick McNifty). He was formerly known as the Night Elf Rogue Einlanzer (EIN-lan-ZER), which happened to be the counterpart to the evil sword known as the Masamune from the game Crono Cross. Although it had no real significance to a rogue, I liked the name. Slickmcnifty, however, was "borrowed" from someone on FFXI. I was walking through Jeuno one day and noticed this alt standing at the auction house. He happened to have this name and I thought it was hilarious. It makes even more sense on a Goblin rogue, too!

Now that the Horde list is done, it is time for the Alliance list. This list has a few extra stories behind it, but they are pretty interesting and random. Then again, so was the Horde list. Let's get started, shall we?

First up on Alliance is my level 90 female Draenei Shaman, Tsumikiri (SUE-me-KEER-ree). The very first online game I ever got involved with was Phantasy Star Online for the original XBox. In fact, I still have the game disc and all of my saved game data. The great thing about the game, and also the not so great thing about the game, is that you can make your character have any name, regardless of whether or not it's taken, and you can make your character look identical to anyone else's. With this being said, it was amazing seeing how many Sephiroths there were sitting around in the lobby. Each rendition of them had the same weapon, the Tsumikiri J-Sword. It was a very long kitana type blade that closely resembled the actual blade used by Sephiroth in the game Final Fantasy VII. Although my shaman is named after a sword, I still think to this day that it was a pretty awesome name for a sword. Besides, it's kind of fun to say.

Right behind her is my level 90 female Pandaren Mage, named Kearly (KEER-lee). This name is actually spelled wrong based of the origin. It should be spelled Kearley, but I was already level 20 when I finally noticed. I shrugged it off since it was more of an original being spelled wrong instead of another copy. The name comes from yet another remixed song. This time it is courtesy of the artist CellDweller. Although I forgot the exact name of the song, I will come back and put that information in at a later date.

Following the mage we have my male Pandaren Monk, obviously named Boraicho (Bo-RYE-cho). The name is properly shown as Bo Rai'Cho from where it comes from. This is the name of quite the historical character. In the Mortal Kombat series, the lore states that Bo Rai'Cho was the teacher for Liu Kang. He taught him everything he needed to know to defeat Shang Tsung at the end of the first movie. Another fun fact about Bo Rai'Cho is that it was Mortal Kombat's first obese fighting character. He first made his appearance in the game Mortal Kombat: Deadly Alliance. To supplement further on the fun fact list, his name is a play off the word "borracho," which is Spanish for "drunk."

Finally, at the very end of the list is my male Worgen Hunter, confusingly named Tsvirkunov. (TSVEER-koo-NAHV). Although the Worgens have a Brittish accent, this name is more of a Russian persuasion. So, with that in mind, why the hell did I name him this? Well I play a lot of SimCity... One of the buildings in the high tech industrial zone is a blue and white building called "Tsvirkunov Electronics." I just always thought it was a cool name, so I used it. Nothing more, nothing less.

So, with all of this being said and done, this can possibly be considered my little catalogue of character names that I use for World of Warcraft. Although some names can be found on almost every server, there are a few that I have where I am the only player in the world with the name. It does wonders for originality and imagination! Besides, some of the names you see out there are rather embarrassing. For example, people who have to purposely spell something wrong just to get the name they originally wanted, a name that someone else already had. Then you get the names that sound like XBox Live gamer tag. Those basically brand you as an asshole or a jerk or even just a small kid. I tend to ignore most of these people as they are highly annoying. Finally, you have the ghetto names. Why are they called these? Well, if you go to a ghetto and ask someone their name, that's your answer.

Every name has it's own meaning to different people. To some, a simple name means much more than just Jack or Sam. A name represents the imagination that you put into it. A name is something you give something or someone you love. Whether or not it's real or fictional, everyone will know you by name first, good or bad. The best thing you can do with a name is to not make a bad image of yourself wherever you go. Sure, you can change your name in a game quite easily, but in real life there is a lot more paperwork and money involved. Either way you look at it, changing your name doesn't make you any less of an asshole, but changing your attitude does.

Be good, don't troll, and pull your damn pants up.

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Summary List - All characters are on Icecrown

Horde - Mercodious, Bravendeft, Funkapotamus, Taisaijin, Leama, Tresduendes, Slickmcnifty

Alliance - Tsumikiri, Kearly, Boraicho, Tsvirknov

Going To Hell in a Shopping Cart

"Welcome to Wal-Mart! Do you need a 'buggy'?"

First off, how many times have you heard someone say this and wonder why they call a shopping cart a "buggy"? I seriously cannot figure it out to save my life. I have even tried researching the origins of the word and still have found nothing linking them together. I mean, seriously, how does a shopping cart have something to do with a bug? Typically, a buggy would be something you usually tow behind a vehicle or an animal. There are even buggies that you can drive over sand and rocks. Another thing called a buggy is usually a small infant. I don't know why, but they use the word for it.

Aside from the brain teaser that is the wheeled shopping companion, there are other more dangerous and confusing wild animals in the retail kingdom. Very rarely do you NOT see one in their natural habitat, sucking away at your very life essence as you try to escape their stupidity. Oh how I wish I had a bounty hunter license to help "control" the population. Anyways, aside from my demented realism of the store, here are a few encounters that I've had in the past that would most likely explain my insanity without any questions. Grab a snack and a comfy seat, this is going to be a wild ride. Pants not necessary.

Let's start with the religious group. Yes, I know, religion is a hot topic with everything in the media these days. However, this is the more laid back sense of the world view. Believe it or not, religious people are usually the worst complainers when it comes to anything that they have to purchase. It's as if they are trying to push their own self righteousness down my throat to swap out their phone because they dropped it on the floor, cracked the screen, and tried to blame it on an act of God. In fact, one of the worst people I had come up to the counter was probably one of the least expected type, the elderly vixen. This wild animal looked as though it had seen some hard times with the battle of her will versus the dreaded prune juice. She walked up to the counter and simply exercised her territorial cry.

"You know you are going to Hell for working for Wal-Mart on a Sunday, right?"

Really? REALLY!? At this point I was just overwhelmed with the vision of a giant number floating in the empty space of the world. This number kept going down and down, faster and faster. This number was my IQ. Her attack had caught me off my guard and I had little to retort in the matter. In fact, by the time I regained my consciousness, the only thing I could think to say was "Well I guess you are riding shotgun for supporting my filthy habit since you are in here buying something from me on a Sunday." Of course, I didn't say this out loud because it is against policy to use common sense at Wal-Mart. Instead I just said "Thank you for your insightful opinion. You have a great day now."

This is just the tip of the iceberg folks. There are plenty more customers where this came from. How about another, you say? Refill your drink and let's get rolling!

You like iPods, right? Lots of people do because they do more than just listen to music. Remember when MP3 players ONLY played music? Better yet, remember the original Walkman? I do because I had one. It was a nice one made by Sony. Oh you knew you had the good one because no only did it play tapes, it also had an FM radio in it! Whoooo boy were you high and mighty! Anyways, this athletic woman decides to stop in and purchase an iPod Touch one day. We were going through the transaction and everything was normal for once. In fact, being normal was probably the first warning sign of trouble. This was a sneaky creature indeed. Its main method of attack was pretending to be harmless, reeling in its prey into the attack that would paralyze it. When asked if the customer wanted to buy the protection plan that would protect the iPod from any damage that could happen to it, the sly creature had this to say.

"Oh I don't need a protection plan. I found Jesus. The rapture is coming soon, so if you haven't found Jesus, you need to. Thanks anyways."

What the hell? Seriously? I was so confused at what she just said that I stood there for at least 15 seconds not knowing what to do. I just finished the transaction and sent the customer on her way. Paralyzed with stupidity, I stood at the register for another 30 seconds just staring blankly into space. After a slow recovery from a very painful attack, all I could think of was "I wonder what would happen if I found Jesus, too... Would he also buy me an iPod for the rapture? Hell, if anything happens to it then he can heal it with one touch!"

I would go into more detail about the wonderful wildlife preservation system that I work in, but to see everything for yourself, and maybe learn a bit about yourself, I suggest you take the tour. We offer motorized carts for those who need the assistance, granted they have batteries that can carry you. You might want to bring a seat cover or some pocket disinfectant wipes. Don't ask, just trust me on this one. No shirt no shoes no service says nothing about the quality of pants you can wear, if any. Make sure to go to a doctor after your tour is finished. You can thank me later.

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Know any stories? Have a personal experience to tell? Why not leave a comment? As always, any feedback, positive or negative, is always welcome.

Thank you for choosing your neighborhood Wal-Mart!

The Aim of the Game

"You can take this job and SHOVE IT!!"

How many times have you heard or actually said that to your manager? Anyone? I'm pretty sure we all have thought about it a time or two. However, when you think about it, is your manager really to blame for the conditions that bring you such frustration at work? After all, they are just doing their job like everyone else. Sure, sometimes they are to blame for specific situations here and there, but, for the most part, it's all the handy work of the higher ups. The fabled crack crew of the law makers, the play makers, the REAL masterminds behind every operation. So, again, is it really your direct manager's fault that your job sucks?

I work at Wal-Mart and I have been there close to three years at this time. It'll actually be the third year for me in March 2014. If you combine the other two times I have worked for Wal-Mart along with this one, you can say that I have been a part of the company for close to five years. All in all it has been a pretty good run so far. I have had plenty of ups and downs during my "career" in retail. Just like every job out there, there will always be the group of people who hate and loathe it with a passion, yet never do anything about bettering themselves and moving on to greater things. On the flip side of the coin, you have that other group of people who are thankful for every moment of being there and saying that they have a job. Rather mundane, don't you think?

Regardless of your particular working environment, there will always be problems. Some problems are simple and can be fixed with just a polite conversation. Others tend to stick out like a sore thumb and can only be removed by time. Then you get the problems that hang around like a stale fart in a small room. You want to ignore the fact that it's there, but nothing you say or do makes it any more pleasurable to be there. Also, you might be holding your breath for quite a long time while trying to make your escape. Pro tip: Don't eat Taco Bell on a busy day. If you do, bring extra pants. All in all, every job has something similar to bring to the table during family meals, whether you like it or not. We all have that one cousin that is proud of accomplishing nothing with their life, don't we?

The same can be said for working at Wal-Mart across the board, and it is being said right now across the US. As the growing number of concerns regarding the integrity of Wal-Mart are being introduced, more and more strikes are showing up all over the United States. This is a big concern for members of the management team due to the fact that they know their employees have access to this information. In fact, some stores have gone to great lengths to try and squash the so-called "rumors" about the truths behind Wal-Mart and how it operates on a day to day business scale. The real truth of the matter is that they cannot be silenced. Every time one story or rumor is supposedly misdirected or proven to be a false statement, another shows up to counter the recent counter on the previous issue. This overwhelming concern is putting a strain not only on the management team of the stores but also the associates. Who are they to believe? What are they to understand? After all, we are trained to do rather mundane things in our work areas and we are expected to perform with 100% loyalty and devotion to the company that is apparently doing double dealings behind the scenes. Why would we not want to be concerned with the integrity of those we work for? After all, if it wasn't for those at the bottom of the ladder, supporting the corporation by providing customer assistance and selling their products, then the people sitting in the penthouse on top of the ladder would have no income, right? We are asked to do so much, but we are not allowed to voice our opinions regarding our own integrity in the matter. Is this management's fault once again, or are they just doing what they are told and they are in a similar position such as we are?

In my opinion, I know that I work for a company that has very questionable intents and a jagged history. I know that there are things I do on a day to day basis that are wrong and unjust and unfair to those who shop there. I know that I have to sell my own dignity to keep my employment. I know all of this, yet I still choose to work there. So who am I to complain? Who am I to judge? Who am I to say that the company is doing wrong with what they demand of their employees and how they treat said employees? In the eye of the corporation, I am a nobody. I am disposable. I am just another number in the system trying to work my way through life and stay alive. Do you feel the same way? Do you feel as though your company does not truly appreciate what you do for them and what you have to deal with in order to maintain customer satisfaction? In essence, this is a major part of the current situation in regards to all the protests against Wal-Mart as a whole. Some of it has merit while other information and complaints do not. However, instead of looking at the situation as a whole, why not break it down to, say, a single store and a single worker inside that store. Have you asked their opinion on the whole matter at hand? If not, let me give you one.

Yes, I work at Wal-Mart. No, I do not like some of the rules and the ways that we are treated. There are a lot of things to complain about, but the big question remains of why I still work there. The true Wal-Mart, in my opinion, is not the company as a whole and what they stand for. The true Wal-Mart is made of the people you work with. After all, how often do you really get to talk to, much less work with the higher management team? You spend most, if not all of your time working with people on the same level in the same situation as you are. These people are what make Wal-Mart worth the time and effort of working there seem tolerable at best. We all have good days and we all have bad days, but the level of understanding from one another in the same area of the store is such a relation that they might as well be a part of your biological family. It is within that regard that you find the motivation to continue through the work day, making the best of the bad situations you may run in to. After all, for every bad customer we have to handle, that's one more story to tell in the break room for people to enjoy.

In several instances, there are several employees and even members of management that make the act of working at Wal-Mart a good experience. Our management team at my current location is composed of some great people. Not only are they understanding managers, outside of work they are your friends. They joke with you about customer experiences. They share their history with you. They understand you because they have been in those situations before and somehow they made it through okay. Of course, at every place of business, there will be a small contingent of management that nobody really favors. These people are usually misunderstood at first and they tend to make a come back on the positive side of things, however, there can be a select few that leave their mark of disappointment on everyone they meet. Thankfully at my location we don't have very many of these particular people, but that could change at any moment, as is the case with anywhere you work.

Case and point for the time being is that, no matter where you work or what industry you work in, there will always be problems that you cannot avoid. Although it goes without saying that you need to make the best of everything you have, this goes double with your job, career, or profession. Why do something you don't enjoy? Honestly, we have to. No way around it. I personally do not favor working at Wal-Mart for a career because I know I have more potential. For the time being though, it's just a lot of hurry up and wait for the right opportunity to present itself.

With everything being said, it now brings me to the surprise ending of the plot twist. I am a member of the OUR Wal-Mart group, the Organization United for Respect of Wal-Mart workers. I support what they are doing to try and make working for Wal-Mart a fair and pleasurable experience. I have seen and been subject to the things that Wal-Mart does to force their employees to be silent and to work without question. I have been subject to hurtful assumptions from members of management in the past and I am still experiencing these issues today. I have seen the hard working employees be ignored and tossed to the side, being told they were "not qualified" for positions or being told to "underachieve" at their job, whereas the employees that fail to achieve anything get promoted for their short comings and never get disciplined for their lack of work ethic. I support the movement for a fair working environment and I believe that it can be achieved through understanding and teamwork.

Think of me what you will for the truth within the reality is not what can be seen, but what can be felt. And truth be told, I feel that there is something very, very wrong with Wal-Mart as a whole. I feel as though the time is coming when they have to make a choice, and I feel as though they will punish those against it as they have in the past. OUR Wal-Mart has my support and understanding as does any other Wal-Mart worker or any other worker in a similar situation. Your voices are being heard, and they are appreciated.

Lying About the Truth

What's in a name? What's in a personality? What's in the imagination of someone who just wants to be different, be unique, be themselves? Is it really that bad when you can't even express yourself without having others bring you down or shun you for your individuality? When did it become politically correct to lie about the truth yet wrong to tell it? What do you think? Are you right? Wrong? Misunderstood? Forgotten? Rejected?

The truth is that we may never know the right answer to whether or not being ourselves is right or wrong. After all, social media proclaims the image that it wants everyone to be. Yet, for most people, attaining that high stature of idolism is near impossible due to limitations such as income, weight, heritage, orientation, and even religion. Why did the act of being yourself turn into a crime against humanity? Do you really want to know the answer? If you have to ask the question then you will never know. However, if you already know, then why ask the question?

There is much more to life than what lies in front of you. Sometimes we take what we have for granted without realizing our potential. Once we are shot down to the point of rock bottom, we think that there is no redemption. Redemption, however, can come in many forms. Some forms will be as plain as day, as right as rain, and as obvious as a swift kick in the ass. Other forms tend to be a little tricky to find. The reasoning behind that is because you haven't realized, much less understood why you already have it, but can't find it. Everyone has equal potential to do their best. Everyone has equal potential to live the life they want. The reason why we can't is because we live by the rules set by others. These "others" are the compounds that make up the modern day society. But the real question lies within yourself. That question is what makes you wake up each morning and try again, regardless of how many times you think you might fail. The question is "Why should I do what they want me to? Why shouldn't I be myself?"

My name is Mike Alcantara Jr. I am well known as probably "The whitest Cuban you will ever know." My father was born and raised in Cuba before coming to the states. Although I go by Mike, look as white as anyone else and have no accent, I claim myself as Hispanic due to my roots. I know it goes against the subject of this writing, however, some sacrifices must be made in order to obtain what you truly want in life. Keep in mind that those sacrifices, sometimes small and sometimes great, will always come back to help you when you least expect it. If you are not willing to change to make your way, to pave your path, to leave your mark, then why expect the world to change for you?

I didn't exactly have the model childhood when I was growing up. My father went to prison for almost 10 1/2 years and my mother was in between jobs and husbands almost every few years. I never had all the nice clothes and nice gadgets the other kids did. In fact, when I turned 16, my mom sent me off to school with the words "Happy Birthday! Don't come home without a job!" Needless to say, when I was job ready, I had to help pay the bills and buy the food. It was not the easiest life, but it taught me to truly appreciate what I have and to take pride in all I do. If nobody else appreciates it, at least I will. I saved up money to buy my first car. I saved money to get my driver's license. I saved money to get what I needed. The beauty of all of this is that, even though what I purchased was either used or out dated, it was mine. I worked for it. I earned it. I deserved it. Nobody else could take that away or tell me otherwise. I was determined to make a life for myself whichever way I could.

My how things change over the years...

As time went by, I moved out on my own and struggled to keep from drowning. I had late car payments. I had late bills. I could never buy anything I needed when I needed it. At one time I was going to college full time, tutoring at the same college after hours, working a part time Job at Target, and donating plasma to make my car payment. I was falling behind no matter what I tried. Whenever I tried harder, it came back to hurt me even more. I had to change. I had to adapt to a lifestyle I didn't like. I had to make sacrifices that I will never get back. I had to do it all to stay alive, and it was hurting.

Throughout these times I had several relationships with different women. Some would last for months on end whereas a few would only last a few weeks. The one thing I learned from most of this is that they didn't truly appreciate what I had to do and what I was capable of doing. They never gave me a chance to prove that I could exercise my potential and graduate from college. They never let me show them that I could get more than just a part time job. They never truly understood what I had to do to keep a positive perspective in the face of my downright fall into rock bottom. They never appreciated me for me. It hurt very, very much.

It was at this point, the point of nearly breaking down and giving it all up to admit defeat, that someone gave me one piece of advice that I will never forget. My father, who had been away for most of my life growing up, had simply this to say to me. "Son, you need to stop worrying so much about what other people think of you. You need to get your head out of the ground and get your life figured out. Get a good job, even if you have to start at the bottom. Stick with it, no matter how much you hate it. Take things slowly and go little by little. Once you get your life in order, the money and the help will be there for you. Don't worry about not having a girlfriend either. You need to stop looking since it isn't working. I'm telling you, you get your life straight, she will come looking for you. I promise."

In 2011 I moved away from the big city and moved to a tiny town in the middle of nowhere. Although I had to stay with my mother for a few months to get on my feet, it was a chance to reinvent myself. A chance to start from scratch with some experience. A chance to prove that I can make it. I started working at the local Wal-Mart in March of 2011 as a cashier. I know it's not the best job in the world, but they were the only place that would hire me. I made the best of a bad situation and stuck with it. It was tough making new friends and getting to know people in this new town, but you have to keep trying to make it, no matter the circumstances.

Later that year near the end of April, a new group of people were hired. One particular cashier named Michelle was there. She had worked in the store previously and came back to work because she needed a job. She had just moved back to her father's house from Kentucky after a bad relationship breakup. She was an okay person and usually not the typical type of person I would talk to for idle chit chat, but I was determined to prove that I could make a difference and be a more sociable person. The months continued on and I got to know everyone a little better, including their friends. Michelle and her friend Alicia had deemed me "The weird geek at work with the glasses." We joked about it here and there and I started to become more friendly with everyone. Things were going okay, but I still thought about what I wanted and didn't have.

As the summer rolled through, I was faced with having to find a place of my own. My mother was asking me to leave the house since I was able to support myself now. She wanted me to go make friends and go out with people to bars and the mall and whatnot. Besides, she said, it's better than hanging out on a farm with two old people who only play games on Facebook and drink beer. As luck would have it, fate is also unpredictable at times. It just so happened that Michelle was also looking for a place to stay. We talked about it and decided that, even though we only knew each other from work, we could trust each other well enough to rent a place as room mates.

In late August we found a small place to rent. It was just me and her, so we didn't need an upscale apartment or some penthouse off the town square. Although it wasn't much, it was a place we could both call home. Over time, we got to know each other better. We started talking more about our likes and dislikes and what we want to do with our lives.. Eventually it got to the point to where everyone was assuming that we were dating. I can see why they thought that since we always stayed together and tried to only take one vehicle wherever we needed to go. It was a smart way to save money, and besides, we were just friends. Or so we thought. It wasn't too much longer after all of this that we decided to start dating.

Things were looking up for me. I had a good job. I had plenty of new friends. I had a place to call my own, even if it was being rented. I had someone I can share my time with. For the first time in a long time, I had my life in order, and everything that I wanted slowly started coming back.

Fast forward to today...

Almost three years after we started to date, I am now married to Michelle. She is the best friend I never knew I wanted, and the one I never want to lose, no matter what. We both still work at the same place we met and I also work for Jackson Hewitt during the tax season. We still live in the same place, although we did move next door to a nicer home. We have a loving family of three dogs, a cat, and a fish. It doesn't really matter what we have though. The true value of our lives is what we do with them. Why should we let others tell us what to do with our lives? Are they living them? Are they paying for everything that you own? You are yourself, and nobody can change that. Sure, you may need help on the way in the form of advice, guidance, money, food, belongings, and whatever else you might need. The one thing that everyone needs, but cannot be given, is the ability to tell yourself to never give up, never lose hope, and to never worry about whether or not you are good enough for anything.

I used to be down and depressed all the time. I was worried about not being able to do what I wanted. I was worried about being judged and rejected by everyone. I was worried about being myself. People were punishing me for being myself. It was wrong, and always is wrong.

No matter how bleak everything may seem and no matter how people treat you in life, you will always be yourself. What you need to do is make the best of it. Everyone is trying to be something they are not, but when you try to be the person you really are, you will realize that what you are cannot be duplicated. You are original. You are unique. You are what you make yourself to be. If you want to be happy in life, you need to get your priorities straight. You need to get back on track. You need to sit down and realize that there are more important things to do than worry about what people think about you. If people can't love you for being yourself, they are not worthy of your time. Never, ever, EVER let anyone tell you any different. Take care of yourself and the rest will fall into place. I promise, just as my father promised me.

I want to dedicate this posting to two friends of mine.

The first is Candy Daniels. She posted a blog about her childhood and it motivated me to write this one. Everyone needs a way to tell their story. Without a story, no one will truly understand the complexity of your personality. If they never understand, they may misjudge you in the wrong manner. If they do understand and appreciate you for who you really are, then you will have a happy, promising life ahead of you. I want to thank her for opening up and helping me understand that there is more to her than meets the eye. For that I am grateful to call you my friend.

The second is Colton Brown. I understand that you are going through some rough and questionable times in your life. Although I may not understand every aspect of it, I know enough to be able to tell you to stay strong and that you will be okay. The decisions you make are yours alone to make, but know that, as your friend, I will support your choices and offer my advice or opinion if you need it. Unbiased, uncensored, and understanding. I hope that you find motivation and determination from my post to power through your tough times.

So here's to you Krshna and Brighthorn. May you raid forever and win phat lewtz.