Take a gander at my recent cyber security webinar

Today I thought I try something different. Instead of reading what I have to say, I thought I’d give you a chance to listen to what I have to say.
The topic du jour — cyber security. Below is a video of a webinar I conducted last week, entitled, Everything Homebuilders Need to Know About Cyber Security in 30ish Minutes (but are afraid to ask). 
Even though the webinar was for the Home Builders Association of Greater Cleveland, most of the presentation is of general business interest, and of particular interest to HR folks. Cyber crime is one of, if not the, biggest threat to American businesses (see Yahoo, Target, Home Depot, the DNC…). If this issue is not squarely in the middle of your company’s radar, it should be for 2017.

WIRTW #442 (the “Good with God” edition)

Any week my favorite band—the Old 97’s—release new music is a week to be celebrated. (I know, Old 97’s music two Fridays in row. Deal with it or read something else today).

I’ll let Rolling Stone do the heavy lifting:

“I’m good with God. I wonder how she feels about me?” 

So ends the chorus of the Old 97’s’ “Good With God,” the lead single from the band’s 11th album, Graveyard Whistling. Due February 24th, the album offers up another boozy blast of Texas twang, train-beat percussion and guitar grit from Rhett Miller and company, who recorded its 11 songs in the same border-town studio that spawned the group’s major-label debut, Too Far to Care, two decades earlier. 

With their original four-piece lineup still intact, the Old 97’s welcome a new face into the fold with “Good With God,” whose titular omniscient character is played by Brandi Carlile. The two trade vocal duties throughout, with Carlile’s voice bathed in plenty of godly reverb. The result is an ominous, off-kilter duet between Miller and his maker, driven forward at highway speed by bandmates Philip Peeples, Murry Hammond, and Ken Bethea.

You can pre-order the new album, Graveyard Whistling, here (CD, digital, or four different colors of vinyl). Why wait for it’s official release on February 24? They are good musicians and better people that deserve for their music to be purchased, not streamed. And, look for the band to roll though your town in the Spring and Summer. They are a live act not to be missed.


Here’s what I read this week.

When a self-fondling supervisor earns the nickname “Mr. Bojangles,” it’s not going to end well

The EEOC reports that it has sued Goodwill Industries of the East Bay Area for sexual harassment and disability discrimination, following allegations made by disabled female nightshift janitors against their supervisor. The allegations are … disturbing:

Santa Claus and child labor laws

While I was watching Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer with my family something struck me. The elves working in Santa’s Workshop manufacturing the toys looked awfully young. Is it possible that the North Pole lacks child labor laws? Is this how Santa keeps his costs down? After all, he needs toys for more than half a billion children.

So, what are Ohio’s child labor laws?

Ohio set to maintain stable statewide minimum wage

A bill is on its way to Governor Kasich’s desk for signature that would prohibit any municipality or other political subdivision from establishing a minimum wage different from Ohio’s state minimum wage.

Sub. S.B. 331 [pdf] is a reaction to efforts of the “Fight for 15” movement to create piecemeal minimum wage increases city by city. Recall that earlier this year, Ohio’s attorney general issued an advisory opinion that a municipal ordinance may not require an employer to by a to pay its employees an hourly minimum wage rate that is in excess of the statewide hourly minimum wage rate,which is fixed by Ohio’s Constitution. This bill clears up an ambiguity over this issue.

Common sense (sort of) prevails in Ohio over gun-owner discrimination law

Last week, I reported on Ohio Senate Bill 199 / Sub. House Bill 48, which would have elevated “concealed handgun licensure” to a protected class under Ohio’s employment discrimination law, on par with race, color, religion, sex, military status, national origin, disability, age, and ancestry.

My Twitter feed absolutely exploded with confusion and outrage. Some of the better replies:

WIRTW #441 (the “Burl Ives” edition)

Christmas carols and the Old 97’s are two things that make me very happy. Do you know what makes me happier? When the Old 97’s sing a Christmas carol.

For this week’s musical share, I bring you Rhett and the boys performing “A Holly Jolly Christmas.” If this doesn’t put you in the holiday mood, nothing will.

Click here to enjoy (sadly, the Austin American-Statesman doesn’t offer an option to embed the video).

Here’s what I read this week: