Career-Hopping

Are you happy with your job?

I’m sure many of us who are already employed ask this question to others and to ourselves. It’s a fact that more than 50% of those who are working are not happy with their jobs.

Those who got their dream job on the first try are probably wondering why employed people pose this query on themselves. They would most likely even answer it for them with sarcasm, saying that they shouldn’t have applied for their current post in the first place. Well, all I could say to these people is this – easy for you to say!

I’m one of those who didn’t get the job that I wanted on the first try. I was desperate in landing any job that pays well because I don’t want to bother my parents anymore for my gas money. Not everybody gets what he wants. That’s a flat fact. It’s not surprising then that most of the people who are currently employed are not exactly happy or satisfied with their position.

I started out in an insurance company, entering as a clerk then later on as a policy salesman. The job pays well, but it wasn’t really fulfilling. You wouldn’t want to build a career in an insurance company unless you’re its owner. I don’t even know if my job helped people. I’m sure you’re aware of the joke about life insurance – a contract that keeps you poor all your life so that you can die rich :)

I love my current job. I get to help people locate their lost loved ones through people searches, or find out the truth about their spouses or would-be partners by going through divorce files and other vital records. It’s mostly paperwork for me, none of the Sherlock Holmes things that you might be imagining. But hey, it’s exciting and rewarding just the same.

The Legacy

Despite the fact that Saddam Hussein has long been dead, Iraq continuous to suffer from the violence caused by warring ethnic groups, militants, and separatists. Life expectancy surveys in that country simple won’t work. No matter how healthy you are, you might easily end up in a coffin the next day.

While foreigners are in danger of being kidnapped in that side of the world, peacekeepers and locals are facing the daily peril of either being shot or blown away by a bomb. Top Iraqi politicians are not spared of this danger. Just recently, the country’s deputy prime minister, Salam al-Zubaie, escaped an assassination attempt. Investigations revealed that the murder try was an inside job, with one of his aides providing the means by which his boss could be killed.

There’s no need in pointing out that death records are piling up in Iraq. Many say that America started it all. Maybe they’re right. But that doesn’t mean that things can’t be changed. Moves are taking place in Capitol Hill to bring our troops back home. I’m one with those who wish for our soldiers to be spared of the needless killings in Iraq. However, I also wish that our government could do something for that country which we invaded.

Many hated the present administration for what it did in Iraq. It has received rebukes from all over the world. While it has made good its promise that it will establish democracy in Iraq, it failed to assure that the transition would be bloodless. Of course, bloodshed was expected. However, nobody expected that America’s meddling will cost so many lives.

Democracy is a legacy that America wants to leave to the country which it invaded or greatly influenced. Sadly though, it hasn’t learned a bit from what has happened in the past. President Bush should’ve known that no democracy could thrive without peace and order. Installing a democratic government in Iraq won’t solve its problems. In fact, it might just exacerbate it.

101 Reasons to Leave New York

The city that I live in is not just known as the city that never sleeps. New York is also known around the world as the city that never cares.

Many weren’t surprised then that the setting of one of the most despicable act towards helpless elderly people was the Big Apple. A video footage of a man beating up a 101-year-old woman circulated around the world. The shameless act enraged many Americans, with many of them calling for a prompt investigation of the incident.

Surprisingly, New Yorkers are spearheading the drive in locating and prosecuting the mugger. I’m quite astonished by this development since many of the state’s inhabitants usually don’t make a big deal of incidents such as this one. It doesn’t carry the distinction or impression of being a cold-hearted city for nothing.

That impression on New Yorkers changed overnight when the outrage spread like a forest fire throughout the state. Every member of the NYPD has already been apprised of the event, and had been shown the footage of the incident. The mugger became the state’s most wanted man overnight.

I, as well as everybody else in the state, have one tip for that shameless person who assaulted the old woman – get out of New York. He’ll be virtually begging for the issuance of a death record under his name if he doesn’t leave the state. Many New Yorkers have seen the footage, and it won’t be long now before the police authorities would come up with a clearer photo or sketch of the person responsible for the reprehensible deed.

The incident was very disheartening. However, I’m also glad that the cruel monikers that New Yorkers are frequently being given are not true. Many of the city’s residents do actually care for other people. If they do seem to be cold sometimes (ok, all the time), it’s probably because they’re always chasing time. This has been the order in the city since it became the financial capital of the world. It’s a tough place to live in. But the people here do have a heart.

As Real As It Can Get

I don’t have a definite or official statistic on this one, but I think that adoption records have been piling up on government registries for the past few years. Could it be that many American couples are now open to creating a family through adoption?

Of course, every couple would definitely prefer to have their own child. While you could also call your adopted child as “your own,” the concept is more biological than legal. Nothing beats having kids that have your facial features or temperament. Unfortunately, not all would be able to experience this. Some couples may suffer from medical conditions that would prohibit them from having a child. Some may be completely healthy, but for some reason cannot conceive a child.

It’s ironic that those who are fully capable of conceiving children are the ones backing out from the opportunity. I can’t blame then, though. Corporate America demands much from its citizen. You won’t be able to make it to the top if you don’t start early. As a result, many young couples decide to shelve any plan to have a baby. By the time they think they’re financially ready to support a child, their bodies may not be capable of responding favorably to their intention already.

I think this is one of the reasons why adoptions are getting common. Couples who previously thought that they should be working during their primes are now trying to catch up on what they should’ve done a few years back. There will be some who would not be able to get back what they have abandoned or neglected when they were still young. The ability to conceive is not eternal, you know. The next best thing then is to adopt.

I think this trend would benefit the society more. I mean, there are many kids out there that need a new family. I hope that those kids would be able to experience what it is like to have loving parents.

Mere Placebos?

If you’re one of those who believe that food supplements increase longevity, then you might want to brace yourself from the study that some experts recently published on the supposed benefits of certain antioxidant vitamins.

The research, published in the latest issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, revealed that no significant effects, whether positive or negative, were found in persons taking Vitamin A, E, and C supplements. Some of the participants ended up dying due to causes which supposedly could’ve been prevented by the health enhancers.

I don’t know what’s your take on the report, but I’m a little bit skeptical about it. My medicine cabinet is replete with band aids and iodine, but it’s definitely lacking on food supplement bottles. However, this doesn’t mean that I don’t believe that vitamin tabs or capsules won’t contribute anything to my health. On the contrary, I believe they’re essential at this day and age where everything is cooked and served fast. Where else could you get your daily doze of vitamins if cheeseburgers are always on your daily menu?

I’m religiously taking Vitamin E capsules to supplement my delicious but unhealthy meals. I don’t know if it’s working. Maybe it is. But, then again, maybe I’m just deceiving myself. Maybe it’s nothing more than a placebo.

Many experts doubt the reliability of the study. Indeed, it’s already an established medical fact that food supplements could definitely breathe life to your failing health even if the bottle contains the warning “no proven therapeutic effects.”

If the new study’s findings are true, then there’s no reason why people should continue spending thousands of dollars on supplements which they believe could delay the issuance or processing of their death records. An independent panel should investigate the report to settle once and for all the issue on whether or not food supplements positively affect the health of those who are taking it.

Desperate Houswife Gives Birth To Twins

If you’re a fan of the hit series Desperate Housewives, then this entry might have already passed its expiry date.

The Associated Press has just revealed that Marcia Cross gave birth to twins. The girls and their mother are reportedly in very good condition.

Cross’ pregnancy amazed me not just because she went through the series’ tapings even during the few remaining months before she was expected to give birth, but she also attained the feat at an age where no woman usually dare to bear a child.

In case you don’t know, she’s already 44. She hid it well, didn’t she? I initially thought that she was just in her mid 30s. She definitely doesn’t look her age, and I mean this as a compliment.

Desperate Housewives fans will definitely try to take a peak at the twins’ birth records because this vital record contains information on both the girls and their celebrity mother as well.

It's Plain Murder. Period.

In this day and age where men and women are already regarded as equals, it’s quite surprising to hear that there are still societies which heavily segregates men from the opposite sex. Worse, these groups often discriminate against women in terms of rights and privileges.

I don’t want to foment social or cultural hatred, so I won’t mention the social or ethnic groups which deny their women the equal protection of the laws.

There’s this one group of people in Asia which cheapens the value of the lives of their women by permitting “honor killings.” The reason or principle behind the “enlightened” suicide is anything but honorable or valid, though. Women in this part of the world could be instantly killed if they interact with the opposite sex outside the permitted venues.

I have been taught to respect cultures no matter how different or absurd they may be. However, a culture or society which encourages the killing of a member for bringing shame to the family deserves neither a tinge of respect nor understanding. The death records of the victims of these senseless killings should be taken out of their drawers and be used to slap the faces of the deceased’s family members who consented to the murder.

Pointless Refusal

I was supposed to go through several adoption records last night for my report on Wednesday. However, I failed to process a single file because I got so absorbed in my chat with a person I met online who’s a rabid Celtic fan. So much for the early finish that I was hoping for on my vital records assignment.

I guess I’ve already told you several times before that I’m a die-hard Laker supporter. You might be guessing then that we were throwing expletives at each other during our 3-hour chat. We didn’t. Instead, we relived the 80s where both our teams were dominating the NBA.

Our trip down memory lane got interrupted when I received an e-mail from an officemate, reminding me of the preliminary report that I should be submitting the next day. A client of ours wants to know if his nephew is an adopted child or not. The boy’s parents refused to give us any detail. I don’t know why they’re withholding such information from us. They know that we’re going find it out sooner or later.

Effortless Retrieval

One of the most required or sought after personal file is the birth record or certificate. Whether you’re applying for a job, going on a trip abroad, or enrolling in a university, chances are that you’ll definitely be required to produce documents evidencing your birth.

It shouldn’t be surprising then that obtaining a copy thereof is almost as easy as buying milk in the supermarket. This is not an exaggeration. The comparison is not even accurate. I mean, it’s even easier to get your birth records. You could be in your bathrobe and slippers and still be able to get your birth certificate.

Of course, the technology that made this convenience possible is the Internet. It seems that almost anything can be obtained or done through it. There are many Web-based services which offer easy access and retrieval of vital records. Try going to http://recordssitereviews.com/recommends/webstigate/birth and see what I mean. I think there will come a time when everything can already be bought or done online. And it’s sooner than you think.

Breaking the Trend

It’s been a while since I was able to watch a Julia Roberts movie. There used to be a time when her name was a virtual fixture in every movie house all over the world.

I’m not an avid follower of entertainment news, but if I’m not mistaken, the reason why we haven’t seen her in any movie for the past several months is that she’s concentrating on being a good mom to her child. This is a very heart-warming news. It’s not everyday that you hear a Hollywood celebrity giving up movie offers just to be able to personally take care of his or her children.

I guess her marriage is as healthy as her child, too. Many Hollywood couples break up because either or both of them can’t keep up with the responsibilities that they have towards their children and each other. Let’s hope that we won’t see any Hollywood divorce record on the entertainment section of our newspapers this year.

Engaged

Our department’s messenger has just recently proposed to her girlfriend of 3 years at the wedding of their common friend. Brenda was reportedly surprised and speechless when Andrew popped the question. Some even said that she ran outside the reception area.

After asking those who actually witnessed the scene, we found out that Brenda was indeed shocked and tongue-tied when Andrew proposed to her and gave her the ring. It was also true that she ran out of the reception hall thereafter. However, contrary to the nasty rumor that has been circulating around, Brenda didn’t run outside in disgust. Instead, she went out to look for her mom to show her the ring that Andrew gave her. The proposal went fine after all.

We’re all glad to know that their love story would be entering another chapter. We’ve always been asking since last year on when they’ll tie the knot. I even kidded that I’ll process their marriage record for free as long as I get to take home the leftovers at their reception :)

Try and Try So That You Won't Die

A friend of mine who’s working in a local court told me that divorce suits are piling up again. He cracked a couple of jokes about it, but eventually sighed at the growing statistic.

I don’t know why couples can’t iron out their differences. If siblings could live with each other in intermittent or even constant animosity without either or both calling it quits, then why can’t two persons who previously treated each other as the most important thing that happened in their life do the same and try to live and solve their problems off?

Sometimes, browsing through divorce records is more depressing than going through death records. I guess divorce is somewhat similar to death, too. Divorce means the demise of a partnership. The parties to the suit are definitely alive, but usually they treat each other as if they’re already dead after the court decides upon their case.

To all couples out there who are contemplating on taking the easy way out, please try to reconsider. There’s a reason why you were madly in love with your partner before you married him or her. Try to find out what that is.

Not Yet

My heart sank when I read an article about a cancer patient who seemed to have come into terms with her impending death.

Karen Wernecke, a 14-year-old girl from Texas, has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease two years ago. She has already undergone several types of treatments, both traditional and non traditional ones. The cancer has seemed to disappear thereafter, but it has recently come out again.

After learning of the cancer’s reappearance, she wrote a school paper about a girl named Hope who was also suffering from a life-threatening illness. In the story, Hope has already resigned herself to her fate to meet death prematurely and has written her parents about her thoughts on her coming demise.

Wernecke is still undergoing treatment. Although her cancer rebounded strongly, I still believe that it would eventually subside. It has to. I don’t want to see her death records, at least not this early. I believe in miracles. I’m sure everybody’s wishing one for her.

Brewing Brain Cells

I knew it! A recent article on Yahoo! revealed that coffee indeed spikes up our brain cells and induces us to think more. It also helps us to be more alert and receptive.

Now who says that coffee breaks are a waste of time? No wonder we’re churning up 10 gossips per minute when we’re at the cafeteria :) If we could will ourselves to talk about vital records, such as marriage, death, and divorce records, while taking our Starbucks break, then we could wipe out our workload for the month in just 1 week!

I hope that a new study will show that shorter working hours lead to better productivity. Of course, there shouldn’t be any pay cut despite the reduction of office hours :) I think some labor organizations already made that contention, but the employers weren’t that enthusiastic in hearing out their employees’ claims. Well, we can’t have them all.

Icy Wedding

I don’t know if I’m just exaggerating, but it think many won’t be daring to plan or push through with any outdoor activity this month for the simple, yet compelling reason, that it’s too cold!

My body revolts every time I make a mistake of going out without a coat. Some of my officemates invited me for a few swings at a small ballpark near my boss’ village, but I begged of from it because I’m sure I won’t be able to hold the bat well because my hands would be trembling from the freezing temperature.

Some people, of course, enjoy the cold climate. An old college friend of mine told me that she wants her wedding to be held in winter, and preferably in the middle of a frozen lake.

It sounds romantic, but I think no couple would dare do that. I’m even sure that I won’t be finding too many marriage records dated between the months of January and February.

Out of the Tube

Do you know who Louise Brown is?

In case you don’t know, Brown is the world’s first “test-tube” baby. She was conceived through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) 29 years ago.

So why did she make the news again despite the fact that IVF conceptions are not that unusual anymore? Well, Brown has recently gave birth to her first child. Her son was conceived naturally.

IVF is already a usual option for couples who have problem conceiving a child naturally. As of 2004, Britain recorded 10,242 births through this artificial procedure. I’m not sure if there are readily available data of this nature for the U.S. I’m sure there are. This country has a knack of keeping everything in file.

I’m planning to peek though the birth records of some test-tube babies that I know (in paper). I’m just curious on the information that are written therein, although I’m quite sure that I won’t find anything unusual.

Taking Your Bride's Surname

Now here’s a trivia for you. Do you know that a man could take his wife’s surname after marriage?

Many are unaware of this until the news of Mike Buday’s lawsuit against the California stage government made the headlines.

Buday is invoking the equal protection clause of the 14th amendment. He argues that it is discriminatory to require men to go through lengthy procedures just to be able to change their last name to that of their wives’.

Although I’m frequently handling marriage records in the office, I haven’t noticed or been able to verify the claim that more and more men are dropping their surnames and adopting their wives’ instead.

I think the suit might be dismissed. It has been reported that a state legislator has already filed a bill which would allow men to indicate in their marriage license application if they would want to take the last name of their bride.

German Surprise

Aunt Marge recently introduced me to a distant cousin of mine from Germany. It wasn’t our first time to talk to each other, though. We’ve already exchanged a few instant messages since November of last year.

I remember being quite skeptical when I first received a message from him on my e-mail. He introduced himself as being a relative from my mom’s side. He was quite thrifty when it comes to providing details. He didn’t even give me his last name!

I became even more suspicious when he started asking me questions regarding the retrieval of marriage records on the Internet. I thought that he was just some stranger who stumbled upon my blog and wanted to learn more about searching for vital records online.

I called up my parents a few days after receiving Jurgen’s mail. It turned out that he was indeed a relative of ours. I immediately e-mailed him the next day and apologized for responding late. We became occasional chat-mates ever since.

Pacing Myself

While everybody in the office has been lobbying for people search tasks these past few days, James had no qualms when he was asked if he could process several vital records for the rest of the month.

James will be starting the year with sad and traumatic separation tales coming from 21 divorce records. The stories might even get more depressing by February when he’ll be sorting our 32 death records.

I’m glad I didn’t get that assignment. I started the year with a big court and property record search assignment. I think my boss got the impression that my home also serves as the records warehouse of the county court since he threw 15 more court records search assignments to me.

I wanted to impress him by processing all records by Monday. However, I’m afraid that I’ll suffer an early burn out if I’ll do that. The last thing that I need to start year is a burnt spark plug.

New Year Babies

A local tabloid ran a feature on the babies that were born on New Year’s Day. That was the first time that I actually enjoyed reading their article since pictures and stories that they’ve posted throughout the year were anything but endearing. I think they’ll be going back to their old ways again since their rival had a picture of Britney Spears (in a not so sober state) for their cover.

I think it’s quite cool to be born on New Year’s Day. Imagine, fireworks shooting up the sky as friends and loved ones wishing you the best on your natal day. Some couples even intentionally try to have their child born on the 1st of January. I wonder how many of them were successful. I haven’t ran a birth records search or check yet for that statistic.

I wonder if my parents planned the exact month or date of my birth. My birthday doesn’t fall on any holiday, though. I don’t mind. At least I have an additional red day in my calendar.

Vowing to Improve

New year, new life. Life is all about having second (and third, fourth, fifth….) chances, and many see the 1st of January as a great day to start over again.

I hope that couples, especially married ones, espouse this outlook in life. Every relationship is bound to pass through rocky roads. Unfortunately, many see this challenge as an excuse to take a detour towards divorce.

Divorce records are piling up throughout the country. Many couples are just not fighting hard to keep their bonds from being severed.

Marriage is supposed to give a sense of permanence. I guess it’s already obvious that such goal or effect is definitely not evident in this part of the globe. Many American couples are even more concerned over the construction of their pre-nuptial agreements than the meaning of their vows. I hope that people would stop treating marriage or weddings as mere legal processes.