Thrown under the Bus: The rise and fall of an American worker

By Teresa Zerilli-Edelglass

Thrown under the Bus is the cathartic tale of a woman who put herself through college and entered what she thought would be a career in a government job with what most people known by the acronym MTA (Metropolitan Transit Authority), or buses and subways.

Thrown under the Bus takes place in the state of New York, and in the boroughs of New York City, at a time when most of the jobs were held by older white men whose opinion of women is that they should be at home in the kitchen.

There was blatant cronyism. Many male managers did whatever they could to get women to leave, and promotions to supervisory capacity filled by men; regardless of any qualified female candidates.

Being female in this work environment meant harassment, unrealistic expectations, and doing the work of people who should be doing the work because it was their job; not a subordinate who was doing their pay level job.

Working for a government agency isn’t all roses. In Thrown under the Bus, the harassment caused a women unbelievable stress, demotions, and all manner of means to get her to walk away from a career she put herself through college and desired above anything. Yet she persevered as along as humanly possible until such time as the work place became intolerable causing psychological problems.

Going to the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) only exacerbated her problems, and the EEOC representatives sided with her employer. Suing a government entity only caused more problems.

If a hostile work environment was not enough to endure, try having the MTA deny benefits because you have no union representation.

This saga went on for over a decade.

Every congressperson should receive a copy of Thrown under the Bus, and the master at arms should make them read it.

Thrown under the Bus receives five stars out of a possible five stars with a must read recommendation.

Reviewer

Robert Medak

Freelance Writer, Editor, Proofreader, Reviewer, and Blogger

http://rjmedak.wordpress.com

Talon, Flight for Life: Book 3 in the Talon Series

By Gigi Sedlmayer

Talon, Flight for Life is the third book in the Talon series featuring Matica, and her birds (Condors) Tamo, Tima, and their offspring Talon saved from poachers by Matica and her father, Crayn before Talon was born.

Matica cared for Talon as an egg and they have become best friends along with his parents who have a special bond with Matica.

In Talon, Flight for Life Matica and Crayn go on a long trek in preparation for a trip from Peru to Australia; also pick up medicine at the hospital in Cajamarca.

On the trip from her home and back, Matica saw many animals, rain forests, cities with homes and a hotel.

On the way back home, something happens to Matica’s father, Crayn and they must stay on a large bolder overnight.

Without giving anything away, Matica’s birds perform something that surprises Crayn, as the trio of Tamo, Tima, and Talon act with almost human thought and presence of mind that no one believes possible.

To find out more, you will have to read Talon, Flight for Life and see the miraculous trio of birds in action for yourself.

The Talon series is for readers of all ages. Even for parents to read to their children. Talon, Flight for Life is about the bond between parent and child, and the courage that is within each of us and found when the situation arises and one must control themselves in a time of chaos.

Talon, Flight for Life is a five out of five stars read.

Reviewed by

Robert Medak

Freelance Writer/Blogger/Editor/Proofreader/Reviewer

http://rjmedak.wordpress.com

Talon, On the Wing

Talon, On the Wing is book two in the Talon series. Talon, On the Wing is the continuing saga of Matica. Talon son of Tamo and Tima became the first friends to accept Matica just as she is, while the Indians in her community would only laugh and make fun of her diminutive stature.

After Matica and her father saved Tamo, Tima, and their unborn child, they trio became friends and through the amazement of the relationship between the family and Matica did the natives began to accept and care for Matica as well.

Talon, On the Wing is an engaging story about being who you are no matter what others may think of you, no matter your size, you can make a difference.

The author of the Talon series, Gigi Sedlmayer tells a story that readers of all ages will enjoy.

Talon, On the Wing is a story of love and friendship for all ages to reveal in. A book that parents can read to their children or children can read on their own. There is no violence for parents concern. It’s nice to see a book for children and adults to read.

Talon, On the Wing is a five star out of five stars read. Talon, On the Wing is a must read as well as Talon, book one.

Reviewed by

Robert Medak

http://rjmedak.wordpress.com

http://xeeme.com/RobertMedak

Solomon's Justice: A PTSD Short Story

By Phyllis Zimbler Miller

The main character of Solomon's Justice is Judge Robert Solomon. Many soldiers, after being in a battle zone where life expectancy is an unknown, they see things that no one should ever see, deal with it, and live with it for the rest of their life. Each individual must handle it the best they can.

Psychological trauma can happen to anyone, from private citizen to soldier. Many soldiers come home changed, and unable to let things go as they try to reenter a normal society.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) called battle fatigue, combat fatigue, combat neurosis, and shell shock in WWI and WWII.

PTSD described by one dictionary as, “An anxiety disorder associated with serious traumatic events and characterized by such symptoms as survivor guilt, reliving the trauma in dreams, numbness, and lack of involvement with reality, or recurrent thoughts and images.”

Solomon's Justice is a short story about a soldier suffering from PTSD in front of Robert Solomon Judge on trial for committing a crime, and how the judge deals out a special brand of justice to the ex-soldier before him in court.

Solomon's Justice is a quick but gripping tale that is a must read for everyone, because it gives a bit of insight into what many people go through who have been diagnosed with PTSD.

This reviewer awards five stars out of a possible five stars to Solomon's Justice

Reviewer

Robert Medak

https://xeeme.com/robertmedak

Scrum Mega Pack

By Paul VII

The Scrum Mega Pack for the Agile Scrum Master, Product Owner, Stakeholder, and Development Team discusses the rolls of the project manager, scrum master, product owner, and development support team.

The Scrum Mega Pack also gives an overview of The Kanban System of project management developed in Japan in the 1940s, and designed after the way supermarkets stock and restock their shelves.

The Scrum Mega Pack is a modern approach to project management containing schedules, rolls of team members, and meetings working with and informing the product owner, scrum team, and stakeholder for optimum and effective communication to deliver the project on time with everyone’s input.

Although, the Scrum Mega Pack speaks about the scrum team, it also gives information on becoming a scrum master.

Even an entrepreneur might glean helpful information about project management when working with individual clients.

The Scrum Mega Pack receives four, and a half stars out of five stars possible per review.

Reviewer

Robert Medak

https://xeeme.com/robertmedak

A Full-Grown Man

By Bill Hunt

The protagonist Ben, is in love with the beautiful Anna, but more than age difference makes their love impossible. Ben’s plans for his future with Anna must take a backseat due to circumstances beyond his control.

Ben must drop out of high school and take over Bennefield Farm at the age of18, losing as much if not more than he gained; the way Ben saw things.

A Full-Grown Man reads like a memoir, which also contains some history of living in southern Louisiana, in the town of Gold Dust. The timeframe as told by Ben of A Full-Grown Man is from the 50s thru the70s.

In each of our lives, there are many paths to becoming who we are and finding our one true love. A Full-Grown Man is the tale of Ben’s search for the love he knows is his. The search takes Ben many years, people touching his life, and many ancestors controlling his life.

Ben, at the age of approximately 18, must learn to deal with the angst of youth, becoming a responsible landowner; responsible for the well-being of others as well as others working the land. Because of others in his life controlling him for longer than he knew, Ben had no choice.

Over time, Ben learns much about how people around him have been devious behind his back, and stories about the people living in Gold Dust, Louisiana. The many untold stories Ben knew for most of his life growing up, and living in Gold Dust.

A Full-Grown Man is a story everyone can relate to about being in love for the first time, in their teen years.  

A Full-Grown Man is a five star book that everyone will find an excellent read.

Reviewed by Robert Medak, Allbooks Review Int. www.allbooksreviewint.com

Talon

By Gigi Sedlmayer

Talon is the story of Matica, a girl small for her age, and her family. When the children of the village see Matica and her father help Tamo and Tima chase two poachers away, their attitude about Matica changes, and she suddenly becomes a folk hero of the village and her schoolmates.

Matica takes it upon herself to foster Tamo andTima’s offspring for them keeping him hidden in case the poachers should return.   

Matica calls the child of Toma and Tima, Talon. She keeps Talon in her bedroom making sure he is warm and will grow big enough to take care of himself and join his parents in the mountains that are within a couple of miles of Matica’s village.

Matica spends her free time looking after Talon until he is big and strong enough to fend for himself. Will Talon be able to rejoin his parents in the mountains? You’ll have to read Talon to find out.   

Talon is an engaging read about how even you may be small, you can be great, and do great things by helping others.

Readers should pick up a copy of Talon for yourself, and enjoy a good read.

Talon receives five stars out of a possible five stars.

Reviewed by Robert Medak

Freelance Writer, Blogger, Editor, Proofreader, and Reviewer

http://xeeme.com/RobertMedak