What a Week....

It all started for me as I had a chance to join the youth of Aliso Viejo High School as they were on a Communtiy Service outing at the @Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County's Incredible Edible Farms.     I had a chance to learn how to plant lettuce and cabbage and got a chance to talk with one of the dedicated staffers, Raul, who oversees the Ranch.     I had the pleasure to join the Adopt-a-Pantry program sponsored by the Indian-American Community as some 249 Families were served and over 9,000 pounds of Food were disbursed.

As the week ensued, It was time for the Laguna Niguel Annual Holiday Parade.    I had the privilege to lead the Orange County Council Boy Scout Contingent down Crown Valley Parkway as some 360 Scouts and Scouters joined the contingent.   It was just fabulous.   It was also quite a Sunday yesterday as I had the privilege to support Aliso Viejo Middle School as it joined the Debate by +Orange County Debate League which had some 250 Middle School Students competing at two different facilities by serving as a Judge.    

It is "back to work" though for the team as the team worked on releasing a new "notation" and also released a newsflash on one of the Kickstarter Projects in addition to the dailly Twitter Curations on the key watch areas our team focuses on.     It is going to be quite a week as all race towards Christmas.

As I "raced" to finish these thoughts, I ran across this very cute clip courtesy of my good friend Jim Holden which I hope brings a smile to everyone's face:

This Looks Like A Normal Grocery Store, But When The Lights Go Out? Awesome.
It took a team of cashiers, 13 different hidden cameras and a whole lot Christmas spirit to pull off this epic holiday surprise! Edeka, Germany’s largest supermarket chain, decided to surprise its shoppers with a seasonal treat. In an attempt to liven up the otherwise boring chore of grocery shopping, these cashiers opted to delight their patient shoppers with a choreographed orchestra that beeped the holiday classic, “Jingle Bells.” (Turn your sound up).

Click on this link:

https://www.youtube.com/embed/H965m0Hkk5M#t=14

Merry Christmas!  

Thoughts On This Saturday & A Story that Must Be Told.....

It was beautiful day in Laguna Niguel.     It was also a busy day in #Outsiders with Notations and Views of the Week being released although the team had initialy decided to be "dark".    As I was on the "prowl", I wanted to report on this very beautiful note I received from    It is on a very nice note as I saw this--I made a token contribution to this campaign and the beauty of the human spirit was ever so evident here: 

Salams,  today we can proudly say that we have reached a remarkable feat in our community's history and have demonstrated serious resolve by raising over $200,000 for those afflicted by the recent tragedy in San Bernardino, CA.

Yesterday (12/11/15), we flew in the father of one the deceased who was stuck in another state and was otherwise unable to make it to her funeral. His presence at a gathering last night, hosted by Senator Connie Levya, was brief but a somber reminder of the grief faced by these families. At this get together, one of the Muslim ER Medical Residents (visibly so due to her hijab), who was on-shift at the county hospital the day of the tragedy, treating the victims, recalled her experience that moved all the the public officials and Intefaith leaders present. 

We delivered the first check amounting to $100K that was the largest first sum received by United Way as other foundations begin to pitch. The United Way was designated by San Bernardino County for all contributors to channel their funds to families of the victims. 100% of these proceeds were earmarked for these families.

Please do not hesitate to contact me.

Jazakallah Khairan and many blessings!

United4SB Campaign

As I, along with the team, goes "dark" for the Week-End,  such are the stories that give me hope.    I also got the team to let me use this received from +Jonathan Huie as I wish all a fab rest of the weekend and a fab Week:

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A Busy Yet Beautiful Day. w/#United4HumanityLA, #HR158 & Other thoughts.....

It has been quite a day as I have been witness to an explosion of activity in the aftermath of HR158.   The group that was formed which I joined has mushroomed to some 55,000 as the aftermath of the action taken by the House has been overwhelming.

As I was also working away and supporting the team's effort throughout the day with the release of the Friday Musical Interlude, I ran across this on n update on the progress being made from one of the leading Iranian Americans in the Country,  Dr. Firouz Naderi:

UPDATE -- Some progress.

Key senators have been contacted by prominent Iranian-Americans and have been made aware of the unintended consequences of HR158. Many in the House now say they regret the language and last minute riders that were passed. There is hope that Senate will make the bill less onerous for Iranian-Americans. Vote is likely next Wednesday.

Thank you PAAIA for working behind the scene reaching out to the members of Congress; thank you to thousands in the Community who have called their representatives, thank you to NIAC & ACLU for their efforts drawing attention to this issue. And thank you to the few who had the great idea of setting up HR158 Facebook page (~50,000 members in less than 3 days!!!).

Win or lose this issue, our community has come of age.

There is still a lot of work that the Community must do.  But the coming together is just one indciation as I just checked on the campaign for San Bernadino launched by Faisal Qazi which I was privileged to contribute to--staggering in how people have come together as he is at 194,000 and exceeded his goal of 175,000.  Please click on here for the latest on this progress.    



I was also so gratified to be invited to join the local chapter of @NIAC Action to join this rally in Los Angeles--I would not be able to attend becuase I was just asked to support Aliso Viejo Middle School's Debate Club--but this is just another indication that we shall truly overcome:

On such a beautiful day, I thought I end this retrospective on the eve of the W-End as I have asked the team to be "dark" with this true "oldie" but "goodie" from Louis Armstrong as I wish you all a fab joyous and fantastic weekend: