Friday, September 11, 2015

On #911Day: Brief Personal Thoughts

Within the past few hours, I supported the release of a write-up for the day for #Outsiders that for today is Uniform throughout the 4 current properties.   It is a day to remember and honor the fallen and their families.    It is also quite remarkable as the Nation Remembered led by the President: 
It is a day as our team noted that changed America and The World forever.

Although we have to look ahead, those of us who were witness to that day will never forget.   For me, I was getting ready for work and was due to pick up my boss to get him to work before he was to be picked up for his trip to Japan.   I remember that it was a great month as I had my family back after a trip and then my Wife yelled as CNN was on:  They hit the towers.  I could not believe it thinking that it was actually a replay of the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing.  When the second plane hit, I knew our World would never be the same.    Within a few hours as the Secretary of Transportation announced the closure of US Airspace, I told my boss that he will not be leaving for Japan.   This was as The Pentagon was hit and then Flight 93 which apparently was headed for the White House was taken over and crashed by the heroes.  I am with NBC News' Jim Miklaszewski as he noted that their heroism is to be celebrated ever more as I remember
the coverage by all the major networks on that fateful day.    I did a quick +YouTube search which
yielded some 49,000,000 hits and I went ahead and included the search results 
here for all.   

As I worked my way to the Office, the shock was evident on the face of all.   As one of the Senior Managers, I had to help calm fears as we had to be reminded that things had to go on.   Later on, Our CEO led us all outside for a solemn remembrance especially as we remembered the fallen.     Despite profound disagreements I have had with the Speaker of the US House as he reflected upon this earlier today:

Click to visit Speaker.gov
September 11, 2015  |  John Boehner  |  VIEW ONLINE
Click to watch the video: We Will Never Forget

This is the story of where I was on 9/11.

It’s not remarkable or altogether different from the stories of many Americans.  I remember what I was doing when the first plane hit.  I remember trying to go about my morning.  I remember when everything changed.

My story could be much different, if not for the heroes on Flight 93.  We know they saved countless lives and quite possibly the Capitol itself.
They saved us all, really.  At the lowest moment in our history, they lived up to our highest ideals. Through tremendous love and sacrifice, they did the unforgettable -- as did so many on those three sacred pieces of soil.  Now our brave men and women serve in their memory, engaged in the great task of keeping us safe and free.
So our sorrow is still deep, but our faith is deeper still.  These are our stories, but this will always be their day.  Patriot Day.
John Boehner


I have tried to do what I can to serve.    On the eve of 9/11, I had a chance to join the "Tip a Cop" initiative sponsored by @City of Aliso Viejo Police Services in support of Special Olympics.   As I also supported the work of @DailyOutsider as we celebrate our first year,   I started today with my daily "Virtual Good Turn" in the tradition of Scouting as I participate in the Johnson & Johnson Donate a Photo and later on will join the 9/11 remembrance event at Moulton Elementary School in Laguna Niguel.     As the radio stations play on, the news continues and the World is ever so dangerous, we need to learn and be ever so stronger to do all we can to make a difference.   To me, that's the ultimate lesson.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

On the First Year of @DailyOutsider: Working Away....

It has been one year formally since @DailyOutsider was begun.   It has been an interesting, challenging and fun year as I have been witness to the evolution.    Today was another typical day as the team was  busy as it finished off the daily curation in the properties and the daily curation on the "Grid".  I have also been working on my own personal feeds.   It has been fun.

I have used this "corner" to share my own thoughts as I have also shared what is going on with #Outsiders.   One of my personal projects has been reflecting upon the Iran Deal.   As all know, I have been in support of the deal.  The House GOP Conference has settled on a different strategy as it shelved plans to do the "up and down" vote on the original resolution passed by the Congress.     Someone once said that it will be ironic if the Iranian Parliament votes on it and the Congress ends up not supporting.   There is also a claim by the GOP conference underscoring the fact that there is a "side deal" and that in fact the law has not been abided by.   I found it amusing as the House Democractic Leader, Nancy Pelosi, found the latest moves to be "Cuute".

There are challenges beyond the immediate right now that our team is assessing--including the plight of the refugees, the economic calamity and some of the upcoming challenges as we also work to roll a number of new initiatives in time for the dawn of the 4th Quarter.

As the great Diane Nyad always underscores:  Onward!!

I hope all enjoy this as a "Virtual Token" in celebration of the one year Anniversary:



Tuesday, September 8, 2015

On The "Prowl" w/these "Thought(s) 4 the Day"

As the #Outsider team was busy with its' daily curation of the network, I was given permission to borrow this from the repository the team received from +Jonathan Huie which I hope all enjoy as the journey continues ever more:



Our fatigue is often caused not by work,
but by worry, frustration and resentment.
- Dale Carnegie

It is hardly possible to build anything,
if frustration, bitterness and a mood of helplessness prevail.
- Lech Walesa

Fatigue makes cowards of us all.
- Vince Lombardi

All that is necessary to break the spell
of inertia and frustration is this:
Act as if it were impossible to fail.
- Dorthea Brande