Poem of the Week: Maya Angelo Still I Rise

  

On the Day After #USElections2016: Brief Thoughts For the Night

It was been quite a day as the World was witness to a concession speech by Mrs. Clinton, President Obama called for Unity as President Obama and President-Elect Trump will be meeting at the White House.   As I write this, there is live coverage of a rally in New York City near Trump Tower to protest the election--as apparently protests will be organized throughout the Country.    There is an apparent nationwide action slated for November 20.

One of the   interesting perceptions on the Campaign and the aftermath was discussed by the Journalist Marc Cooper about how the opposition to Trump will materialize:

This is as this was published by Human Rights Watch on how a Trump Presidency will impact Human Rights Around the World:

Thoughts For the Week: On This Day After the Elections

As I finished off some thoughts reflecting upon the Elections, I took comfort in these thoughts I picked up from the Grid that should be uplifting which I hope all enjoy!!!
Onward.....

On the Aftermath of #USElections2016: Now What?

As I am "back at work" with on-going commitments to the Daily Outsider and beyond, I was excited to be witness to Democracy in Action throughout the day which I released to my personal Instagram Feed.

As I write this, The Speaker of the House delivered a Statement on a unified Republican Government and what he has noted about how things are going to change.   This is as Hillary Clinton is about to speak and deliver remarks.    It has been a very close election--with the popular vote being close.   As I write this, the faces of the people close to her and the face of defeat after two years of hard work.   The Secretary of Defense has committed to a peaceful transfer of power--and political leaders are chimming in with underscoring the need to sustain the political system.    One thing that is critical is this:  She has won the popluar vote--no small feat indeed.

What is so interesting is how all the handicappers were just wrong beyond words.   However, as I am listening to CNN,  Carl Bernstein is underscoring the deep sense of faith that will help Hillary Clinton through it all.   This is as Donald Trump called for Unity yesterday after a very divisize campaign (including being called to have her jailed) and he and President Obama are due to meet tomorrow at the White House.     There is a profound policy shift--and some of the hints were noted in this from the Guardian of London within the past hour,     Tim Kaine is speaking now as I leave you all this from Geoff Colvin as America comes to grips with its' "Brexit": : 

NOVEMBER 9, 2016 The many leaders in business and government worldwide whose scenarios for 2017 did not include this scenario will now confront reality and adapt. Where to begin? Think of the job in three categories: -Adapting to massive policy uncertainty. Did Trump mean it when he said he might “renegotiate” – that is, default on – U.S. Treasury debt? That he would deploy a huge deportation force? That he would renege on America’s obligations under the NATO treaty and that he would encourage South Korea and Japan to develop nuclear weapons? It’s hard to say because he was apparently making up policy positions as he spoke. He has been consistent on only two points and is clearly on the hook to his supporters to deliver on them: imposing severe restrictions on immigration, especially by Mexicans and Muslims, including building a southern border wall; and reducing imports while also punishing U.S. companies that move operations abroad. Whether either initiative could win congressional approval is far from certain. Which raises a larger uncertainty. Republicans will control the White House and both houses of Congress, but they aren’t even remotely united. Almost no senators endorsed Trump, and few representatives did; House Speaker Paul Ryan obviously detests Trump and opposes his positions on immigration, trade, taxes, and other issues. Or maybe Ryan won’t be speaker in the new Congress – another uncertainty. Federal policy, which would have been highly predictable (though unpopular among business leaders) under Clinton, has just become a giant mystery. Pay close attention to Trump’s early announcements of appointees, a leading indicator of where he may be going. -Adapting to second- and third-order effects. For many leaders, the ways in which others respond to a Trump presidency may be more significant than Trump’s own actions. What is Xi Jinping thinking as he contemplates a U.S. president who has virtually promised a trade war with China, and how will he respond preemptively? How about Vladimir Putin, quite possibly the happiest man in the world today? Stock markets plunged on the election news almost everywhere, except Russia. Will illegal immigrants, on whom U.S. agriculture and some other industries rely, flee the country? Leaders need to anticipate how others will behave and then go another level deeper and anticipate third-order effects. It’s time for 3-D chess. -Adapting to the broader phenomenon. We always knew there were plenty of Americans who felt victimized by the globalizing economy, threatened by a more diverse, less white populace, affronted by a changing culture, especially with regard to sexual orientation, gender, and race. What we didn’t know until now was how many such people there are and how powerfully angry they are. Very likely they didn’t realize it themselves. Now they know and the world knows, and the national conversation on nearly everything will change. Angry rejection of established authority is the new zeitgeist. Anyone who communicates with the American public needs a new strategy. Many leaders have now learned the hard way that just because something is unthinkable doesn’t mean they needn’t think about it. Let’s hope they remember that lesson. For all we know, more unthinkable news could be on the way.

Back Working away as I hope all Enjoy "Before The Flood"

As we all assess the aftermath of the elections, one of the key things that will not go away is the challenge with our Climate.    All of us have to do our part--I hope all enjoy this:

Before the Flood available in full, for free. Links: Most recent blog post

Watch "Before the Flood" for 100% free. Climate change continues to accelerate.  Lets hope human intelligence, policy and action also continues to accelerate. National Geographic's latest film on climate change is now avaliable in full release, for free, on YouTube and on the homepage of OC Renewables. Enjoy. ~ Adam Plesniak, Managing Director OCrenewables.org

As October 2016 Withers Away: Some Brief Thoughts......

I was on the "Grid" this morning and reflecting upon a challenging month.    I had this "grid" released as part of my periodic contributions to Donate A Photo  which popped up on my Facebook Memory wall.   I have had the pleasure to support Donate A Photo with over 400 Images--a small way to do my part to make a difference.   This was quite timely in some ways due to very nature of the challenging month that was.       The message here was compelling with an embrace of the belief in the art of the possible.   

I look forward to sharing some thoughts after November 8.    

Onward to November!!!

Koi Ladki Hai - Full Song | Dil To Pagal Hai | Shah Rukh Khan | Madhuri ...

On this Diwali, an uplifting song to Enjoy!!



Happy Diwali!!



Onward to a new week with all the possibilities :)

On the Eve of Cyrus The Great Day: On Freedoms & The Need to Love (Random Thoughts)

As I write this, it is the eve of Cyrus the Great Day on October 29.  I picked this depiction up while on Facebook that detailed what was the first true "bill of Rights" which included: 

• The Right to Live Where One chose
• Spread Peace and Love
• To Build and to Develop
• To be Happy and content always
• Freedom of Expression and Thought
• Abolition of Slavery
• A Right to Work and Develop for a better life

Cyrus the Great had this vision over 2500 years ago. Many of these admonitions were embraced by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison--although we need to remember that it took America almost 100 years and a Civil War to abolish Slavery.   The same challenge are before us today.  

On the eve of this working weekend and as we approach the final week of the US Presidential Elections, I hope we all embrace and remember these courtesy of +Jonathan Huie as I wish all a fabulous Friday and a fabulous Weekend:

Spread love everywhere you go.
Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.
- Mother Teresa

Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.
- Pema Chodron

With Two Weeks Left Until November 8........

Early Voting has already begun here in the United States.    Voting is going to be quite personal as polls continue to show Mrs. Clinton Ahead.    As I checked Five Thirty-Eight within the past 10 minutes (as I do daily for The Daily Outsider), they had not done any updated forecasts yet--although Mrs. Clinton seems to be dominating in all the polls.     This is as Mr. Trump touted that Investors Business Daily and Rasmussen showed him close.    

What I only yearn for is 100% turnout as all need to remember that there are many around the World who have died or are in prison for simply wanting to have the right to vote.   This is why I view this that was sent out by +Jonathan Huie in his daily outreach was so timely as we in the United States and the World await the results of elections throughout the United States:

We are called to be architects of the future, not its victims.

- R. Buckminster Fuller

Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone,

and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.

- John Quincy Adams 

What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us;

what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.

- Albert Pike

Create the legacy of a better world.

Leave this world a better place than you found it.

- Jonathan Lockwood Huie 

On the Eve of The New Week: #MotivationMonday :)

Enough said...onward to the new week:

“You have this one life.
How do you want to spend it?
Apologizing? Regretting?
Questioning? Hating yourself? Dieting?
Running after people who don’t see you?
Be brave.
Believe in yourself.
Do what feels good.
Take risks.
You have this one life.
Make yourself proud.”
~ Author Unknown

As the Week-End Dawns.....

This was a very touching note I received from my Aunt that has lessons to be learnt by us all which I hope all enjoy--as I wish all the very best of weekends:

Inspirational Story of an Old Man's Joy

Everyone has their own personal outlook on life. Many of us don't choose it - we just follow our feelings,

shaped by circumstance and experience. Others decide to choose what their outlook will be,

and follow their minds instead.

The old man in this story shows us that it takes some wisdom to be able to live happily...

A 92-year-old man, short, very well-presented, who took great care of his appearance,

was moving into an old people’s home one day. His wife of 70 years had recently died,

and he was obliged to leave his home. After waiting several hours in the retirement home lobby,

he gently smiled as I told him his room was ready.

As he slowly walked to the elevator, using his cane, I described his small room to him,

including the sheet hung at the window, which served as a curtain.
"I like it very much", he said, with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old boy who had just been given a new puppy.
"Sir, you haven’t even seen the room yet. Hang on a moment, we are almost there."

"That has nothing to do with it," he replied. "Happiness is something I choose in advance.

Whether or not I like the room does not depend on the furniture, or the decor – rather it depends on how I decide to see it.

It is already decided in my mind that I like my room. It is a decision I make every morning when I wake up.

"I can choose. I can spend my day in bed enumerating all the difficulties that

I have with the parts of my body that no longer work very well,

or I can get up and give thanks to heaven for those parts that are still in working order.

Every day is a gift, and as long as I can open my eyes, I will focus on the new day,

and all the happy memories that I have made during my life.

"Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw in later life what you have deposited along the way. "

For a moment, I thought about the old man's words, and it all made sense.

He made me realize that in life, we have to deposit all the happiness we can in our bank account of memories.

Like this, we will always have a trove of them to cherish.

I would like to thank you for your part in filling my account with happy memories,

which I am still continuing to fill…

And I remind you, that to live a happy life, you have to free your heart from hate,

free your mind from worry, live simply, give more, and expect less.

That's what the wise old man lives by.

Have a blessed day!

Thought For the Week (Mid-Week): Some Food 4 Thought

On this "mid-week", Please enjoy:


“Every storm, no matter how big and strong, passes eventually.

Just know and remember that your spirit is much bigger

and stronger than any storm that comes your way,

and that all storms will fall apart long before you ever would.”

~ Doe Zantamata

On the Prowl w/A Flasback to Iran's Green Movement

7 years ago, Iran embraced the Green Movement.     I ran across this  I hope all enjoy on this momentous glorious moment of hope: 

18 videos

Songs of Iran's Green Movement - 2009 PLAYLIST  by Golbarg Bashi

Thought For the Week (W-End Edition): Enough Said.......

Have a Fab W-End and a fab Week!!!!

On Why I Remain Hopeful & Optimistic About Our World

It has admittedly been a very challenging week as I was listening to what I view as a very frightening speech by Mr. Trump in Florida earlier today.     This was in sharp contrast to what the First Lady Spoke about in New Hampshire in support of Mrs. Clinton.    However, what I have always taken comfort in is what I am witness to in our Community and all that I am witness to--how people in their own way are a force for good.

One of the highlights of the 3rd Quarter this was when the Aliso Niguel High School Second Harvest Food Bank Club was before the City of Laguna Niguel's City Council to be honored for their work.   Over the course of the year,  they were relentless in their pursuit of raising money and food for monthly food drives.     I was also grateful as the City recognized me and The Traffic Commission that I have the pleasure to serve on for the work we did  on the Transporation Commission' Adhoc Pedestrian Safety Committee.    The relevant clip begins at the 11th Minute of the Council Meeting From September 20: 





I further took comfort in these series of thoughts courtesy of +Jonathan Huie  that went to the heart of what we must aspire to for the sake of our Children and our Grand Children: 

Happiness can be found, even in the 
darkest of times,
if one only remembers to turn on the light.
- J.K. Rowling

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light.
- Aristotle Onassis

Choose the World You See,

and See the World You Choose.

You have a choice

about the perspective you take on life.

See tragedy, and the world is tragic -

see beauty, and the world is beautiful.

- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

What we see depends mainly on what we look for.

- John Lubbock

People seem not to see that

their opinion of the world

is also a confession of character.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson 

It all depends on how we look at things,

and not how they are in themselves.

- Carl Jung

 

Onward to the Second Half of October!!!

Working Away with Brief Notations As we approach Mid-Month October 2016

It has been quite a month already as we're about three weeks about before the Elections.     I just wanted to make sure as we approach the mid-month, to share this I picked up while on the "Grid".    Despite all that we've been witness to throughout the week, I remain ever so optimistic.

Onward to the second half of the month with all its' possibilities.  

On this First Day of October: Reflections On a Fabulous Day In the Community

It has been quite a day, quite a month and quite a year.    While making the rounds on the "Social Networks", I released this to my Facebook Wall that I wanted to share here as I will be facilitating notations for The Daily Outsider as the team was also busy with w-end updates on Twitter:




Onward to the new Quarter w/all its' possibilities

As September 2016 becomes history: Brief Reflections

It has  been quite a week as I have been continuing on-going commitments at the Daily Outsider and continued on-going curation on Social Media.    I reflected upon this week earlier on my Personal Facebook Wall: 







This is as I picked up this By the +United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that was quite moving in the reality out there: 

What They Took With Them - #WithRefugees: UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Cate Blanchett was joined by actors Keira Knightley, Juliet Stevenson, Peter Capaldi, Stanley Tucci, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Kit Harington, Douglas Booth and Jesse Eisenberg, and writer Neil Gaiman, to perform a spoken word poem in support of the #WithRefugees campaign.

Onward to the final week of September with all its' possibilities....

Some "mid-week" Thoughts While Working Away Gearing up For Q42016.....

As I continue onward with supporting the journey at Daily Outsider as we gear up for ht new quarter, winding down the month and the quarter always gives for a moment of pause.  It is also a time to reflect upon ones' blessings and to build and look ahead. 

While working away winding down the Month and gearing up for the Quarter, I ran across this while on my weekly walkabout around the "Grid"--this one was on +Pinterest .      I could not help but indeed have chills as I am reminded of the admonition from St. Serra to never forget to "Sempre Adelante".

Onward to the new Quarter before us--Wishin' all a great rest of the week, a fabulous Month-End for all and a fantastic 4th Quarter!!!

On the Prowl w/thoughts on @DailyOutsider, #USElections2016, Life & Other Thoughts

I  have been working away supporting curation of articles & updates for Daily Outsider over the last day or so as I was needless to say shocked about the latest coming out of the Trump Family.   The Social Media responded in kind--but what is so shocking to me is how there seems to be no backlash--and as the Polls Keep on Tightening exemplified by what was noted by Five Thirty Eight--a difference of 2 percent in favor of Donald Trump just in a matter of 3 hours: 

Hillary Clinton

56.3%

Donald Trump

43.7%

This is what blew me away as I caught the President's Final Speech at the UN General Assembly and the Leaders Summit on Refugees.    I picked up the following during my daily forays though to help at least keep things in perspective: 

“How can we disarm greed and envy? 
Perhaps by being much less greedy and envious ourselves;
perhaps by resisting the temptation of letting our luxuries become needs;
and perhaps by even scrutinizing our needs
to see if they cannot be simplified and reduced.”~ E. F. Schumacher 



It is the advent of a new week.   The scenes from New York City "Regardless of how you feel inside, always try to look like a winner. Even if you are behind, a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge that results in victory."
~Arthur Ashe




As I finished off these thoughts, I was blown away by this report out of South Korea on @SkyNews about animals being able to repair the Spinal Cord of Animals.

Onward to the rest of the week......