Friday, December 23, 2016

As #2016 Draws to a close: Some Final "Random Thoughts"

It has been a very interesting and challenging year.    There were some success and some notable setbacks.   But, one has to always look at the positive no matter what as the great Maya Angelou reminded us all:


Outsiders went through a bit of an evolution as I had consultations with a number of consultants and potential partners.   One very crucial highlight for me was contributors that I view as probably one of the most profound positive developments--and their contributions have been fabulous.     The on-going consultations has also led to more of a focus which I hope we can all build upon--a focus on the Social Transformation.    

One statistic that blew me away was when I saw what I was up to on Medium:  



My eyes nearly popped out as I saw this statistic.   It was also very gratifying that on a brand new platform, Medium reported that some 929 people were gracious enough to check out contributions to Medium.   I am excited to build upon this during the new year.   .

Beyond the personal, there is also the reality of what happened in our World.     Mr. Trump is continuing to staff his Government and I helped with the latest on appointments and the roadmap ahead.     With some of the views on regulation, the environment,  and foreign policy evolving, there is going to be even more uncertainty as 2017 comes about.   The latest controversy has had to do with comments Mr. Trump noted regarding nuclear weapons and the arms race which was just reported on SkyNews--and noted in this I just picked up from Esquire.        This uncertainty is even more so true in the Middle East with an impending move of the US Embassy to Jerselaum and the challenges that Palestinians will be dealing as the Trump era has arrived in Washington: 




As I have been finishing off my final                                     thoughts for 2016, I picked this up from a                                        Facebook Friend (and edited it out a bit): 


   When they've tortured and                                                    scared you for twenty-odd  years                                               Then they expect you to pick a                                               career

When you can't really function you're so full of fear
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

Keep you doped with religion and sex and TV
And you think you're so clever and classless and free
But you're still.... peasants as far as I can see
A working class hero is something to be
A working class hero is something to be

This poem prompted by a very troubling article published at Five Thirty Eight about the continued widening gap between the rich and the poor in the World which is problematic.    It is available by clicking on it here.  It will a focus for the "ordinary faces" channel here in Daily Outsider.

As I worked away reflecting upon what has admittedly been a very challenging year, I had the pleasure to attend a memorial service for the Homeless who had passed away in Orange County this year--193.   Every name was read and a candle was lit in their honor.    Faith leaders from throughout Orange County came together at Chris Cathedral in a very moving tribute.   I had the honor of lighting one of the candles:




Here is a one minute Video Essay I produced on it:   




As the office parties wind down and people gear up to be off during this week,  I finish off these "Random Thoughts" with this admonition from the Fortunes' Geoff Colvin which is one of my required readings and whose work has been featured  periodically in our "Views of the Week" which I hope all listen--I hope I can!!!

If you’re actually at work today, please stop as soon as you can.
This is serious. The next ten days are the only part of the year when much of the Western world honors an unspoken agreement to take it easy. You’d be crazy not to use every minute of it. You already know the reasons: You work too hard and sleep too little. But you may not fully realize how bad this problem is for you, your family, and your colleagues.
By working too much and resting too little you become cranky and more pessimistic. Your judgment is poor and you can’t solve problems well, which is hardly surprising because you can’t think clearly or remember what you hear. Your health deteriorates because exhaustion makes you hungrier and loads up your body with stress hormones. You crave sugar and carbohydrates, making you fat, which increases the risk of sleep apnea, which means you’ll sleep even less and make all these problems worse.
Ah, you say, but this is the price I must pay in order to do the mountain of work in front of me. But it isn’t true. You actually accomplish less by pushing yourself too hard.
If you chronically overwork and under-rest, a good night’s sleep won’t cure what ails you. You need several consecutive days of abundant rest combined with stress-reducing activities. Don’t overthink this. You just need to take time to do what fulfills you and makes you happy.
That is, you desperately need this break.
So please don’t squander it. After all, it comes but once a year. Treasure it, relish it. Relax like there’s no tomorrow

& This From the Former President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints:

“This Christmas,
mend a quarrel.
Seek out a forgotten friend.
Dismiss suspicion and replace it with trust.
Write a letter. Give a soft answer.
Encourage youth.
Manifest your loyalty in word and deed.
Keep a promise. Forgo a grudge.
Forgive an enemy. Apologize.
Try to understand.
Examine your demands on others.
Think first of someone else. Be kind.
Be gentle. Laugh a little more.
Express your gratitude.
Welcome a stranger.
Gladden the heart of a child.
Take pleasure in the beauty
and wonder of the earth.
Speak your love and
then speak it again.”

~ Howard W Hunter


Onward to 2017!!







"See" you all next year!!!

Saturday, December 17, 2016

On #Aleppo (Cont'd w/updated thoughts on the International Day of Migration)



Whatever the Russians or the Iranians say, this is the reality...and it is just heart-wrenching beyond words to be witness to.   

Here is the latest update as of 12/18/2016:

I am seeing reports that apparently there is an updated agreement to get civilians out of Aleppo after an agreement to get besieged Shiite villages in Rebel-Held Territory also evacuated--buses were attacked and were in flames.  This is as Russia is set to veto a French-sponsored resolution to have UN observers be sent to Aleppo.  

This is also the International Day of Migration as the World has seen the highest amount of migration every--240 Million (almost 7% of them being Syrians).     The UN released this in commemoration of it:



Friday, December 16, 2016

On This Working W-End: Remembering a Selfless Soul Who Made a Difference


The single will raise money for the Jo Cox Foundation


At the height of the Brexit Campaign in the UK, The British Parliamentarian Jo Cox was murdered by a madman who has now been jailed for life.   I was horrified as I saw live coverage of the murder and as the details emerged.    I was blown away by the dignity shown by her family in the aftermath of this horrific act.

In her memory, artists and friends got together to sing this beautiful Rolling Stones song and Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have waived all royalties as all sales will be used to support the foundation that has been named in her honor to carry on her work supporting refugees throughout the World.   Here is the Spotify URL for all to enjoy--and hope folks will consider buying the single to support the work of her foundation.   I salute Sir Mick Jaeger and Keith Richards for what they did in waiving royalties and the British Government for waiving VAT for this. 

An Update: 

Remembering a Giant & Retaining a Sense of Hope....

It is a rainy yet beautiful morning here in our hometown of Laguna Niguel as I work away in support of commitments at The Daily Outsider.  One of our contributing columnists just released a beautiful column earlier that is available by clicking here.

As I write this,  I am continuing to monitor the latest out of #Aleppo as there are claims by Russia that the evacuation are complete even though people are still there and there is no end to the misery.   

I picked up two thoughts while on my "walkabout" on the Grid to cling to a sense of hope .   The first one below is from one of the giants of Iranian History, Amir Kabir, who served as Prime Minister and was assassinated by the Shah at the Time, Naser-Din_Shah: 



Image may contain: 1 person, text

The literal meaning of it is this:


  •  If you have a one-year vision , Plant Grain;
  • If  you have a 10-year vision,  Plant a Tree;
  • If you have a 100-year plan,  train and nourish the human mind


The second one below speaks for itself as I continue to see the latest out of Aleppo: 

Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us. Samuel Smiles



Thursday, December 15, 2016

On #Aleppo


The image that Al Jazeera had on one of its' stories said it all.    From the reports I reviewed, Aleppo ran out of space to bury its' dead as the fighting continues with no end in sight.   The  World did nothing as Assad came out celebrating earlier as his comments got spread through pro-government websites.

As our team wrote about Aleppo over the past 24 hours, I picked up this clip from Lucy Aharish as she spoke and gave voice to what many of us believe.   I first got to know her work as she worked at +i24News  and her eloquence then as now was ever so evident.     She used the word, Holocaust in Aleppo and she is absolutely right on--a very powerful 2 minutes that we all need to do our part to help spread.  As she reminded us, will we learn from Armenia, Bosnia , Rwanda and all the other horrors that humanity has engaged in?   Do we have the courage to do so? 



Update: I just picked up this clip that was published yesterday and viewed some 160,000 times from the orphans of Aleppo--I don't mind noting that I nearly broke down:



Wednesday, December 14, 2016

On the Prowl with Brief Thoughts For the Night w/this: Earth Unprepared for Surprise Asteroid Hit


It has been an interesting 24 hours through the properties of #Outsiders. As the World has been witness to the atrocities in Syria and the injustice in Gambia, this more important story got Buried because our little "dot" in the Universe is clearly unprepared for an existential threat that seems to be lost:



Earth Unprepared for Surprise Asteroid Hit: Over the decades, there had been many speculations about the possibility that a large asteroid will hit Earth and wipe out the human race just as how it did to dinosaurs as theorized by scientists. But what will happen to Earth if this indeed happens?

Although I was very happy about the Trump Family having an "Office of the First Family" in the White House, I wonder if such issues will be at the forefront or not. I wonder if we Will we wake up?

Thought For the Week: Setbacks

A very interesting thought for the week:

 

Today's word is SET BACKS



Monday, December 12, 2016

Random Thoughts As I "relaunch" My Virtual Corner :)


The British Antarctic Survey’s Halley VI research station has recorded records data relevant to space weather, climate change, and atmospheric phenomena since 2012.

After some "lull", I decided to resurrect my Virtual Corner here on the Web as I continue to think about how to evolve #Outsiders and other projects--and about our World. 

I had the pleasure to be witness to the Laguna Niguel Annual Holiday Parade this past Saturday and produced a clip on it available here.    Beyond the confines of my City, though,   It has been quite an interesting year as we have seen the election of a New President in the United States and changes in all key G-8 Leaders around the World.    Aleppo is also about to fall with thousands of civilians at risk and reports of hundreds of men between 18-40 being led away and potentially executed--although the war in the rest of Syria goes on.       

One key area of concern I have is the moves by President-Elect Trump on Climate change as he continued to question the very fact that Climate Change exists--even though for instance the British Research Station in Antarctica is in danger of being lost and is slated to be moved.   This is as his nomination of a climate change denier at the EPA and his impending nomination of an Oilman as Secretary of State has profound implications for US Policy around the World.   It was quite a welcome development, though, as I saw that Bill Gates & other luminaries will be leading a $ 1 Billion Climate Change Fund as America retreats.   

I hope that as the #outsider journey continues,  I hope we live up to the personal admonition to be an encourager and continue to never forget this admonition:



(Update:  Thoughts for me is never complete unless I pay tribute to one of my all-time favorite guys, the Economist KAL whose depictions I have noted as I have written about our World--KAL gave us a preview of our World that I shared earlier while finishing off my "Virtual Walk-About" as I hope all enjoy the Year Ahead as noted by KAL available by clicking here--Happy Holidays to all!!!!

Sunday, April 3, 2016

As We Go Dark....

#Outsiders is changing.     As our team continues with its' transition plan to reflect and revamp, we wanted to share this simple yet profound thought that we took comfort in as we look forward to the continued opportunity to serve:

 

Please enjoy this selection from John Legend as we look forward to the opportunity and privilege to serve:




Notations For the Week-End (Special Edition): An #Outsider newsflash re: On Fish For Life

We here @ #Outsiders have been long-standing supporters of Fish For Life.   We hope all consider voting for this wonderful charity that makes such a difference in the life of Special Needs Children and their Families.     We are pleased to see this call to action from Fish For Lifes' Executive Director, Jim Holden: 


Ahoy Mates!

Before starting your weekend, please click a vote for Fish for Life!

Just go to this link and click “Vote” under the Fish for Life section:

We received a nice article today in the Orange County Register thanks to our good friend Don Glasgow!

I’ll send one last reminder Monday which will be the last day to vote!
(You can vote over the weekend!)

Thanks to ALL for your support!!

Have a super weekend!
Jim

Jim Holden
Executive Director
Fish for Life!
"We're spreading the Love one boat at a time!"

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Around Town In South County: The Latest From our Hometown of @LagunaNiguelCty (Laguna Niguel, CA)

Our hometown, Laguna Niguel, was deemed the 11th Safest City in California out of the 485 Cities in California.    This milestone was achieved in large measure due to an engaging outreach effort by Laguna Niguel Police Services spearheaded by the Neighborhood Watch Program.     Laguna Niguel Police Services hosted an informational session for the Neighborhood Watch Captains on Tuesday March 29.

During this training session, Deputy Perez of the Orange County Sheriff's Department spoke on the need to be ready, to hide and yes necessary to fight.     The most important admonition was also underscored :  If you see something, say something!!!   The presentation featured a number of scenarios and thoughts for all to be aware.   



As the end of the Quarter looms, we wanted to end with two cool events coming up in our Hometown.   The "I AM SECOND RUN' is on April 30 at the Laguna Niguel Regional Park.    Registration is still available at http:/theiamsecondrun.com/or click on the Icon Below: 





There is also the Run4Water run also at Laguna Niguel Regional Park on May 15, 2016.  Registration is available by visiting http://www.crowdrise.com/WellsofLife100Wells5K.
Please enjoy a clip of the possiblities this represents:




 This was also as the Laguna Niguel Traffic Commission spreaheaded an Education and Outreach Campaign on Pedestrian Safety that our team featured as part of our commitment to support @donateaphoto to empower our Community to be aware and to be safe: 

Onward to the New Quarter.....

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Around Town In South County: Developoments Around the State

We received the following two very interesting insights on what has been going on in our State courtesy of the team at Public CEO which is quite interesting in light of the changes in California and the opportunities it represents for Communities:

California Tool to Fund Badly Needed Infrastructure Growing in PopularityAfter years of the vacuum left by the end of California’s redevelopment agencies, the California Economic Summit two years ago helped craft a robust new financing tool for local governments looking to pay for local infrastructure and economic development. Now there are an estimated 60 projects under consideration across California using the “Enhanced Infrastructure Financing District” as a way of funding projects. And that number is expected to increase.
Read More.
“Toilet to Tap”: A Potential High Quality Water Source for California
Reusing water is not a new concept to many Californians. Many municipalities across California have facilities that treat wastewater to high standards, which allows it to be reused for agricultural irrigation, landscape irrigation, and industrial use. Other municipalities, such as the Orange County Water District, treat wastewater even further using advanced technologies, and use the treated wastewater to supplement drinking water supplies by injecting it into underground aquifers. In this manner, they practice indirect potable reuse, or IPR. However, there is a third method of reusing wastewater that is not currently practiced in California: direct potable reuse, or DPR.
Read More.

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Around Town In South County (Week-End Edition): Some Updates As We Bid Farewell To March & Look to the 2nd Quarter of 2016......

Earth Day 2016 - Trees for the Earth poster    


We wanted to report on a number of key commnity Initiative  coming up in our hometown of Laguna Niguel for our Community Members:


  • Earth Day is celebrated in Laguna Niguel on April 23.    The Community will come together to "go green, volunteer to plant, weed and clean up" the Niguel Botanical Preserve from 8:30 AM through 11:30 AM.     Please call (949) 425-5100 to RSVP by Monday April 18
  • The City of Laguna Niguel Police Services will be hosting a Quartelry Identity Theft Event starting at 7:00 AM on June 11, 2016 until scheduled trucks reach capacities.    As noted in the City guidance, there is a daily limit of 10 banker boxes, plastic bags or paper bags per car load.
  • The City of Laguna Niguel has a Safe Prescription Medication Dropoff Box Program that is available to City residents  The service is free, safe and anonymus.    What is not acceptable are sharps, liquids, vitamins, over the counter medication, illicit drugs and Medical and Hazardous waste.   The times are Monday thru Friday from 8 AM-5 PM.

We look forward to showcasing such initiatives in our communities as we look to the second quarter. 


Saturday, March 26, 2016

As We Bid Farewell To The First Quarter......



It was a vibrant Quarter throughout South County.  Aliso Niguel High School was the scene of the annual open house for incoming Freshman.   There was not a single space of cars as incoming Freshman and their anxious parents met with teachers and attended a briefing by the leadership of the High School.    It was so gratifying to see the support of the parents as they staffed the Wolverine Grill--our founder noted how the chilli was just great!!!!

This quarter also saw the Orange County Register sold to the Digital First Media that Owns the LA Daily News.     We understand from reports that Employees will be sacrificing quite a bit as the new owners take control.     We were also privy to reports that Memorial Care's San Clemente Facility will be closing which will result in layoffs and challenges with Emergency Coverage in the Southern Area of the County.    We will be assessing these as we look to the new Quarter.

As it is the dawn of Easter, we wanted to share this thought as we wish all a wonderful Easter:

“If we could look into each other’s hearts
and understand the unique challenges each of us face,
I think we would treat each other
much more gently, with more love,
patience, tolerance, and care.”

~ Marvin J Ashton


Friday, March 25, 2016

The Friday Musical Interlude; Tor Miller's "Baby Blue"

Welcome to another edition of the Friday Musical Interlude here in #outsiders as we are pleased again to present a selection from our artist of the week , Tor Miller with his song Baby Blue.

Happy Easter Weekend to all!!!


Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Around Town in South County: An #Outsider Newsflash re: Capistrano Unified School District

We wanted to report on this very pivotal development for our Community that we just received from the Capistrano Unified School District:

Capistrano Unified School District:
An Unwavering Commitment to Student Success
March 23, 2016
Special Edition
Dear Capistrano Unified School District Families and Community Members:

Yesterday, the Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) reached a tentative agreement with the Capistrano Unified Educators Association (CUEA) that will provide our students and employees stability over the next two to three years as California faces economic uncertainty.

When the economic recovery planning began in 2013, the Capistrano Unified School District created a plan to reinvest in our classrooms, campuses and facilities. Currently, we are replenishing reserves to provide safeguards against future downturns. We are rebuilding our deferred maintenance reserve, which was exhausted during the downturn, adding much needed Elementary and High School Assistant Principals, and have hired and placed 30 new counselors in our schools to support student social-emotional health. Additional maintenance staff has been hired, including locker room supervisors and cleaning staff, and a comprehensive work-order system to build efficiency in district operations has been put into place. We have increased safety in our transportation services by purchasing new school buses and adding GPS to our bus fleet. We have invested heavily into our technology plan and Chromebooks for students, and we are working to implement a district-wide business system that will further increase efficiency in our work-flows by moving us from paper to an electronic process.

We are also investing more than $90 million dollars into our facilities around the District for upgrades, refurbishments and expansion. This work, which our teachers are strongly committed to, is critical to our mission to prepare our students to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing world. We are also investing in the recruitment and retention of the teachers and faculty who are in our school classrooms and on our campuses each and every day.

Under this agreement with CUEA, our students and families will benefit from greater accountability through teacher evaluations tied to student performance and progress, greater transparency and communication with parents in the education of their children and greater support to ensure students have an implementable plan for college or career after High School graduation.

Under this new agreement, and through great collaborative work of the District and CUEA Teacher Evaluation Joint Task Force, teacher evaluation and performance will be directly tied to student performance and progress through clear assessments that will include performance goals, pre- and post-observation of classrooms and teachers, and a formal evaluation process that will also include a self-assessment. Teachers will demonstrate increased performance and progress of students and connect student performance and progress to evidence that was determined prior to instruction.

Additionally, under this new agreement, teachers will utilize our Learning Management System (currently School Loop) to communicate with students, parents or guardians regarding grades, academic matters and other educationally relevant issues. This universal adoption of our Learning Management System will create consistency of engagement and increase communication and transparency across the district for every student, family and guardian of the District.

Finally, the District will have the opportunity to add College and Career Counselors with differentiated hours to support students after the regular school day has ended - as late as 9 p.m. The addition of this position supports one of our highest priorities: to ensure that every student has an implementable plan for college, military and professional careers when they graduate.

The College and Career Counselors will maintain and operate a High School College & Career Center, providing counseling on a wide variety of college and career information and materials. Counselors will work with students, faculty, parents and community representatives concerning career planning and college entrance. Counselors will provide guidance concerning scholastic aptitude and achievement tests as well as counseling and support concerning specialized scholarships and assistance completing application forms. Counselors will plan, organize, develop and implement career events and schedule and arrange guest speakers from local businesses, community colleges, universities and armed forces to provide choices and opportunities to high school students and families. Work hours of these counselors will be non-traditional workday/evening hours at a satellite location to ensure access and availability to students.

The tentative agreement increases salary schedules by four percent effective July 1, 2015 through June 30, 2017. The tentative agreement also provides a four percent off schedule (one-time) payment to be paid during the 2015-16 school year. In total, this agreement is for the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 school years.

A final but significant objective of this new contract was to put CUSD in the position to recruit and retain teachers in light of the eminent teacher shortage we are facing in California.

Sincerely,
Kirsten M. Vital, Superintendent                   Sally White, President of CUEA

Monday, March 21, 2016

Around Town in South County: An #Outsider Newsflash on the #AWMA Bridge





We reported here in #Outsiders on the pending closure of the #AWMA bridge.    The South Orange County Water Authority has decided to keep the Bridge open for another 45 Days as negotiations continue with Orange County on a permanent solution to it.    

We will be monitoring this here in #Outsiders over the ensuing weeks.


Sunday, March 20, 2016

Notations From the Grid (weekend edition): On Community & Human Empowerment

As our team has been on the "prowl",  we thought something a bit "out of the ordinary" should be done for this weekend edition of "Notations" here in our Community Property. The whole mission of the Community Channel was to enhance, strengthen and educate about what goes on in our home community.   We hope to expand it further to get ideas out there on what is going on and of course ideas on safety.    These two talks we caught on +TED especially caught our eye--Please enjoy:


Joe Gebbia, the co-founder of Airbnb, bet his company on the belief that people can trust each other enough to stay in one another's homes. How did he overcome the stranger-danger bias? Through good design. Now, 123 million hosted nights later, Gebbia shares his dream for a culture of sharing -- in which design helps foster community and connection instead of isolation and separation.Watch »

We don't have to live in a world where 99 percent of rapists get away with it, says TED Fellow Jessica Ladd. With Callisto, a new platform for college students to confidentially report sexual assault, Ladd is helping survivors get the support and justice they deserve while respecting their privacy concerns. "We can create a world where there's a real deterrent to violating the rights of another human being," she says. Watch »

Friday, March 18, 2016

The Friday Musical Interlude: Remembering Frank Sinatra Jr.

Welcome to Friday here in #Outsiders. 

For this week, our team decided to pay tribute to Frank Sinatra Jr. who passed away earlier this week due to cardiac arrest.    As someone once said, he was the "keeper of the flame" as he served as his Father's Musical Director and continued his legacy.   Please enjoy this selection from the grid as we wish all a great weekend on the eve of this first weekend of Spring 2016:




On the "Prowl" In South County: On the Pending Sale of Freedom (Owner of the Orange County Register



We have been on the prowl as the Orange County Register's Parent, Freedom Communications, was on the auction block as three investor groups were in competition to buy the assets.    Tribune Publishing, the owner of the LA Times and the San Diego Union Tribune,  has won the auction.

Today's edition of the Orange County Register had extensive reporting on it.     We here @ #Outsiders wish to extend our congratulations to the Freedom CEO who has been able to stabilize the Paper that has been a staple of Orange County for over 100 years.     As we went to press, the US Justice Department has filed an anti-trust lawsuit to block the move. 

We will be assessing this over the ensuing weeks.


Thursday, March 17, 2016

View of the Week (Special Edition): On this St. Patricks' Day 2016.....

We here @  #outsiders wanted to extend our best wishes on this St. Patricks' Day as we feature this from one of our must reads, +Jonathan Huie:


May God grant you always...
A sunbeam to warm you,
a moonbeam to charm you,
a sheltering Angel so nothing can harm you.
Laughter to you.
Faithful friends near you.
And whenever you pray,
Heaven to hear you.
- Irish Blessing

May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours.
- Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields.
And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.
- Irish Blessing
 

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

On the Prowl in South County: A Brief #Outsider newsflash On the Bridge @ Aliso Wood Canyon Park

AWMA Road Bridge: Source OC Register 


Earlier this afternoon, a public hearing was held at the Laguna Niguel Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ Later Day Saints to discuss the status of the Aliso Wood Canyon Bridge that is the subject of a dispute between a number of local agencies.    The agency responsible for the bridge (South Orange County Waste Water Authority) has decided to close the bridge as of March 18 after negotiations with the County broke down as the bridge has been deemed unsafe.      Members of the Board discussed the Authority's' view as officials from the Cities of Laguna Niguel and Aliso Viejo attended a closed-door meeting on it as access to the Church along with Aliso Wood Canyon will be severely impacted

This is a developing story and we will assess it over the ensuing weeks.

Notations From the Grid (Special Edition): A Thought To Share From #Einstein







It was quite a perceptive thought we picked up recently as we checked on the feed in our Facebook Page that we hope all embrace from the great Einstein  






I'm thankful to all those who said 'No' - because of them, I did it myself. —Albert Einstein #MondayMotivation http://gdsr.ch/1QCAjlw
Posted by Goodshop on Monday, March 7, 2016

Monday, March 14, 2016

Around Town in South County: Happenings @ UCI

The Jordan Center For Persian Studies just announced this which we wanted to report on:

I am happy to announce that my Phd student, Soodabeh Malekzad (Su Persis) will teach a course on the Post-Achaemenid...

Posted by Touraj Daryaee on Monday, March 14, 2016

Sunday, March 13, 2016

On the "Prowl' In South County: Some Updates From Around the Community...

It has been an interesting week here in South County.     We were on the prowl as the Edwards Aliso Viejo Matter continued before the Aliso Viejo City Council.     We had been tracking this and provided guidance on it.     Aliso Viejo and Edwards have apparently settled a lawsuit that resulted in savings of $ 100,000 for the City of Aliso Viejo and a potentially additional liability of $ 500,000 if the City would have lost.    The City will have formal comments after a review of the particulars are made at an upcoming closed meeting of the Council

It is also of note that our hometown, Laguna Niguel, was listed as the 11th-Safest City in California based on reporting by Safewise.     Two more South County Cities were also listed:  Rancho Santa Margarita (at No. 2) and Aliso Viejo (at No. 4).    Crime in Laguna Niguel, though, increased by 18 percent in the City consistent with increase in crime throughout the State.   We were also quite surprised by an upcoming decision by the Laguna Woods City Council to create a Civic Support Fund supporting public art and cultural affairs.   We look forward to sharing developments on it further over the ensuing weeks and months.    It was also quite a week as we saw reports that Orange County saw 3 Pedestrian Fatalities in 2016--the same pace as all of 2015.   The initiative by the Laguna Niguel Traffic Commission to help with education and outreach is to ensure that such death is avoided.

We look forward to another vibrant week here in South County especially as we gear up for Spring here in South County as we extend an early Happy Nouroz to the Persian and Afghan Communities here in South Orange County as we are pleased to feature this from RadioJavan that helps to celebrate Spring and all the possibilities: 

On this upcoming Norooz, celebrate the Persian New Year 1395 on Radio Javan with our live Saal Tahvil show and special programs.