On the Prowl On this Final Week of #2017.....

 

I decided to "drop into my founders' corner" to share some final brief thoughts as the year draws to a close.   It has been quite a Christmas Week as a very remarkable year is drawing to a close especially in light of all that we were all witness to.    It is also an interesting milestone of sorts for me here in my "Founders Corner":  This is my 550th Post.   I guess time flies when one is having fun!!! 

I have been on the prowl reflecting upon the year and helping to gear up the Daily Outsider team for 2018.   One of the things I decided to take on was to take the Al Jazeera News Quiz and did "gain" some " Posts on my "AL Jazeera Virtual Passport"!!  Please check it out by visiting it here!!!    

Beyond having a little fun, one very important highlight was when I had the pleasure to join the Our Father's Table Christmas Reception at Doheny State Beach where I have the pleasure to be supportive.  The love shown by all who joined this day of service at Doheny State Beach was such a joy to be witness to.  This gentlemen I had the pleasure to meet spent his days in San Clemente teaching children how to fish.   I produced a Visual Essay on it that is available by clicking here.       

Although our team was "dark" on the Properties during Christmas Break,  the Twitter Channel was quite "vibrant" due to the on-going challenges around our World--and I personally was quite engaged.    The President's decision on Jerusalem, on-going challenges in Europe (including Spain, the UK, Poland), elections in Russia and on-going challenges in Egypt and Israel continued to be challenging ever more that China Daily (that our team at Daily Outsider consults to keep "watch" over China) underscored exemplified by some of these they "Cartooned" that I captured on my cell phone that blew me away:  

China continues to make inroads as the United States continues to withdraw from the World Stage--what China did with Pakistan and Afghanistan with Belts & Roads was the latest worrisome sign.  If I was sitting in the US State Department, I would be concerned especially as we here in the United States have some 15,000 (est) Troops fighting in Afghanistan right now.   There is also, of course, the Tax Cut Bill which was signed into law by President Trump.    Some argue that the new Gilded Age is at hand especially as we had our first 100 Billion Dollar Man:  Jeff Bezos.    Discussions will ensure throughout the year in the Daily Outsider Properties throughout 2018.   

One thing that truly drove me was a story I saw on Al Jazeera on how Guantanamo Prisoners have somehow been successful is sending out their Art.   One example of it was noted below which I also captured as a "screen Capture--the whole article is available by clicking here:   The image of the young Alan Kurdi continues to be emblematic of the profound challenges in our World Today as Syria continues to burn, Afghanistan continues to burn and other parts of the World Continue to suffer ever more.

Despite a very challenging year, I continue to remain hopeful.     I hope that this sense of optimism is not in vain as I embrace these thoughts that was so timely by Jonathan Lockwood Huie and his time that is a must read for me daily--the team at the Daily Outsider has embraced it ever more:

The Joy is in the Journey.
- Anonymous

Find ecstasy in life;
the mere sense of living is joy enough.
- Emily Dickinson

Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.
- Anonymous

Today is a perfect day to be happy.
Every day is a perfect day to be happy.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Onward to 2018!!!

Happy New Year :) 

 

Random Thoughts: On #2017, Remaining Hopeful & Looking Forward to #2018

It has been quite a year--at times extremely challenging.    One thing that rattled me  this past week was receiving this from my Son's High School Principal this past Thursday Night:

Dear Wolverine Parents,

I want to make you aware of some information that school administrators learned of just a short while ago.  There is reportedly a rumor circulating among students and our community by word-of-mouth and social media that there could be a shooting on our campus tomorrow, Friday, December 8^th.  As with all such information, we will always take every precaution.  Therefore, this information has been communicated to Sheriffs, the Sheriff’s SMART Team, and the School Resource Officer Sheriff assigned to our school, and we will have an extra law enforcement presence on our campus tomorrow.  At this point, Sheriffs are investigating, but there is no specific information or identified origin of these rumors; therefore, it is likely that this is an unfortunate prank which has spread in an effort to disrupt school.  However, in an abundance of caution, the investigation is ongoing.  Although I believe students will indeed be safe at school tomorrow, I personally want to provide you with the information we have at this time.  If you or your child have any additional specific information on this matter, please contact law enforcement immediately. We want to do everything possible to fully investigate and to identify the origin of these rumors as quickly as possible.  Thank you for your cooperation and support.

It underscores the apparent "New Normal" that we have to contend with.   From what I gathered, many parents elected to keep their children from school--there was a  major Police Presence and thankfully there was no incident.   

What continues to sustain my hope is being witness to Community spirit in Action.   One highlight for the year for me was to join the Laguna Niguel Holiday Parade as I marched with the Scouts of El Camino Real.   I released a write up on it to the El Camino Real Community Website that is available by clicking it here.  

As I also worked away being supportive of The Daily Outsider and helping with the Virtual property curation for the week, I caught Al Jazeera as it had a very poignant show on the Nobel Peace Prize and the fact that ICAAN won.   For me, the interviews with the survivors of the bombing at Hiroshima was quite moving.    

It was great to see a "snapshot" of all the images that CNN put together- from the poignant moments of 2017-even though CNN and others really gave the Media a black eye over the past week.      I had the opportunity  to capture some of the more poignant moments thanks to Facebook as I work to wind down a challenging 2017 and gear up for a hopeful 2018 in despite the profound challenges before us including a potential recession here in California.

As I close out this final edition of my "Random Thoughts" for 2017, I can't help but continue to be optimistic even though there is a bit of chill running through my spine in terms of whether I am naive or not--I see no choice but to be optimistic and hopeful.  

Onward to 2018 with all its' possibilities.....

Random Thoughts While On a Mid-Week Prowl.....

I had the opportunity to finally drop in to Rancho Capistrano earlier this week.   Saddleback Church has its' South County Campus there and it is probably the most beautiful, gorgeous and peaceful areas I have been at.   I Captured this when visiting the Campus in between Commitments:

Saddleback Church at Rancho Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano 

It was also great to be witness to history in my hometown of Laguna Niguel as I was witness to our new Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem take the oath of office.   This is I helped finish a column for the Daily Outsider which was released earlier today in the Main Daily Outsider Property & the Medium Channel as I also finished off being supportive of the Daily Curation Work.    I also ran across two quick things that I wanted to note for my "mid-week" Random Thoughts I ran across on Twitter:



Whenever Bill Gates speaks, I listen--as I also will be "devouring the FP Global Rethinkers:

https://t.co/Xbea1dKYqW

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) December 6, 2017

As I finished off this "mid-week" Random Thoughts, I was seeing coverage of the horrific scenes from the fires in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.   The 405 is right now closed (which for those who may not know is a major Freeway here in Southern California).   It is threatening Getty Center that is home to some of the most beautiful of art collections in the World Today.   I have had the pleasure to see it a number of times.   Mayor Garcetti underscored how the City of LA will overcome this.

As I also finish off this , I am awaiting President Trump's Speech on the eve of his on the US Embassy Move--as I finished off these thoughts, he was speaking at the Weekly Cabinet Meeting again recounting accomplishments.    This is as I saw reports that 4 Women US Senators calling upon Al Franken to resign.   I hope he does the honorable thing and does in fact resign to underscore accountability as we have been witness to a revolution thanks to the courage of all those who have spoken out and were honored by Time Magazine.     Our Society will be stronger because of it.

While on the Prowl....

Some "Food 4 thought" as I finished off a "walkabout" and tended to commitments at The Daily Outsider:

Random Thoughts As I was Out & About in @LagunaNiguelCty Tonight.....

It was a beautiful W-End in Laguna Niguel as Santa Arrived!!  I had the pleasure to be at City Hall Last Night to be witness to the Community coming together yet again with some great Entertainment courtesy of our fabulous kids who attend Capo Unified Schools.    As I also noted when I was on "Grid" last night, it was with a sense of pride as the Military Support Committee spent Saturday starting at 5:00 Am preparing Gift Packets for the USS Stocksdale.   I guess I was lucky to have been able to make it despite commitments all day Saturday-although I did miss the tree lighting ceremony itself!! It is a great week ahead as well as another pivotal event is before us here in Laguna Niguel: The Holiday Parade:

I have the pleasure to march down Crown Valley Parkway w/the Scouts on December 9 as I wanted to share this exceprt courtesy of the City's Parade Committee: "....Kick-off the holiday season December 9 by coming to the Laguna Niguel Holiday Parade! Starting 10 AM enjoy over 100 exciting entries, including marching bands, floats, special guests, youth groups, equestrian units, exotic cars, military members, local heroes and fun attractions! Parade watchers are encouraged to bring chairs and take advantage of the free shuttle available from the Federal Bldg. parking lot off of Dorine/El Lazo. For more info, visit the parade website...." It is going to be a very interesting December!!!

On the Prowl Sharing This I released Late Last Night On my Facebook Wall......

Random Thoughts: As December Dawns....

December is at hand.   Despite the challenging month that we'll be witness to, I wanted to begin this with this courtesy of Scott Kelly I picked up earlier in the week while on Twitter:

#WednesdayWisdom with #sunrise. See the bright opportunity in each new day! pic.twitter.com/3OelVOyBbP

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) November 29, 2017

I also wanted to be a bit "different" my thoughts as I decided to be "digital" of sorts with selections from images and my forays on the Grid I captured: 

Pete Souza On President Obama 

Holiday
 in Laguna Niguel 

Thanksgiving in Camp Pendelton 

The one from Pete Souza about Barack Obama (in the aftermath of Mr. Trump's claims about "passing on" the Person of the Year being given credence by some of his enablers including Ann Coulter and even Professor Jonathan Turley) was kind of cool.   I did capture an image as the Holidays hit Laguna Niguel and of course one of the highlights of the month:  Being at Camp Pendelton.

Onward to December as I embrace the month w/this courtesy of one of my "Must Reviews" On Twitter that I feature on my own Twitter Feed:

I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game's winning shot and missed.

I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that's why I succeed.

—Michael Jordan 🏀 pic.twitter.com/phHM0S4U8o

— Vala Afshar (@ValaAfshar) November 26, 2017