Out & About On The Final Week of March 2018....

It has been quite a week. 

My weekend began with my day of service joining the #MarchForOurLives rally in San Clemente as I was blown away by the eloquence of the visitors from Parkland Who Spoke and as about a thousand people showed up down here in San Clemente.         This is as John Bolton was hired as President Trump's National Security Adviser.   I was on Twitter most of the Week since the Announcement deriding this appointment.    I'll let the Daily Outsider Big Brothers (NBC; CBS; Fox News; ABC et. ) continue to talk about the Stormy Daniels Saga--and I'll leave it at that along with the dilemma after his lawyers & the Russia Saga. 

One of the many blessings I always embrace hourly is the Family.    It has been a little over Two Weeks since My Aunt Mimi passed away and we all in our own way have been dealing with this grief.  This is also, though, as we all brought in Spring and for Iranian-Americans like I was the First Day of Nowruz:

Iranians around the World were able to celebrate as they took comfort in the programs by the Voice of America, BBC Farsi along with Iranian Entertainment Channels.    One of the programs I consult daily, Iran Farda (as part of my responsibilities at the Daily Outsider), also had a more perceptive and engaging look at the year that was.   Dr. Nourizadeh's tribute to the Former Deputy Prime Minister of Iran, Abbas Amir Entezam, was extremely moving.   Mr. Amir Enterzam was in prison for over 36 years and for seven years did not even have the right to wear shoes.   I'll be helping on working on a column for the Daily Outsider over the ensuing days. 

As I was reflecting upon this week, selfless souls were also in action as I joined the final Knights of Columbus Fish Fry at my spiritual home, St. Timothy's Parish.    It was great to see the Youth serving the community as they did.     I also had the pleasure to be supportive of "Operation Baby Shower".--an initiative by the Laguna Niguel Military Support Committee in support of the City's Three adopted Units.    How the Community came together was gratifying.   I was very happy to see this about the Corporation for National Service having been saved as noted below--I had the pleasure to add my voice to this effort.   What is critical to note is that the battle was won--but the war is yet to be won:

Wow. We just landed a victory for national service—thanks to all of you.   Congress passed and the President just signed a $1.3 trillion omnibus appropriations bill to fund government operations for the remainder of fiscal year 2018 (which ends on September 30, 2018). The bill includes $1.06 billion for CNCS, an increase of nearly $34 million. The bill sustains funding for Senior Corps and AmeriCorps*VISTA, includes an increase of $26 million for AmeriCorps State and National, and increases funding for state commissions, AmeriCorps*NCCC, the Volunteer Generation Fund and Days of Service. We couldn't have done this without your work: your calls, emails, press outreach, and meetings with lawmakers and their staff made the difference. Now we need your help one more time to thank the members of Congress who prioritized investments in AmeriCorps and Senior Corps.   Send a thank you message to our congressional champions for not just protecting, but expanding national service funding. Let's remember where this started just over a year ago: with a shut down budget. But working together, we turned a shutdown budget into an increase in funding for national service. We reminded Congress that national service programs are doing essential work in communities across the country and that we should expand investments in AmeriCorps and Senior Corps, not cut them. Let's keep up the momentum as we head into the FY19 appropriations process by letting our champions know that we appreciate their support. Tell our champions: thank you for taking a #Stand4Service. Thank you for everything you do to raise your voice in support of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps. Yours in Service, AnnMaura Connolly President Voices for National Service

It was also a weekend that was Earth Hour which I joined:

We will all do our part as I say loudly...
Onward to the new week with all its' possibilities....

Out & About: On the Eve of Spring w/This on #Nowruz As Spring Dawns....

#Happy Spring!!

As Spring's in the Air, I wanted to have my weekly "Out & About" for the First Day of Spring & about Nowrozz that was done by the team at Taghvim I hope all enjoy as The Iranian New Year Looms

Nowruz (Persian: نوروز‎) is the name of the Iranian New Year in Iranian calendars and the corresponding traditional celebrations. Norooz is also widely referred to as the "Persian New Year".

Nowruz is celebrated and observed by Iranian people and the related cultural continent and has spread in many other parts of the world, including parts of Central Asia, Caucasus, South Asia, Northwestern China, the Crimea and some groups in the Balkans.

Originally being a Zoroastrian festival, and the holiest of them all, Norooz is believed to have been invented by Zoroaster himself, although there is no clear date of origin. Since the Achaemenid era the official year has begun with the New Day when the Sun leaves the zodiac of Pisces and enters the zodiacal sign of Aries, signifying the Spring Equinox.

The term Norooz in writing, first appeared in Persian records in the 2nd century AD, but it was also an important day during the time of the Achaemenids c. 548–330 BC), where kings from different nations under the Persian empire used to bring gifts to the Emperor, also called King of Kings (Shahanshah), of Persia on Norooz.

The significance of Norooz in the Achaemenid empire was such that the great Persian king Cambyses II's appointment as the king of Babylon was legitimized only after his participation in the New Year festival.

The UN's General Assembly in 2010 recognized the International Day of Norooz, describing it a spring festival of Persian origin which has been celebrated for over 3,000 years. During the meeting of The Inter-governmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Heritage of the United Nations, held between 28 September – 2 October 2009 in Abu Dhabi, Nowrūz was officially registered on the UNESCO List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Out & About ....

#GoogleDoodle Embraces St. Patrick's Day!!! 

It has been quite a week as I write this.      I will leave the politics to the pages of the Daily Outsider and what is being done for the Twitter Channel--but an embrace of health and life was probably the biggest message for me this week in the aftermath of my Aunt Mimi's funeral this week.    The continued homeless challenge in Los Angeles was evident in a major way that the Guardian of London reported on it today as well: 

I took comfort in these thoughts that I picked up on St. Patrick's Day W-End:

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 flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day.
May songbirds serenade you every step along the way.
May a rainbow run beside you in a sky that's always blue.
And may happiness fill your heart each day your whole life through.
- Traditional Irish Blessing

 But, for me, what an Eagle Scout Wrote for me  lifted all the periodic irritations and challenges as I had the pleasure to be at the Court of Honor as my Home Troop, Troop 772, honored the Eagle Class of 2017:

..and what My Son did serving as Master of Ceremonies was beyond Words:

It was the ultimate blessing to have had my parents there as they were able to join this day of service 

It is witness to such that continues to give me hope ever more....

Remembering My Ameh Mimi

Life has its' Profound twists and turns.   I had been working away on projects in support of the Daily Outsider and some of my Virtual Education Work when I got the call from my Aunt Mahroo  that My Eldest Aunt, Mahour (Mimi) Pourarien Hormozi passed away earlier this afternoon.    I joined my Aunt Mahroo as we drove to Los Angeles on this rainy night here in Southern California. 

I briefly saw her as she laid peacefully in the shower and then had the privilege to help my Cousin John and the Mortuary Representative as we escorted her body to the Mortuary Van.      My Aunt Mimi  was the most gracious of ladies that was active in her community with a deep sense of faith and purpose--and always sought to be the light for all.   She and my Late Uncle, Dr. Hormozi, opened up their homes every Friday Night for over 40 years (that I can recall) as they hosted a discussion on Faith and righteousness which I had the pleasure to be at on many occasions.     She was always encouraging me and always counseled me to remain optimistic and upbeat especially some of the darker periods of my life--as she always reminded me even as she dealt with the illness of my Uncle to tell me: I am just a phone call away.   

Earlier tonight, I finished this on my Facebook Wall while at my Aunt's Condo as my Cousins and Aunts were there.    I am grateful beyond words to all who were  gracious enough to pass on their condolences both on my personal Wall and my Cousin Jim Hormozi's Wall:  

RIP Ameh Mimi Aziz...you made a difference for us all:

Out & About On the Eve of A New Week.....

Rainbow in Southern California (by Mike Pouraryan)

We were blessed with Rain This Week.     As I have been reflecting upon the year so far while working away,  all I could note is how challenging it continues to be especially in light of some of the Notatoins I helped curate for the Daily Outisder which is slated to be pubished throughout the week throughout the Properties.    . One of the most profound proposed changes I have seen is the proposed elimination of the Corporation for National Service.    I took to writing to Senator Feinstein and Congressman Rohrbacher.    As I am glad to share the respone from her office, I am yet to get anything from Congressman Rohrbacher --although he did send out a Constituency Survey which I found to be very interesting as he's currently one of the vunerable Republicans.     I am not sure why the notion of encouraging public service is not accepted by the President.   This is as there seems to be no movement on the Gun Debate despite the latest massacres.    There is also reason to hope as for me this new Week ahead is also a week whereby it will be a week of Communtiy Service & Engagement--highlighted by joining the ANHS Orchestra performing at Soka Unimversity this coming Wednesday.    As I am writing this, I am also listening to coverage on #EasternGhoutta as Al Jazeera just chatted with one of the members of the White Helmets.     What I found so interesting is how the residents of Ghoutta had figured out how to produce Mushroooms--making almost 2 Ton's a Day--A Kilo of Rice cost $ 11.      It was not able to fix the issues that 400,000 People face.  Ghoutta also used old Glass to make Solar Panels--which is why we're able to see some of the scenes as we have.   One thing that on a personal note was one profound highlight:   My Son Getting his Drivers' License.   As he drove away with the DMV Inspector, I could not help but be ever so proud.   My view was ever so signifed by the Rainbow as I  captured the Rainbow abvove  signifiying  my sense of hope.   I can only hope that Senator Feinstein is able to live up to what she wrote for the sake of tousands of AmeriCorp & Vista Volunteers and the thousands of Lion Heart Youth who aspire to be Presidential Volunteer Service Award Winners:   

Dear Mr. Pouraryan:

Thank you for writing to me about federal funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service.  I appreciate hearing from you, and I welcome the opportunity to respond.

I understand you have concerns about President Trump’s budget request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, as it would eliminate the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).  As you know, CNCS is an independent federal agency that administers programs to support volunteer services, such as AmeriCorps and Senior Corps.  I strongly support efforts by Americans to give back to their nation and their communities.  More than 7,800 Californians are meeting compelling human needs, whether it is teaching our students, assisting homebound seniors, or helping our communities rebuild after natural disasters.  National service is truly transformative and has the power to impact many lives. 

Like you, I have strong concerns about the President’s proposed budget request, which would eliminate many critical federal programs, including CNCS funding.  While the budget proposed by President Trump contains significant cuts and the elimination of the CNCS, it is important to note that it is ultimately Congress that approves the budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

You may be interested to know that on September 6, 2017, the Senate Appropriations Committee, of which I am a member, passed the “FY 2018 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act” (S. 1771).  This bill would continue to provide funding for CNCS at Fiscal Year 2017 levels.  The federal government is currently operating under short-term funding authority until a full, year-long funding bill can be passed.  In general, all federal programs are being funded at last year’s funding levels.  It is my hope that Congress will be able to negotiate a bipartisan, full-year funding agreement before the short-term funding bill expires.

Please know that I share your view that the federal government should help provide opportunities for all Americans to engage in service to better our country.  Rest assured that I will be sure to keep your comments in mind as Congress works on appropriations for FY 2018.

Once again, thank you for writing. Should you have any other questions or comments, please call my Washington office at (202) 224-3841 or visit my website at feinstein.senate.gov.  You can also follow me online at YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, and you can sign up for my email newsletter at feinstein.senate.gov/newsletter.

Best regards.

Sincerely yours,


  Dianne Feinstein
         United States Senator

Onward to the New week!!!