On a Brief Prowl w this 2 Enjoy 😎😎 by Ekoob Band

Out & About ....

As I write this, I am gearing up for a busy March with all the projects & initiatives at hand.  I cannot believe the challenging year so far--and it has only been February.    One of the highlights of the Month was when I got a call from the American Red Cross that my platelet contributions was instrumental in helping to save 3 Lives.  I look forward to being at the Red Cross on Tuesday with another contribution in a small way to pay homage to all members of my family and close friends who've had to fight cancer ever since I could remember as I am appreciative of this note I received from the American Red Cross:

Thank you. Two simple words that when put together can mean so much. YOU mean so much to the American Red Cross. We want to wholeheartedly thank you for your continued dedication to platelet donation. Your time and donations help ensure that lifesaving platelets are available for patients across the country. By turning your compassion into action, you make a difference. As a platelet donor, you give your heart and share your strength. We love to celebrate those who give so much. When you hit special milestones, you'll be able to request a pin to wear with pride. Watch your email for progress updates along the way. And, we'll send you a congratulatory email when you've reached a milestone. We could not help so many people without your generosity. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. We look forward to seeing you again soon. Sincerely, Pampee P. Young, M.D., Ph.D. Chief Medical Officer American Red Cross

Thought For Week : Symphony for Palestine" A Masterpiece by Kayhan Kalhor

Out & About with Brief Random Thoughts

It has been quite a weekend--and that's putting it mildly.     I released a contribution to the Daily Quotes which is a must read for me as a new Week dawns:

I have also been working away on a personal retrospective on Iran which I look forward to releasing soon.   I was also blown away by this beautiful song about a plea for piece--the song is in Arabic and the caption is in Persian--I look forward to transcribing it soon --but the plea  for peace and a better tomorrow is ever so:

#RandomThoughts on this #ValentinesDay2019

It is Valentine's Day 2019!!   Our Mayor noted a simple reminder which I totally agree with:  every day is Valentine's Day as I see the rain pouring down--and how beautiful it is.   

I thought about the Parkland-14 and all that the survivors have done.   I had the pleasure to be at the San Clemente March for Life--and yes they have helped change the conversation-there was even an implicit admission in the statement that was released by the President from the White House Today.   We have to do more though--and yes we can!!    

But, as I was finishing off my daily readings, I picked up a tweet from @AOC--she's been a lightening rod because of her Green New Deal.   But what she noted here in this Tweet was sickening:

Shock doesn’t begin to cover it.

Today I left a hearing on homelessness & saw tons of people camped outside committee.

I turned to my staff and asked if it was a demonstration.

“No,” they said. “Lobbyists pay the homeless + others to hold their place so they can get in 1st.” pic.twitter.com/mXbgqkKp4P

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) February 13, 2019

I sent this tweet off to the Senior Adviser for County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett with a request that the Supervisor is made aware of this horrific act done by Lobbyists in Washington.  I also   finished off some thoughts for my students earlier today while working away which I wanted to note below-we can and must do better for the sake of each of us: 

It is Valentine's Day 2019.    

As I hope all agree, everyday is a Valentine's Day as we remember all we value, those we cherish and continue to honor our loved ones.   

We also need to remember our role as members in our own community and to do what we can to make a difference--This hit home for me yesterday as I was at my Catholic Parish Pantry as I helped a single mom with three kids whose father was deported to Mexico years ago.    This has also been a year since the tragedy of Parkland Florida--and this horrified me even more--that's why as aspiring leaders looking to the future, we have to think about a legacy of purpose always as I look forward to our on-going dialogue.  

As I was thinking about our World, I can't also help but be thankful for all my blessings.  It has been 40 years since the Revolution--I can't even imagine if we as a family had to deal with my Dad being in jail-as thankfully he had the foresight never ever to be political.     I was reminded of it as I  picked up the agony felt by the daughter of Iran's Green Movement Leader, Mir Hossein Mousavi, as she reminded the World how her parents continue to be under house arrest after 9 years.     I've seen reports that Mr. Mousavi and Dr. Rahnavard  are able to see family.  But, as Mohsen Kadivar noted in his classic speech remembering the fallen of the Green Movement nine years ago, even Paradise is a prison if it is locked.

I leave all with this courtesy of the team at cool Earth as I.....

to say Happy Valentine's Day to all!!!

Working Away w/Brief #RandomThoughts For the W-End

It has been quite a week!!   

We have had some great weather in California that prompted me to break out my sweaters and yes even turn on the heater--it also rained again this morning!!!    The Mountains have Snow and some say that we in California are in good shape after years of drought.    But, the broader challenge of climate change remains as I went back and revisited this chart about my family's predicament and climate change:  

I have also been trying to get some discipline back with my "Screen Time" and was "kind of glad" to see this data that I track.   We need to have a life beyond Digital--although the Work I support for the Daily Outsider (including help with the property curations & the daily Social Media curations/Media Reviews):  

Your 2018 year in review is ready You logged 1,900 hours last year! We’ve rolled up your time into a personal infographic--here is my link: https://www.rescuetime.com/year-in-review/2018/B639LNKTMS5YeyKydD1AZx8c6J3f1eLO6QWuXMBU

Over the past week, you logged 39h 37m 4 fewer hours than the previous week Your productivity pulse 40 13% decrease from the previous week Very distracting time Very productive time

Most of your time went towards: 33% Comm/Schedule 25% Reference 8% Social Net. 8% Uncategorized 8% Business See more categories	Top applications and websites: 7h 57m Gmail 5h 9m studentlogin.coloradotech... 2h 41m youtube.com 2h 31m purdueglobal.brightspace.... 1h 58m twitter.com See more of your activities

Your goals for the past week Less than 14 hours on All Distracting Time All day, every day 21h 32m 3h 4m avg per day More than 14 hours on Reference Time All day, every day 9h 55m 1h 25m avg per day

Go to your dashboard to learn more about how you spent your week

I was so glad to be supportive as I joined the hashtag #standwithjeff as he went after the National Inquirer Hard.  He stood up for many ordinary faces--and I am with Scott Galloway of the NYU Stern School when he noted how we have to make sure that we are aware of how truly digitized our lives are and how mistakes can ruin lives--Teens are dealing with it all the team and we must act now no doubt.   I look forward to reflecting further on it.

As I close out these thoughts, I picked this up--I don't feel really too bad as I helped to start The Daily Outsider-I do wonder at times,though:

 Vala Afshar Retweeted

Jon Erlichman

‏

Verified account @JonErlichman

 3h

3 hours ago

Age when they started their company:

Bill Gates (Microsoft): 19

Reed Hastings (Netflix): 36

Jeff Bezos (Amazon): 30 Doris Fisher (The Gap): 37

Bernie Marcus (Home Depot): 50

Vera Wang (Vera Wang): 40 Sam Walton (Walmart): 44

Charles Flint (IBM): 61

Gordon Bowker (Starbucks): 51

This is also the eve of the 40th Anniversary of the Iranian Revolution of 1979 that has caused so much misery and pain for Iran and the World. One of the best indictments of the 40-years of Islamic Rule in Iran was done by the Voice Of America's Farsi Service. Mehdi Fallahati has done a fantastic job of exposing the corruption and murderous reign of the Islamic Republic. The fraud that the current President noted (on how he advocated to cut off Armed Forces' Pensioners) was hard to listen to. What is also so sad is how Rouhani did not fulfill a single campaign promise that prompted some 24 Million Iranians to vote for him. The numbers his budget has given one religious institution is more than the budget for 22 Provinces!!! The program is in Farsi but the need to help note the great work he's done is critical. I also was grateful to one of the leading Iranian-Americans, Dr. Firouz Naderi, as he underscored the need for many of us Iranian @ordinaryfaces believe:

1. Firouz M. Naderi‏Verified account @Firouz_Naderi Feb 6

   5/5-I support Iranians’ right to defiant protests and acts of civil disobedience and believe that US support, both from Democrats & Republicans, is helpful for the Iranian people’s struggle for freedom – a support that was absent, and an opportunity that was missed, in 2009.

    

    
2. Firouz M. Naderi‏Verified account @Firouz_Naderi Feb 6

   4/5-I do not support President Trump for reasons having nothing to do with Iran. But I support his policies aimed at weakening the Islamic Republic so long as it does not include armed invasion of Iran and economic policies that further squeeze the common people.

    
3. Firouz M. Naderi‏Verified account @Firouz_Naderi Feb 6

   3/5-The road to victory requires all forces to unite for freedom of Iran- regardless of being republicans or royalists. They (and all of us) need to come together to bring an end to this ruinous regime. Don't tear each other apart; focus your anger and your energy. IT CAN BE DONE

   1 reply10 retweets73 likes

    
4. Firouz M. Naderi‏Verified account @Firouz_Naderi Feb 6

   2/5-No to human rights abuses of Iran’s citizens. No to the pervasive governmental corruption. No to continued mismanagement of Iran’s resources. No to wasting its most precious capital – it’s youth. No to the adventurism of IRI abroad. No to the Islamic Republic - period.

    
5. Firouz M. Naderi‏Verified account @Firouz_Naderi Feb 6

   1/5-As the unfortunate 40th anniversary of the Regime approaches, let us unite behind the common goal of ending one of the darkest chapters of our history and work toward a secular democracy for Iran. Put aside past differences and varied preferences and focus on what we agree.

    

#WeWillReClaimIran