Thursday, April 30, 2020

Out & About with Some Month-End #RandomThoughts

@Laguna Niguel Smart & Final:  April 2020 


It has been a very challenging Month in many ways.     Although it was a month of reflection and engagement, it was also a month that saw how our World as we knew it ended thanks to a Virus.   

I had the pleasure to be supportive of the initiatives at the Daily Outsider as our team pulled together guidance from the WHO, the CDC, The State of California and the Orange County Department of Health.    Schools and Government Buildings in my hometown, Laguna Niguel, have been shut down.  It will be a long road back to recovery--I am hopeful that the Daily Outsider will play its' part as we emerge from the Shutdown and start thinking about #LifeAfterCorona.    We have been busy with on-going editorial work throughout the platforms as we have tried to be uplifting in spite of the profound challenging times we live in.   It has also been a busy month with my Virtual Education Activities & my Doctorate as well.   

I had the chance earlier in the Month to join a Zoom Meeting sponsored by Coro.  The head of the LA Economic Development Corporation gave a devastating picture of the shutdown--90% of Los Angeles International Airport being shut down.   This devastation has continued with massive unemployment numbers--but the most tragic story has been the number of infected with COVID-19 and the number of our fellow Americans who have died--so far over 60,000.    Unfortunately, the clamor in the conservative media has been challenging to be witness to--with one of the President's Chief Supporter even calling for a peaceful rebellion.  I also joined the Virtual Earth Day Celebrations as Ed Begley Jr. and His Daughter hosted a Virtual Worldwide event--and also caught comments by World War Zero hosted by John Kerry.  I look forward to continued engagements.

Beyond the shores of the United States, I continued my work & assessment regarding Iran.   It was disheartening to see how the regime showed how it had no regard for for the ordinary faces in Iran-as it clamoured to open the economy as COVID-19 continue to ravage the Country.    The head of Tehran's City Council, blasted official figures of the dead in Iran--and then there was an announcement earlier today that just at Tehran's Main Cemetery, some  13,000 people were buried as the regime continued to lie and mislead trying to potray an image of normalcy.     Tehran's Main Cemetery is under the municipality of Tehran--yet the head of the Council got in trouble.  I want all to realize that the head of the Council, Mohsen Hashemi, is the eldest son of Hashemi Rafsanjani--the former President who was killed on orders of Khameini.   This is as the plight of the people continued to be  heartbreaking--and yet the regime  clamored for the opening of religious sites and celebrated the launch of what they deemed to be a satellite.  What it turned out was a reverse Webcam as noted by the Commanding General for the US Space Command.    What was even more agitating was that the Supreme Leader (Supreme Guide) Of the Country opened up a page on his site for people to contribute even though he controls billions in assets.  Furthermore, he gave his "assent" for some funds to be released to the Government and also gave his "assent" for privatization--which is another scheme for the Government to fleece the people.     Tehran's Stock Exchange is continuing to increase even though there  is no fundamentals to support such an increase.    As I was assessing the daily analysis, I saw a report that the average age of addicts in Iran had fallen to 8 years--this shows that another generation is being lost to the Revolution as the previous four generations.   This is as the rights of women continues to be trampled--which is one of the darkest periods over the past 41 years--underscored by this report on Iran International as one of the Detainees, Sepideh Gholian, noted torture by women prisoners in Iranian Prisons.   

One of the most disheartening of messages    I caught this on Iran International as the Wife of Reza Pahlavi, the eldest Son of the late Shah of Iran, went to Greece to see first hand the plight of Iranian Refugees which was produced by Iran International:  







By lending her support, Yasmine Pahlavi highlighted the plight of these Iranian Refugees who were living in horrible conditions In Greece.   This is not about when anyone is a Royalist or not--as I noted in a note when I released this to my Facebook Storyline-- but it is about treating humans in a righteous and fair way.   Right after this premiered on Iran International, I saw reports of a  She was joined by one of the leading Iranian Entertainers, Arash--Although the narration is in Farsi, the scenes are just horrific to see.   I also saw rays of hope as I saw a new Cafe opened up by a refugee.     As I saw this hope, I also saw a statement from the head of the local labor federation in Northern Iran as he noted how his members could not even afford to pay for bread--in a country that is one of the richest in the World in terms of resources.   

As I was working to wind down the month, I released this to my Instagram Page in support of Donate A Photo to reflect upon  #LifeInTheTimeofCorona , celebrate the history of Iran and to honor the victims of Ukraine Flight 572 which I also released to my Facebook Wall below: 


  
The families of the victims of flight PS752 have launched PS752Justice.   I had the pleasure to be supportive and look forward to being supportive in whatever way I can.  A numbe of protestors were sentenced to a combined 84 months in Northern Iran for protesting the shooting of the ariline--and a number of students at Amir Kabir University were also summoned for questioning.  This is as there is no indication of anyone being held accountable--including the Commander, Hajizadeh, who was touted as a "Hero" recently on State Television.    

This month also saw disheartening news--the Orange County Fair was cancelled.  However, it was a welcome development because it was about people staying safe and healthy as we continue to deal with #LifeInTheTimeofCorona.     Businesses have adapted to the realities.   Our local Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to authorize a gradual reopening and Mayor Davies of our City sent forth a letter lending support to it.  It was also great to see the City working on and creating the Economic Development Tool Kit--as the Chamber also spearheaded a #LagunaNiguelStrong Campaign which I had the pleasure to join by ordering a shirt which I showcased earlier this week:






It has been gratifying to make the rounds to visit local businesses to do my small part to be supportive and to uplift them fully embracing all they asked to do to practice social distancing--It is also good to have seen a uptick exemplified by a bit more cars in the streets.  


This was also a month that I had a chance to catch a very tough movie: 

Visions du Réel Receipt

Hello mike pouraryan,
Thank you for booking Of Land and Bread. You now have 24h to complete the screening.
Bonjour mike pouraryan,
Merci d'avoir réservé Of Land and Bread. Vous avez maintenant 24h pour finaliser votre visionnement.


Of Land and Bread showcased the plight of the people of Palestine who lived under Israali Occupation.    This is as Israel is slated to have a new Government--I had supported Benny Gantz in my on-going daily Social Media commentary and realized how he chose Israel over his political plight--although I also realized how many of his supporters were disappointed by once again getting into Government with Netanyahu.   I can only hope that as the incoming Israeli Deputy Prime Minister, he will not forget the 25% of Israelis who are of Arab & Palestinian Origin.   I have no hope for a peace process as the peace process is dead--because the Trump Adminstration has seen to it with the moves it has made spearheaded by the President's Son in Law, Jared Kushner--who called the Administration response to the #CoronaPandemic a success story in spite of over a million people infected and over 60,000 dead.   


It was also great to be witness to continued efforts by Government and Non-Governmental Institutions to be supportive.   It was also great to see businesses being supportive.   For instance, Farmers Insurance just extended almost a 40% reduction in premiums--For the record, Farmers is my Personal Insurance Provider for Auto & Home and I made a point of extending my appreciation to my friend and long-time agent, Hakim Salhi.   A sampling of what Government has been doing is noted below:  
04/21/2020 02:04 PM PDT

The OC Health Care Agency (HCA) is pleased to announce the launch of the OC COVID-19 Testing Network, which offers COVID-19 testing starting Tuesday, April 21, 2020 to Orange County residents who meet the criteria detailed below.


There is also the long-time issue of Food In Security that has become even more acute as a result of the Economic Havoc.    Our community stepped up and a sampling of food banks who serve the less fortunate throughout Orange County:




Calvary Chapel WestGrove: Food Pantry*
  • Food Distribution
  • Hours: Wednesdays 5:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. and Fridays 3:00 p.m. – 4:50 p.m.
  • Location: 12832 Knott Street, Garden Grove, CA 92841
Christ Cathedral: Food Bank
  • Pre-bagged food distribution: Thursday, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
  • Location: 13280 Chapman Ave, Garden Grove, CA 92840 by front gate of the property
Cool Water Ministries: Mobile Food Pantry*
  • Must be 13+ years of age.
  • Hours: Fourth Saturday of the Month 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
  • Location: 515 East Almond Avenue, Orange, CA 92866
Families Forward: Drive Through Food Bank
  • Drive through service including food and diapers
  • Monday - Friday 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
  • Location: 8 Thomas, Irvine, CA 92618
Food for Christ at the Rock: Drive Through Food Bank
  • Hours: Drive through will be 7:00 am - 9:00 am on Saturday.
  • Phone: (714) 331-6311
  • Location: 101 East Orangethorpe Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92801
  • Small bag of nonperishables
  • Hours: Monday-Friday 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
  • Location: 161 South Orange Street, Orange, CA 92866
Mariners Church: Food Pantry*
  • Hours: Wednesday-Friday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  • Phone: 949-769-8131
  • Location: 5001 Newport Coast Dr, Irvine, CA 92603
  • Fresh and nonperishable grocery items, packages contain 5 days worth of food
  • Families may receive assistance once every 30 days
  • Locations: Anaheim, Irvine South, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Rancho Capistrano, San Clemente
Saint Paul's Episcopal Church
  • Groceries
  • Hours: Sundays 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
  • Phone: (714) 544-3141
  • Location: 1221 Wass Street, Tustin CA 92780
Salvation Army Orange County: Drive Through Food Distribution
  • Canned foods, produce, frozen goods
  • Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and Tuesday, Thursday 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
  • For residents of North and Central Orange County - Bring ID
  • May receive food once monthly, Must meet low income guidelines (TEFAP)
  • Location: 1515 W. North Street, Anaheim, CA
The Salvation Army of Southern California*
  • Bring Picture ID
  • Hours: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.
  • Phone: (714) 832-7100
  • Location: 10200 Pioneer Road, Tustin, CA 92782
Second Harvest Food Bank Drive Through
  • Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
  • Location: Honda Center parking lot: 2695 E. Katella Ave. Enter off South Douglass Road.
Southwest Community Center
  • Provides Hot Meals. Must Be Consumed off-site.
  • Hot Meal Hours: Monday-Sunday 12:00 p.m.
  • Food Pantry Hours: Monday and Wednesday 9:00 am-1:00 pm
  • Phone: (714) 547-4073
  • Location: 1601 West Second Street, Santa Ana CA 92703
South County Outreach: Appointment Only Food Pantry
  • Food distribution will be by appointment only. Any shopper coming without an appointment will be directed to call the hotline.
  • Phone: Pantry Hotline at 949-380-8144 ext. 207
  • Location: 7 Whatney, Suite B, Irvine, CA 92618
Tustin Drive Through Food Drive
  • Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
  • Location: Families Together of Orange County Community Health Center, 621 West First St., Tustin CA, 92780


As I was working away on these month-end thoughts,  I reviewed comments by President Trump as he went after "Democratic" States, blamed China and threatened Tariffs without taking a bit of responsibility even though he was informed about this.    But what I took comfort in was this I captured from  the Persian Gulf that Radio Farda featured as it was Persian Gulf Day:   

I could not help but take comfort in this courtesy the team at the Daily Stoic that provides an absolute admonition to us all:



As we’ve discussed, one could look out at the world right now and see a lot of negative. Or you could grab the other handle, as Epictetus says, and see the positive. It’s an open question: Is this a great time to be alive or a terrible one? Are we blessed to have spent twenty years without any major wars, without any truly global crises, with sustained periods of economic prosperity and incredible technological advances? Or has it been twenty years with three major recessions, with the terror of terrorism, disruptive or disappointing tech, and now with a global pandemic?
Here’s the Stoic’s answer: It doesn’t matter. Because you don’t control when you live. What history will think of this period compared to other periods is meaningless. The only thing that counts is that you’re alive right now.
We don’t choose when we live, we choose how we live. That’s it. You didn’t ask for this moment. Maybe you’d prefer things to be different. Well...they aren’t. And you’re going to have to make do. Understand this and you will be wise. Adhere to it and you will be successful.
How can we make the most of right now? That’s the question. How can we live well within—or in spite—of what’s happening? That’s our job. You think Marcus wanted to live through the plague or Epictetus in a time where slavery existed or Seneca during Nero’s rule? Nope. But they figured it out. They made it work.

There are also two key dates to note-first the advent of the Web that allows us all to be on and to the voice as we have been thanks to some great visionaries:


I also note that tomorrow is Labor Day around the World--and the Month of May has a very important day-Mothers Day:

June 2013 | Tribute



As I conclude I wanted to remember all the fallen of COVID-19 and ask that the almighty grant solace to their loved ones.   I also salute all the Doctors, Nurses, Hospital Workers  , the Grocery Clerks, the UPS & Fed-Ex Drivers, the Uber Drivers, the Lyft Drivers, The Public Transport Workers, Law Enforcement Officers, Fire Fighters, Soldiers and all others workers who have been at the forefront of keeping us alive, fed and protected during this Pandemic.   

I know #WeWillGetThroughThis and emerge stronger.   I close out my #RandomThoughts with the following Visual #RandomThoughts From my archive I released on my Twitter Feed throughout the Month as I say loudly--Onward:








Monday, April 27, 2020

Out & About With #RandomThoughts For the Week.....





As I note the "Visual" #RandomThoughts above, I can't help but reflect upon the profound challenging weeks we've been witness to in our World.   It has been especially quite a week-end as the number of cases continue to rise in the United States and we in America are achieving a very grim milestone.     Although the lock-down has given Mother Earth a reprieve, it will be only a matter of time before the cars are back in action, the ships pollute the waters.   Nature gave us a warning--whether this is heeded is up to us.

I caught up on Twitter with the discourse as I reflected upon the week-end.  Over the week-end also, I released the thought below to my Instagram Feed.      Over the course of the ensuing weeks and months, I'll be focused during my bi-weekly social good outreach to remember the victims of the fascists who are in charge in Iran today--this is as COVID-19 continues to ravage the Country as there is a concerted push to get the country back open with no regard for human life.     I for one could not understand how the Regime had the nerve to launch a satellite into space when it can't feed its' people, can't guarantee its' roads and can't address simple basic necessities--and gives people a loan of $ 70 and then wants to charge them a 12 Percent interest rate to get them back and as political prisoners like Nasrin Soutodeh and Narges Mohammadi continue to languish in Prison: 



View this post on Instagram

While working away over the weekend I created a grid of the some latest inhumanity by the fascists in Iran -the top left is a leading human rights lawyer currently in prison as covid19 rages on -he missed his child’s birthday ...the next one is the killer of the angels of #ps752 when he gave an interview on state television -as the regime put a satellite into space as corona ravaged Iran -I salute @ps752justice for their eloquent advocacy and look forward to the day he and his bosses are held to account -And the third one was a salute by @dr_pirmoazen saluting one of his family members who became a martyr during the disastrous war with Iraq in 1980 -saluting all the fallen , all those enduring the harsh prison conditions of the Islamic Republic and asking the almighty to grant solace & comfort to their families as I know light will shine on that beautiful land again ...
A post shared by Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) on


It is tough to remain hopeful--but we've all got to....


Sunday, April 26, 2020

Out & About with Brief #RandomThoughts For the W-End...



I decided to be upbeat this week as I continue working away on curation work for the Daily Outsider and working on the Corona Diaries. As I write this, I am watching the Kalameh Network with its' unique way of looking at Islam--especially as Muslims throughout the World celebrate Ramadan. The need to be optimistic is absolutely paramount right now as I decided to share the following I released to my Facebook Wall--it is the least I could do to do my small part to elevate the conversation:



Wednesday, April 22, 2020

Out & About with Some Mid-Week #RandomThoughts

Image may contain: drawing
This week, Iran sent a sattelite to Orbit--As Corona ravaged the Country, people went hungry, were forced to go back to work and stand in line to get Special Phone Cards for the "loan" of approximately 70 Dollars that they would start deductding from the monthly allowance they receive.   In the meantime, leading political prisoners and civic activists including Nasrin Soutodeh and Narges Mohammadi are enduing harsh prison conditions as COVID-19 is ravaging in the prisons. 

As I work away, I worked on two #RandomThoughts on my Facebook Wall which I hereby note for reference:



Sunday, April 19, 2020

As A New Week Dawns: #RandomThoughts For the Week

It has been quite a remarkable number of weeks.    I spent the weekend tending to commitments for my command as I also worked away on Academic Commitments.    I also worked away on the emerging project I've been working through on #LifeIntheTimeofCorona as I have captured Images during my Community walkabouts and the informal chats I've had with Community Members and Businesses.    The sense of righteousness that is needed is ever so critical as those of us who think about such issues as we all have to think about Life Beyond Corona because we have to--because things will not be the same again no matter how hard we tried.   

I finished the following earlier today while on the Social Grid on My Facebook Wall because what he reminds us as an admonition is critical for us all to think about as I remain hopeful and convinced that #WeWillGetThroughThisTogether not withstanding all the fissures we are witness to:


Tuesday, April 7, 2020

#RandomThoughts

 

It has been an extremely challenging few weeks as our World has been forever transformed.    It has been quite busy at the Daily Outsider as I have also been quite engaged on my daily engagements on Social Media.     As I have been working  away on two #RandomThoughts dealing with #LifeIntheTimeofCorona, I ran across the following #RandomThoughts that resonated which I hope is a source of joy for all as I know #WeShallGetThroughThisTogether:  


He is a wise man who does not grieve
for the things which he has not,
but rejoices for those which he has.
- Epictetus

If you want to feel rich,
just count all of the things you have that money can't buy.
- Anonymous

Count your blessings.
Once you realize how valuable you are
and how much you have going for you,
the smiles will return, the sun will break out,
the music will play, and you will finally
be able to move forward the life that God intended
for you with grace, strength, courage, and confidence.
- Og Mandino
He who has health, has hope; and he who has hope, has  everything.

--  Thomas Carlyle

When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.

--  Billy Graham

Water, air, and cleanness are the chief articles in my pharmacy.

--  Napoleon Bonaparte

Man needs difficulties; they are necessary for health.

--  Carl Jung

Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.

--  Mark Twain

You're in pretty good shape for the shape you are in.

--  Dr. Seuss

Use your health, even to the point of wearing it out. That is what it is for. Spend all you have before you die; do not outlive yourself.

--  George Bernard Shaw