On the Eve of A New Work Week: Brief Reflections & An Admonition from #Einstein

This Week-End was again an opportunity to reflect upon what was beautiful about life, all that one was ever so thankful and about the possibilities.     It began with a day of service and support for the youth of our Community at Scout-O-Rama 2014.  The joy of the Youth as they played games was just beautiful.   One could also never not go to a Scout-O-Rama and not sample all the Dutch Oven Creations the Scouts did.   It was just beautiful.

This was also Mother's Day Weekend.    Our World is a better place because of Mothers--and for those of us who still have our Mothers with us, we're ever so blessed.  This is despite their tough love and unreasonableness at times.  I reminded my own Son about this blessing too so that he never forgets. 

This was also a time to reflect upon this admonition from #Einstein.   The need to push the limits is ever so--and it is important to have a sense of purpose and not be discouraged.    Thoreau also reminded of this sense of solitude that would contribute to a sense of strength that is beyond this realm of the possible: 

We have to believe--and have faith.    There is no other possible way.

On the Eve of Mother's Day Week-End: On Attitudes & Possiblities

Mother's Day is a Day to celebrate and embrace the most important person in our lives.  All of us are blessed and ever so grateful for our Mothers.    May the almighty bless all the Mothers.   On this day, I especially salute my own Mother, my Son's Mother and my wonderful Sister.

As we remember this day, my thought also is with the Mothers of those Nigerian Girls who cries of agony was heartbreaking to see as the World-Wide Campaign continues to gather steam to #BringOutGirlsHome.    It is also a Week that continues to see people dying in Ukraine, in Afghanistan, in Iraq and in Syria which continues to undermine hope.   

As the Week-End is before us, this from Ralph Martson goes to the heart of "the Art of the possible": 

Assume you can do it

A powerful first step in getting anything done is to assume you can do it. When you start by assuming you can do it, you don’t have to fight your doubts all the way there.

Even if you don’t know how to take the first step, assume that there’s a way. Assume you can do it, and you’ll find that way.

You are extremely good at solving difficult problems because you’ve done it all your life. You are very good at making things happen when you have a good enough reason to do so.

So make sure your objective is what you really, truly desire, and make the assumption that you can indeed reach it. With a meaningful purpose and a positive perspective, you’re already well on your way.

Instead of complaining that it’s too difficult or complicated or unfair, just get busy. Work under the powerful assumption that it’s possible for you, and it will be.

Dare to dream and dare to believe without a doubt that you can reach your dreams. Assume you can, and eventually, with effort and commitment, you will.

The need to be positive and upbeat is ever so critical as well.     This small "V-thought" from the team at Simple Truths is ever so critical: 

The Attitude is Everything Inspirational Movie - Movie

Happy Mother's Day to all.

On Mother's Day: Reflections

I have been reflecting upon my own Mother and her "tough love" at times.   I have also been reflecting upon the courageous struggle by the Mother of My Son and how she's been able to build up a business against sometimes challenging odds and how he's ever so lucky by that love and affection.    I have also reflected upon the plight of the Mothers of the abducted girls in Nigeria and cannot even imagine for a semi-millisecond the agony they face.    It was an absolute honor to add my name to this growing campaign to stand up to the thugs of Boko Haram:

A pleasure to add my voice for #BringBackOurGirls: Michelle Obama: It's Time to Bring Back Our Girls http://t.co/mrnpRgik2j via @mashable
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) May 8, 2014

Our World is ever so better and ever so blessed because of Mothers.   It was fantastic to see the team @ http://thehotzoneusa.com/ capture this that epitomizes what Mothers are--and how no one must ever forget:

On Our World Today: Brief Daily Notations

It has been another very challenging and yet fun day around our World over the past 24 hours.l  As I saw the story from Re/Code on Alibaba, I saw the chart from Business Insider that reflected the extent of what Alibaba actually does and my eyes nearly popped out as a I finished a "newsflash" in my "vision" blog channel.   Although I was aware of it, I had not closely looked at it--but I had followed the rise of Jack Ma and his rags to riches story.   Jack Ma is another example of how anything is possible.

As an Achievement is celebrated, there is also the continued tragedies in Nigeria, in Syria and South Sudan.    I reflected on it briefly while on Twitter Earlier:

when will #Nigeria be free of this menace? More Nigerian girls abducted by suspected Boko Haram militants http://t.co/LEo7enAXER
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) May 7, 2014

I have also been assessing the latest out of Thailand.   France24 is reporting that there is a ruling due on the abuse of power against the Thai Prime Minister which may result in his removal.    Where that goes is anyone's guess.

As a new day is at hand, I conclude this with this thought that I personally took comfort in that I saw in my daily review earlier today from Cherie-Carter Scotts:

Remember, there are no mistakes, only lessons. Love yourself, trust your choices, and everything is possible.

On Forgiveness: Brief Daily Thoughts....

I have been making the Virtual Rounds on the "Social Grid" catching up w/Friends and assessing the World.    As always, it is ever so a challenging World.  I saw this "Thought 4 the day" courtesy of Ziglar Team that was on the Ziglar Facebook Page:

It is a beautiful admonition to live up to especially as all who have had personal setbacks.  But, it is not an easy thing to be live up to when one hears about the plight of the Girls out of Nigeria.  The so-called leader of the Thugs who kidnapped those Girls boasted of this earlier when I saw him on CNN and how he said he was going to sell them all off.    Although one has to be strong to forgive (and Gandhi Ji reminded us of this), there also needs to be a sense of justice--and the Boko Haram Leader will have to be brought to Justice.    Hopefully this is a final wake up call for the Government of Nigeria to finally clean up its' Act.

Thought 4 the Week :-)

Speaks for itself :-)

Onward :-) :-) :-)

A "newsflash" courtesy of Project Syndicate : Nouriel Roubini says that if the global order blows up, the detonation will occur in Asia

Whenever he speaks, I always take notice:



Nouriel Roubini says that if the global order blows up, the detonation will occur in Asia. - Project Syndicate

A "Mojo" As A New Work Week is Before Us....

As I have been finishing work in "Outsiders", I wanted to share this.  It was an interesting "Mojo" thanks to the great Darren Hardy with the endeavor undertaken here--and the fact that believing in the Art of the Possible must drive us all:

Post by Darren Hardy.

Notations on Our World (5/4/2014)

Released to http://www.outsiderviews.com,  5/4/2014

As we here @ "outsiders" were gearing up for the latest here in Outsider Views, the story that was of particular interest was the apparent free-fall of the Australian Prime Minister, Mr. Abbott.  The Sydney Morning Herald reported with the next few days about how the Prime Minister support is at 39% over the so-called death tax.   It appears that the voters of Australia have had buyers remorse!!

Australia, though, never seizes to be interesting.   As with many around the World, we were also amazed at the reception given to the Duke of Cambridge and his family.    It was such a moving scene on Anzac Day as Australia and New Zealand remembered the fallen.   One wonders why would anyone wishes to have nations go through this especially in places like Ukraine.    What has been disturbing even more is how the other so-called former Soviet Republics are increasingly under siege.   This is as more crucial debate like what is being documented here and reported by the team @ Mashable seems to not be as important:

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The senseless violence in Assam, India is also another matter we've been assessing here.    29 people were killed.    The relatives are refusing to bury them until the Chief Minister comes to visit them.  It is good news that at least there has not been any violence--even though the accusations are flying.   It is frankly amusing to see how the senseless violence is being used for political purposes.

Beyond the senseless Assam  violence, there is the bizarre campaign.    One of the Muslim Parties had noted that if Muslims don't vote for them, they would need to have their DNA checked!!  But, more importantly, it is the BJP offer to the Chief Minister of West Bengal for a "Big package" if the Chief Minister hooked up with them.   She came out and said:  Never in my lifetime.  Modi, in the meantime, has hit back hard while on the Chief Minister's home turf.  

All of this drama and somewhat of a Bizarre campaign will be resolved May 16...can't wait who will be called a cat and a rat.   The US, also, is going to the polls in about One Month with the crucial mid-terms which will determine the course of the United States as the battle for 2016 begins in earnest as it deals with a challenging image in no small measure due to the collapse of the latest attempt at the Middle East Peace Process:

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"The time is growing short for the US to demonstrate anew – to friend and foe alike – that its word remains its bond" http://t.co/Tr6x4gitum
— Project Syndicate (@ProSyn) April 24, 2014

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A Day of Service & Love

It was a day of service of love as I had the privilege to serve as a Merit Badge Counselor teaching a very interesting Merit Badge--Composite Materials--to some 26 Scouts today.  As I reflected upon this day, (which I plan to comment about in my local blog, South County Matters), what struck me was one of the Scouts in an Electric Wheelchair with his Father and how he was so enthusiastically finding the GeoCaches and how that level of love by all was ever so evident by his Father.

As the evening dawned, I listened to this clip that I received courtesy of the team @ GiveMore that underscores what I saw today about showing the love for all and a sense of selflessness that was ever so evident:



Will Smith is absolutely right on when he reminds us all that the kind of life we lead has to be about loving all--and working to give back.    A sense of strength and ultimate success will be so we all remember that--something that Mitch Albion reminded us all of:

The way you get meaning into your life

is to devote yourself to loving others,

devote yourself to your community around you,

and devote yourself to creating something

that gives you purpose and meaning.

- Mitch Albom  

It was such a privilege to be witness to it on this day.

A "View of the Week": Never Giving Up :-)

Notations on the World.....

What a Way to Start a Month

It has been a chaotic 24 hours around the World. There was a train bombing in India, a station attack in China, violent protests in Eastern Ukraine and protests throughout Europe on May Day. As I have been assessing the World as May 2014 began, what I found surprising was the arrest of Jerry Adams, the Sein Fein Leader for a murder that occurred some 40 years ago. How the IRA murdered a mother of 10 is absolutely shocking. Jerry Adams' arrest was based on old "Boston" tapes. Martin McGinnis, the Ulster Deputy First Minister, talked about the political nature of it. Time will only tell.  

Assam in India has been besieged by violence. NDTV is reporting that the Assam Government has asked for 10 companies of paramilitaries. The Indian Army is also on standby and maybe deployed. This is part of the on-going insurgency throughout India that besieges that vast country and as all indications are that Modi will be the next Indian Prime Minister. There is talk of a "Modi Wave". It is fascinating to see it all in action, though.

Beyond India, there is China. The Station attack in the Uighur Region of China has been attributed to separatists. I found the timeliness of the attack especially striking as the Chinese President was touring the region on the advent of May Day. He was meeting with Military Leaders in his Mao Suite and underscored a firm response. It appears that the Uyghur separatists are not drifting away anytime soon. But what I found ever more shocking was the scenes from Ukraine as Pro-Russian Protesters attacked the Regional Prosecutor's Office. This is as Putin told the German Chancellor that Ukraine has to withdraw its' troops immediately. What was amusing that he seemed to forget his own record. I wrote in a Tweet when I saw the story on The Daily Beast, a US-Based Web Newspaper, that Mr. Putin needs to stop being a Tsar first before talking about being a Democrat. Sky News is right now reporting of Helicopter Gunship Firings. This is as the Interim President of Ukraine has reinstated Conscription. 

As May 2014 is also before us, Syria's tragedy continues with no end in sight. I found it just laughable that Bashar Assad had the nerve to vie for re-election. I could not believe my eyes as I reviewed the reports from the BBC on the situation in Aleppo--as Government Jets struck a School. The last time such images were before us was during World War II.

It is quite a way to start the Month of May around our World....

Also available @ http://www.outsiderviews.com

On the Advent of May 2014: A "Thought 4 the Week"

A new month is at hand.  Many around the World are celebrating this as Labor Day.     A new month brings new opportunities for a path ahead as these admonitions are ever so critical for us all from the ever insightful  Jonathan Lockwood Huie: 

 

 

Anger is a killing thing: it kills the man who angers,

for each rage leaves him less than he had been before -

it takes something from him.

- Louis L'Amour

He who angers you conquers you.

- Elizabeth Kenny   

For every minute you remain angry,

you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind.

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

-

Forgiveness is not always easy.

At times, it feels more painful

than the wound we suffered,

to forgive the one that inflicted it.

And yet, there is no peace without forgiveness.

- Marianne Williamson

Remembering Bob Hoskins

The Actor Bob Hoskins died earlier today of Pneumonia.  Of all the performances I have seen of him, "Maid in Manhattan especially stands out with this scene:



As someone who has had his share of challenges over the years, I am always reminded of this simple, elegant and yet crucial point about never giving up and realizing that failure is not and end-all as he notes, "..what we do does not define who we are....what defines us is how well we rise after falling".

RIP Bob Boskins....

The Continued Insecurity of the Net: A Brief "newsflash" for the day.....

I wanted to begin the new week by reporting on the latest Security Flaw. Vigliance is ever so important after Heartbleed that continues to haunt us on a Worldwide basis:

Noting this from @USCERT_gov on Internet Explorer for all.... http://t.co/EILw57q4GQ

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) April 29, 2014

This is World Wide #IEBUG :-( Australia, US, UK advise avoiding Microsoft Internet Explorer until bug fixed http://t.co/XEECkZg0Kg via @smh

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) April 29, 2014

A "Thought 4 the Week" :-)

Remembering : “ Above all, don't fear difficult moments. The best comes from them.” Rita Levi-Montalcin @DrBillH , @MikeHersh, @uncutcg

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) April 23, 2014

View of the Week: Earth Day Special: "Fierce Green Fire" Documentary Explores Environmental Movement’s Global Rise | Democracy Now!

Yesterday was Earth Day.     This is as Good a "clip" about the reality of how precarious the state of Mother Earth is.   I wondered as I was on the "Social Grid" is whether we have the courage to figure out whether we can transform our way of living for future generations:

Earth Day Special: "Fierce Green Fire" Documentary Explores Environmental Movement’s Global Rise | Democracy Now!

As someone noted, it is a "hell of a way" to run a planet:

On the Eve of Earth Day, a View of the Week (II) : To Cherish :-)

Earth Day is on April 22.  It is a chance for us to cherish this treasure that is Mother Earth.  The challenges before Mother Earth have been discussed and deliberated--but today is a day to celebrate it and to as John Maxwell reminds us, to Cherish It:

  

View of the Week: On Our World

I can't agree ever more about what John Maxwell noted in his comments on Easter and what it represents: Such sentiment, though, is not easy to sustain at times as our World is ever so challenging. China recently reported that fully one fifth of China's Soil is polluted with industrial Waste. The IPCC reported on the calamity that is before us if we do not show the courage to change our ways. This is as Iraq's Daily killing fields continue and Syria continues to burn. Although rays of hope continues to exist with the negotiations with Iran on the Nuclear Program, it was undermined by the foolish action of the Iranian Government to name Hamid Aboutalebi as UN Ambassador despite his questionable past during the Hostage Crisis--in addition to his very troubling background in the Security Services and his apparent link to some of the on-going assassinations over the past 34 years. Some of Iran's Neo-Cons have been vibrant supporting Aboutalebi as the US Congress passed a law prohibiting a visa being issued to him. As I write this, one of the witnesses to one of the Terror Operations by the Islamic Republic--Mykonos-- reflects what happened in Berlin over 20 years ago that targeted leaders of the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran and reflecting upon the terror network that the Islamic Republic had throughout Europe during the 1980's. As Iran continues its' current transformation, one fundamental challenges of Iran remains is its' profound economic difficulties despite over 600 Billion Dollars having been made on Oil. As for Egypt, though, it is clear that Sisi will be President. However, what I noted earlier in a "tweet" reflects the reality of Egypt:

Another tragic day in what is now Egypt that #Sisi ha: In Pictures: Residents mourn Aswan violence http://t.co/eSDhCnMhUk via @AjEnglish

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) April 19, 2014

There was also an election in Algeria. The current President was re-elected--even though he has been absent since his stroke and voted while on a wheel chair. Although I reviewed reports about some reasonable sense of freedom in Algeria as epitomized by the likes of Kamel Doud with his vibrant columns, Algeria has profound challenges to deal with as the Oil Windfall continues to dissipate with no vision for the day after. Beyond the Middle East and North Africa, there is India:

Fascinating..wishing #India all the best: -) India election coverage map http://t.co/C6XwLCUlmd

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) April 19, 2014

The major states have voted already and final results are going to be announced on May 16. What is quite comical is the battle of the Gandhis since Rahul Gandhi is heading the Congress ticket and his cousin is a major force in the opposition BJP. The reality of India, though, was underscored by Arundhati Roy and reflected earlier in a column here. [/LINK] Voting has continued and all indications reflects a massive loss by the Congress Party. Modi, though, has a lot to answer for:

A strong rebuttal to #Modi...maybe #India will still surprise: Being Muslim Under Narendra Modi http://t.co/MgxkD4sIy2

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) April 18, 2014

Despite all the challenges at hand, the need to be ever so hopeful and have a sense of faith is ever so critical as ever. This is why the thoughts below are ever so important on this Easter Sunday: The great gift of Easter is hope - Christian hope which makes us have that confidence in God, in his ultimate triumph, and in his goodness and love, which nothing can shake. - Basil C. Hume This is what the Lord asks of you: only this, to act justly, to love tenderly, and to walk humbly with your God. - Micah 6:8 Guide our feet into the way of peace. - Luke 1:79 One who has any faith in God should be ashamed to worry about anything whatsoever. - Mohandas Gandhi Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe. - Voltaire Also released by http://www.outsiderviews.com--all rights reserved

Happy Easter Week-End!! :-)

Post by Mike Pouraryan.