Around Our World: On the Missing Malaysian Plane

As I work away, I am right now listening to the Malaysian Prime Minister making a statement on the missing Malaysian Airline plane MH370.   He's giving a broad overview of what has happened over the past week including the latest briefings he has received including new satellite communication.   It appears that the onboard navigation system was turned off as it turned back.  The Prime Minister is stating that there is no indication yet whether this was hijacked or not.   There are two distinct possibilities where the plane may have traveled to.     My thoughts and prayers are with those who are missing and their families as I listen to the Prime Minister. 

On the Eve of Spring: "V-Thoughts" As We Await Spring

Spring is in the air!!

With it, there is a chance to begin anew and reaffirm.  Hope is eternal and this clip from the team @ Simple Truths is ever so timely.  Although it is not easy to note this with all that is going on in Ukraine, The Central African Republic, & Nigeria.  But, one has to keep hope alive :_)

Hope Friends Enjoy!! :-)

Onward.....

---

On the Eve of Spring: A "thought 4 the day"

Our opportunity is to Soar our Spirit.

To see Light and Joy in everything.

To spread our wings and fly boldly.

To give thanks for rainbows and butterflies -

our symbols of renewal and rebirth.

To offer daily Thanksgiving - for ourselves, our family,

our friends, our community, for the whole world.

- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Looking to a New Quarter: Brief Thoughts

Q1 2014 will be history soon.    It has been a very challenging period to say the least.    As I hope to take and assess "Outsiders" to the next level, I have also been reflecting upon history.    Watching the film Lincoln reminded me that if one has faith and confidence--that anything is possible.   Although the film has a bit of "Hollywood Hype", the essential fact remained that he wanted to abolish slavery and he was able to do despite all the nay sayers.     I also had a chance to see Wilson about his faith and recognition of how America had to change.    That sense of idealism in the truest sense is ever so important now.

Although Ukraine is a challenge, I remain hopeful and by the time I take up developing "Outsiders" starting next month, that cooler heads would have prevailed.  Too many people have died,  Too many people have suffered and too many people continue to suffer.  China is beginning its' annual National People's Congress and the endemic fight against corruption is center stage.   India is in the midst of an election and we will see some changes soon.    Syria's killing fields continue ever more.    Turkey continues to be besieged by a conflict between an increasingly autocratic Prime Minister and a mass movement that is yet to play itself out.     This is a as America enters the budget season with some very ambitious goals by President Obama to scale back the size of the Army--even though the US continues to spend more than all 10 other countries around the World:

Although I remain hopeful about Iran, trouble continues to be ever so on both sides.    But, as I take a "sabatical" from the writing and research on "outsiders", my mind drifted to this from the Dalai Lama and end with this fervent wish:

..and hope that I can--through the development of "outsiders"--live up to this admonition.

On the Dawn of a New Week: Believing in the Art of the Possible

As a new work week is before us here in the United States, I thought this snapshot underscores about the true "art of the possible".   Sometimes, though, what goes on in the World gives us a moment of pause.  I was reflecting upon this as I saw a front page story in this mornings Orange County Register in Orange County California about the long term unemployed:

Enough Said!!

Onward to the new week w/all its' possibilities....

On the Eve Of The Week-End: Brief "Daily Thoughts"

It has been quite a week.   Ukraine saw off its' President as he re-surfaced in Russia insisting he was still President.   This is as Venezuela began to have a carnival despite its' profound challenges.

This is a nice sentiment from Og Mandino to remember--if only those around the World truly understood with all the calamity it has to contend with:

I will greet this day with love in my heart.

And how will I do this?

Henceforth will I look on all things with love and be born again.

I will love the sun for it warms my bones;

yet I will love the rain for it cleanses my spirit.

I will love the light for it shows me the way;

yet I will love the darkness for it shows me the stars.

I will welcome happiness as it enlarges my heart;

yet I will endure sadness for it opens my soul.

I will acknowledge rewards for they are my due;

yet I will welcome obstacles for they are my challenge.

&

You must not lose faith in humanity.
Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty,
the ocean does not become dirty.
- Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi

We cannot despair of humanity,
since we ourselves are human beings.
- Albert Einstein

Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded.
It's a relationship between equals.
Only when we know our own darkness well
can we be present with the darkness of others.
Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity.
- Pema Chodron

Onward :-)

Notations on a Very Interesting Week-End Around The World :-)

It was a very historic weekend that saw Ukraine go through another Revolution.    The scenes from Ukraine as people power asserted itself ever more was absolutely beautiful to watch.   Just like all Revolutions, the aftermath will not be as beautiful.

In making the rounds of the "Social Grid", I saw someone citing Egypt as an example of what can go wrong.  There is also some understandable scepticism as to what Mr. Putin will do now that he's done with Sochi after having spent $ 50 Billion Dollars with a ravaged environment and a legacy that is yet to even begin to be realized.    Some on the US "Public Affairs" programs noted how Putin would be such a tough customer to deal with.    The Russian Ambassador to Ukraine has already been recalled to Moscow.

As Ukraine looks to Europe and has to balance its' very existence with the big brother to the North, there is the upheaval in the Americas.    Venezuela continues to be besieged by protests.    I am amazed that they have been able to be placated as long as they have.  It has been amusing to see Nicholas Maduro on the blame train accusing CNN and the State Department of interfering in the internal affairs of the Country.  This is also as telesur is featuring an interview with Nicholas Maduro on how the US is formenting a coup:



I have to wonder whether Nietzche was right:

“There are no eternal facts,  as there are no absolute truths.”