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Thursday, June 29, 2017

As We Gear Up for our 3rd Quarter of Service....

Image result for Canada Day   
  Image result for Indepndence day US


It is the eve of Canada Day on July 1 and Independence Day here in the United States.   We will be going dark for the next two weeks to gear up for the new Quarter.   Our Twitter Channel will be updated daily with our Nuzzel and Paper_Li Updates which is a compilation of updates as we look forward to being of service.   

Happy Canada Day to all Canadians.    We also wanted to take this oportunity to wish all a fabulous Independence Day Week-End and a fabulous July as we leave you all with this Thoughts: 







When I let go of what I am,
I become what I might be.
- Lao Tzu

Follow what you are genuinely passionate about
and let that guide you to your destination.
- Diane Sawyer

Fear is the cheapest room in the house.
I would like to see you living
In better conditions.
- Hafiz

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

View of the Week (Special Mid-Week Edition): On @POTUS Watch (#Trumpcare) & Other Thoughts

It has been quite a week in Washington as the Healthcare Bill now in the US Senate was delayed.  Yesterday saw the entire US Senate being summoned to the White House for a talk with President Trump abut the Healthcare Bill.   

There has been a concerted effort to oppose the policies of the President.    As part of our periodic series to showcase Democracy in Action especially as America celebrates its' independence, we wanted to feature one such effort that the Guardian of London has undertaken reporting on it with its' weekly feature-The Resistance Now:


The Resistance Now

The Resistance Now: activists say 'hell no' to Republican healthcare bill

Progressives sprung into action with dozens protesting outside the Senate majority leader’s office, while Democrats took stock after Ossoff’s loss
Police arrest a protestor against the Senate Republican’s draft healthcare bill outside the office of Mitch McConnell.
 Police arrest a protestor against the Senate Republican’s draft healthcare bill outside the office of Mitch McConnell. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images

Adam Gabbatt


So about that healthcare bill...

Dozens of people were arrested after protesting outside Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell’s office on Thursday – including some in wheelchairs – as Republicans unveiled Republicans unveiled Trumpcare 2.0 (or are we on 3.0 now?).
Activists from disability rights organization Adapt gathered outside McConnell’s office to demonstrate against the bill, which would dramatically cut Medicaid and strip funding from Planned Parenthood, to name just two measures.
A protester is led away by police on Thursday.
 A protester is led away by police on Thursday. Photograph: Michael Reynolds/EPA

Progressive organizations sprung into action to try to defeat it.
Our Revolution set up a page on its website urging people to “take action to stop AHCA [the Senate bill is called the Better Care Reconciliation Act but many of the principles are the same as the AHCA House bill] and prevent millions from losing their healthcare”.
The organization has provided a number which will connect people to their Senator’s office, and has also provided some talking points.
• AHCA would leave 23 million Americans without healthcare.
• The bill would allow insurance companies to discriminate against patients and deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
• A majority of voters strongly oppose repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act (also known as Obamacare).
• Americans want to expand healthcare, not gut it. In fact, two-thirds of Americans support Medicare for all.
Indivisible has its own page too, where people can submit amendments to their senator. “This is about applying your constituent power directly to the process,” Indivisible’s website says. They also have an extensive list of reading material and a script people can use when talking to their representatives.

Ossoff: doomed from the start?

That’s what a number of progressives told the Guardian, after the 30-year-old lost to Republican Karen Handel in Tuesday’s special election.
Jon Ossoff ran on a centrist, Clinton-esque platform that focussed on rather beige, uncontroversial issues like government waste. There was no talk of universal healthcare and little of welfare issues. He ran in what has traditionally been a Republican stronghold, and lost by only five points, but Ossoff was basically the opposite of the kind of populist candidate the left believes is the way forward.
“He’s not in favour of single-payer healthcare, he’s not outspoken on campaign finance reform,” said Moumita Ahmed, founder of Millennials for Revolution. “Why would I as a Republican vote for someone who isn’t a Republican, but still has the same values as a Republican?”
Jon Ossoff gives concession speech
 Ossoff plus balloons. Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Winnie Wong, from People for Bernie, said Ossoff’s run – the election was the most expensive House race in history, by the way – was a “massive failure” of Democratic party leadership.
“He didn’t have a core progressive message and that ultimately is why he lost. The Democratic party could spend $100m and he would still lose. Because he didn’t stand for anything.”

… but there is hope for a Brand New Congress

That’s the name of a group that selects, trains, supports and promotes progressives who want to run for Congress.
Brand New Congress (BNC), formed in April 2016, currently has 14 candidates who have announced their 2018 mid-term campaigns, including several who are running against incumbent Democrats.
“We essentially provide full service campaign service,” BNC’s Corbin Trent told the Guardian this week. Brand New Congress manages press request, helps with events and ballot access, does opposition research on incumbents, and can even help with speechwriting.
Brand New Congress has organized a “weekend canvassing kick off” for its candidates (who are from across America) on Sunday. Each of the candidates – all of whom are running on progressive platforms – are holding events to boost their campaigns.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is running against incumbent Democrat Joseph Crowley in New York’s 14th congressional district, organized for the Bernie Sanders campaign in 2016.
“We have the capacity and opportunity to be ambitious in legislation,” Ocasio-Cortez told the Guardian. “Because the world is changing in ways we’ve never seen before.”

What we’re reading

  • We’re in the midst of an “all-hands-on-deck emergency”, writes Rebecca Solnit, “in which new groups and coalitions are emerging along with unforeseen capacities in many people who didn’t previously think they were activists”. Solnit says there are “extraordinary things happening in this moment”, in an uplifting survey of the activist land.
  • Progressives should try to “speak conservative” to score victories, historian and LGBTQ strategist Nathaniel Frank writes in the LA Times. He says the successes of the LGBTQ movement came when activists “learned to speak the language of those they most needed to enlist rather than those who already agreed with them”.

Ron Swanson reimagined as Berniecrat progressive

Parks and Recreation’s Ron Swanson ... an eerie doppelganger for a Democratic candidate who’s making headlines.
 Parks and Recreation’s Ron Swanson ... an eerie doppelganger for a Democratic candidate who’s making headlines. Photograph: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank

Randy Bryce, known as @IronStache on Twitter, sprung to fame this weekwhen he announced his challenge to Republican house speaker Paul Ryan. In his favour? An evocative campaign advert, a leftwing message, and the mustache, denim and workboots of an all-American.
That masculine, blue-collar image prompted one Twitter user to suggest Bryce was “genetically engineered from Bruce Springsteen songs”, while several people compared the Democrat to the Parks and Recreation character Ron Swanson. Just not a libertarian.
Randy Bryce is running for Paul Ryan’s seat in Congress.

Tuesday, June 27, 2017

View of the Week: On Our Future

As our Final Week of the Quarter dawns, we wanted to begin by featuring this courtesy of the team at Futurism:

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Reusable rockets are game changers. READ MORE
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The world of science creates mysteries as fast as it solves them — and sometimes even faster. Here are just a few of those mysteries that are waiting to be solved. READ MORE
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Several companies have used CRISPR to engineer phages to attack and kill antibiotic resistant bacteria; at least two approaches may be in clinical trials within 18 months. This will add a much needed weapon to the arsenal against superbugs. READ MORE
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Google is on schedule to produce a 49 qubit chip and achieve quantum supremacy by the end of 2017. This is a critical step along the way to functional quantum computers that can achieve problems far beyond the capacity of traditional systems. READ MORE
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The PAL-V will be the first flying car to hit the consumer market, with aims to reach customers by 2018. In competition with it are AeroMobil are Terrfugia, both of which are launching futuristic aero-vehicles. READ MORE
See Full Infographic
 
 
Watch SpaceX’s 5 Biggest Moments in Just 60 Seconds
 

Monday, June 26, 2017

Notations On Our World (Weekly Edition): On Scams & Guidance From the IRS

U.S. Department of Homeland Security US-CERT
National Cyber Awareness System:

06/26/2017 01:47 PM EDT

Original release date: June 26, 2017
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released an alert warning of various types of scams targeting taxpayers this summer. The alert describes common features of these cyber crimes, including: robocalls, private debt collection, and scams that target taxpayers with limited English proficiency.

Taxpayers and tax professionals are encouraged to review the IRS alert and US-CERT's advice on Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks.
 https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/current-activity/2017/06/26/IRS-Warns-Summertime-Scams

Friday, June 23, 2017

Notations On Our World (Special Friday Edition): On Identity Theft

U.S. Department of Homeland Security US-CERT
National Cyber Awareness System:

05/25/2017 05:20 PM EDT


Original release date: May 25, 2017, The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has released an alert about how quickly criminals begin using your personal information once it is posted to a hacker site by an identity thief. FTC researchers found that it can take as few as 9 minutes for crooks to access stolen personal information posted to hacker sites. To prevent identity theft, a user should follow password security best practices, such as multi-factor authentication, which requires a user to simultaneously present multiple pieces of information to verify their identity.

US-CERT encourages users to refer to the FTC alert and the US-CERT Tips on Preventing and Responding to Identity TheftChoosing and Protecting Passwords, and Supplementing Passwords for more information: 
https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/current-activity/2017/05/25/FTC-Releases-Alert-Identity-Theft

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

View of the Week (Mid-Week Edition): On Civic Engagement & Awareness

Image result for civic engagement


Please enjoy this weekly edition of "View of the Week" on Civic Leadership: 





We also waned to report on some tips on Crime Prevention courtesy of our hometown, Laguna Niguel's, Police Services:


Head-to-toe Suspect Description

The Orange County Sheriff’s Department responds to thousands of calls for service every year in Laguna Niguel. These calls vary from traffic accidents, crime reports and suspicious persons, to serious crimes in progress such as robberies, burglaries, and assaults. In most instances, a crime or suspicious circumstance involves a specific person, who may be the suspect responsible for the crime. Criminals flee the scene of their crimes in a hurry to avoid being captured by the police, however in many cases, it is the victims and witnesses who observed the suspect, that are able to make the escape only a temporary one. A key to capturing criminal offenders in these highly mobile times, is the prompt and accurate reporting of important suspect information.

If you observe a crime in progress or suspicious activity, it is important to call 911 immediately. Calling 911 will automatically display your address and phone number to the dispatcher, which will allow you to proceed directly to the crime information. If you saw a suspect or a suspicious person, the first questions you will hear from the dispatcher are, “What did the person look like? Can you describe him/her to me?” For some reason, this simple question causes many callers to freeze, as they try to organize their thoughts, memories, and visual pictures into a sentence that is both helpful and timely. The description of a suspect is very important for responding officers, as they scan streets in the immediate area on their way to the crime scene. A simple method for observing and remembering the complete description of a suspect or a suspicious person is “head-to-toe”. Start at the head and observe hair color, hair style or a hat being worn. Move down to the face and neck area and note facial complexion, any facial hair, tattoos, scars, markings, or jewelry. If you heard the person speak, describe any accent or distinguishing speech patterns. Continue to the upper torso with a detailed clothing description. Observe the type and color of the shirt, and any distinct print or pattern. Examine the arms and hands for tattoos, markings, or jewelry. Move to the lower torso with a detailed clothing description including belt color, pant color, condition, and any distinct design or print. End with the shoes and note color, condition and any distinct design or print. Organizing the information from observation to reporting will allow officers to receive a complete and timely suspect description and hopefully facilitate a quick capture. Practice makes perfect so have a good time describing your coworkers to one another after a short observation period!

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

#Stand4Service as #ServiceUnites

We here at the Daily Outsider are pleased to add our voice in support of National Service because as noted by the Points of Light Foundation, "...the White House's fiscal year 2018 budget calls for the elimination of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that oversees AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the Volunteer Generation Fund. These potential cuts indicate a very real threat to the future of the entire volunteering and service community and our impact across the country....".    Let's all join to 

#Stand4Service as #ServiceUnites



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Monday, June 19, 2017

Notations On Our World (Weekly Edition): @US-CERT Weekly advisory on Vunerabilities

U.S. Department of Homeland Security US-CERT
National Cyber Awareness System:
The US-CERT Cyber Security Bulletin provides a summary of new vulnerabilities that have been recorded by the National Institute of Standards and Technology(NIST) National Vulnerability Database (NVD) in the past week. The NVD is sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) / United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT). For modified or updated entries, please visit the NVD, which contains historical vulnerability information



For further information, please visit US-CERT at 



https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/bulletins/SB17-170

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Notations On Our World (Special W-End Edition): On this #FathersDay 2017

Our team decided to choose two very interesting pieces to share in line with our mission to help change the conversation about our World on this Fathers' Day W-End throughout our Properties.  The First one is from one of the leading leadership experts in the World on being a Dad which we have decided to feature in full:

5 Leadership Lessons From Being a Dad

by Randy Conley
Being a dad has been, and continues to be, one of the greatest joys of my life. I've experienced tremendous highs, suffered through some lows, doubted myself, learned much, and have been stretched to grow in ways I couldn't have imagined when I first started this journey twenty-five years ago. The same could be said for my journey as a leader!
As I reflect on the lessons that have taught me to be a better father, I realize that many of the same principles apply to being a trusted and successful leader. Here are five leadership lessons I've learned from being a dad:
  1. There's no substitute for time — I've learned that "quality" time is just a convenient rationalization to justify our busyness and to ease our guilt from not spending "quantity" time with our kids. The "quality" happens in those unexpected moments during the "quantity." Being a leader requires spending large amounts of time with your people and not isolating yourself in your own little world. Devote yourself to investing in the growth and development of your people and you'll reap the rewards.
  2. Set clear expectations — Part of being a good dad is setting clear expectations for his kids. They should know what's expected in terms of their behavior and attitudes, and what the consequences will be (either positive or negative) for meeting or not meeting those expectations. Your people at work need the same clear expectations regarding their performance. They need clear targets with identifiable rewards or consequences. It's not fair to judge your people (or kids) for their actions if they weren't clear on the goal in the first place.
  3. Be the example — Being a dad means setting the right example for his kids and the same is true in being a leader. Your attitudes, the tone of voice you use in speaking to others, your work ethic, and the way you treat people are just a few of the ways you will influence your people. Just as a child will observe and often imitate every move of his dad, your people are always taking their cue from the actions of their leader. Make sure you're leading well!
  4. Have fun — It's easy to get bogged down in all the stress and anxiety that comes with being a dad, but I've learned to have fun and enjoy the journey as much as possible. Leaders need to remember to take work seriously, but not take themselves too seriously. Laugh at yourself, keep the mood light, and don't be afraid to have fun with your staff. When the stressful times come, your people will be more willing to put in the extra effort that's necessary.
  5. Validate them — One of the primary roles of a father is to validate his children. A father's approval imparts a tremendous amount of psychological and emotional confidence in a child that empowers him to grow in confidence and faith in his own abilities. Your staff needs your approval as well. When your people know that you accept them, desire the best for them, and will do whatever you can to help them succeed, you will have their loyalty and commitment in following your lead.
Leading and managing adults at work is obviously not the same as parenting children, although some days it can certainly feel that way! However, the principles one uses to be a successful father (or mother) can be equally beneficial for success as a leader. Just like being a father, the key is being consistent in your approach and having the best interests of your people in mind.
By no means are these five principles a definitive list. I'm curious to know what lessons you've learned from being a parent that apply to leadership. Feel free to share your thoughts by leaving a comment. Happy Father's Day!
We also thought this message from the US Speaker of the House was also great which we hope all enjoy as on behalf of all of us here at the Daily Outsider we say, Happy Fathers' Day:


How Becoming a Father Changed My Life
My life changed the day I became a father. Liza, Charlie, and Sam changed my focus in life from career to family—they are my highest priority.
Now, as my kids enter their teens, I'm learning that you've got to find hobbies that keep you engrained with them. Whether it's riding bikes, hunting, or just hanging out around a bonfire, spending time with your kids is just the most peaceful, loving, beautiful feeling that a dad can have.
For all the dads, this is the most important job we will ever have. I hope you have a very happy Father's Day.
What I'm Learning As a Father

Happy Fathers' Day to all!!