We fall in love, get engaged and get married. When we have kids we start to genuinely reflect about our own heritage and value system.
Immigrants experience culture shock when value systems clash with those of others.
When our kids arrive we naturally remember our own childhoods. We want our kids to enjoy their childhood and grow up to have a wonderful life. As parents with want to prepare them in the best possible way. When kids go to school they experience new attitudes by their teachers and especially by their peers. Often, these attitudes might raise issues that we never really consciously contemplated.
To keep them our kids emotionally safe, we want the ability to communicate with them. We need to allow them to ask questions, as they arise. We do well to genuinely try to answer as many questions our children ask, as possible. We want to admit that we may not have the answer ourselves. We also need to acknowledge that there are differences between the way we live at home and the way society shapes our attitudes and value systems.
Other parents may have raised their kids with entirely different value systems. They may think it is adorable when a child doesn’t worry about soiling their clothes, touching doorways with muddy or sticky hands, rough-houses, or throws rocks. “Kids will be kids.” is often the prevailing attitude. In other cultures the prevailing attitude maybe: “Kids are seen not heard.” Straddling the differences is a challenge for all families who wish to raise kids who develop situational awareness.
I believe that being polite, considerate, and honest helps to foster self-respect. These are traits that help us to get along with others and ourselves. Regardless of the setting, it fosters friendships and good will. Most people greatly enjoy being treated in a considerate way; being heard and listened to politely; being able to rely that they are not lied to or deceived; that they are not being taken for granted.
Most people regardless of their background love being treated with respect.
Parents often struggle to find a healthy balance between the ways they wish to pass down to their children, and the need to allow kids to adapt to their surroundings. Children need to get along with others, even with kids who encouraged to be tough and and mean.
Communicate with your child, and perhaps even listen in with the Vigilint Family Assistance app. By empowering the child to share with you in real-time, what they are dealing with, as it happens, helps parents to better guide them in practical ways.
Your real-time advice helps your children feel safe and cared about. At the very least kids will know, their parents care about them deeply. This fosters self-esteem and helps children to develop a solution-oriented attitude and to seek advice when needed. They will not feel alone. They feel supported by their families.
We are apparently living in a loneliness epidemic. Over the past 80 years our culture has changed a lot and over the past 30 years industrialized nations may have lost our cultural bearing.
I learn recently of a lady in Japan who died and only after her corps smelled terrible did the neighbors realize that she had passed. In Japan they have a word for “dying alone,” they call it Kodokushi. Several hundred thousand people pass away, without a relative or friend who cares about them. I thought it was terrible and I was shocked that a nation of over 100 Million people would not care for their families or neighbors. Then I found out that over 45 Million people in quasi “First World Nations” are lonely. That doesn’t sound very “first world.” It is embarrassing and a sign we need to rethink our lives.
Recently I joined the marketing effort of Vigilint Biosensors, a company that has designed affordable smart watches that allow parents to check in on and communicate with their children and loved ones. The Vigilint Family Assistant is an app that you can download that links to the kids or elderly parents Vigilint Smartwatches. When I started reading up on the topic I couldn’t believe it. OMG. It is a world wide epidemic. Apparently over 40% of people in the US report that they are feeling lonely. And experts think that the actual number is higher. How can that be?
Loneliness is deadly. Literally. First of all it doesn’t feel very nice. Remember how you felt when your first girl friend or boy friend didn’t call you back for several hours, when you first started dating and you were not sure whether they really loved you yet? That feeling. It feels like that. Most unhealthy.
Apparently it is genuinely unhealthy to feel lonely. Vivek Murty, who served as the 19th Surgeon General in the US, shared that one of his more shocking experiences as SG was loneliness: “I met middle and high school students in urban and rural areas who turned to violence, drugs, and gangs to ease the pain of their loneliness. I sat with mothers and fathers who had lost sons and daughters to drug overdoses and were struggling to cope alone because of the unfortunate stigma surrounding addiction.” He went on to say: “During my years caring for patients, the most common pathology I saw was not heart disease or diabetes; it was loneliness. The elderly man who came to our hospital every few weeks seeking relief from chronic pain was also looking for human connection: He was lonely. The middle-aged woman battling advanced HIV who had no one to call to inform that she was sick: She was lonely too. I found that loneliness was often in the background of clinical illness, contributing to disease and making it harder for patients to cope and heal. ” (1)
Vigilint Biosensors has been created by a bunch of highly successful Silicon Valley Semiconductor engineers, who created microchips for mobile phones that measure vital signs. Is the person moving, is the person where they are supposed to be? It also allows you to talk to them through their affordable VB wrist watch. They will not lose their phone, since it is tied around their wrist. Brilliant I say!
And apparently it not only reduces the stress of the parent, it also reduces the stress in the kids and the elderlies. Social connections are so vital to our health. Apparently stress increases the cortisol level which is some kind of hormone in our bodies. Loneliness increases the stress hormone called cortisol very much. This causes inflammation which according to Time Magazine is responsible for stress-related difficulties including obesity, diabetes, metabolic disorders, heart diseases and other disorders. (2)
So this weekend, hug your mom, your grandmother, your dad and your kids, and make sure you check in with your neighbors. Apparently for young and old loneliness is an epidemic and nearly every second person feels lonely. Smile, say hello and ask: “How do you do.” And mean it. Increasing your social circle may be the best medicine against: “Kodokushi.” And I am sure you agree, none of us want to have that.
Instead talk with your family regularly. Even if they are all grown, talk at least once a week, but more often if possible that is the only way you have enough time for a genuine relationship. Only regular contact let’s you know what is going on in their lives and for them to know what is going on in yours. Bob Black once wrote a great tagline: “Reach out and touch someone.” If you can’t do it physically, do with via a text and even better a conversation.
There are plenty of people to call. The New York times claimed that about one-third of Americans older than 65 now live alone, and half of those over 85 do. Loneliness can be fixed. We need to reintroduce the concept of TLC and talk to each other. I love the quote that Vigilint Biosensors execs use:
Vigilint Biosensors is about moving people from the Internet of Things to the Internet of Caring.
Love that! Happy trails and if you feel lonely reach out. Call someone you haven’t talk with in a while. Remind them of the good times you had. You will be surprised how happy it will make them to get your call after all these years. Tell them you remember them and you feel good about your memories. It works.
Artificial Intelligence & Wearables to Transform Parenting
“The child supplies the power but the parents have to do the steering.”
-Benjamin Spock
Vigilint Biosensors launches School Programs across California
SAN JOSE, Calif., Apr. 23, 2018 – You drop your child off at school and relax. With an Hawkeye Smartwatch on your child’s wrist, you can breathe a little easier again. Hawkeye will let you know where your child is all day and connects you to them at any time. Vigilint Biosensors, a leading supplier of Parental Assistant Service through smartwatches, has launched a joint program with the Coyote Creek Elementary School to help parents provide Hawkeye smartwatches to children through their school and donate to STEM programs. Nancy Phelps, President of Coyote Creek Learning Fund, stated, “Vigilint software and its Hawkeye smartwatches help protect our kids while providing parents peace of mind.
Hawkeye smartwatches inform, protect and reassure parents/caregivers. The watches allow parents to create custom SafeZones™. The moment the child moves out of the SafeZone™, parents are alerted. The watches also offer a step tracker which kids love, as they compare their physical activities with other kids during recess. Parents can check on their physical fitness via a convenient app. Each watch holds up to 20 parent-selected numbers that children can call. Kids can also speak to their siblings and close friends through a direct kid-to-kid connection. You can even add two other trusted family members to be contacted in an emergency. No more scrambling for phone numbers when it is least convenient—like when you are stuck in traffic somewhere or a meeting runs overtime. Simply call your child and activate your back-up plan. Problem solved. Relaxed parents enjoy happier and more confident kids.
Vigilint Biosensors Non-Profit Support Programs generously offers Hawkeye smartwatches for $99 plus a $10 monthly Parental Assistant Service subscription, and Vigilint Biosensors will donate 20 dollars to their child’s school for each watch purchased. Win-Win. Vigilint is also providing Hawkeye smartwatches to schools for auction with proceeds going to support STEM and safety programs. Vigilint Biosensors is currently expanding this program throughout the United States. “I realize parents need a lot of support for the care of their kids during these hectic times,” said Vigilint Biosensor Co-Founder, Kris Narayan. Vigilint Biosensors was founded specifically with that goal in mind, by Kris Narayan and his long-time colleague Jodie Hughes. They joined forces to help bring fun and communications to kids and feeling of safety parents via Hawkeye Smartwatches.
About Vigilint Biosensors
Hawkeyes Smart Watches from Vigilint Biosensors provide fun and safe solutions to families with younger children: communications and learning for children and peace of mind for parents. The combination of the best location technologies (GPS, GNSS, A-GPS and sensors) will easily locate your child, anytime and anywhere. Visit www.vigilintbiosensors.com
Vigilint Biosensors is dedicated to improving the quality of care that parents and senior caregivers provide through a complete 360o intelligent family care assistant, that connects family members together via wearable devices like hawkeye. Vigilint Biosensors provides the family/caregivers with a cloud infrastructure of devices and software services, which strives to improve time management and reduce stress by improved non-intrusive care for kids, seniors, and other loved ones in need. This is achieved through the most modern application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies to life data that provide alerts, if and when needed. “When those we care about are well, we can relax and focus on our day.” www.vigilintbiosensors.com
Learn more about us and our dedicated team: Vigilint Biosensors or contact as us at:
Vigilint Biosensors
20315 McKean Rd
San Jose, CA 95120
to get an introductions and appointments with the appropriate contact persons or press materials and white paper links.
Fountain Grove Parkway, Santa Rosa, CA, U.S.A. January 5, 2016 by Timothy Allen
Comcast Cares Day – Comcast NBCUniversal will donate $300,000 to the Santa Rosa City Schools district (SRCS) for the development of a facility to serve communities impacted by the North Bay wildfires. Called the Santa Rosa Integrated Wellness Center, the new facility will serve the more than 1,000 families and children within Santa Rosa who lost their homes or suffered in other ways during the fires.
Comcast will also partner with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant trees nearby Fountaingrove Parkway where more than 90% of the landscape was damaged by the fires. Together they will plan 400 trees in the area.
Each year Comcast has a single day during which 100,000 Comcast employees, their families and friends help make a difference in their communities. This year in Santa Rosa Comcast executives and volunteers gather for the groundbreaking ceremony, painting, landscaping, freshening up the surrounding areas at Santa Rosa High School.
STP is sponsoring a Green Up Day (Campus Clean-up) scheduled for Saturday, April 21st @ 8am (breakfast at 7:30). Meet at Nevers Field. For questions, contact Lynn Valentine lvalentine@sonic.net
For details about how to support the Santa Rosa City school system and the families that were affected by the fires get in touch with Beth Berk, Santa Rosa City Schools. Beth Berk, 707-528-5072, bberk@srcs.k12.ca.us
For more photos by Timothy Allen visit
https://allentimphotos2.wordpress.com/tag/fountaingrove-pkwy/
B.B. King Blues Club & Grill – GUITAR PASSIONS feat. Sharon Isbin, Stanley Jordan & Romero Lubambo – Nov 20, 2014
New Multi-Genre Music Venue “Sony Hall” Open in New York City Spring 2018
Midori Tomita from Sony announced: “We are thrilled to be teaming up with Blue Note on this new music venue set to open this spring and honored to have it be known as ‘Sony Hall.’ It will serve as a staging ground for recording content, testing new and exciting technology, promoting emerging artists, and more. We look forward to engaging with young music fans and those of all ages and continuing to deliver unique and high quality music experiences through this newest venue.”
It is rumored that Sony Hall will feature technology like for instance the “Interactive CUBE” which is an entertainment experience that invigorates the senses by incorporating projected images, sounds, lights, and vibrations on a giant cube. By forming two screens, one of which is transparent, into the shape of a cube and projecting images on them, guests inside the cube will feel as if the images are floating in midair. The settings are changed for the performances to allow the audiences enjoy a vast variety of interactive games and experiences while enjoying the music.
Located in the heart of New York’s Theatre District (235 W. 46th St at the Paramount Hotel, in the space previously known as Diamond Horseshoe), Sony Hall is scheduled to open in Spring 2018.
The venue is owned, operated and programmed by Blue Note. Sony Hall will present world renowned performing artists across all music genres at capacities of 1,000 standing and 500 seated, with a full-service restaurant and bar. Sony Hall will be equipped with Sony’s technologies, integrated throughout the 12,000 square-foot venue to deliver enhanced entertainment experiences to fans. Grand opening plans, headliners, and additional venue details will be announced in the coming weeks.
In addition to the opening of Sony Hall, Sony will sponsor the annual Blue Note Jazz Festival in New York City, scheduled for June 1-30, 2018. Established in 2011 to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the iconic Blue Note Jazz Club New York, Blue Note Jazz Festival has annually grown into one of the largest music events in New York City, featuring over 100 events in 10 venues over the course of 30 days (June 1 through 30 annually). With nightly events at BNEG venues such as Blue Note Jazz Club, Highline Ballroom, BB King Blues Club, among other locations throughout the city, past festival headliners include Aretha Franklin, The Roots, Wyclef Jean, Natalie Cole, Brian Wilson, and Stanley Jordan.
Sony innovations paired with Blue Notes’ experience operating entertainment properties around the world is a truly unique partnership that will be the ultimate experience for fans, young and older. Just imagine Stanley Jordan in an AR environment. Wow!
Now celebrating his 11th anniversary, this special concert is a “must see” show for all fans of contemporary Jazz and Blues. With holiday classics and carols getting the signature Nicolas Bearde high-energy makeover, it’s a show you won’t want to miss. Joining him on stage are some of the Bay Area’s best: John R Burr (piano), Ron Belcher (bass), and Lorca Hart (drums).
Give the gift of music this Holiday season to family and friends. Make your reservations early. This “one night only concert” always sells out.
Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 8pm
at Piedmont Piano Company
1728 San Pablo Ave. (at 18th), Oakland, CA
$25 in advance / $30 at the door. Meet & Greet and reception to follow.
To reserve tickets with your credit card, please call (510) 547-8188.
Recording artist, Nicolas Bearde, a seasoned and highly respected showman, has established himself as a powerful presence in the contemporary jazz vocal milieu over this past decade. His silky baritone sound invites comparisons to Johnny Hartman, Lou Rawls, and Joe Williams, and his wit and engaging rapport captures and draws the audience into his live performances. Nicolas has 5 CD’s out on his own label, Right Groove Records, and his most recent album release, Invitation in January 2016, rose quickly to the Top 20 on the Jazz Week Charts, garnering rave reviews at home and abroad. nicolasbearde.com
John R Burr (keys)- John R. Burr is that rare pianist who combines jazz technique with a genuine love for folk music. The Philadelphia Weekly said, “Pianist extraordinaire John R. Burr has the most sparkling style since former Allman Brother-turned-Rolling Stone hired hand Chuck Leavell.” Discology wrote, “John R. Burr ranks with the best of the elegant jazzers.”
Ron Belcher (bass)– Bassist Ron Belcher travels the world from France to Japan and throughout the US bringing his rhythmically buoyant, emotionally uplifting style to the stage for a wide diversity of jazz artists. Performing or recording with such international stars such as Branford Marsalis, Regina Carter, Rodney Franklin, as well as a literal “who’s who” of the San Francisco jazz scene, Ron has garnered a reputation as one of northern California’s first-call jazz bassists.
Lorca Hart (drummer) – Drummer Lorca Hart grew up in Taos, New Mexico in a musical family. He was exposed to a variety of instruments and musical styles as a child but early on it became clear that the drumset was his passion. He has performed with many of the West Coast’s (and beyond) finest artists including : Carmen Lundy, Freddie Hubbard, Calvin Keys, Stanley Jordan, and others and can be heard on recordings by Hugh Masekela, John Heard, Justo Almario, Ronald Muldrow, Dave Pike, Phil Ranelin, and the Cross Hart Jazz Experience.
To help bring cheer back BAUTISTA band members and I invite you to a wonderful event in my hometown of San Rafael his Saturday, October 14th on the Marin side of the San Rafael / Richmond Bridge for the 2nd Annual Marin Music Festival at the Marin Rod and Gun Club 2675 East Francisco Blvd. San Rafael, CA 94901.
Bautista, leader of Bautista Band
You know my brother Frank is hurting right now after losing every valuable possession he has to the Santa Rosa fire last Monday night from his Mobile Home, 3 vehicles, and his beloved work shed that all burned down to the ground. My family is in the midst of developing a plan to help get him and his wonderful Lady Linda back on their feet. Like my brother, I hope those who have had any level of loss has a very close circle of family and friends to be there for mental and financial support.
Hopefully by this coming weekend the dust, or more like the ashes and particles, will settle and life will begin to come back better and stronger than before for all of those who have suffered any degree of loss, sad or emptiness. Although fires are devastating, the charred remains somehow turn into a means of refresh.
Join Bautista Band at 5pm this Saturday, cheer up families who lost everything in Fire.
Come join us to bring cheer back BAUTISTA band members and I invite you to a wonderful event in my hometown of San Rafael his Saturday, October 14th on the Marin side of the SanRafael-Richmond Bridge for the 2nd Annual Marin Music Festival at the Marin Rod and Gun Club 2675 East Francisco Blvd. San Rafael, CA 94901. This is an all day event with BAUTISTA closing this water side festival starting at 4:45pm. Weather looks like a sunny 75 degrees so come be in the sun with BAUTISTA!
Is everyone gagging on the thick, toxic fumes? Feeling a little sick? And the fires are bad, too, huh?
It’s been hard keeping up with the the daily barrage of events. The floods, the hurricanes, the earthquakes, the saber rattling, more sexual oppression, insults launched from the White House and Congress… And now the fires in our back yard. Everyone’s on overload.
My private gigs have slowed down a bit which affords a moment to breathe, even if it was smoky this morning…
If you need an escape from the madness this weekend, join me at Barone’s Restaurant in Pleasanton this Friday Oct 13and leave your superstitions at the door. We don’t have time for that nonsense. DO bring your appetite, as the menu here is amazing. And I’ll be there in the intimate bar on solo guitar and voice. Details below.
Then on Saturday night October 14, I’ll host the long-awaited return of my dear, talented friend Janice Maxie-Reid to The Vine at Bridges in Danville. She isthe superb keyboardist-vocalist with the 4-octave range who has performed with none other than Stevie Wonder. We always light it up when we play here together. The last time was about 3 or 4 months ago, so don’t miss it! Details below.
And remember that next week Saturday October 21st, my band returns to The Sausalito Seahorse. Not only will we have a stellar band including the great Carlos Reyes on violin and Paraguayan harp, Danilo Paíz on percussion and vocals, Dave Flores on drums, and Yours Truly on guitar and guitar synth and vocals; We’ll also feature a very, very special surprise guest on bass. We can’t really advertise him due to contractual restrictions. Let’s just say we’re all so excited to be able to play with him again and look forward to seeing him on stage again with Tower of Power. So his picture in the poster is a big Question Marc. I wonder if he’s arriving in a VW? Make your reservations at the Seahorse at (415) 331-2899.
Check out below what’s also happening with my return to Havana in Walnut Creek, Maria, Maria in Danville, and Alameda’s own C’era Una Volta. Details and dates are below.
Come out and say hi and let me know you’re okay.
Ciao,
Rolando
PUBLIC PERFORMANCES FOR OCTOBER 2017
Friday Oct 13, Barone’s Restaurant, 475 St. John St., Pleasanton CA, approx 7:30-10:30pm. After two months away, Rolando returns to one of Pleasanton’s premier dining establishments. Enjoy exquisite meals and service, libations and Rolando’s vast repertoire in the Cocktail Lounge for a great night out. See www.baronespleasanton.com, (925) 426-0987.
Saturday Oct 14, Vine at Bridges, 480 Hartz Avenue, Danville, approx 8-11pm. The Rolando Morales Duet returns to this cool winery and nightspot. Enjoy a wonderful selection of wines, superb dinners and tapas while grooving to this powerful duet.TonightRolando welcomes the enchanting keyboardist-vocalist Janice Maxie-Reid. She has shared the stage with Stevie Wonder and Sting, so you know she’s doing something right! And on guitar, voice and his pedal board of magic, the passionate Rolando Morales. There’ll be lots of soul and classic R&B mixed into this Latin caldo, so don’t miss it! www.thevineatbridges.com, (925) 820-7210.
Friday Oct 20, Havana Cuban Cuisine,1516 Bonanza St., Walnut Creek, approx 8:30-11pm. Rolando returns after his hit debut last month to this fine Cuban restaurant and live music venue. Great Cuban cuisine, ceiling fans swirling lazily and Rolando’s vast Latin repertoire and beyond on solo guitar and voice. www.havanarestaurant.net, (925) 939-4555.
Saturday Oct 21, “An Evening with Rolando Morales and Carlos Reyes,” Sausalito Seahorse,305 Harbor Drive, Sausalito, approx 8:30-11:30pm. After two months away, these two passionate musicians finally return to The Seahorse to put on their unique show at this fun waterfront restaurant and club. The great Paraguayanviolinist/harpist Carlos Reyes and passionate guitarist / vocalist Rolando Morales will play a short set in duet to close out the dinner hour, followed by a concert and dancing to the World Class Rolando Morales Group featuring a very special surprise guest bassist from Tower of Power to be announced at the show; from Lauryn Hill, the exciting drummer Dave Flores; from Dizzy Gillespie and Ruben Blades, the powerful Nicaraguan Latin percussionist/vocalist Danilo Paíz; from Paraguay, the thrilling violinist and harpist from Arturo Sandoval and Steve Miller, Carlos Reyes; and the powerful Rolando Morales leading the journey on guitar, guitar synthesizer and vocals. Don’t miss it! $15. Make your reservations at (415) 331-2899,www.sausalitoseahorse.com.
Friday Oct 27, Maria, Maria Cantina, 710 Camino Ramon Road, DanvilleCA, approx 6-9pm. After a month away, Rolando returns for a Friday night show at Carlos Santana’s Danville restaurant. Enjoy Rolando on solo guitar and voice with his diverse repertoire performing out on the patio by the fire pits. See if he has any special guests sitting in… (925) 820-2366,www.mariamariarestaurants.com.
Saturday Oct 28, C’era Una Volta, 1332 Park Street, Alameda, CA 94501, 7-9:30 pm. After a month away, Rolando returns to this fine Tuscan-style restaurant that welcomes you like family to embrace the spirit of Italy. Rolando will take you on a musical tour of the Americas and beyond on solo guitar and voice in this intimate room. This is a great match and a rare opportunity to catch Rolando in Alameda! www.ceraunavolta.us/(510) 769-4828.
And don’t miss this exciting November 2017 Quintet performance:
Thursday Nov 2,2017: YOSHI’S PRESENTS “CARLOS REYES and the ELECTRICK SYMPHONY” at Yoshi’s, 510 Embarcadero West in Oakland. Featuring an All-Star band including Santana’s lead vocalist Tony Lindsay, Rolando Morales, Janice Maxie-Reid and more. Reservations at (510) 238-9200, www.Yoshis.com.
Laura Ashley is brilliantly marketed. It reminds Baby Boomer ladies of the days, back when they were young, confident and beautiful, during the late 1980s. It meets their current wish to tend to their wonderful gardens with stylish garden clothing, hats, and garden tools. Lovely.
In 1925 baby Laura Ashley was born in Dowley, Wales. She was an enterprising woman and started designing home furnishings. Later on in life, in the 1960s she also expanded her business into clothing.
Laura Ashley RIP September 17, 1985
She was inspired by the Roman Holiday. Audrey Hepburn looked so pretty and her clothes were feminine and romantic, unlike the psychedelic fashion that took over the UK at that time. Think the Mike Myers movie “Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery.”
The fashion brand was a huge success and in the 1980s it expanded into the US. After Laura Ashley’s death in September 1985 the company had been taken public.
Today the company is owned by Malayan United Industries Berhad (MUI) which is listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad. The corporate philosophy of the Group for over 50 years is guided by three key attributes – strength, efficiency and trustworthiness. In their advertisements here in the US, in which older ladies are sold gardening tools and chic outfits by one of the top retailers in the US, Orchard Hardware Supplies, this sentiment certainly comes across. But few people realize that the company merely sells to the US consumer, than transports the earnings to Malaysia, where undoubted lot of very young people are employed.
One of their important non-executive directors has been educated in the US. Tan Sri Dato’ Paduka Dr. bin Ahmad attended Advanced Management Programme at Harvard Business School, Executive Development Program at Philippines Executive Academy and holds Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History from University of Malaya, Master of Public Administration from University of Pittsburgh and PhD in Public Administration from University of Southern California, Los Angeles, USA.
The trading company, one of the most successful company’s in Malaysia, is managed by Khoo Kay Peng. In his personal life Mr. Khoo Kay Peng does not espouse the values he sells to the women in the US. He is divorced from the former Ms. Malaysia Pauline Chai who now lives in the UK. Their daughter Angeline Francis Khoo revealed in 2014 that domestic violence was the cause of their parents divorce. Bravo to Ms. Pauline Chai for no longer putting up with maltreatment. The UK courts awarded her $112 Million in their divorce settlement, clearly a very tiny fraction of the overall personal value their 40 years marriage has produced. However, the price for freedom of maltreatment is worth it. It is always a very brave step to leave your abuser.
Khoo Kay Peng’s daughter, also a Ms. Malaysia, met a young Caribbean Scientist at Oxford and in order to be permitted to marry him, she chose to be disowned by her imperialistic father. She was slated to run the Laura Ashley empire and had spent every University Holiday learning about the business. After the split with her father, she decided that she could not be stopped by his controlling behavior and she started “Rosie on Fire.” Lovely fashion indeed.
Malaysia has joined the United Nations, which is disconcerting since their influence on the world seems to be quite horrible. Here are some details of recent human rights offenses within Malaysia.
Now back to Orchard Hardware Supplies. Orchard Hardware Supplies initially benefitted greatly from the real estate boom in Northern California. Despite the fact that their loyal customers left the individual retail outlets with solid sales, the debt piled on by Sears turned out to be unbearable. Sears spun out the company as an empty shell and unloaded it to Lowe’s after it had filed for Chapter 11 for $205 Million dollars. More
Now Laura Ashley is brilliantly marketed. It reminds Baby Boomer ladies of the days, back when they were young, confident and beautiful. It meets their current wish to tend to their wonderful gardens with stylish garden clothing, hats, and garden tools. Lovely.
It is marketed truly in line with the corporate manifesto of their Malaysian owners. It is undoubtedly very profitable, which will please the owners of Lowe’s primarily illustrious institutional investors. 76% of all shares are held by Vanguard Group, BlackRock, State Street, Wellington Management Group, and Price T. Rowe Associates, according to the Nasdaq.
Personally I genuinely believe that we influence the way the world works each and every day. You can spend your hard earned money on lovely phantasies created by brilliant marketers. Enjoyable and practical. Or, you can buy from small business owners, thereby actually changing and improving women’s lives. www.fikuros.com is now available on Etsy. Amazing Bespoke Accessories created one at a time by Niina Karlsson in Finland. Or the many fabulous designers well-known and brand new, available on www.dreslyn.com a company recently started by three millennials, a couple and the lady founder’s brother and her husband’s best friend. They are genuinely lovely and very smart. Or, you can check out up and coming designers on Nineteenth Amendment
Fortunately, since we live in a genuine democracy the choice is genuinely yours. We each get to choose everyday where and with whom we will spend our money.
PS: If you feel that you or someone you know may be abused, know that there are a lot of people who care. You can get legal assistance. You can get physical protection. There is a lot of help. Accepting help from good people is the first step out of domestic violence misery. Elderly who are abused by “care takers” also can get help through the same links.
Facebook in their media relations page claimed this:
“Over the past few months, we have taken action against fake accounts in France, Germany, and other countries, and we recently stated that we will no longer allow Pages that repeatedly share false news to advertise on Facebook.”
I rejoice since I think at last the manipulations of nefarious activities manipulating the public, whether it is Russians getting conservatives hyped up into a mob mentality against the LGBT community, or having an unqualified real estate maven, who seemed surprised that he was chosen to be president, or providing a platform for hate speech for German Nazi’s, which happened to be against the law.
I followed the development of the extreme right groups who are often sponsored and supported by Russia – take hold in Western Europe and I was surprised since it used to be against the law to even whisper the word “Nazi” in Germany. The punishment in the 1980s was severe – over $1000 in fines or 2 weeks in prison.
How the world has changed since the Reagan era when we become “one world.” Germans seem to have forgotten their history and now Neo Nazis are running around demonstrating and promoting their hate freely in public, protected by the free speech laws. Erdogan’s dictator supporting Turkish soldiers are running around Germany turning in ex-soldiers, if they practice German free speech, and Erdogan tried to shut up a, perhaps a bit tasteless, German comedian. He launched lawsuits in Germany, the Netherlands, and Switzerlands. Only in Germany he received an audience by politicians who pushed for silencing their own citizens in support of the dictator.
Facebook and Twitter helped these trends, there is no doubt about it. No matter how much they wanted to deny it or ignore it initially. They forbade pictures of classic Greek statues and paintings from the Renaissance if they offended some religious desire – but hate speech, even illegal hate speech was entirely ok to them. We now know that it was because they made good money with it. The bot factories paid precious advertising dollars. Art lovers who shared a beautiful Botticelli painting could not compete with the foreign dictators’ budgets. People who portrayed rape scenes were okay, women’s nipples were not. When questioned in Germany, they arrogantly proclaimed that the Facebook police were run out of India, thus not subject to German law. Only when Merkel got so frustrated by the public furor that she promised to shut the site down altogether, was she able to get Zuckerberg’s attention.
Now in Germany they are working on a “Facebook-Gesetz” – a law that is targeting social media companies. the law is meant to stop social media companies from spreading illegal hate speech. The German press is concerned that while there is an attempt to create such a law, it is far from certain that there will be such a law. Political infighting points that in Germany freedom of speech and the fight against hate speech vs. mob rule attitudes are literally at odds.
While politicians are discussing the pros and cons of the formulation it is up to Facebook to keep order “voluntarily.” In German fashion, they don’t seem to care if they tacitly allow hate speech free reign while they fight about the way the law is worded.
Thankfully, there definitely have been some improvements as the top management of Facebook finally is starting to become aware that they may be destroying Western Civilization by allowing “free speech” to extremists, while being responsive to complaints by extremists whose goal is quite literally to abolish the Freedoms of Western Culture as we know it.
Facebook informs us: “We are also experimenting with changes to help us more efficiently detect and stop inauthentic accounts at the time they are being created.”
Hopefully this is a priority and completed before the next elections. Trump fans are right that Western Civilization is under attack, mostly by ourselves. Business leaders will ultimately decide whether democracy will survive. Business leaders are pro democracy and those who are against democracy will decide our future as they deploy artificial intelligence who write programs which determine how we will be able perceive our world now and in the future.
Join art and music lovers on Friday, September 29th6-9pm for the Closing Reception of “Identity Theft” featuring live music by Miguel Y Los Buenos Ensemble.
“IDENTITY THEFT”
featuring new works by Chukes
August 4 – September 30, 2017
Closing Reception: Friday, September 29th
6-9pm
Joyce Gordon Gallery is a commercial fine art gallery located in the downtown district of Oakland, California. It exhibits art that reflects the social and cultural diversity of the Bay Area and international artists. The aim of the gallery is to respect the creative pursuits of the individual and seeks to make such work accessible to a broad audience.
