Little Black Book

This HBO movie had another take on luck.  It was defined as preparation and opportunity combined.

Success in negotiation ("luck") during mediation ("opportunity") likewise requires preparation.

Nerdy Consolation

Sheldon Cooper of Big Bang Theory consoled his nerdy friends thus, "Be glad you can't keep women. They're a handful."

Sometimes, sour-graping or putting down what one cannot have, eases one's feeling of loss in mediation.

Nerdy Proposals

Big Bang Theory's Sheldon and Amy showed their prowess at anti-social behavior negotiation when they bargained for least physical contact between themselves. Former US First Lady Nancy Reagan of "Just Say No" would have been proud of them.

Some model for self-mediation that is possible with two rational, calm, and fair individuals.

Friends' Advice

"Don't do the crime if you can't do the time," Joey of the sitcom Friends advised.

Words of wisdom for disputants in mediation regarding responsibility for one's actions.

Mind-Controlling Movie

There was a sketchy report recently about a UK production of a movie that controls the mind of its viewers.

Mediation, on the other hand, leaves disputants free to negotiate with each other toward the solution of their conflict.

Chalk Street Art

After their Scandinavian minimalism, Denmark has now come up with this art form from the classroom! Trust this nation to go back to basics with an economical twist.

Such is mediation. It has been there all the while, but now organized to meet current needs.

Kasambahay Savings Project

As reported by GMA News TV, this is a project well thought of by a Filipina student in Columbia University, US. Househelpers are now approached by banks on week-end gatherings so they can open a savings account for only P 100. One was able to save P12, 000. over a year, on a monthly salary of P 5, 000.

This Columbia U student has mediated between  helpers and their families over the former's salaries.

Jumping To Be A Doctor

Reporter's Notebook of GMA News TV had a touching feature on a  particular "jumper," of the group of boys jumping onto garbage trucks in search of left-over food and other items for recycling. Perhaps after eating rotten food and getting wounded often, this boy says he wants to be a doctor.

This is one case of the end justifying the means. Otherwise, mediation sees cases to the contrary.

Traffic at the LTO

Even before drivers can get on the road, they already experience traffic at the Land Transportation Office. Applicants for license and car plate form long and winding lines  in uncomfortably warm rooms. Some are even sent back the next day.

Indifference to the suffering of citizens is difficult to justify in mediating such situations.

Err-ica

In its channel plug, 2nd Avenue has Erica declaring herself ugly. I just wonder if she has met foreigners or gone abroad. There, she could be considered exotic. Indeed, there is a fine line between self-acceptance and flagellation. So with the definition and sense of what is ugly.

Different points of view could lead to conflict. Hopefully, they avail of mediation.

Nanny McFee

Christine, the former nanny of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Gardner's children had a nice retirement package. She now has the car of choice of P-Noy- a Lexus! Now, that is "cost-efficient"! Would Jen follow Kathie Lee's advice to "forgive the father of her children?" From their picture during Ben's 43rd birthday celebration at Disney, it's surely not a happy place there. Hurt, betrayal, wounded pride and lost of trust (added to this very public and financial situation) are intense emotions dealt with in couple mediation and hopefully not divorce.

A Frank Gifford

Kathie Lee Gifford' s words on the recent death of her husband Frank had a message for wives with unfaithful husbands:"Forgive your children's father." Perhaps that sustained her marriage.

Like battered wives, those cheated on have reasons for staying. To each her own, till she can take it. Then, there is mediation to avail of.

Mother's Day Away

The third word could mean fight in Pilipino, which could also apply. This DIVA movie was about two neglected mothers who dated themselves on their day by booking at a spa resort. One of them, an architect, was even offered a consultancy by the winery owner.

Another case for  caucus, when things become too hot, and not only in the kitchen! Away time is a way out of "aways."

Love By Design

DIVA channel comes up with modern-day fairy tales that are good to watch before bedtime. This particular movie was about a Romanian fashionista working in a New York magazine who was a vegetarian and not cut-out for the rat race. She goes back to her rustic hometown, given a sewing room in their old house, and returns to New York with her own brand and a beau in tow. Reminds me of one-on-one caucuses that are implemented when issues become too hot,and which hopefully lead to things being seen more clearly, calmly and creatively productive.

Global Mediator

True to his humble ways, former US President Jimmy Carter himself announced that he has cancer. In an Inquirer article from the New York Times News Service, Carter is said to hold the record of the longest postpresidency in American history, despite his family's medical history of the disease. Perhaps, this is due to his wholesome life as well as deep involvement "in the Carter Center, the Atlanta-based nonprofit that he helped found in 1982, which had emerged as one of the most prominent human rights organizations." He is also the face of Habitat for Humanity. In a History channel documentary, Carter was reported to still have been in negotiations for the release of American hostages in the Middle East just before the inauguration of his successor, Ronald Reagan, under whose administration its successful conclusion happened. Hence, post-White House saw Carter mediating in "Haiti, Panama and other countries, and in 2010, securing the release of an American in North Korea." Our hero!!!

Odd-vertising

Kim Kardashian-West has done it again! Another controversy hounds her family, after father Bruce is now Caitlyn, etc. Kim, poses with her anti-morning sickness medicine on Instagram, supposedly with the (material) blessings of its manufacturer. The FDA is up in arms. She has likewise short-circuited the advertising process to a whole nano level.

Cyber criminality is a frontier area for mediation. Before, teleconferencing with both disputants was already avant garde.

Another Take on "The Other Woman"

Star Movies' Sweet Flicks had a fun and practical way of getting even. Do not get mad.Just befriend the other woman and get his money! Of course, having supportive friends helps, too The better half can get over being bitter, and even cleanse the wayward ways of the xpouse! Neat self- mediation.

Spotify

Don't know anything about this app and pretty much all else, but thought this particular one could be used to sift through the National Budget pregnant with lump sums again, it seems. Legislators are asked to spot and specify these bumps.

Mediation requires vigilance, too. Agreements have to be followed to ensure that the conflict does not recur.

Banking on the Wrong Bank

Inquirer's Biz Buzz wrote of a board room war being carried out at the National Labor Relations Commission. "A lady executive formerly tasked with making this foreign bank look good has now turned into the same bank's worst PR nightmare locally in what's shaping up to be a costly legal battle." The issue is the tricky matter of constructive dismissal, after said employee "getting her separation package and executing the quit claim." The NLRC case was filed two years later.

Some afterthought! As they say, change is the only constant- fear of quit claim receivers.

All About Vice

Perhaps it is good that the presidential candidates do not yet have a Vice right now. Pun intended. Ganda, di ba? At dapat!

Election season requires mediating ambitions.

Paid Mourners

The Chinese are not the only ones engaging paid mourners. It seems VP Binay likewise wants to be paid for condoling with Gloria Arroyo on the death of her brother Arturo. Perhaps by election mileage points?

Mediators have to also sift through shows of sympathy.

Fowl Means

World Heritage cable is on preview. No ads! The other day, animals during the four seasons were featured. Owls and eagles were shown extending their wings to scare and ward off preying animals.

Just like people who shout, throw their weight around, and otherwise explode emotionally to defend themselves. All too familiar on the mediation table.

Unmarrying

"The Millers" of 2nd Avenue had an interesting episode on divorce. Their son adminstered their rite of unmarrying, complete with vows to break and throwing of the rings.

At least on tv, it can be funny. In actual cases, hopefully they can be civilly mediated.

Matrimonial Attorneys

In DIVA channel's George Clooney marathon, the first feature had him as the lawyer to-go-to for prenup and/or divorce. Of course with Catherine Zeta-Jones as his client's wife, there was bound to be conflict of interest. In fact, they got married after her intervening marriage on the rebound that ended in divorce, too. After their own divorce, and the death of her first husband, Clooney's character has a legal epiphany and foregoes his usual cynicism. Reconciliation takes its place.

Mediators hope this ending happens more often in real life.

Things We Lost in the Fire

DIVA cable had this good movie last night. Halle Berry's character lost her husband
to a senseless violent crime and  had to take over the care of his friend's drug rehab. She compared that experience with material things they had previously lost in a fire.

Mediation deals with values beyond the material, too.

Magic in the Moment

That was the title of an HBO movie. Delightful English characters dealt with an American woman posing as a psychic, as well as trying to marry her victim's heir.

Mediation sometimes has to sift through credibility gaps, too.

See, Senior

Yesterday was a revelation. Thinking I had left my senior citizen's card at McDonald's, I went back to their outlet. There, the crew member flashed
several cards with the same fate. Suggested they alphabetize them, too.

Seniors have problems with memory. However, they have experience to
make-up for it. They are thus good mediator material.

Ka-purse O

Usually down payments are a few tens of thousands, we are more or less ready to forfeit should the deal not push through.  But big business is something else. The planned sale of tv station GMA to Ramon Ang involved a billion down payment! That amount is hard to lose. So Mr. Ang has sued GMA CEO Atty. Felipe Gozon et al for syndicated estafa, after the sale did not materialize. Let us see if GMA lives up to its tagline of Serbisyong TOTOO.

In the end, one's conscience is a self-regulating mediator.

Men-ace to Society

Ended Sunday on a sunny note after watching Dennis the Menace on Warner Brothers cable. Back then, children were naughty, pure of intention and simple.

Now, they sniff rugby to ward off hunger pangs or engage in petty crimes because they cannot be put to jail. They are thus mediated with their neglectful parents.

International Mediation

The case of the Canadian trash is not yet trashed. "On behalf of its Philippine partner, BAN Toxics, the Basel Action Network (BAN) based in Seattle, Washington, has asked the secretariat of the United Nations on the Basel Convention to file a case against Canada following the dumping of 26 cargo containers of wastes from Canada in a sanitary landfill in Capas, Tarlac. (Inquirer, 02 August 2015, A9)

Thank heavens for a North American friend intervening for the Philippines against another North American country.

Choices

There is a quotable quote in "Fault in our Stars." We choose the ones who hurt us. Perhaps that is why family members and close friends hurt us the most, as we care for them in like measure.

Mediation has seen more family members and close friends in conflict, too.