On the Dawn of Feburary 2016: Reflections.....

It has been quite a week yet again as we bid farewell to January and begin February.   It has been a rainy and now windy one here in Southern California as I finish off some thoughts.

January 2016 saw the Eastern Part of the United States buried under Snow.  One of my Facebook Friends featured a work by her husband that was a site to see which I wanted to share here:




This was also a month that saw Implementation Day and I was on the record in support of the Nuclear Deal while continuing to be vehemently opposed to the policies of the Islamic Republic.     The Iranian President made the rounds in Europe including a meeting with the Holy Father:




The Third person on this picture is an old classmate of mine who was present at the meetings and it was quite gratifying to be witness to it.    As Iran was making the rounds signing deals, the distressing reality in Iran was of profound concern that our team is working on a notation soon.   I was truly surprised when I saw editorials in both the New York Times and the Washington Post on the reality in Iran on the eve of the elections.   It was surprising how they agreed on the dire situation in the country as over 90% of the so-called reformist camp were disqualified.    Even the grandson of the Founder of the Islamic Republic was disqualified because he was not "schooled enough in theology".    This noted in the New York Times said it all:

It is absolutely on pointe as it was pointed out that Mr. Rouhani is a product of the system but when he notes that if the opposition is disqualified, then when is the point of the election--hopefully someone will notice.    This was also as this program on the Voice of America's Farsi Service laid out a very devastating reality on how Iran is today and the outright theft and corruption seems to be rampant: 

The broadcast is in Farsi--but the realities it lays out is extremely troubling.  

As I was working away gearing up for the new week,   I was also supporting the team as the team continued its' on-going daily Social Media Curation.    The latest carnage in Syria was of profound concern as #Daesh attacked the holiest Shiite site in Damascus that ostensibly Iran sent forces to protect resulting in the death of 60 people.     I was so moved when I saw this while on Twitter to underscore how challenging a time we are faced with as another round of talks on Syria begins:

artist @aiww proves the power of imagery. asylum is an inalienable human right. #neverfoget pic.twitter.com/UVeuJnJeQe

— Lali in South Korea (@LeapingLali) February 1, 2016

It is striking how the Iranian Official News Agency is headlining again the days that Khomeini returned to Iran as the regime commemorates what is referred to as "Fajr" whereby there is a 10-Day celebration leading to the day the Revolution was formalized.

There is another "Dynamic" going on as Iowa officially launches the Presidential Campaign.   There is some speculation now as I was assessing it all that it appears that Donald Trump will run away with it all for the GOP despite all the efforts to stop him.    Our team finished a final wrap with a snapshot of the discourse from all campaigns on the eve of Iowa.     I could not help but pick up what Andy Borowitz noted though: 

We will spend over 5 billion dollars on the 2016 elections. There has to be a cheaper way to find the worst people in the country.
Posted by Andy Borowitz on Sunday, January 31, 2016

As I look forward to February and supporting the on-going development of #Outsiders, I took heart in this admonition: 

Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground ~ Theodore Roosevelt 

Onward to February with all the possibilities!!

On the Eve of the W-End.....

As I hope all enjoy The Friday Musical Interlude the Team has chosen, I was briefly "on the grid" before running off and ran across this from the great Rumi that to a large extent talks about the challenge we have here at #Outsiders:

The sage battles his/her own ego. The fool battles everyone else's.~ Sufi Poverb
Posted by Rumi on Friday, January 29, 2016

May we all remain humble!!

Wishing all a Fabulous Week-End!!!

Working Away...

It has been another fabulous days here in #Outsiders as the team has continued onward with on-going daily reviews over the grid and beyond.  

As the team continues its' work, I wanted to again share a happy story:  The Return of Jason Rezaian of the Washington Post.   He returned to the United States and I understand Jeff Bezos gave him and his wife Yegi "a ride"!!!   This is as of course Amazon is about to have a good day shortly as it is about to announce earnings which I am sure the team will discuss here in the Network soon.    I was proud to have lent my name to have supported the cause for his release .   He spoke at the Washington Post Earlier:



Secretary Kerry joined the celebration as the new Headquarter for the Washington Post was launched--and he reminded the World that 71 Journalists were killed and some 200 were jailed for doing what they do.    His thoughts were also telling:




(Update:  I picked up this as Jeff Bezos spoke to dedicate the new Washington Post Building:

As a slight token of being every so grateful,  I also hope all enjoy this I chose from my Pandora Station: 

mikepouraryan shared Shakatak Radio station with you

mikepouraryan wrote: “I'm listening to Shakatak Radio on Pandora”

As A New Week Dawns....

It was quite a week-end having had the privilege and pleasure to support my Son with his Eagle Project and also having met up with a Eagle Candidate on his Merit Badge.   It is such a joy and privilege to be witness to such dedication and commitment despite it all.

As our team has been "in development" with notations to be released througout the week, I ran across this very perceptive thought from Darren Hardy that goes to the heart of success at its' core:



If this does not motivate anyone, nothing will--It was a good reminder for me personally as I continue onward supporting the journey undertaken here in #Outsiders.    By the grace of the almighty,  the team will do its' part.    What was crucial as a reminder also was the very essence of the #Outsider Mission: "...To help change the conversation about our World One Notation, One Tweet and One Weibo at a time...".    This was as I saw this cross my "Virtual Desk" this morning:

“One child,
one teacher,
one pen and one book
can change the world.”
~ Malala Yousafzai

Can't say it better myself...Onward to the new week !!!

Working Away: Some Mid-Week Thoughts on #WEF2016; @RealDonaldTrump & @PlutoKiller

It was quite a day around our World as Markets took a major tumble.   Although I saw that US markets somehow got their footing at the last minute, it was terrible in London as some $ 50 Billion Pounds were wiped off British Companies.

I was also taken aback as I saw rumrous of Twitter being bought out by News Corp.    Twitter has been down 41% since Jack Dorsey took charge as CEO and closed at around $ 17.50 a share today.   I was personally amused at the rumours especially as News Corp took a major hit the last time it took a chance on a social media strategy--anyone remember My Space!!!

I have also been on the "virtual prowl" @ #Davos2016  (Since I can't afford the $ 30,000 Entry Fee right now!!!).    The theme is the 4th Industrial Revolution and a always it is quite a show.   Notations will be on hand daily as I hope all "pop in" to check out the available sessions.     I was blown away by the Microsoft Commitment to give away $ 1 Billion Dollars to Non-Profits. 

Back here in the United States, Governors have been giving their State of the State addresses.    I hope to catch Governor Brown's tomorrow that is slated to be given at 10:00 AM California Time.     The Presidential Campaigns have also been on the prowl ever more as Donald Trump gained the endorsement of Sarah Palin and John Wayne's Daughter.    Sarah Palin was in her element yesterday and I viewed it as entertaining to watch.     It was also of interest to me as The Governor of Iowa came out and he would like Cruz defeated.    What I found especially of note was this that was published in Golf Magazine as the Trump Juggernaut continues: 

THE BIG STORY PRIMARY CONCERNSWhy golf's power brokers, too, are voting up or down on Donald Trump

I thought this from the Washington Post's James Hohman gave a solid overview of all things that occured as the President spoke last week and thehe aftermath of the #SOTU2016 (which is "Twitter Speak" for the State of The Union 2016):     The snapshot is well worth noting in terms of the discourse and the on-going @realDonaldTrump juggernaut that has defied all the conventional so far: 

THE BIG IDEA:

— Barack Obama never mentioned Donald Trump by name during his hour-long State of the Union last night, but he didn’t need to.The millions of Americans who tuned in – for the largest audience that the president may get in 2016 – knew that he was talking about the Republican frontrunner. That alone is a testament to the extent to which the billionaire businessman and first-time political candidate has disrupted the political debate in this country.

Cynics says Obama was trying to elevate Trump to help Democrats, but the reality is simpler: The president, like almost every elected official in Washington, genuinely sees The Donald as a frightening challenge to our country’s institutions and anathema to its values.

Obama also knows that much of what he has accomplished over the past seven years will be rolled back if a Republican succeeds him. And the speech sought to frame the campaign to succeed him in those terms.

“America has been through big changes before,” Obama said. “Each time, there have been those who told us to fear the future — promising to restore past glory if we just got some group or idea that was threatening America under control. And each time, we overcame those fears. … Will we respond to the changes of our time with fear, turning inward as a nation, and turning against each other as a people?”

Some of the presidential shots across the bow at Trump:

• “Immigrants aren’t the reason wages haven’t gone up enough; those decisions are made in the boardrooms.”
• “We need to reject any politics that targets people because of race or religion. … When politicians insult Muslims, when a mosque is vandalized, or a kid bullied, that doesn’t make us safer. That’s not telling it like it is. …  This isn’t a matter of political correctness.”
• “Anyone claiming that America’s economy is in decline is peddling fiction.”
• “The United States of America is the most powerful nation on Earth. Period. It’s not even close.”
• “With TPP, China doesn’t set the rules in that region, we do.”

Obama took implicit digs at other GOP candidates too:

• Alluding to a recent Ted Cruz comment, he declared: “Our answer needs to be more than tough talk or calls to carpet bomb civilians. That may work as a TV sound bite, but it doesn’t pass muster on the world stage.”
• Referring to Chris Christie’s declaration that “We are already in World War III,” the president said: “As we focus on destroying ISIL, over-the-top claims that this is World War III just play into their hands. Masses of fighters on the back of pickup trucks and twisted souls plotting in apartments or garages pose an enormous danger to civilians and must be stopped. But they do not threaten our national existence!”

— The speech was not a speech to Congress. “It was a sermon to the nation,” Dana Milbank explains. “The president was late to find his moral voice, but it was important that he spoke.”

— Bigger picture, the presidential campaign has overshadowed the president. That much was clear when he opened with a joke about keeping his speech short so that some in the room could “get back to Iowa.”

Nikki Haley (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

— In the latest sign that the GOP establishment fears an electoral debacle if Trump is the nominee, the official Republican response from Nikki Haley also made the case – albeit a little more gently – against going down the path Trump offers. “During anxious times, it can be tempting to follow the siren call of the angriest voices,” the South Carolina governor said. “We must resist that temptation.”

— Haley’s speech has become a Rorschach test on the right.

The far right hated it.

• Breitbart headlined its story: “Republican Party Uses State Of The Union Response To Attack Trump.”
• “Trump should deport Nikki Haley,” Ann Coulter wrote in one ofsix-anti Haley tweets.
• Radio host Laura Ingraham chimed in:  “The country is lit up w/ a populist fever & the GOP responds by digging in, criticizing the GOP candidates dominating polls?! NOT SMART.”
• Former Ted Cruz aide Amanda Carpenter wrote: “Haley’s speech would’ve been good except for the GOP self-loathing.”

More mainstream elites in the right-leaning media loved Haley’s speech:

• Charles Krauthammer, on a Fox News panel, called it the best State of the Union response he can ever recall hearing.
• The Washington Examiner’s David Drucker said Haley’s response “will likely elevate her to the top of the list of potential vice presidential contenders.”
• National Review editor Rich Lowry said it’s “always a tough assignment”: “Haley was a little shaky at beginning, but moving treatment of Charleston shooting and nice riff on GOP agenda.”

The responses from some of Trump’s GOP rivals echoed Haley to varying degrees. “We cannot elect Hillary Clinton to the White House,”Carly Fiorina posted on Facebook. “One thing is clear: Hillary Clinton will wipe the floor with Donald Trump.”

— The official Spanish-language GOP response was meaningfully different. The Miami Herald flags that the language on immigration was “decidedly softer” in the version delivered en Espanol by Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.) 

• Haley: “We must fix our broken immigration system. That means stopping illegal immigration. And it means welcoming properly vetted legal immigrants, regardless of their race or religion. Just like we have for centuries. I have no doubt that if we act with proper focus, we can protect our borders, our sovereignty and our citizens, all while remaining true to America’s noblest legacies.”
• Diaz-Balart: “It’s essential that we find a legislative solution to protect our nation, defend our borders, offer a permanent and human solution to those who live in the shadows, respect the rule of law, modernize the visa system and push the economy forward.”

What I found especially interesting is the new Book by E J Dionne which I hope to pick up soon.  Excerpts of it were published over the past 24 hours as the campaign is gathering steam.    

As I finished off my "Virtual Walk-About", I could not help but be excited by the discovery of the 9th Planet:

This is just the stuff truly out of scienece fiction.    Cal Tech was at the forefront of it--and I had the good fortune to be at Cal Tech for one Summer studying Physics--and loved it!!!      We will also be on the prowl for it as this further develops.    One staggering statistic:  It takes this planet 20,000 years to orbit the Sun!!   Please click on this from Cal Tech.       Our world is truly a better place becuase of such men who go beyond the now always.   I hope such will be the case as our #Ousider journey continues.

As A New Week Dawns in #Outsiders: On Jason Rezaian, #MLKDay & Other Thoughts.......

I was on Twitter this morning as I also got word that Twitter was down for 10 Minutes.   It did not impact me or the team's daily AM Twitter Roundup on the daily Am "Roundup".    As the aftermath of the deal has been debated in Iran and the United States, one image I saw on the Washington Post this morning which I was so pleased to share on my Facebook page said it all:

 

It was such an honor for my personally to add my name to the petition as Ali Rezaian, Jason's Brother, Began on Change.Org as his case was kept alive.      I was not as aware of the other cases as I would have liked to have been.    Earlier this year, I  came to realize that one of them, Amir Hekmati, was a distant relative.     Challenges abound though especially as I am seeing reports of over half of candidates up for the upcoming elections have been rejected by Iran's Guardian Council.    Our team is working away on a Notation on some of the true realities out there which the team advises me will be ready for release this week.

Beyond this good news, it is also a day to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King.   Our team released a series of thoughts to remember Dr. King earlier today available on the network.      It was gratifying to see the two major search engines, Bing & Google, Honor Dr. King's legacy as well    I was so happy as I once again fired off Bing's beautiful tribute earlier as I also note the cute Google Doodle as well which I also shared over my personal Twitter Feed that I saw on the @MLKDay  Twiter feed and as all click on the Doodle, a tribute courtesy of the team at +Guideposts 



It is also of note to realize that in some ways he was a revolutionary before his time--His eloquent opposition to Vietnam underscored this.    What Truthout just noted is also worth noting here:

Reclaim MLK: Beyond Sanitized Narratives

Page May, Truthout: Martin Luther King, Jr. was a radical, intersectional civil rights organizer who was rebranded after his death as a sanitized national hero. But the restriction of his legacy to memorialized speeches grossly misrepresents the movement of which he was a part.

Read the Article 

Onward to the new week with all its' possiblities

On the Eve of #MLK2016 & The New Week: Brief Thoughts

It was another busy weekend in #Outsiders as our team finished a series of notations and worked on getting ready to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King with a series of Thoughts from him.   It has been quite a weekend yet again!!

As I reflected upon this weekend, I ran across these thoughts that I shared with the team to underscore why the journey of #outsiders is ever so crucial and how we should not despair despite the odds.    We look forward to telling the stories and hopefully overcome the very admonitions that Michael Jordan reminded us and the late Alan Rickman told us---May the soul of Alan Rickman &  Rene Angelil   Rest in peace: 

“If you accept the expectations of others,
especially negative ones,
then you never will change the outcome.”
~ Michael Jordan

“It’s a human need to be told stories.
The more we’re governed by idiots
and have no control over our destinies,
the more we need to tell stories to each other
about who we are, why we are,
where we come from,
and what might be possible.”
~ Alan Rickman

As I finished these thoughts, I ran across this from one of the fathers of the Arab Spring that I hope our team can learn from:

On This MLK Week-End: Quite A Day (with a "Brief Update)

It has been an eventful day in our World.   I coined the term "Virtually Breathless" at one time in response to the Commitments I have serving as Webmaster for my local Troop, Troop 772--a Commitment I view as a privilege and an honor especially as we in the United States celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

I released this earlier on my personal Twitter Feed in honor of this weekend as I look forward to supporting the on-going journey here @ #Outsiders:

On this #MLKDay2016 w end #inspirationalquote from the @Simple_Truths: https://t.co/hlQOIXVEbJ pic.twitter.com/sWbDkg4Tp9

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) January 16, 2016

& This I could not help but pass on:

I wish all a fabulous weekend.

On A Challenging Week...Yet so much to be thankful For.....

It has been a rather challenging week here in #outsiders as the team was on the "prowl" for President Obama's last state of the Union.    Our team's focus primarily was to underscore the key themes and provide a balanced view of the key challenges being faced.     I look forward to being supportive of it over the ensuing weeks and months as we are now "officially" in campaign season in the United States.

Beyond the politics, there is the human element always.    I had the pleasure to once again help staff the St. Timothy's Catholic Church Food Pantry this past Wednesday.  I happened to help a lady with the food she'd shopped to her car--and I subsequently was told by another team member that she had taken refuge in a Battered Woman's with her friend who was with her.  I don't mind noting that it was absolutely disheartening to hear it.    I subsequently struck a conversation with a father who had fallen on hard times.   He had five kids--All I could tell him to smile and never allow the World to change his smile.    I hope and pray that I somehow made his day just a little bit better.

As I was working away selfishly concerned about my own challenges, I saw this:

I don't mind sharing I was in near tears seeing...I salute @moas_eu: Sky Witnesses Distressing Migrants Rescue https://t.co/XupdUuECpp

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) January 15, 2016

I just got to know MOAS briefly after this report and I am frankly in awe.    I warn all (and our team shared it earlier as well in a special edition of Notations) that the Clip by the wonderful team @ SkyNews is horrific to be witness to.   The great reporter pitched in to help as I saw the MOAS volunteers jumping in cold water.

It is a stark reminder about all that we're blessed with--and a reaffirmation of all that we can do to make a difference.  

On the "Virtual Beat" w/Brief Thoughts On Today in #Outsiders & Other Thoughts

It was another busy morning throughout Outsiders as the team worked on the properties and finalized the Daily Social Media Review.   What I personally found disturbing was a report in +Haaretz הארץ about how Hamas has nearly rebuilt the Tunnel Network destroyed by Israel during the 2014 Gaza War.  I was also taken aback by this from Lebanon:

It was also a sad day of sorts--but also a day to remember and celebrate quite a life as I joined the World in remembering a legend that passed away:  David Bowie.        What he noted in this I saw is ever so critical--it is about living a legacy that I try to underscore in the work we do here @ #Outsiders on a day in and day out basis:

“Fame itself doesn’t really afford you anything more 
than a good seat in a restaurant.”
~ David Bowie

 

It is also always good news when one hears about marriages.     I have profound disagreements with Rupert Murdoch and have so noted in my Twitter Feeds.   However when the team sent out a congratulatory Tweet on the pending marriage of Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall (Mick Jagger's Ex), I thanked them for it because good news should always be celebrated not withstanding the challenging times we live in.

As A New Week Dawns....

It was an interesting weekend as our team finished off on-going curation as the new week begins.   I also stepped back to think about and reflect upon quite a number of on-going upcoming mergers.

The key thing that has been at the forefront right now is the state of the World Economy.   China is slowing down and once again markets in China were quite weak.   The US Election cycle is also quite vibrant and our team finished an edition on Notations that would be available in the network later on.     The man that is yet to be beaten at all is Mr. Trump.  Although there is polling that continues to suggest a soft underbelly of his support, it is yet to work itself out.

Beyond the political and broad economic challenges, there are some rather interesting news that our team will be monitoring throughout the year.    There are a number of mega-mergers out there including: 

• Walgreens and Rite Aid
• Staples & Office Depot
• Dow & DuPont
• Dell & EMC 

This realignment has profound implications for the long-term in the Country and will be subject to some scrutiny.    We will be monitoring the progress it.   What I found laughable though was the legal action taken by TransCanada over the decision by the Obama Administration over the KeyStone Pipeline XL.    The team will continue to assess this on an on-going basis.    

Beyond some of the key focus points this week, I was blown away by some of the developments out of the Consumer Electornics Show in Las Vegas.    A new French Company called Sensorwake has created an Alarm Clock with a beautiful scent.    It was created by a 19-year French Entrepreneur and hope you all check it out yourself!!!  There was also The Altra IQ™ which was powered by iFit, a smart shoe for runners.   This was just a "snaspshot" of stuff out there @ CES as a new sleuth of Television and other interesting gadgets were introduced including this--A Drone by Ehang capable of carrying a Human: 

Beyond this, there is what is going on in California.    The budget that was uneviled by Governor Jerry Brown has in it some major uptick in spending especially for schools.   Spending per pupil is slated to be at $ 14,500 (with Federal Funds) which will mean some very cool windfall for the school District I have a keen interest in:  Capistrano Unified.     I was also very pleased with a slight increase in Corrections Spending as I was pleased with his plan to spruce up the rainy day fund more than it was required--some $ 2 Billion Dollars more.

It is bound to be quite a week of development work as I hope all enjoy this very insightful clip from Nobel Laureates:  

On the Daily "Prowl" w/brief thoughts

Rain stopped earlier today in Laguna Niguel--and it is quite a morning.   I finished a few updates for my collection on Twenty20 that the team has been gracious enough to periodically share on the Daily Twitter Feed for Daily Outsider.

As I was supporting the team's Daily Twitter Feed (and of course busy w/my own AM Feed before running off to work on pressing projects), I saw this received in our Virtual Studios which the team was gracious enough to allow me to share as a sentiment of the possibilities at the heart of what our team is trying to do here @ #Outsiders against admittedly some interesting odds--but it is about trying and looking to the art of the possible despite the profound headwinds before us here and now thanks as always to the ever perceptive +Jonathan Huie 

In the end, it's not the years in your life that count.
It's the life in your years.
- Abraham Lincoln

Forget regret, or life is yours to miss.
- Jonathan Larson

Life is now.
There was never a time when your life was not now,
nor will there ever be.
- Eckhart Tolle

What is age but a number.
What you can dream, you can become, at any age.
Live your best life, not your age.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie



I am also quite excited as the team has already decided on the first 2016 edition of the "Friday Musical Interlude" that should be available after 12 PM tomorrow throughout the #Outsider Properties.     

As the great Diane Nyad always reminds us all:  Onward!!!

Brief Mid-Week Thoughts On #Outsiders & Other Thoughts....

It has been another busy day throughout #Outsiders and the decision was made to work on releasing a number of pressing notations in development due to the on-going key developments that was going on. I had coined the term, "Virtually breathless' and I don't mind noting it here. The last 24 hours also saw a President of the United States driven to tears as he reflected upon the kids of Sandy Hook and announced a number of measures to deal with the surging Gun Violence. Our team released a notation with the statement by the President and the reaction by the Conservative community.

As the team was busy,  I was away from the network as I was on my personal twitter feed and personal facebook feed sharing comments and thoughts on it. It is a developing story that is bound to continue. An Oregon Federal Wildlife Refugee continues to be occupied by a Militia--and I made it a point of asking some of the leading Presidential Candidates over Twitter whether this would be tolerated--it was a rhetorical question The team will be stepping away to continue on-going research as the "twice a day" social media curation on our watch series will continue and the Daily Update published for us under my name for the network by @Paper-iL will also be available. 

I hope all enjoy this very interesting interaction with Nobel Laureates done earlier today on India's NDTV that is one of our daily network we consult daily:

While on The "Grid"

It has been a rather challenging weekend already as #2016 began here in #outsiders.   In the United States, there has been a take-over of a Federal Facility in Oregon which is troubling with the Oakkeepers playing a huge role.    Half-way around the World, the sectarian conflicts that was underscored by the brutal execution of 47 people in Saudi Arabia was laid bare with demonstrations throughout the Muslim World.     It was frankly ironic that Iran took the lead in criticizing as it is itself one of the leading executioners in the World and continues to detain a number of key opposition figures including Mir Hossein Mousavi and Mehdi Karoubi.    The team is working on a "Notation" on Iran which is slated to be released sometime on Tuesday.

As I look to a new year here in #Outsiders, I ran across this which I hope can be one of the driving forces despite the profound challenging World we live in:




Onward to 2016 with all its' possibilities