On This Working W-End: Thoughts On #Outsides & #Success & Remembering Carl Sagan & Space....

Today has been exactly 30 days since Daily Outsider 2.x Beta  Began.   As I have noted, it has been a challenging transition as the tweaking and build-out is continuing.  

One of the key focus points for me is to relaunch and revamp the community channel in the new channel including on-going developments throughout my home community of Laguna Niguel and Beyond.    It is exciting as I have a unique interesting chance to put Laguna Niguel on the map with what I will be doing with the Traffic Commission Initiative that was just concluded.

These I ran across go to the heart of  this journey of hope that I picked upon +EdCast on Friday:  

10 Great Rule For Success: A youtuber has mined some of the best insights from Elon Musk over the course of several interviews. This is a fantastic...

As I refleced upon the last thirty days, I could not help but embrace this from the great Carl Sagan and lamented the fact over Facebook as I worked "on the Grid" tending to commitments at the Daily Outsider on how he was missed :

“In science it often happens that scientists say,

‘You know that’s a really good argument; my position is mistaken,’and then they would actually change their mindsand you never hear that old view from them again.They really do it.It doesn’t happen as often as it should,because scientists are humanand change is sometimes painful.But it happens every day.I cannot recall the last time something like thathappened in politics or religion.”

..and of cousre this from Space courtesy of The International Space Station as reported by Dr. Firouz Naderi of NASA: 

Happy May day to all!!!

Working away @DailyOutsiders with Brief Thougths & a "View of the Week" To Share

It is mid-week as I have been supporting the on-going transition for the Daily Outsider and of course on with my own personal Twitter Curation.  It was kind of disappointing as I reviewed of Twitter continuing to struggle as it came out with its' latest earnings announcement.    It was also of interest that I saw that somewhat Yahoo seems to enter a reasonable period of calm as new members of the board were appointed to Yahoo's Board.  

It has also been quite a day on the political front as I have also just reviewed the speech by Donald Trump on Foreign Policy--and it was telling that he was introduced by one of the leading Neo-Conservatives, Zalmay Khalilzad who was US Ambassador to Iraq, Afghanistan,  and the UN during the Bush Administration.  From what I have seen so far, it is classic Neo-Con orthodoxy.    The team had noted that it would refrain from commentary although we did reporting on it as the results were coming in yesterday.   It is also of interest that Senator Cruz is touting a major announcement later on today which will be interesting to be witness to.    

I was so happy to read up on this which I hope all enjoy:

working away..hope all enjoy this...some fab common sense "food 4 thought"..wish all a great rest of the wk...:)) https://t.co/13yvZMm961

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) April 27, 2016

On the Prowl 4 the Day as I am attending Enhancing Your Digital Presence to Increase Citizen Engagement

As I work away, I have joined this sponsored by @GovLoop on Enhancing Your Digital Presence to Increase Citizen Engagement.   There are some very interesting lessons that can be potentially applied as our work continues on the continued Transformation of the Daily Outsider.

On the Eve of a New Work Week.......

I took a "daycation" of sorts yesterday to reflect upon the #outsiders' transition and other initiatives as I joined Boy Scouts for our District Annual Camporee 2016.   It has been challenging on all more than I thought frankly.   As I reflected upon it, it was of note how one column I saw after I returned reflected upon how the death of Prince was covered as it was--and yet the untold  story of migrants, the on-going world challenges and the transformation is not truly be addressed unless one digs and digs.   It was also quite disconcerting as I saw this on the New York Times.    One statistic is worth noting:   The top 1% of American households control 42% of the Wealth.    The .01 Percent control 22 Percent alone. Businesses cannot be blamed for "going where the money is".  

The business scene this week has been challenging.    Alphabet/Google has missed its' numbers and lost some 820 Million on "other bets".    Microsoft is also not as "vibrant"--although they are not going anywhere just yet.     Intel's layoffs and Yahoo's implosion is also part of the change we are witness to.   What was hilarious was a note on how Facebook and Google can be brought down not by business fissures, but by nature.     Beyond the Business World and the realities all of us have to contend with, the political realities are also of profound concern.    The so-called "Brexit" debate (UK leaving the European Union) is of profound concern as President Obama has embarked on a so-called 'farewell tour" of sorts.    While he was in the UK, he forcefully intervened and received a push back from Boris Johnson who called the President a "Half Kenyan" which invoked outrage from across the Political Spectrum--even Nigel Farage of the UK Independence Party noted that Boris Johnson went too far.+

As I look to the new week, I took comfort in this which is quite poignant thanks to the good work by +Jonathan Huie as I wish all a great week.    

We shall draw from the heart of suffering itself
the means of inspiration and survival.
- Winston Churchill

Although the world is full of suffering,
it is full also of the overcoming of it.
- Helen Keller

Fall seven times, stand up eight.
- Japanese Proverb

Expect to have hope rekindled.
Expect your prayers to be answered in wondrous ways.
The dry seasons in life do not last.
The spring rains will come again.

- Sarah Ban Breathnach    

On this #EarthDay2016.....

It has been a challenging month as the transition to a new platform is continuing. This is as the team has continued its' Daily Social Media curation with the key watch area     It was also quite a week in our World as the World was witness to Queen Elizabeth II celebrating her 90th Birthday and the musical legend Prince dying at a young 57.

Today is also Earth Day.    As the team will be releasing a notation in celebration of Earth Day today, I ran across this on this #EarthDay2016 to remember how Earth is so good to us and how we must do everything we can to protect it:

Did you know? In a single year, an acre of mature trees absorbs the same amount of CO2 produced by driving the average car 26,000 miles. FIND AN EARTH DAY EVENT NEAR YOU My local city, Laguna Niguel, is no exception as residents from throughout Orange County will gather at the Niguel Botanical Preserve to plant, clean and support this hidden gem. Happy Earth day to all!!!

On A Late Prowl For the Night....

As I write this, it is increasingly likely that it will be a Clinton-Trump match based on the results of the New York Primary.     Although the #Outsider team has decided not to engage in any political updates beyond the results of New York over the Twitter Channel, the probability is becoming increasingly likely even though Senator Sanders has underscored that he is not going anywhere despite the odds against him as Hillary Clinton is beginning to look towards the general election.    Mr. Trump noted that Senator Cruz has been "Mathematically eliminated".        

As I was supporting the new Beta Site throughout the day (and the team released a first special edition of the Musical Interlude), I ran across this which moved me greatly.  It is simply about continuing to remain hopeful and go beyond the "hype" that is seen in the so-called mainstream media.     This is one of the reasons that The Daily Outsider has been born.     These thoughts underscores a sense of hope and optimism that is vital:

I keep my ideals, because in spite of everything,
I still believe that people are really good at heart.
- Anne Frank

The best thing to hold onto in life is each other.
- Audrey Hepburn

It is wonderful how much time good people spend fighting the devil.
If they would only expend the same
amount of energy loving their fellow men,
the devil would die in his own tracks of ennui.
- Helen Keller

America's present need is not heroics but healing;
not nostrums but normalcy; not a revolution but restoration.
- Warren G. Harding 
Appreciate good people, wherever they are.
Appreciate friends, family, and community.
Appreciate those who serve you.
Appreciate  those you serve.
Give thanks that most people really are good people,
despite the best efforts of TV news to tell you otherwise.

Working Away with thoughts on @Yahoo; #Courage, #Media & other Thoughts....

As a new week dawns, our new beta site just had two "notations" published which I was happy to facilitate and support. The team's decision to avoid any direct mention or comments on the state of the US Elections until after the primary was courageous in some respects--this is as the fight will more than likely continue through to the conventions not withstanding what the so-called "punditry" class may or may not say.






One very interesting development I found of note was how +Snapchat seems to be the "media" of choice for the Teens right now.    As our network evolution continues, one of our plans is to leverage +Snapchat--the challenge is to make it so in a way that is appealing.     I have also been on the prowl regarding +Yahoo 's fate as bidders have apparently submitted bids on the eve of Yahoo's earnings' announcement tomorrow.   The "word" is that it is not a question of if, but when, the Marisa Meyer era will end at Yahoo and how what I deemed the "garage sale" will ensue.    Despite all their profound challenges, they have still gotten over 1 Billion Visits a month--however monetization is a problem just like any Virtual Site--including #Outsiders.




Beyond the +Yahoo story, there is also the other emerging media before us.    +BuzzFeed (that Comcast invested $ 350 Million in) missed its apparent earnings target and from what the folks at the Business Insider noted, this year is not looking much better either.     It appears that @BuzzFeed wants to move more into TV just as +Mashable has done.    It will be interesting to see how +Vox reacts to this changing landscape as I have seen some of their personalities also featured prominently on the so-called mainstream networks.




As I finish off these brief thoughts, I wanted to conclude by sharing one hopeful sign from the Middle East on the emergence of a new Palestinian Moderate Movement that may present a third way beyond what we have been witness to called "Zimam".    It is on Facebook and so far has over 200,000 likes.     



  


It is also with a sense of courage that the journey continues as I ran across this during one of my recent delay forays into the Web:

I hope all enjoy this as I wish all a great week!!!

Got a case of  the Monday's?

Well, it’s nothing that a little A.R. Rahman Radio can’t fix. Head into the week with your favorite jams.

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Working Away w/Brief Thoughts 4 the weekend....

It is a windy weekend here in South Orange County!!! It has been a whirlwind of a week as the new platform is continuing to take shape for #outsiders.  This is as it has been quite a week in our World in many respects.     I just ran across this that was released to our Facebook page earlier which is telling in and of itself:

“Remember,
there are no real failures in life,
only results.
There are no true tragedies,
only lessons.
And there really are no problems,
only opportunities waiting to be recognized
as solutions by the person of wisdom.”
~ Robin Sharma

Robin S. Sharma is a Canadian author, inspiring speaker, leadership expert 

and a former Litigation lawyer.

It is also of note as America celebrated National Volunteers Week this week.    The opportunity to make a difference and leave a legacy is what in the end I had envisioned #Outsiders above as the journey continues.

Onward!!!

Working Away....

It has been an interesting morning throughout the World.    As someone with a keen interest in Media and the Virtual Media landscape, I have been witness to the tragedy of Yahoo as the bidding begins for assets.   It was not entirely surprising as I saw the reports that the Daily Mail of the UK is actively looking at Yahoo along with Time and other major media players.    Whoever gets their hands on Yahoo will inherit a brand that has over a billion visitors a month to all its' properties--I don't noting how jealous I am as #outsiders continues its' perilous journey!!!   I saw a headline during the AM review on how Marissa Meyer was "toast".    She is expected to walk away with a separation package of over $ 100 Million if she's dismissed--I do wonder what will happen to her afterwards.    Will she be another Carly Fiorina?

On a side note, I was working away on the Grid too as the team was busy with the Morning Twitter Curation.     What I ran across below is helping to drive me and the team earlier also picked it up as well which I was quite pleased to see:

Moved by this hope all enjoy #quote & daily update 🙏🏻 wish all a great day #dailyqotd #qotd https://t.co/V6qA9xeGMo pic.twitter.com/Yk0y9Gfzqo

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) April 11, 2016

Enough said.....

Quite a Week: on ##USElections; @realDonaldTrump; #panamapapers, #Iran & Other Thoughts....

It has been a challenging weekend as the new "beta" site for Daily Outsider went live.   The team has been working to tweak-and it will be a "work in progress."       Here is the new "Beta" site for reference as the team's work continues that I have the privilege to support as a Notation was published earlier today here in our HQ on the World.      

Although the team had decided not to provide guidance on the US Elections until after the Conventions, what I saw from the Boston Globe blew me away:  

We take @realDonaldTrump at his word https://t.co/tLcadvrdQa pic.twitter.com/Z4BnNQE5Ts

— Boston Globe Opinion (@GlobeOpinion) April 9, 2016

This is as they released a very courageous editorial that I made it a point to commend them over my Personal Twitter Feed earlier tonight.    One of the most outlandish of comments was Mr. Trump's comments that the United States was on the verge of a recession which was refuted by Janet Yellin and her three living immediate predecessors.   He also underscored how The United States was poor even though it is still the largest economy in the World despite on-going challenges--including for instance an increase in the monthly deficit as reported by the Congressional Budget Office.   The trench warfare is getting nastier on both sides as they both gear up for what is bound to be one of the most exciting conventions out there.     I was also very shocked by corruption allegations in New York by 4 senior police officers that was serious enough for them to be stripped of their guns and be reassigned.    

Beyond the "Virtual shores" of our network and the US Political Scene,  the World continues to be as challenging as ever.    I was totally surprised by the unannounced visits by the US Secretary of State to both Baghdad and Kabul.    I was not too shocked as I reviewed reports that the team released to the #Outsider Twitter page on bombings in the Kabul Diplomatic Quarter.   I have been told by an old Afghan Friend that it is probably the most secure area in Afghanistan as it is near the Presidential Palace, the Arg--yet the Taliban are able to extend their reach.   It reminded me of Vietnam as I caught "Path to War".   There was a scene where General Wheeler, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs,  was lobbying for more troops and how the Troops were going to be "Trained in the Rear".   He was reminded that there was no rear--and Tet proved it.    Afghanistan is the perfect case right now.   As I was working away, this from +Jonathan Huie  was quite timely:  
  

It isn't enough to talk about peace.
One must believe in it.
And it isn't enough to believe in it.
One must work at it.
- Eleanor Roosevelt

It is not enough to say we must not wage war.
It is necessary to love peace and sacrifice for it.
- Martin Luther King, Jr. 

As I was researching for my column today, Europe was also of focus as Belgium continues to deal with the aftermath of the bombings.    It was great news that the "man-in the hat" was arrested.    However, the broad questions of the viability of Europe itself as Britain is in the midst of a campaign to potentially leave the Union.    It is also of note that questions about the viability of Belgium as a country continues to be questioned.   The situation is as grave as ever in Greece.   I was very jealous as I was witness to the French Economy Minister launching a "third way" political movement.    There  have been movements like it in the United States with "no Labels".   But they have not gained any traction.     I also ran across this wonderful initaitive by Women Without Borders which our team will be featuring over the ensing weeks & months that is being supported by the Austrian Government.    

Beyond the shores of Europe,  I continue to be shocked by the Panama Papers.    +The Guardian   of London has done a great job to provide a primer on it.    Governments throughout the World have begun investigations--including the United Kingdom.  The UK Prime Minister empaneled a Task force after he had to admit he profited from an offshore fund set up by his late Father.   In all the reviews done, no high level US Officials have been implicated that I am aware of.   But the dominoes are continuing to fall--including for instance the Daughter-in-Law of the President of Chile.     The Grand Canyon between the rich and the poor continues to be of profound concern ever more.  Our team will be assessing any Iran connection as the on-going transition continues.    

Iran is also back to work after the holidays of the new year as the Budget is about to be approved and the new Parliament and the Assembly of Experts (Khobregan-Rahbari) is to hold its' session that may see the long-time powerbroker, Rafsanjani, be the Speaker of it again as a new controversy arose after a tweet (taken down) was sent out by him about how Iran had to change and go beyond the belligerent view.    It was quite interesting a talk by President Rouhani recently on the recession in the Housing Market.   He talked like a conservative Republican--especially as his Chief of Staff was the head of the Iranian Chamber of Commerce before being named Chief of Staff.    Iran's National Broadcaster featured an interview with the Minister of Education as he talked about "workforce optimization" and touted how they had a net decrease in their headcount.   Despite such interesting rhetoric as the fight among the various factions intensify, the underlying philosophical foundation of Iran will have to be for another day as I caught up with some of the latest editions of the Voice of America's "last page" (in Farsi)  that focuses on the reality in Iran today up to and including questioning the essence of the Shiite Philosophy itself and how it is just a lie.        

Coming back home, I was personally "virtually breathless" as I was assessing the changing Media Landscape as #outsiders continues onward.     The challenging landscape was underscored by Mashable laying off staff and Yahoo being on the verge of being dismembered   Al Jazeera's challenges that resulted in the realignment of its' operations in the United states and the layoff of 500 Staff Members in Doha.     

What is clear is ever so true:  Never ever a dull moment.....

Working Away: Reflections On #outsiders; #uselections: #Worldwatch & other thoughts....

It has been a rather interesting week in #Outsiders as the transition to the new platform is being finalized.     This is as we have been witness to the continued exciting scenes on the US Political Scene.   As part of the plan for the quarter, our team has made a decision not to release any notation on the US Political Scene until after the two major parties nominate the candidates.    The estimates on the delegate counts are preliminary and subject to further discussions.   Although polls are being done almost daily, the indications are not sufficient enough to assess status.    Talks of Supreme Court nominees and other matters the team reviewed this morning are also headline grabbers for sure.   Promises of good paying jobs, destroying the Government and unleashing creativity is fabulous.   Repealing Obamacare is headline-grabbing.  Deporting 11 Million Illegals and forcing Mexico to pay for a wall by policing remittances is also attention grabbing.  But the reality is different.    The team will do an assessment of both candidates once the dust settles.      Our first notation for #Outsider 2.x published by tomorrow will reflect further thoughts on where things are now and a window into the road ahead on the eve of the conventions. The team decided to leave the "daily punditry" to the likes of the Washington Post (with the Daily 202 & the Fix), Fox News, Real Clear Politics, Huffington Post & MSNBC

Beyond the US political scene, there is the World.    Our team has had a particular focus on the Middle East and we will be assessing this on an on-going basis.      The team will also be continuing its' focus to build upon the daily "watch" on Twitter on China and India to assess realities out there and to assess the future.   We will also be keen to assess the latest out of the leading countries in the Muslim World.     Pakistan, Indonesia and Malaysia will be of special focus to us.     These five countries--along with the Middle East--constitute almost 50% of the World Today.    As such,  CIPIM is hereby born!!!   In our view, what happens in these countries matters.       Our team was "kind of right" when it noted almost a year ago that the old "BRICS" was dead as new scholarship has been published to underscore this as epitomized by the turmoil in Brazil, Russia and South Africa.      We will be assessing the World though with our Regional Focus weekly--and yes, the features we have had will also be part and parcel of it all:  The Musical Interlude and Thought(s) for the Week because ultimately #outsiders is  about a sense of optimism and working to transform the conversation about our World.    The challenges around the World are profound--the most crucial one of all being faced with an economic slowdown.   The IMF has been warning about it for over a year now. 

As progress continues, I could not help but again be inspired by these I ran across I wanted to pass on that +Jonathan Huie  & his team compiled 

The key to happiness is not to have what you want

but to want what you have.

- Anonymous

Life isn't a matter of milestones, but of moments.

- Rose Kennedy

The most glorious moments in your life

are not the so-called days of success,

but rather those days when out of dejection and despair

you feel rise in you a challenge to life,

and the promise of future accomplishments.

- Gustave Flaubert 

Happiness depends more on how life strikes you than on what happens.

- Andy Rooney

As the team has struggled with the transformation we've been working on (and the plan is to be simple and continually focused), this from the Champ himself was worth noting as we look forward to serve:

“I hated every minute of training,
but I said, ‘Don’t quit.
Suffer now and live the rest of your life
as a champion’.”
~ Muhammad Ali

 

Onward!!!

Working Away.......

It was a busy weekend in #Outsiders as the team has begun the transition finally to "Daily Outsider 2.x".   There was a bit of a fear which is understandable--but there is a sense of excitement because change is always good fun as the team continues its' utmost to live up to the mission of #Outsiders to work to "transform the conversation about our World one notation, one tweet, one Weibo and one Instagram  at a time".

It has also been a very challenging weekend.    On my own personal Twitter Feed late last night, I was shocked as I saw the story on the +The Guardian as the deportations began from Greece to Turkey.    This is as I saw the blockbuster #PanamaPapers and how everyone seems to be involved.  I found amusing how the Law Firm at the center of it all called it a "crime".    It looks like everyone is involved.    It was also quite a story as an anonymous letter attacking the President of China was also making the news as reported by +The Guardian  as China continues to deal with profound challenges with the new normal.  I found it especially interesting how China Daily  had no mention of the revelations on the Panama Papers:  'Not fit to lead': letter attacking Xi Jinping sparks panic in Beijing | World news | The Guardian .   I also was blown away by an affirmation of the rule of law in South Africa as Jacob Zuma is facing impeachment.    Donald Trump was also just as busy as always with pronouncements on a massive recession and noting how he will make America great again.  As an "ordinary face", I have been trying to see how--I am yet to!!!

As our team continues the long-awaited transition to 2.x, I wanted to reflect and be reminded of the "why".   What I saw from +Jonathan Huie was so timely on the "why":

You can't live a perfect day without doing something

for someone who will never be able to repay you.

- John Wooden

I expect to pass through this world but once.

Any good therefore that I can do,

or any kindness that I can show to my fellow-creature,

let me do it now.

Let me not defer or neglect it,

for I shall not pass this way again.

- William Penn  

Compassion is the universal standard of moral living.

- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

The team will be continuing the daily Twitter Curation over the course of the ensuing days as the transition project is at hand.    As I was reflecting upon this, I popped into Twitter to look out what the team at +BrainyQuote had done and picked this up that underscores why the time is right:

We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right. #brainyquote #QOTD pic.twitter.com/zx7Vo6f3XY

— BrainyQuote (@BrainyQuote) March 18, 2016

Remaining ever so optimstic as I wish all a fantastic week!!!   I will be sharing notations & updates as I also reflect upon the challenging time before us.