Notations From the Grid (Special M-End Edition): Please Enjoy Our Cartoon President | Series Premiere | Full Episode (TV14)

Notations On Our World (Special M-End Edition): On Our World (Updated) .

One of the most striking images our team caught was this from the BBC Farsi's Rana Rahimpour on the analogy between the China Protests and the Iran Protests on how one Woman dared to question the hijab in Iran and how one man dared to stand up to Chinese Tanks.   As we went to press, we have been seeing on-going images of Women continuing to populate Social Media.

We have also been assessing the upcoming India Federal (Union) Budget as India gears up for its' final budget before the 2019 General Election. 

We have also been assessing the challenge of Gaza as this was underscored by the UN yesterday during the donor conference--this is as Ismail Hanyia, the Senior Hamas Leaders, has been designated a "Global Terrorist" by the United States and as the European Union has agreed to provide an additional $ 53 Million in aid in response to UN Budget Cuts: 

Gaza close to social, economic collapse, UN envoy says

Gaza is near a total collapse and Palestinian Authority donor countries need to make the situation a priority, said United Nations Middle East envoy Nickolay Mladenov. "Returning Gaza under legitimate Palestinian control and ending all the militant activity there is critical," he said.

The Jerusalem Post (free registration) (1/30) 

(Update:   As the Month drew to a close, our team reviewed the chart below on Peak Oil:

Our team found it fascinating especially in light of the current focus on Fossil Fuels here in the United States.    Our founder made it a point of tagging the Iranian Foreign Minister so that he at least understands the gravity of it all as Iran grapples with profound unrest and challenges on a multitude of fronts...)

Notations On Our World (Special M-End Edition): On The First #SOTU By @realDonaldTrump (Updated w/an analysis by @TrevorNoah)

President Trump delivered his First State of the Union.     There were those who cheered (including Donald Trump Jr.) and those who opposed--including some who boycotted the speech.  .  The formal Democratic Response came from Congressman Joe Kennedy III,  Senator Robert Kennedy's Grandson and a Great Grandnephew of President Kennedy:  

 Bernie Sanders and Maxine Waters also delivered rebuttals as there were Fact Checkers at Work at The Washington Post and the Guardian of London Among Others.

As the analysis continues, our team chose two competing narratives from the US Speaker of the House and the Chair of the California Democratic Party as the 2018 Mid-Term Elections loom with profound consequences for President Trump's agenda for the year:

President Trump said it right—the state of our union is strong. There is still much work to be done, and the president laid out a clear agenda tonight with an open hand toward bipartisan cooperation. By working together to rebuild our nation’s military, boost infrastructure, develop our workforce, and fix our immigration system, we can continue making America safer and stronger for the 21st century. Los Angeles - California Democratic Party Chair Eric C. Bauman released the following statement in reaction to Donald Trump's State of the Union Address: "Despite Donald Trump's delusional words tonight, the strength of our Union is facing its greatest test in living memory. The rich are getting richer, healthcare is getting harder to come by, job growth is slowing, the stock market is on a bubble. Women, people of color, immigrants, the LGBT Community and people with disabilities face daily harassment, assault and barriers to opportunity.  The state of the world is even worse. The United States stands isolated, backwards and alone in refusing to combat climate change. Trump is foolishly provoking a trade war with China, and his macho posturing with North Korea threatens millions of lives, including tens of thousands of American soldiers. Russia is openly subverting democratic norms in the U.S. and around the world, and Congressional Republicans are more interested in running interference for Trump than they are in protecting the integrity of the U.S. government.  With the possible exception of the last days of Richard Nixon's administration, the American people have never been saddled with a leader so completely disconnected from reality, or with a White House and Congress so willing to flagrantly lie to the American people. While Republicans continue to focus on enriching the ultra-wealthy and sticking everyone else with the bill, Democrats will continue to fight for meaningful change that lifts everyone up. We will keep working for an economy that works for everybody, healthcare for every American, affordable college for all, robust protections against all forms of discrimination, genuine immigration reform that allows Dreamers and immigrants to live the American Dream, repairing our crumbling roads and bridges, and revitalizing our frayed relationships around the world. The strength of our Union cannot be found in Washington D.C., because Republicans who control the White House and Congress are only interested in further enriching billionaires while lining their own pockets. Instead, the true strength of our Union can be found in the millions of people who have taken to the streets in protest, called and e-mailed their Representatives, and spoken out against this unprecedented assault on decency. Everyday Americans have been, and will continue to be, the reason our Union is strong, and despite the challenges we face, our resistance to Trump and Washington Republicans will be the fount of progress and renewal for America."

(*Update:  A bit of a different take-away courtesy Trevor Noah:

Notations On Our World (Weekly Edition): Out & About as January 2018 Drifts Away Into History....

As we went to Press, President Trump was slated to deliver his First State of the Union to a Joint Session of Congress.    Congressman Joe Kennedy is slated to give the Democratic Response.    Our team will providing a post-analysis of it later on in the week.   This is as Governors have been delivering their State of the State Address-including the Governor of our Home State, Jerry Brown.

One snapshot of the US State of the Union was this that was reported by Truth in Accounting:  

This is an interesting takeaway on the National Debt in the United States which we are pleased to report on for our Weekly  Edition of Notations:  Our Debt Clock

This is as we assessed this before us which is a major focus of ours here in #Outsiders in the aftermath of Davos:  

AI probably won't take your job; it will change it. What to expect from #AI in 2018: https://t.co/rjuwgKgbhn #wef18 pic.twitter.com/CSnQIRk6wA

— strategy+business (@stratandbiz) January 23, 2018

Onward....

Notations On Our World (Special Weekly Edition): Our View On the #GovernmentShutdown & The Future

It was quite a weekend on the political scene in the United States as Government Shutdown Continued.    The dreamers marched in Washington Friday Night and the entire Political Punditry and Political Class was busy as some depicted a sense of shame on a broad basis.   As we went to press, there was an expected vote scheduled around Noon Washington Time.

We released this to our Twitter Channel that we will headline all week here in our Main Property:

Our view : a call to action we hope all including @SpeakerRyan @SenateGOP @SenateDems @realDonaldTrump @HouseDemocrats @HouseGOP embraces -country before party https://t.co/s82Gtc4qP4

— DailyOutsider (@ordinaryfaces) January 21, 2018

We also are pleased to present the whole Ted Talk for here for all as we continue to remain hopeful:

Notations On Our World (Special #Davos2018 Edition): As #WEF2018 is at hand...

One of our must reads, Alan Murray of Fortune, relesaed this before he left for #Davos2018--our team will also be on the prowl as well as this on the drop in trust was of concern especially as OXFAM also reported that the top 1% took 83% of the Wealth last year:

JANUARY 22, 2018 Good morning. The public’s trust in all institutions—government, business, media and non-government organizations—has taken a nosedive in the U.S. in the last year, according to the annual Edelman Trust survey, released this morning in advance of the World Economic Forum in Davos. The decline in trust in government was greatest, falling 14 percentage points, while trust in business fell 10 points, NGOs 9 points, and media 5 points. Worth noting is the survey was done before the government shutdown, which likely will deepen the public’s mistrust. The survey covers 28 nations, none of which recorded a decline in trust as great as that in the U.S. At the other extreme, Chinese respondents recorded a significant increase in trust in all four types of institutions, with government and business leading the way. “The United States is enduring an unprecedented crisis of trust,” said Richard Edelman, president and CEO of the communications firm that conducts the survey. “This is the first time that a massive drop in trust has not been linked to a pressing economic issue or catastrophe like the Fukushima nuclear disaster. In fact, it’s the ultimate irony that it’s happening at a time of prosperity, with the stock market and employment rates in the U.S. at record highs.” The root cause of the fall, says Edelman: lack of objective facts and rational discourse in the U.S. You can read the full report here. I’m on my way to Davos this morning, and will be reporting from there all week. News below. Alan Murray @alansmurray alan.murray@fortune.com

Notations From the Grid (Special W-End Edition): On the Eve of #Davos2018

Our team picked this up courtesy of Bloomberg on the eve of #Davos2018 on the key risks for the global elite as they head for the Davos hills.... https://t.co/9kOho03qfc by @sjhmorris#Davos2018 #WEF2018 pic.twitter.com/NsUfjZ3nW2

— Andrew Barden (@abarden) January 17, 2018

 This is, as of course, one man will dominate it all, @realDonaldTrump:

The #WEF in #Davos next week will host its usual line-up of industry titans, financiers and politicians, but will almost certainly be dominated by just one of them: Donald J. Trump.
via @bpolitics @MattCampbel pic.twitter.com/bLH6BQvyj4

— Andrew Barden (@abarden) January 16, 2018

Notations On Our World (Special W-End Edition): On #GovtShutdown & Other Thoughts

As we went to press with this weekend edition of "Notations" the United States Federal Government is shut down.   Women have marched throughout the United States on the first anniversary of President Trump's inauguration as the blame game is ever so on-going on Social Media with the hashtags #TrumpShutdown; #SchummerPelosiShutdown; #SchummerShutdown.    The Wall with Mexico has been central in the issue--that's why what Vincente Fox, the Former President of Mexico, said in an interview with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation earlier this week was telling which we have noted here.

As we have been assessing the state of affairs, what we picked up from Orange County Congresswoman Mimi Walters was interesting as she sent out this Tweet : 

The #SchumerPelosiShutdown is causing dangerous harm to our military, and needless uncertainty to nine million American children that rely on #CHIP for health care coverage. Until the government is reopened and providing full resources, I will forgo any and all compensation. pic.twitter.com/Kfq4Xse5Og

— Mimi Walters (@RepMimiWalters) January 20, 2018

One of the most notable absences is that of Senator John McCain.    We here at the Daily Outsider are grateful to the team at the Washington Examiner as they reflected upon this with the pivotal role he has played at not only the Armed Services Committee  but also the US Senate: 

John McCain's absence leaves a big hole on Senate Armed Services Sen. John McCain, 81, the fiery and seemingly tireless Armed Services chairman who is now battling brain cancer, was still at home in Arizona and absent from his committee’s first hearing of 2018. The hearing Thursday was remarkable partly because of his absence. McCain, who was diagnosed with glioblastoma in July, has been a driving force on the committee since he took the gavel three years ago. Read the full story here. As we went to press and as he was in treatment for his Cancer, he issued a statement lamenting the State of Affairs.   He and his family continue to be in our thoughts and prayers.    Challenging Times....

Notations From the Grid (Special Friday Edition): Out and About in Our World...

We wanted to end the week here in our main property on a bit of a high note as we honor all the refugees of the World with this from the Syrian Singer Wafiaa:

.@Wafiaaa is using her voice to fight for women and refugees – and we couldn't be more obsessed.

Read more: https://t.co/Z1GWBV4LSo pic.twitter.com/9rb0DrUn0N

— Global Citizen (@GlblCtzn) January 19, 2018

We are just as obsessed which is why we began upon the journey as we have. We also are so proud to feature this we picked up from the UN Refugee Agency Twitter Channel:

Canadian entrepreneur and CEO @jimestill worked closely with a team of 800 volunteers to welcome 200 refugees and help them set up new lives. #WithRefugees pic.twitter.com/cG084wzIEt

— UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) January 19, 2018

   It is of note that there are 65 Million displaced people around the World according to the UN Refugee Agency and millions who are technically Stateless including the Rohniyga in Burma (also known as Myanmar) and the Palestinians living in the Occupied Territories.    The United States has decided to withhold funds to the UN Refugee Workers Agency (UNRWA).   There is also drama in Washington as we went to press as  our team has been monitoring the on-going situation   as the World awaits a determination on the status of the US Federal Government and whether funding will run out.   It must be noted that as the US is a Federal System, there will not be a total shutdown--however the last time a major shutdown occurred, it cost US Tax Payers billions.

We remain hopeful--a sense of hope epitomized by that Blue Flag of the UN.

 

Notations On Our World (Special Friday Edition): As @POTUS State of the Union is at Hand (Courtesy @rand)

A very tough read-up on the state of affairs in America Today....

Notations On Our World (Special Edition): re #DACA re Jorge Garcia And His Family Speak Out About His Deportation To Mexico | ...

As the debate ensues over #DACA and the impending showdown over the spending bill, the Garcia Family's predicament was showcased.

Notations On Our World (Special Edition): On the Status of the US Budget

The US Senate Majority Leader

As we are going to press right now,  The US Senate was in a late session having taken up what the House passed to fund operations of the United States Government.     The House Bill went down to defeat as Senators Mike Lee  and Rand Paul voted against it.   The minority objected to Amendments  as Government funding ends midnight Friday EST.   

The US Senate has just adjourned until 11 AM EST tomorrow.

Notations On Our World (Special #California Edition): On "New California"

Earlier this week, "New California" was declared.    We wanted to share this courtesy of USA Today. It is always fun, in our view, to see @ordinaryfaces in action exercising their Constitutional Rights--no matter how futile it  may be.

Notations From The Grid (Weekly Edition): On @POTUS Watch

It has been quite a week!!

Our team was on the prowl in the aftermath of #MLKDay 2018 with this: 

US Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona took to the US Senate Floor to denounce the President as there were a number of interesting headlines that were featured on the New York Times last week on the plight of the Democratic process, on Climate Change, the future and of course in the midst of it--companies still trying to survive: 

As we reflected upon the headlines from last week, what we noted below  from yesterday's New York Times was even more challenging to assess in light of the challenges with North Korea (although we are pleased to report that North and South Korea will field a joint team: 

Top News Military Quietly Prepares for a Last Resort: War With North Korea By HELENE COOPER, ERIC SCHMITT, THOMAS GIBBONS-NEFF and JOHN ISMAY It’s normal for American commanders to draw up combat plans. But recent exercises signal that the military wants to be ready for options on the Korean Peninsula. Hopes Dim for DACA Deal as Lawmakers Battle Over Trump’s Immigration Remarks By THOMAS KAPLAN, NOAH WEILAND and MICHAEL D. SHEAR Senator David Perdue, who attended the White House meeting, said Senator Richard J. Durbin’s account of President Trump’s language was a “gross misrepresentation.” In Montecito, Enclave of Wealth and Fame, Unimagined Tragedy By TIM ARANGO Mudslides left the coastal community of Montecito, Calif., in ruins, and rescuers were racing against time on Sunday to find four people still missing. For more top news, go to NYTimes.com »

Top News

Military Quietly Prepares for a Last Resort: War With North Korea By HELENE COOPER, ERIC SCHMITT, THOMAS GIBBONS-NEFF and JOHN ISMAY It’s normal for American commanders to draw up combat plans. But recent exercises signal that the military wants to be ready for options on the Korean Peninsula.

Hopes Dim for DACA Deal as Lawmakers Battle Over Trump’s Immigration Remarks By THOMAS KAPLAN, NOAH WEILAND and MICHAEL D. SHEAR Senator David Perdue, who attended the White House meeting, said Senator Richard J. Durbin’s account of President Trump’s language was a “gross misrepresentation.”

In Montecito, Enclave of Wealth and Fame, Unimagined Tragedy By TIM ARANGO Mudslides left the coastal community of Montecito, Calif., in ruins, and rescuers were racing against time on Sunday to find four people still missing.

For more top news, go to NYTimes.com »

Top News

Military Quietly Prepares for a Last Resort: War With North Korea By HELENE COOPER, ERIC SCHMITT, THOMAS GIBBONS-NEFF and JOHN ISMAY It’s normal for American commanders to draw up combat plans. But recent exercises signal that the military wants to be ready for options on the Korean Peninsula.

Military Quietly Prepares for a Last Resort: War With North Korea

By HELENE COOPER, ERIC SCHMITT, THOMAS GIBBONS-NEFF and JOHN ISMAY

It’s normal for American commanders to draw up combat plans. But recent exercises signal that the military wants to be ready for options on the Korean Peninsula.

Hopes Dim for DACA Deal as Lawmakers Battle Over Trump’s Immigration Remarks By THOMAS KAPLAN, NOAH WEILAND and MICHAEL D. SHEAR Senator David Perdue, who attended the White House meeting, said Senator Richard J. Durbin’s account of President Trump’s language was a “gross misrepresentation.”

Hopes Dim for DACA Deal as Lawmakers Battle Over Trump’s Immigration Remarks

By THOMAS KAPLAN, NOAH WEILAND and MICHAEL D. SHEAR

Senator David Perdue, who attended the White House meeting, said Senator Richard J. Durbin’s account of President Trump’s language was a “gross misrepresentation.”

In Montecito, Enclave of Wealth and Fame, Unimagined Tragedy By TIM ARANGO Mudslides left the coastal community of Montecito, Calif., in ruins, and rescuers were racing against time on Sunday to find four people still missing.

In Montecito, Enclave of Wealth and Fame, Unimagined Tragedy

By TIM ARANGO

Mudslides left the coastal community of Montecito, Calif., in ruins, and rescuers were racing against time on Sunday to find four people still missing.

President Trump denied that he called Africa and Haiti "s...holes" as he professed that he was the least racist person he knows.  Eric Trump went on Fox & Friends to say that the President only saw one color: Green.     What was noted below was a sampling of the reaction to the President's Statement: 

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” This country’s greatness and true genius lies in its diversity.

— James Comey (@Comey) January 12, 2018 

I’ve traveled and worked in Haiti, and across Africa and Central America. The countries the president described with his epithet do not exist. Some thoughts as we remember those lost in Haiti eight years ago today: https://t.co/iXJwEAo2f6

— Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) January 12, 2018

There is of course Iran--and what the President announced on it: 

Trump's policy & today’s announcement amount to desperate attempts to undermine a solid multilateral agreement, maliciously violating its paras 26, 28 & 29. JCPOA is not renegotiable: rather than repeating tired rhetoric, US must bring itself into full compliance -just like Iran.

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 12, 2018

As our team assessed 2018 so far, what was reported by Government Executive was telling: 

Just One in Six Feds Say They're Excited to Implement Trump's Agenda // Eric Katz

Federal employees overwhelmingly believe President Trump does not respect them, according to a new survey, and a plurality think he has negatively affected their agencies' missions.

To read the entire story, click here.

This is as there is a partial US Government shutdown looming as we will continue to assess it all.  President Trump is slated to attend the World Economic Forum and our team at the Visions Property here in the Daily Outsider will be assessing it as we will be releasing a "Notation" shortly courtesy of the team at Bloomberg. 

Challenging times.....

Notations On Our World ( Special Community Edition): Out & About In Our Community of South Orange County & California

Governor Brown of California is entering his final year in Office.   He has just released his budget.  We received this at our Virtual Studios on a Snapshot of the budget which we hereby present courtesy of the team at Association of California Cities: 

2018-2019 January Budget Release Summary  The 2018-2019 budget continues to invest in Governor Brown's strategic priorities for the State of California including: education, healthcare, infrastructure and a progressive environmental protection agenda. Since the budget difficulties of 2011, the state grew out of a $26 billion deficit and has amassed a Rainy-Day Fund, which was approved by voters in 2014 under Proposition 2.  After meeting the constitutional obligations of contributing to the Rainy Day Fund, the State of California is experiencing a budget surplus going into the budget negotiation season for the 2018 fiscal year. This years 6.1 billion dollar surplus presents many opportunities for the legislature and for Orange County Cities. Notable data: By the end of 2017-18, the state's Rainy-Day Fund will have a total balance of $8.4 billion (65 percent of the constitutional target). The 2018-2019 budget proposal fills this gap to 100% or $13.5 billion. Total budget spending $131.6 billion with total resource dollars available $135.1 billion. Budget spending increases from 2017-2018 levels of $126.5 billion. The new budget anticipates a coming recession within the next few budget cycles, with the goal of aligning revenue growth to future spending. Infrastructure: With passage of SB 1, California will spend $55 billion over 10 years on its basic transportation infrastructure maintenance. The 2018-2019 budget sets in motion this allocation with $4.5 billion in funding and total spending (including selected bond funds) of $14 billion on transportation priorities. Infrastructure Repair: $2.8 billion Trade channel assets: $556 million Local projects match: $200 million Rail services: $721 million Public Safety: Public safety initiatives are addressed both at the state and local level.    Rehabilitations and corrections general fund spending accounts for $11.8 billion of the budget Community Corrections Performance Incentive Grant $106.4 million Post-Release Community Supervision $29 million Natural Resource Protection: The 2018-2019 budget strongly protect the state's natural resources. The Natural Resources Agency receives $9.8 billion ($3.0 billion from the general fund) for all activities. If approved by voters in June 2018, SB 5 would authorize $4 billion in general obligation bonds for California's parks, water and flood control infrastructure, ocean and coastal protection, safe drinking water, groundwater management and climate preparedness and resiliency. The 2018-2019 budget allocates $1.02 billion of first year spending if the initiative is approved by voters in June 2018[TR1] ..  Municipalities are slated to receive $464 million for local park programs within the measure, which would be allocated on a population based formula. Redevelopment Agencies: The Governor's priority is the final dissolution of the former redevelopment agencies' outstanding debts and other legal obligations and thus returns final funds to the cities, counties and special districts. Cities will receive an $926 million in general purpose revenues in 2017-2018 and 2018-19 combined. Counties will receive $990 million, and special districts an additional $282 million in that same time period. K-14 school districts will receive $1 4 billion in 2017-18 and $1.6 billion in 2018-19 from Proposition 98 General Fund savings resulting from the dissolution of redevelopment agencies. Housing: To implement the 2017 housing package, the budget allocates $3 million from the General Fund to the Department of Housing and Community Development. Additional resources from an estimated $258 million real estate transaction fee revenue, which will be a ballot measure in the November 2018 election.  The housing packing also places a $4 billion bond on the November 2018 ballot for voter approval. Includes $3 billion in general obligation bonds for various housing programs and $1 billion for veterans housing. Voting Systems Replacement for Counties: A one-time augmentation of $134.3 million from the General Fund will be made to replace outdated voting systems with the necessary hardware, software, and initial licensing to install new voting systems in all 58 counties. This funding represents a 50 percent state share of total voting system replacement costs; counties will be responsible for the other 50 percent. Medical and Adult Use Cannabis: The Administration is deferring all cannabis-related budget proposals until the May Revision. 2020 Census Commits $40.3 million for statewide outreach and other activities related to the 2020 Census. Association of California Cities- Orange County 500 S. Main Street #410 Orange, CA 92868 and as we went to press, a welcome development on an agreement Capistrano Unified School District and the Teachers Union struck on a collective Bargaining Agreement which is welcome news for all the 52,000 students the District serves in the Seven South Orange County Cities: January 12, 2017 Capistrano Unified School District: An Unwavering Commitment to Student Success  CUSD and CUEA Reach a Tentative Agreement Sent on behalf of CUSD and CUEA We are pleased to announce that CUSD and CUEA have reached a Tentative Agreement that will provide the stability of a three year contract and allow our District to continue to operate efficiently while remaining focused on the education of young people. Details of the Tentative Agreement will be released onWednesday, January 17, 2018.