Notations From the Grid: On #Outsiders (The Why...)

Earlier today while doing the "Daily Roundup" on the "Grid" we released this to the Daily Outsider Facebook Page:

On the "Prowl" for the Day w/this "Thought 4 the Day"....
Posted by The Daily "Outsider" on Wednesday, May 20, 2015

The five principles noted here (Courtesy of the team at Quartz) is the driving principle behind what @DailyOutsider is about: a desire to be bold leave a legacy and truly do what can be done to make a difference.    We believe that we can and believe that we will live up to these admontions as @DailyOutsider continues to develop and evolve.

Notations From the Grid: Briefly on #Ramadi, #Iran & Other Thoughts

As we begin a new week, we wanted to introduce the new "hashtag: for our network:  #thedailyoutsider as we did our first tweet welcoming President Obama to Twitter under the new network hashtag.   This has also been a very challenging morning in Iraq as the World is witness to Daesh yet again has been on the march as the Shitte Milita has been ordered to retake Ramadi as the political battles between the Shittes and Sunnis continue--and as Al Jazeera has just shown supposed images of Daesh supporters celebrating the fall of Ramadi.   Iran is actively engaged as well as epitomized by statement from Ali Akbar Velayati, the Senior Advisor to Iran's Supreme Guide, Ayatollah Khameini.   Iraq has no choice but to rely on the Shitte Militia becuase Iraq has no Army and has dissipated for all intent and purpose.   We have also been assessing the latest from Israel with the new Goverment which we will be commenting on over the ensuing days.

We wanted to finish this edition with this courtesy of Fortune about a very perceptive and eye opening speech by Apple CEO  Tim Cook on making a difference:

Apple CEO Tim Cook's speech at George Washington University yesterday was part product pitch, part recruiting speech, part graduation cliche. But it was also the most eloquent testament to the noble purpose of business I've heard from a CEO in some time. Speaking on the National Mall, Cook recalled his first meeting with Steve Jobs, 17 years ago. At the time, Cook's view was that "work was work… There were things I wanted to change about the world. But I'd have to do that on my own time, not in the office." Jobs taught him otherwise - that work was about creating products that changed the world. "You don't have to choose between doing good and doing well," Cook told his audience of graduates. "Your challenge is to find work that pays the rent, puts food on the table, and let's you do what is right and good and just." Cook drew a sharp contrast between the cynicism of Washington and the optimism of Silicon Valley, where people believe "there is no problem that can't be solved." Meanwhile, at Fortune, we are finishing up a survey of CEOs, in which one question was: "Excluding yourself, what Fortune 500 CEO do you admire most?"   You can watch the full Cook speech here.

Notations On Our World: As #Ramadi has fallen to Daesh...

We have been assessing the increasingly tenous situation in Ramadi, Irsaq over the last 30 days.  This front page image from April 19 edition of the Wall Street captured the agony of the people as they escaped the fighting.   Despite vows from Iraqi Prime Minister Abadi, we here are seeing reports from +Al Jazeera English , +i24news EN and the +BBC News noting that Ramadi has fallen or is about to fall as Daesh (also known as IS/Islamic State in the West) has overrun the last major Government Compound and as Iraqi troops have fled.  The Iraqi Prime Minister had ordered his troops not to abandon their position--but no one seemed to listen as Daesh has used suicide bombers and heavy mortar shells to make their inroads.

There are profound implications as Ramadi is lost.   Despite that the US-Led Coalitoin has done, it seems as if Daesh continues its' trail of death and destruction--including the daring raid inside Syria that killed a senior Daesh/IS leader.    We have just the latest reporting by the Guardian on noting how the raid has yielded a "treasure trove" of data.     What is critical to note is that  Ramadi is only 100 Kilometers from Baghdad which will present absolute challenges for all parties fighting Daesh/IS as we are also seeing reports that the Iraqi Prime Minister has ordered Shitte Militas to join the fight for Ramadi.

   

Notations For the Week-End: On this US Armed Forces Day 2015

On behalf of the entire #Outsiders team, we wanted to extend a Happy Armed Forces Day to all the valiant men and women of the Armed Forces of the United States and honor them and their families for the daily sacrifice every day.   These heroes were ina ction yet again as US Special Forces on orders from the President  conducted operations in Syria which resulted in the killing of a Daesh (Also known as #IS/Islamic State in the Western Media) leader:

 

We salute them all.

Notations From the Grid: On Those Who Do Miracle Work

#Outsiders is about our World.    As our team worked on our "Daily Round-Up", our founder commented on this which we wanted to report on for this edition of "Notations from the Grid":

Working away as I work on the Daily "Roundup": A Virtual High Five to @Refugees as they do the impossible.... https://t.co/4q9JA8dIE0

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) May 11, 2015

The work that the +United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is doing in such hot spots is a miracle in and of itself against very challenging odds.       This is also so as they are at the forefront of the continued challenges in Syria and Iraq--and as those who lose hope are going to extreme measures to make it to Europe.

What solutions can be found--if any?  It is the daunting challenge faced by the World.

Notations on Our World: On #India

India is one of the "BRICS" and has continued to make profound strides since the election of Prime Minister Modi.    Yet, challenges persist throughout the country as Marxists continue their agitation in states such as Assam and as Kashmir continus to present challenges.

Beyond the political and economic challenges, there is also the continued social challenges the country faces.     The developments over two high profile criminal cases was quite startling:

It seems so 😱😓First #Salman, Then #Jayalalithaa: VIPs First Among Equals Before the Law?#India has a challenge 😔 http://t.co/xQxrAksYS5

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) May 12, 2015

One of the leading actors in Bollywood and one of the most powerful politicans in Southern India were basically cleared.   Salman Khan was given a suspended sentence as The former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu was cleared along with a number of her co-consipartors and is destined to return to office.    #India has a challenge that it has to overcome.

Beyond that, there is also the relationship between what in India is referred to as the "Centre" and the States.     As the Prime Minister is affirming the rights of the States, the Chief Minister of Bihar (who had to fight to get his job back), came out swinging in this harsh editorial on +NDTV :

#Nitish had come out swinging🙏🏼🎉http://t.co/QNHHwoacK8 Exclusive: PM's Cooperative Federalism is Mere Rhetoric http://t.co/ZxvHGOgKXB

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) May 12, 2015

This is as some crucial elections is coming up in India.

Notations On Our World: On The "Day After" on #ukeelections2015....

The New British Government has been formed.    David Cameron has kept his key Ministers in place and has expanded the powers of George Osborne, The Chancellor of the Exchequer (The British Finance Minster/Treasury Secretary) as a new round of austerity begins.

What has been quite interesting to observe is how those who lost have begun a wrenching self-examination.   From the man who delivered three election victories to Labour-Tony Blair--to the former spinmaster Lord Mandelson and others, it has been quite a spectacle to see how leading personalities in the UK Labor Party have thrown Ed Milliband under the bus. 

However, what was striking was this that went viral on Facebook and the Independent of London reported on it:

A challenger 4 the #GOP in U.S. Wonder if they have the courage https://t.co/RGZFHrB9zd

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) May 11, 2015

 Our founder reflected upon this because the Budget passed by the United States Congress underscores profound concerns in this space as the US begins the election cycle.     But,, in the United Kingdom, there is the small matter of the Union that is under pressure as the elections saw a rise of the Scottish National Party as the third largest party in the UK Parliament.    It was striking how Scottish Leaders--including the Former First Minister Alex Salmond--talked about  the "Westminster Parliament" and not the UK Parliament.   What is also worth to note is the Sinn Fein does not even come to Westminister for UK Parliament business.    

As the World continues to be fascinated by the British Royal Family, the question is whether the United Kingdom will survive in its' present form especially as some very interesting discussions will begin about a "Brixit" as Europe continues to deal with a potential "Grexit".     There are also some challenging domestic challenges--including the negotations on a recharter for the BBC which will be spreaheaded by a Minister who has said that the license fee amounts to a Poll Tax and the broader question about how disfunctional the election system is in the UK itself as underscored again in this:

	The Independent (@Independent)
5/11/15, 11:35 AM What parliament would have looked like under a different voting system i100.io/WNb43yG pic.twitter.com/OsuWexb0xV

 

It will be interesting times indeed.....