Weekly Perspective

Today is a sad day in our World as the number of Syrian Refugees has passed 5 Million registered with the UN.  This is as an estimated 6 Million Refugees have been internally displaced.     A s we finish off a very busy Quarter and gear up for the new Quarter of Engagements here in the Daily Outsider, we wanted to finish the Quarter with two Thoughts from Ahmad Kathrada who passed away and whose words resonate ever more:   We look forward to continue our on-going engagement with the Community during the upcoming Quarter.

Our team joins in mourning the passing of one of the leaders of the struggle for Freedom in South Africa as "Uncle Katy" was laid to rest.     This from Polity underscores the deep schism in South Africa as  Motlanthe lets Kathrada speak one last time : Former president Kgalema Motlanthe on Wednesday laid bare the friction that pitted the anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada against President Jacob Zuma when he quoted the late stalwart’s letter in which he asked Zuma to resign. Motlanthe was speaking at the funeral of the struggle icon affectionately known as “uncle Kathy”. He died on Tuesday after a short illness following surgery.

As we gear up for our Second Quarter, we wanted to share some brief updates on a number of key developments over the last number of days.     Today is a historic day and the front page of the +The Guardian   of London  was telling that  our team released earlier on the #Outsider Twitter Feed as Wednesday Dawns:  As Article 50 was formally triggered by the British Prime Minister, the Scottish Parliament voted for a second independence referendum that would trigger a section 30 letter to The UK Parliament to begin the process of planning for a second independence refernderum.    As this has been going on, the third component of the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, has no Government as negotations continue between the two largest parties to try and form a government to avoid direct rule from London.       Beyond Europe, there is the continued war in Iraq our team has been keeping tabs on.   The team at Sky News has been with Iraqi Troops as they have fought Daesh (also known as the Isla

We wanted to share this "Thought" we picked up from the Great Rumi as we wish all a great W-End and a fabulous Final Week of March 2017--please visit our "Circle" for late-breaking developments in our World as we hope all enjoy our Twitter Feed which will be active. We look forward to being of service during the 2nd Quarter of 2017.

A "Blast From the Past" as this very chilling depiction of the aftermath of the 2009 Elections and as the key leaders of that movement continue to be under house arrest--and as the former President, Mohammad Khatami is banned:

While on the "Grid", picked up this that Wired Magazine reported on that is a stunning view of Mar s--our team just realized how fascinated  +Elon Musk  is with conquering Mars...please enjoy!!!

As our team worked away on the latest overnight developments worldwide, we continue to monitor reports about shootings outside the British Parliament in London--and that the building is in Lockdown.  This is as a number of key developments loom on the health care law and as the market took a major nose dive yesterday.   Sean Spicer, the White House Press Secretary, was rather dismissive as he said it was a one-day nonevent.       Tory Newmyer captured the essence of it in his latest snapshot:  MARCH 22, 2017 Mark it: Tuesday, March 21, 2017, the day that investors stopped taking President Trump literally. The market just saw its worst day since last fall. And the tumble resulted in part from a late-breaking recognition on Wall Street that the new administration is going to have more trouble than it’s acknowledged delivering on lofty promises. The Trump agenda faces its first real test  tomorrow , with House Republican leaders pushing for a vote on their Obamacare replacement plan. That

Water is the most precious resource we have on this Earth.     This infographic underscores why it is critical ever more to make sure we preserve our most precious resource as we celebrated World Water Day:

Enough Said...

  The US Secretary of State issued a statement on the occasion of Nowruz as March 21 is proclaimed by the UN as the International Day of Nowruz.   As noted by the UN, ".. . Nowruz, the day of vernal equinox, is celebrated on 21 March as the beginning of the new year by more than 300 million people all around the world and has been celebrated for over 3,000 years in the Balkans, the Black Sea Basin, the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Middle East and other regions. On 23 February 2010, at the initiative of several countries (Afghanistan, Albania, Azerbaijan, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkey and Turkmenistan), the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution entitled “International Day of Nowruz” (A/RES/64/253), which recognizes 21 March as the International Day of Nowruz and encourages States to make efforts to raise awareness about Nowruz and to organize annual events in commemoration of this festivity, as appropriate. Nowr

It has been quite a day in our World today as The FBI Director has underscored that no proof exists to back up President Trump's claim that the Obama Administration (or President Obama personally) bugged Trump Tower.   This is as the FBI Director has also confirmed that investigations are continuing into allegations of Trump Campaign collusion with Russia.   As we went to press, the White House Doubled Down on the wiretap claim as reported by CNN.   As we noted in our Newsflash earlier today, Iran's New Year Began.   Both the President, Hassan Rouhani, and the Supreme Guide (Leader), Ali Khameini, sent new year greetings.    Our team found it especially interesting how the President spoke in front of a Traditional Haft Sin Table and the dark, dour nature of the surroundings as Ayatollah Khamenei spoke: Ayatollah Khameini, Iran's Supreme Guide     Hassan Rouhani, Iran's President  Ayatollah Khamenei's criticism of the Government was striking as Iran prepares for Pr

As we are on the air,  we picked up this live broadcast from London as the BBC Persian Service is broadcasting live as the coundown to the Persian New Year is at hand.    It is fantastic Music!!!!  An estimated 200 Million People celebrate this ancient celebration of the advent of Spring that is about renewal, hope, love and a sense of optimism.

As we went to press, we wanted to begin this edition of "Notations" with a focus on Iran as the Country is about to usher in the New Year of 1396 in a little over 7 Hours.    The Farsi Service of the Voice Of America was busy over the past number of weeks reflecting upon the year as it looked to the new year--including a "viewer-driven" program about the notorious players of the year in Iran today: One of the most notable persons at hand was the Mayor of Tehran, Ghalibaf, who was deemed the "Liar of the year"--especially in the aftermath of the collapse of the Plasco Building in Tehran earlier in the year.  Iran's Former President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is making noises again to run in the elections--after revelations about the extent of the corruption during his 8 years.    What was also quite interesting was how it was revealed that the former President did not even have a  He is yet to face Justice--even though one of his Vice Presidents has declare

Our team chose this from Ace of Base which we hope all enjoy...Happy Spring:

We here at the Daily Outsider wanted to wish all a Happy St. Patricks' Day as we leave you all with this Irish Blessings and as we are ever so grateful to +Jonathan Huie  for the series of thoughts:      May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam. May peace and plenty bless your world with joy that long endures. May all life's passing seasons bring the best to you and yours. - Irish Blessing May the road rise up to meet you, may the wind be ever at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face and the rain fall softly on your fields. And until we meet again, May God hold you in the hollow of his hand. - Irish Blessing May God grant you always... A sunbeam to warm you, a moonbeam to charm you, a sheltering Angel so nothing can harm you. Laughter to you. Faithful friends near you. And whenever you pray, Heaven to hear you. - Irish Blessing

The White Hosue has just launched "1600 Daily" with its' view on what has been going on.  What our team found interesting was how only the conservative-leaning media was cited in its' reporting.    It was also quite a remarkable press conference as The President's Budget Director used very blunt language in his assessment when he was in the Press Room.   The blunt answer in response to the proposed reduced funding for the UN in light of the famine affecting 20 Million People was especially striking.   It must be noted that the 62-Page Document is just a blueprint.   The Administration is slated to deliver its' budget in May. A sampling of "1600 Daily" is noted below":     WHITE HOUSE MEMO: President Donald J. Trump is committed to delivering relief to Americans struggling under the weight of Obamacare's rising prices and onerous mandates. The President's reforms will bring down costs and increase access to coverage for millions of Ameri

President Trump's Budget Blueprint has been published.    It is an Outline that has already drawn criticism from the likes of Senator McCain .   It is going to have a profound impact on the States that according to Route Fifty that relies  on the Federal Government for 22 Percent of their budget outlays.    It is also going to impact the Poor in a very significant way. The +Washington Post    just released this "clip" on it as the  ensuing debate begins:

The Dutch have re-elected the Prime Minister to a New Term seeing off the Challenge From the Far-Right.    It is a rather complicated structure as underscored by this courtesy of  +Al Jazeera English  : After Brexit and the Election of Donald Trump in the United States, someone noted that Common Sense seems to have prevailed.    The next major test of populism is France as Elections loom there as the Conservative Candidate Francois Fillon has been indicted on Graft Charges related to the Fake Job Scandal.      Meanwhile, in the United States, President Trump's Travel   Ban was blocked by a Federal District Judge in Hawaii on the eve of its' going into effect.  Professor Jonathan Turley just released an analysis of this which is worth noting.   This is as  5 Republican Judges on the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit noted their approval of the President's authority (available by clicking here...)   It will be quite interesting to see where this al

As debates rage on, elections occur, we here at #Outsiders wanted to take a moment of pause on this week of celebrations (Holi; St. Patrick's Day and Nouroz)  just to share this "Thought For the Week" courtesy of the team at  +VALUES.COM  : 

The Congressional Budget Office has just come out with its' estimate on the GOP plan to replace the Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare).    This is as the Trump Administration had been working on trying to undermine the work of the CBO--showcased by the most recent daily White House Press Conference by Press Secretary Sean Spicer.   As it garnered headlines on CNN and the Huffington Post, it was buried on the FoxNews website.     Our team has noted the full summary below--the entire report is available by clicking here:  Summary The Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2017 directed the House Committees on Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce to develop legislation to reduce the deficit. The Congressional Budget Office and the staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT) have produced an estimate of the budgetary effects of the American Health Care Act, which combines the pieces of legislation approved by the two committees pursuant to that resolution. In consult