An #Outsider Newsflash (Special Edition): Trump administration officials to speak at CPAC

View of the Week (Mid-Week Edition): On A Window Into The Future

One of the focus areas we've had here at the Daily Outsider (beyond the political analysis) is to be focused on long-term business trends.     A recent "snapshot" courtesy of the Team at +CB Insights underscored the State of Startups and where they are located.   The Map below is telling:   

It is also fascinating to be witness to the future as underscored by these reported by +Peter H. Diamandis  in his blog--It is of note that Dubai is already testing autonomous taxis as we went to press--including how China is somehow trying to combat climate change as it has.     It was also quite interesting to note how the new EPA Administrator underscored how America can be pro-growth and pro-environment.   

It is fascinating to be witness to history.....

Airbus Plans to Make Autonomous, Flying Cars a Reality by 2017

What it is: Airbus recently announced Project Vahana, its plan to make an autonomous flying car. The company envisions a future in which they're able to transport several people in a helicopter-style, autonomous vehicle. Airbus, which is the world's largest commercial helicopter manufacturer, assures that it will use clean technology throughout the development of these self-flying cars. It is estimated that the prototype will be completed this year (2017), and will launch for short-haul trips by 2021.

Why it's important: Autonomous flying cars may disrupt industries even more than current autonomous ridesharing initiatives. Mckinsey suggests autonomous vehicles could reduce the need for parking space in the U.S. by more than 5.7 billion square meters. Imagine the amount of land that will be reclaimed in a future of flying autonomous cars, and increased human productivity due to faster, more enjoyable commutes. Join the Discussion

Spotted by Khaled Salih / Written by Sydney Fulkerson

Drive Any Cadillac, Anytime, for $1,500 a Month

What it is: GM's new Book by Cadillac service brings cars to the X-as-a-Service mindset to New York City. For a payment of $1,500 per month, customers can drive a Cadillac and switch it out for a different Cadillac model as many as 18 times per year. The month-to-month plan also includes insurance and maintenance.

Why it's important: Ridesharing services like Uber and Lyft are upending classical ideas of car ownership; simultaneously, traditional carmakers are fighting for market share via advanced safety and technology features. This Cadillac experiment is symptomatic of further business model experiments GM and other automakers will conduct as they try to avoid getting crushed by this tsunami of change. Join the Discussion

Spotted by Clyde Dennis / Written by Jason Goodwin

Solar Employs More Workers Than Coal, Oil and Natural Gas Combined

What it is: According to the U.S. Department of Energy's second annual U.S. Energy and Employment Report, 2016 marked the year when solar employed more workers than any other energy industry, boasting more jobs than coal, oil and natural gas combined. Some 6.4 million Americans now work in the traditional energy and energy efficiency sectors, and 300,000 net new jobs -- representing 14% of U.S. job growth -- were created for this newly dominant industry. Overall, the U.S. solar workforce increased 25% in 2016, and solar employers expect to increase employment by another 7% this year.

Why it's important: New developments are occurring every day to move us to a world of abundant energy, abundant clean water and abundant possibility -- including employment in the efficient energy sector. Join the Discussion

Spotted by David Butlein / Written by Sydney Fulkerson

CEPI Officially Launched

What it is: In a launch at Davos, the governments of Germany, Japan and Norway, plus the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust have committed $460 million to create CEPI, or the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness. Their goal is to dramatically shorten the time it takes to develop new vaccines, in particular those that suddenly emerge as public health threats, like Zika and Ebola. With backing from Merck, GSK, Johnson and Johnson, Pfizer, Sanofi and Takeda, CEPI is looking to first target the MERS-CoV, Lassa and Nipah viruses, which have known potential to cause serious epidemics.

Why it's important: This combination of public, private, and philanthropic support is a great catalyzer in responding to humanity's grand challenges. As artificial intelligence, synthetic genomics, data mining and computational power increase their exponential growth, we'll see a wave of interest in developing new methods and processes to create vaccines and, ultimately, eliminate disease entirely. Join the Discussion

Spotted by Marissa Brassfield / Written by Jason Goodwin

AI Software Learns to Make AI Software

What it is: In recent months, researchers at Google Brain, OpenAI, MIT, Berkeley, and Google's DeepMind have all reported progress on creating a machine learning system that creates machine learning systems. At Google Brain, the team designed a piece of software to design a system to take a test used to benchmark how software is able to process language, surpassing all previous results from human-designed software.

Why it's important: This is a huge first step in designing powerful self-starting AI's. The Google Brain design required 800 GPUs, but this barrier will be eliminated as recent developments in supercomputers, materials science, and quantum computing extend or accelerate Moore's Law. This development frees data scientists to focus on higher-level work, and also democratizes machine learning and AI systems to less-technical users, hastening a cognitive revolution. Join the Discussion

Spotted by Marissa Brassfield / Written by Jason Goodwin

Graphene's Sleeping Superconductivity Awakens

What it is: Researchers at the University of Cambridge have experimentally verified the latent superconductivity of graphene, a two-dimensional sheet of carbon known for being strong, light, flexible and highly conductive. Up until now, adding superconductivity has required doping with another material, which Cambridge researchers say can compromise some of its other properties. Here, although the researchers achieved the superconductivity with a copper oxide, they were able to experimentally confirm that the superconductivity was coming from the graphene itself, versus the doping material.

Why it's important: This marks an important step in realizing graphene's potential in healthcare and electronics, as superconductors are present in a range of devices, from MRI machines to levitating trains and energy storage. Look for graphene to make these devices lighter, stronger and more powerful, while also enabling new types of devices in high-speed and quantum computing. Join the Discussion

Spotted by Marissa Brassfield / Written by Jason Goodwin

Voice Analysis Tech Could Diagnose Disease

What it is: Voice samples are becoming rich sources of diagnostic data for a person's health, particularly for conditions that are not reducible to a blood test. By comparing the pitch, rhythm, rate and volume of voice samples from patients with PTSD, TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury), and depression versus healthy subjects, Charles Marmar of NYU, in collaboration with SRI International created an AI system that accurately diagnosed PTSD 77% of the time in a group of 39 men.

Why it's important: Converging advances in computing power, machine learning algorithms, and the digitization of voice data enable us to quantify that which used to be intuitive but untestable. As these advances continue, we'll uncover even more relationships between voice and other diseases, and diagnostics will demonetize as more noninvasive and highly mobile testing options become the norm. Join the Discussion

Spotted by Marissa Brassfield / Written by Jason Goodwin

Brno, Czech Republic Takes First Step to Create European Hyperloop Connecting to Slovakia

What it is: Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HTT) recently announced the signing of an agreement with Brno, Czech Republic to explore the feasibility of a Hyperloop system that would connect Brno and Bratislava, Slovakia. According to HTT, this is the first Hyperloop agreement to connect two international cities. Brno is about 80 miles north from Bratislava and 140 miles south of Prague, and is considered an international crossroads of railways and highways. (Brno's main railway station sees 500 trains and 50,000 passengers daily.)

Why it's important: The transportation industry is in a time of rapid, aggressive disruption. Will this agreement accelerate progress toward truly porous borders and a truly global economy? Join the Discussion

Spotted by Marissa Brassfield / Written by Sydney Fulkerson

China's War On Coal Continues -- The Country Just Canceled 104 New Coal Plants

What it is: China recently ordered 13 provinces to cancel 104 coal-fired projects in development, equivalent to 120 gigawatts of capacity (for context, that's almost half of the 305 gigawatts of the U.S.' entire coal capacity). Of these 104 developments, worth an estimated $30 billion, 47 of them were already under construction.

Why it's important: China's big coal plant cancellation proves we are amid an energy mindset shift. Ceasing coal plant developments is just the first step towards a future of continuously declining coal use, in China and elsewhere. Join the Discussion

Spotted by Marissa Brassfield / Written by Sydney Fulkerson

An #Outsider newsflash: Press Briefing with Press Secretary Sean Spicer

Notations On Our World: On #Iran

Iran is yet again in the news as the 2017  Munich Security Conference occurred.   It was quite an event. 

It featured the Israeli Defense Minister and the Iranian Foreign Minister. It also featured the Vice President of the United States that underscored the unwavering commitment by the United States while noting that NATO had to pay more for its' defense spending. What was very interesting was the interview that NBC News conducted with the Iranian Foreign Minister to get the Iranian View:

Dr. Zarif noted how Iranians came out in droves in support to reaffirm their commitment to the Islamic Republic.   One indication of how important the regime felt this to be important was that The Commander of the Quds Force, Ghasem Sulmeani, was probably recalled to Tehran as he participated in the Revolutionary Parade:



He also underscored how Iran was a victim and reminded the World about the US implicit support for Saddam Hussein. What he neglected to mention was that Iraq sued for peace in 1982--but Khomeini made the decision to continue the year for 6 more years primarily due to the advice he received from Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, the former President, who passed away approximately 2 months ago. As the struggle with the New Administration is at hand, what is also of note is the internal struggles that continues as Iran gears up for Presidential Elections. One of the potential opponents to the current President is the Mayor of Tehran, Ghalibaf. He is a high Ranking member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp that has been implicated in corruption. In addition, the collapse of the Plasko Building in Tehran has brought his leadership into question.   The Farsi Service of the Voice of America had an expose on him that laid bare the lies and his corruption and the corruption of his associates.    The Program is in Farsi--but the cries at the 3rd Minute by witnesses sent shivers through our spine. 

The more conservative elements in the Country have also continued their onslaught on President Rouhani. A senior prosecutor came out recently and stated that there are a number of dual-nationals inside the Government who are double-agents. The Intelligence Minister wrote a letter to this Senior Prosecutor that said in part, "...I would humbly request from my elder Brother (The Prosecutor) to refer any such individual to the Intelligence Ministry for investigation...". This was released on the Jamaran Instagram Page that is the official outreach arm for Khomeini's Grandson. It underscores the continued profound internal challenges as Former President Khatami called for National Reconciliation--although it was attacked during Friday Prayers. It was also of note that one of the leading oppostion figures inside the Country, Mehdi Khazali, was arrested on the eve of celebrations as he had called for a boycott by the people.

As the new Iranian Year is at hand, it will a challenging year ahead as underscored by the Trump Administration.   Israel has begun to resurrect its' on-going concerns regarding Iran. The Israeli Prime Minister underscored the on-going view about Iran during his summit with President Trump.   This is as the idea of the Two-State Solution was formally declared dead by President Trump--although The US UN Ambassador and the Ambassador-Designate tried to "dial down" the President's Views.    It was quite interesting how The Israeli Prime Minister noted that "labels do not matter".   How Iran's Proxies react will be interesting to watch. and comment on.

View of the Week: Presidents' Day 2017

It is President's Day here in the United States.      We appreciate the opportunity to showcase a selection of Presidential Thoughts courtesy of +Jonathan Huie as we wish all the best of Weeks:

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

- Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd President of the United States)

The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie,

deliberate, contrived and dishonest,

but the myth, persistent, persuasive and unrealistic.

- John F. Kennedy (35th President of the United States)

Men are not prisoners of fate, but only prisoners of their own minds.

- Franklin D. Roosevelt (32nd President of the United States)

We hold these truths to be self-evident:

that all men are created equal,

that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights,

among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

- Thomas Jefferson (third President of the United States)

[Declaration of Independence, and inscribed in the Jefferson Memorial]

Notations On Our World (W-End Edition): On @POTUS Watch & Our World

Tomorrow will be exactly 30 days with Donald Trump took the oath of office.   The US Public Affairs Shows featured the White House Chief of Staff as he doubled down on the charges of "Fake News" and as the President continued efforts to try and replace his fired National Security Advisor.   The White House Chief of Staff was adament in his denial that the National security Advisor would not have full say over Staff and Policy--but to the contrary assurances were given to that effect.

We could not help but be amused at the latest Carl Cannon column as he noted how all have been consumed by the Trump Derangement Syndrom (TDS)!!  We here at The Daily Outsider will try and avoid it as much as we can!!!   But we could not help but note the Presidents' claim of an attack in Sweden during his "Campaign Style" event in Florida that was based on a Fox News Report.    Senator Graham and Senator McCain though were on The US Sunday Public Affair Shows underscoring the dangerous tendencies behind the President's attacks on the Media and the Judiciary.   Senator Graham went as far as underscoring that the Free Press and an Independent Judiciary are worth fighting and dying for.     

Two reports were of profound concern to us in our daily assessment of our World.  The first report was from the World Food Program that underscored how 4 famines throughout the World will result in 20 Million Deaths.    The front page story of the New York Times Sunday Edition showcased the worrying predicament faced by Mexico City as it is faced with collapse.   Our team also reviewed the highlights of the Munich Security Conference which featured all key countries apparently ganging up on Iran with Israel and Saudi Arabia leading the way.    Israel's Defense Minister quoted The US Secretary of Defense in underscoring his view that the issue was Iran as The Iranian Foreign Minister emphatically underscored a long-standing Iranian View that Iran will never produce Nuclear Weapons.   This is as Saudi Arabia continues its' relentless campaign in Yemen.    

Despite continued challenges in our World,  please enjoy this  "Momento" on the Eve of a New Week:   

The #Outsider Musical Interlude (Special W-End Edition): An Immigrant at Harvard Plays the Guitar!!!

Please enjoy this beautiful rendition done by an Iranian Immigrant Student done at a Harvard University Talent Show as he played a guitar like a traditional Iranian Instrument: 

Notations From the Grid (W-End Edition): On @POTUS & Other Thoughts

The last 24 hours has been dominated by what some have deemed President Trump's "spirited" news conference (Fox News), questioning the Presidents' Sanity (The Fortune's Trumpnomics Daily)  a Trumpnami (The Resurrgent's Erick Erickson)and some that have outright called it a Horror Show (Haaretz) and "Extraordinary" (NBC News)   This is as, ".. ".....The leader of Lebanon's militant Hezbollah group says the world will benefit from having an "idiot" in the White House.

The Economist' KAL captured some of the sentiments--as the saying goes, a picture speaks volumes: 

(Update:  This is the Take from the Daily Show "Hurricane Trump"): 

..and this from Stephen Colbert:

Notations On Our World (Special Thursday Edition): #JournalismIsNottACrime

Professor +Juan Cole recently shared this image done by Sandow Brikow that is at the San Jose Museum of Art.    This is a depiction of a possible future for California as Climate Change continues to be or profound concern despite the skepticism at the highest levels of the Trump Administration-underscored by the nomination of Scott Pruitt at the EPA.       We here in California, though, are gratified to note that the end of the drought is in sight.   In Southern California, we're expecting rain!!!   What was striking to us earlier in the week was a tacit disregard given to the Governor of California who has emerged as one of the leading opponents of the President's Policies.    During the Orville Dam emergency evacuation order, The White House Press Secretary noted how the situation was being "monitored" by coordinating it with the local Representative without any mention of Governor Brown.    

As we went to press, our team attended the live webcast of President Trump's news conference just concluded within the past hour.   He unleashed an attack on the Media in the aftermath of the resignation of General Flynn and the chaos that seems to be the order of the day in the White House.   He noted that he "inherited a mess" when he took office.   It was interesting how The White House is interestingly trying to change the story to the "leaks"-including a letter sent by leading members of the House GOP caucus to investigate the leaks.    It is also interesting how the Press now is ever so assertive as shown by this latest on MSNBC's Morning Joe:




 His Budget Director, a proponent of deep Government cuts, has been confirmed by a narrow vote as he has just nominated a new Labor Secretary to replace the previous one who withdrew.      The President also hosted the Israeli Prime Minister at the White House yesterday.   What we found very curious is the choices the President made to take questions from: Townhall.Com & Christian Broadcasting.   It was left up to Israeli Journalists to ask probing questions about the Two-State Solution and the controversy over the Holocaust.    The President responded by touting his election win and noting how there is going to be a lot of "love".    It was also striking as he was asked about Anti-Semitism and his response was " I am the least anti-semitic person there is"--reminding all that his son-in-law, daughter and grandchildren are Jewish.   This is as the Israeli Consulate in Miami was evacuated due to a bomb threat.    He also noted that the team is a "well-oiled" machine despite the chaos currently prevalent in the White House.     We also will be working to release a retrospective on the first 30 days of the Trump Administration during Presidents' Day WeekEnd here in the United States in addition to another edition of Notations on Israel.

Beyond the United States, there is Africa.  We have been monitoring reports of the President of Nigeria's illness.   What is critical to note is that Nigeria is the largest Country in Africa and what happens in Nigeria Matters.     Although there have been notable successes in the fight against Boko Haram, there are profound economic and social challenges as the Country is  being hampered by the President's absence due to illness.   

The second largest economy in Africa is South Africa.    Jacob Zuma gave his "SONA (State of the Nation) address.      The left reflects the ceremony and the right depicts the chaos inside the chamber:

EFF, Madisha removal during Sona referred to rules committee: Parliament has referred the physical removal of Congress of the People (Cope) MP Willie Madisha and the violent ejection of Economic Freedom FIghters (EFF) members to the joint rules committee. Madisha was the first to be removed by Parliament’s 'bouncers' during President Jacob Zuma’s State of the Nation Address on Thursday.

Our team was blown away by the use of the Word "bouncers".     The two countries are the key countries in Africa and the turmoil will continue to present challenges for the entire continent.  T Tragedy also struck Pakistan as a Sufi Shrine was attacked which underscores how Pakistan continues to be besieged by insurgencies with no end in sight.   Iraq is also as dangerous as ever as cars bombs again shook Baghdad.       Gaza has also seen a change in leadership as a new leader has been elected as the prospects for any peace has faded away despite President Trump's declarations to the contrary.

   We conclude by remembering and calling for the immediate release of Mahmoud Hussein who has been in prison in Egypt and reminding all that #JournalismIsNotaCrime:

Thought For the Week: On Love & the Possibilities

It has been a challenging few days in our World.   The World celebrated Valentine's Day yesterday which gave all a chance to remember and appreciate their loved ones and for the wider World to remember the old Beatles' Admonition:

 

In line with our mission to work to change the conversation about our World, we wanted to feature a number of the inspirational posters on Values.Com that underscores how anything can be indeed possible:

 

All of the stories are inspiring.   May we all embrace the lessons.

Onward.....

A "Virtual Treat" On This #ValentinesDay2017 For All To Enjoy

Happy Valentine's Day from all of us at the Daily Outsider.

We're honored and privileged to share this "snapshot" we received from the team at Pandora which will also be available on our sister site Ordinary Faces Entertainment Corner:

Hear the Love with your love  this Valentine’s Day.

80s Love Songs Beats Between The Sheets

Country Love Songs Pop Love Songs

R&B Love Songs Canciones Romanticas

On This Valentine's Day 2017....

Notations From the Grid (Weekly Edition): On Our World & the latest dilemma re @POTUS Watch

The World was witness to another North Korea missile attack as President Trump and Prime Minister Abe had a submit at the President's Florida Estate.    This is also as Prime Minister Trudeau is now in Washington.    This is also as reports of turmoil at the White House seem to be dominating with the National Security Advisor being in the crosshairs--as the White House Senior Counselor noted that the President had full confidence in General Flynn and then the Press Secretary noted that the President was evaluating the situation--and as there are reports that Michael Flynn has submitted his resignation.As we also went to press, we were reviewing reports of the North Korean Missile Launch being discussed while the President was at dinner at his Club in Florida with the Japanese Prime Minister--A charge the White House Denies.

The White House Policy Director, Stephen Miller, went on the US Public Affairs Shows to discuss on-going policy matters--including the Immigration Matter and the on-going charge of Voter Fraud--and underscoring a view first noted by the Justice Department Counsel during proceedings before the 9th Circuit that the President's Actions were "non-reviewable" which was discussed at a +Morning Joe  Panel:



It is of note that the Executive Branch has been abiding by the Court's Decision--although the continued attack on the Judiciary is disturbing.   The ignorance of the basics of the Constitution of the United States is of profound concern.   +Joe Scarborough was right on when he noted that the comments were horrendous--and the idea of a President of the United States having unlimited power is not correct and must be of concern to all Justices of the US Supreme Court--as Judge Gorsuch is up for his confirmation.    Republicans are quiet.      

Beyond the policy challenges as we launch our weekly @POTUS launch, the business front is just as profound times.   The challenging times was  captured by the Fortune's Geoff Colvin which in our view captures the profound challenges being faced before us--as the new Treasury Secretary was confirmed and was sworn into office earlier today: 

FEBRUARY 13, 2017 “You know we have a treaty with Japan where if Japan is attacked, we have to use the full force and might of the United States. If we’re attacked, Japan doesn’t have to do anything. They can sit home and watch Sony television, OK?” Thus spoke Donald Trump witheringly just six months ago. But wait – on Friday he said, “We are committed to the security of Japan and all areas under its administrative control and to further strengthening our very crucial alliance,” adding later , after North Korea tested a ballistic missile, “The United States of America stands behind Japan, its great ally, 100 percent.” All politicians contradict themselves, but rarely as often, as starkly, or on such crucial issues as Trump does. A looming danger is that by doing so, he continues to undermine the pro-business stance he’s trying to maintain. Uncertainty paralyzes, and he risks paralyzing four of the most important players in the U.S. economy: -The Fed. Vice chairman Stanley Fischer on Saturday cited “significant uncertainty” about Trump’s fiscal policy, which makes the Fed’s job harder. Reduced confidence about the Fed’s future actions spooks investors, executives, and consumers. -Importers. Trump keeps threatening border taxes yet has said he dislikes the border-adjustment feature of House Speaker Paul Ryan’s proposed corporate tax overhaul, which might or might not (depending on which lobbyist you listen to) increase costs for importers. How can any executive make a confident decision about importing (or not) anything? That’s a giant issue right now for many major industries, such as autos. -Companies that employ foreigners, especially if they’re Muslim or Mexican. That means every large business and quite a few small ones. It’s not that all employers oppose Trump’s executive orders on immigration, though many of them do. But the orders are vaguely written, subject to wide interpretation by officials and individual border agents, and in any case tied up in the courts for who knows how long with who knows what outcome. Some companies now refuse to send certain employees overseas, for fear they won’t be able to re-enter, and some foreigners refuse to travel to the U.S. As a result, the pace of business slows down. -The health care sector. It’s arguably America’s largest industry, and many of its participants would be happy, in principle, to see Trump and Congress replace Obamacare. But with what? Trump has called for swift replacement but has no proposal, and Congressional Republicans can’t agree on one. A hospital trade group is already lobbying against Obamacare repeal. Everyone in the industry figures Obamacare in its present form is going, but no one has a clue what’s coming. America needs a more pro-business Washington. And yes, uncertainty about future policy is eternal. But this is different; it’s uncertainty about fundamental plans for future policy. One result: less certainty, less confidence, less action. That’s bad for business.