Notations For the Week-End: On France & Difficult Days

As the World continues to come to grips with the tragic week in France (and we here @ #Outsiders have been commenting on it), there are difficult days ahead.   It has been quite a development to see the convergence of World Leaders during the Unity March tomorrow in Paris as they all will march in hand.     

We look forward to the Miracles that will grow as a result of the sacrifice by all the 17 victims of the tragedy in France and all the hundreds of thousands of the fallen in Syria and Nigeria.   There is no choice but to remain hopeful as we are reminded of this admonition before us to truly strive to create the "Vision of the Possible":

Out of difficulties grow miracles. - Jean de la Bruyere http://t.co/I1BTz47J5E pic.twitter.com/W8RM1V7v6R
— BrainyQuote (@BrainyQuote) December 13, 2014

Thought 4 the Week: On the Art of the Possible

Our World, yet again, has been witness to horrific events.    The ever perceptive +Jonathan Huie's thoughts is ever so evident for us to remember what is possible as we embark on this journey:

 

 

Let my soul smile through my heart

and my heart smile through my eyes,

that I may scatter rich smiles in sad hearts.

- Paramahansa Yogananda

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.

- Phyllis Diller 

Although it is always better to live with conviction and enthusiasm,

some days it is better just to go through the motions than to do nothing.

Smile even when you feel grumpy.

Meditate or Pray even when you have nothing to say to God.

Cook a healthy meal even when you are tired.

Walk or exercise even when the thought doesn't excite you.

- Jonathan Lockwood Huie 

Thought 4 the Week-End As #2015 Begins....

While on the "Grid" for the evening--enough said:

Post by The Daily "Outsider".

Onward as we begin the new year here in #outsiders....

A "Musical" Interlude on the Eve of 2015 : Africa Stop Ebola - Tiken Jah Fakoly, Amadou & Mariam, Salif Keita, Oumo...

As 2015 is about to arrive in Southern California, we wanted to remember..and to salute the African Artists who put together this beautiful rendition to remember the Invisible Enemy.



Onward to 2015......

Winding Down 2014: On Quite a Year @ Apple

It has been quite a year at Apple.  We have been reflecting upon a company that has done so much to help be at the forefront of the creation of the "vision of the possible" that we believe will continue.  It caused Apple to rise up to be the most valuable company in the World.

As it is with such companies, the World continues to take notice.  As part of the Winding down the Year, we decided to have a "look back" at quite a year for Apple on all fronts.  It all began with how it all started during the 3rd Quarter this year and Apple's latest "Big Day"-September 9.  Some  10 Million iphones were sold on the first Weekend Alone.   #Apple continues to be haunted by challenges with its' iCloud service.    When this crossed the wires from the Sydney Morning Herald,  it was a true moment of zen that prompted me to activate my calm.com App--this is as Apple touted its' "40 Hours" of work on the problem--and Dylan Tweeney's defacto indictment published over the W-End underscores the challenge faced by Apple.  

The Quarterly Revenue Apple had during Q3 2014 said it all: 

 Apple on Monday reported earnings for its fiscal fourth quarter that ended Sept. 27, 2014. And with the exception of the iPad, Apple beat Wall Street's estimates across the board: Revenue, earnings per share, and even unit sales of the iPhone and Mac surpassed expectations.
As you can see from the chart below, which was provided for us by BI Intelligence, Apple's $42.12 billion in revenue is a big 12% jump from the same quarter a year ago. It was Apple's best September quarter ever — thanks in large part to the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, which continue selling like hotcakes; the iPhone in general accounted for 56% of the company's revenue this quarter. But the real surprise is the Mac, which had its best quarter in Apple's history with 5.52 million unit sales; the Mac accounted for more of Apple's revenue than the iPad (16% versus 13%, respectively). Apple expects an even bigger December quarter, projecting $63.5 billion to $66.6 billion in revenue for the holiday season — that would make it the company's most successful quarter in history.Read »

It also made profound headways on Margins as epitomized by this telling chart (again courtesy of the team at the Business Insider):

 

Based on a manufacturing cost breakdown from Teardown.com and research firm IHS, which was charted for us by Business Insider Intelligence, Apple will likely make huge margins from its latest phones due to the low cost of materials. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus cost $649 and $749 without a contract, respectively.

As we have seen the iphone 6 continues to make inroad, the Venture Beat's Dylan Tweney wrote a rather telling indictment of it which we decided to publish it in its' entirety--although it seems as if Apple continues its' inroads ever more throughout 2014:    

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because I’m cheap. I don’t want to lock myself into a two-year contract, and I’m unwilling to spend $650 or more for an off-contract phone that I’ll probably want to replace in a year, or at the most two years, anyway.

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because it will bend when I put it in the back pocket of my skinny jeans.

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because the latest version of the iPhone operating system, iOS 8.0.1, makes it so TouchID doesn’t work on some phones and stops cellular service from working on others.

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because the previous version, iOS 8.0, had bugs in HealthKit, preventing fitness and health apps from communicating with Apple’s new cloud-based health data interchange service.

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because I don’t want to be a beta tester.

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because Android has had features like swipe-to-delete on email messages and customizable keyboards for, what, four years now?

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because I’m opposed to the closed system that Apple enforces, making it so you can only use its Continuity feature with OS X.

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because I have so many more choices with Android.

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because in the future, anyone who wants to have an Apple Watch will also need an iPhone because the watch won’t work by itself. Just like the Samsung Galaxy Gear watch. And you know I’m dorky enough to wear an iPod nano on my wrist, so I’ll probably wind up wearing an Apple Watch too. But I don’t have to like it!

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because Android is winning the market share battle, and that trend isn’t going to change any time soon.

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because I don’t want to stand in line. Plus, I heard those lines were filled with people buying phones for the “Chinese mafia.” (Not true, by the way, but I’m still not waiting in line, even if those are just regular people.)

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because my iPhone 4 works just fine. And you should use a phone until it wears out, not buy a new one every year. I’m also waiting to upgrade my 2001 Honda Accord until it stops running.

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because if you’re a really good customer on AT&T, the company rewards you by not letting you buy the new model until late next year. What other business works that way?

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because it doesn’t feel like as big of a leap as the iPhone 5S last year.

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because the new models are just too big and dorky and uncomfortable in my delicate lady hands. And that camera on the 6 Plus sticks out of the back.

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because Tim Cook will never live up to the legacy of his old boss, the late Steve Jobs.

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because Apple is a huge polluter. Despite the fact that it has eliminated lots of toxic chemicals and is taking steps to make its stores and its new headquarters as green as possible, it still runs data centers that use coal-powered electricity, and its manufacturing facilities in China are probably big polluters too, who knows.

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because I’m not one of the sheeple.

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because I kind of like feeling superior, standing on the outside and looking in at a party that I don’t really want to join anyway.

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because I don’t trust Apple’s security, since the NSA has a program designed to make the iPhone completely accessible to its secret agents. Even if it is turned off. Android? Windows Phone? BlackBerry? I’m pretty sure those are safe from the NSA.

I’m not buying an iPhone 6 because for me, phones are basically tools to get a job done, and that job is staying in touch with my reporters and my editors and my boss and the news. And while I appreciate a well-crafted, well-designed product as much as the next gadget geek, I’m not in a rush to get the latest gadget just for its own sake, particularly when the one I’ve got now is doing that job just fine.

What was also telling was how iPad's continue to see a slow death to their sales.    The problem is the broader tablet market as cheaper tablets and "phablet's continue to make inroads: 

The iPhone 6 Is Killing The Need To Own An iPad

Pocket, a service that lets people save stories and videos to read/watch later, published data on how user habits are changing thanks to the bigger screens on the iPhone 6. 

The iPhone 6 has a 4.7-inch screen, and the iPhone 6 Plus has a 5.5-inch screen. The iPhone 5S has a 4-inch screen. The iPad Air has a 9.7-inch screen, and the iPad Mini has a 7.9-inch screen. 

As you can see in this chart, iPhone 5S users spent just under half of their time reading on the iPad versus the iPhone. But, once they got an iPhone 6, they only spent 28% of their time on the iPad. When they got an iPhone 6 Plus that dropped to just 20% of the time on the iPad.

If this trend holds for other apps and services, it spells doom for the iPad. If someone only needs an iPad 20% of the time, Apple is not going to sell very many iPads.  Read »

We here @ #Outsiders are users of Pocket as well for our on-going research and view this as quite compelling since there is no need for iPads.    Amazon, in the meantime, is making profound inroads as it announced its' $ 99 Kindle HDX this year.    It was quite compelling as Apple CEO, Tim Cook, discounted Amazon's threat to its' business.

We continue to be fascinated by Apple Watch and Apple Pay and eagerly await its' arrival in 2015.     But, many have already been "one step" ahead of it which we've also followed-including Pebble.     Disruptive innovation will continue as noted in this tweet reported by our friends at the Business Insider earlier in the month: 

	Business Insider (@businessinsider)
12/7/14, 10:01 A Chinese startup made this gorgeous iPhone clone that's thinner than any phone in the world read.bi/1wOopep

 

We were also quite taken aback as we reviewed these reports earlier in the year from the Sydney Morning Herald as the controversy over iCloud's Hacking which will continue ever more especially as Sony's latest hack shows the continued challenges in the area of the cloud:   

How I hacked my own iCloud account for just $200 CHRISTINA WARREN | Reverse-engineering Apple's backups to scour iCloud for images and messages is much easier to do than you might think.

Explainer: How safe is 'the cloud'? HANNAH FRANCIS | Is there a risk for everyone with a smartphone This "Brief Overview" courtesy of the Sydney Morning Herald also underscored how far we've come in the Apple Ecosystem and how far we still have to go.... Happy New Year!!!!

Hands on with the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch The new iPhone 6 models are beautiful and appear it even more functional than the iPhone 5S they supersede, but the Apple Watch was the revelation. Apple Watch: why I won't be buying one TODD WASSERMAN 10:27am  looks like an elegant, useful and fashionable device. But I'm not interested.

Apple iOS 8: Top 11 features It's not a total overhaul but rather a major step forward in ease of use and intuitive operation. Here's what to expect when you upgrade your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch's operating system.

Winding Down #2014: A Thought 4 the Week-End On the Eve of #2015

It is the final Weekend of 2014.  This simple yet so powerful a thought that Zig Ziglar's Facebook Page noted is ever so the essence of the "Vision of the Possible" & the continued impetus behind "Outsiders" despite some major odds before it...

#2015:  Here we come!!! 

Winding Down 2014: Thought(s) for the Day On #Earth from @Astro_Alex & A Reminder From #Einstein

2015 is right around the corner.   As the year is winding down, there have been so much to celebrate and be thankful for.    The most stunning thing, though, was this beautiful production from Alexander Gerst (@Astro_Alex) as he created this stunning #4K Clip  that was a sight for sore eyes:



It showed the beauty, majesty and fragility of Mother Earth which many seem to forget.   It has also been quite a year for the work done on the Grid as the evolution occurred.   This admonition from Einstein said it all as all in their own way seek to create that elusive "Vision of the Possible": 

A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new. - Albert Einstein http://t.co/n3dpbkr2Pu
— Wise Quotes (@wisequotesnet) December 25, 2014

As the Great Diane Nyad always says, Onward--and as friend of the outsiders noted, upward!!!

Happy Holidays From the #Outsiders

   

We here @ Outsiders wish all the very best on this joyous Season as we bid farewell to 2014 and embrace the advent of 2015....

Happy Holidays!!!!

Winding Down 2014: Thoughts 4 the Day

The idea behind "Visions" was simple:  to showcase ideas and reflect upon the art of the possible.     When the idea behind #outsiders was conceived, it was against big odds as other "big players" were at hand and at times we felt that we were like a "Salmon" swimming up against a violent river tide.   But, a sense of inner optimism continues to prevail as we reflect upon 2014 and gear up for 2015 which is underscored by this admonition before us:

Don't wait for extraordinary opportunities. Seize common occasions and make them great. Weak men wait for opportunities; strong men make them.    
~ Orison Swett Marden

No other choice.....

"Do it Anyway": On an Affirmation as #2015 is Before Us.....

The holidays are upon us.    It is a time to remember, reflect and be ever so thankful for all the blessings.  As we wind down 2014 here in #outsiders and gear up for 2015, it is ever so vital to reflect upon working to "Do it anyway" as the admonition from Mother Teresa (that hangs prominently at St. Anne School in Laguna Niguel's Mother Teresa Hall) reminds us all--and not forgetting that truly "Our Future is in our hands".  

View of the Week: On Criticism

As the development of Outsiders continues, this particular "View of the week" courtesy of +Jonathan Huie  yet again underscored what we aim to avoid here in #Outsiders.  Achieving a "Vision of the Possible" entails looking for solutions, avoiding expectations and never ever ever be bitter whe suffering setbacks.

 Onward as we embrace 2015 with all the possibilities at hand.

 

Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain,

and most fools do.

- Benjamin Franklin

Expectation is the root of all heartache.

- William Shakespeare

Never succumb to the temptation of bitterness.

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Never ascribe to malice that which is

adequately explained by incompetence.

- Napoleon

We have to let go of all blame, all attacking, all judging,

to free our inner selves to attract what we say we want.

- Joe Vitale

 

Thought 4 the Week

One of the key driving force about a "Vision of the Possible" is this simple thought which we wanted to underscore is this simple thought as we were reminded of the admonition by Gene Krantz as he reminded all as he led the Apollo 13 Team that "failure is not an option"--and this underscores it:

A thought to share 💥🎉💥 #inspirationalquote from the @Simple_Truths Sunrise Inspiration app: http://t.co/LLLeJN0okn pic.twitter.com/I4aui9J80X
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) December 10, 2014

View of the Week: A Case Study on how a "Vision of the Possible" Was Achieved

A True Case Study of how a "Vision of the Possible" was truly achieved--it was remarkable to say the least:

Horray: )This unusual startup strategy led to a $200 Million acquisition by Microsoft in 18 months @larrykim http://t.co/SrczryF6K8 via @Inc
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) December 14, 2014

As a New Week Begins in #Outsiders: Reminders about why "A Vision of the Possible" Can be Possible :-)

v

Enough Said!!!

Notations From the "Grid" For the Day: How a "Vision of the Possible" Can be Possible

 

 (Image Source:  Twitter/AFB/BBC News) 

It was gratifying ever more as we were witness to history yet again.    Time Magazine began our day in Outsiders with this fantastic news:

Fantastic choice👏👏👏Why we chose the #Ebola fighters as TIME's Person of the Year 2014 #TIMEPOY http://t.co/xMiAhUutIs via @TIMEWorld
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) December 10, 2014

In all the years we've be witness to the Nobel Prize, this one especially is ever so poignant in lieu of the war that is being fought especially in a continent that has been so devastated by disease and abuse for so long as epitomized by what happened in Zimbabwe this past week.

It was also gratifying to see that the Government of Columbia and the FARC guerrilla movement have again agreed to sit down and talk:

Another good news 👏👏💥💥From The Economist Espresso: Back to the table: Colombia and the FARC http://t.co/Zyr6GLhNXs
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) December 10, 2014

The commitment to come to peace is something ever so gratifying to be witness to and comment on.   This is a war that has gone on for 50 years and claimed over 220,000 lives.    We remain optimistic on this and will be continuing to assess its' progress here in the #Outsiders network.

It was ever so gratifying as we were also witness to some fabulous news this morning from Oslo as the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to two selfless souls:

May the almighty bless them both - may we learn &remember: #Malala & Kailash Satyarthi receive joint #nobelprize2014 http://t.co/KHhuhpct9x
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) December 10, 2014

We were reminded to always hear the child:

Feel the child inside you. Listen to that child. #nobelprize2014 http://t.co/fExfvRUOlq
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) December 10, 2014

View of the Week: Notations & Thoughts On Leadership

Leading by example is ever so important.   Those who wear their faith on their sleeves present a unique view: 

“@FortuneMagazine: 7 CEOs with devout religious beliefs http://t.co/2avfjn4qc8 pic.twitter.com/Nsyo79SnUJ”👏👏🎉😁

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) November 16, 2014

It is also interesting to note these 10 points of leadership developed by a leadership thinker modified from the original admonition by the Blessed Mother Teresa:

1. People are illogical, unreasonable and self-centered (including me). Love them anyway.
2. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Do good anyway.
3. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway.
4. The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway.
5. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable. Be honest and frank anyway.
6. The biggest people with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the littlest people with the littlest ideas. Think big anyway.
7. People favor underdogs, but follow only top dogs. Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
8. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway.
9. People really need help, but may attack you if you do help them. Help them anyway.
10. Give the world the best you have and you will get kicked in the teeth. Give the best you have anyway.

It is an awesome undertaking that would yield the ultimate vision of the possible.

Thought 4 The Week: A Solid Reminder From Emerson

As a new week begins in the #Outsider Network, We wanted to begin with this from Emerson about thinking about the "Vision of the Possible" : 

Finish each day and be done with it.

You have done what you could;

some blunders and absurdities have crept in;

forget them as soon as you can.

Tomorrow is a new day;

you shall begin it serenely

and with too high a spirit

to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

 

Onward!!!

View of the Week: On Editorials, Aspirations & Feeling Secure

For this week's "View of the week" we here @outsiders thought this to be a solid indication of the thinking by the leading mainstream media on the state of affairs today:

Today's best editorial cartoons: http://t.co/wvIl1umDKi pic.twitter.com/Gb0MMwXcDl
— The Week (@TheWeek) December 3, 2014

Beyond this, though, is what the aspirations of the American People is especially in lieu of the tragedy of the Eric Garner case that we commented on in Outsider Views earlier.     The team @ No Labels continue onward with the effort to show a third way to hopefully work to "create a possible "Vision of the Possible" in light of the tragic circumstances we've been witness to:

	No Labels (@NoLabelsOrg)
11/25/14, 11:00 All Americans want a better tomorrow. The #NationalStrategicAgenda is a road map to get there. bit.ly/1HEFbzP pic.twitter.com/BNk0vFkkXW

This is also as our World was witness to a major hack by Sony and the implications continue to be felt ever so:

Financial Times (@FinancialTimes)

12/3/14, 20:51

Video: Impact of Sony hack grows on.ft.com/1rYHWlw

    

A Blast From the Past: Leadership in Action

“@guardian: Martin Luther King in London, 1964: reflections on a landmark visit http://t.co/Di5iHlaa6X”a great blast from the past 💥👏👏😬
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) December 2, 2014

View of the Week: On Righteousness & Values

On the Dawn of December here in #Outsiders, these collections of thoughts from +Jonathan Huie brings home the responsibility that we all have for righteousness and a sense of Purpose:  To be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others. - Nelson Mandela When the rights of any group, no matter how small, no matter how marginal, are violated, your liberty, your freedom is put at risk. Let there never be a day when we cast about in horror and have to ask the question, "How did it ever come to this?" - Thomas Childers   I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who will have sought and found how to serve. - Albert Schweitzer Giving is the highest expression of our power. - Vivian Greene Honor, Forgiveness, Gratitude, Choice, Vision, Action, Celebration, Unity - The Values of an Inspired Life. - Jonathan Lockwood Huie In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present. - Lao Tzu & This:  Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.     ~ Buddha Enough Said....