Thought(s) For the Week: On the Eve of Q3 2015

As the Quarter comes to a close throughout the #Outsider properties, we wanted to share this series of "curations" courtesy of +Jonathan Huie that goes to the heart of having an open mind and truly thinking about the art of the possible in our World....

 

Travelers, there is no path.
Paths are made by walking.
- Antonio Machado

Everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time.
- Steven Wright

If you don't like the road you're walking,
start paving another one.
- Dolly Parton

The Friday Musical Interlude: White Owl

As part of our regular "feature" throughout our Virtual Properties, we wanted to share this our team chose on YouTube from Keiko Matsui which we hope all enjoy for this edition of The Friday "Musical Interlude":

Notations From the Grid: On Extinction

Our team has been assessing the latest on the Environment and some of the latest reporting has been horrific.     Beyond +TakePart and a few others, we have not seen much reporting on this.  Yet, one of our team's daily "must reads", +Haaretz הארץ , took to Twitter to report on this: 

The sixth extinction event has arrived, new study indicates http://t.co/Qw1ihiT1zh pic.twitter.com/8dNdg13uCj

— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) June 24, 2015

We will be assessing this and reporting on this.

Notations On Our World: On the Exciting Flight of the Solar Impulse

One of a number of exciting intiiatives we've been following here in #Outsiders has been the flight of the Solar Impluse.   We just received this here in our Virtual Studios--The Educational Value is beyond measure as we continue to assess a potential Post-Fossil Fuel World:

OCEAN CROSSING TO HAWAII : THE SECOND ATTEMPT.Solar Impulse will try again to make a historical oceanic flight that will last at least 5 days and 5 nights non-stop Endeavoring to reach Hawaii from Japan to encourage the use of clean technologies, the solar powered aircraft of Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg will attempt the longest exploration leg of the Solar Impulse’s Round-The-World mission, as soon as aflight window is identified. Watch the takeoff at 17:30 UTC from Nagoya

Notatrions From the Grid: On The Future of Education

We here @ #Outsiders are proponents of access to Open Education.   We are supporters  of the Open Desktop Group and PATHS whose mission is to open up access to all.   We recently received this from one of the Senior Directors which we wanted to share for this edition of "Notations" by Terry O'Banion that goes to the heart of the challenge on Education today:  Our Students Need Bread and Roses

We look forward to releasing notations to expand upon the ideas noted soon.

The Friday Musical Interlude: Pharrell's "Happy"

As summer dawns on this Father's Day Week-End in the United States, our team chose Pharrell Williams "Happy" which we hope all enjoy:



Happy Father's Day 2 All!!!

Notations On Our World (Special Edition): On the Tragedy in #Charleston, South Carolina

Our team has been "virtually breathless" as it has been assessing the Political Scene in the United States over the ensuing weeks.   As we went to press with this latest edition of "Notations", though, we were monitoring reports out of South Carolina with an attack by a  gunman at the Emmanual AME Church in Charleston.    Known as "Mother Emmanuel", it is the oldest and largest African American Congregations in the South.    A news conference concluded within the past hour confirmed 9 victims including the Pastor of Mother Emmanuel, State Senator Rev. Pickney.   The Charleston Police Chief has noted that this is a hate crime and implored all to come together.   There was also one of the Elders of the Church noting that there will be a prayer vigil at 12:00 PM EST in Charleston.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the People of Charleston, the victims and their families at this trying hour.      Our team will observe a 24-Hour Moment of Silence throughout the #Outsider Properties in honor of the fallen and in solidarity with the people of Charleston.

Notations From the Grid: Reporting on the Kaltura Connect Enterprise Virtual Summit

Our team recently had a chance to join this "Virtual Summit".  We wanted to report on it for this edition of "Notations From the Grid" so that all get a sense of what must be thought through in the Cloud Today:

Thank you again for registering for Kaltura Connect Enterprise Virtual Summit, which took place last week. If you couldn’t make it to the live event, you can now view all session recordings on the Kaltura Connect VOD Site. Kaltura Connect Enterprise Virtual Summit gathered industry leaders to explore the future of online video for business. With speakers from Metlife, IBM, DuPont, Groupon, General Mills, and others, viewers discovered best practices for encouraging collaboration and innovation, increasing employee engagement, improving training outcomes, and building a robust video strategy. The sessions are all now available on VOD, make sure to tune in to find out how business leaders around the world are improving employee communication, creating more effective processes, and inspiring their organizations through video. WATCH SUMMIT ON VOD

Notations From the Grid (Special Edition): On Cyber Security

+LastPass was hacked--and this is a company that serves as the last line of defense.   There is an old saying that one has either been hacked and knows it--and if they don't, they have been hacked anyway.    This newsflash received by us earlier ourtesy of the team @GovLoop is timely in trying to understand some of the breakdowns so that as they put it, "become better cyberwarrior"....

An April 2014 report notes that federal agencies reported 64,214 information security incidents. And just this month an attack on OPM affected 4 million people and counting. New Report: Achieving Security with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework In GovLoop’s latest report, you will learn how the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework can help your agency identify and analyze cyber risk. You will learn: How to utilize the NIST Cybersecurity Framework. How to address common cybersecurity challenges. Best practices from Matthew Barrett, Program Manager at NIST. Download the Report Helping you become a cyber warrior,

 

Notations From the Grid: Remembering....

A Nice admonition to remember.... https://t.co/1iT26zDmRL

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) June 14, 2015

Notations For the Week-End: On Flag Day In the United States

Today is Flag Day in the United States.     For this edition of "Notation For the Week-End", we wanted to share this insightful bulletin from +USA.gov :

On June 14, 1777, the Second Continental Congress approved the design of a national flag. Since then, the Stars and Stripes has become our most famous symbol. Few things have witnessed American history as up-close as the flag. From the birth of the nation, to the darkest and brightest moments over time, the flag has been there. Learn more about its  238 years of history and this observance. Whether you are displaying a flag at home, work or in a public setting, learn how to do it correctly using these guidelines(PDF).

 

"The Friday Musical Interlude" : My Way

A new feature is now part of the #outsider properties which we hope is of interest.     For the "Education" Channel, our team chose the following which we hope all enjoy:

Thought For the Week

A "Thought 4 the Week"

Posted by The Daily "Outsider" on Thursday, June 11, 2015

An #Outsider Newsflash: Summer YouthSpark Camps Sponsored by Microsoft

As summer is upon us, we wanted to share this we received earlier today here @ #outsiders on a fantastic opportunity courtesy of Microsoft for the development of "Digitally Native" Children:

An #Outsider Newsflash: On Security Vuneralibities

Our team received this from a contact at IBM that we felt was important to be noted here for reference:

The latest SSL/TLS attack (LOGJAM) is a cipher down-grade attack that exploits
olde ciphers, or weakened ciphers, or the order in which the 'best available' cipher
is negotiated.

How bad is the LOGJAM exploit?

- 8.4% of the Top-100 websites are vulnerable.
- 66% of the popular VPNs are vulnerable.

I like this list of cipher SSL/TLS suites. Server admins should consider adopting it
without additions or altering the cipher order.

https://www.grc.com/miscfiles/SChannel_Cipher_Suites.txt

The author does review & update the list periodically. 

Thought(s) For the Week

One of the joys of education is a sense of happiness & confidence that is beyond this World.    In this spirit, our team chose this courtesy of +Jonathan Huie :

Remember that happiness is as contagious as gloom. It should be the first duty of those who are happy to let others know of their gladness. - Maurice Maeterlinck Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence. - Vince Lombardi Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened. - Billy Graham It's your life. Live it with people who are alive. It tends to be contagious. - Peter McWilliams

Notations For the Week-End: On Peace in the Middle East

For this edition of "Notations For the Week-End", our team chose a clip from an interview done by the +Fusion journalist Jose Ramos that showcased the challenges faced in the Middle East today:



It is quite insightful to listen to both sides as Jose Ramos also talked with Community Organizers and all who seem to be "one step ahead" from the Politicans.   

Interesting times....

View of the Week (II) : On Simplifying One's Life

For this edition of  "view of the week (II) " whereby we feature thoughts & ideas from thinkers throughout the grid.  For this edition, we chose this courtesy of +Dan Forbes.   The advise extended is quite timely for all:

9 Ways to Simplify Your Life from Dan Forbes

Onward!!!

Thought 4 the Week

The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them. 

~ George Bernard Shaw

View of the Week (II) : Kaltura Connect Virtual Education Summit

For this edition of "View of the week", we wanted to share this our team was made aware of for all to review--We hope this is of interest.

Thank you again for registering for Kaltura Connect Education Virtual Summit, which took place last week. If you couldn’t make it to the live event, or if you’d like to watch the sessions again or share the content with your colleagues, you can now view all session recordings on the Kaltura Connect VOD Site. Kaltura Connect Education Virtual Summit gathered the leaders in education to explore the future of online video. With speakers from New York University, Purdue University, National University of Ireland Galway, Old Dominion University, and others, viewers discovered best practices for teaching through video, to empower students and faculty to create their own content and increase reach on and off campus. The sessions are all now available on VOD, make sure to tune in to find out how the best educators in the world are reaching students, creating communities, and inspiring their institutions through video. WATCH SUMMIT ON VOD

View of the Week

We have achieved a milestone here in this #Outsider Channel.  On the occassion of our 250th Post, we wanted to share this "Thought 4 the Day" as a A "View of the Week" that is telling ever more as a new week Dawns on this day...

Sunday May 31st 2015 Posted: 31 May 2015 01:00 AM PDT “I’m a little boy with glasses The one they call a geek A little girl who never smiles ‘Cause I have braces on my teeth And I know how it feels to cry myself to sleep I’m that kid on every playground Who’s always chosen last A single teenage mother Tryin’ to overcome my past You don’t have to be my friend But is it too much to ask Don’t laugh at me Don’t call me names Don’t get your pleasure from my pain In God’s eyes we’re all the same Someday we’ll all have perfect wings Don’t laugh at me I’m the beggar on the corner You’ve passed me on the street And I wouldn’t be out here beggin’ If I had enough to eat And don’t think I don’t notice That our eyes never meet Don’t laugh at me Don’t call me names Don’t get your pleasure from my pain In God’s eyes we’re all the same Someday we’ll all have perfect wings Don’t laugh at me I’m fat, I’m thin, I’m short, I’m tall I’m deaf, I’m blind, hey, aren’t we all Don’t laugh at me Don’t call me names Don’t get your pleasure from my pain In God’s eyes we’re all the same Someday we’ll all have perfect wings Don’t laugh at me” ~ Steve Seskin and Allen Shamblin