While on the grid, I saw this from the distinguished scholar Professor Dabashi of Columbia. It sent shivers through my spine as I read through this from the team @ the Inquisitor as they profiled this beautiful angelic girl who is why I believe that the World will defeat these sub human mutant scum....Her sacrifice will not be in vain:
Earlier today in Iran, the President and the Parliament had a joint meeting to discuss the on-going challenges facing the Country. This is as the wife of Jason Rezaian the detained Tehran correspondent for the Washington Post has been released according to reports reviewed this morning here in "Outsiders". It is welcome. However, the continued detaining of the British-Iranian Woman is of profoud concern:
A total travesty of justice: Iranian-British woman goes on hunger strike in Tehran prison http://t.co/B0kGepQzil
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) October 5, 2014
We will be releasing comments on it within the next day or so as the looming November 24 deadline is before us. The situation on the Syria/Turkey Border though is worrisome. The UN Syria Envoy has called for international intervention to save Kobane--but the UN Syria Envoy does not seem to realize that the train has already left the station. It was also of note that Turkish Kurds have been demonstrating against Turkey's inaction. Beyond The immediate challenges on the ground, there is of course the Biden Gaffee. The US Vice President--known for his matter-of-fact comments---got in trouble and had to apologize to Turkey and the United Arab Emirates for implying that they were responsible for the rise of ISIS. The problem is that he was not entirely wrong. It is a challenging World--especially as the World has to deal with Climate Change and the enviornment--although the sceptics touted the fact that the World is "cooling". It is fall--yet California continues to be ever so hot and the drought continues to be prevalent. Many had held out hope that El Nino will begin to dissipate the effect of the drought--an apparent pipe dream at this stage. But a sense of awareness must be the order of the day as we see what we can do to help somehow transform our World. Staying engaged in such a fashion is ever so critical to really understand the effects of human contributions to it all:
The War against Dayesh (Also known as ISIS/ISIL/IS) is gathering steam ever more. Turkey has voted to join the fight. This is as Canada has also decided to join the fight. However, The Liberal Party has spoken up against War:
This was quite striking as it was so striking how the "loyal opposition" in the United States did not speak up and anyone who spoke up against the War was literally branded a traitor. What President Obama has noted, though, is that it is a local fight that has to be fought by local forces. But, the reality is that the Iraqi Army is nearly non-existent and the ever insightful Borzou Darghani of the Financial Times clearly lays out the tragic dilemma being faced as the World tries to figure out a way to fight the menace before it:
Borzou was gracious-there is no Iraqi Army and there lies the challenge. This is as reports came through that the British Humanitarian Alan Henning has shown to be murdered in cold blood by these sub-human mutants even after a plea from his Wife based on reports just reviewed from France24.
Beyond The Middle East, there is Brazil. One of the so-called "BRICS", it has stumbled badly as it faces a pivotal election. The President is facing a stiff challenge as Brazilians gear up to go to the polls. We hope to have a sense of what has happened and what lies ahead soon. This is as Hong Kong protests are continuing and a new order has been given by the Hong Kong Superintendent of Police to vacate the premises. Apparently elements of the Triad (the Hong Kong Thugs) were tryin to stir up trouble and the Police noted that arrests have been made.
On the environment front, It was with shock and disbelief as this was reported out by 350.org:
This is as West Virgina suffered profoundly not so long ago with areas as far as away as Ohio being impacted. When will there be a move to go beyond Fossil Fuel is one of the burning questions before us. But there was some good news: 248,000 Jobs were created in September and there is an upward revision of 148,000 for the month of August. The "official U1 US unemployment Rate dropped below 6 Percent--with some forecasts noting that the U1 unemployment rate will drop to below 5 percent. There is a participation rate challenge which is part of potential minefields before us--especially as the Federal Reserve begins scaling back quantitative easing.
Election Season is ever so in the United States--As it is in India. Early Voting has begun in a number of states as Sample ballots have been received by all registered voters as the final battles are being drawn.
As we went to press, we were reviewing the latest out of the so-called US Mainstream Press and all indications are that the US House will remain in Republican Hands and they're slated to add to their Majority. The US Senate, though, is up in the air especially as a number of interesting races are shaping up to peek the interests--including one particular one in the State of Kansas as Pat Roberts, the long-time Senator, is being challenged by a third-party upshot. What is striking is that Senator Roberts does not even have a home in Kansas. That's really not too surprising--since President George H.W. Bush called a Houston Hotel in Texas for a while before settling back in Texas as he built his Library.
It was so interesting how the onslaught of solicitations for money was ever so. Some of the early reviews indicate that both Parties seem to have fared well as the final push begins for that fateful day on November 4. The Usual Suspects (Koch Brothers; Karl Rove) are ever so busy as are the Political Punditry class including Nate Silver, the Princeton Election Consoritum and some of the old hands--including Charlie Cook. Such people may not be as much familiar to those outside the United States--but they are given a lot of weight because they are part of the ever expansive punditry that is epitomized by the rise of sites like Politico, Huffington Post and others who seem to note how much of a monopoly they seem to have on political discourse--and being joined by Bloomberg as its' launches its' new Political Program on the eve of the elections.
What is also clear is that the 2016 race has also been going on ever so in a serious way. As Democrats await the fateful decision of Hillary Rodham Clinton, Republicans are jockeying for position. What was kind of shocking was to see reports on US Mainstream Media on the possibility Mitt Romney yet again coming on for another run. Many on the right are talking up his "views" and noting that if he had won--the US would not be faced with the calamities it is currently faced with. There is one that is continuing to push his own credentials: Bobby Jindal. He is the current Governor of Louisiana. But what is striking is that he seems to be more involved in pushing his National Ambitions than running his State which is at the bottom scale on a number of key metrics in which states are measured. His latest pronouncement has to do with pushing Oil ever more. This is as the evidence reflects the continued calamity that World is in and how for instance the World Wildlife Federation has noted that we would lose 50% of our wild animals if we don't think different.
As we went to press here, the pressing news was the resignation of the Director of the US Secret Service. A new interim Director was named to oversee the agency and an Independent Panel has been named to investigate recent Security Breaches. Reports this morning note how a fired Security Contractors that apparently was armed was on the same elevator with President Obama as he visited the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta Last month. This is an Army Veterans jumped the fence and made it all the way to the East Room.
As the debate ensues over it all, it was kind of gratifying to see both Democrats and Republicans actually agreeing on something--even though there is a clear disdain for President Obama. The problem that needs to be addressed is whether the resignation of one person will actually serious lapses. The bigger issue is the bubble that Presidents live in--and The White House is a symbol of the power that the people have which needs to be protected at all costs. Will that balance be maintained or will a sense of overaction--as it times past will be the order of the day? Only time will tell.
The dilemma, though, was over so laid out by the fab. Jon Stewart:
Both leaders visited the King Memorial in Washington. Although it was quite striking to see coverage in US Media about "points of disagreement". Exciting days are ahead though in India though as India is in the midst of elections season. There is clearly work ahead though. In the United States, California enact the first plastic bag ban to once again show how it is at the forefront of change--as it was back in the late 70's with the tax Revolt movement, with marriage equality and many other ideas that have gained a foothold in the United States. Many registered voters have also received their ballots already to begin the process of voting. As the new quarter dawns, this admonitions are ever so crucial, though, to remember how we can work to transform our World-- the guiding principles behind "Outsider":
A good question is never answered.
It is not a bolt to be tightened into place
but a seed to be planted and to bear more seed
toward the hope of greening the landscape of idea.
- John Ciardi
We thought that we had the answers,
it was the questions we had wrong.
- Bono
& not forgetting that:
He who closes his ears to the views of others shows little confidence in the integrity of his own views. William Congreve
As the great Diane Nyad always notes: Onward to a new Quarter w/all its' possibilities....
Within a day, September 2014 will be relegated to history. This quarter has been a challenging quarter around the World. Although The UK survived, Spain will have to be faced with its' own separatist movement. Dayesh (also known as ISIS/ISIL/ISLAMIC state) continues onward despite the 200+ US Airstrikes at a cost of One Billion Dollars. This was also a month that saw the Clinton Global Initiative hold meetings in New York as the UN had the General Assembly that saw Presidents, Foreign Ministers and Prime Ministers come out to lay out their visions and challenges before the World. President Obama dropped by the Clinton Global Initiative for his annual visit:
This has also been a quarter that has seen inroads like never before in Technology. Apple came out with the iphone 6 and broke records. Western Digital introdcuted a 10 Terabyte Drive. Alibaba went public and continues to dazzle the World. Yet, China continues to fascinate as Hong Kong has arisen to demand the rights that it was promised when China took Hong Kong Back. Brazil has a good chance to elect a Black Woman as President in large measure due to the continued calamity it faces which began before the World Cup. This is as the World is also facing up to the calamity of Ebola. As this all was going on, Forbes came out with its' list of the richest Americans. Bill Gates was richer ever so with $ 81 Billion and occupied the top spot.
As we bid farewell to Q3 and look to a very challenging Q4 before us, it is ever so challenging to be hopeful. What is noted below courtesy of Jonathan Lockwood Huie reflects a desire and a driving force behind what "Outsiders" is about as we continue to assess our World and really hopefully try and change the discourse before us:
These are the things I hold divine: A trusting child's hand laid in mine, Rich brown earth and wind-tossed trees, The taste of grapes and the drone of bees, A rhythmic gallop, long June days, A rose-hedged lane and lovers' lays, The welcome smile on neighbors' faces, Cool, wide hills and open places, Breeze-blown fields of silver rye, The wild, sweet note of the plover's cry, Fresh spring showers and scent of box, The soft, pale tint of the garden phlox, Lilacs blooming, a drowsy noon, A flight of geese and an autumn moon, Rolling meadows and storm-washed heights, A fountain murmur on summer nights, A dappled fawn in the forest hush, Simple words and the song of a thrush, Rose-red dawns and a mate to share With comrade soul my gypsy fare, A waiting fire when the twilight ends, A gallant heart and the voice of friends. - Jean Brooks Burt
India is taking the World by Storm as Prime Minister #Modi is now in The United States for a 5 Day Visit. He's due to meet with President Obama later on Monday.
Sunday saw him attend a party at Madison Square Garden in New York. It was an event organized by the Indian American Community which was staffed by Volunteers and funded by donations. As the coverage on #NDTV reflected, it underscored the level of excitement that continues so far as the #modiwave seems to be prevalent ever more. He made some very interesting comments as he promised lifetime visas for overseas Indians as he also said that US Citizens will be able to get visas on the Spot when they go to India. It was also quite intriguing to see how Prime Minister #Modi directly reached out to #Pakistan as well. One wonders if #Pakistan in fact is going to take up the hand of reconciliation after the last number of months.
As the Indian Prime Minister is traveling the World, India is going through another election cycle. It was frankly shocking to see this as India is gearing up for further mid-term & State Elections: :
Some of the key things she was convicted of included having 750 Pair of Shoes and 12,000 Saris--How can one have 12,000 is beyond words!!! Jayalalithaa is quite popular in Tamil Nadu and protests have broken out--however the fact that such a powerful political personality is able to be convicted and brought down (and spend time in Jail) is a tribute to India and the rule of law. What was also quite disturbing though was the imposition of President's Rule in India's Richest state: Maharashtra. This is where India's commercial capital, Mumbai is located. It is due to the instability caused by the resignation of the Chief Minister as the state gears up for elections as well. India, also, had another reason to celebrate as the +MarsOrbiterMission reached the red planet:
One more key event is about to occur later on today: Afghanistan is about to finally have a new President. Ashraf Ghani will take the oath of office as President as Abdullah Abdullah will be named Chief Executive. #Karzai made his farewell speech and noted how he made a difference--even though the reality is different. Afghanistan is broke and is ever so dependent on Foreign Aid. Some 80 Afghan Soldiers on an average are falling victim to the fight with the #Taliban. Ashraf Ghani has a profound challenge before him as he assumes office. This is as #Karzai will continue to wield influence from behind the scenes--including maintaining a residence at the "ARG"--The Presidential Palace in Kabul.
As the inauguration drew near, bombs went off near the Presidential Palace to underscore the simple yet crucial fact: The Taliban will continue to wreck havoc on Afghanistan. This as the BBC Farsi Service just reported that the Dayesh Forces (also known as the Islamic State/ISIS/Etc. in the West) has been fighting Iraqi Government Forces in the Western Suburbs of Baghdad. It is part of the very worrisome developments that continue to grapple the World as President Obama admitted how the United States underestimated the strength of Dayesh.
Tired of Being Demonized, Muslims on Twitter Apologize for Algebra, Coffee, and Soap
The hashtag #MuslimApologies spotlights the hostility against Islam fueled by “psychopaths” claiming to act in the name of Islam.
To counter prejudice, some followers of Islam have taken to Twitter with a new hashtag: #MuslimApologies.
Muslims this week began apologizing on social media for algebra (named after a book by mathematician Abu Jaf’ar Muhammad ibn Musa Al-Khwarizmi), shampoo (first brought to England by a Muslim merchant), “amazing architecture,” and other innovations made possible by members of the Islamic faith throughout history. The point? That Muslims, of whom there are about 1.6 billion, shouldn’t be blamed for the heinous crimes of a few.
#MuslimApologies first popped up on Twitter on Sept. 24, the same day President Obamaaddressed the United Nations General Assembly, saying that it’s “time for the world—especially Muslim communities—to explicitly, forcefully, and consistently reject the ideology of al Qaeda and ISIL.” He commended the #NotInMyName campaign, whose mission statement declares that “ISIS is hiding behind a false Islam.” (ISIL and ISIS are commonly used acronyms for the extremist group now calling itself the Islamic State.)
The new hashtag seeks to address a different issue: the notion that religion bears responsibility for extremist actions at all.
Among the wry quips were serious messages about racism and stereotypes. One user tweeted, “Sorry for being oppressed and called a terrorist all my life.”
The movement reflects a widespread problem. Since a huge spike following the attacks of 9/11, the FBI reports, hate crimes against Muslim Americans have leveled off only slightly. According to a recent poll by the Pew Research Center, 50 percent of Americans believe that among other religions, Islam is more likely to encourage violence. A hashtag may not solve the issue, but putting the silliness of bigotry in the spotlight could help.
From funny to heartbreaking, here are some of the tweets (and I chose to embed a few of them that takepart's Assistant Editor Commented on for reference):
It is always easy to be pessimistic about the World. As the notations "courtesy of Trove" noted, the past 30 days has certainly given a moment of pause. But, there needs to be a sense of purpose that somehow things are better--and can be so if we're able to understand the full picture, accentuate the positive and create consensus to transform. This is one of the implicit ideas behind "Outsiders" which we will work to build upon:
