Notations on Our World While On the Grid on #Nigeria & #Israel

It has been an ever so challenging week in our World as America celebrated Thanksgiving.   The need to give thanks is something that is ever so critical daily on a constant and consistent basis.     Our World is ever so challenging as the news of the horror in Kano, Nigeria underscores the challenge we face in our World:

horrific news from #Nigeria as the Grand Mosque in #Kano was attacked by the #BokoHaram Scum...when will The Gov. of #Nigeria do something?
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) November 28, 2014

It is absolutely horrific to have worshipers having been attacked at the Grand Mosque in Kano during Friday Prayers.   Boko Haram continues to attack at will with no apparent concerted response from the Government of Nigeria.   Nigeria matters because it is the largest economy in Africa and 10% of the current population of Africa.

As we have been witness to such carnage and horror, we are also witness to a potential election in the near term in Israel as the Israeli Foreign Minister came out with his so-called peace plan which was frankly a bit shocking: 

How can he've the nerve 2 say this: #Lieberman unveils peace plan offering #Israel Arabs compensation 4 leaving: http://t.co/xiCpynsnUp
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) November 28, 2014 

But it was also interesting that he also noted that Israel has no choice but to come to a territorial compromise with Palestine.   This is as Mahmoud Abbas has said he's ready to formalize the State of Palestine with the 22% of the land originally allocated to it.    The challenge is that Israel is moving to the right and the unfortunate  fascist tendencies is of concern.  What is hopeful in Israel is the vocal opposition to such moves and the new Jewish Nationality Law by President Rivlin and Former President Peres.   Current Polls show the current Israeli Prime Minister to be re-elected.   

Beyond the immediate, we've also been witness to an extension of the talks with Iran as Iran and the rest of the oil producing nations deal with a massive drop in the price of Crude Oil.      It will present a new challenging front in the ever shifting political landscape we're faced with.

Interesting times......

On Being Thankful Always.......

It is the eve of Thanksgiving Week in the United States.    It is a time for us all to step back and remember ever more all that we're thankful for.     As we go "dark" for this Thanksgiving Week on all #Outsider Channels, we wanted to simply say thanks to all who have supported this "labor of love".  We also remain ever so hopeful about our World as we look forward to reflect upon a World that although challenging, it is one to embrace and believe in.

Wishing all the happiest of Thanksgivings....

Notations On the Eve of The Week-End: On #Iran, #IranTalksVienna & #DiplomacyIsPersonal

We here @ #Outsiders have been continuing to monitor the talks in Vienna.   As reported by +i24News earlier this evening, there are comments attributed to US officials that ssignificantgaps remain and that the Secretary Kerry may propose another extension.    As the meetings are continuing, we were gratified to see the handshake between Dr. Zarif and Secretary Kerry as witnessed by Baroness Ashton who continues her role as the meditator despite no longer being the European Union Foreign Policy Chief.   We wanted this picture to be at hand (courtesy of the team at +i24News just in case some dead-enders in Tehran or Washington decided not to have it available .    Although the agreement is the first step, getting it through a hostile US Congress and going through the "worried" in Iran is a whole different matter.

It will be an interesting and challenging Week-End.  The team at the National Iranian American Council has undertaken a concerted effort to help push for an agreement which we here @ "outsiders' were happy to lend our support to with the hashtag #DiplomacyisPersonal that we had noted earlier. This Twitter feed was to help lend further support to Congressman Rohrbacher earlier tonight:

@DanaRohrabacher hoping to count on support for #IranTalksVienna in how #DiplomacyisPersonal...Happy Thanksgiving :) pic.twitter.com/bAkolPsCVH
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) November 22, 2014

Despite the apparent low expectations, we here @ #Outsiders remain hopeful for a deal. It will be a welcome respite for a region in turmoil especially as we just reviewed late breaking reports of riots again breaking out in the occupied West Bank and as Syria and Iraq continue to burn.

Notations on Our World: On the "Grid" reflecting upon #Iran.....

It has been another interesting 24 hours as the World awaits what happens on November 24 whether #IranTalksVienna (One of the many hashtags prevalent on Twitter) will succeed or not.   As noted before, it will be only half the battle as the New York Times' Thomas Erderink noted in his usual even keel analysis of the minefields ahead:

 

Beyond #IranTalkaVienna Real Hurdles May Be in Tehran, not selling @JZarif & @HassanRouhani short yet 🙏via @nytimes http://t.co/5TWf2GJnoy
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) November 21, 2014

It is not at all helpful when Friday Prayer sermons are said to undermine the goodwill that seems to be continuing onward--as noted in a recent outreach by the folks @ MEMRI (The Middle East Media Research Institute).    We here @Outsiders noted how it was all "noise"--but it does underscore the challenge being faced by President +Hassan Rohani  and Foreign Minister +javad zarif  as the negotations continue.   One interesting signal of potential change, too, was the pardoning of the so-called #Blogfather of Iran by Ayatollah Khamenei--we here @ "outsiders" were gratified to see his Tweet and ever so happy to see him set free:

“@h0d3r: Pardonded by Ayatollah @khamenei_ir. Freed from prison, finally after 6 years, last night. #iran”glad u r back bro.🎉💥🙏😁
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) November 21, 2014

The struggle continues...and it is ever so fun to be witness to history...

View of the Week: Remembering Mike Nichols

Mike Nichols passed away earlier today.    He leaves a legacy of talent and beauty as exemplified in films that will endure.  The team @The Jewish Daily Forward put together a very nice retrospective on a remarkable life. We here @ "outsiders" also remember him and pray that his soul RIP:

 11 Greatest Mike Nichols Moments

On the Prowl: An "Outsider" newsflash From the Americas (11/19/2014)

One of the bright spots of conflicts around the World had suffered a setback recently as a Colombian General was kidnapped by the FARC guerrillas in Colombia.   Notwithstanding the circumstances that led to the General's Capture, the FARC has agreed to release the General and President Santos of Colombia has agreed to return the Peace Delegation back to Cuba.   

Good News Indeed!!!

The dispatch From Al Jazeera:

 FARC agree to release captured general - Americas - Al Jazeera English

Notations on Our World: On #Israel & #Palestine

The past 24 hours have been horrific yet again in the Middle East as the cycle of violence on both sides continues to escalate ever more.    What is ever more disturbing is this late breaking development as reported by the Middle East Monitor:

Post by Middle East Monitor.

If this in fact occurs it will formalize the death of the so-called peace process that began with Oslo that resulted in the historic handshakes between Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin and King Hussein (who are no longer with us).   The so-called process for all intent and purposes dead despite half-baked attempts by the United States to resurrect it.    One of the aspirants to the Office of the Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett underscored this in a recent opinion he did for the New York Times:

For Israel, Two-State Is No Solution Marta Monteiro By NAFTALI BENNETT The Oslo plan for a settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is finished. We need a new model. This is as Akiva Eldar wrote an scathing criticism of the Israeli Prime Minister in Al-Monitor as he noted how he "captains Israel into the doldrums".       When this cycle of violence and mistrust will be broken is not certain.

View of the Week: On #BandAid30 & Remembering a Humanitarian

It is always ever so gratifying when one is witness to humanity in action.    We here @ #Outsiders just bought the single produced for #BandAid30 to support the fight against #Ebola.    The World will overcome this.

As the World is witness to such humanity by the leading artists of our World, it is also a disheartening day as the World was witness to two grieving parents work up the courage to remember their son Abdul Rahman "Peter" Kassig: 

All of us are hearbroken...& justice will be done..may his soul RIP: Parents of slain US aid worker 'heartbroken' http://t.co/ult5w94XDu
— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) November 18, 2014

We are all heart-broken by his horrific death.   The same sub human mutant scum of the Earth who brutally murdered Mr. Kassig also murdered Syrian Soldiers as well.    They were all fathers and brothers and did not deserve their fate in this way--as some 200,000 Syrians have perished in this senseless war.

Abdul Rahman "Peter" Kassig sought to make a difference--and truly did what he could to live up to the admonition from Desmond Tutu when he noted for us all to remember to, "...Do your little bit of good where you are; its those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world......".    That would be the ultimate legacy for this selfless soul.    As his Mother eloquently noted, good will prevail.

Introducing a New Feature: The Weekly Musical Interlude (Got to Keep Moving)

Hope all enjoy..as the #outsiders journey continues....

On Our World: Notations For the Week-End

It has been "Summit Week" around the World as APEC and G20 happened with leaders smiling and talking--with no clear indication on what can and should be done about the challenges being faced around the World.    Russia was rightly berated for its' actions and left early because "he wanted to catch up on sleep".    But beyond the summitry, there is one true reality that  seems ever so true was exemplified in this Economist Twitter Feed: 

The Economist@TheEconomist The Pacific Age has now clearly arrivedecon.st/1EElmEApic.twitter.com/poQjysKRH4 06:46 PM - 14 Nov 14

It was fun to see the #POTUS moment with a Koala:

  

(Photo Source:  The White House) 

Although one highlight of the week was a deal that the United States and China struck on Climate Change.     However, the Republican Majority in the House has begun to assert its muscle despite commitments by the Republican Leadership to Govern after what has ostensibly been two years of gridlock and the subsequent discussion on Conservative Outlets like The Media Research Center and RedState:   

GOP leaders denounce U.S.-China climate deal:

Criticism by House and Senate GOP leaders dimmed hopes for bipartisanship in the new Congress.

Andrea Mitchell Hails Obama's 'Landmark' Climate Deal; Slams GOP As Anti-Science

At the top of her 1hour MSNBC show  host Andrea Mitchell cheered President Obama "achieving a landmark climate agreement" with China to restrict carbon emissions: "I know this is going to take place over a long time, but – there are a lot of obstacles ahead, but this still marks a very big change from the stalemate between the U.S. and China..." NBC chief environmental affairs correspondent Anne Thompson could barely contain her excitement: "Absolutely, this is a huge step forward in the transition to a low-carbon economy, Andrea....[it] sends a powerful signal to the business world and the rest of the world....very, very big developments in the battle against climate change.

All of these dismisses some of the realities out there today--the continued drop in the price of oil and how a sense of self-sufficiency is ever so in the United States which is causing profound headaches for countries like Russia, Iran and Venezuela who depend on Oil for a profound share of their revenue.    

In the meantime, it has pushed the Keystone Pipeline as it passed legislation to get the project off the ground.  It was quite ironic that the opponents in the US Senate Race in Louisiana were the lead sponsors in each House of Congress.   The comments by #POTUS was telling in this regard: 

Post by The Daily "Outsider".

There is also the broader challenge of Climate Change in general that seems to be lost in the braoder debate: 

Post by The Daily "Outsider".

It is also striking how another signature #POTUS initiative, Obamacare will have to endure further onslaughts as a #SCOTUS will be hearing a new challenge as the onslaught from the right continues.  This is as the open enrollment period begins in earnest and the GOP pounced on comments by Jonathan Gruber.  We will be releasing commentary it on Soon.  

Beyond the domestic political scene, there is the on-going deliberations with Iran that the GOP has also set its' sights on:

Post by The Hill Newspaper.

We noted in earlier comments how it seems both #POTUS & President Rohani of Iran seem to be kindred spirits in more ways than one.