Notations On Our World: On South Africa & the #Xi, #MA Show in #Singapore

The disturbing trends in South Africa is ever so evident apparently by the comments by The South African President, Jacob Zuma, which has caused an uproar in opposition circles.   As our team assessed this latest development, we could not help but wonder what Nelson Mandela's reaction to all of this is:  Zuma's 'ANC comes first' comments signs of a dictatorship - EFF 

Moving halfway around the World,  the head of the Two Chinas Met.    What is clear is simply this:  it is not a question of if but when the last bastion of China will join up with the mainland not withstanding what the United States might or might not want--and the Economist' KAL captured this sentiment once again brilliantly:

Notations On Our World: On the United States....

It was quite a week on the US Election Scene.   Ben Carson has been challenged about his biography as Marco Rubio has been questioned about his personal finances.    In the meantime, though, the business of Government continues.

The US Labor Department noted that unemployment continues to decrease as the Congressiona Budget Office Came out with this on the deficit:

New From CBO Monthly Budget Review: Summary for Fiscal Year 2015 In fiscal year 2015, which ended on September 30, the federal budget deficit totaled $439 billion—$44 billion less than the shortfall in 2014. Fiscal year 2015 was the sixth consecutive year in which the deficit declined as a share of the nation's gross domestic product. It will be interesting to see how the GOP responds to this especially as a new debate is before us.   Our team also revisited this very hard hitting article from the London Review of Books on the GOP candidates available here--Scott Walker is no longer part of the campaign and is now raising money to pay off campaign debt.     This is also as Kareem Abdul Jabbar published a TIme Magazine column on Ben Carson which underscored Dr. Carson's sense of accomplishment as it questioned his views--and of course what he did with Donald Trump that prompted this response:  Trump was on Saturday Night Live--and reviews our team saw as it went to press was not too "Stellar". Interesting times.....

Notations On Our World (Special Edition): On #India & #Burma

Our team has been on the prowl on the pivotal elections in India as part of our hastag daily #India watch.   The election results in India have been quite a shocker.

When we began monitoring the results coming in, we were releasing results courtesy of the team at @NDTV as it had exit polls forecasting a BJP-Led victory in Bihar.   What is critical to note is that Bihar is a state with 100 Million People (10% of India).   As such, what happened in India matters.     It was remarkable how the BJP was defeated as it was.

This from +NDTV is remarkable in its' mea-copa on the aftermath of the reporting: 

 http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/ndtv-special-ndtv-24x7/bihar-verdict-national-impact/390130

As our team continues its' analysis, what we have realized is that the polling-industrial complex has to change and our team as of now will not report on any polling at all in light of this.    We could not agree more with the +NDTV founder as he noted how it was such a fantastic election.    The Indian Prime Minister and his high command has some major thinking to do.

Our team is also assessing the elections in Burma (also known as Myanmar).   As we went to press, we understand that the Nationa League for Democracy is heading for a landslide based on actual results coming in.   We will have more to say on it over the ensuing few days.

As we have been assessing our world, one thing we know is this:  these are truly interesting times.....