The Friday Musical Interlude (2016): The Music of AR Rahman

As the year has begun in earnest here in #Outsiders, our team settled on a bit of an unconventional choice for the first Friday Musical Interlude of #2016:  The Indian Maestro AR Rahman.   As noted in the tribute by the Hindustan Times, he's got  "... two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, two Grammy Awards, four National Film Awards, a Golden Globe, 15 Filmfare Awards and 13 Filmfare Awards South to his credit. It was his Birthday this week and we hope all enjoy this (as we hope all enjoy the selections we're releasing throughout our properties):

Notations On Our World: On #Iran, Saudi Arabia & The On-Going Challenges

As we are going to press right now, we are monitoring a live feed from Russia Today as it has a panel on the challenges being faced in the aftermath of the It has been very troubling times in relations throughout the Muslim World.     It must be noted that we would be refraining from referring to the Middle East as the "Near East" (which will include Afghanistan): The Russia Today panel featuring Professor Marandi of Tehran University whose views typically reflects Iranian Government Views.   What he deemed as the "View from Tehran" was summarized as follows: This is a Wahabism vs. everyone else Saudis believe that everyone else is beneath them They are trying to divert attention from their profound domestic challenges It is clear that Saudi Arabia has profound challenges before it.   The war in Yemen is not going well at all.     Bahrain has been under defacto occupation of Saudi Arabia since Saudi Arabia sent its' National Guard to crush the uprising.   Syria remains an inferno ever more as the schism between the two major powers in the region continues in a major way.   What was interesting was how the Saudi Foreign Minister noted that Iran had to behave like a "Normal Country" as Saudi Arabia's record is less than stellar on Human Rights, Women's Rights and other key metrics under which countries are measured.   On the Yemen Front, it was of note that Kuwait has been the latest country to contribute ground troops to the Yemen War Effort--as it also stepped up its support of Saudi Arabia.  The recent announcement by Saudi Arabia on the massive budget deficit has contributed to the challenges being faced right now by the Saudi Royal Family.     There are also apparent schisms within the Royal Family as well which continues to contribute to the on-going challengs being faced.      The move by Saudi Arabia to cut ties has seen a rise of support for Saudi Allies and those dependent on Saudi support.    As we went to press, Qatar was the latest country to join the stampede to cut relations with Iran.   Egypt and Oman (a traditional neutral go-between) have also expressed sympathy with the moves by Saudi Arabia. As this war of words continues, Iran has tried to dampen the aftermath of the attacks.     On the night of the attack, the Tehran Chief of Police underscored that the attackers acted on their own--but our team's subsequent review of late breaking developments reflects the fact that those who have been opposing Rouhani's moves for openings to the west helped orchestrate this move to undermine potential electoral gains by factions supporting the reformist movement

What is striking is how Iran has sought out to criticize Saudi Arabia even though its' own record on human rights is extremely problematic.     A day does not pass by for us here at The Daily Outsider Virtual Studios as we see the plight of writers and screen writers who have been detained for months at at time.   Rozbeh Ghilasian and Elaheh Soroshnia were two such brave souls who have been detained for a number for a number of months:    Mohammad Reza Ali Payam, another writer, wrote an open letter to the Minister of Health noting that no one even bothered to ask about how he was doing for 8 hours after he was transferred from Prison to the Hospital to be checked.     This is also as Jason Rezayian of the Washington Post continues to be detained.   The schism within the ruling establishment in the country is also underscored by the attacks on Rafsanjani as he has come out saying that the Assembly of Experts that has 'oversight" responsibility for the Supreme Leader (Supreme Guide) needs to be enhanced further which has incurred the wrath of the Conservatives.    As the elections draws close, further challenges are ever so evident in the Country--One very troubling statistic was a very dubious distinction for Tehran:   The 30th polluted City in the World Today--and the 8th Worst City in the World for Traffic as this recent image from Tehran reflects:       The figure that blew us away was an admission by a Iran Government Offical that 18 divorces are being filed every hour on an average basis in Iran Today.    This is as Iran may have to contend with $ 15/Barrell price for Oil. Truly challenging times.......

Notations On Our World: On the "Virtual Beat" w/the US Election Campaign

It has been quite a week as January has begun on the campaign trail. Bill Clinton hit the campaign trail and was in his element as he noted, "...I am not mad at anybody..and I'm a happy Grandfather".    This is as the other campaigns were busy raising money by selling calendars (like the Marco Rubio Campaign) and attendance at the upcoming GOP debate in South Carolina.   Hillary Clinton's campaign raised 112 Million Dollars during the year as it gears up for the primary campaigns coming up.   

Donald Trump has also been on the attack prowl yet again especially as news was breaking on President Obama's moves on Gun (which our team released a notation on it yesterday).    His latest attack has been on Ted Cruz.    There was some controversy over Ted Cruz' status as a United States Citizen which was addressed--and Ted Cruz has been on the prowl attacking back as our team was on the "grid' yesterday.  What was telling was a pronouncement by Nate Silver noting that Donald Trump's chances to secure the GOP nomination was Next to nil as we noted in our Daily "Social Grid" Roundup:

On #Americas watch as @NateSilver538 says @realDonaldTrump unlikely to win nomination" https://t.co/53Jog6UiY2

— The Daily Outsider (@DailyOutsider) January 6, 2016

This was also a sampling of the latest Jeb Bush outreach that underscores the state of the Campaign right now: 



The 2016 election year is officially upon us, and Iowans vote in just 30 days. The fight to take back the White House starts right now with you.

Because you were such an important member of our team in 2015, I need you again.
Our team calculated it, and we need 10,000 2016 Founding Members in order to fund our efforts over the next thirty days before Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina and Nevada.

When you become a 2016 Founding Member, your money will go directly to advertising, field operations, campaign materials and orchestrating the most ambitious Get-Out-The-Vote operation of all the campaigns.

More than that though, this is about knowing you have my back in the crucial days that lay ahead.

Mike, if I can count on you, please contribute just $1 and become a 2016 Founding Member now:


Because of you, we’ll start 2016 prepared to win.



Onward,

Jeb


This is as the challenges beyond the shores of the United States are ever so with the blast in North Korea (roundly condemned around the World including China in a firm way) and the continued schism that has been going on in the aftermath of the Executions in Saudi Arabia.