View of the Week: A Journey to IRAN : ))

Iran has been in the news, at times, for many wrong reasons over the past number of years.  .    One of the most beautiful clips on Iran was produced by the Iranian Student Association at Penn State University that underscores the beauty, majesty of that land despite all the economic, environmental and social challenges before it.  It is a land that is as old as time itself.    This is also a land that is quite a paradox as underscored by a beautiful talk given by Professor Milani at TedXStanford .   Professor Milani's talk  is so beautiful--it has to be listened to again and again even for those of us who have somewhat of an understanding of that beautiful land.

Enjoy this journey:   

"Virtually Running Around" Our World: On The World & the Need to be ever so hopeful.....

As I write this, there is live coverage from NDTV in India as the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi has come under attack.   It appears that up to 12 Gunmen have attacked the Airport and are hold up in the old side of the Airport used for Haj Operations.   Units of the Pakistan Army are involved and fires are evident--it appears that two Airplanes have been set on fire.   Why such men undertake such despicable acts is simply beyond words.   As Pakistan deals with its' terrorist challenges, the shocking attack against the leading Presidential Candidate, Abdullah Abdullah was also of profound concern in the heart of Kabul.    Their reach continues to be never ending  

As we're all witness to such carnage,  one has to be hopeful.  I see no other way as a new week dawns as epitomized by this latest curation of talks from Ted.Com which underscores the focus needed:

PLAYLIST OF THE WEEK

A better you (13 TED Talks)

Ready for a change? Watch these talks for ideas and inspiration on all aspects of your life, from creativity to vulnerability. Watch »

Total run time 2:55:15

Thought 4 the Week: On Success & Making a Difference....

We come this way but once.
We can either tiptoe through life
and hope we get to death without being badly bruised
or we can live a full, complete life
achieving our goals and realizing our wildest dreams.
- Bob Proctor

I expect to pass through this world but once.
Any good therefore that I can do,
or any kindness that I can show to my fellow-creature,
let me do it now.
Let me not defer or neglect it,
for I shall not pass this way again.
- William Penn

Around the World: On-Going Major Challenges

It has been quite a week around our World. Iraq saw an audacious attack by the Al Qaeda Affiliated Islamic State of America to the City of Samara that was quickly crushed by the Iraqi Army. If left unanswered, it would have further tore Iraq Apart. Beyond Iraq, there is Afghanistan. Abdullah Abdullah, the front runner to take over Karzai, survived an assassination attempt:

#Afghanistan continues to burn... In the heart of #Kabul- when will the carnage stop?Abdullah survives Kabul bombs http://t.co/JeKsalaING

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) June 6, 2014

This happened in the heart of Kabul that continues to underscore the reach of the Taliban as the US draws down its' presence. But there was also at least one reasonably decent news on Ukraine:

Hopefully cooler heads will prevail in #Ukraine..at least they're talking: Moscow and Kiev seek 'end to bloodshed' http://t.co/AlJ6GRpE6r

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) June 6, 2014

On the eve of the D-Day remembrance, Francois Hollande of France played host to a number of World Leaders. He actually had two dinners with Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama. Reports reviewed by the team also reflects that apparenlty Putin and Obama have also talked. But what was ever so hopeful was that the new President-Elect of Ukraine and Putin talked and agreed to talk some more. This also crossed the wires:

Beautiful...enjoy this 4rom #Iran.have a grt W-end :-) New “Happy” Video Shows off Streets of Tehran http://t.co/mVaYJTctJn #IranWire #happy

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) June 7, 2014

The courageous kids did just great. There are also major developments beyond this, though. Egypt has invited Iranian President Rouhani to attend Sisi's Inauguration. Is this a sign of somewhat reasonable relations to come? Never a dull moment..that's for sure....

Also @ http://www.outsiderviews.com, all rights reserved under creative commons license

A Musical "V-Thought" on Being Happy: Pharrell Williams - HAPPY ( From TEHRAN )

While on the "Grid" tonight, I saw this latest that has been making the "Virtual Rounds"   Some courageous Kids in Tehran again got together and put together this to underscore the simple fact that being "happy" is ever so a right.    I guess they took their queue from President Rouhani when he tweeted that the right to happiness is anyone's right.

Onward to the Weekend--it is a very beautiful clip--All of these beautiful souls deserve a high five and a hug-and I send one to them all virtually as they have truly lived up to this admonition that is the essence of life: 

Enjoy this beautiful clip by these beautiful, courageous and Happy Young Iranians roaming the Streets of Tehran!! :-)

On the possibilities of the Human Spirit: Brief Daily Thoughts

This is quite a story courtesy of Scott Lay @ THe Nooner. This is a story of redemption, of hop;e and of possibilities that is beyond the pale. As I hope to share this with my students, it underscores how someone with a vision and a belief in the goodness of the human spirit can truly work to make a difference. More on it soon...

View of the Week: Brief Thoughts on The "political front"

The United States just had an election that would determine the final two years of the Obama Presidency. One key "headline" dominating Cable News has been the release of the US Soldier and questions being asked. The Conservative Media has been on the prowl on this subject and it is bound to continue. A high-tech lynching (to borrow a phrase from Clarence Thomas) seems to have begun in earnest. It is tragic to see it as other challenges are ever so. There has been another video of another Western Couple that is quite tragic in its' own right: What was also of note was this on the Keystone XL pipeline that was quite worrisome and was so noted on Twitter:

Of Concern..although #GOP would probalby disagree: #KeystoneXL pipeline vulnerable to attacks, NextGen study says: http://t.co/Ew6WxJGINd

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) June 5, 2014

As for Election Results, the potential re-emergence of the Republican Party in California was worth noting. Whether the inroads Republicans have made in the primary elections will translate into a General Election Win remains to be seen. Beyond California, there is another very interesting in Mississippi that is pitting a Tea-Party backed candidate against a 42-year Veteran: Thad Cockhran. It appears that Senator Cockhran is in the political fight of his life. What was so hopeful and beautiful was this that Scott Lay, one of the preeminent political analysts in California wrote in his daily "nooner" update: Good morning from Blythe, where I am working on a few hours sleep and Comfort Suites coffee. I'm going to prison this morning, but not in the Orange is the New Black sense, but to applaud inmates graduating with degrees and certificates. This is my third time, and these students become model inmates and the recidivsm rate is 1.526%, whereas 65% of the overall inmate population returns to prison within three years, according to CDCR. Ironwood is a Level III prison, the second highest level of general population, so we're talking about inmates with tough stories. Actually, this is the same program at Ironwood State Prison that started the rehabilitation story of Prophet La'Omar Walker, who earned a spot in November along with Mike Gipson in AD64 (Carson) last night. Check out this TEDx filmed last month sponsored by the Ford Foundation on the program at Ironwood. It is becoming quite a slugfest as the Mid-Term General Election season is at hand. Also released to http://www.outsiderviews.com 062014//All Rights reserved....