Remembering Beau #Biden

Beau Biden, the Son of   Vice President Biden , passed away after battling Brain Cancer yesterday.   We here @ #outsiders join all to extend our condolosnces to the Biden Family on this trying time.   Our Founder wrote this on the White House Website for the Biden Family:

Words are not enough to comfort your family on this trying time.    All I can say is that he's no longer suffering and is ina better place.   He made a difference and may the almighty grant you and your family to solace and comfort to cherish all that he meant to you and the inspiration he was for us all with his sense of service and commitment to his State and our Nation.

He was an accomplished man in many respects.    For us here @ #Outsiders, his speech introducing his Father will resonate ever more as his Father, Vice President Biden, paid tribute to him in this simple yet eloquent statement:



This simple statement that, "...a parent knows success when his child turns out better than he did..."  is ever so evident for us all who are parents.  May his Soul RIP.

The Week-End "Musical Interlude": Keiko Matsui's Dream Walk

For this edition of the "Musical Interlude", we hope all enjoy this selection from Keiko Matsui as the week-end dawns here in @Outsiders:

Notations On Our World: Briefly On The Plight of the #Rohingya

The Whole World has been witness to the horror of migration from conflict zones around the World.  As the European Union has been grabbling with the exodus of people from African conflict zones,  horror stories from Asia has also been in the headlines as well.    The Rohingya are the latest victims of conflict zones as they escape the repression in Burma (also known as Myanmar).     The Thai Military has been giving them food, water and repaired their boats--but has not allowed them to make land.  

Malaysia has agreed to take them on as the Malaysian Prime Minister called for a regional and worldwide response to this--as we will continue to monitor and comment over the ensuing days, weeks and months.  There has been a conference in Thailand going on to see what the roadmap is.  All apparently understand that a challenge exists.  But the reporting from the BBC we reviewed here @ #Outsiders was heartwrechning.   One feature was the story of a woman who was repeatedly raped and had bore a Son and did not know who the father was and had resorted to begging on the streets of Kulala Lampur as BBC also intereviewed another Mother whose 14-year old son had just called from Malaysia where he had gone to work.   

An #Outsiders Newsflash (5/29/2015) : Sepp Blatter Wins

Sepp Blatter has just won re-election for another 4 Year Term as President of FIFA.   This is as Prince Ali of Jordan withdrew after the first round where he received 73 votes.    It was quite a testament to the unease being felt throughout the World of Football.   

In his acceptance speech, Blatter committed to a transformation.  The question is whether he's able to deliver especially as the US Justice Department is continuing its' investigations and has noted that this is just the beginning.

Notations On Our World: Briefly on Israel

Israel's new Government has taken office.     It is the most rightwing Government that has presided over Israel ever.   The Prime Minister has had to play quite a balancing act to satisfy elements within his own party and the allies currently in the Government.

In the meantime, missiles have been fired from Gaza and Israel attacked training camps in Gaza.  There is mounting frustruation in Gaza over the pace of reconstruction as the Defense Minister noted that if quiet does not persist, Gaza will pay a heavy price as Israel was subjected to a Palestinian move to have Israel banned due to the West Bank bus plan--subsequently shelved by the Prime Minister.     

Hamas, though, has its ' own profound challenges as underscored by this tough report by Amnesty International: 

Amnesty: Hamas tortured, killed Gaza civilians during war with Israel http://t.co/44Pnr0205g pic.twitter.com/Am9jq73nac

— Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) May 27, 2015

Israel's challenges continue to mount on a multitde of fronts.     It has to plan for a post-Assad Syria--it is not a question of if, but when.   The perceptive editorial in +Haaretz הארץ  earlier this week underscores how Israel is being truly led to the edge of the abyss.   It was interesting to note how some analysts are still holding out hope that somehow Herzog, the Opposition Leader, will join the Government as Foreign Minister especially in lieu of the looming threats. Time will tell....  

An #Outsider Newsflash (II) (5/27/2015) : On the Queen's Speech in the #UK

The United Kingdom new session of Parliament has started with the pomp and circumstance that goes back hundreds of years.     The speech, though, is quite extensive and  +The Guardian has provided some interesting analysis on it which is available by clicking here.  There was interesting comments as it was a throwback to the 80's.

Some of the highlights are noted below (Courtesy of the Guardian):

An #Outsider Newsflash (5/27/2015): On the #FIFA Arrests

We have been assessing the #FIFA arrests with a sense of horror as we have reviewed all the latest reporting on it.    The corruption allegations have been on-going for years--now it has come to a head as the Swiss authorities arrested top FIFA officials at their meeting in Switerzland.   We received this at our offices from Professor Turley earlier today.

It will be interesting if the current President of FIFA will be re-elected in light of this latest challenge being faced:

“For the Game, For the World”: Swiss Police Raid FIFA Meeting And Arrest Senior Officials in Sweeping Corruption Investigation by jonathanturley For those of us who have been vocal critics of the flagrant and open corruption of FIFA, there is finally some good news. Swiss authorities swooped into a hotel Wednesday and arrested some of the top soccer officers on corruption charges in the United States. The police notably went to one of the most expensive hotels in the world where these officials were treating themselves to another gold-plated over-the-top meeting with views of the Alps and Lake Zurich. They were led from the five-star hotel in an early morning raid, but many will be disappointed that one official remained in his luxury hotel room untouched: Sepp Blatter (right), FIFA’s longtime president who has ruled over one of the most corrupt organizations in sports for years. While the slogan of FIFA is "For the Game. For the World," it has been run for the benefit of its leadership for decades. This prosecution, not FIFA, can be properly embraced as "For the Game. For the World." Read more of this post