A Busy Day @ #Outsiders: Brief MId-Week Thoughts

It has been a busy day after the team took a day of "reflection" as the evolution of Daily Outsider 2.X continues.    Our day began featuring a "special musical interlude" from Bob Baldwin that underscored how we felt!!! :-)

As I supported the team's assessment of the US Political scene on the eve of the GOP Debate tonight,  I have been amazed by how John Kasich came out as he did "telling it like it is".  It will be quite a scene to see what happens tonight at the GOP tonight as the team finished off a new edition of "Notations" on the eve of the debate.    Some folks are continuing to eye Marco Rubio--the jury is still out.   

Paul Ryan is about to be Speaker as he noted that the House will be "Unified" and the chaos will end despite his praise of the outgoing speaker as he says he would "turn the page" as the so-called conservatives continue to be restless.      Beyond the shores of the US, I viewed it as a fabulous day when I saw that Nepal had elected its' first Woman President.   As I wrote earlier when I did my "Virtual Good Turn" on the "Grid", I had the pleasure to visit Nepal and it is one of the most beautiful places on Earth as epitomized by the Earthquake which is still trying to recover from:

#jnj @donateaphoto https://t.co/MeYs319DAa

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) October 28, 2015

Beyond Nepal, I was also very gratified as I saw reports out of Colombia as the President of Colombia offered a Bilateral Ceasefire as the march to peace continues,   Our team will have more to say on it soon.

I continue to be excited as our team as decided to join this effort on the eve of the Paris Conference that our team released the telling Video Clip in in the Education Channel as "Senator Snowball" has plans to Crash the conference in Paris:  

24 Hours of Reality and Live Earth: The World Is Watching, a global day of climate action and music hosted by former US Vice President Al Gore, is right around the corner. And with the historic UN climate talks beginning in Paris on November 30, now is the time to speak up louder than ever before.  By participating in The World Is Watching, you can personally make a difference in the greatest challenge of our lifetimes. Join our Thunderclap and tell your friends, family, and social media networks that you are urging world leaders to create a strong agreement in Paris.  JOIN OUR THUNDERCLAP When you sign up for our Thunderclap today, a post will automatically be published to your Facebook, Twitter, or Tumblr at the start of the live broadcast onNovember 13—14, spreading an instant message that you’re calling for world leaders to take bold action at the UN climate talks ­– and asking your friends to do the same.  The more people see your message, the more world leaders have to listen and act. Join our Thunderclap and help us use 24 Hours of Reality as our megaphone to leaders in Paris. - Your friends at Climate Realitywww.climaterealityproject.org I also just added my name to this that +J Street sent out to honor a hero, Yitzhak Rabin: View this email as a web page. Mike- Say "thank you"! Twenty years ago, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated--murdered at a peace rally, by an extremist opposed to his vision of a peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians. Now, as Israelis and Palestinians once again confront the reality of what a one-state future might look like, we're called not just to remember Rabin's legacy, but to act: it's time to make his vision a reality. Thanks to Senator Dianne Feinstein -- and her co-sponsor Senator Barbara Boxer -- the US Senate has the opportunity to do just that. With 1 click: Thank Sens. Feinstein and Boxer for supporting Rabin's vision today. This important resolution honors Rabin by asking us to recommit to engaging on Israeli-Palestinian peace. Rabin was a man of action, and--as we face the current violence--it's time to act. Join us. Say "Thank you!" to Sens. Feinstein and Boxer for honoring Rabin and his vision. - Jeremy I am at a loss to explain how his sacrifice was so laid to waste by successive Israeli Governments.

On the Prowl with this brief thought for the week

I ran across this while on the "Grid" late last night and wanted to share this on the eve of a new day.  

I wish all a fabulous Tuesday.

On the Eve of a New Week: Thoughts....

It has been a whirlwind of a week, yet again!!   October is coming to an end and November is beginning as the Middle East Inferno continues to burn with no end in sight.   As I work on this, an Al Jazeera Special on the rise of Daesh (known as IS/ISIL in the west) is playing in the background--and it is chilling to listen to it available here.   

The team was working on on-going development work as it finalized the Friday Musical Interlude and worked on weekend Notations.    This was also a week that saw Joe Biden walk away from another run at the Presidency.   I had a chance to catch his interview on 60 Minutes and it was frankly classic Joe Biden that I first got to know truly during the Bork Hearings:

View More: 60 Minutes News|Live News|More News Videos

I will have more to say on Joe Biden here in "Founders" soon.   As I have been reflecting upon this, I also was amazed as another leader in action: Prince Charles, the heir to the British Throne.

The President of China was in the UK on a state Visit.   The UK rolled out the red carpet and 46 Billion Dollars worth of deals were signed.    The Queen's second son, Prince Andrew, accompanied him as Prince Charles stayed away due to his friendship and long association with the Dalai Lama.   I viewed this as quite consequential and something to be admired despite the fact that the UK truly needs the China deal as its' influence continues to wane and its' long-term viability is questioned due to the continued challenges in Scotland--even Wales is starting to raise its' voice.

It was also a week that saw Mugabe win an award from China:  

sickening beyond belief as I saw this that the butcher #Mugabe wins China's alternative to Nobel Peace Prize https://t.co/T0arO0bRpI

— Mike Pouraryan (@mikepouraryan) October 23, 2015

This I did not get--Mugabe is a man that has presided over the destructoin of Zimbabwe.   I initially began experimenting with what eventually evolved into #Outsiders today by reporting on Zimbabwe  and the horrific nature in which Robert Mugabe ran the country.    What I find even more disturbing is that he is trying to elevate his wife--who was able to secure a Ph.D. in 30 Days from the University of Zimbabwe.     I was sickened as I periodically review reports of a state of utter desparation in the country.

Onward with the new week--as this is also Halloween Week in the United States.  On behalf of myself and the #Outsiders team, we wanted to be early to wish all...