Working Away: On #outsiders This Week & @SabbathManifesto

It has been admittedly a challenging week in #outsiders with team members down with the flu and as all took queue from me noting how "virtually breathless they all were".     As our team finished the latest notations, one exciting one I was happy about was their selection of one of my favorite groups: Shakatak as selections were featured on our properties.

As I have been finishing off some brief thoughts, I just saw a tweet from the Guardian that Ben Carson has officially dropped out of the Presidential Race.   It will be quite a show to be witness too--no question.  As I was supporting the team with some of the other initiatives including Brexit (the subject of a future notation), what shocked me was that the former President of Brazil was detained in a widening corruption probe.    This is as I was also reviewing reports this week on the rather obscene brithday celebration by the dictator of Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe.    Mugabe was one of the original focus points as I launched what has eventually evolved into #outsiders today--more on that soon.

Beyond our World, there is also another interesting event before us--The National Day of Unplugging.   I hope I can live up to this 24 hours--Please check out what they are up to by visiting here--as I hope to be "dark" to live up to this (and as I hope our team is as well!!!):

Wishing you all a great weekend:

On This First Day of March......

March is before us here in #Outsiders.   As our team has been on the "prowl", I just got word that Jim Kinney, the co-founder of AOL, passed away.    What in many ways AOL began is why we are here.  May he RIP.

I also saw this I received from a friend  I ran across this from a friend on a very challenging story that I hope to pursue further:

TED release; PBS interview & article: My 665 Days in Prison in the U.S. View in your browser

Mahmoud Reza Banki - My 665 days in prison: Full video TED Week at UCLA Anderson

Since this journey began about six years ago and not by choice, we have come a long way; you have come a long way with me. Releasing of this video from TED Week at UCLA Anderson embodies much of what I not only believe but also lived through for 22 months in prison. I consider it a significant attempt for me and all of you who have stood by me or taken part to make a difference. I ask you to watch & share it; let’s raise awareness; let’s spark change. Thank YOU! Three updates from this weekend - please share to spark change:   TED video released: https://youtu.be/twTpuIF9Fhc Article on PBS Newshour: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/updates/despite-nuclear-deal-collateral-damage-of-sanctions-snares-iranian-americans/# Interview with PBS Newshour: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/enforcing-iran-sanctions-still-tangles-iranian-americans-in-spiders-web-of-laws/

My 665 days in prison – Full TED video releasewww.RezaStory.com On the day I was released from prison in California, after 665 days of incarceration, a host of emotions raced through my mind: on the one hand I should have been happy to be finally free; on the other hand I kept asking myself: ‘why did it take so long?’ Previously I sent out the note below along with a one-minute TED video teaser. Since then I have spoken at the Renaissance Weekend, completed my fourth LA Marathon promoting the cause, taken part in the Bipartisan Summit on Criminal Justice Reform in DC, and spoken before various audiences on this important cause of justice and how we as a nation can do better. It is now time to tell the full story.  The full version of my TED video is now live for the first time: https://youtu.be/twTpuIF9Fhc  I need your help! Our country and your future need your help! To raise awareness and to improve our criminal justice system. The president also highlighted this need in his State of the Union address: “[Let’s] reform the criminal justice system so it protects and serves all of us.” Many others have also recently joined the movement to improve our justice system. Take part! I am asking you to share this video and my story with your family, friends and colleagues; with lawyers, journalists, news outlets; advocacy groups, media and politicians; and to get the word out on social media by sharing on Facebook, Twitter, and other channels; let’s raise awareness; let’s spark change. More information on my case available at: www.RezaStory.com I have always felt extremely lucky to have made it this far and to be here. I’m also lucky to be heard and to reach others through your support; let’s make a difference one person at a time. No one should suffer injustice in the ‘land of the free’. M. Reza Banki.PhD.MBA Email: mreza.banki@gmail.com Twitter: @MRezaBanki #RezaStory Facebook: M. Reza Banki www.RezaStory.com --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On The eve of March: Thoughts on @realDonaldTrump; #Iran & #Hope

It has been a very interesting and challenging month.      As I write this,  I can't help but agree with Joe Scarborough about the depressing weekend on the political scene. I could not believe the GOP Debate (and I only watched very small excerpts).   The David Dukes controversy has also persisted  as   Donald Trump first disavowed David Dukes before saying he did not know who David Dukes is. Some of the pundits noted that Trump was tired--but rejecting the KKK should not be a big deal.   What is unfortunate is that there is zero substance to what he has to offer--I am yet to see anything beyond "Making America Great again".    

      

As I have been working to "wind down" this leap month, I made it a point of sending Joe Scarborough  a thank you for taking down David Duke.   The new South reflects the true realities of an integrated society.    Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz are trying to stay in it--but the odds are becoming increasingly    Super Tuesday tomorrow is going to be quite a day though as alOur team did some good work on Iran this week assessing the on-going election and the aftermath.  The team just released an updated tweet on the Twitter Channel as the World awaits the results.   I could not agree more that although the governing reformist faction gained, the Iranian State Institutions continue to be under the control of the so-called conservatives with the ultimate power residing in the person of the Supreme Leader.      Whether this is sustainable remains to be seen in terms of reforms.    

It should be quite a March as we will be bidding farewell to this leap year.      I popped into Twitter and ran across this which I wanted to end my brief personal thoughts as we begin March: