Monday, October 26, 2015

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:


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:  
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...

Friday, October 23, 2015

What a Week....

As the team worked to curate the Friday Musical Interlude with selections from Michael Jackson, it was also quite a week on the political, economic, diplomatic and local front.    The entire #outsider team has been "Virtually Breathless"--but it has been fun.      I have been thinking about Vice Presidet Biden's decisioni as well as the moral stance that Prince Charles took in the UK to skip the State Dinner.    

It is Fridays though that our team takes a moment of pause for the Friday Musical Interlude as I also pause to remember and reflect with this that the team allowed me to use from the archives courtesy of +Jonathan Huie:



We want the facts to fit the preconceptions.
When they don't, it is easier to ignore the facts
than to change the preconceptions.
- Jessamyn West

Losing an illusion makes you wiser than finding a truth.- Ludwig B
oerne 

Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Working Away w/ "Thoughts 4 the Week": Beautiful Sentiments


It is "Mid-Week" in #Outsiders as our World is celebrating Back to the Future Day and as the leadership dilemma continues in Washington.     I could not help but embrace these I received from a dear family member which is quite a mantra to live up to: