Ravi S. Iyer: Worldly

"Watch VP nominee Tim Kaine's full speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention",  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ndSlRc0GI0 , 31 min. 50 secs And here's the transcript of his speech,  http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-tim-kaine-convention-speech-transcript-20160727-snap-htmlstory.html . Please note that I have a PUBLICLY NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in these posts that I put up about the USA presidential elections. Of course, as I am an Indian citizen living in India, there is no question of me voting in these elections.

Last updated on 30th July 2016 "Watch President Barack Obama's full speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aip0BAWrdLw , 49 min 9 secs. Here's the transcript of the speech: http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-obama-2016-convention-speech-transcript-20160727-snap-story.html . The introductions to USA President Obama's speech at the DNC: a) From around 6 hr, 56 min, 50 secs, in the video, "Watch the Full 2016 Democratic National Convention - Day 3", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTf1wjDHlf8 , a speaker talks about her interactions with Obama. b) That's followed by a video introduction (from around 7 hr, 2 min, 23 secs) Note that the speech itself in this video starts around 7 hr 12 min 20 secs (starting with him walking to the podium) Please note that I have a PUBLICLY NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in these posts that I put up about the USA presidential elections. Of course, a...

Last updated on 30th July 2016 "Watch Hillary Clinton's full speech at the 2016 Democratic National Convention", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnXiy4D_I8g , 1 hr 5 mins Here's an annotated transcript of the speech: www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-hillary-clinton-convention-speech-transcript-20160728-snap-htmlstory.html . Hillary Clinton introduction video, from around 6 hr 48 min 50 secs in the video, "Watch the Full 2016 Democratic National Convention - Day 4", https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=omOJvwlcvRc The introduction video is followed by Hillary Clinton's speech. Please note that I have a PUBLICLY NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in these posts that I put up about the USA presidential elections. Of course, as I am an Indian citizen living in India, there is no question of me voting in these elections.

Terrific song, "What the world needs now is love, sweet love", sung live by a host of singers at the USA Democratic convention, around 4 minutes, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlrMhEU4S2I Please note that I have a PUBLICLY NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in these posts that I put up about the USA presidential elections. Of course, as I am an Indian citizen living in India, there is no question of me voting in these elections.

Hillary Clinton breaks glass ceiling to appear on DNC Screen #Democratic #nomination, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8__ZMG2qoE8 , 2 mins, published Jul. 26th 2016 Ravi: It was a historic moment for USA democracy as it was the first time that a major party has nominated a woman as its presidential candidate! I thoroughly enjoyed watching this historic moment! Congratulations to the Democratic party of the USA! The video captures the historic moment very well. Worth watching for all devotees of democracies worldwide as the USA is currently one of the greatest democracies the world has seen, IMHO, despite some flaws that it has. Perhaps the biggest flaw of USA democracy today is the rather unbridled influence of money power in USA elections. Please note that I have a PUBLICLY NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in these posts that I put up about the USA presidential elections. Of course, as I am an Indian citizen living in India, there is no question of me voting in these elec...

Bernie Sanders OFFICIALLY Nominates Hillary Clinton as Democratic party candidate for President of USA During Rollcall Vote At DNC 7/26/16, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m2r_eXmWBHg , 2 min 48 secs Another video of the same event but with useful background information (and video clips): Clinton Wins Nomination, Sanders Speaks, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0vAUnQwIyY , 2 min. 32 secs, published on Jul. 26th 2016 by The New York Times. Ravi: What this means is that the Democratic party, after a hard fought primary elections process, and some tough negotiations for platform change between Senator Bernie Sanders' campaign and former Secretary Hillary Clinton's campaign, has come together and is united behind its candidate for President, former Secretary Hillary Clinton. Please note that I have a PUBLICLY NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in these posts that I put up about the USA presidential elections. Of course, as I am an Indian citizen living in India, there ...

Full Speech Bernie Sanders at DNC. July 25, 2016. Democratic National Convention 2016. Philadelphia, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0tVD87cZew , 32 min 13 secs Here's the prepared transcript of the speech: https://berniesanders.com/sanders-prepared-remarks-at-democratic-national-convention/ The concluding part of Senator Bernie Sanders' speech: I have known Hillary Clinton for 25 years. I remember her as a great first lady who broke precedent in terms of the role that a first lady was supposed to play as she helped lead the fight for universal health care. I served with her in the United States Senate and know her as a fierce advocate for the rights of children. Hillary Clinton will make an outstanding president and I am proud to stand with her here tonight. --- end extract of Bernie Sanders speech transcript --- Please note that I have a PUBLICLY NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in these posts that I put up about the USA presidential elections. Of course, a...

Sanders: I demanded DNC chair's resignation, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W6paY8RsPI , 2 min 8 secs. Ravi: She has resigned. See www.politico.com/story/2016/07/sanders-wasserman-schultz-should-resign-now-after-leaks-226083 The above article quotes Senator Sanders' statement on her resignation as follows: "Debbie Wasserman Schultz has made the right decision for the future of the Democratic Party". "While she deserves thanks for her years of service, the party now needs new leadership that will open the doors of the party and welcome in working people and young people. The party leadership must also always remain impartial in the presidential nominating process, something which did not occur in the 2016 race." Please note that I have a PUBLICLY NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in these posts that I put up about the USA presidential elections. Of course, as I am an Indian citizen living in India, there is no question of me voting in these ele...

Last updated on 24th July 2016 Hillary Clinton selects Tim Kaine as her running mate, http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/22/politics/hillary-clinton-vp-pick/ , published July 23rd 2016 Ravi: Like the Republican nominee Mr. Trump, the Democratic presumptive nominee Mrs. Clinton, tweeted her announcement of Vice-President pick! Her tweet reads, "I'm thrilled to announce my running mate, @TimKaine, a man who's devoted his life to fighting for others. -H" [Tweet link: https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton/status/756642903469031424 ] Virginia Senator, and former Virginia Governor, Tim Kaine tweeted, "Just got off the phone with Hillary. I’m honored to be her running mate. Can’t wait to hit the trail tomorrow in Miami!" [Tweet link: https://twitter.com/timkaine/status/756649838381498368 ] --------------------------------- Update on 24th July 2016 Given below is the video of the first campaign event held by Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine after Clinton announc...

Last updated on 23rd July 2016 FULL SPEECH: Donald Trump Accepts Republican Nomination for President (7-21-16) Trump RNC, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Svt3kfq1c , around 1 hr. 30 mins The transcript of the speech can be seen here: www.vox.com/2016/7/21/12253426/donald-trump-acceptance-speech-transcript-republican-nomination-transcript ---------------------------------------- His Tone Dark, Donald Trump Takes G.O.P. Mantle, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/22/us/politics/donald-trump-rnc-speech.html "With dark imagery and an almost angry tone, Mr. Trump portrayed the United States as a diminished and even humiliated nation, and offered himself as an all-powerful savior who could resurrect the country’s standing in the eyes of both enemies and law-abiding Americans." Given below are some comments from a Facebook post of mine, https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/1767958980087338 , associated with above part of this post: Sai Das wrote (edited): https:...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republican-national-convention-scrutiny-of-melania-trumps-speech-follows-plagiarism-allegations/2016/07/19/3efc4208-4da4-11e6-a7d8-13d06b37f256_story.html , dated July 19th 2016 Very short extracts from the above article: At about 8:10 p.m., after Alaska’s votes had been sorted out, Ryan, who is the convention chairman, announced the official results. Trump, he said, “has been selected as the Republican Party nominee for president of the United States.” ... A little more than a year before, Trump had seemed like an afterthought: a reality-TV star with no political experience, facing a deep field that included more than 10 current and former Republican officeholders. --- end very short extracts from WashingtonPost article --- This is the video with the actual roll call (till New York state puts the roll call "over the top" i.e. Trump votes cross the needed number to win the nomination): Trump Wins Nomination - Full Roll Call o...

Chaos erupts as delegates demand a 'roll call' vote on Republican National Convention. July 18, 2016, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbWvIY8_tBw , around 5 mins. Another video on the same matter: Watch the chaos at the GOP convention over anti Trump efforts, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FZxw-8WOBs , 3 min. 14 secs An article on the it: Convention drama: Trump campaign stops rules rebellion, http://edition.cnn.com/2016/07/18/politics/rnc-procedural-votes-rules-committee/index.html , July 19th 2016 Ravi: I must say that these protests seem somewhat disciplined as compared to some scenes witnessed in the Indian parliament. Please note that I have a PUBLICLY NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in these posts that I put up about the USA presidential elections. Of course, as I am an Indian citizen living in India, there is no question of me voting in these elections.

From https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/753965070003109888 I am pleased to announce that I have chosen Governor Mike Pence as my Vice Presidential running mate. News conference tomorrow at 11:00 A.M. --- end tweet text --- Tweet time stamp (USA East Coast time, I guess) is 7:50 AM - 15 Jul 2016 Mike Pence is the governor of Indiana state in the USA. Please note that I have a PUBLICLY NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in these posts that I put up about the USA presidential elections. Of course, as I am an Indian citizen living in India, there is no question of me voting in these elections.

Given below are mainly my comments from a Facebook post (not my post), https://www.facebook.com/sathyanarayana.raju.9/posts/819986764804476 : [The post itself was a link to the article, Jacob Zuma signs a presidential pardon for Pistorius, http://smithrise.com/willie-pardon/ , dated July 13th 2016. I was asked for my view.] Ravi S. Iyer wrote: Thanks --name-snipped--. I had not expected this. But, perhaps, the guy has already suffered immensely, the girl's parents have forgiven him, and perhaps the President was right in utilizing his executive power in this case. --- [In response to two comments which expressed shock at my above words, "Suffered enough??? He murdered his girlfriend!!!" as well as disappointment, "I am disappointed in that comment.  He is a convicted murderer",] Ravi S. Iyer wrote (slightly edited): Well, as I understood from what I had followed of the case, the issue was intent. He thought that the person was a robber and that the ...

David Cameron receives standing ovation after farewell speech, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcVwCWHsGhg , 1 min 28 secs, published July 13th 2016 FULL SPEECH: David Cameron leaves No 10 for the final time, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmUiqdrYE8Y , 8 min. 43 secs, published July 13th 2016 British PM's family is with him including his quite young children (3). I did not realize/know that he had young children. For the children the change of home after around 6 years would probably be an emotional issue to overcome. However, they perhaps will get to see more of their Dad now. Cameron refers to his children in the speech including his youngest daughter who got into a red office work box once to try to accompany him on a foreign visit :-) . Cameron comes across as a pretty decent bloke. His wit and humour in the British Parliament can been be seen in this video, FULL Last PMQs : David Cameron's Final PMQs Prime Minister's Questions -Jeremy Corbyn -UK Parliament, ht...

I think Ms. Theresa May becoming PM of Britain so quickly is an excellent development and congratulations must be given to the Conservative party of Britain whose leaders, including former PM David Cameron and former candidates for Conservative party leader and PM like Ms. Andrea Leadsom and Mr. Michael Gove, seem to have eventually worked together to rapidly bring about the change. While some may feel that the new PM has not been elected by the voting public, I think we should remember that parliamentary democracy leaves PM selection largely, if not wholly, in the hands of elected members of Parliament (like is the case in India). Only if there is tremendous dissatisfaction with the new PM, should moves like a no confidence motion and/or a mid-term general election be warranted/justified. Here's a related video, Theresa May: First speech as Prime Minister - BBC News, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDyZ8trge2E , 4 min 21 secs, published July 13th 2016. I have copy-pasted belo...

A few weeks ago I had put up a rather hurriedly written partial autobiography kind of document; see the post, An Indian Software Techie's (My) Material and Spiritual Journey So Far (till Sept. 2002), http://ravisiyer.blogspot.in/2016/06/an-indian-software-techies-my-material.html , dated June 20th 2016. The question that popped up was what about the period from Oct. 2002 to now. I don't know when I will get around to that. However, over the past few years I had written some blog posts with autobiographical content which included the period Oct. 2002 to now. I decided to go through the rather simple task of going through the posts of this blog (Ravi S. Iyer: Misc. Topics) and listing out the ones that have autobiographical content. That list is given below. I think I have got most, maybe all, of the posts of this blog with autobiographical content as of today (13th July 2016) in this list but I cannot rule out the possibility of having missed out some. List of posts with pa...

Bernie Sanders Endorses Hillary Clinton, Hoping to Unify Democrats, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/13/us/politics/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton.html , dated July 12, 2016 The New York Times article link has a 2 min. 22 seconds video where you hear it directly from the horse's mouth. Bernie Sanders announces in it that he supports and endorses Hillary Clinton for president and that she has won the Democratic nominating process and is the presumptive Democratic nominee. He also says that she is the best candidate for President and that he will work to get her elected as President! Please note that I have a PUBLICLY NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in these posts that I put up about the USA presidential elections. Of course, as I am an Indian citizen living in India, there is no question of me voting in these elections.

Last modified on 11th July 2016 Micah Johnson, Gunman in Dallas, Honed Military Skills to a Deadly Conclusion, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/10/us/dallas-quiet-after-police-shooting-but-protests-flare-elsewhere.html , dated July 9th 2016. Ravi: What a horrible act the sniper killer of Dallas policemen did! The above article gives some idea of how he executed his horrible plan. My prayers to Almighty God to shower His Grace on the brave Dallas, USA policemen who lost their lives, or were injured, while doing their duty to protect residents of their city, including those who were protesting against police brutality elsewhere. Of course, I extend those prayers to the families and friends of these killed or injured Dallas, USA policemen. It is the police who prevent a community from descending into anarchy where might becomes right. I think this is largely true in the USA, and is true in India too. Protests against a few bad apples and/or actions in/of the police force should ...

A small extract from the book, The Rise and Fall of Nations: Ten Rules of Change in the Post-Crisis World, by Morgan Stanley Head of Emerging Markets, Ruchir Sharma, http://www.amazon.in/Rise-Fall-Nations-Change-Post-Crisis/dp/0241188512 , Page 11: Public disillusion with the economics profession has been growing, since it failed to foresee not only the events of 2008 but also the many crises that have shaken the world before and since. Economists are under attack even within their own ranks for being too academic and for being too focused on elegant mathematical models and theories that pretend humans always act rationally and on historical data that change too slowly to capture what may come next. --- end short extract --- Ravi: I think the above words reflect the sentiment of not only many people on the street (including me) but also of top elected political leaders in some countries of the world. The top elected political leaders have had to pass, and may have to do so in fut...

How Tony Blair came to be so unpopular, http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-36746453 , dated 9th July 2016 A couple of short extracts: When the Twin Towers came down nine months after Bush entered the White House, Blair's words were the most powerful that Americans heard from abroad - eloquent, and from the heart. Most of them knew little of him but, by the time he went to Washington for private conversations in the days after 9/11, he had already started to take on heroic status. And some of those with him on that day marked a decisive change in his demeanour and belief after talking with Bush, alone in the Blue Room of the White House. ... I once heard Hillary Clinton in a private moment expressing astonishment at his lack of doubt, using a withering American phrase popularised after the Jonestown mass suicide. "What's happened to Tony," she asked. "He's started drinking the Kool Aid." She meant that he had abandoned all caution and every sl...

Started reading the book, The Rise and Fall of Nations: Ten Rules of Change in the Post-Crisis World, by Morgan Stanley Head of Emerging Markets, Ruchir Sharma, http://www.amazon.in/Rise-Fall-Nations-Change-Post-Crisis/dp/0241188512 Ravi: While I hold the view that the 2008 Global Financial Crisis has been the biggest seismic event (in terms of change impact) in the world in my lifetime (at least for people like me), it was very interesting for me to note the language used by Ruchir Sharma in the Introduction; Impermanence chapter of his book about the event, and how important an event he sees it as. A few quotes from Page 1 of the book, are given below: IN THE YEARS BC - BEFORE THE CRISIS OF 2008 - THE WORLD enjoyed an unprecedented economic boom that extended from Chicago to Chongqing. Though the boom ran for only four years and its foundations were thin, many observers saw it as the beginning of a golden age of globalization." ... "Then came 2008. The years BC gave wa...

USA Presidential presumptive Democratic nominee, (former) Secretary Hillary Clinton comes on the stage with USA President Barrack Obama at around 1 hr. 25 minutes into the video. Then we have Clinton's speech followed by Obama's speech. I think this is the first public campaign rally of this presidential race where Obama has appeared jointly with Clinton. The video is around 2 hrs 35 minutes long (so an hour 10 minutes after Clinton & Obama come on stage). Full Speech: Hillary Clinton Rally With President Obama in Charlotte, North Carolina (July 5, 2016), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFriXwmoOEs . Please note that I have a PUBLICLY NEUTRAL informal-student-observer role in these posts that I put up about the USA presidential elections. Of course, as I am an Indian citizen living in India, there is no question of me voting in these elections.

Last updated on 8th July 2016 Nigel Farage resigns as UKIP leader: 'I want my life back' - BBC News,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KlWLTdjpuc , 1 min. 35 secs., published July 4th 2016. How strange can British politics get? Or maybe I am not smart enough to get any understanding of it. The PM Cameron who had promised a referendum as part of his party's election campaign (that's what some reports said) has resigned after the Leave result. Now both the main two leaders of the victorious Leave campaign, Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage, seem to have moved to background positions. Farage now wants his "life back". Michael Gove, the deputy of Johnson, is being viewed as an untrustworthy person due to his eleventh hour betrayal of Johnson. So though he is running for PM position, he may not get it. The next PM may be Mrs. Theresa May who campaigned for remain! And then perhaps we may have Johnson and Farage appear on TV criticizing her once she tak...

Last updated on 31st July 2016 IMHO, a must read interview for all Indians (is given below), where Dr. Manmohan Singh talks about the days, a quarter century ago, when he, then the Union (federal) Finance minister, with the all important political backing of then Prime Minister, Shri P.V. Narasimha Rao, pulled India back from the brink of economic disaster and put her on the road to not only economic recovery but a period of stunning economic and social growth. The article also presents comparative data, 25 years ago (mostly) and now (mostly), on Macro stability indicators (e.g. deficit/GDP), Size/composition of the Indian economy (e.g. GDP growth), The changed Indian (e.g. telephone subscribers, foreign remittance) and Social Indicators (e.g. below poverty line rate, literacy rate). A few indicators of great interest to me: Indian economy has grown 6.3 times its 1991 size. 1990-91 GDP size was $326.76 billion. In 2015-16 it was $2,075.85 billion (over 2 trillion dollars). ...

An interesting interview with Morgan Stanley Head of Emerging Markets, Ruchir Sharma, ‘You can’t get growth rates of the 2000s’,  http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/interview-with-ruchir-sharma-chief-global-strategist-morgan-stanley/article8801613.ece , dated July 3rd 2016. I also saw some part of his interview on CNN-IBN (Indian national TV channel) today (July 3rd 2016). I think I am impressed enough to seriously consider buying his new book (which was promoted/mentioned in both the interviews), The Rise and Fall of Nations: Ten Rules of Change in the Post-Crisis World, http://www.amazon.in/Rise-Fall-Nations-Change-Post-Crisis/dp/0241188512 . The reviews mentioned in the link above are from some top people/media houses, and are generally positive.

Last updated on 3rd July 2016 Fatal crash sparks Tesla Autopilot investigation, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Glf15CiEho , 1 min 15 secs, published on July 1st 2016, by CNNMoney Ravi: I wouldn't trust any autopilot car as it will have software behind it, and, as a former software techie, I KNOW that software is surely not bug proof. Human override with software as a support system which is known to NOT be 100% bugfree is the grounded-in-reality way to use such software powered automation technology. But will humans tend to lose sight of possibility of software failure when they try out features like this autopilot car which works most of the time, and so get fooled into a sense of false security? I think that danger is real and perhaps that's what happened in this tragedy. Here's a related article, A Fatality Forces Tesla to Confront Its Limits, http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/02/business/a-fatality-forces-tesla-to-confront-its-limits.html , dated July 1st 2016....