Ravi S. Iyer: Worldly

A sad but informative, insightful and thought-provoking article giving one view of Japanese life over the post world war II decades, and dying and death in current times, from the viewpoint of a lonely 91 year old lady: A Lonely Death, https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/30/world/asia/japan-lonely-deaths-the-end.html , 30th Nov. 2017. The article is a longish one and has many pics which add great value to the article. A small extract from it: "The huge government apartment complex where Mrs. Ito has lived for nearly 60 years — one of the biggest in Japan, a monument to the nation’s postwar baby boom and aspirations for a modern, American way of life — suddenly became known for something else entirely: the “lonely deaths” of the world’s most rapidly aging society."

I think USA president Trump should delete his retweet referenced in the article linked below as the concerned authorities/portal administrators in the Netherlands have disputed the original tweet's allegations about the minor attacker's religion and migrant status. Did a 'Muslim Migrant' Beat Up a Dutch Boy on Crutches?, https://www.snopes.com/video-beating-dutch-boy-crutches/ , 29th Nov. 2017

Given below are (short) text and pic from Prime Minster's Office India (PMO India) Facebook post,  https://www.facebook.com/PMOIndia/posts/1188856781245024 , dated 28th Nov. 2017 : [To open pic in higher resolution, right-click on pic followed by open in new tab/window. In new tab/window you may have to click on pic to zoom in.] Ivanka Trump, who is leading the US delegation to GES 2017 met PM Narendra Modi in Hyderabad. --- end contents of PMO India Facebook post --- Given below are some additional pics of the event from Facebook post:  https://www.facebook.com/narendramodi/photos/a.10150164299700165.421791.177526890164/10159727894210165/ : --- end pics from Facebook post --- Ravi: I saw a good part of the proceedings yesterday (28th Nov.) of GES [Global Entrepreneurship Summit] 2017,  https://www.ges2017.org/ , in Hyderabad (India) on a live video stream. I think Prime Minister Modi, Ms. Ivanka Trump (Advisor to USA president Donald Trump) an...

Hon'ble Vice-President of India, Venkaiah Naidu's article, "It's time to build a new India" https://twitter.com/VPSecretariat/status/934326544763207680 , 24th Nov. 2017. [The article can be read from the pic in the above tweet which has been copy-pasted below. To open pic in higher resolution, right-click on pic followed by open in new tab/window. In new tab/window you may have to click on pic to zoom in.] Ravi: I made the following comment in the tweet: Inspiring and thought-provoking article, sir. Many thanks and all the best. [I thank Hon'ble Vice-President of India, Venkaiah Naidu and have presumed that he will not have any objections to me sharing the above pic from his tweet on this post which is freely viewable by all, and does not have any financial profit motive whatsoever.]

Given below are some views of mine about the above question and related matters. Trump rather openly views himself as a 'killer' businessman who has hired 'killer' business guys to bring good paying jobs to manufacturing heartlands of the USA which are in steep economic decline. He did not run on a 'nice guy' ticket. He ran on a tough guy who will deliver good paying jobs ticket. And WON b'cos enough people who were hurting on jobs front in the USA believed his claims. Right now I think it is too early to judge whether he is delivering on those jobs claims. He has completely rattled and shaken up the international trade agreement world by withdrawing USA from at least one of these multi-lateral agreements, and has publicly said that he will do bilateral deals with individual nations. I think it will take a year or two more for the international trade deals situ to settle down and to know whether Trump will get "win"s on this for the USA or n...

Famous personalities in the USA have resigned from or been removed from their positions after sexual harassment allegations. What about USA President Trump? This is a question that some readers may have. I felt it appropriate to publicly share my views on this sensitive matter and so this public post. I think there are views going around that the USA judicial system is influenced by powerful people to NOT investigate such cases. From what I have read and viewed about this matter, it seems to me that that is an unfair view of the USA judicial system as far as these allegations are concerned. As a lover and supporter of democracy and a fair judicial system in India and the USA, I felt this post may help to reinforce faith in USA democracy and judicial system in some readers who may have come under the aforementioned impressions. First I would like to say that I am publicly neutral in USA politics. So I am not a supporter and neither a critic of President Trump. I respect the most po...

[To open pic in higher resolution, right-click on pic followed by open in new tab/window. In new tab/window you may have to click on pic to zoom in.] The above pic tells us about the horrible squeeze that has been put on the poor and middle class in the USA over the past three to four decades. Here is the data in text [Note that the pic at one place misspells increased as increead (sic)]: Since 1978, the cost of: College tuition has increased by 1,120% Medical care has increased by 601% Food has increased by 244% Shelter has gone up by 380% Meanwhile the pay of: Typical workers rose by just 10% Minimum wage workers fell by 5.5% Average CEOs increased by 937% Sources: EPI, Bloomberg, US Labor department --- end text contents of above pic --- Ravi: That is unacceptable and, frankly, a dangerous situation for a society as people's frustrations may drive them to do crazy things. I hope and pray that the situation for the poor and lower middle class of the USA i...

I came across an open invitation on the Internet to join the Obama Foundation and thought I should sign up. So I did that. I am not able to locate where I saw that - perhaps on Facebook somewhere. Here's the Obama Foundation website: https://www.obama.org/ . I got an email from the Obama foundation after signing up. BTW after sign up a dollar contribution window comes up which I did not respond to. I felt it appropriate to share what I wrote back on the email I got from Obama Foundation. I think it is not appropriate to share Obama Foundation's mail to me even though it seems to be a standard non-profit org response. I would be glad to receive any thoughts and suggestions readers have on this. Thanks. Here's what I wrote them (slightly edited): To: Obama Foundation <info@obama.org> Dear sir/madam, I am a social media writer on spirituality, religion and other topics. I was inspired by the global vision that Mr. Obama had when he was president of the USA...

This is really shocking. Charlie Rose has, or I should now say had, such a great stature as a top TV media reporter who would interview top political leaders across the globe. I have seen quite a few of his interviews and found them to be great. Like USA Senator Al Franken, Charlie Rose has acknowledged some (not all of the behaviour alleged) inappropriate sexual behaviour and has apologized. The main report: Eight women say Charlie Rose sexually harassed them — with nudity, groping and lewd calls, https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/eight-women-say-charlie-rose-sexually-harassed-them--with-nudity-groping-and-lewd-calls/2017/11/20/9b168de8-caec-11e7-8321-481fd63f174d_story.html , 20th Nov. 2017 Charlie Rose accused of making unwanted sexual advances, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4lppuvdXc0 , 3 min 37 secs by Washington Post (one of the two journalists of the WaPo investigative report speaks in this video). CBS hosts address suspension of Charlie Rose over sexual ...

I saw the full senate hearing part of the video below and found it to be very informative about USA's authorization procedures and legal aspects for usage (launch) of its nuclear weapons: WATCH: Senate hearing on presidential authority to use nuclear weapons, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDg1SdT_OJM , around 2 hr 21 mins, published by PBS Newshour, streamed live on 14th Nov. 2017. Here's an article on it: 'Then What Happens?': Congress Questions the President's Authority to Wage Nuclear War, https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/11/trump-nuclear-weapons-senate/545846/ , 15th Nov. 2017 A related article from the Union of Concerned Scientists: Whose Finger Is on the Button? Nuclear Launch Authority in the United States and Other Nations (2017), http://www.ucsusa.org/nuclear-weapons/us-nuclear-weapons-policy/sole-authority .

Here's the speech by Bill Gates covering his thoughts and suggestions to improve farming sector in Andhra Pradesh and India: Bill Gates Speech At AP Agri-Tech Summit 2017 In Vizag | ABN Telugu, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EADCR0RAf2A , 14 min. 01 sec, published on 17th Nov. 2017. The video starts and stops abruptly. So looks like the initial and ending part of the speech are missing in this video. I browsed the net for a transcript of this speech but did not get it. Here's an article from The Hindu covering some parts of above speech of Bill Gates: A.P. well poised to become a seed hub, says Bill Gates, http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ap-well-poised-to-become-a-seed-hub-says-bill-gates/article20545263.ece , 17th Nov. 2017. Here's another Hindu article related to the same topic: Bill Gates positive to N. Chandrababu Naidu plea for tech help, http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/bill-gates-positive-to-n-chandrababu-naidu-plea-for-...

This video, Franken accuser speaks to CNN (full interview), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4zOf-tCwUo , 33 min 19 secs, published by CNN on 16th Nov. 2017, is a must-see video for those who are interested in combating culture of sexual abuse of women (and men, at times) in the workplace by men in powerful positions. Leeann Tweeden speaks so honestly and so articulately about her experience, about how she felt about it over the years, why she came out in the open now, and about how she has accepted Senator Franken's apology as she felt it is honest and heart-felt. Tweeden also clarifies that she is not interested in Franken being removed from the Senate. Tweeden, who is a radio talk show host, answers CNN host Jake Tapper's exhaustive questions very well. I admire her honesty, courage, fair-mindedness and desire to do something to combat the sexual abuse culture. I think this video should be recommended watching for working women worldwide, including those in India, (wi...

Given below are contents of Hon'ble minister for Information Technology for the state of Andhra Pradesh, Nara Lokesh, https://www.facebook.com/MyTDP/photos/a.344344082331115.76258.344027575696099/1398772033554976/ : [Ravi: To open pic in higher resolution, right-click on pic followed by open in new tab/window. In new tab/window you may have to click on pic to zoom in.] Elated to welcome Mr. Bill Gates at the Vizag airport. On our way to attend the AP AgTech Summit. Proud to be part of state-building along with several global influencers. --- end Minister Nara Lokesh Facebook post contents --- Comment I put up on Hon'ble Minister Nara Lokesh's post mentioned above is as follows: Wonderful to see Bill Gates, the great technology-cum-business wizard and now great philanthropist who is helping many poor and developing countries around the world, including India, being welcomed by Hon'ble CM and Hon'ble minister. Best wishes for Bill Gates' visit to An...

Here's the lady's article detailing her charges against Al Franken: "Senator Al Franken Kissed and Groped Me Without My Consent, And There’s Nothing Funny About It", http://www.kabc.com/2017/11/16/leeann-tweeden-on-senator-al-franken/ . I congratulate and thank the lady for coming out in the open on this matter as it will help to prevent similar outrageous and unacceptable behaviour from powerfully placed men in the USA. Senator Al Franken has apologized for his behaviour. See "Al Franken Admits to Groping, Forcibly Kissing a Woman in 2006", https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/16/us/politics/al-franken-sexual-harassment-groping-forcible-kissing.html , 16th Nov. 2017. It does not stop at just an apology though I think it certainly helps that Franken apologized. The case has been referred to USA Senate Ethics committee by Senate Majority leader Republican Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority leader Democrat Chuck Schumer. Mr. Franken has supported this move an...

First let us look at Election Commission of India's role in enforcing the Model Code of Conduct during elections in India. The state of Gujarat, the home state of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) political party, is going through an election season for the state assembly. It has become a high-profile state election with the main national opposition party of India, the Indian National Congress (INC aka Congress) trying to do its best to put up a fight against the BJP which is currently in power in Gujarat. The article, ECI bars Gujarat BJP from using ‘Pappu’ in electronic media advertisement, http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ec-bars-gujarat-bjp-from-using-pappu-in-electronic-advertisement/article20449321.ece , dated 15th Nov. 2017 reports that the Election Commission seems to have asked the BJP to drop a pejorative word ('Pappu' a Hindi pejorative word) from its electronic advertisement, and the BJP seems to have complied by chang...

The text associated with USA President Trump's Facebook post, https://www.facebook.com/DonaldTrump/photos/a.10156483516640725.1073741830.153080620724/10160154966655725/ , dated (IST) 15th Nov. 2017, states, "Economic security is not merely related to national security. Economic security IS national security!" Ravi: My comment on the above is as follows: I agree with the view of USA President Trump that, in our times today, "economic security is national security". In this early 21st century globally integrated world, a heavily in debt nation with an unfavourable balance of trade with other nations is jeopardizing not only its economic security but also its national security. Even 20th century history tells us that nations or regimes that are heavily in debt and have an unfavourable balance of trade with other nations, tend to get into violent internal strife or sometimes even wars with other nations.

Above pic courtesy: https://www.facebook.com/566889003329833/photos/a.1042076799144382.1073741829.566889003329833/1690057777679611/ of Facebook user Golden Memories Ravi: Perhaps the above pic was taken in the late 1960s or early 1970s. The Kapoor family is a dynasty of Hindi filmdom heroes (and heroines) who were big in the days of my youth. Shammi Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor, Randhir Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor were the big heroes across two generations, with Babita (married Randhir Kapoor and is mother or Karishma and Kareena Kapoors) and Neetu Singh (married Rishi Kapoor and is mother of Ranbir Kapoor) being noted film heroines. This dynasty's influence in Hindi films continues to this day (don't have much exposure to Ranbir Kapoor, Kareena Kapoor, Karishma Kapoor films but they are big names, I think). I have even seen a few Raj Kapoor (elder brother of Shammi and Shashi Kapoor, and father of Randhir Kapoor and Rishi Kapoor) films with Mera Naam Joker released in 1970 bein...

I saw this full video: President Trump's POWERFUL Speech to World Leaders @ APEC 2017: "I'm Putting America First" 11/10/17, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLrttMJj7mo , 32 min. 37 secs. The transcript of this first, and so very important for Asia-Pacific/Indo-Pacific area, speech of USA president Trump in an Asia Pacific economic forum (APEC) about his USA administration's stand on trade in Indo-Pacific, and as it relates to USA, is available here: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2017/11/10/remarks-president-trump-apec-ceo-summit-da-nang-vietnam . Given below are large extracts (almost the whole speech) from this speech transcript. USA President Trump: What an honor it is to be here in Vietnam -- in the very heart of the Indo-Pacific -- to address the people and business leaders of this region. This has already been a remarkable week for the United States in this wonderful part of the world. Starting from Hawaii, Melania and I traveled to Ja...