RSSFebruary 2006 Archives
February 28, 2006
Wikipedia, the game of obsessives
I passed - no wasted - some time this evening reading and arguing about several Wiki entries on the otherwise obscure conflict in the Western Sahara. This little remnant of the colonial era has found quite a little home among naive little American college students seeking causes.
Among the things I "leanred" was that there is an "intefada" going on in Morocco of the "Sahraouie" - oops, Sahrawi- people against the "most oppressive nation in the region" - that would be Morocco.
Weird, intefada, I have to say, as I travelled down south in Morocco last year and noted nothing. But according to the little American activists, there's an intefada. Silly me, having been in the Occupied Territories and detained by Israelis at gunpoint once, I would have thought I would spot on an intefada.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:58 AM
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Society & Culture
February 26, 2006
US-Arab Cham of Comm Statement on DPW
Afraid still fighting some illness at present, stupid white cells. Regardless, sharing the statement by Nat US Cham of Comm on the Dubai Ports World, in part, as I liked it.
Continue reading "US-Arab Cham of Comm Statement on DPW"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 04:25 AM
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Biz - Private in MENA
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MENA Region General
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Politics
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Politics - US FP
February 25, 2006
Alive
I am back again. Sorry mates. I was getting in touch with the cool things that can happen to one when you get a white cell collapse and the intestinal track gets some fine infection and all shuts down. Really quite interesting, although I would not advise personal experience.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:54 AM
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Perso
February 22, 2006
Offline
Sorry, having some side effects, not very pleasant, will be back on ball as soon as it passes.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:06 AM
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Perso
February 20, 2006
On Islamic Law, reproducing a comment of mine
Which I thought might be of interest, from The Washington Monthly:
Continue reading "On Islamic Law, reproducing a comment of mine"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 09:49 PM
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MENA Region General
From Comments: A Perfect Illustration of Ports Controversy Driver
From comments on More Mendacious Madness: Lawsuits & Merely Quoting (Updated: Requested comments on AP Article) a perfect illustration of the kind of weak thinking, xenophobic, ignorant nonsense that is driving the Arab-baiting response to DPW's takeover of the UK firm P&O:
Continue reading "From Comments: A Perfect Illustration of Ports Controversy Driver"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 04:28 AM
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MENA Region General
Ports & Soft Bigotry: A Commentary I Wish I Had Written
Pity I have real work to shoe horn into my moments of lucidity (stupid pain meds), as I would have loved to have written this comment (ex some of the US domestic politics).
I like it so much, a bit of a commentary on the comment Playing The Muslim Card: Dubai Ports World at the blog Dennis the Peasant, a reference which pleases me immensely having had the online signature referring to cheese makers.
Continue reading "Ports & Soft Bigotry: A Commentary I Wish I Had Written"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:14 AM
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Jazeera-Arabia
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MENA Region General
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Politics
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Politics - US FP
Ports: A Question
One of the few criticisms out there re Dubai which I find potentially compelling (as a criticism of UAE, not DPW nor the acquisition) is the nuclear parts smuggling. However, like the idiotic 11 Sep accusations, so far these are hand waving guilt by association type statements. Looking for guidance to substantive information on this issue.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 12:04 AM
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Perso
February 19, 2006
More Nonsense on Ports
Lawmakers Decry Ports Takeover
By WILL LESTER
The Associated Press
Will expand on this if I get a chance, work calls. However, the key takeaway is the fundamental ignorant, fearful bigotry behind statements like this:
Sen. Barbara Boxer, on CBS' "Face the Nation," said, "It is ridiculous to say you're taking secret steps to make sure that it's OK for a nation that had ties to 9/11, (to) take over part of our port operations in many of our largest ports. This has to stop."
So much for the Left's posturing with respect to the nasty evil Bush administration being mean to Muslims, Arabs. Given the political calculation....
Of course the Emirates have "ties to" 11 Sep in the same way London and Hamburg have ties to 11 Sep: underground cells. It is fundamentally dishonest to use this spin to smear DPW.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 11:13 PM
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Politics
More Mendacious Madness: Lawsuits & Merely Quoting (Updated: Requested comments on AP Article)
I can see this is going to be hard to keep up with. I shall let our Editor in Chief decide if this should be copied over to 'Aqoul with my work in progress as well, but I can't resist a bit of commentary on the latest piece of incoherent madness coming out of the US of A with respect to DPW acquisition of P&O.
The essence is, the Port of Maima management operating partner is suing to block DPW on 'security grounds.' I shall leave legal analysis to any of my lawyer readers but on the madness (Firm Sues to Block Foreign Port Takeover) some fun:
(Also see in 'Aqoul: MENA Investment & FDI: Oh my, they control our ports (Updated: Dubai & US Ports) and Lounsbury: Oh the poor sensitivy Lefties: Fearful of Ay-rabs and Fearful of Lounsburies)
Posted by The Lounsbury at 07:01 AM
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Politics
February 18, 2006
On Exile and Sat TV
Just a note to say I terribly miss my Arab and Euro Sats.
American TV is a punishement from On High for the viewer interested in serious news and other narrow market fripperies. Everything is Entertainment TV all the time. Chatty irritating low value low information high irritation factor rot. I don't think it is good for Americans.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:53 AM
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Perso
On Ports, Prejudice & Research Assistance for Lounsbury
My mildly addled mind is presently struggling with the fine combination of an excellent resurgence in my grinding bone pain, with all its fine clarifying effects (such as the clarity that comes from realising that one can feel individual bones aching if one concentrates) , and my new equally fine narcotics which oddly do not eliminate the pain, merely make it queerly disassociated.
This aside, it is my intention to bang on a bit, once I clear out some work, in substance about the Ports, Prejudice and Cartoons issue. The aim is to have an anti-idiocy page (see Michelle Malkins typical bit of ill-informed bigotry, how did that little fila slut twerp get to be so profoundly stupid?)
I thought I might ask any of the suffering readers to share any data/interesting materials or substantive information on the following subjects w me here or via email (the yahoo one):
Continue reading "On Ports, Prejudice & Research Assistance for Lounsbury"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 07:48 AM
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Politics
February 17, 2006
Oh the poor sensitivy Lefties: Fearful of Ay-rabs and Fearful of Lounsburies
Well, a rough and tumble discussion has me banned from "The Democratic Daily Blog" for the sin of robustly questioning the logic of one author's whinging on about the Dubai Port World takover of P&O and management of six US East Cost Ports. I simply stated it was mere bigotry to be getting one's diapers in a bunch over DPW's takeover for its sole sin of being Arab.
Afraid some of the more amusing exchange was deleted by the hysterical author in question, who got herself all up in a lather for being questioned as to her logic and thought processes, but what remains is here:
Latest ill-informed nonsense
The prior ill-informed nonsense
Astounding how thin-skinned some twits are when their self-contradictory idiocies are pointed out. The twit in question kept repeating it wasn't bigotry to quote others (well if one is doing so approviingly, and the comments are bigotted...) and her problem was the fact the Ports were going to be under foreign control. Never mind the Ports in question are already under foreign management. But I guess my UK brothers are not so scary as them Arabs.
Of course, my longish exposition on the bigotry lurking behind the sudden solicitude as to the ownership of the Port management, the illogic and the pure idiocy of trying to make this about 'Bush Adminstration' when the buy-out is itself between a UK and a UAE entity that have, in grosso modo, fuck all to do with the Bush Administration, well it was deleted.
Stupid fuzzy headed leftist twits, get all upset when their own xenophobia is pointed out. Cowardly behaviour.
By the way, I am very interested in seeing if there is any coherent anti-DPW argument to be made that does not ride mere xenophobia.
Updater: an excellent commentary at The Business of America is Business with some interesting commentary on the various parties of influence.
Updater II: US Sen Hilary Clinton has come up with an atrocious bit of pandering with a suggested bill to ban for government ownership of US ports. specifically aimed at DPW. Well, what lovely sentiments. Let's go after a friendly company from a friendly nation, for the sole cause of their ethnicity. I had some vague respect, once upon a time, for this woman. This rather removes that last remaining speck of that respect.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 08:59 PM
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Politics
New Abu Ghraib Photos and Cartoons: Pakistan and Publications as well.
Seeing Kofi Annan's quote regarding the timing of the publication of the new Abu Ghraib photos, "unfortunate", I have to say I agree.
The publishers might have refrained for a bit, to allow the Cartoon passions to cool.
As an aside, it strikes me that what we are seeing in Pakistan is a test of wills between the Paki Islamist parties and the Moucharraf regime. It's sad and unfortunate. Of course, the dominance of the know-nothing neo-Deobandi hate mongers in Pakistan is also unfortunate, and a danger to Pakistan. The Gulf between Pakistan's urbane and rational elite, and the more economically stable areas, and the ever-more unstable, backward tribal areas is growing dangerous, as is the undigested urbanisation. More than any Arab country, Pakistan represents a globally dangerous time-bomb (of its own making) with nuclear weapons and a pack of seriously warped Talebanesque loons who really do want to "rewind the clock." A phrase even most ordinary Salafistes in the MENA region don't merit.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:31 AM
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Politics - Islam(ic)
Amusing Whingers
I thought for amusement value I would point towards a small conversation between myself and the axe-gridner as 'scholar' Martin Kramer chez Abu Aardvark, in Abu Aardvark's Ulema Petition.
Enjoy.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 02:17 AM
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Politics
February 16, 2006
Listing to port
Not equities, the nautical one.
The Titanic announced some overseas operations are being shut. Not mine as of yet, but clearly although it has taken time, the water taken on is having an effect.
Clearly exit strategies must be less puttering about (despite my whinging there is a certain comfort). On the other hand, working on exit strategies with my current situ is challenging.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 07:08 PM
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Perso Biz Notes
February 15, 2006
Technorati - Finding Idiots
One of the fine things I have learned from our Editor in Chief is using Technorati, and specifically using this little search to see what 'Aqoul is doing.
Via that I found this fine piece of semi-literate idiocy with respect to my Open Discussion: MENA, Muslim Minorities & Moderation:
Not so much. The main concern isn't so much that we want "moderate" Muslims to be "just like us" as we would prefer they not be a danger to us.
Amusing. Of course the sub-literate confused a discussion about moderates with his own religious bigotry and paranioa that all Muslims are out to get him. I was amused by the comments and the 1 billion versus 5 in his wishing for anti-Muslim global pograms, I suppose the deluded hay-seed actually thinks the rest of the planet would want to get caught up in his little jihad.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:09 AM
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Politics
February 14, 2006
Clive Davis on Blogs, Commentariat, etc.
Clive Davis, a fan of 'Aqoul I would note, and I a fan of his I suppose I must admit, has an interesting commentary in The Times regarding blogs and commentary, entitled I have seen the future and it blogs.
As a general matter I really could care less about the much vaunted 'blogosphere' and the pretensions that the American blog world has, but the commentary itself here is interesting on its own. Not in the least because of its comments on the US's navel-gazing blog commentariat and the peculiar distortions.
Continue reading "Clive Davis on Blogs, Commentariat, etc."
Posted by The Lounsbury at 11:22 PM
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Shocked: No Maids
Amused I am at my fine V Day convo. The woman was shocked, shocked that middle class American families do not have maids. How can women possibly get things done?!?!?!
I was deeply amused by this. I suspect it reinforced her determination to never, ever move to the West. I should have suggested for the bloody visa interview (to come see me, obviously) she should tell the stupid navel-gazing US officer, "why the hell would I want to emmigrate to a country where women can't have maids?"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 10:52 PM
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Perso-Expatedness
February 13, 2006
Oh what a surprise.... Mubarek's enthusiasm for elections wanes, elections post-poned
Egyptian Local Elections "Delayed".
Why this is such a surprise.
Only two years, I guess the lying shrimp eating liar was feeling generous.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 11:06 PM
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Egypt
Theatre as News (or the other way around)
As my exile to the land of fat hamburger eaters continues, I was bemused today by the coverage of the US Vice President's minor hunting accident. I should never watch political commentary shows, but having made the mistake, I have to say that reading significance into a silly little hunting accident is possibly one of the most shallow idiocies ever.
ADDED: Re this quote: "Let's just be clear here," Gregory said. "The vice president of the United States accidentally shoots a man and he feels that it's appropriate for a ranch owner who witnessed this to tell the local Corpus Christi newspaper and not the White House Press corps at large or notify the public in a national way?"
Poor baby.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 07:15 PM
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Politics
MENA Biz Blogging
A question, as it were, to you poor abused fools who bother to read this fine little self-indulgent blog, sort of market research.
I think I have been rather too focused on politics and culture of late, and should get back to talking about MENA economies and the like, as well as business. However, for a variety of reasons, I am foreswearing directly commenting on my Titanic and related issues. That hollows out a lot of commentary, nevertheless I believe a survey for potential subject matter that might prove interesting might serve to spark some thoughts on my part.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:43 PM
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Blog Notes - Admin
February 12, 2006
My Man Muammar
Say what you will, Muammar has a flair for gestures.
Something I have to blog about, when I get a chance is this fine piece of theatre:
- Adviser points to Libya's 'old guard' as block to reform
- Words to Gadaffi on rebranding Libya
- New blueprint for overhaul of Libyan economy
A real panache for the absurd. Now, I like Porter. I like Muammar. But this is a fine bit of theatre of the absurd.
I am sure Porter thinks the effort is serious. But I wouldn't bet my Green Book on this.
Strategy consultations in the context of the Libyan system of governance are... well they are about as meaningful as "party building" advice the US government gives to meaningless little whanker "political parties" in the region.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:48 AM
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North Africa
On Exile
Now that I apparently have an exit from the every so interesting sensation that my very bones are eating their way out of me, I thought I might turn my semi-addled senses to the subject of how much I miss my Arab sats. Or Sat TV in general.
US of A broadcast news media really has become very poor quality sensationalistic navel gazing rubbish. All things are a crisis, any bloody little storm is an occasion to breathlessly blither on about stocking up, etc. etc. etc.
I think I might put my eyes out if I have to watch another over-produced pointless set of graphics.
I do not believe is is mere snobbishness on my part to say that the industry desperately needs to be saved from itself.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:04 AM
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Perso-Expatedness
February 11, 2006
New Frontiers
Yes I believe the new management of the bones is working. Certainly better than last round.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:54 PM
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Perso
February 10, 2006
Among the odd things one learns
From chemo. That one's hair can actually hurt. Yes, it can. All of its own. Obviously at the root, but it's quite intriguing.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 04:24 AM
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Perso
Fans
Our dear Eerie, Editor in Chief, has added "Fan Quotes" sidebar. I just note that for your amusement. My particular favourite comes from my dinar "investing" friends. That would be the last. Other suggestions are welcome.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:14 AM
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Perso
February 09, 2006
Progress & Thoughts
Before I disappear into my due diligence, a quick thought on several items.
Re the business of this blog-centre, pleased with the Cartoon issue and our work on this.
Re my normal topic areas, reflecting on how to get back to those. Unfortunately that bit of peronsal information that slips through here rather narrows me down. Restricts what I can say about my own field.
Re progress, new pain meds. Shall see how this works. Also in review last regime, it appears a clerical error had me taking me meds at half the rate that was intended to be prescribed. One should think that would be a significant difference and why last week's bone pain just flattened me. New narcos may may this upcoming week a bit whack, but there it is. Finally, a good item to report, I have nearly full lung performance back. Suggestive of a retreating tumour. Back when this started I could achieve 200 cc at best, normal is 2500 cc. Happy to say I regularly am up in that range without undue strain. The fine tumour may be retreating from the central chest areas, which does rather inhibts its ability to kill me by cutting off blood or air, or both.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:15 PM
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Blog Notes - Admin
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Perso
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Perso Biz Notes
February 06, 2006
Moussaouie
Seeing this arty in the Washington Post on Massaouie and his latest antics, I have to say I felt a twinge of pity for the fellow.
He definately should be locked away. That is clear. I don't care for the idea of executing him, as he never managed to do anything, and further, I have to say, the fellow is quite clearly seriously mentally ill. Sad, really, in many ways.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:58 PM
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Politics
February 03, 2006
Various random whinging on
A confession. This pain thing is beginning to grind away at me.
Continue reading "Various random whinging on"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:46 AM
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Perso
February 02, 2006
Fenanine/Fenanat Floozies
What is it about Leb Tart "Fenanat" (artistes) Floozies that requires them to be quite so.... what is the word? Breathlessly Lebanese air-headed artsy idiots? Listening to Radio Monte Carlo I subjected myself to a full 15 minutes of one of these air-headed "artistes" blithering on about her "feelings."
Yes, I could have switched to something else, but my Maghrebine brothers are down right now, which leaves me the Khalije or Lebanon. Or the Egyptians, sooner poke out my eyes than listen to Egyptians on purpose.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 03:21 PM
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Perso-Expatedness
The Traditional Monthly Survey blah blah
Every month, by tradition (hmm, three years oldish now, almost qualifies for the word), I have a post pretending to customer or reader service. Opportunity for me to be abusive really. But in any case, the traditional occasion for questions, observations, or to tell me I am an idiotic git.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 01:43 PM
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Blog Notes - Admin
February 01, 2006
Iraq, Reconstruction Notes [edited] - - Liberal / American Footprints
Pratike's colleague Eric Martin has a missive on Iraq and reconstruction or the lack thereof.
It is worth reading I suppose, although in a way it all has been said already. [Actually strike that, I rather like the effort Martin put in, and will try to add some further comments based on my worm's eye view of things, many wil recall my beautiful, painfully beautiful steel project. Or would have been if those loathsome incompetents had not fucked the country and everything about reconstruction with their chimpanzee like idiocy. The conceit at present, on the Left but as much on the Right is that Iraq could not have worked. Yes, the fairy tale about an Iraq as a new model transforming the MENA region would not, but it did not have to be fucking disaster. These idiots made it that.]
I only add the following, in re this quote:
The privatizing of Iraq's economy was handled at first by Thomas Foley, a top Bush fund-raiser, and then by Michael Fleischer, brother of President Bush's first press secretary. After explaining that he had got the job in Iraq through his brother Ari, he told the Chicago Tribune - without any apparent sense of irony - that the Americans were going to teach the Iraqis a new way of doing business. "The only paradigm they know is cronyism. We are teaching them that there is an alternative system with built-in checks and built-in review."
Those of you who were reading me in 2003 recall my bouncing off the walls. What is the best way to put this? I hold that idiot very much responsible for much of the fucked up idiocies I encountered. Smarmy clueless fuck, I came to actively hate the guy.
Very typical of CPA in general.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 06:08 AM
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MENA Region General
In other random items
I have foolishly given in to my dear Hostess' repeated requests for guidance on MENA cuisine and given her a cookbook on the same.
I expect I shall be punished for the same. Not that she cooks poorly, but I somehow doubt her rendition of ddjadj tadjine is going to be pleasing, for example.
It is touching how, however, my dear Hostess and familhy have gotten beyond their fear of my MENA proclavities and are embracing them. I am moderately afraid of this as I might suddenly end up hosting people, and I rather prefer to extend offers not taken, but too late now. This combined with unfiltered communications with my JV partner, who is showing suprising mastery of the English language (I had no idea, oddly enough), means my carefully managed information environment may be changing.
Continue reading "In other random items"
Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:51 AM
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Perso
Day 3 of Grinding Bone Pain
Brought to you by cancer.
Well, only several more depressing months of this.
I think perhaps I may understand what childbirth may be like. Presuming it involves hours of grinding pain, dull aches, and apparent utter resistance to narcotics.
Well, at least that Cindy Sheehan idiot cheered me up. Clownish parody of Left gittishness.
Perhaps I should request more pain killers. Even the offer by a quasi relative of hashish sounds semi attractive. I have to confess, this is depressing.
Posted by The Lounsbury at 05:40 AM
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Perso
